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Scores of bikers join Mike Thomas on his final ride

* Bikers escort the sidecar hearse bearing John Michael Thomas on the way to his funeral.  

A large number of fellow bikers formed up on the Aldi Car park in Llangollen this lunchtime (Thursday) before joining the final ride of 29-year-old Corwen motorcyclist John Michael Thomas - known as Mike - who died in a road accident at Trevor earlier this month.

* Mike Thomas.

They followed his cortege - which included a motorcycle sidecar hearse - as it made its way along the A5 and through Llangollen to the funeral at Pentrebychan Crematorium.   

The family had asked on social media for as many bikers to attend his final ride as possible.  

* A full tribute to Mr Thomas appeared in the Denbighshire Free Press: Corwen man killed in crash in Llangollen will ‘never be forgotten’ | Denbighshire Free Press 

County warns of service cuts and tax increase to bridge £18m budget gap

* County Hall in Ruthin.

Denbighshire County Council faces a funding gap of almost £18m after receiving its 2024/25 provisional funding settlement from Welsh Government yesterday (Wednesday).

And its finance leader warns this will have to be bridged through savings and efficiencies, increasing charges for services, increases in Council Tax or by reducing or cutting services

The government announcement indicates Denbighshire’s budget will go up by £6.7 million in cash terms, an increase of 3.6% for the forthcoming financial year, compared with the current year 2023/24.

The latest estimate is that delivering day to day services which range from providing care to the most vulnerable in our communities, maintaining our roads, collection of household waste and provision of education to our learners in the county’s schools, in 2024/25 will cost an additional £24.5m compared with this year. 

This is due to increases in demand for services and the ongoing impact that high levels of inflation continue to have on the costs of delivering services.

Council Leader, Councillor Jason McLellan, said “The Council has been developing its budget for the next financial year for many months. An increase of 3% in funding from Welsh Government had been used in forecasts to date, whilst the increase above our planning assumption is welcomed and is positive, it does not materially change the unprecedented financial challenge we face. All options to reduce costs across the authority continue to be explored.”

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, added, “Challenging times lie ahead for us as a Council as we, like local authorities throughout Wales, face unprecedented continuing pressure on our budget due to rising costs and a sustained increase in demand for services.

“Despite an expected increase in funding of £6.7m (3.6%) by Welsh Government, this still leaves a funding gap of £17.8m. The settlement is not sufficient to meet the cost pressures we are facing. Like Local Authorities across Wales, the Council has a statutory duty to set a balanced budget and must do so through finding savings and efficiencies, increasing charges for services, increases in Council Tax or by reducing or cutting services."

County council approves cut in library opening hours

* Llangollen Library in Castle Street.

Denbighshire County Council’s cabinet has approved the proposal to reduce library and One Stop Shop opening hours by 40%, together with associated savings in other parts of the service, to make an expected saving of £360,000. 

Following a strong response to the public consultation which saw over 4,500 residents voicing their opinions, the council amended the original proposal. 

The revised proposal has taken account of the consultation responses and has adapted the proposed opening hours to ensure that more libraries are open to accommodate children after school and that most libraries are able to continue to open on Saturday mornings, says the council. 

No Denbighshire libraries will have to close their doors, and all of them will remain partially open so that key services can continue to be available for residents, albeit at a reduced rate. 

The financial challenge currently faced by the council is "unprecedented", and all services will be required to deliver significant savings to meet that challenge. 

It is estimated that delivering day to day services – including social services, waste collection and schools, will cost an extra £24.5m due to price increases, inflation, and pressure on demand. 

Council officers will now work with Library staff, unions and stakeholders to implement this decision. 

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage said: “As a Council, we are saddened that we have had to approve this proposal, but this is the harsh reality of the current economic climate that we are facing. This is the hardest proposal I have ever had to bring forward to the Council for consideration and approval as the library service is used by thousands of Denbighshire residents each year. 

"Although this decision means cuts in operating hours, it ensures that vital services continue in all Denbighshire libraries and One Stop Shops and that no library has to close its doors. The Council hopes it will be able to return to a full service in future when the economic climate is more favourable. 

"This saving proposal is unfortunately one of the many proposals that the Council will have to consider within the next 12 months given the economic climate and budgetary pressures.”

Junior schools enjoy special Christmas film - and meet reindeers

* Children are met by the reindeers in Centenary Square.

Hundreds of delighted children from Llangollen's two junior schools enjoyed a special Christmas treat earlier this afternoon (Wednesday)

Town Council facilitator Charlie Jones had arranged for them to take in a seasonal screening of Christmas film The Grinch in the town hall.

As they filed into Centenary Square youngsters from Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant had the surprise of their lives when they were greeted by the reindeers of Christmas Farm and Sion Corn - all to the accompaniment of falling snow.

Over at the town hall when they had taken their seats there was another rousing welcome from Sion Corn and Ysgol Y Gwernant sang their Christmas song in Welsh.

On hand to give assistance with the children were 15 pupils from Ysgol Dinas Bran.

The event was jointly sponsored by Mega Electrics and GHP Legal.     

* Sion Corn is on hand to welcome the youngsters in the square as the snow falls.

* Feeding time for one of the reindeers.

* Sion Corn welcomes the children to the town hall.

* Town hall facilitator, who organised the screening, Charlie Jones with Sion.

* Sion Corn thanks the Ysgol Dinas Bran pupils who helped at the event.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to be closed for two-and-a-half months

According to North Wales Live, walkers have been given notice of the imminent closure of the world’s highest navigable aqueduct. 

In the New Year, the spectacular crossing at Pontcysyllte is to shut for two-and-a-half months so it can be “dewatered”.

Visitors planning post-Christmas walks will have just seven days to blow away the cobwebs before maintenance starts on a four-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal. 

Water will be pumped from the canal to enable the structure to be inspected.

* For the full story, see: North Wales 'Stream in the Sky' aqueduct facing lengthy closure - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)

Senedd praises Eisteddfod for promoting 'welcoming Wales'

* Sir Tom Jones will appear at the Eisteddfod next July.

The Senedd has heard that Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is the perfect example of promoting Wales as a welcoming country. 

Speaking in the chamber last week, Clwyd South MS Ken Skates – a vice president of the world-renowned event – asked Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt for a progress report on the Welsh Government’s plans to make Wales a ‘nation of sanctuary’. 

Labour Ministers produced the blueprint for how Wales will support refugees and asylum seekers over the next few years. 

Ms Hutt said the Welsh Government’s 2023 report – ‘which demonstrates continued good progress’ – will be published soon. 

Mr Skates said: “I very much look forward to that report. Most of us wish to promote Wales as a nation of sanctuary to people around the world, and there are few better ways of doing this than through events such as the International Eisteddfod that takes place annually in Llangollen. 

“This year there was a significant presence by Ukrainian refugees who have been given invaluable help by this Welsh Labour Government and by local residents. 

“Minister, would you agree that Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, along with other outward-looking international events, are ideal for promoting Wales as a welcoming nation?” 

The Minister responded: “Thank you for that important question, and also sharing with us again the importance of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. 

“We fundamentally believe that the support from Welsh people for homes sponsorship, volunteering, donations to refugee crisis appeals – they’re just showing that becoming a nation of sanctuary is what people are keen to do. But it's important to promote that internationally. 

“Major events are an excellent way of doing that, so Welsh Government is pleased to be supporting the International Eisteddfod. But can I just also say, for the record, that the Welsh Government will be represented at the global refugee forum in Geneva, alongside the UK delegation, communicating our Nation of Sanctuary vision and pledging that we'll continue along the path, encouraging other nations to work towards a shared goal.” 

Earlier this month Mr Skates announced one of the biggest coups in the International Eisteddfod’s history when Sir Tom Jones was unveiled as the headline act for next year’s event. 

The Welsh icon will top the billing at the 2024 showpiece, which also includes Katherine Jenkins, Manic Street Preachers, Gregory Porter, Madness, Kaiser Chiefs and Paloma Faith. 

Mr Skates said: “I was immensely proud to officially announce that Sir Tom Jones will be headlining next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

“I’m a proud vice president of the Eisteddfod, so I was thrilled to represent Clwyd South at the press conference when Katherine Jenkins and Gregory Porter were also announced to add even more stardust to an extremely exciting line-up for the 2024 event. 

“Huge credit must go to the board for pulling together so many big names. The event injects millions of pounds into the local economy every year, and after a difficult few years next summer’s showpiece is set to be one of the best Eisteddfods yet.” 

Board member Dave Hennigan said: “We are absolutely delighted and we’d like to thank Ken for his extraordinary and valued support, not just now but during times of financial difficulty too. 

“We’re really pleased that, after many years of trying, Sir Tom Jones will be coming to Llangollen as part of our exciting programme.”