MS urges people to have their say on Brook Street transport plan

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is urging people to have their say on plans for walking, wheeling, and cycling in and around Brook Street in Llangollen.

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said: “I am delighted to see that residents are being given the opportunity to share their views on what they think about the suggested ways of making every day journeys in and around Brook Street safer and easier. 

“Llangollen is an extremely popular tourist destination and as chair of the Senedd’s Cross-Party Group on Tourism, I think it is really important that any work carried out enhances the town. 

“The active travel consultation is now open and I would urge people who live work or travel in this area to make sure they have their say.”

Denbighshire County Council is working with Sustrans to make walking, wheeling, and cycling for everyday journeys easier and safer in and around Brook Steet.

In March 2023, Denbighshire County Council alongside Sustrans asked the people who live, work, and travel on Brook Street to tell them which parts of Brook Street work well and which don’t.

The community response was that people were worried about vehicles travelling too fast, there were too many cars at school drop-off and pick-up times, roads were difficult to cross, and the footpaths were too narrow. As a result, Sustrans, working together with the local community, have found some ways to fix to these problems.

Sustrans, on behalf of the council, is now seeking feedback from the people that live, work, and travel on the selected streets who could benefit from the proposals, what they think about the plan for Brook Street that has been developed collaboratively.

Residents can find out more about the project and share their thoughts and feedback by going to Brook Street Active Travel Design.

An online survey is available until March 28 or you can attend an in-person workshop at: Workshop 1 at Ysgol Bryn Collen / Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant, on March 14 from 2.30-4pm or Workshop 2 at Llangollen Town Hall on March 14 from 6-8pm.

A paper version of the consultation can also be requested by contacting Sustrans Cymru via email: llangollen@sustrans.org.uk or by writing to Sustrans at Sustrans Cymru, One Canal Parade, Dumballs Road, CF10 5BF Cardiff.

Original Merseybeats to play at the town hall this Friday

* Tony Crane MBE and the original Merseybeats playing at their spiritual home of The Cavern in Liverpool where they performed with The Beatles.

Chart-topping Merseyside band The Merseybeats, who had a string of hits in the 1960s including I Love You, Yes I Do, Wishin’ and Hopin’ and Sorrow, will be performing at Llangollen Town Hall this Friday (March 15).   

The Merseybeats emerged from the Liverpool Mersey Beat scene in the early 1960s, performing at The Cavern Club along with the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers and a host of other great Mersey Beat bands. 

In their heyday, The Merseybeats performed regularly at the Cavern and appeared there with the Beatles on more occasions than any other band.  

They will be supported at the Town Hall by popular local artist Luke Gallagher,  who has backed up 60s legends The Animals, amongst others. 

This is the latest Live at Llangollen Town Hall gig organised by the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for their charity.  

The charity helps pay for their international competitors, over 2,000 of whom are expected to head for Llangollen this summer to join the core Eisteddfod programme.

Barrie Roberts, from the festival. said: "With less than 100 days until we start welcoming the likes of Bryan Adams, Simple Minds and Nile Rodgers & Chic to Llangollen - it's great to be bringing another legendary band to town this Friday.  

"This is the latest event as we bring Llangollen together for another unforgettable night.  

"The Merseybeats had fans from The Beatles, Burt Bacharach to David Bowie, who charted with one of their songs.  

"People have been in touch to ask if we've really booked the original Merseybeats. The answer is yes.  

"Llangollen regularly welcomes tourists from across Merseyside and that's why we are so pleased to welcome the likes of Tony Crane MBE and the lads, for an evening of 60s nostalgia at its original and best."

* Tickets priced £10 are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre on Regent Street, Llangollen or from https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/events/live-march/ Please use promo code LIVE24 to remove the booking fee. Limited tickets will be available on the door.

Nightingale House Hospice receives tractor run funds

Members of Llangollen Rotary Club and Llangollen Young Farmers Club got together to present Nightingale House Hospice with a cheque for £2,100. 

This is the first of three donations to be made following last December’s successful tractor run. 

Hospice fundraising manager Sue Williams received the cheque from Llangollen Rotary President Lee Todd, Vice President John Clifford, Llangollen Young Farmers Chairman John Jones and members of Young Farmers and Rotary. 

Both clubs say they would like to thank all the tractor drivers, volunteers and local public for the amazing support the event received despite awful weather and for the generous donations enabling these charity presentations.

The event will be back this year on Sunday, December 1 so put the date on your calendar now.

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

Hill Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 11 March - 13 March   Delays likely - Road closure   Name: Hill Street, Llangollen   Location: Hill Street   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned       Vicarage Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire 11 March - 13 March   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: Diversion   Location: Vicarage Road   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned       Vicarage Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire 11 March - 13 March   Delays likely - Road closure   Name: Vicarage Road, Llangollen   Location: Vicarage Road   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

Hall Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 11 March - 13 March   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Road closure   Description: Large Sluice Valve Re-pack 10" Job in Carriageway (Other )   Works location: HALL STREET   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060557348B       Vicarage Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire 11 March - 13 March   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Road closure   Description: MAINS CONNECTION   Works location: JUNCTION OF HILL STREET   Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: XY254003001625594/01

Sun Trevor honoured for its fundraising at awards ceremony

* Quizzers from the Sun Trevor handed over a cheque to Nightingale House Hospice last July. From left: Alana Williams, Joel Whitaker, Maggie Smith, Simon Baynes MP, Katy Jones, Paul Jones and Jess Coaley-Postle.

