At 78 Judy completes 10-mile run in memory of Sandra Woodhall

             

                  * Judy Smith at the end of her successful Great South Run.

At the age of 78, Llangollen's Judy Smith successfully completed last Sunday's Great South Run in memory of her friend and fellow fundraiser, raising almost £460 for a charity close to her heart.

In aid of Cancer Research UK, she had originally planned to compete in last month's Great North Run as a fitting tribute to her late friend Sandra Woodhall with whom she founded and organised the famous Llangollen Round Challenge which has raised many thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK since it began in 2012. 

But a broken wrist put paid to Judy's plan and instead she began training for the less demanding southern event of "only" ten miles rather than 13. 

Judy said: "Unfortunately, I managed to break my wrist falling over at the Erddig Parkrun a few months ago and had it in plaster, so the Great North Run would not have been a good idea. I therefore switched my entry to the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

“I did manage to complete the run on Sunday and in truth, it was quite good fun and I actually enjoyed myself.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, with 25,000 runners, lots of bands playing, and cheering people lining the streets make you feel good and keep you going - even if you can't quite manage four miles an hour. I wouldn't have wanted to do it again next day though.”

Judy added: “The aim of the Run for me was to raise funds for Cancer Research UK in memory of Sandra Woodhall, who in her lifetime raised more than half a million pounds for that charity. 

“I would like to thank all those who so generously supported me and my heartfelt thanks to you all.

“If anyone else would like to contribute my Cancer Research UK Just Giving site is still open at: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/judys-giving-page-109

County faces bankruptcy unless services cut, says story

A letter leaked to the media says that Denbighshire County Council faces bankruptcy unless it cuts services, according to a story in North Wales News.

* For the full story, see: Denbighshire facing bankruptcy says leaked letter unless services and jobs cut - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)

Reminder of traffic diversion through Llangollen

Here's a reminder the A483 is shut overnight between Ruabon and Halton, both tonight (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), October 16 and 17.

Highway Authority:  NMWTRA/SWTRA

Location: A483 Junction 1 Ruabon Interchange to Halton Roundabout - North and South

Description: Cat 1 patching works. Overnight works between 21:00hrs and 06:00hrs. Traffic Management will not be installed before 21:00hrs.  Diversion via A5, A539 through Llangollen.

Plas Newydd builds new bee-friendly environment

* Members of the team working on the project.

A popular historic Llangollen attraction is lending a helping hand to local nature.

Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team joined staff and volunteers at Plas Newydd to help create a stronger natural habitat for local pollinators to enjoy.

The historic home to Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby and gardens is maintained by the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Plug planting was carried out in the orchard and woodland area of Plas Newydd’s grounds as part of the site’s new Bee Friendly status which aims to support the recovery of bees and other pollinators.

The wildflowers will help create a more colourful, diverse and stronger biodiversity around the grounds for local nature and visitors to enjoy.

They will also provide bees and other pollinators with food through the year which supports our own food chain. Taking away this habitat reduces support for nature’s pollinators, impacting on our own food chain as they support the growth of most of our fruit and vegetables.

* Both staff are volunteers are involved.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion said: “Plas Newydd is a great location for visitors and the local community to enjoy thanks to its rich history. It is also a fantastic place for nature to thrive thanks to the work carried out to maintain the beautiful gardens surrounding the house.

“The plug planting work carried out to increase the number of wildflowers on the site will really help tackle the nature emergency and encourage more nature back into the local area for residents to enjoy.”

* Do you already have or would you like help creating a Bee Friendly area in your garden or on your land? The Council’s Biodiversity Team can offer advice and support in creating your Bee Friendly area and applying for Bee Friendly status. Please contact biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk to find out more. 

More information about the Bee Friendly Scheme and how you can get involved can be found at: Wales Biodiversity Partnership - Bee Friendly (biodiversitywales.org.uk)

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.