Llangollen Panto Group presents Jack & the Beanstalk in 2024

Llangollen Pantomime Group is to present Jack & the Beanstalk next January.

And they have a Meet and Greet session at St Collen's Community Hall on Sunday August 6 at 2pm.

The group says on its Facebook page: "Please come along if you would like to get involved in our new exciting production of Jack & the Beanstalk - our first show in over three years. We are very much looking forward to be bringing the Pantomime back to Llangollen Town Hall.

"Louise the director will be introducing all the amazing characters in the show and all the parts available for young and old.

"So if you are interested in having a part in the show or want to get involved in some of the amazing opportunities behind the scenes, there will be a lot of opportunity to chat and get to know everyone involved.

"Please do not worry if you cannot make August 6 we also have taster sessions/script run-throughs on August 13 and 20.

"The Llangollen Pantomime Committee are looking forward to meeting all who want to become involved in our show."

Rotary invites expert to talk about state of River Dee

 

* People examine trays containing samples of Dee river water on display.

The Dee running through Llangollen isn’t one of the worst rivers in the UK when it comes to its natural habitat.

That was the message from a project officer for the independent charity which is working to identify problems with world-famous watercourse and come up with ways of solving them.

The year-old Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club has set up a series of monthly gatherings at which members of the local community are invited along to St Collen’s Community Hall to hear about and discuss issues of general interest.

* A live stone fly could be seen in one of the sample trays.

At yesterday evening’s session project officer Gareth Jones gave an insight into the work of the locally-based Welsh Dee Trust and its five-year strategy for protecting and improving the river.

He explained that the project began in August 2020 and had since done most of its work upstream near Corwen.

It had looked at areas such as moving livestock away from the river in a bid to reduce erosion of the banks – particularly by grazing cows – and improving the habitat in and around the water.

“We want to create a properly clean river and that means one that looks natural, with trees and twigs and so on visible in it,” he said.

He added: “Our findings so far are that there are far worse rivers than the Dee in terms of habitat, especially its upper catchment areas.

“Another of our aims is to remove barriers to the fish population and to change the attitude of landowners towards our work.

* One stage, Rotary club member Kurly Marwaha questions Welsh Dee Trust project officer Gareth Jones about its work. 

“When our project first started I think they were a bit unsure about what we were trying to do to improve things, such as fencing off the river to prevent erosion by livestock, but I believe they now have a better understanding of our work.”

Mr Jones explained that another aim of the project was to reduce pollution in the river from agricultural work nearby and he said that grants were available for landowners to help them achieve this.

The Welsh Dee Trust had special schemes to recruit local volunteers to help with their work and assisted with taking regular samples of river water and litter picking around the waterway.

The samples showed the number of invertebrates living in the river which, he said, was an indicator of its health.

He had set up a number of tables in the hall showing trays of samples of Dee water in which invertebrates such as stone flies and May flies could be seen wriggling amongst the grass and soil.

Asked by a questioner in the audience about the levels of invertebrates in the Dee Mr Jones said monitoring showed a general decline in their numbers which may be due to phosphates in the water.

Asked by another questioner whether leisure activities on the Dee such as kayaking, canoeing and paddle-boarding had any negative impact on the river, Mr Jones said: “They have no detrimental effect as far as we are concerned.”

* More details about the work of the Welsh Dee Trust can be found on its website at: www.WelshDeeTrust.com

* Vale of Llangollen Rotary meets face-to-face in St Collen's Community Hall in Regent Street, Llangollen on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

For more information, email: valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or see www.valeofllangollenrotary

Skates wins assurance over Welsh station ticket offices

* Ken Skates MS: ticket office reassurance.

Former Transport Minister Ken Skates has welcomed confirmation that ticket offices at Welsh train stations will not close, as is happening in England.

The Clwyd South MS raised the issue in the Senedd yesterday (Tuesday) after Plaid MS Sioned Williams asked how the Welsh Government is ensuring people with learning disabilities have access to public transport. 

Train operators last week confirmed the Conservative UK Government’s proposals to shut down almost all of the 1,007 remaining ticket offices in England within three years – even leading to criticism from some of their own Tory MPs. 

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the move was a “retaliatory measure in the ongoing industrial dispute that the UK Government fails to settle”. 

And rail union RMT claimed the closures “will restrict passengers’ access to the best value tickets, worsen passenger service, accessibility, safety and security and lead to a de-staffing of stations”.

Mr Skates said: “First Minister, we know that people with learning difficulties and other people who face disabling barriers in life hugely value the presence and assistance of staff at railway stations. 

“Would you agree that it’ll be a source of reassurance to them to hear that Transport for Wales have no plans whatsoever to reduce the number of staff at stations that they manage here in Wales and, indeed, where they manage them in England? In stark contrast, the Department for Transport in England have announced the wholesale closure of ticket offices at stations managed by them.” 

The First Minister said: “I absolutely do agree with what Ken Skates has said. Almost 900 ticket offices in England are affected by the announcement of the Department for Transport in what many people regard as simply a retaliatory measure in the ongoing industrial dispute that the UK Government fails to settle in the transport industry. Here in Wales, we proceed, as the Member knows, through social partnership, working closely with our trade union colleagues. We achieve far more by working together than forcing through changes as part of ongoing industrial disputes. 

“I’m able to confirm exactly what Ken Skates said. Transport for Wales does not plan to make similar changes to ticket offices in Wales, or indeed to the ticket offices that they manage in England – in Chester, Hereford and Shrewsbury, for example. 

“We know that, particularly for those people who may struggle to access services, then the presence of staff on the station able to respond directly to their requirements is a very important part of how they are able to access services.”

Llan council flats given modern energy efficiency boost

* The new energy-efficent roofing of flats on Aberadda.

Finishing touches are being put to a Llangollen energy-efficient roofing project.

Denbighshire County Council’s Denbighshire Housing Team have worked to replace the flat roof at Aberadda flats in Llangollen.

The flats were originally built in the 1960’s when flat roofs were a popular part of the architecture.

The council has repaired the roof in the past, but says there are flaws in the general design of the flats. 

Denbighshire Housing launched the project to improve the roof, increase energy efficiency of the building and overall appearance of the flats.

Workers have built over the existing roof, with a steel frame pitched roof.

This, says the council, has not only removed the problems associated with the previous roof but has also increased the thermal efficiency of the roof as they are now fully insulated to current standards.

The new slate like roof will also blend in better with the surrounding properties and is 90% manufactured from recycled materials.

As part of the project, Denbighshire Housing are also upgrading and improving the outside appearance of the flats to modernise the look and feel, as well as improve the overall insulation of the building.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “This has been an important project to improve the energy efficiency of the flats which will better support our tenants with the cost of living.

“I have visited the Aberadda site with council officers and am very impressed with the work that has been carried out. The flats now have a much more modern appearance, the added insulation will help the tenants to cope better with the cost of living crisis and the whole project contributes to the Council’s environmental priority of reducing the production and release of carbon dioxide.”

“I look forward to seeing the results of similar projects that we have planned across Denbighshire to improve the energy efficiency of our tenant’s homes.”

 

Photo Credit: Britmet Lightweight Roofing

Storytellers to launch new book this afternoon

 

As part of the Llangollen Fringe Festival, local storytellers Fiona Collins and June Peters are launching their new book at the Courtyard off Castle Street this afternoon,  Tuesday July 11, at 2pm.

Folk Tales of the Ever After is a collection of traditional tales from a range of cultures which is, by turns, funny, challenging and touching.

From a man in Baghdad who tries to outrun Death, to Sir Lancelot’s ride on the hangman’s cart and an ancient Sumerian ball game that leads to a trip to the underworld, the two storytellers invite you to "share stories from their repertoire, and insights into their working practice, as a journey through the mysteries of death, dying, bereavement, loss, grief and the ever after."

The launch is hosted by Courtyard Books and copies of the book will be signed by the authors.

New Rotary club hosts event looking at health of River Dee

 

The new Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club is hosting an event called The River Dee's Wildlife and Healthy Future tomorrow (Wednesday) at St Collen's Community Hall, from 7-8.30pm.

A club spokesperson said: "This will be a relaxed, fun and interactive social event for all ages looking at the health of our local River Dee. 

"There will be a short presentation, lively Q&A session so you can find out all about this local treasure, and learn how you can get involved in future fun events.

"The fun will continue with demonstrations and the opportunity to see some of the invertebrates and water samples yourself using microscopes, great for the young people.

"If you are interested in ecology, the local environment, wildlife, or the River Dee itself, this will be for you. Focusing on the current ecosystem and how it needs to be maintained and improved.

"We hope to see all of you there young and old, whoever you are, it’s a great chance for us all to meet each other for a chat.

"The Welsh Dee Trust is an environmental charity with the objective of restoring the brooks, streams and rivers of the Dee catchment in North Wales for wildlife and people."

A spokesperson for the Welsh River Dee Trust said: "At Welsh Dee we are turning around the fortunes of the River Dee and the wildlife that relies upon it. From the smallest Stonefly to the mighty Atlantic Salmon we believe our work can and will restore a thriving clean river benefitting both people and wildlife."

The Trust have been monitoring pollution, helping clean up rubbish, organising local nature walks and a host of other interesting and educational activities for local people.

This is a free public event open to all the community and will be the first of many new events being held by the Vale of Llangollen Rotary. For more information, go to: https://www.valeofllangollenrotary.com/ 

Find out more about your local town clerk

To mark the current Local Council Clerk Week, from July 10 – 14, Llangollen's own town clerk, Gareth Thomas, gives an insight into his job.

"The town clerk is the person who works with your councillors to make sure that Llangollen Town Council provides the services you need in your local neighbourhood.    

"He runs the council meetings to which you are invited and is skilled in a range of disciplines to make sure the council runs properly and within the law.

"Town clerks are the ones writing to your local AM, liaising with the county council about changes to speed limits, car parking charges and potholes, applying for grants for local projects, researching complex planning issues, running the council’s finances and managing community buildings and events. 

"Then they roll up their sleeves to lead volunteers to clean rivers, pick litter and fundraise for local projects.   They’re good in a crisis too as seen when they helped to coordinate community efforts during the pandemic. 

"Clerks are professionals and serve around 10,000 local councils in England and Wales. These councils emerged in 1894 to give a democratic voice to local people and they’ve changed enormously in that time, particularly during the last 20 – 30 years.  

"They are real place shapers and, today, many manage and maintain parks, sports facilities, skateparks and recreation grounds, play areas, allotments, community and youth centres, car parks, public toilets, cemeteries, street cleaning, run events and much more.  Most of all clerks and councillors are advocates, the voice for their communities.

"Whatever your local council is delivering for your community, the clerk will be at the heart of getting it done.  They provide the services that we all notice the most in our neighbourhoods but, disappointingly, they’re often not properly recognised for just how much they do. 

"Clerks are celebrated in other countries and Local Council Clerk Week aims to help raise the profile of this important profession and explain the work clerks do on behalf of town, parish and community councils."

* For more information, contact Gareth Thomas at: townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk