Inner Wheel presents cheque to Ysgol Dinas Bran's DoE team

Llangollen Inner Wheel held a fundraising cake and craft stall at the town market.

Members a cheque to students at Ysgol Dinas Bran who are taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

The donation will go towards providing equipment for their proposed September expedition.

Children encouraged to become reading heroes

 

Children across Denbighshire are being encouraged to become heroes and join the Summer Reading Challenge through their local library.

This year’s theme is ‘Wild World Heroes’ which aims to inspire children to take action for nature and the environment as they enjoy reading.

The Reading Agency and libraries have partnered with WWF to create an exciting adventure in the fictional town of ‘Wilderville’.

Through reading books, collecting rewards and learning all about our planet, challenge participants will help the heroes make Wilderville a greener place to live.

With exclusive incentives to collect and plenty of brilliant books to enjoy, the challenge is the perfect summer activity to build young readers’ skills and confidence during the long break from school.

Children can take part at their local library or online through the official digital challenge platform https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/

The challenge launched on July 10 in your local library and online.

Three Eagles flies to success in trade awards

* The Three Eagles team celebrate their success in the awards.

The Three Eagles Bar & Grill in Llangollen has been named one of the best county venues in the National Pub & Bar Awards 2021, taking top spot for Denbighshire.

The awards aim to put the finest on-trade businesses across the UK in the national spotlight, showcasing just how diverse and creative the hospitality industry really is, as well as how these operations have survived the pandemic. 

A total of 94 pubs and bars received the prestigious honours this year.

The venues, which have been selected on overall best practice across a number of operational categories, will be officially crowned at a red-carpet celebration at 30 Euston Square on Monday September 6. 

At the grand final 15 regional winners will also be announced, as well as the overall national winner.

Three Eagles will go up against seven county competitors in a fight for the regional title and hope to be in the running following its return to service post-pandemic.

Adam Gaunt-Evans, director or restaurants and bars for One Hundred Knights which runs the Three Eagles, said: "It's a true testament of how hard the team have worked to get us back up and running since we re-emerged from lockdown. 

"I'm so proud of everyone involved and we're thrilled to win the County National Pub & Bar Award for Denbighshire. 

"The atmosphere and experience at the Three Eagles is unrivalled and we have a fantastic following of customers, we hope we can go all the way in the final."

“I’ve never been prouder of this industry,” says Tristan O’Hana, editor of Pub & Bar magazine, which hosts the event. 

“The entries for this year’s awards demonstrated the undeniable value that communities place on their beloved pubs and bars. 

"To be able to acknowledge the hard work and diligence of venues across 94 UK counties is an absolute privilege. These outstanding venues deserve this recognition now more than ever.”

* View the full list of county winners online at https://nationalpubandbarawards.co.uk/

Visit the Three Eagles website online at https://thethreeeagles.co.uk/

Hardship grant for private tenants in Denbighshire

Private tenants who have fallen behind on their rent are being urged to apply for a hardship grant.

Denbighshire County Council is administering the Welsh Government’s Tenancy Hardship Grant for private tenants who have fallen behind on their rent by more than eight weeks between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The grant, which is paid directly to landlords, coincides with Covid-19 measures being eased which includes enabling landlords to evict tenants from June 30.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the Council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “The grant is intended to prevent people from becoming homeless or being evicted as a result of income loss caused by the pandemic.

“The pandemic has had an impact on all parts of our society and I would urge all those eligible private tenants to apply for this grant.”

The grant will be open to renters not receiving housing-related benefits and could include tenants who have been on furlough, have seen a reduction in their work, or have only been able to claim statutory sick pay while ill with Covid-19.

Applicants will need to provide documents and a statement from the landlord which will be reviewed before payment is made directly to the landlord.

* Anyone wishing to apply for the grant can visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/tenancy-hardship-grant

Covid rule changes in Wales from tomorrow

In Wales, some changes will come into effect on 17 July and these will see up to six people able to meet indoors in private homes and holiday accommodation.

There’ll be no change in the rules around face-masks in Wales for the time-being.

This differs to England, where – from 19 July – there will be no limit on the number of people who can meet indoors and face-masks will no longer be mandatory.

In Wales, organised indoor events will be able to take place for up to 1,000 people seated and up to 200 standing, and ice rinks will be able to reopen.

Nightclubs in Wales will remain closed for the moment.

Proposed changes in Wales from August 7.

If all goes well, Wales will move to Alert Level 0 from August 7, when all premises will be able to open (including nightclubs) and most – but not all – restrictions will be removed.

There will be no limits on the number of people who can meet indoors, including in private homes. However, it will still be a legal requirement to wear a face mask indoors in shops and other indoor public spaces, except for hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants.

Some venues might still have to restrict numbers, based on the risk assessments that all premises will need to undertake.

