Primary schools' plan to make their roundabout safer

* The roundabout in front of the two schools. Picture from Google.

Llangollen’s two primary schools have been in touch with parents to tell them about plans to make the roundabout in front of their buildings safer to negotiate from next Monday.

A letter sent out by the children’s school councils at Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant outlines the plan to restrict use of the roundabout to 30 minutes in the mornings and 45 minutes in the afternoons for dropping off and picking up children, with only certain vehicles allowed to park and wait.

The letter also explains that the schools are working with the county’s traffic team to create a special area on the roundabout to help keep children, parents and carers safe as they head to and from lessons.

The letter says the school council has been working with head teachers and governors at both schools to find a way to make the roundabout “safer at drop off and pick up times”.

Areas which have been discussed, say the children, are the number of cars parking in the wrong places, especially on triple yellow lines; the number of people parking in taxi bays; how people can travel more safely to the schools and how to “try to fix the problem before there is a serious accident”.

“We have also seen that many parents and carers feel the same way that we do, and agree that something needs to be done. So we need your help,” they add.  

The councils advise therefore that from Monday November 7 “no-one will be allowed to park and get out, or park and wait on the roundabout at all. The only vehicles allowed to park and wait will be taxis, minibuses, coaches and blue badge holders”.

Drop and go times, they say, will be between 8.30 and 9am in the mornings and 2.45 and 3.30pm in the afternoons.

The letter to parents adds: “We are working with the traffic team in Denbighshire to help us to allow children and parents/carers who work, bike or scoot to school to travel safely into school.

“We would like a special area on the roundabout to keep them safe. To do this we need to get help from Highways and the planning team. We will let you know when we get more information on this.

“We hope you agree that these very small changes will make a huge difference and that with your help, you can make drop off and pick up times a safer place for both schools. If you would like to talk about these changes with your school, please contact your school directly.”

County launches Free After Three seasonal parking scheme

* Market Street is one of Llangollen's car parks where it will be Free After Three in the run-up to Christmas. 

Denbighshire County Council will once again be running the ‘Free After Three’ parking scheme in the run-up to Christmas.  

Between November 21 and December 31, council-run town centre car parks - including four in Llangollen - will be free to use across Denbighshire every day from 3pm to encourage more people to use their local high street for shopping.

The Free After Three initiative will be available in the following car parks: 

1. Corwen - Green Lane
2. Denbigh - Barkers Well Lane (multi-storey), Factory Ward, Crown Lane, Post Office Lane and Vale Street
3. Llangollen - Market Street, East Street, Hall Street and Mill Street
4. Prestatyn - Lower High Street, Kings Avenue and Railway Station
5. Rhuddlan - Parliament Street
6. Rhyl – Central (underground), Morley Road, Sky Tower, West Kinmel Street, Town Hall, Railway Station
7. Ruthin - Market Street, Park Road, Crispin Yard, Troed Y Rhiw, Rhos Street, St Peters Square and Dog Lane
8. St Asaph - Bowling Green

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “Free after 3 has proved popular in previous years because it is a great scheme that enables residents to support their local communities. 

“We hope that everyone supports our local high streets and back our businesses, especially in the run-up to Christmas and take full advantage of the benefits of the scheme by using the county’s town centre car parks free of charge.”

County proposes revised hackney carriage fares

Denbighshire County Council is proposing a new revised table of fares for the Hackney Carriages it licenses. 

The proposed changes are following a recommendation for review from the Licensing Committee in May 2022. The amended fares are:

Tariff 1: Standard Rate

Applies to hirings between 7.00am and 11.00pm

1. Rate for the first mile: £5.00
2. Rate for each mile thereafter: £2.50
3. £3.75 maximum charge up to 880 yards
4. 20p for each additional 141 yards or 25 seconds

Tariff 2: Sunday and night rate

Applies to all hirings on Sundays, and Monday to Friday between 11.00pm and 7.00am

1. Rate for first mile: £6.20
2. Rate for each mile thereafter: £3.70
3. £4.25 maximum charge up to 880 yards
4. 30p for each additional 141 yards or 25 seconds

Tariff 3: Double daytime rate

Applied on:

1. National public holidays
2. Between 11.00pm on 24th December and 7.00am on 27th December
3. Between 11.00pm on 31st December and 7.00am on 1st January

1. Rate for first mile: £10.10
2. Rate for each mile thereafter: £5.00
3. £7.50 maximum charge up to 880 yeards
4. 40p for each additional 141 yeards or 25 seconds

Extra charges:

1. For each passenger in excess of 1: 50p
2. For each animal: 50p
3. Soiling the carriage and leaving it unfit for hire: £100.00

 The consultation on the proposed amendments runs until 11th November 2022.

People wanting to have their say on the proposed fares can do so in writing to: Licensing Section, Caledfryn, Smithfield Road, Denbigh, LL16 3RJ, via email to licensing@denbighshire.gov.uk or by completing the online form:https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/preview/678

Sion Corn heads for Llan's first Christmas Festival since 2019

* Sion Corn checks out the swiftest route to 

Llangollen for the annual Christmas Festival.

Sion Corn has been checking out the best route to Llangollen ready for his guest appearance at the town's Christmas festival later this month. 

The popular annual event is making a welcome return on Saturday November 26 after a three-year break due to the pandemic.

A spokesperson said: "We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible to mark the start of the town’s seasonal preparations. 

"There will be a Grand Parade starting from the Pavilion ground at 1pm and proceeding to the Town Hall for the official opening where Sion Corn - the Welsh Father Christmas - will stay for the afternoon to meet and greet as many of his friends as wish to do so at the start of his busiest part of the year.

"There will be lots to do for children old and young and a wide range of seasonal treats and activities.

"At the end of the afternoon there will be the usual firework display at which time the town's Christmas lights will also be switched on.

"Sion Corn will once again be dressed in his traditional green as he makes his preparations and is already planning his visit. 

"After three years he has lots to do as he decides how to make the journey as rapidly as possible."

Still places left on first ever illuminated tractor run

* Getting their tractor ready for the big run on December 4 are 13-year-old Harvey and six-year-old Olivia Burke, grandchildren of agricultural contractor Alan Hughes of Garth. 

The area's new Rotary club says it still has space for modern or vintage vehicles festooned with fairy lights to join the first Llangollen Illuminated Tractor Run on Sunday December 4.

The recently launched Vale of Llangollen Rotary and Llangollen and District Young Farmers Association have organised the run. 

Tractors will muster at 3.30pm at Llangollen Pavilion and, after judging, will be waved off at 5pm by town mayor Councillor Paul Keddie and Rotary district governor Paul Dutton.

The route goes up Castle Street on to the A5 and then through Froncysylte, Chirk, St Martins, Overton, Ruabon, Trevor and back to Llangollen. 

Short stop-overs are planned in Chirk and Rhyn Park School car park in St Martins for local people to walk around the tractors and for children to get their photo taken with our Santa.

Spectators are asked to bring along some cash for a charity bucket collection.

A Rotary club spokesperson said: "Please, local farmers, get behind this new attraction and charity fund-raiser for the community.

"You can visit our website at www.valeofllangollenrotary.com and click the page for the tractor run to see the rules, how to register and how to pay for the entry."

Vale of Llangollen Rotary is ready to welcome individuals and couples of 18+ from the local community who want to be “people of action”. 

The club normally meets face-to-face, at Liberty Tavern, 20 Market Street, Llangollen on Monday evenings at 7.15 for 7.30pm.

* For more information on what the new style of Rotary has to offer contact Mike Lade on 07803 038858, valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or see www.valeofllangollenrotary.com.

Inner Wheel to host charity whist drive

 

Llangollen Inner Wheel is hosting a charity whist drive at the Welfare House in Market Street on Thursday November 10, starting at 7pm.

The International charity mwmbeers are supporting this year is Mary's Meals which supplyies mid-day meals to schoolchildren in the world's poorest countries. 

Not only does this feed the children but it encourages families to send their children to school.

Health centre invites patients to take part in survey

* Llangollen Health Centre.

As part of the national Access Standards for GP practices in Wales, Llangollen Health Centre is undertaking a Patient Experience Survey.

All our registered patients are invited to give their feedback via the link Patient Experience Survey

or QR code below.  

It only takes a couple of minutes and is completely anonymous.

Paper copies of the survey are also available at the Health Centre.

A Health Centre spokesperson said: "Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey."