Traffic alert from one.network

Latest local traffic alert from one.network is:

Abersylio to Efenechtyd, Llangollen, Denbighshire 17 October - 17 October   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: Diversion   Location: Abersylio To Efenechtyd   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

Crowds pack food festival despite a soggy start

* Crowds in Market Street browse the stalls.

Despite the occasional rain showers a huge number of people have been in town for the first day of this year's Llangollen Food Festival.

Around lunchtime there were so many people packed into the town hall - just one of a number of venues - that it was a challenge to negotiate your way around the many food and fancy goods stalls there.

Market Street was also thronged with people browsing the wide selection of stalls.

It was a similar story on the station approach and platform where there are further gourmet selections on display.

The rear area of Gales Wine Bar is housing more food and drink stalls and is also doing a brisk trade. 

Over at Riverside Park are a variety of hot food ourlets ranging from Mexican-style burritos to paela and jerked chicken.

People tucking in there can also listen to live music being played out on the bandstand nearby.

There's been a diverse programme of music all day just around the corner in Centenary Square. 

Live cooking demonstrations from top chefs have been taking place this afternoon in the band hut in Parade Street which was also the setting earlier for a demonstration of bread making by Liz Wilson of Overton-on-Dee based Ma Baker.

The action continues this afternoon then resumes for the second day of the festival tomorrow (Sunday).  

* Llangollen Food Share's stand in Market Street.

 * The Great British Cheese Company.

* Powells Pies were doing a roaring trade.

* Brownie Queen is busy in the Town Hall.

* An international flavour in the Town Hall. 

* A well-stocked bread stall at the Town Hall was soon empty.

* Cheers for the wine stand in the Town Hall.

* Llangollen Silver Band brave the weather in Centenary Square.

* A taste of Middle Eastern folk music in Centenary Square.

* Chocolate and rum on the station approach.

* The station provides the perfect festival platform.

* Part of the hot food selection at Riverside Park.

* A bread-making demo by Liz Wilson at the band hut.

* Chef Adam Gaunt-Evans demonstrates a Sri Lankan curry at the band hut during the afternoon.

* Igloo Hearts play the bandstand in the park.

* Interesting stalls at Gales Wine Bar.

* Beautiful bangers in the open air.

Llangollen people's use of Plas Madoc tip delayed by industrial action

* Plas Madoc Recycling Centre.

Llangollen people are going to have to wait a bit longer before they can use the Plas Madoc recycling centre.

Last month llanblogger revealed that Denbighshire County Council had negotiated a deal with neighbouring Wrexham which runs it enabling locals to use the tip rather than having to take a 32-mile round trip to Ruthin or use the pop-up facility being offered for the past few years at the Pavilion car park.

Official said the new arrangement could start from this month but llanblogger understands a number of people have been turned away when they have tried to leave their waste at Plas Madoc and questions have been raised on social media.

We asked Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards for an update and she explained that the delay had been caused by industrial action by refuse collection staff in Wrexham.

This is a pay dispute affecting bin collection and recycling centres, including Plas Madoc.

The action was due to end on October 13, but now workers will remain on strike until November 24 in Wrexham and 26 November in Cardiff. 

Cllr Edwards, a strong supporter of the new arrangement, said: “In terms of an update, unfortunately, last week Wrexham asked that we delay the implementation for a short period. They have received notification of further planned industrial action, which is set to take place October to late November.

“We are supporting that request and will continue to provide the pop-up service and advise you as soon as possible when the new service will be implemented.”

The breakthrough in local people being able to use Plas Madoc came after an intensive campaign led by Llangollen’s Phil Jones spearheaded by a petition of over a thousand signatures.

The agreement between Denbighshire and Wrexham will provide:

• Increased number of available booking slots 208 a month initially as opposed to current 128 available for residents of Llangollen (will be subject to constant review dependant on demand) .
• More flexibility providing booking slots every day, not just between 9 and 11am on third and fourth Saturday of each month.
• Plas Madoc HWRC is a managed site ensuring the health and safety of all its users as a controlled environment.
• Plas Madoc HWRC has the capacity to increase recycling rates, through the process of checking and removing recyclable items that have been placed in the residual waste stream.
• Initially residents will be able to take residual and green waste and we are working with Wrexham to provide additional streams once the relevant processes are in place.
• Residents who turn up with chargeable waste will be turned away as the case at Denbighshire’s own sites
• As now residents with bulky items can either take them to one of the DCC HWRC sites listed on our website or use the bulky collection service provided by the council.
• The financial costs for the new service is in line with the exiting budget for the Llangollen pop-up service whilst providing an improved service and ensuring all material is treated and recorded in accordance with legislation. 

Food festival will be 'better than ever' promise organisers

 

* The live music programme for the festival.

Llangollen Food Festival is on today and tomorrow and organisers say it going to be better than ever.

They say people planning to come along should prepare to indulge your taste buds, groove to live music and watch mouth-watering food demonstrations.

They can also keep the kids entertained and enjoy exclusive ticketed tasting events.

Exhibitors are the heart and soul of this festival, with around 70 vendors selling everything from Portuguese pastries to Welsh wine and handmade cheeseboards.

For the first time the festival will be making full use of the bandstand and Riverside Park which will feature live music from local bands and performers plus a selection of vendors selling everything from Jamaican street food to crepes and gourmet Mac n’Cheese.

Renowned chefs will showcase their skills and share their secrets. 

A spokesperson for the festival said: "It's like watching a cooking show, but better, because you can smell and taste the results, and interactive workshops by Xplore will help keep the children entertained."

The exclusive ticketed tasting experiences will be:

* Penderyn Whisky Tasting's went down so well  last year that they've been welcomed back on Saturday evening. You can taste three of the famous Welsh whisky maker’s finest offerings alongside cheeses, chutneys and crackers courtesy of The Little Cheesemonger.

* On Sunday, a selection of creations from The Little Cheesemonger will meet the rich, malty, and hoppy profiles of carefully selected beers from local brewery the Hafod Brewing Company.

* Rounding off the festival, Pip Gale of Llangollen’s Gales Wine Bar will take people on a tour of Italian wines from the Valpolicella region, from crisp whites and sparkling options to robust reds, culminating in a taste of the renowned Amarone.

Tickets for all three tasting events are available from Ticketsource. Over-18s only.

Car parking will be free all weekend on all Denbighshire County Council car parks in Llangollen. 

 

All Manics and Suede tickets sell out in just an hour

 

Manic Street Preachers and Suede’s double headlining show at Llangollen International MusicalEisteddfodhas sold out just an hour after going on general sale today. 

Fans rushed to buy tickets for the first live music event to be announced for next year’s celebrated peace festival and within an hour of going on sale all tickets to the 5,000 capacity show had been sold. 

The indie music legends will headline the Llangollen Pavilion on Friday June 28 for the first date in their UK and Ireland tour. 

The show is presented in a new partnership between Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. 

Chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Sarah Ecob said: “As soon as we announced Manic Street Preachers and Suede were opening their tour here, the reaction was amazing and it was clear it was going to sell quickly. 

“Having a sold out show an hour after going on general sale is brilliant and we cannot wait to welcome these two incredible artists next summer.  This is an amazing start to our partnership with Cuffe and Taylor and we can’t wait to announce more concerts at our peace festival.” 

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor added: “We are delighted with the reaction to the first show we’ve announced working in partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod team. 

“It was very important we got our first announcement right and to have such an iconic Welsh artist as Manic Street Preachers alongside Suede was certainly the right decision. 

“We now look forward to what is already shaping to be a brilliant summer in Llangollen.” 

The announcement Manic Street Preachers and Suede will play a double headlining show in Llangollen was followed this week with the news double platinum and BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith will also head to the festival next year as part of her The Glorification Of Sadness Tour 2024.

* Tickets for the Friday June 21 show go on sale at 10am Friday October 20 fromllangollen.net and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

A483 traffic to be diverted through Llangollen next week

Traffic will be diverted through Llangollen when latest roadworks get underway on the A483, reports North Wales Live. 

Next week stretches of the trunk road are to be closed in both directions for two nights, and in one direction for one night, for resurfacing work.

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/a483-drivers-face-12-mile-27886297?fbclid=IwAR2L_iYclGYJ0wUWAZi4k8OUUubZDHlF508uFZa82KyaAjzCvbW-7rpdYXE 

Eisteddfod announces details of how to compete in 2024

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has announced details of how to compete or participate in 2024.

Across 29 categories, including nine new competitions, some of the world's top music and dance talent will travel to the iconic peace festival.

Competitions continue to sit at the heart of the Llangollen Eisteddfod. 

They will take place during the core Eisteddfod week, Tuesday 2 - Sunday 7 July 2024. 

For competitors, there are some fabulous opportunities and prizes up for grabs, at this international celebration of all things musical and dance. 

First to open for applications are the group categories, followed by solo categories later this year.

Chair of the Llangollen Eisteddfod Sarah Ecob said: "We are delighted to open applications for what is one of the world’s most respected and renowned cultural competitions. Previous winners include Luciano Pavarotti.  

"At the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod we celebrate musical excellence and next year’s event will continue that tradition. This year, we have been determined to ensure that the Eisteddfod doesn’t just survive but thrives. It’s vital however to ensure that our usual, core festival ensures supporters continue to enjoy the traditional, competitive part of the Llangollen Eisteddfod.”

As a way of celebrating the achievements of children and young people, a new Young Choir of the World competition is being introduced. For 2024 the winning choir will be showcased on the main stage at The Royal International Pavilion during the Wednesday 3 July evening concert. 

Solo finalists will also have the opportunity to perform in an evening concert.

The International Voice of the Future will be part of the Saturday 6 July evening concert and, for the first time, International Voice of Musical Theatre finalists will perform with a live band in the Thursday 4 July evening concert.

Other new additions include the Open Dance (Solo, Duet and Trio) category for under 11yrs, 12-17yrs, and 18yrs & over, the Children’s Open Choirs category, and the welcome return of Chamber, Adult Folk Song Choirs, Instrumental Ensemble, Vocal and Instrumental Folk Solo. 

Main competitions take place in the 4,000 seat Royal International Pavilion.  

In 2024, either side of the core Eisteddfod week (2-7 July), there will be additional shows – including headliners Manic Street Preachers  & Suede (Friday 28 June), and Paloma Faith (Friday 21 June).

* Downloadable syllabus book, application forms and other competitor information is available on a dedicated website at: https://eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk/