Updated story: Council admits damage to bridge and says repairs are underway

* The picture of the bridge on social media yesterday evening.

Denbighshire County Council has admitted that stones were ‘displaced’ from Llangollen Bridge by contractors working on the town’s 2020 Project yesterday afternoon. 

They say work is now going on to replace the stones while a full site survey is carried out to see what other work may be needed.   

Pictures were posted on social media yesterday afternoon showing what seemed to be cracks in the stonework of the ancient monument as the contractors worked on the pavement to renew pavements on Castle Street above.

Llangollen town councillor Stuart immediately asked questions about the consequences of any damage to the bridge, which is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and urged that a full structural survey being carried out.

This morning the county council has told llanblogger: “Stones displaced on Castle Street Bridge in Llangollen on Thursday afternoon are currently being relocated back into position. 

“During ongoing public realm improvement works in the town, a small number of stones were displaced from the bridge during the removal of the base of a street lighting column. 

“Work is ongoing to put them back into position and there is no risk to the structural integrity of the bridge. 

“A full survey of the site is being carried out in partnership with CADW to determine what further repair works will be required.”

Stuart Davies said yesterday evening: “Back in 2017, when I served as a county councillor for the area, we received a report from engineers to say that water ingress had caused some damage to the structure of the bridge. They said it was alright for the moment but that we would have to keep an eye on it.

“I have now written to the county council’s chief executive and leader to say that what appears to have happened yesterday means that we should have a structural engineer take a good look at it to see if there has been any damage which might weaken the bridge.”

He added: “If there has been any damage, repairs cannot be done quickly as this is a Grade 1 Listed structure and an ancient monument for which permission needs first to be obtained from CADW.

“If there has been any damage there is also the question of whether heavy traffic can still be diverted through Llangollen and over the bridge as happens when the A483/A5 viaduct is closed.

“These are the questions I have asked of the county council leaders.”  

Residents reminded to vote in elections on May 5

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents to make sure they are registered to vote in the County Council and Town, Community and City Council elections taking place on Thursday, May 5.

Voting also ensures residents have a say on the issues of the day while being on the electoral register can maintain people’s credit rating.

In order to vote in the upcoming elections, people’s name needs to be on the electoral register.  Residents are urged to check the letter that has been sent to homes, to ensure everyone entitled to vote is on the list.

Everyone is responsible for registering themselves – if their name or the name of another person residing at your address is not on the list, then they are not registered.

* To register, go to: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

The deadline is midnight on Thursday 14 April to register to vote.  People also have until 5pm on Tuesday 19 April to apply for a postal vote and 5pm on Tuesday 26 April to apply for a proxy vote.

 

Have your say on management plan for local beauty spots

Members of the public can have their say on a draft management plan for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley.

A consultation has been launched for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty draft Management Plan 2020-2025.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) contain some of the most beautiful, spectacular and dramatic areas of countryside in Wales and have strict guidelines for the conservation of landscape.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB covers approximately 390 square kilometres, stretching from the coastal hills near Prestatyn to the north and extending as far south as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Berwyn Mountains.

It includes land in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham and is managed by the three county councils with Denbighshire County Council as the lead authority for the joint AONB committee.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, and Chair of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB Joint Committee, said: “In late 2020, Denbighshire County Council on behalf of the joint AONB committee carried out a consultation which was used to help develop this draft management plan.

“Now the draft management plan has been written, the AONB committee is keen to understand whether the contents and aims reflect what people told us was important.

“We know that many residents and visitors enjoy visiting the area every year and it is therefore important people have their say on the future management of the AONB by taking part in this consultation.”

* The consultation runs between 9th March and 20th April 2022 and to get involved and have your say visit https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/661

Hard copies of the management plan are available for viewing in:

Loggerheads Country Park Visitor Centre, Ruthin Road, CH7 5LH

Llangollen Library, Castle Street, Llangollen, LL20 8NU

Hundreds join hospice's walk along Llangollen Canal

* Above and below: People who took part in the canal walk.

Hundreds of walkers joined the popular Llangollen Canal Walk to support Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith Children’s Hospices, raising more than £15,000. 

The event, which was held last Sunday saw walkers take in the stunning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and beautiful canal-side scenery under stunning sunshine.   

The 10-mile walk began early at The Trevor Basin before ramblers headed over the aqueduct towards the Poachers’ Pocket and back again. 

Fundraiser Cat Dowdeswell said: “It was amazing to have everyone back together for our Llangollen Canal Walk.  

“Our supporters really do make the events and in the glorious sunshine, we all had a lot of fun.  

"To raise more than £15,000 is incredible and we would love to thank everyone who joined us on the day and supported us to reach this amount, which will do so much to help support children and their families who receive care at Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith."

The event was sponsored by Wrexham-based Net World Sports.  

* If you were unable to take part, but would still like to donate then you can do by visiting www.hopehouse.org.uk/donate

Latest Cittaslow webinar is tomorrow evening

 
For the latest in its series of community conversation webinars Cittalow Llangollen is holding an online session on the theme of Community, Health and Wellbeing tomorrow (Wednesday) March 9, starting at 6.45pm.

Speakers will be Eleri Jones of Denbighshire Citizens Advice, Margaret Sutherland of the Pengwern Community Project and Rebecca Roberts of Nature for Health.

* To obtain the link should you wish to attend, email: townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk

Railway now protected against vandalism thanks to local firm

* Francis Johnson, managing director, and Mel Pengelly, director of Parallel Security with Phil Coles, vice chairman of Llangollen Railway (centre).

* One of the two vandalised railcars, now fully repaired and in service.

A local security company has come to the aid of the Llangollen Railway (LR) following the vandalism of several of its historic items of rolling stock last August. 

During the incidents two 60-year-old railcars were daubed with graffiti and had windows broken.

Parallel Security is a Welsh security provider based in Mold, which prides itself on supporting local communities and businesses.  

When its directors heard about the vandalism they quickly contacted the railway to offer their security services

Managing director Francis Johnson and director Mel Pengelly arranged a meeting with railway vice-chairman Phil Coles to discuss what had happened and how Parallel may be able to help prevent similar attacks happening again.

After several site surveys and discussions over potential issues with securing the very remote storage yard where the vandalism took place, a plan was put together and offered to the railway free of charge to help protect their carriages and engines from theft and vandalism.

Parallel has provided state-of-the-art CCTV, which is now installed at the rail yard. 

The cameras are monitored 24 hours a day and use artificial intelligence and motion detection to secure the areas.  

If required, a Parallel Response vehicle will also attend to police the areas should an alarm be activated.  

Senior management of the railway also have the facility to look at the cameras using mobile technology on their smart phones, giving additional operational and Health & Safety functionalities in addition to the system’s security provision.

Francis Johnson said: "It was great to be able to support Llangollen Railway in this way, but we obviously wish that this incident had not have happened in the first place.  

"It is vitally important to our business to support the Welsh community in this way and we are more than happy to support the railway on an ongoing basis to enable the services it provides to the public to continue without disruption from theft and vandalism."

Phil Coles thanked Parallel Security for their speedy response to a post on Facebook showing photos of the vandalism. 

Phil said “We’ve had a lot of challenges over the past 12 months and could really have done without damage to the rolling stock that we have been able to retain. With our finances continuing to be stretched as we work to re-open the railway to Corwen and invest in our existing infrastructure, Parallel’s generous support to manage our security is very much appreciated indeed. 

"It’s a great example of how local businesses can pull together and support one another through challenging times. As we look to reposition the Llangollen Railway at the heart of the local community we hope to engage with other local businesses and organisations for everyone’s benefit."

The railway successfully reopened for the 2022 season on Saturday February 19 using two of the diesel railcars that suffered from the vandalism, which have been fully repaired at considerable expense.

Railcar services will run every Friday to Sunday throughout March, with steam and diesel locomotive-hauled services due to return at Easter. 

Llangollen duo aiming to inspire women entrepreneurs

* Nic Wagstaff.

* Claire Marie Quant.

A duo from Llangollen are aiming to inspire  women wanting to break into the wellness sector and follow their entrepreneurial dreams at a conference in Chester later this week.

The Well-being Warrior Women’s Conference is the idea of Nic Wagstaff, an entrepreneur who runs Inspire-Rewire, and the theme of the event is Elevate and Grow.

In line with International Women’s Day, a collection of inspirational speakers will be hosting short talks on how they have either made the break into wellness full time, or elevated their business to the next level. 

Nic, who lives in Llangollen, is best known for teaching wellness entrepreneurs how to run their own retreats, as well as running her own successful well-being business including runningretreats in Chester and around North Wales.

The conference takes place on Thursday, March 10 at Cheshire View, Christleton, from 9.30am to 3.30pm with the main workshops being held between 10am and 2.30pm.

If you are a woman looking to grow or elevate your well-being business, this is an opportunity to enjoy face to face networking once again and be surrounded by like-minded ladies who are keen to grow or set up their own business, find a collaborator or get advice around public relations, marketing, branding and coaching.

The speaker line up also includes Llangollen-based Claire Marie Quant, a public relations expert and career clarity coach for women of 40-plus at a crossroads in their lives.

Speaking about her first Well-being Warrior Conference for Women, Nic Wagstaff said she was inspired to create the event to help and inspire others in the well-being industry and to reinforce her passion to help wellbeing practitioners share their mission and services with ideal clients through her various retreats, events and online groups.

She said: “This is just the first conference, and I've dedicated this one to women in line with International Women's Day, but later we will open it up to everyone. As well as bringing together amazing experts in and out of the well-being world, we will understand we are not alone, it's not for the faint-hearted but that you are truly a warrior, and it's so worth it.

“Having worked in the well-being business for 7 years after leaving corporate where I worked as Group Head of Learning and Development, I understand how hard it is making that switch to follow your passion, and more than that, I know how it feels to have that sinking feeling after you make that choice of 'have I done the right thing?' when times are tough.”

Claire Marie Quant is hosting one of the workshops with the themeBelief In You. 

She set up her own PR business after quitting corporate life back in 2016. She now combines her two loves of communications with coaching women who find themselves stuck in a rut and at a career crossroads.

Claire said: “I am delighted to be sharing the day with Nic Wagstaff, of Inspire-Rewire and other inspirational speakers and delegates, as it’s so important to empower each other and help others on their personal transformation journey. So often women don’t realise their true potential because they lack confidence, and self-esteem to make a change.

“I show women that it’s never too late to re-invent themselves and live their life on their own terms. Once they have clarity on their amazing skills it's possible to see a path to a brighter, lighter and more fulfilled life. Having a conference like this in Chester is an amazing opportunity for women to get the confidence, support and networks to follow their dreams.”

Other speakers include Nicola Kemp, a marketing consultant with independent businesses, who develops their brands, websites and provides marketing support; Gabi Forrester, a naturopath and health transformation and business mentor for health and wellness practitioners and entrepreneurs; Anne Sheakey, owner of ATTIC Teas and expert in affiliate processes and opportunities.

* Tickets for the Well-being Warrior Women's Conferenceare £49 per person, including lunch and are available at https://www.inspire-rewire.com/new-events/womens-conferences