Health board explains its services on Queen's funeral bank holiday

The Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which serves Llangollen, says anyone with an appointment or procedure booked with any of its services on the bank holiday declared to mark the Queen's funeral next Monday should assume it is going ahead as planned unless told otherwise. 

As part of the period of official mourning, Monday September 19 will be a national holiday to allow people to observe the state funeral of Elizabeth II who died last week.

The health board said in a statement: "Our services will be running in line with normal Bank Holiday arrangements. We are working hard to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum. Anyone who has an appointment/ procedure within any of our services that day should assume it is going ahead as planned unless told otherwise.

"There is no need to call us as we will contact any patient whose appointment/ procedure needs to be re-arranged.

"If you have an appointment/ procedure for Monday which you no longer wish to attend, please let us know at the earliest opportunity using the contact details on your appointment letter, or by cancelling your appointment online. 

"Urgent and Emergency services and our Urgent Primary Care Centres will run as normal. GP Out of Hours services will also continue to be available."

The statement adds: "Some GP practices will be open on Monday, September 19 and a list of these will be available here as soon as possible. 

"If GP practices close on the bank holiday, they are responsible for rescheduling pre-booked appointments as necessary and supporting patients to receive prescriptions, especially repeat medicines, in advance of the bank holiday. For patients of GP practices that will close, the usual out of hours service will be provided over the bank holiday as normal.

"We would advise people to contact dental, optometry and community pharmacy providers to confirm available services on the bank holiday. There will be no change to emergency dental services. Contact information for minor injury units, dental, optometrists, pharmacies, mental health services, GP Services, NHS 111, sexual health clinics.

"Across North Wales will be open for pre-scheduled appointments. Currently our vaccination booking team is contacting members of the public to offer an alternative date for those booked in on Monday, if preferred. Scheduled care home visits will be maintained and delivered as planned."

Information on the COVID-19 Vaccinations Programme.

New Rotary Club has successful launch evening

* An illuminated tractor run, on December 4, in association with Llangollen and District Young Farmers Association, is an early project by the new Rotary Club.

Founders of the new Rotary Club serving this area are aiming to create an organisation whose members “make a difference” within their local community and abroad – while still having fun.

That was the message the people running the new Vale of Llangollen Rotary had for potential new members during a launch meeting held at Liberty Tavern in Market Street – its new base - yesterday (Monday) evening.

About 10 possible recruits heard from club president John Clifford that it was about bringing like-minded people together to see how they can collectively help the community, whether directly or by supporting others.

Secretary Mike Lade gave a potted history of the movement which he said was started in Chicago in 1905 by a group of businessmen who would “rotate” their meetings around one another’s offices – hence the name Rotary.   

The international organisation now spanned around 200 countries and numbered 1.4 million members. In Great Britain and Ireland there are 1,800 clubs.

Llangollen’s original club folded earlier this year when its numbers began to dwindle after 60 years in existence, although it was explained there was a hope its successor club would be able to attract the 20 members necessary to inherit its all-important Rotary charter.  

There was much emphasis during the meeting on the way Rotary had been changing to become more modern in outlook.

Mr Lade said the new Llangollen club – covering the whole of the vale area – would have “no funny handshakes and “no gongs”, adding “You don’t have to wear a jacket and a tie and don’t have to attend regular meetings”.

Although the club, he said, would meet every Monday at Liberty Tavern, attendance was not essential. However, he did point out the importance of members turning up for the monthly business meeting – on the third Monday – to receive updates on what the club was planning and to vote on proposals.

While there would be no sit-down meals, as many Rotary clubs still held, there would be the occasional guest speakers at these meetings.

The new club would be “dual gender” with membership open to “anyone over 18 of good character who want to be involved in their community”.

Mr Lade went on to outline the areas in which Rotary is involved, including the promotion of peace, the prevention of disease in Third World countries and the environment.

Locally, the new club was helping to run the Bra Bank scheme to raise money for the Third World by either reclaiming or re-making and re-using unwanted bras donated at collection points in the area.

Another idea from the new club was the creation of a business hub in which small and medium businesses would have a forum to aid their future development.

The club was also backing the Rotary concept of holding competitions to for young musicians, chefs, photographers, poets and sculptors.

“We want people to enjoy each other’s company in the name of friendship. We want to be a social group,” said Mr Lade.

“We want to work together as a team, either raising money for others or for specific projects. We want to make a difference but we also want to have fun.

“We’re part of a new breed of Rotarians, relaxed in style. But it is also important that the work of the old Llangollen club is carried on.”

The cost of club membership is £10 a month and a number of people at the meeting expressed an interest in joining.

* For more details, go to the club website at: valeofllangollenrotary.com or check out the Facebook page: @ValeofLlangollenRotary  

Council serves notice on 'unauthorised' campsite

Denbighshire County Council has served an enforcement notice on an unauthorised campsite between Llangollen and Trevor, according to the Denbighshire Free Press.

The story says that the council has issued an update on the case which it says it has 'received a high volume of queries' about.

The site has been purchased by a family who are now residents there. The council says that, 'to its knowledge', this family is not from the Gypsy/Traveller community.

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/21313999.llangollen-council-issued-update-unauthorised-campsite/

County council roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from the county council are:

Jct A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD SUN BANK 03/10/2022 - 07/10/2022 Gwaith BT/ BT Works MJ QUINN'S (SCOTT POWELL) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights 

OPPOSITE CLOGWYN GERAINT LLANGOLLEN GERAINT until 19/10/2022 Gwaith BT/ BT Works PLATINUM (DCC) LLANGOLLEN 

Volunteer shortage leads museum to issue closure warning

* Llangollen Museum in Parade Street is looking for more volunteers.

Llangollen Museum will have to close within the next year unless it can recruit more volunteers. 

That’s the stark warning from the unpaid team which runs the much-loved Parade Street facility. 

They say that, apart from the staffing shortage which has already forced them to cut their number of opening days, another major headache they are facing is finding £80,000 to repair a badly leaking roof. 

In a statement issued today (Monday) they say: “Llangollen Museum has been making the history of the town and surrounding area accessible to local people and visitors for well over 20 years. 

“With displays about the heritage of the area, and a collection of over 10,000 items, we are preserving the history of Llangollen for future generations, so that they can learn about the changes that have happened to our unique area over the centuries. 

“Totally volunteer run, we became an accredited museum 10 years ago. We would very much like to be able to continue to provide this service to everyone for another 20 years and beyond, but, aside from the issue of steeply increasing running costs, we have two critical problems. 

“The first is volunteers. As with many organisations our number of active volunteers has dropped significantly and, following the pandemic, we are struggling to recruit new ones. 

“We have had to cut our days of opening to just four every week, not only making it harder for people to access the heritage but also reducing the income from our small shop area. This will become particularly noticeable when our energy bills shoot up next year. 

“The second issue is with the building. The roof has developed a leak and the only solution is to replace the entire roof – at a cost of around £80,000. Under the terms of our lease from Denbighshire the museum will have to pay for this. 

“We may be able to apply for funding to do this work, but again it comes down to volunteer numbers – volunteers with time to write applications but, more importantly, to show that we are viable to continue to stay open. 

“Without good volunteer numbers we will struggle to secure funding, as it would be of little use to have a new roof if we do not have the people to run the museum. 

“One thing is certain – if we do not manage to get more volunteers then Llangollen Museum WILL have to close within the next year. So we need your help. 

“If you think that you would be able to give some time each week (days and times can be arranged to fit in with what works for you) to helping in the Museum please contact our manager Gill Smith at gilliansmith2@hotmail.co.uk or on 07516 023524. “So do get in touch and help us to let all visitors and local people enjoy the heritage of our fascinating area for the next 20 years.” 

* The museum is, at present, open four days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. 

It is currently starting its programme of talks – the next one will be on Friday September 30 and will be an illustrated presentation by Graham Greasley entitled Chirk, 1939-1945, a tribute to those men and women who served their country in the Second World War. The talk will start at 7.30pm – entrance will be £3 on the door and, as usual, will include tea/coffee and a biscuit.

In the art gallery at the Museum is presently a display of local scenes by the Pen y Cae Art Group. This will run until September 17 and then, from the September 20 will be an exhibition of photographs of May Queens and May Day events in Llangollen over the one 111 years that it has been running.

Mayor first to sign town's book of condolence for late Queen

* The Mayor, Cllr Paul Keddie, signs the book of condolence.

A book of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II has been opened to the public at Llangollen Town Hall.

The book is available for members of the public to visit and write messages of condolence regarding the Queen and their memories of her reign. 

Earlier today, the Town Mayor, Cllr Paul Keddie, signed the book and on behalf of the residents of Llangollen and offered heartfelt support to our new King Charles III. 

The Town Clerk who was also present said: “I think you can sense a feeling of sadness throughout the town, and the book being here gives people an opportunity to show how they feel and take a bit of time out of their day to pay respects in some small way.”

The book will be open and available for members of the public to sign between 10am and 4pm for the next week, until Friday 16 September and is accessed off Parade Street.

* The side entrance to the Town Hall where the book is being kept.

In addition to the condolence book, members of the public are free to leave comments and tributes on the Llangollen Remembers Facebook page which will be collated and added to the Town Council formal records. There is also a facility to leave messages on the Royal Family webpage www.royal.uk

Members of public who wish to lay floral tributes can place them between two flagpoles on Centenary Square and the Town Council respectfully request the use of biodegradable coverings. These will be removed the day after the state funeral and will be composted and used in the planting of a tree in memory of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Roadworks alert today for Willow Street

Latest local roadworks update from one.network is: 

Willow Street, Denbighshire 12 September - 12 September   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Road closure   Description: Planned works to undertake road markings along Hall and Willow Street, Llangollen following the intr...   Works location: Willow & Hall Street, Llangollen...   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: QR007S000000000588