Railway launches its packed Royal Jubilee programme

* The Queen and Prince Philip on the Royal Train at Llangollen station in 1953.

Llangollen Railway is planning a busy Platinum Jubilee weekend between June 3 and 5. 

Memories will be cast back some 69 years to July 10 1953, when Llangollen station proudly welcomed the Royal Train conveying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to visit the International Eisteddfod Music Festival, just days after the Coronation.

Great Western steam tank locomotive No 5619, visiting from the Telford Steam Railway, will run on all three days.

This will be highest consecutive number of days that a steam service has run in the Dee Valley since Llangollen Railway Trust managed to reopen the highly scenic line in July last year. 

The railway currently operates between Llangollen and the former slate quarry village of Carrog and services are soon due to be extended to a new station at Corwen.

Although Corwen station, which has been built completely from scratch by volunteers, is yet to welcome its first trains, the Jubilee weekend will see the station open to visitors between 10 and 4pm to inspect progress. 

A train of ballast wagons, which are being used to finish the trackwork off, will be on display all weekend. 

Wayne Ronnenback, Corwen’s new stationmaster, said: “The team at Corwen have all been working extremely hard to finish our new station, which should be opening soon. We’re not quite there yet, but are looking forward to welcoming visitors over the Jubilee weekend."

Also back by popular demand after a successful Easter trial will be 1956-built Class 08 diesel-electric Shunter No 13625, which will be allowing visitors to fulfil their childhood dreams by trying their hand at being a train driver - for just £5 a go.

The shunter will also be working a shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn Stations, which will run in-between the three daily steam trains that run between Llangollen and Carrog.

With a return journey time of 50 minutes, the Berwyn Shuttle allows those looking for a shorter trip the chance to travel to the beautiful Berwyn station. 

There is a station tearoom and it is also possible to take a walk to the Chain Bridge or nearby Horseshoe Falls and return back to Llangollen on a later train, if desired. 

Departures from Llangollen are 10:20, 12:15, 14:30 and 16:30, with returns from Berwyn at 10:50, 12:16, 12:45, 14:26, 15:00, 16:31 & 17:00. 

Tickets cost £8.50 for adults, £5 for a child and £7.50 for seniors, purchasable from Llangollen station on the day.

The Driver-for-a-Fiver experience will run in Llangollen station and allow those over 12 (under 16s musty be accompanied by an adult) the chance to drive the locomotive for a short distance along the platform and back. 

Driver-for-a-Fiver is available between 11:20-12:05, 13:15-14:15 and 15:35-16:15. Tickets can be purchased on the day.

* More details can be found on the Llangollen Railway’s website, Facebook page or by telephoning 01978 860 979. 

What police found in A5 corridor speed check

Police have commented on the speed of one motorist they recorded on the A5 earlier today (Wednesday).

In a message sent out through the Neighbourhood Alert online network PCSO Geraint Jones of Corwen Police Station says: "Early morning speed checks have been conducted this morning along the A5 corridor between Corwen and Llangollen following concerns from local residents. 

"Most vehicles were sticking to the speed limit's however one vehicle was seen travelling above 60 mph.

"NPT (Neighbourhood Policing Team) will continue to monitor on regular occasions - results will be fed back to local councillors."

Team creates improved visitor welcome at the Horseshoe Falls

* The Our Picturesque Landscape team outside the Lengthsman's hut.

After six months' preparation the area around the meter house at the Horseshoe Falls has been transformed to create an improved visitor welcome.

The job was undertaken by the Our Picturesque Landscape project, which is a landscape partnership scheme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund based in the Dee Valley.  

Partnership officer heading the small team running the project is Kate Thomson who said: "Using Welsh Government Brilliant Basics and National Lottery Heritage funding, the area around the intake and the meter house has been transformed to create a much improved visitor welcome.

"To celebrate this we formally opened the Lengthsman’s Hut to the public for the first time yesterday (Tuesday). 

"It has been closed up for many years and has been decorated as if the lengthsman has just popped out to work and will be back shortly.

"At the opening we were also trying to recruit volunteers to open it up going forward.

"The Lengthsman's Hut is located opposite the meter house on the canal towpath, just past the Chainbridge Hotel."

In one of her first official engagements since being elected as one of Llangollen's two new county councillors, Karen Edwards visited the project yesterday.

She said: "I was delighted to be invited to the opening of the Lengthman’s Hut and meet the team involved with the picturesque landscape project. 

"It’s so important to restore and preserve these buildings that are part of the heritage of the Dee Valley."

Cost of living support payments begin in county

Denbighshire County Council has begun one-off payments of £150 to those paying Council Tax.

As part of the Welsh Government’s Cost of Living Support Scheme to help residents with cost of living increases, payments will be made to those with properties in Council Tax bands A-D.

Payments will also be made to residents who were in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Scheme Support on February 15, 2022, irrespective of the Council Tax Band, and those with properties in Council Tax Band E where the property has had modifications for disability, reducing the chargeable value to Band D.

The first payments are being made to residents who pay for Council Tax via direct debit and payments began on Monday, May 16.

Steve Gadd, the Council’s Head of Finance and Property, said: “The council is administering this scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government and we have been working as quickly as possible to be able to start making these payments to our customers.

“Payments will be made automatically to the majority of residents paying via direct debit, with the remainder of customers needing to complete a short form on the council’s website.

“We would like to thank residents for their understanding while the council has worked on IT upgrades and to ensure robust and correct procedures are in place to implement this scheme.”

Residents who do not pay their Council Tax by direct debit must complete a short application form on the Council’s website.

Our intention is for this form to be made available during the week commencing May 23 with payments made during the following week.

We will continue to keep members of the public informed on the scheme.

For more information visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living

Campaigners lose battle to buy Pump Field in hard-fought auction

* The auctioneer's catalogue picture of Pump Field.

A campaign group has been unsuccessful in their campaign to save a popular Llangollen field from possible future development. 

After an intense three-hour round of vying for highest price by two anonymous bidders at an online auction today (Tuesday) the 4.65-acre Pump Field off Grange Road eventually sold for £113,000.

And that was just too much for the Llangollen Green Spaces action group which was formed to spearhead fundraising and buy the land to secure it for the community into the future and the Green Paw Project which was backing them to tune of £50,000. 

On their own account the group raised almost £18,000 in just a few days on crowdfunding which won support from both the area's Conservative MP and Labour MS.

The Jones Peckover auctioneer's catalogue said: "The sale of Pump Field provides a rare opportunity to acquire a useful parcel of agricultural land extending to about 4.65 acres, currently laid to pasture and suitable for a range of agricultural, equine or amenity uses (subject to any necessary consents).

"The land occupies a picturesque setting on the South side of Llangollen with views towards Castle Dinas Bran. it is set out in one enclosure and enjoys vehicular access and good road frontage onto Grange Road."

Online bidding opened at £48,000 at 10.34am today with three bidders in the contest.

With just Bidders 2 and 3 staying the course, the price rose rapidly as they made a total of 59 bids between them. 

By 1.31pm when the auction closed Bidder 2 was winner with an offer of £113,000.

Action group spokesperson Sarah Marshall said: "I am letting all our generous supporters know that the Auction for Pump Field closed at 3pm today and the final price was above what we were able to bid, so we were not successful on this occasion.

"People have been so generous in their donations and support, we really want to thank everyone for their community spirit and efforts to secure a beautiful green space for public use.

"It's been heartwarming to see the number of donations, whether large or small it has all been really appreciated as we know people have given what they can.

"Please do not continue to donate. The crowd-funder has a minimum open period until 27th May so we need to wait until after then but the auction is now closed.

"We ask for you to bear with us whilst we sort the logistics of closing the crowd-funder page, we will be updating as to final amounts that were raised and pledged in the coming days.

"Llangollen Green Spaces will continue to work to protect our beautiful green spaces and improve biodiversity in the local area and look forward to future projects."

Beacon lighting in Denbighshire for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Denbighshire is holding a beacon lighting event to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The free event will take place at Rhyl Events Area on Thursday, June 2, between 9pm – 10pm. 

The beacon lighting will be part of 1,500 events taking place throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen becoming the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, and to mark this historic 70-year reign.

Denbighshire County Council will be helping celebrate the Queen’s remarkable 70-year reign with this free event for members of the public, with no booking required.

To coincide with the lighting of the Beacon, all present will be invited to join in to sing the ‘Song for the Commonwealth – A Life Lived with Grace’ which won the Commonwealth-wide song competition and further details can be found at www.commonwealthresounds.com

Ample car parking is available in Rhyl for the Beacon lighting, but the closest car parks to the Events Arena are the Central Car Park, Sky Tower Car Park, and Pavilion Theatre Car Park, all located along West Parade, Rhyl.

Residents are reminded as this is a late evening, outdoor event, to remember to dress appropriately.

The council has also taken part in the Queen’s Green Canopy, a UK-wide, tree planting initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The Jubilee Tree, was planted at Cae Ddol, Ruthin in March, by Denbighshire County Council’s Chairman Cllr Alan James.

The tree is a Black Poplar, a very rare tree, native to the river banks of the county.

As part of the celebrations, we have held competitions for schools, and 20 Denbighshire schools have participated in the various competitions, with 2,404 entries having been received over seven creative competitions which include flag designs, letter writing, poetry and baking.

The winners of all the school competitions will be announced via Twitter at @cyfoeth_enrich on Wednesday, May 18.

Llan woman will use pedal power to support sick children

* Jenny Coppock will take in the cycle challenge.

A woman from Llangollen will be amongst cyclists from across the region using pedal power to support seriously ill children this summer as the Hope House Cycle Challenge returns for the first time since 2019.  

Hundreds of riders will take to the roads on Sunday, August 14, from Hope House in Oswestry and head on two routes to either 56 miles to Lake Vyrnwy or 70 miles to Lake Bala and back.   

The longer Lake Bala route takes in Bwlch y Groes – one of the highest public road mountain passes in Wales with a summit altitude of 545 metres. 

Cyclists will be provided with refreshments at the halfway feed station and treated to a delicious buffet upon return to Hope House. There will also be medical support on route as well as a bike doctor to keep cyclists safe. 

One of those already signed up to take part is 36-year-old Jenny Coppock, from Llangollen, who is a member of the Wrecsam Tri triathlon group. 

“I’ll be doing the Lake Bala ride, it’s one of the most scenic routes you can ride and I can’t wait to saddle up and get going,” she said. 

“This is a really inclusive ride for riders of all sorts of abilities and everyone is really supportive. If you have a bike, get signed up and ride for an amazing cause.” 

Due to the pandemic, the ride wasn’t able to be held for two years but is now finally back with a new bespoke medal for riders to add to their collection.  

Fundraiser Bekki Fardoe said: “It’s going to be great to see all of our riders again here at Hope House and out on the route. 

“We are so grateful to our sponsors The Fencing Bloke Ltd and Knight Frank for their incredible support in helping us be able to put on such an amazing event which will raise vital money to support children and families that need care at our hospices. 

“The Cycle Challenge is one of our most popular events, so if you want to take part and make sure you get your hands on one of our incredible medals and one of our cycle jerseys then please do sign up early to avoid disappointment and take advantage of the early bird fee.” 

* Sign up for the ride at www.hopehouse.org.uk/cycle and guarantee your place. It costs £25 to register in advance or £35 to register on the day and you must be over 16 to take part.