Legion marks Armistice Day at war memorial

* Father Lee Taylor from St Collen's Church leads the service.

* Phil Stroud, chair of Llangollen Royal British Legion, with former deputy town mayor Issy Richards read the Exhortation and Kohima Prayer.

* The legion standard is lowered during the service.

Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion held a short Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Centenary Square this morning (Thursday), the 103rd anniversary of the actual Armistice Day.

This marks the end of the First World War at 11am on November 11, 1918 when the guns fell silent on the Western Front.

The service was led by the Vicar of Llangollen, Father Lee Taylor.

The traditional two minutes' silence was observed and former Llangollen Deputy Mayor, Issy Richards, read the Exhortation and Kohima Prayer in Welsh while Phil Stroud, chair of the local branch of the legion, read them in English.  

Llangollen Town Council will hold the annual Remembrance Sunday Service this coming Sunday, November 14 in Centenary Square.  

As usual the parade will muster on Market Street at 10.30am and the Service of Remembrance will start at 10.55am at the War Memorial. Arrangements will be as in previous years.

MS teams up with police for advice surgery

Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates (pictured) will be joined by police at his upcoming advice surgery in Llangollen to create a ‘one-stop shop’ for constituents. 

Mr Skates and Sgt Richard Evans from North Wales Police are teaming up for the advice session on Friday November 19.

 

The MS said: “Surgeries are an important fixture in elected members’ diaries and provide a valuable opportunity to sit down face-to-face with constituents, discuss issues of concern and to offer support and advice.

 

“Clearly, the pandemic put paid to public surgeries for much longer than we expected or hoped, but now restrictions allow it’s important that we resume them.

 

“By teaming up with the police it means people can raise any concerns or information directly with them in confidence which they might otherwise not report, as well as speak to me about anything else they need help with. We are hopeful these one stop shop-style surgeries will help local people if there are a number of issues they want to discuss.”

 

Mr Skates said he is likely to continue to run surgeries alongside police going into 2022.

 

Sgt Evans said: “We are always keen to work closely with elected members to support local people, so we thought joining Ken at his Llangollen surgery made perfect sense. We look forward to discussing any local policing issues with members of the public then.”

 

* The surgery takes place from 10am-midday. Appointments can be booked by emailing: ken.skates@senedd.wales or calling Mr Skates’ office on 01978 869058.

County council's statement on threatened bus strike

Denbighshire County Council has issued a statement on the threatened strike by Arriva driver's.

It says:“Passengers should be aware that there is the likelihood of Arriva bus drivers taking industrial action on and from Saturday November 13th. Arriva is working to avoid this action but passengers will need to consider their plans in case this goes ahead.

“If Arriva buses are not operating, this means that passengers who use Arriva will need to make alternative arrangements. This includes learners attending school or college if they pay a fare.

“For Denbighshire residents who are eligible for free school or college transport and who use Arriva, Denbighshire County Council is making every effort to find alternatives for them. We cannot guarantee, however, that every journey can be covered.

“We would advise residents to check social media for the latest position.”

 

UK renewal fund earmarks £2.8m for county

More than £2.8m has been secured in Denbighshire for projects that range from supporting resident well-being to developing skills and employment.

The list contains nothing specifically for Llangollen with schemes supported being countywide. 

Established and new community organisations in Denbighshire submitted bids through the county council to the UK Community Renewal Fund and the successful projects have been contacted by the team at Denbighshire to support these organisations as they access the funding and deliver their projects.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “I would like to congratulate all the community organisations who have been successful in their funding from the UK Community Renewal Fund.

“Denbighshire staff worked really hard to ensure that organisations working in Denbighshire have been able to access these funds.

“The successful projects will have an impact right across our communities from supporting mothers and babies in need through to encouraging our young people into careers in science, technology and manufacturing.

“The projects that have been submitted fit really well with the priorities of the Council and help to create a whole county and Council approach to well-being, community resilience and employment, with a clear emphasis on carbon reduction.”

The UK Community Renewal Fund is part of the UK Government’s levelling up agenda and has invested in 477 projects across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Lowri Owain, Company Manager at Cadwyn Clwyd, which will receive £543,872 to develop a series of pilot projects and business innovation grants, said: “We have a joint project with Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council and one of the first pilot projects supported by the Community Renewal Fund will be the Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council project to re-purpose the historic market hall in Ruthin as an innovative market place which will focus on reducing food waste, well-being and enterprise.”

* For a list of successful projects in Denbighshire visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund-successful-bids

 

Friends of the Earth offers to check your heat loss

* Typical heat loss percentages for an un-insulated detached house.

Llangollen and District Friends of the Earth (FoE) has just launched a new project to provide free thermal imaging surveys in the area.

Its co-ordinator Warren Davies said: "We hope to show people where they are losing heat from their homes, and give them ideas about how they might reduce that heat loss.

"Between November and next February our volunteer Heat Seeker team want to help you actually see where you are losing heat from your house.

* Before and after radiator foil – much less heat escaping underneath the windows.

"They will take thermal images of the outside of your house on evenings when the weather conditions are dry and cold and either email you the images or invite you to a feedback session."

He added: "Well insulated homes save residents money on their heating bills, and provide a healthier living environment, which can sometimes mean avoiding poor health conditions linked to cold and draughty homes.

"The project has been supported by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's Sustainable Development Fund. 

"This means that the survey and all feedback can be provided free of charge." 

* Click here to sign up: www.llangollenfoe.org.uk/thermal

Country Market to remain closed for 'foreseeable future'

There are no current plans to re-open Llangollen Country Market.

Organisers have said in a statement: "With great regret, due to the current situation, the Llangollen Country Market will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

"Our members will meet again in February to discuss our future plans for the market.

"We would like to thank all our loyal customers for their patience and understanding while events have overtaken us but look forward to seeing you all in the future."

* For further details, go to the Country Markets website: Country Markets (country-markets.co.uk (Find a Market section).

Skates welcomes new animal welfare plan

Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South, Ken Skates, has welcomed a new five-year plan which aims to ensure a good quality of life for all animals in Wales. 

The Animal Welfare Plan for Wales, published by Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths, builds on what has already been achieved by the Welsh Labour Government since it gained powers to legislate on animal welfare in 2006. 

It outlines how the Welsh Labour Government will take forward its election pledges in this area and put in place other measures to further improve animal welfare.

Mr Skates (pictured) said: “As a long-term campaigner for higher animal welfare standards, I’m very proud of what Welsh Labour has achieved so far in Wales on animal welfare but there is more to do on this. My long-term ambition is for every animal in Wales to have a good quality of life and I am glad that the Welsh Labour Government’s plan outlines steps towards achieving that ambition. 

“The Minister has confirmed that the Welsh Government will work with partners to take forward these ambitious commitments – partnership working will be key to the success of the plan. 

“Achieving a good quality of life for all animals is ambitious, but that is what the Welsh Government must aim for.” 

The plan also includes a broad range of ongoing animal welfare policy work, including statutory guidance for existing regulations, licensing of animal exhibits, welfare of animals in transport, and Codes of Practice. Finally, it describes how the Welsh Government will work collaboratively with the other UK governments to further the animal welfare agenda, for example through the forthcoming Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. 

The Programme for Government commitments in the plan are: 

* To develop a national model for the regulation of animal welfare, introducing registration for animal welfare establishments, commercial breeders for pets or for shooting, and animal exhibits

* To Improve the qualifications for animal welfare inspectors to raise their professional status

* To require CCTV in all slaughterhouses

* To restrict the use of cages for farmed animals.