Work planned for week starting Monday, March 21 on the town's 2020 project is:
* Mike Pugh as Town Mayor.
Llangollen Town Council says it is saddened to hear of the loss of former councillor and town mayor, Mike Pugh.
It describes him as "a well-respected local politician who loved the town of Llangollen and its people".
He attended the local schools and in his youth was a keen sportsman, playing football cricket, running and darts.
Upon leaving technical college he travelled the world with his work to destinations including Algeria Malaysia, Holland and China.
Commenting on his passing Town Clerk Gareth Thomas said “I knew Cllr Pugh when I first took up my post as town clerk in 2012 and found him to be a very amiable and supportive councillor.
"Even after leaving the Town Council, at the 2017 elections, Cllr Pugh continued to show a keen interest in the affairs of the Town Council and was regular visitor to the Town Council offices.
"He was particularly supportive of the Town Council Annual Service of Remembrance, and it is very sad that he has passed.”
He is survived by his wife Barbara and his son Geoff.
His funeral will take place at 3.30pm at Pentre Bychan on Tuesday, March 22.
* Simon Baynes MP at Trevor Basin which is in his constituency and part of Wrexham.
Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed news that Wrexham County Borough, part of which is in his constituency, has been shortlisted for the UK City of Culture 2025.
Bradford, County Durham, Southampton and Wrexham County Borough comprise the shortlist of four for the prestigious title.
The four locations were approved by the UK Government based on independent advice made to the government by a panel of experts led by Sir Phil Redmond.
The finalists were whittled down from a record twenty initial bids to eight outstanding longlist applications which also included Cornwall, Derby, Stirling and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.
All bids were asked to explain how they would use culture to grow and strengthen their local area, as well as how they would use culture to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The vast benefits of winning the prestigious title include attracting millions of pounds in additional investment to help boost regeneration, a year in the cultural spotlight with hundreds of events encouraging long-lasting participation in the arts, and growth for local tourism.
Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see Wrexham on the shortlist for UK City of Culture 2025. The bid has done a brilliant job flying the flag for Wales and reaching the final four against such high-standard competition.
“Wrexham already has much to be proud of – one of the oldest football clubs in the world in Wrexham FC, the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and an award-winning culture and arts hub in Ty Pawb. If the county is successful the UK City of Culture title will bring huge opportunities and I wish them every success.”
Simon Baynes said: “This is excellent news for Wrexham and the wider County Borough and I would like to congratulate Wrexham Council for putting together such an outstanding bid – which clearly impressed the expert panel.
"As an area, we have so much going for us, and so much to be proud of, so I’m very glad to see this recognised. Like many others, I have my fingers crossed that we will win the bid, and reap the opportunities of the prestigious UK City of Culture 2025 title.”
* Photo courtesy of JS Hancock care of https://preservedbritishsteamlocomotives.com/5619-2/ -
The1925-built GWR 0-6-2T No 5619 will be visiting Llangollen Railway for its 2022 season from its usual home at the Telford Steam Railway.
The Collett-designed 5600 Class will arrive at Llangollen for completion of its winter maintenance and then undergo its annual examination.
The work will be completed at Llangollen by our MPD Team.
The loco will see use throughout the spring, summer and autumn before returning to Telford in time to haul their very successful Polar Express Christmas trains.
Tom Taylor, LR Trust Manager, said “No5619 should arrive in Llangollen before the end of next week (25th March) and that they would will pull out all the stops to have her ready to welcome steam back to the Dee Valley for Easter.
He added: "We are very grateful to our friends at the Telford Steam Railway for offering this superb loco to us.
"Being a Great Western tank, it will look very much at home on our line, which was very much at the heart of GWR Country in its heyday.
"It is a big step forward to us to source a visiting steam loco as we currently have no serviceable steam locomotives.
"Later this year two of our Llangollen-based Great Western locomotives, 2-8-0 No 3802 and Pannier No 7754 are expected to return to steam. The prospect of seeing 3 working GWR locos on the railway together is something to really look forward to and another clear sign that the LR is very much back on track."
Mark Paynter, Commercial Director of the TSR, said: “The Telford Steam Railway are excited to enter in to a new partnership with the Llangollen Railway and we are more than happy to assist them with their steam loco requirements."
Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents of changes to its recycling and waste parks.
From April 1 the three main sites in Denbigh, Ruthin and Rhyl will be managed by social enterprise Bryson Recycling, as part of a joint contract with Conwy County Borough Council.
The new contract aims to increase recycling rates, introduce more reuse activities and implement a local circular economy approach to recycling.
It will also see earlier opening times, improved access, a wider range of items accepted at the Ruthin and Denbigh sites and free compost, while Denbighshire residents will be able to use two Conwy recycling and waste parks at Abergele and Mochdre, says the council.
As part of the changes, a small charge will apply from April 1 for residents choosing to bring in non-household waste, such as DIY and construction waste from works or improvements.
This waste is classified as industrial waste, not household waste, and Council Tax only covers the cost of collecting, recycling and disposing of household waste.
Cllr Brian Jones said: “Working together with Conwy
County Borough Council to appoint a single operator has enabled us to provide
value for money for our residents, as management costs have reduced while
increasing the amount of waste we recycle.
“The new contract also includes more green initiatives, such as availability of free compost to site users and a new ‘Choose to Reuse’ area at each site for customers to help themselves to useful materials that other people have brought, a charity run re-use shop at the Rhyl site and more support of reuse projects within our communities.
“Bryson is also pledging £1 for every tonne of waste recycled to be donated to St Kentigern Hospice.
“Under the new contract there will be no charge for
household waste created in the day-to-day running of households.
“The council is not required to accept DIY and construction materials for disposal, even though that waste comes from a domestic property. However, we understand residents do sometimes create this type of waste themselves and we can handle this waste at our sites with a small charge, to cover the costs of handling and disposal.
“The charges are not designed to make a profit and have been kept as low as possible for everyone.
“This change has been introduced to enable us to reduce the overall cost of providing the service to help the council to manage a balanced budget and continue to support our priority services for the people of Denbighshire.
“Introducing a small charge also helps eliminate the temptation for businesses to deposit waste illegally at our sites. Despite strict controls in place to prevent this, we know some waste from commercial activity makes its way onto our sites by those masquerading as householders.”
Charges will apply only to DIY and construction materials such as rubble, plasterboard, asbestos, gas bottle, tyres and insulation material.
Gareth Walsh, General Manager at Bryson Recycling,
said: “We are delighted to win this contract and have an opportunity to bring
our social enterprise approach to the management of the three Denbighshire
sites. We will focus on maximising recycling and reuse at the sites, while
making a visit to the Recycling Centre an easy and pleasant experience.”
The Llangollen group set up to help the people of the Ukraine after their invasion by Russia is currently running a major fundraiser for the cause.
Cat Meade, who works at the Castle Street office of estate agents Wingett's, sprang into action two years ago to mastermind the setting up of the Llangollen Covid Support Group.
Now, as war rages through Ukraine, Cat has set up a support group specifically for Ukraine with the proceeds of all its fundraising going to UareUK - United to Assist Refugees UK (Refugees North Wales and Overseas).
Latest event, with prizes supplied by a host of businesses, has set tickets available until tomorrow (Saturday) on the Support Group Facebook page at https://m.facebook.com/groups/2605345223029039/permalink/3201860253377530/ or at Wingetts.
Prizes are:
£100 voucher The Three Eagles
£50 voucher Fouzi's Cafe Llangollen
* Graffiti spray-painted onto the castle.
An appeal for information has been launched after vandals daubed graffiti onto Llangollen's historic castle.
Castell Dinas Bran, which sits on a hilltop above Llangollen, is popular with locals and tourists alike.
But the 13th century ancient monument has been defaced by paw prints being spray-painted onto it in red.
North Wales Police's Rural Crime Team say the Gate House wall of the site has been damaged by the vandals.
Castell Dinas Bran is looked after by CADW, the Welsh Government's historic environment service. They are aware of the incident and say they are working to rectify it.
Officers are now appealing for witnesses to come forward and help identify those responsible.
A statement from the force read: "The team are appealing for any witnesses to the graffitiing of the Gate house of Castell Dinas Bran nr Llangollen.
"Cadw are aware of the damage and will take steps to rectify it. However if you have seen anything please contact the team on 101 or via webchat reference B035381."
