Details released of this year's Fringe Festival

* Rhythm Train, performing online last year, will play on Saturday September 18.

Llangollen Fringe will go ahead with its 2021 festival despite receiving no financial support from Arts Council Wales.

This means that most of the arts events normally associated with the Fringe cannot be held.

But the line-up of entertainment - mostly to be staged live in the Town Hall - will still run from September 10-18, with all performances having to be e-ticketed in advance.   

The festival kicks off on Friday September 10 with a Massive Heedz parade.

This is an ongoing art project which has combined the talents of Ysgol Dinas Bran students with those of Glyndwr University Fine Arts students. 

It has drawn inspiration from the band Arcade Fire and in particular the video for their song Reflektor. The project links this to legendary or contemporary figures who have made an impact on the lives of individuals or the community in some way. 

In its latest briefing the Fringe organising team says: "The virus has dominated our lives for nearly 18 months, tragically for many.  

"Fringe-wise it wasn’t until August 7 that most of the Covid shackles were discarded, and there was some clarity around what was possible in terms of shows and events.

"Arts Council Wales (ACW) will not be providing any grant support for the Fringe this year. While lesser mortals might have thrown in the towel at that point, Fringe volunteers are made of sterner stuff and the show will go on.

"The ACW decision has meant that most of the arts events - normally a key part of what the Fringe is about - will be sadly absent this year."

The Fringe line-up is:

Friday 10 September

MASSIVE HEEDZ* Parade

followed by

COMEDY CLUB – acts to be announced soon.  

Saturday 11 September

Live music – bands to be announced in due course.  

Wednesday 15 September

Llan Unlocked – local band night, with

Grasshoppers, Captain Z, Before the Storm and Victorian Glamour

Tickets are £3. 

Friday 17 September

THE LOVELY EGGS

"Some of our songs are 10 seconds long. Some are 4 minutes long. We don't care because it doesn't matter. We have a lot of different sounding songs. Welcome to our world".

More from them and their latest single here.

Saturday 18 September

BAND FOR A DAY**

Bands get to practice with other talented players and then perform live in front of an audience in the Town Hall, where you will be support for Rhythm Train.

To apply or for further details email bfadllanfringe@gmail.com

This is followed by 

RHYTHM TRAIN

Long-standing stalwarts of The Fringe are finally gigging at the festival. A taste their lockdown action last year can be found here.

The Fringe team adds: "We are also looking into the possibility of putting on an exciting event in association with Climate Cymru – again watch this space." 

Unless otherwise stated, all events will be in the Town Hall, doors open at 7.00pm and tickets priced at £12.50.  A licensed bar will be provided.

All events will be e-ticketed only and must be pre-booked online at www.llangollenfringe.co.uk

Fringe supporters still holding Festival Tickets can use them this year and get a 50% discount on their Fringe 2022 Tickets.  

The team says that if you are unable to attend any event this year, they will roll over your ticket to next year automatically.

They add that planning has already started for 2022 which will be the festival's 25th anniversary. 

Roadworks alert for Vicarage Road

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Vicarage Road 25 August — 27 August   Delays unlikely - Traffic control (give & take)   Works description: Boundary box Install 25mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )...   Works location: OUTSIDE PROPERTY KNOWN AS BRYN HELYG...   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060404335

Railway sees a successful return of steam train

* Loco 3802 at Carrog at the end of its first trip. 

Pictures by George Jones

* Martin Fuller was the driver and Step Ellwood the fireman.

The first steam train of the 2021 season ran on Saturday when the Great Western Railway locomotive No.3802 took the 10.30 departure from Llangollen through to Carrog, the first such steam hauled train since October 1 2020 on the Dee Valley line

Despite the wet weather, good numbers boarded the train for run behind 3802 and a general air of enthusiasm was abroad at the return of steam to the railway from assembled volunteers and visiting members of the public keen to join the extended a ride. 

With the heritage Wickham railcar supplementing the steam train, a 75-minute interval service was on offer for the weekend. 

The locomotive's certification was completed to the satisfaction of the ORR thanks to a lot of hard work by members of the Motive Power Department who had prepared No.3802 for its return to steam. 

For the footplate crews it was a day of re-assessment of their competence to drive and fire the engine after a ten month lay-off in operations. 

* Even a few sheep showed up to watch the first steam service go by but they soon moved out the way to allow the train to pass.

* The train slows down when some sheep appear on the line. Pictures courtesy of Peter Dickinson.  

Steam comes back to the railway today

* Locomotive 3802 is leading back the return of steam to Llangollen Railway.

Today sees the return of steam to Llangollen Railway as well as the return of trains to Carrog.

After a false start last week due to technical issues steam services will be back on the heritage line following a lay-off of many months due to the pandemic and the railway's own financial crisis from which it is now steadily emerging.

The return of steam trains was announced on the railway's Facebook page last night.

The post said: "As well as a steam-hauled service, we will also be operating a heritage railcar.

"Tickets can be purchased from the station booking offices on the day.

"Here's the timetable and fares for this weekend. Rostered locos are ex-GWR 3802 (steam) and Class 108 (diesel).

£551 million extra Covid funding for health and social services

The Welsh Government has earmarked £411 million to health and social services  towards the ongoing costs of dealing with the pandemic until April 2022 and £140m for recovery and tackling waiting times.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: "The COVID pandemic has had a massive impact on the NHS and social services in Wales and is still facing significant costs in dealing with it. I am therefore pleased to confirm an extra £411m for these costs, including the vaccination programme, testing, PPE, and new cleaning standards for infection control.

"The knock-on effect from dealing with the pandemic has also been huge. Waiting lists have increased by more than 33% and are now at record levels. Getting back to where we were before the pandemic is going to take a lot of time and investment in new ways of working. So we are also providing an extra £140m to the NHS for this work. 

"£100m will be used to help health boards’ recovery plans, including speeding up the treatment of those who have been waiting the longest. While £40m is for equipment and adapting hospitals and other buildings to increase capacity for routine procedures, whilst maintaining COVID safe areas.

"The money announced today is an addition to the £100m funding announced in May to support the Welsh Government’s Health and Social Services COVID Recovery Plan."

She added: "I recognise it is a huge task just to get back to where we were before the pandemic. However, we must also grasp this opportunity to adopt new ways of working and create a sustainable health and social care system that can meet the demands of the future."

Finance and Local Government Minister, Rebecca Evans, said the money was part of a package of funding to help Wales recover from the COVID pandemic.

She said: "This funding will help increase capacity in our hospitals and, crucially, help the NHS to move forward beyond the pandemic.

"The funding is part of a wider package of funding which will be spent over the coming months to help us build the fairer, greener, stronger and ever more successful Wales that we all want for ourselves and for each other."

Libraries launch new digital support

* A solo digital space at a Denbighshire library. 

Denbighshire Libraries have launched a new digital initiative to support people who need space for private online appointments.

Open again following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, all libraries in Denbighshire now house new solo digital spaces, thanks to funding secured from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund.

These rooms are private spaces kitted out with laptops to enable residents to carry out confidential online appointments, such as taking part in a job interview, a medical appointment or an online meeting via Zoom or other platforms.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Our libraries have continued to provide an excellent service to local residents throughout the last difficult 18 months.

“I am really pleased this great initiative has been introduced to support our residents, especially as the pandemic has seen a surge towards a more digital way of life for a lot of daily communication.

“I want to also to thank library staff for their continued hard work and commitment in providing a vital service to our communities.

As Covid-19 restrictions have been reduced, Denbighshire residents are reminded that they can now visit their local library to browse, choose and return books without an appointment.

They will still need to make an appointment to use a library computer, book a study space and to access One Stop Shop services by phoning their local library.

Libraries are a safe place to visit with plenty of room for social distancing, limited numbers of people in at any time, and hand and equipment sanitiser available.

The solo digital spaces can be booked for use by contacting the library nearest to you by visiting https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/leisure-and-tourism/libraries/libraries.aspx

Denbighshire Leisure's guide to Sir Tom Jones' Rhyl concert

To celebrate the release of his 41^st studio album Surrounded by Time, Sir Tom Jones is returning to North Wales for an exclusive outdoor concert at the Rhyl Events Arena on Wednesday September 1.

With the gates opening at 5pm, an expected sell-out crowd of 7,000 concert goers are planning to attend the live standing concert on the waterfront to enjoy a night of music from Sir Tom and support act Megan McKenna.

Denbighshire Leisure, who run the arena, has issued a guide to the essential things people need to know ahead of the event: 

Covid Safety 

If you develop any symptoms of Covid-19, test positive or are advised via the NHS to self-isolate, please do not attend the event.

You will need to present ONE of the following two items:

1.      Proof of double vaccination, with the 2^nd received a minimum of 14days before the event

A negative lateral flow test – Registered with the NHS within 48 hours of the event.
You can order test here: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
and register you test here: https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result 

Venue address

The concert takes place at:

Rhyl Events Arena, East Parade, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3AF 

Getting there by car

Car parks nearby:

1.                Central Car Park (Underground) LL18 1HD

2.                Morley Road LL18 3HG

3.                East Parade LL18 3SG

4.                West Kinmel Street, LL18 1DA

5.                White Rose Shopping Centre, LL18 1EW

Getting there by taxi

Taxis can drop-off on the promenade close to the Events Arena. Taxi ranks are situated at the Town Hall (on Water Street) and at the Railway Station. 

Getting there by bus

Arriva Buses Wales run regular services locally and to nearby towns and villages – for route maps and timetables please visit www.traveline.cymru or download the free app. 

Getting there by train

Rhyl Station is served by Transport for Wales trains and Avanti West Coast trains, with direct services from many mainline stations. Once you arrive in Rhyl, the Events Arena is just a short 10-minute walk away from the station. 

ACCESSIBILITY

1.     The event arena is suitable for wheelchair users with friendly stewards around to assist and accessible toilets. 

WEATHER

2.      The show must go on whatever the weather so concert goers are encouraged to dress appropriately for the wonderful Welsh weather!

REFRESHMENTS

3.      A variety of food and drink will be available within the arena. You are not permitted to bring any food and drink to the event. You are permitted to bring in a sealed bottle of water. 

TOILETS

1.      Standard and accessible toilet facilities are located throughout the event arena. 

* For more information visit the Rhyl Pavilion website https://www.rhylpavilion.co.uk/events_list/tom-jones-surrounded-by-time/  or call the team on: 01745 330000.