Stormy weather fails to halt return of trains

* The first train of the season at Carrog awaiting return to Llangollen after a stop-over for refreshments in the station café.

Despite the River Dee running high and fast after the weekend's heavy rain, Llangollen Railway train services resumed for half-term week today (Monday).

The heritage Class 104 diesel railcar provided the service down the line to Carrog offering some dramatic views of the River Dee in full flood. 

And the results of this winter's lineside vegetation clearance west of Deeside Halt provided improved views of the landscape across to Llantysilio Mountain in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The diesel train is running Monday to Friday with a steam service at the weekend, and to encourage families to get out and about, a special fare offer for half-term allows first child free with a fare paying adult and second half price.

Police call for witnesses after serious A483 collision

A pedestrian has been seriously injured following a collision near Wrexham.

At 23:43hrs last night (Sunday) police were called to a report of a collision involving a HGV and a pedestrian on the southbound carriageway, junction 5 (Mold Road) of the A483.

The pedestrian was taken to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital but he has since been transferred to hospital in Stoke with serious, life threatening injuries.

Sergeant Stephen Richards of the Roads Policing Unit said: “We are appealing to anybody who may have witnessed the pedestrian prior to the collision to come forward. Equally we’d like to hear from anybody who may have been travelling along the A483 and who may have dash cam to also contact us.”

* Anybody with information is asked to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit on 101 or via the live webchat quoting reference number Y022943.

Old time music hall show this Friday

There are still tickets left for the variety show and supper this Friday. 

It will be great night of music and comedy. 

Great raffle prizes! Further details below:

National recognition for county's work on dementia

Denbighshire County Council has won national recognition for its efforts to work towards becoming a dementia friendly council.

The council has achieved Alzheimer’s Society recognition through its Dementia Friendly Communities initiative for its work to raise awareness and support those living with dementia as part of its commitment to create resilient communities in the county.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the council’s lead member for Well-being and Independence, said: “We are working hard to ensure the Council is an organisation that supports those living with dementia and continues to do so. We would like to thank the Alzheimer’s Society for working with us on this project.

“It is vital we work to deliver positive outcomes for those living with dementia and make life easier and more comfortable for them and for those who care for people with dementia.

“Helping people to be more resilient and independent is a priority for the Council under our Corporate Plan and this work helps us achieve that.”

There are 11,000 people living with dementia in North Wales, with 1,511 of those in Denbighshire and the number of people living with dementia in North Wales is expected to almost double by 2030.

As part of its work to support those with dementia the Council has delivered Dementia Friends information sessions for staff and councillors, set up a staff engagement network and libraries offer a books on prescription service.

There is a reduction in council tax for people living with dementia while free fire safety checks in homes and help with wheelie bins are also provided.

Future plans include an e-learning package to inform staff and councillors, a premises audit for dementia friendly buildings and libraries will be introducing the loan of memory boxes.

The council will be inviting people living with dementia to inform and influence changes in working practices as well as working with the county’s Dementia Friendly Towns to share learning and experiences.

Police appeal over missing man

North Wales Police seek the help of the public in relation to a missing man aged 62 years last believed to be in the vicinity of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

The gentleman is described at 5ft7, white male, of slim build with short brown hair. He may have been wearing orange running shoes, black jogging bottoms and a grey waterproof jacket.

His Black VW Golf TDI was located at the car park at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and may have been parked at the location between 0700hrs and 0745hrs on Saturday 15th February 2020.

North Wales Police have conducted extensive searches of the local area assisted by North East Wales Search and Rescue Team (NEWSAR) but seek new information to assist us in locating this man at the earliest opportunity.

Anyone with information please call 101 and quote reference Y022326 or go to the North Wales Police Web Chat service via the North Wales Police website.

River Dee reaches even higher levels after storms

Update.

North Wales Police tweeted an hour ago that A5 at Corwen is closed in both directions due to flooding.


The latest bout of stormy weather has swollen the River Dee through Llangollen even more than last week.

This morning it has become a raging torrent, with the water reaching half-way up the arches on the famous bridge.

The pathway in Riverside Park has been left underwater after the river gushed over the wall there also leaving the steps submerged.

Ride the heritage train during half-term

* Looking through the diesel railcar cab onto the line.

Llangollen Railway resumes train services tomorrow (Monday) in time for the schools half-term break giving familes the chance to visit the glorious Dee Valley. 

On weekdays, Monday to Friday, the timetable will provide an off-peak service with the heritage diesel railcars offering a journey alongside the River Dee, as an easy means of exploring the Welsh countryside.

Railway general manger, Liz McGuinness said: “Our heritage railcars may not be as glamorous as some of the exciting, new trains on the mainline network, but they do have some features modern trains don’t offer passengers. 

"On our diesel railcars you can sit behind the driver and see where the train is going, or sit in the rear and see where the train has been. 

"That way you soon find out the railway line is neither flat or straight as it climbs over the river and up the hill to Berwyn Tunnel."

She added: "The line twists and turns through the valley calling at our wayside stations with all the features of a traditional railway – restored station buildings, line-side signals, passing loops at signal boxes, a level crossing, bridges over and under the line and an impressive viaduct - as it follows the River Dee through the Welsh countryside.

“And all the seats line up with the windows to offer the best views of the Dee Valley as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, now recovering from a long winter with Spring just around the corner. 

"During the January close-down period our volunteers have been busy each weekend with a maintenance train out tackling the lineside vegetation where it had become overgrown. This has improved the view in the remote area past Deeside Halt where the railway runs through a great bowl in the landscape between the Berwyn Mountains in the south and the Llantysilio range in the north. A dramatic view well worth coming to see.

“And for the half-term period from February 17- 28 there is a special offer for families – the first child travels free with the second child at half-price when accompanied by an adult paying a full line fare. Just the thing to keep the children’s interest with a new adventure by train.”

For youngsters perhaps unused to modern train travel, a trip on the Llangollen Railway is an education in how grandparents used to travel before they had a car, when everyone went everywhere by train. 

This is a railway which has been put back in the landscape since it was closed and dismantled over fifty years ago, a testimony to much hard work by volunteers and supporters to restore the line.

At the weekends the train service will be operated by the traditional steam locomotive.

* See the timetable for details at: .llangollen-railway.co.uk