In a joint statement, Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire councils call on residents to be aware of the differences:

“The changes in restrictions follow the success of the vaccination programme, which has weakened the link between infections, serious illness and hospitalisation in both Wales and England. Thanks to vaccination, the number of people ending up seriously ill or in hospital remains low at the moment.

“However, the Delta variant continues to spread and the virus still poses a serious risk to health. We’re also seeing young, fit people suffering from long-Covid, which is having a major impact on their lives.

“Everyone living, working and visiting Wales is asked to respect the difference in restrictions between England and Wales, and to stick to the regulations in place.

“Visitors to Wales are also asked to respect staff working in tourism, hospitality and leisure industries, who are all continuing to do their utmost to look after the health and welfare of those they work for and with."

 

Railway bosses encouraged by support for re-opening

* The diesel railcar as seen in the station at Llangollen. Photo: LRT

Llangollen Railway Trust (LRT) says it is encouraged by the support given to the resumption of train services last Friday. 

And that included a donation of £153 from the town's Oggie Shop & Fine Foods where customers have been making donations into a collection box in the shop.

Llangollen Railway Trust (LRT) finance director Phil Freeth said: "We really are appreciative of support like this from a business in the town,

"All donations are gratefully received and effectively fed back into the local economy. 

"We're all in this together. Thank you very much Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods and to their customers."

Last weekend a limited service of diesel railcars operated from Llangollen to Berwyn in what was seen as a ‘shakedown exercise’ to ensure the operational arrangements went to plan.

The number of passengers carried on this initial, hourly shuttle service exceeded 450.

Passengers were comfortably accommodated within the social distancing needs of the heritage diesel railcar and produced fares revenue in excess of £3,000 as a useful contribution towards the LRT’s overheads. 

Many of the passengers also made contributions to the revival find.

LRT chairman Peter Edwards said: “Given the short notice available to announce the railway was able to reopen, we are pleased to have welcomed so many people to Llangollen. 

"Many came from within our 50-mile radius catchment area, but others from further afield, all anxious to show their support."

He added: "The ride to Berwyn reminded many passengers of the early years of the restoration of the Llangollen Railway and some had memories of childhood visits on Santa Specials when his grotto was at Berwyn.

“Many recognised the shuttle service as a first step in the reopening of the line through to Glyndyfrwdy when various essential engineering works are completed, hopefully during August when steam engines may return.

“An interesting analysis of the ticket sales indicates that a number of passengers took advantage of Berwyn station to start or end their walks around the area of the Dee Valley Gorge. 

"It is this ability of the Llangollen Railway to provide access to the Dee Valley’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we wish to encourage people to use when the line is fully open to the new terminus at Corwen.”

Trains continue Fridays to Sundays from today (Friday) with an hourly service from Llangollen starting at 11am through to 4pm.  

Revised Welsh Government Covid restrictions will apply and masks must be worn on the trains. 

A 15-minute stop over at Berwyn allows for a visit to the historic Chain Bridge or  time to ntake a longer walk to the Horseshoe Falls and return on later train.

LRT operations director Mike Williams said: “The success of the first weekend is down to the railway’s team of volunteers. They have pulled out all the stops and made great efforts in all departments to return the stations, trains and track to operational condition after so long a shunt down period.”

Bus travel in North Wales is about to become a lot easier

From this Saturday (July 17) one ticket will be valid on buses all across North Wales.

Once passengers have bought their 1bws ticket from the bus driver on their first journey of the day, the ticket will then be valid for travel on busses across the region.

An adult ticket will cost £5.70, a child (or young person with a My Travel Pass) will pay £3.70 and holders of English and Scottish concessionary bus passes will also pay £3.70. A family ticket is available for £12.

One of the reasons non-bus users are reluctant to give the bus a try is confusion about what ticket to buy. How much does it cost? When can it be used? Who operates the buses? Will my ticket be valid? All these questions put people off using the bus.

With 1bws one ticket, for all day, valid on North Wales busses in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham - and on buses from North Wales to Chester, Whitchurch and Machynlleth.

There are buses covering most of the region and it is possible to explore the North Wales Coast, Snowdonia, the Clwydian Range and the Dee Valley.

Cllr Brian Jones, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “I am very pleased we are supporting this initiative, which will help to encourage local people and visitors alike to use our extensive bus network.

“The initiative is a great way to get people back on buses and open up the North Wales countryside for the summer in a way that protects the environment.

“It’s an excellent example of the benefits of partnership working between local authorities, bus operators and Transport for Wales. This is the first time that we have been able to provide and promote a single one-day ticket available on all services and it is thanks to operators large and small for their commitment to improving access by bus.”

Timetable information for all buses in North Wales is available online at http://bustimes.org or www.traveline.cymru ; or by phone on 0800 464 00 00.

1Bws is valid on all local bus services operating in North Wales (the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey and Wrexham) with the exception of service 28 between Mold and Flint.

It is also not valid on tourist services operated by open top buses, on National Express coach services and park and ride services.