A pub in Llangollen has been recognised for its fundraising efforts at an awards ceremony, according to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press.

The Sun Trevor won the community fundraising hero prize for Wales at the PubAid Community Pub Hero awards 2024.

* For the full story, see: Llangollen pub named community fundraising hero of the year | Denbighshire Free Press

Young people could have £2,000 waiting for them, says council

Many young adults in Denbighshire could have an average of £2,000 waiting for them in their unclaimed Child Trust Fund account.

Child Trust Funds are long-term, tax-free savings accounts which were set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, with the government contributing an initial deposit of at least £250. Funds can be withdrawn once the account matures when the child turns 18.

According to government data, nearly a million young people in the UK have yet to claim their Child Trust Funds. More than 800,000 accounts belong to people from low-income backgrounds - prompting concern that those who need the money the most are not accessing it.

Every 16-year-old is sent information about finding their Child Trust Fund from HMRC with their National Insurance letter. Anyone unsure about their situation should check with their bank or building society. Alternatively, young adults and parents can also search on www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds to find out where their Child Trust Fund account is held.

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Denbighshire's Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “I would encourage all young people in Denbighshire to investigate if they have money which is unclaimed in a Child Trust Fund and to use it wisely. The investment could be placed into an adult ISA or put towards their education or driving lessons.

"I would urge young people to use the online tool to track it down or, for parents of teenagers, to speak to them to ensure they’re aware of their Child Trust Fund. It could make a real difference to their future plans.

"The money in a Child Trust Fund has the potential to be life changing and the lack of knowledge about them shows the importance of financial education and planning from a young age.”

There are currently 5.3 million open Child Trust Fund accounts. Young people aged 16 or over can take control of their own Child Trust Fund, although the funds can only be withdrawn once they turn 18. Families can continue to pay up to £9,000 a year tax-free into a Child Trust Fund until the account matures. The money stays in the account until the child withdraws or reinvests it into another account.

If a parent or guardian was not able to set up an account for their child, the government opened a savings account on the child’s behalf. The Child Trust Fund scheme closed in January 2011 and was replaced with Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA).

* For more information on cost of living support in Denbighshire, please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/costofliving or contact Citizens Advice Denbighshire www.cadenbighshire.co.uk

Velodrome plan for Ruthin 'no longer achievable'

 

* An artist's impression of how the velodrome could have looked. (Image DCC)

After months of planning and commitment from Welsh Cycling, Sport Wales, Ruthin Town Council and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL), it has been agreed collectively that the Ruthin Velodrome project will no longer be proceeding. 

The plans would have seen the first Velodrome in North Wales, along with providing a transformative project for the town; providing health, financial and educational benefits as well as more opportunities for the young people of Ruthin and the wider county of Denbighshire. 

In 2020, in response to a Welsh Cycling invitation for expressions of interest, Ruthin Town Council (RTC) was selected as the preferred partner for the Welsh Cycling, North Wales, Outdoor Velodrome project. 

Then in March 2021, following a detailed feasibility study, Ruthin Town Council in partnership with Welsh Cycling and Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) agreed to progress the project at the then preferred location, of Ysgol Brynhyfryd. 

Following further feasibility work and business plan proposals, a formal funding application was made to Sport Wales in Feb 2022 resulting in a Sport Wales £2m grant approved in March 2022 and an additional offer of £300k grant was made in August 2023, in response to increased estimated project costs. 

After many months of design work and consultation with stakeholders, the final detailed scheme was approved in December 2023. 

However, the partners in the project say that pricing schedule showed a significant funding gap between the resources available for the project and the required contract sum, mainly attributable to "unprecedented levels of inflation" in the construction industry. 

A statement issued through DLL says: "At the December Project Board Meeting it was reported that the capital cost of the scheme was over budget, with this sum likely to increase again if any adverse planning, or sustainable drainage conditions were applied to the development consents. 

"Costs would also further increase due to the time it would take to get the project to site after the necessary statutory planning stages. Therefore, despite all the efforts, it has been decided to cease the project as the required funding continues to increase beyond the available budget."

Graham Boase, Chief Executive of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We’ve supported this business case from the beginning, unfortunately the current climate has meant we are unable to help get this project over the line. 

"All stakeholders have worked extremely hard to bring this project to fruition and we are fully supportive of future projects and we welcome the opportunity to work with Sport Wales to prioritise this funding into North Wales projects.”

Owen Hathway, Assistant Director at Sport Wales, said: “It is disappointing that despite all-parties best continued efforts, the development of the proposed velodrome in Ruthin has been deemed no longer feasible. We thank all of those involved for exhausting all possible options to try and avoid this outcome. Sport Wales remains committed to investing into the sport infrastructure in North Wales. 

"In conversation with the Welsh Government our aim is that the money that had been awarded to this project is both retained for investment in sport and preferably ringfenced for the North Wales region, while we explore other opportunities in the area, including with Welsh Cycling as the National Governing Body.”

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: “As a board, we agreed to pursue a number of actions in order to give this project every opportunity possible, recognising the importance of the new facility to both Ruthin and more broadly, the whole of Denbighshire. Regrettably, despite best efforts and endeavours by all concerned the project appears to be out of our reach. 

"Taking everything into consideration, it is with a heavy heart that the project board bring the project to a close and the balance of the grant will be returned to Sports Wales to provide every opportunity for sports projects (or indeed a cycling project) to be delivered elsewhere in North Wales.”