Two local roadworks alerts

 

The following local roadworks alerts have come from one.network:

Hill Street 13 September — 31 March   Delays unlikely - Some carriageway incursion   Works description: 13/09/21-31/03/21/Jayne Valentine/Junction Realignment Scheme 18412...   Works location: Hill Street   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 Denbighshire County Council.   Responsibility for works: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: QR015S000000001774   Market Street 13 September — 17 September   Delays unlikely - No carriageway incursion   Works description: The excavation and reinstatement of the footway for the connection of electrical supply to Street Fu...   Works location: Column 2, In Car Park By Public Toilets...   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 Denbighshire County Council.   Responsibility for works: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: QR30100039998

llanblogger takes a short break

llanblogger is now taking a short break and will be back in a few days

Viaduct checks mean overnight traffic diversions through Llan

Essential works to investigate the structural security of the viaducts in the Dee and Ceiriog Valleys will result in overnight diversions through Llangollen, according to Wrexham.com

* For the full story, see: https://www.wrexham.com/news/full-closure-for-part-of-a483-planned-for-viaducts-inspections-division-through-llangollen-due-to-newbridge-landslip-208538.html

Another local roadworks notified by one.network is: 

Brook Street 06 September — 08 September   Delays possible - Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Works description: TM Purposes Only   Works location: brooke street junction of queens street...   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 Openreach.   Responsibility for works: Openreach   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: BC006MQONSAWNWC4WC5MWN1P

Collen Players back live for their latest hit music hall show

* The Collen Players take their curtain call at the end of the show. 

Pictures by Jeanette Robinson

* Father Lee Taylor in the chair.

* Neil Barrett and David Lyne as Barbara and Joyce.

 * Phil Robinson as Champagne Charlie.

* Magician Paul Edwards - the Welsh Wizard.

* Susan Stokes - Danny Boy.

* Gethin Davies - Have Some Madeira M'Dear.

* Mike Connolly on the Road to Mandalay.

* Louise Cielecki closes the show.

After a gap of many months due to the pandemic The Collen Players were back in front of a live audience last night for their latest music hall and variety show in the Community Hall.

In the chair as usual was St Collen's vicar Father Lee Taylor - a devout fan of traditional Victorian music hall - introducing the evening's packed programme which featured a host of talented entertainers.

Following his opening breezy bout of patter and comedy songs first up came a favourite of Players audiences Susan Stokes with the catchy K-K-K Katy and a moving Danny Boy.

They've done a similar routine for previous Collen shows and there was another warm welcome for the double-act Neil Barrett and Dave Lyne doing their hilarious skit on gossips Barbara and Joyce.

Phil Robinson then took to the authentically-dressed stage to present the music hall staples Champagne Charlie and The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life.

During the interval a well-enjoyed buffet meal was served for the audience prepared by Fabiano Silva.

In the second half of the show Father Lee resumed the chair to present a rousing musical medley of golden oldies including Tulips from Amsterdam, Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer, Loch Lomond and Let’s Go Fly a Kite.

For something a little different there was Paul Edwards presenting some amazingly cunning magic tricks in his guise as The Welsh Wizard.

Staying in lighter mood Gethin Davies followed with the ditty Have Some Madeira M’dear and The Spanish Guitar, both accompanied on the piano by his wife Eulanwy.

Mike Connolly's powerful and well-received contributions were Keep the Home Fires Burning and The Road to Mandalay before Barrett and Lyne returned to take an hilarious peek at George and Leonard, husbands of Barbara and Joyce.

Louise Cielecki rounded off in fine style with a couple of big-hearted show numbers, Little Girls from Annie and I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

All that was left was for the chairman to lead the entire cast in a rousing chorus of one of the best-known of all music halls songs, Down at the Old Bull and Bush.

Locals encouraged to use valley sightseeing bus

* The bus stops at the Ponderosa on the Horseshoe Pass.

* Another stop at the Wenffrwd pocket park just outside Llangollen.

Llangollen people are being encouraged to try a trip aboard a bus service which is spending the summer touring some of Dee Valley's key beauty spots. 

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus service is a circular route which runs every Saturday until October 2021.

It links Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, PlasNewydd Historic House and the Horseshoe Pass.

The service aims to enable people to visit these key locations without the need of a car and reduce the need for parking spaces, making it easier for those without their own vehicle to access these places, and helping to reduce congestion at some of the busiest sites in the Dee Valley.  

