Operators to increase bus services from today

Denbighshire County Council has been working with bus companies and the Welsh Government to ensure capacity is increased on services while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

From today (Sunday) services will run at between 70 and 100 per cent of their pre-covid-19 timetable with the addition of extra buses on services across the county, with funding secured from Welsh Government.

Cllr Brian Jones, the council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “The council has been working closely with bus companies to ensure extra buses will be provided in Denbighshire to increase capacity while maintaining social distancing, allowing more passengers to travel safely.

“I would like to thank the team at Denbighshire and bus companies for the hard work during this long process.

“The extra capacity will ensure pupils returning to school in September who travel on public transport and customers will be able to use services safely and with as little disruption as possible.”

Customers and those travelling to school via public transport are being reminded that face coverings must be worn at all times while using public transport.

The council has previously introduced the Fflecsi pilot in Denbigh and Prestatyn, which allows people to request a demand-responsive bus to pick them up near home, work or shops for essential travel, rather than following a set timetable at fixed bus stops.

Cllr Jones added: “While up-to-date time tables are available online, we are in the process of replacing time tables at bus stops with the latest service information and would like to thank residents for their understanding and patience during this time.”

* For more information or to see the latest bus timetables for services in the county visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/travel

Life returns to normal along the railway line

* Foxcote Manor steaming through Berwyn station. 

Llangollen Railway photographer George Jones was out and about along the line yesterday to capture a couple of stunning images of life gradually returning to normal following lockdown.

First he shot the railway's flagship engine Foxcote Manor - complete with its "Thunderbirds are Go" slogan on its headboard - passing Berwyn hauling the first passenger train of the day.  

Near the Chain Bridge later he snapped people watching the progress of a group of whitewater rafters through the River Dee gorge.

 * Rafters testing their skill near the Chain Bridge.

Steve completes his high-wire challenge and raises over £200

* Steve flies like a bird on the zipwire over Bethesda.

A long-standing volunteer with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has successfully completed a hair-raising challenge in aid of overseas competitors – despite being as old as the festival itself.

Steve Price, who lives in Johnstown, has been helping out at the eisteddfod for the past quarter of a century.

And after identifying a growing problem with attracting competitors from overseas he decided to take the heart-stopping high ride at Zipworld in Bethesda on Thursday afternoon.

He accomplished his high speed challenge and raised over £200 into the bargain.

Steve, who is manager at Sharps Bedrooms at Island Green in Wrexham, said: “I am the same age as the eisteddfod, 73 this year.

“I have been a volunteer with them for the past 25 years.

* Steve said he was "absolutely terrified" of heights.

“Over that time it has become increasingly difficult for overseas and UK competitors to take part in this fantastic event due to the ever-increasing costs of travel, accommodation and visa applications.

“The money I raised from my Zipworld challenge will go to support all competitors and the continued success of the eisteddfod.”

Before taking to the high wire, he explained that he was “absolutely terrified” of heights.

Afterwards he said: “I am not a thrill-seeker and the thought of jumping off a mountaintop some 500ft in the air and travelling at speeds approaching 100mph above a quarry and a lake was not something that I would under normal circumstances consider. But this was my challenge.”

Apart from the eisteddfod, Steve was also doing the challenge in aid of Hope House Hospice.

* He says donations to the eisteddfod are still welcome on his JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-price24?fbclid=IwAR1i4rRJR9Vvlo7m_Ba3uEUUM9xZBD3jYEWb8gH9rEvnKpwuDTKyP3EnFQU&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_content=Steve-Price24&utm_medium=fundraisingpage&utm_source=Facebook&utm_term=w5XeEajZJ

If anyone wishes to donate to Hope House they should go direct to the hospice’s website and follow the links there.

Free school meal information in Denbighshire

Parents and guardians in receipt of direct payments for free school meals will continue to receive the payment for the first two weeks of term, says the county council.

Those receiving the payment will be required to use the funds to pay for their child’s meal while at school up until Friday, September 11.

The last direct payments are being made on Monday, September 14 (for the week of September 7th – 11th) after which children eligible for free school meals will receive them in school free of charge.

During school closures the Council has been providing direct payments to those eligible for free school meals with money provided to parents or guardians instead of a school meal.

More than 3,500 children (1,900 families) were eligible for this scheme.

Railway thrown a £161,000 lottery lifeline

Breaking news ...

Llangollen Railway has received £161,000 of National Lottery support to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The cash, from the Heritage Fund, will support the attraction through the coming difficult winter months and help with the implementation of its recent governance review.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began the railway has been working hard to raise funds to ensure its survival. 

It has also been implementing many changes to help safeguard its future.

Railway general manager Liz McGuinness said: “Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we can now look forward to a secure future for our heritage railway and we can continue to support our local economy. 

"We’re grateful that the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time – it’s a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.”

The funding, made possible by National Lottery players, was awarded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Emergency Fund. 

This is a £50m pot aimed at providing emergency funding for those most in need across the heritage sector.

The UK-wide fund aimed to address both immediate emergency actions and help organisations to start thinking about recovery.

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.

“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Llangollen Railway during this uncertain time.”

Historic columns take pride of place at new Corwen rail station

* Putting the canopy columns in place are, from left, Peter Robson, Tony Cook and John Mason. Picture: George Jones.

Volunteers at the Corwen Railway Development Project are celebrating the successful completion of work to install a series of historic canopy columns at the site of the new station.

The large metal structures have been brought 200 miles to north Wales from London where they were originally part of Blackfriars station.

The installation of the final pair of columns was completed last weekend after the work was delayed by the advent of Covid-19.

A substantial foundation was required to secure their installation against the prospect of high winds on the exposed site and the work to excavate a trench on the platform ready for delivery of a load of ready-mix was restarted after lockdown was lifted.

With the slab of concrete in place, the two columns were lifted onto their anchor points and bolted down with the cross piece.

Their acquisition, renovation, re-engineering and installation has been an epic tale of volunteer time and effort over the past four years, coupled with the financing of the task.

Eight are now in-situ on the platform, with six around the stairwell and the final pair forming the eastern end of the canopy support, in-between which a station building will provide the integral roofing link.

Seen from the town's car park, they make an impressive sight on the elevated platform as a further statement the project is nearing completion.

Project Manager Richard Dixon-Gough said. “The project team members are delighted to see the columns in place after many hours of site preparation, a process interrupted by the pandemic. 

"The canopy will be subjected to significant wind forces at this elevated, exposed station location and called for a substantial foundation to secure the columns.

"As now erected, the columns are another notable achievement by the volunteers engaged in working towards completion of the station.”

Change of engine

* The tank engine Jennifer passes Berwyn yesterday. Picture: George Jones.

There was a change of engine on the Llangollen line yesterday (Thursday).

A tank engine named 'Jennifer' was hauling the passenger trains.

It is a 0-6-0 built in 1942 for industrial use and was restored at Llangollen in 2008.

The engine normally works on other shorter heritage railways when out on hire. 

Oak Street Gallery hosts new exhibition

Llangollen's Oak Street Gallery is hosting an exhibition by artist Jon Young until September 13.

He is showing some striking new paintings - beautiful colours in acrylic of People and Places, including some iconic North Wales views.

The gallery will be open every day during the exhibition's run from 12-5pm.

Prints and cards of Jon’s work will also be available alongside the paintings and if anyone sees a painting on his website they’d like to see which isn’t in the exhibition, he says he can arrange for it to be brought to the gallery for viewing. 

* Jon's website is at: www.jonyoungart.co.uk