MP welcomes pledge to electrify North Wales Mainline

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has welcomed announcement that the UK government will electrify the North Wales Mainline.

The move is part of the Prime Minister’s new “Network North” project, which will fund hundreds of transport infrastructure schemes.

Mr Sunak said a total of £1 billion has been pledged for the electrification programme, which will be financed from the £36 billion of savings as a result of the cancellation of HS2 beyond Birmingham.

The electrification of the mainline will result in parts of North Wales being within an hour of Manchester. It will also lead to more punctual and reliable journeys on the 126-mile route, which stretches across North Wales and into the North West of England, says the UK Government.

Speaking after the Prime Minister’s announcement, Mr Baynes said: “I was delighted by the Prime Minister’s speech and the news that the UK government will invest £1bn to electrify the Crewe-Holyhead North Wales Mainline. This will be funded from the £36bn of savings due to the cancellation of the extension of HS2 beyond Birmingham.

"Speeds will be increased and it will bring parts of North Wales within an hour of Manchester. It will lead to more punctual, reliable journeys on the 126-mile route between Crewe, Warrington, Chester, Llandudno and Holyhead, where ferry services run to Dublin.”

Kayak film to be shown at Town Hall

A film described as a “love letter to water” will be shown at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday October 28.

Dave Manby, who has organised the event, said: “It’s a unique kayak film looking beyond adrenaline and ego and has a focus looking into a modern revival of pioneering surf kayaking films of the 1970s - it’s a love letter to water.

“When I saw this film I immediately thought of Crystal Voyager, the early 1970s surfing film - a beautiful film with none of the machismo of most ‘kayak porn’ that gets posted online.

“Stunning settings and footage and a specially composed score which, to my mind, elevates it above its surfing inspiration. You can almost feel the effort that must have gone into making this film. 

“ This is not a film just for kayak paddlers – its appeal is far greater than just this niche audience.

“The guys who made River of Mirrors will be there for a Q&A session at the end.”

There will also be supporting films on the night:

* Bren Orton will be there to present his latest footage from his recent exploits.
* One Breath around the World Free diving from locations around the world.
* Next Stop Sneg. Siberian skiing and boarding.
* Riverboarding Pete Patterson 2012 show reel of river boarding rapids most people would not want to paddle let alone swim.

Doors open at 6pm and films start at 6.30pm. Entry is £10. 

You buy tickets in advance at: https://buytickets.at/dgmanby/1013722

Festival offers menu of food and music

* The Riverside Park bandstand is one of two musical venues at this year's Llangollen Food Festival.

A new location will help Llangollen Food Festival offer a feast of music as well as food later this month.

For the first time the popular foodie extravaganza will be using the bandstand in Riverside Park as the venue for a tasty menu of music and dancing between 10am and 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15.   

Adjacent to the bandstand, festival-goers can discover the culinary delights on offer at food trucks, from burgers to halloumi fries.

There will also be a dedicated bar area serving up a selection of beverages.

This year there will be two musical stages at the festival - the one at the bandstand and also in Centenary Square.

Acts on at the two venues include Danny Gruff, Dim Parcio, Mark Morgan, Mechanical Owl and Robert Jones.

Around 60 exhibitors have been confirmed for the festival, which organisers say will be bigger and better than ever. 

The two-day event aims to showcase the best of Welsh and international cuisine. From artisanal cheeses to mouth-watering chocolates, from succulent meats to fresh produce, our exhibitors will offer a smorgasbord of delectable treats to satisfy every craving.

Food enthusiasts can look forward to live cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs who will share their culinary secrets and inspire your inner chef. 

A whisky and cheese tasting evening with Penderyn whisky and Welsh cheese from The Little Cheesemonger and a wine tasting evening with Pip Gale of Gale's Wine Bar will give you the chance to discover new and exciting flavours. 

And to round off the first day, Llangollen Railway will be running its famous Ale train in partnership with Hafod Brewery. Tickets will be available for the tasting events and the Ale Train will be available soon at the Food Festival website and social media pages.

For the younger foodies in the family, there will be a wide range of children's activities, ensuring a fun and educational experience for kids of all ages. From interactive food-themed activities to hands-on cooking classes, there's something for every little chef in the making.

* For more information and to stay updated on the festival's latest news, visit the Llangollen Food Festival website or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is: 

Q: Halloween is coming up and my children are keen to dress up for trick-or-treat. I’ve read about accidents involving costumes catching fire and I’m worried about buying an outfit that could be highly flammable. I don’t want to spoil their fun but I do want to make sure everyone is safe. How can I check if the costumes would be safe for my children to wear? 

A: It’s not easy being the ‘safety police’ when everyone just wants to have fun - especially when that fun includes extravagant costumes. Children should always be kept away from naked flames, but Halloween costumes come with their own set of risks for which extra safety precautions are needed. 

They’re not always subject to the same fire safety checks as normal clothing as they can often be classed as toys. With Halloween being a time where lots of lit candles in pumpkins are on the same doorsteps that trick-or-treaters congregate on. As you rightly point out there have sadly been accidents associated with dressing-up outfits and so checking the garment complies with UK/EU safety standards should be a top priority. 

No one wants an unexpected horror story at Halloween so it’s always best to know what you’re looking for when buying any costume to make sure the risks are limited as much as they can be: 

• Always buy your Halloween costumes from reputable shops and online retailers. If you haven’t bought anything from the shop before make sure you check online reviews. 

• Make sure the costume comes with safety instructions, a UKCA or CE marking and the manufacturer’s name. The UKCA marking is the post-Brexit British equivalent of the CE mark which is also still valid. 

• Check for any product recalls online — searching for ‘product safety recalls’ will bring up the Office for Product Safety and Standards list. 

And while you might like to let your creative streak run wild and attempt to make your own bespoke costume, it’s worth keeping in mind that homemade fancy dress costumes may also come with risks, especially if you use fabrics or decorations not designed to be worn.

If you’d like more advice, or to report something to Trading Standards, contact Citizens Advice consumer service by phone or online.

Wild Pheasant lands two honours in Welsh Hospitality Awards

* The Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa.

Llangollen’s Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa has scooped two top honours in the Welsh Hospitality Awards 2023.

Said to be the most prestigious event in the hospitality industry, the awards took place on Monday at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff.

With a focus on recognising outstanding businesses and individuals, these awards highlight the very best in hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, and other sectors within the industry.

The Wild Pheasant landed two of the most outstanding titles, Hotel of the Year North and Restaurant of the Year North.

A spokesperson for awards, now in their fifth year, said: “The Welsh Hospitality Awards 2023 has once again showcased the remarkable talent and exceptional standards within the Welsh vibrant hospitality industry.

“The 2023 winners have consistently demonstrated excellence, innovation, and dedication in their respective categories, setting the benchmark for quality and service within the Welsh hospitality industry.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to all the winners and nominees and wish them continued success in their endeavours.”

Proposals put forward to reduce Denbighshire library hours

* Llangollen Library in Castle Street.

As part of its response to upcoming financial pressures, Denbighshire County Council has asked services across the County to identify and propose potential savings.

The council says it will have a funding deficit during the coming financial year and, like local authorities across Wales, will need to find significant savings to ensure it can continue to deliver its essential services.

The council is proposing a specific reduction to its Library/One Stop Shop Service to help meet this funding gap. 

The proposal put forward is a 50% reduction in opening hours across Denbighshire’s Library Service.

 All Libraries will remain partially open so that services can continue to be available for residents, albeit at a reduced rate. Also included are proposals to reduce other elements of the service, e.g., Home Library Service.

The proposal aims to ensure that access to a library is available geographically across the county each weekday. 

Therefore, libraries which are fairly close together, namely Ruthin and Denbigh, Llangollen and Corwen, St Asaph and Rhuddlan, and Prestatyn and Rhyl, will complement each other’s service by ensuring one is open for at least part of each day.

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Cabinet Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage said: “Over recent years, Denbighshire County Council has worked hard to build a comprehensive service, and the Council is hugely disappointed that it is unable to continue with this service in its entirety. However, this is the economic reality that is affecting all local authorities at present.

“Unfortunately, this model will have an impact on Libraries staff across the service and the Council will meet with staff and Trade Unions to fully consult on these proposals.

“The model put forward aims to present a fair and equitable service across the County. By ensuring that all libraries remain open in some capacity, the Council hopes it will be able to return to a full service in future when the economic climate is more favourable.”

The proposal will go to a consultation phase from Tuesday, October 3 and will run until Monday,  October 30. 

Members of the public can have their say either through the Council’s consultation portal, County Conversation on https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/755, or they can submit hard copy responses in any council run Library in Denbighshire.

 

Pengwern Community Hub's October timetable

Pengwern Community Hub's timetable for October is:

... and planned for Corwen is: