Four Great Highways project gets wider public consultation

The £1.25m scheme to improve links between the four famous ‘highways’ that run through the heart of Llangollen is going out to wider public consultation.

Following on from the recent online question-and-answer sessions for what is known as the Four Great Highways project a questionnaire has now been launched paper copies of which will also be available at Llangollen Library and responses to the questions can also be e-mailed direct to fourgreathighways@denbighshire.gov.uk

The project was given the go-ahead by Denbighshire County Council following a successful application to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF).

The aim is to enhance the public spaces that connect Llangollen Canal, the old Ruabon to Barmouth Railway line, the River Dee and A5 Holyhead Road. 

As the first phase of a public consultation exercise four members of the project team – the council’s project managers Sian Lloyd Price and Kimberley Mason along with design expert Daniel Smith and landscape specialist Chris Brinnington from consultancy firm Burroughs & The Urbanists - recently held three separate half-hour Microsoft Teams sessions yesterday.

The first for local residents attracted around 10 participants, about four businesses were at the second and the third, for everyone else, was attended solely by llanblogger’s Phil Robinson.

Total budget for the project, which has received substantial help from Levelling Up, is around £1.25m and work is expected to be completed by March of 2024, they said.

A spokesperson for the project team said: "At this stage of the consultation we are seeking people’s early views on the four areas we have proposed for improvement.  These views will then be used to inform designs which we will share for further consultation before Easter. 

"Details of future engagement sessions will be shared on our website in due course, this will include a walkabout of the project areas with our design team in early February.  

"Further information regarding these site visits will be confirmed and promoted on our social media pages and website towards the end of the week."

* The consultation questionnaire can be seen via Denbighshire’s County Conversations engagement portal at:

Cymraeg: Ymgynghoriad Pedair Priffyrdd Fawr 

English: Four Great Highways Consultation

County Council launches new volunteering project

Denbighshire County Council are launching a new project this month, with the hope of improving the mental health and well-being of individuals living in the area. 

The Edge of Care team are looking for volunteers to get involved in their new project. 

Volunteering could include meeting individuals face-to-face, over the phone or by attending social groups together. 

The opportunities may be suited to students who require volunteering experience within mental health or for those who have some free time and want to support others in their community. 

Cindy Elliott, Team Leader said: “There are many volunteering opportunities available which are suited to a range of abilities, but essentially we are hoping to improve the mental health and well-being of others through reducing isolation and improving socialisation."

The council says that if you decide to volunteer, the team will try to match you with someone who shares similar interests. 

You can volunteer on days and times that are convenient to you and suit your existing commitments, with training provided to help you feel confident in your new volunteering role.

Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said: “This is a brilliant service if you are looking to gain valuable volunteering experience. Why not start this new year in a meaningful way by helping someone improve their well-being and mental health.”

* For more information, please go to: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/edge-of-care

 

Former Llangollen churchwoman becomes a bishop

* Mary Stallard, new Bishop of Llandaff.

A churchwoman well known to the people of Llangollen will be the next Bishop of Llandaff.

The Rt Revd Mary Stallard, one of the first women to become a priest in Wales, had been the Assistant Bishop in Bangor.

For a number of years she lived in Llangollen where her husband, the Revd Andrew Sully, was Vicar based at St Collen's.

She was elected Bishop of Llandaff by the Electoral College of the Church in Wales on the second day of its meeting at Llandaff Cathedral.

The announcement was made at the west door of the Cathedral by the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, after Bishop Mary secured the necessary two-thirds majority vote.

Archbishop Andrew said: “Bishop Mary has served the Diocese of Bangor with enormous energy, faithfulness and joy. It is a huge privilege for us now to be able to pass her to the Diocese of Llandaff where we know she will bring all of the gifts that she has shown us. We are so delighted for her.”

Bishop Mary said: “It is a real privilege to receive this new call which I will do my very best to live up to faithfully.”

Bishop Mary’s election will be formally confirmed at a Sacred Synod service in April. She will be enthroned as the 73rd Bishop of Llandaff at Llandaff Cathedral shortly afterwards.

The election follows the retirement at the end of December of June Osborne, who served as Bishop of Llandaff from 2017.

Llandaff Diocese serves nearly half the population of Wales as it includes most of Cardiff, the South Wales valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Originally from Birmingham, Bishop Mary grew up in a vicarage. Her father was a vicar and her mother a scientist which meant she was raised in a home where asking questions about life and faith was encouraged.

Mary read theology at Selwyn College, Cambridge and studied to be a teacher in London before training for ministry at Queen’s College, Birmingham and Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in India.

Among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church in Wales in 1997, Mary served her curacy in Newport, before moving to the Diocese of St Davids as deacon-in-charge and vicar of Ysbyty Cynfyn, Eglwys Newydd and Llantrisant. 

In 2003, she was appointed Canon Residentiary at St Asaph Cathedral and Bishop’s Chaplain, serving also as Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Chair of the Diocesan Board of Ministry, and as Provincial Selection Secretary.

From 2011 to 2018 Mary served as Anglican Chaplain at St Joseph’s Catholic & Anglican High School, as well as being an Associate Priest in the Wrexham Mission Area. She was also co-director of the St Giles’ Centre for Religious Education & Faith Development in Wrexham.

She became Archdeacon of Bangor and associate priest of Llandudno in 2018. In January last year, Mary was appointed Assistant Bishop in Bangor and consecrated as a bishop in February.

Mary’s substantial broadcasting ministry has seen her appear on BBC Radio Cymru as a leader of Yr Oedfa and contributor to Bwrw Golwg, on BBC Radio Wales’s All Things Considered, Celebration, Wednesday Word and Weekend Word, and on Radio 4 as a leader of The Daily Service and Sunday Worship and as the author and presenter of Prayer for the Day.

She and Andrew Sully, who is now of  Ministry Area Leader of Llandudno, have two grown-up daughters. Her hobbies include cooking, reading and running.

Electric vehicle charging points will be 'working by the spring'

* The two Pavilion car park charging points.

* One of the two charging points on the Market Street car park.

Llangollen's two new electric vehicle charging points will be up and running by the spring, according to the county council.

The points - two on the Market Street and another pair on the Pavilion car parks - are already in place but not yet operational.

And a spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “The current work to install and also commission electric vehicle charging points at eight of our public car parks, including Market Street and Pavilion car parks at Llangollen, is expected to be completed this spring in time for the start of the tourism season across Denbighshire.

“Once live, there will be two dual 22 kW AC stations in each Llangollen car parks available to use by residents and visitors with the ability to charge four vehicles.”

The charging point installation aims to open up possibilities for people to transition to an electric vehicle where they didn’t previously have access to a charging facility. 

It is a part of the county council’s action to tackle climate change following the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and adoption of the Climate and Ecological Change Strategy in 2021.

Other electric vehicle initiatives are involved in the council’s goal to meet the target of a net carbon zero council by 2030.

* Details of the local installations are:

Market St Car Park	Llangollen	LL20 8RB	2 x dual 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Pavilion Car Park, National Pavilion	Llangollen	LL20 8SW	2 x dual 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)

Town councillor gives update on Newbridge Road repairs

* The damaged B5605 Newbridge Road.

A Chirk town councillor has given an update on long-awaited work to repair a vital link road which has been closed for almost two years.

Newbridge Road was shut as a result of a landslide caused by severe storms in February 2021, leaving motorists heading between Chirk and Cefn Mawr no alternative but to use a long diversion route.

Early last year it was announced work to repair the collapsed carriageway of the B5605 could get under way after the Welsh Government announced further major funding of £2.8m to Wrexham Council which is responsible for the repair. 

The Welsh Government had already awarded Wrexham Council £175,000 for ground investigation and detailed design of remedial works.

There has since been no definite word on the repairs.

But earlier this week Chirk town councillor Gareth Baines posted on his Facebook page: “Many have asked recently about the delayed repairs to the B5605 Newbridge Road.

“WCBC (Wrexham Council) expect tenders to be returned within a month and for the road to be repaired before the end of 2023.

“The road is being regularly monitored for further signs of deterioration.”

Latest county council weather update

In its latest weather update, issued earlier this afternoon (Wednesday) the county council says:

"Snow showers are set to continue, these falling as a mix of rain and hail near coasts, and sleet and snow inland at times, mainly overnight. Ice will continue to be an issue following any showers.

"This will lead to some temporary snow accumulations at lower levels, whilst higher ground across the county could see further accumulations of between 2-5 cm of snow, although ice will be the main hazard. 

"A Met Office yellow weather warning has subsequently been re-issued and the warning period extended, which is now effective from Wednesday 18 January 12:00hrs through until Thursday 19 January 12:00hrs.

"DCC gritting teams will continue to focus on maintaining the primary road network and resources will continue to be deployed to salt all priority gritting routes throughout this period. Agricultural snow plough contractors have been deployed across the county to clear the worst affected rural routes.

"Residents and road users are advised to only undertake essential travel and allow extra time for any journeys that are necessary and to take extra care due to the slushy and icy conditions.

"Further updates will be provided. In the event of any emergency situation requiring an immediate response, contact should be made directly with Denbighshire Customer Services or via the Galw Gofal out of hours contact centre on 0300 123 3068."

 

 

Police issue warning about online selling scams

North Wales Police Community Alerts has issued a warning about online fraud.

It says: "Since the 1st of January 2023 North Wales Police have received 21 reports of victims selling items online and not receiving payment, totalling a loss of over £10,600. 

"Criminals are using a number of methods and are targeting those selling high value items such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. 

"In some cases, the victims receive a fake email from Paypal claiming the payment has been made and the victim is then urged to send the sold item to the suspect in the post, only to find that no monies have actually been paid and all contact with the buyer is blocked. 

"In other cases, suspects have attended the victims home address and pretended to make payment using a fake banking app or using forged bank notes to pay before leaving with the goods. 

"Anyone selling items online are urged to ensure that payment is made in full prior to parting with any goods. If using Paypal, check the payment has been made using the app and do not agree to use the Friends and Family option as there is no protection offered with this service."