The service also provides both visitors and local residents the opportunity to explore the wider area.

The service has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, and delivered in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Our Picturesque Landscape project, a landscape partnership scheme which is working to conserve and improve access to the inspiring landscapes of the Dee Valley and Pontcysllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus Service, number 199, operates Saturdays only until October 30. 

* For the full timetable and ticket prices for the Picturesque Bus service , see Denbighshire bus timetable webpage or pick up a leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

Kate Thomson, Partnership Officer for the Our Picturesque Landscape project, said: “This project was due to launch in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic, so we are really pleased that this service was able to run in 2021 and hopefully for many years to come.  

"By working in partnership with Denbighshire County Council, we have been able to ensure that the service complements existing public transport provision.  

"Connecting to bus timetables from Corwen and Wrexham makes the Picturesque Bus service the ideal option for planning walks in the area.  

"We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Walesfor making this service possible, and hope it will go on to be a great success and a real legacy for the Our Picturesque Landscape project.”

Driver shortage means pause on council bulky waste collections

Denbighshire County Council is pausing new requests for the removal of bulky household items due to rising demand and a backlog of existing collections.

The Council is unable to take new bookings for this service until Monday, September 13, due to driver shortages.

Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We are doing everything we can to keep all services going at this time.

“We would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience caused and thank them for their understanding.

“Our priority is to collect requests from existing customers, with wait times currently around six weeks.

“We are seeing a rising demand for the service and this is exacerbated by driver shortages currently affecting many industries. 

“To enable the service to continue, the Council is working with Denbigh-based firm CAD Recycling who are providing staff to carry out collections.

“The Council is currently managing to keep all other waste services operating, despite staffing issues, and we hope this short suspension will ensure those who have already booked a bulky waste collection have their items cleared more quickly.”

Many bulky items collected by the Council can be reused or recycled if they are kept dry and clean until they are collected.

Residents are asked to keep items inside or protected until they are notified of their collection day.

Business is booming for Llangollen hotel after pandemic

* The Wild Pheasant is welcoming more brides than ever before, it says. 

* The spa is now open again following the pandemic.

A Llangollen hotel is reporting record business in the wake of the pandemic. 

The Wild Pheasant on the A5 stayed open throughout the Covid-19 crisis to accommodate key workers and is now rapidly getting back to normal. 

Fresh from its caring role The Wild Pheasant is once again welcoming the more usual kind of guest to its 47 bedrooms, restaurant and spa and the weddings side of the operation is booming. 

It was back in 2016 that the hotel was acquired by the Evenbright company which in its stable of hotels also numbers Rossett Hall, two in Lake District, Stonecross Manor and The George, as well a new one in Llandudno. 

Wild Pheasant guest accommodation includes standard double/twin rooms, executive king rooms, the Dinas Bran & Berwyn Suite and the Dee Valley Penthouse with private hot tub on the balcony. 

When it comes to dining there’s the Courtyard Restaurant and The Glasshouse with the Glanrafon Suite catering specifically for weddings.

 

A hotel spokesperson said: “The Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa has always been a popular choice for weddings in North Wales.

 

“Our Glanafon Suite is ideal for weddings up to 100 people and boasts its own private bar area.

 

“In 2020 we were awarded the title of best countryside wedding venue regionally and nationally That was a fantastic achievement for all the team, which includes over 40 full and part-time staff.”

 

Following the pandemic the hotel’s Llangollen Spa is now open for access to its hydrotherapy pool and treatments.

 

The hotel says the sauna and steam room will be open at a later date once it is felt safe to do so.

 

A spokesperson said: “The Wild Pheasant and its team are delighted to welcome people back after the easing of Covid restrictions, although we remained open throughout to accommodate key workers. 

“The recent pandemic took the world of hospitality from one extreme to the other. But since the easing of lockdown restrictions all Everbright Hotels have enjoyed incredible levels of business and it seems as though the trend is set to continue. 

“Both The Wild Pheasant and Rossett Hall have seen levels across every area of their business exceed any previous record. 

“By the end of the year each hotel will have welcomed more brides and grooms than ever before, having rescheduled some weddings as many as three times during the pandemic. 

“The two hotels have also experienced unprecedented numbers of leisure guests coming into the area for their holidays and short breaks. 

“Restaurant and bars have been constantly busy with many passers-by and locals calling in to eat and drink. This has resulted in record numbers of enquiries from the local community already getting in early with their Christmas bookings.”