Carols by Candlelight service lights up St Collen's

* Members of the congregation hold up their Christmas candles.

St Collen's gave a glowing introduction to Christmas when they staged their annual Carols by Candlelight service yesterday (Sunday) evening.

Joined by members of other churches in the town and accompanied by a powerful choir, they gloried in a selection of favourite pieces such as Once in Royal David's City, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, We Three Kings of Orient Area, O Come All Ye Faithful and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

These were interspersed with readings by people from the various churches involved.

The service was led by Father Lee Taylor, priest-in-charge of St Collen's.

Later mulled wine and mince pies were served, prepared by Fabiano Silva.      

* A reading from Gethin Davies.

* Dyfed Thomas gives a reading.

* Father Lee Taylor leads the service.

* Leigh Mason leads the choir.

County council chair launches schools art competition

County council chairman, Councillor Arwel Roberts, has announced he is launching a new Denbighshire Schools Art Competition, entitled WELLNESS - ‘What Makes You Happy?’.

This aims to raise awareness of the NSPCC’s vital Childline service, which is a free, confidential service available online or on the phone, anytime for children and young people up to 19 years old to seek support and advice, including about their mental health.

The creative challenge invites Denbighshire’s under 12-year-olds to send in their artwork of things that make them happy. For example, a trip to the park or the beach, visiting family, spending time with friends, playing sport.

The participants will be in with a chance for their art to go on display in libraries across the county during Children’s Mental Health Week, from the 6th to the 12th of February, with the overall winner being awarded a free workshop in school with a leading Welsh artist. The closing date for the competition will be the 27th of January.

Cllr Roberts said: “We are proud to support and be working with NSPCC North Wales Hub in Prestatyn on this competition. Their outstanding and vital work to protect children deserves the awareness this new competition will bring. The NSPCC are there when both children and adults need a helping hand and offer life changing services 24 hours of the day.

This competition is a chance for children and young people to be creative and truly express how they’re feeling through the medium of art. I am really looking forward to seeing all of the amazing entries.”

Jessica Finnegan, Community Fundraising and Partnerships Manager at NSPCC Wales/Cymru, said: “We are delighted this new art competition has been opened to raise awareness of our Childline service.

“Childline provides vital support for children and young people to be able to talk about their mental health, and in fact we know this was among the top three concerns counselled at our Childline base in Prestatyn last year.

“We can’t wait to see all of the fantastic entries which are submitted.”

* Children and young people can contact Childline about any worries by calling 0800 1111 or visiting the site.

Famous duo make seasonal charity appearance in town

Father Christmas and one of his reindeers have been outside Home Bargains in Llangollen this afternoon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer. 

While Santa (aka town crier Austin Cheminais) is consulting youngsters out shopping with their parents about what they want him to bring them on the big day, Rudolph (aka local entertainer Chris Burton) was belting out a selection of seasonal songs.

They started at 2pm and are there until 4pm today.   

Second stage of woodland work to start at Pontcysyllte

Work has started on the second phase of woodland management at Pontcysyllte.

As part of the Our Picturesque Landscape National Lottery Heritage Funded project in the Dee Valley, woodland management works within the woodlands around the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct are taking place this winter.

Some trees are being removed, following careful consideration, resulting in a more varied age structure benefitting the woodland, wildlife and people as discrete views will be opened across the World Heritage Site.

The work involves coppicing of mature shrub species, selective thinning of tree species and the felling of unstable stems close to pathways.

The second phase of work, which began on December 12, will involve the light thinning of the woodland along the riverside from the aqueduct towards Ty Mawr country park as far as the new antique camera installation and then up to the top path.

Signage will be placed around the area to inform the public that the work is taking place.

Councillor Win Mullen James, Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “We thank the public for their patience while this work takes place over the winter. When finished visitors can look forward to more views to enjoy while discovering this picturesque area.”

Council advises caution as yellow warning issued

The Met Office is forecasting potential for very icy conditions early on Saturday morning as precipitation moves in over very cold roads. 

Crews will be working through the night and on into the morning to address these potential hazards as much as possible.

The Met Office is also issuing a yellow warning of Snow and Ice for Sunday, which will impact the county of Denbighshire also. The warning states that a period of snow could lead to some disruption to travel and other activities, before turning to rain later.

The main risk of snow is on Sunday morning from 8am onwards.

The Met Office also states that it could cause possible travel delays along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage. There is a chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.

The Council is advising that people take caution during this period and make their safety their priority. Do not take any unnecessary journeys, especially if the roads do become icy and snow falls.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “After the impact of the recent harsh weather, it is more vital than ever that people stay safe during the yellow weather warning. We have guidance up on our website with information and advice about how to deal with extreme weather conditions, including how to stay safe.

“There is guidance on important topics such as driving in wintry conditions, clearing ice and snow and information on our gritting work during more extreme weather.”

Primary free school meals plans to be rolled out early

Universal Primary Free School Meals are to be rolled out early to all Year 1 pupils in Denbighshire from January 2023.

In December 2021 Welsh Government (WG) announced plans to offer free meals to all primary school pupils. The phased delivery approach would be implemented from 1st September 2022 to September 2024.

Following the initial receipt of £859,000 from Welsh Government to support the roll out of Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) across Denbighshire, works were undertaken throughout the summer, and completed in August 2022, at 13 sites across the county to increase the capacity of the Authority’s primary school kitchens.

Due to the successful completion of these works Denbighshire County Council rolled out Universal Primary Free School Meals to all Reception pupils from September 2022.

A second allocation of £1.2million of funding has now been received from Welsh Government and will be used to undertake further refurbishment works on both dining and kitchen facilities throughout 2023 in order to ensure that all primary pupils have access to Universal Primary Free School Meals by September 2024.

Despite rollout to Years 1 & 2 not being scheduled until Easter 2023, the Authority has now announced it is ready to expand the offer to Year 1 pupils as of January 2023.

From the start of the Spring term Reception and Year 1 pupils in Denbighshire schools will be asked on a daily basis whether or not they would like to access a school meal. They will be able to opt in or out without having to pre book and the meal will be provided free of charge.

Further information will be available on the Denbighshire website www.denbighshire.gov.uk/education. If pupils are already in receipt of free school meals and/or any other associated benefits, these will not be affected.

A further rollout of Universal Primary Free School Meals up to year 2 is still anticipated for Easter 2023.

Gill German, Lead member for Education Children and Families said, “It is fantastic news for Denbighshire pupils that the Authority will be able to rollout the Universal Primary Free School Meal offer up to Year 1 ahead of schedule. With mounting pressures around the cost of living the sooner we are able to offer this support to our communities the better.”

The next phase of refurbishment works will focus on ensuring that all Denbighshire Primary schools are able to deliver up to Year 2 by Easter 2023 followed by year 3 & 4 from September 2023.

Local roadworks alerts from county council

Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is:

A539 Carriageway ABBEY ROAD 19/12/2022 21/12/2022 Gwaith Draenio / Drainage Works DCC WORKS UNIT (PETER PAR LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A542 Chapel Street CHAPEL STREET 14/11/2022 23/12/2022 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT (PHILIP BI LLANGOLLEN Un Ffordd/ One Way

CASTLE STREET 05/01/2023 05/01/2023 Gwaith ar Gyrbau / Kerbing Works DCC STREETSCENE LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A539 O/S 3 HILL STREET 13/12/2022 20/12/2022 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Hall street Llangollen HALL STREET 14/11/2022 23/12/2022 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT (PHILIP BI LLANGOLLEN Atal Parcio / Parking Suspension Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure.