Road closure on Hill Street and Hall Street next month

Denbighshire County Council has given notice of a road closure that will take place on Hill Street and Hall Street, Llangollen, from February 5 to March 15.

The closure is necessary to facilitate installation of a new gas mains by Wales and West Utilities. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the period of closure.

A traffic order prohibits vehicles using the full length of Hill Street and Hall Street from its junction with Hill Street to Hall Street link road.

The signposted alternative route will be via Vicarage Road, Maes Helyg, Willow Street, Hall Street and A5.

Town gets its first sprinkling of snow this winter

Llangollen awoke to its first sprinkling of snow of the winter this morning (Monday) as can be seen from this shot of Castell Dinas Bran and the other, showing a view across the rooftops in the town.  

A yellow warning for ice is still in force locally.

Abba tribute kicks off series of gigs to support Eisteddfod this Friday

There'll be some familiar faces launching the series of Live at Llangollen Town Hall shows this Friday, January 19 - as well performing some of ABBA's biggest hits including Super Trouper, Dancing Queen, Thank You for the Music and S.O.S.  

The group features Shea Ferron, well known for his virtuoso performances with John's Boys Male Chorus including performances on Britain's Got Talent and at the Royal Variety Performance, and James Barber, singer and bassist, who you can usually see running the sound at many major events in the town. 

The company behind the Abba Tribute band, Black Box Events, North Wales, is an award winning events firm. 

They cover a range of events including Flash Mob Choirs and Murder Mysteries and won North Wales Wedding Awards 'Best Wedding Entertainment' in 2023.  

Shea Ferron, who is also a member of the Eisteddfod's trustee board, said: "We can't wait to bring our live show to Llangollen Town Hall.  As well as the biggest hits from Abba you can expect class costumes and plenty of fun as we pay tribute to one of the best bands in history.  

"It is great as well that the party will raise money for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.  

* The Abba tribute band playing this Friday.

"As a new board member, these last few months have been amazing - announcing some of the world's best acts coming to Llangollen in 2024 for our summer for fun. We wanted to get the party started early though and look forward to seeing everyone coming together for a great night on Friday."

The show will see the first of a number of fundraising gigs at Llangollen Town Hall to raise money to support the core Eisteddfod.  

They will be held monthly in Llangollen Town Hall and feature tributes to ABBA, Robbie Williams, Pink Floyd, Slade as well as bringing the original Merseybeats, who performed with The Beatles in the 1960s, to town.  

Organisers hope to bring the Llangollen community together and raise money for their annual music festival.   

Life Vice-President of the Llangollen Eisteddfod Keith Potts and his team of fundraising volunteers are behind the monthly gigs.

Keith said: "Every year, we welcome people from all over the world to promote peace and reconciliation through song and dance. This is part of our aim to work all year round and bring our community together.   

"We are delighted to have secured some of the most in demand tribute acts from both Wales and England for our monthly gigs.  

"We hope the live concerts will prove popular and we raise much needed funds to continue our iconic peace festival. 

"This year, as well as bringing some of the world's biggest entertainers to town, we will be welcoming competitors from across the world to our Eisteddfod. This costs money and these Live in Llangollen gigs will help us do that." 

* The shows run from 7.30-11pm and tickets will be available from www.llangollen.net and the Llangollen Tourism Information Centre. 

You can see highlights from the ABBA Tribute Band here - https://youtu.be/H-_p6RtAnPM

Two roadworks alerts for Llangollen

Latest local roadworks update from one.network is:

East Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 14 January - 14 January   Delays likely - Suspension of one-way   Name: East Street, Llangollen   Location: East Street   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned       Princess Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 14 January - 14 January   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: Diversion   Location: Princess Street   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

Llan panto is back with a terrific Jack and the Beanstalk

* The cast belt out one of the opening numbers of Jack and the Beanstalk.

From the seeds of a clever script, a talented cast and some catchy songs the Llangollen Pantomime Group have grown a very healthy version of Jack and the Beanstalk, which opened at the Town Hall last night (Thursday).

And it’s a welcome return for them after a gap of three years due to the pandemic. They're also clearly delighted to be back in the same venue after quite a few years appearing at the Pavilion.

That script, full of cheeky one-liners many of them with local references in the best panto tradition, comes courtesy of Dave Lyne who also provides one of the show’s most endearing characters, Simon, the sweet-natured and fun brother of Jack, finder of the magic seeds which produce the mighty beanstalk.

That talented and versatile cast of 28 also features a panto star in the making in the young shape of Austin Forkin who takes the title role. His capability stretches way beyond his years and he seems certain to appear in more Llangollen productions.

Those songs, most of which have the desired effect of getting the audience clapping and singing along, are backed by a skilful five-piece band including the Belton sisters, Helen and Jayne, along with Stuart Dillon (guitar), James Barber (bass) and Barrie Roberts (drums).

Providing strong support to Jack and Simon are Niki Davies-Bottomley as Simon’s sweetheart Sally and Neil Barrett as town mayor Keddie – there’s one of those local references – and Sue O’Neill as the Fairy Godmother.

Another powerful performance comes from Chris Phillips as Jack and Simon’s mum Mrs McDonald, a true panto harridan with a big heart.

