Skates highlights Newbridge Road issue in Senedd

* Ken Skates (centre) with campaigners Frank Hemmings (left) and Derek Wright at the Newbridge site last April.

Transport issues in the area have been highlighted again in the Senedd by local MS Ken Skates.  

The Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South raised the urgent need for improvements to the A483 in November, calling for an update on the Welsh Government’s review of the key local route and saying work to make Junction 1 at Ruabon safer was vital. 

 

Mr Skates, the former Transport Minister, followed up on the ‘crucial’ local issues by writing to Minister Lee Waters, who is now in charge of transport matters in Wales. 

 

He also pointed out the increased traffic on local roads because of A483 congestion and delays to repairing the B5605 at Newbridge, which Wrexham Council is still to announce a start date for almost 10 months after the Welsh Government announced funding had been awarded.

 

The Minister has now responded saying: “I am sorry to hear about the continuing problems your constituents are experiencing at Ruabon. As advised in the Siambr, we believe the closure of Newbridge Road (B5605) is contributing to the increased traffic volumes in this area as motorists look to take alternative routes.  

 

“We awarded funding of £2.805m to Wrexham County Borough Council from the Resilient Roads Fund for the remedial works at Newbridge Road. The council will be best placed to advise on when works will be completed, which should alleviate congestion in and around junction 1 of the A483. 

 

“My officials contacted GoSafe on the back of your concerns regarding the B5907 near St Mary’s Church in Wales School and they have confirmed that they will undertake enforcement.” 

 

In 2018, while Economy and Transport Minister, Mr Skates announced funding for work to improve junctions 3 to 6 on the A483. The Welsh Government, however, later paused all new road projects and said they would be reviewed. 

In his letter to Mr Skates last week, Lee Waters said: “The final report of the independent Roads Review Panel has now been received. On November 30, I published a written statement setting out that our decision-making has been extended by the impact of the UK Government budget situation and we will publish a way forward shortly. 

 

“With respect to Junctions 3 to 6 on the A483, officials have progressed procurement of technical advisors so that the next stage of developing proposals can proceed at pace if a decision is made to continue to support this work.” 

 

This week, Mr Skates said: “These are crucial local issues for our area and they need urgent attention. I’m grateful for the Minister’s commitment to helping resolve them. 

 

“I now eagerly await an announcement from the Welsh Government that the long-awaited improvements to the A483 will go ahead. In the meantime, we urgently need positive news from Wrexham Council about Newbridge and when the work to reopen the road will get under way.” 

Latest Pengwern Community Hub what’s on guide

Pengwern Community Hub What’s On Guide for February 2023 is:

Details of tomorrow's school strikes from county council

Two of Llangollen's three schools will stay open during tomorrow (Wednesday's) strike by an education union, according to a list produced by Denbighshire County Council. 

Both Ysgol Y Gwernant and Ysgol Dinas Bran will remain open while Ysgol Bryn Collen is shut for the day due to the action.

In a statement on the way strike action will impact on the county's schools the council says: "We have been notified of national strike action by members of the National Education Union (NEU)  on Wednesday 1^st February and 14^th February 2023 which may impact on the operation of schools within the County. Additional days are also planned on the 15^th and 16^th March 2023.

"This is anticipated to result in a significant reduction in staffing levels within schools and will affect all areas of Wales.

"All schools have assessed whether they can remain open or partially open on these days and if not whether the sites will need to be closed to learners on these days.

"Schools will communicate directly with parents and carers regarding individual decisions and information.

"In addition, the National Association of Headteachers have notified Denbighshire that their members will commence action short of strike action as of the 1^st February 2023. 

"We appreciate that this industrial action has the potential to cause significant disruption to the learning of children and young people, and that alternative arrangements may need to be in place during these days should schools close/partial close.

"You will have received individual notifications as each school decides on the impact of this action however a full list is attached below that summarises the information.

"Schools will need to risk assess each day of industrial action separately and decide if a closure or partial closure is required.  We will keep you informed prior to the other proposed days of action."

MS urges people to have a say on Four Great Highways scheme

* Lower Dee Mill Park (above) and the ramp up to the Wharf (below) are included in the Four Great Highways project, currently out to public consultation.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging people to have their say on plans to promote Llangollen.

He said: “I think it is an excellent idea to let people who live, work and visit the town to have their say on its future plans. 

“I am delighted to see the project, in the Clwyd South constituency, coming to fruition thanks to funding from Round 1 of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and a joint application for money from Denbighshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council.

 

“It is great to see investment in this popular tourist destination which can only enhance and improve the area for local people and visitors alike. It is also good to see how the Levelling Up Fund is delivering for people in North Wales.”

Llangollen's residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to share their views on a project aimed at promoting and enhancing the four great ‘highways’ of Llangollen: the Llangollen Canal and World Heritage Site, the former Ruabon to Barmouth railway line, the River Dee and Thomas Telford’s historic route, the A5 Holyhead Road.

The aim is to improve the visitor experience and increase the amount of time people choose to spend in the area. Proposed works include providing landscape and engineering improvement works to enhance accessibility and biodiversity, as well as making it easier for visitors to understand what is available in the area and how to find it.

The four key areas which have been identified are: Wharf; Access points to the Wharf, Railway and Lower Dee Mill Park; Lower Dee Mill Park and Signage & Wayfinding (including visitor information in car parks)

The Levelling Up Fund is intended to invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK. The fund supports town centre and high street regeneration, local transport projects, and cultural and heritage assets.

The Levelling Up funding allocated to Denbighshire in Round 1 amounts to £3.8m and will benefit the communities of Llangollen, Llantysilio, Corwen and surrounding areas.

* To take part in this consultation, please get in touch with us in one of the following ways: Email: fourgreathighways@denbighshire.gov.uk, Online: Complete the online feedback form on Denbighshire's County Conversation: https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/709

Complete a paper questionnaire: Llangollen Library, Castle Street, Llangollen, LL20 8NU or write to: Corporate Programme Office, Business Improvement & Modernisation, PO Box 62, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 9AZ. Responses must be received by Sunday February 12 2023.

MP swings in to meet golf club team

* Simon Baynes MP with Hayley Henson and Steve Cooke at the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes recently visited the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club to meet with staff and learn more about the organisation.

He met with manager Hayley Henson and marketing director Steve Cooke and heard about the important role the club plays for the local area. 

It has over 500 members and employs seven people, including five green staff, and attracts over 5,000 visitors to the Llangollen area to play golf, many of whom stay in the area to the benefit of the local economy. 

Mr Baynes praised the club for being very active in raising money for charities including Nightingale House Hospice, Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust and the Wales Air Ambulance Charity. 

The club is also very focused on preserving and improving the environment and ecology on and around its beautiful course as can be seen on its website - https://www.vlgc.co.uk/environment-ecology/

Steve Cooke said: “We are glad to play a role in attracting visitors to the region and always happy to meet with local representatives to share our current activities and future plans."

Mr Baynes said: “I had a very enjoyable visit to the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club and it was fantastic to meet with both Hayley Henson and Steve Cooke.

“It was great to hear about the club’s role in bringing visitors to the area and how this benefits the local area and I was particularly impressed to hear about their continuous hard work in raising money for incredible charities and caring for the environment and ecology on and around the golf course."

Llan butchers wins top national award

* The awards presentation at the Senedd.

A firm of butchers with a branch in Llangollen has landed a top national award.

Daniel Morris Butchers, which opened a shop in Castle Street and has other branches in Denbigh  and Mold, has been awarded the accolade of Countryside Alliance Champion Butcher for Wales 2023.

On it Facebook page it has posted: "Daniel Morris Butchers at Senedd, Cardiff - "We are absolutely over the moon to announce that tonight we were awarded the Countryside Alliance Champion Butcher for Wales 2023!

"A huge thank you to everyone that nominated and voted for us, to all of our loyal customers and especially to our fantastic hard working team at Daniel Morris Butchers."

The Countryside Alliance Awards, otherwise known as the Rural Oscars, were set up 16 years ago to offer a voice and a platform to our rural businesses and are a true celebration of the countryside.o

Walkabout briefing sessions to be held for Great Highways project

A number of ‘walkabout’ public consultation sessions are to be held in the town next week for the £1.25m Four Great Highways project.

The scheme, financed mainly by cash from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund and implemented by Denbighshire County Council, aims to improve public spaces linking the four famous ‘highways’ that run through the heart of Llangollen – the canal, the old Ruabon to Barmouth Railway line, the River Dee and A5 Holyhead Road. 

The design team in charge of the project are currently running a public consultation exercise on it and have already held online sessions and sent out a questionnaire, copies of which are available online or at the library.

Now, during the morning and afternoon of Wednesday February 8, the project team and their designers Burroughs & The Urbanists will be hosting four walkabout public consultation sessions at the Wharf and Mill Street car park.  

The team are asking people to email them if they want to attend, or they can add their names to a list being kept for them at the library. 

This is so they can gauge interest and numbers for each of the sessions, which are open for all to attend.  

They say that the consultation is still open until February 12 and further details of how to get involved are on the poster above. 

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, according to the project team.

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

Cymraeg: Ymgynghoriad Pedair Priffyrdd Fawr 

English: Four Great Highways Consultation