Steve Hughes turns in a towering portrayal of the Giant whose lair the brothers must raid for gold and to free from captivity Alice, played by both Katie Siddall and Frankie Williams, Jack’s love interest.

Sophie Siddall and Jo Potts team up as the perfect baddies, Councillor Rough and Councillor Tumble.

Behind them is a whole bunch of youngsters playing the villagers, farm animals, bluebirds and night time creatures.

And drawing lots of oohs and aahs from the audience are Mya Rees-Jones and Eva Mallinson as Daisy of the Cow.

The show is a credit to director Louise Lyne and her assistant David Lyne, producer Samantha Fletcher and musical director Helen Belton and the rest of the enormous back-stage team who provide the excellent and highly colourful sets and costumes.

Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Town Hall tonight (Friday) at 7.30pm with two shows tomorrow (Saturday), one of which is the 2pm matinee.

I understand tickets, priced at £9 and £7 concessions, have been selling fast but hopefully you can still book online by scanning the barcode on the poster, by calling the group secretary on 01978 860297, or by calling at Dee Valley Produce (01978 861805).

* Mrs McDonald and Simon.

* The Mayor with the baddie councillors.

* A towering performance from the Giant.

* Jack, Daisy the Cow, Mrs McDonald, Sally and Simon.

* The seeds are handed over to Jack by the disguised Fairy Godmother.

* The Mayor and daughter Sally.

* Simon gets the audience singing along. 

MS hits out at 'confusion' over 20mph speed limit enforcement

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has hit out at the latest "confusion" over the enforcement of the 20mph speed limits in Wales. 

Mr Rowlands, a harsh critic and long-standing campaigner against the legislation, was commenting after Wales' First Minister,  Mark Drakeford, reportedly said that drivers shouldn't be fined if they are "genuinely confused" as to whether they are in an area covered by default 20mph speed limits. 

Mr Rowlands said he was astounded with the comments and said the First Minister clearly did not understand the law and the possible repercussions for motorists. 

He said: “Quite frankly I am amazed at what I am hearing from the First Minister. If he does not understand how things work then how does he expect the general public to do so. 

“To say that drivers breaking the speed limit won’t be prosecuted if they are genuinely confused is absolutely mind boggling. If you break the speed limit you have committed an offence. 

“For the First Minister to then turn round and say instead police should educate the drivers is utter nonsense. He is a politician and does not control prosecution so it will be up to the Welsh police forces to deal with. 

“There is total confusion about the whole policy and I am extremely concerned that the enforcement will be so varied depending on where you live and it will be the motorists that bare the brunt. 

“With almost 500,000 people signing a petition against this ludicrous new law which is slowing Wales down in every sense of the word, it is about time it was scrapped. 

“The two Labour candidates vying for the First Minister’s job are saying they will not change the policy but will review its implementation. That is completely ridiculous. It needs throwing out. 

“The whole idea is bonkers and has been a complete shambles from the very start with many roads,  which have never had any accidents on them, being changed to 20mph on a whim and for no other reason than the Welsh Labour Government can make these ridiculous and unwanted laws. 

“I once again urge the public to get behind me and support the campaign to get this law thrown out and keep fighting by signing the petition against the blanket 20mph speed limit.” 

Wales plans licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation

Plans to introduce a statutory registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales have been announced by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden.

Legislation expected to be introduced to the Senedd before the end of the year.

The registration and licensing scheme is intended to deliver a register of visitor accommodation types and to enable providers to demonstrate compliance with safety and quality requirements.

It is intended to enhance the visitor experience and visitor safety expectations in Wales by ensuring anyone who lets out visitor accommodation meets a relevant set of standards.

This follows a public consultation, extensive engagement with the sector, as well as a recently published survey that found 89% of visitors considered it important the accommodation they stay in is operating safely.

Many parts of the world have already adopted licensing, certification or registration schemes across their visitor accommodation sectors and the Welsh Government has been considering best practice to design one that is simple and easy to use for accommodation providers in Wales.

Across the UK, Northern Ireland has had a certification scheme established for all visitor accommodation since 1992, with Scotland having recently introduced a licensing scheme for short term lets. The UK Government is also pursuing a registration approach for short term lets.

In Wales, the first phase will be a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, which will – for the first time – provide a register on the broad range of visitor accommodation available across the country and will include details on who is operating in the sector, where they are operating, and how they are operating.

Dawn Bowden said: “Tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life so this information will be crucial in helping us better understand the sector, as well as helping to inform future policy decisions at a local and national level.

“The visitor economy is changing rapidly, and while the growth of online booking platforms has brought many benefits, there are concerns around compliance with existing requirements and the impact of short-term lets on housing stock and our communities.

“I’d like to thank businesses across the visitor economy for the enormous resilience they’ve shown through the unprecedented challenges of recent years. The input from the sector, visitors and communities has been invaluable to our work so far. We will continue this engagement as we develop the scheme.”

Once a registration scheme is fully established, the intention is to follow with a licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation. This will initially focus on confirming compliance with safety requirements visitor accommodation providers should already be meeting, before looking at introducing quality standards at a later stage.

The Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru commits to a statutory licensing scheme for holiday lets as part of a package of measures to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people in communities.