Dog owners reminded to be responsible during Easter holidays

Denbighshire County Council and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB are reminding dog owners to act responsibly as more people prepare to visit the area’s countryside hotspots during the Easter holidays.

Both bodies are urging people to follow important advice to keep pets on leads whilst walking through the countryside following reported incidents last year at land around Moel Famau.

Livestock worrying, where dogs disturb and chase sheep, is illegal. Any dogs caught worrying livestock can be destroyed and the owners can be prosecuted.

Visitors should make themselves aware of what restrictions and guidelines are in place at the area they visit and to keep themselves and others safe. People should also check ahead to see if countryside facilities are open and also park responsibly in designated areas.

Councillor Win Mullen James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “We do know that many dog owners visiting our countryside areas are respectful and take care to keep their pets on a lead and I would like to thank them for making this effort.

“However, there is a minority who do not follow the rules and we are urging them to remember that they are ultimately responsible for their dog while walking through the countryside.

“Dog owners who ignore the rules and let their pets worry livestock in the area can be prosecuted and their dog legally shot if caught in the act. This is extremely distressing to all and an outcome we want to work to prevent.

“If you are bringing your dog, please always plan ahead if visiting our countryside, know the land you are going to walk through, respect the countryside code and always keep your dog on a lead.”

For more information, visit https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/ and follow the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB on Facebook and X.

Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

Butlers Hill, Llangollen, Denbighshire 25 March - 12 April   Delays likely - Road closure   Name: Butlers Hill, Llangollen   Location: Butlers Hill   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned       Regent Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 25 March - 12 April   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: Diversion   Location: Regent Street   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

 

 

Greenfield, Llangollen, Denbighshire 25 March - 27 March   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: WORKS TO RECTIFY DEFECTIVE REINSTATEMENT IN THE CARRIAGEWAY   Works location: OUTSIDE 6   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 Scottish Power Renewable Energy.   Responsibility for works: Scottish Power Renewable Energy   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: GY004461824R

Historic pub receives £452,700 government boost to secure its future

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed news that the UK government is to provide £452,700 in funding to help Owain Glyndwr Community Hotel Ltd to purchase and refurbish the famous Corwen landmark. 

The Grade II listed building can trace its origins back to the 14^th century. It served as the site of the first public Eisteddfod in Wales in 1789 and is one of only eight surviving coaching inns along the historic London to Holyhead A5 route. 

The current owner of the hotel has been looking to sell in recent years, and there has been a notable local campaign headed by Corwen Town Councillor Dr David Counsell to purchase and refurbish the site for the benefit of the local community.

 

The £452,700 in funding will come from the UK government’s Community Ownership Fund which opened in 2021 to support community groups to take ownership of assets which are at risk of being lost to the community. 

In addition to the funds from the UK government, the Owain Glyndwr Community Hotel Ltd have also independently raised over £164,000 through share sales. 

 

Across the UK, the Department for Levelling Up has announced £33.5m today to save more than 80 projects in our communities. Of these, six vital community spaces in Wales have been saved from closure thanks to £3.1m from the Department for Levelling Up’s Community Ownership Fund.

* Simon Baynes MP and Cllr Dr David Counsell outside the Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen in 2022.

 

This funding for the Owain Glyndwr Hotel comes on top of the £13.3 million Clwyd South Levelling Up Fund, secured by Simon Baynes MP from the UK government in 2021, which contains a substantial package of investment in Corwen Station, the town centre and the surrounding area.

 

Mr Baynes said: “I am delighted by the news that the UK government has approved the Owain Glyndwr Community Hotel Limited’s Community Ownership Fund application. 

"The £452,700 awarded will cover top up funding for the purchase, revenue funding to cover any trading shortfalls in the first 12 months and will kick start the refurbishment programme.

 

"I was very proud to back this campaign and I have been enormously impressed by everyone involved, including Cllr Dr David Counsell and County Councillor Alan Hughes, all of whom should take great pride in their work helping to save this historic landmark for future generations.

 

"Since I was elected as the MP for Clwyd South in December 2019, I have been particularly keen to support the beautiful town and community of Corwen, which has suffered from a lack of investment. I am very pleased to have helped bring significant Levelling Up Fund investment to the town from the UK government so that Corwen can realise its great potential and prosper in the years to come.”

New Welsh Government role for local MS Ken Skates

* Ken Skates MS.

Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates has returned to government in the ministerial line-up announced yesterday by Wales's new First Minister Vaughan Gething. 

He becomes Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport.

Wrexham-born Mr Skates Ken, who has his constituency office in Llangollen, was appointed to the Welsh Government as Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology in 2011. He was then appointed Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism in 2014 and promoted to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in May 2016. 

In announcing his new top team Mr Gething said: “I’m incredibly proud to bring together a government drawn from all parts of Wales to serve the whole of our nation, with progressive politics at its heart. In particular, I am pleased to appoint a Minister for Mental Health and Early Years to ensure we deliver in the first 1,000 days of the life of every child. 

“This Ministerial team will answer the call of the generation in waiting, to create a stronger, fairer, greener Wales. We will take action to strengthen our economy by providing opportunities for everyone and being steadfast in our commitment to a just transition to net zero. Our goal to deliver green prosperity is reflected by the creation of a new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Welsh Language. 

“I believe in a Wales that recognises that we can celebrate our differences and take pride in all those things that draw us together and make us who we are. While there will be many challenges ahead, there are even greater opportunities. I am ambitious about the work this team will do to make Wales an even better place." 

Your chance to nominate special volunteers for an award

                       

Denbighshire Council for Voluntary Service (DVSC) is invited nominations to its Volunteer Awards 2024.

 

Conditions for the awards, which are being held as part of Volunteers Week, are that the nominee must do their volunteering within Denbighshire.

Organisers say the aim is to say thank you to a special volunteer.

 

People can only make one nomination and individuals cannot nominate themselves.

 

The rules also state that the nominee - whether an individual or a group - must not be contacted or made aware that they are being nominated for an award.

Categories are Dedicated service, Newcomer, Team Leader, Fubdraising, Environmental Conservation, Community Support and Young Volunteer

Closing date for nominations is Friday May 3.

 

The awards will be presented at DVSC’s base in the Naylor Leyland Centre, Ruthin on Friday June 7. 

Nominate Here : bit.ly/DVSCVolunteerAwards2024Form Once completed - please return to office@dvsc.co.uk ***

 

 

 

 

University of Third Age welcomes people from Llangollen

Lots of hard graft, determination and tenacity went into the re-opening of the railway track between Llangollen and Corwen.

That was the message from Peter Neve of the Llangollen Railway Trust when he spoke to Berwyn and District University of the Third Age (U3A), telling them how teams of volunteer railway enthusiasts turned the route from an overgrown, neglected path into a very popular tourist attraction. 

However, the work isn’t finished, and the railway is still looking for volunteers to keep the trains running.

* Berwyn and District University of the Third Age (U3A) has open meetings with a speaker at Canolfan Ni in Corwen every third Monday, and everyone is invited

February’s meeting heard from Iwan Meirion of the South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team who told members about his work in the mountains.

As a volunteer, Iwan is often called out to help people who have either hurt themselves, or have ventured out hopelessly unprepared and need help.

He gave details of some of the rescues he had been involved in and the training he has to do to make sure, he, his team, and their patients are kept safe.

Eisteddfod launches its daytime pavilion programme

* Competitors perform at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2023.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has today launched its daytime pavilion programme for this year’s core festival. 

Tickets are now available to see over 3,000 participants from choirs, dance groups, ensembles and soloists from 34 countries including Australia, Burundi, Canada, China, Japan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, and Zimbabwe. 

They will all head to North East Wales for the Core Eisteddfod Week, which runs from Tuesday 2 to Sunday 7 July. 

This year’s competitions include the Pendine International Voice of the Future, and Choir of the World, when the world’s best choirs will compete for the Pavarotti Trophy. 

The festival, which has existed since 1947 to promote peace and reconciliation through music and dance, has a track record of promoting excellence in the arts. In 2024, its coveted competitions in the Llangollen Pavilion have attracted more countries and competitors than for many years.  

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “This is the most exciting daytime line-up we’ve had in our Pavilion for many years. We can’t wait to welcome the World to Wales yet again in July. 

"We will also be bringing the finals of some of our daytime competitions into our evening concerts this year, such as the Voice of Musical Theatre on Thursday evening. This means winners will be sharing the stage with the likes of folk superstars Calan, Royal Harpist Alis Huws, Britain's Got Talent Semi-Finalists Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, and West End stars Kerry Ellis and John Owen-Jones. 

"The fact that 34 nations will be represented means that Llangollen will be the cultural capital of the world this summer."

With international artists such Bryan Adams, Simple Minds, Paloma Faith and Nile Rodgers & Chic set to appear before and after the Core Eisteddfod Week, organisers are keen to point out that they remain true to their ethos of promoting peace through musical excellence. 

Tickets for the Daytime in the Pavilion can be bought from www.llangollen.net. There will also be outside stage performances, and a whole host of activities planned for what organisers say will be the biggest Llangollen Eisteddfod for a generation. 

Chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Professor Chris Adams, said: “We are delighted to announce our exciting Daytime in the Llangollen Pavilion competitions and more events for this year’s festival.  Everything will be built around musical excellence and we still have some amazing announcements.

"This year, we’ve partnered with Cuffe and Taylor to bring some of the world’s biggest artists to Llangollen, but are staying true to the ethos of our founders, and that’s why this summer, as well as welcoming people like Tom Jones, Gregory Porter and Katherine Jenkins to Llangollen, we will be seeing more countries, more competitors and more diverse culture at the Llangollen Eisteddfod than for a generation.” 

* Daytime in the Pavilion tickets – CLICK HERE

Individual day links:

* To book tickets for Wednesday July 3^rd - CLICK HERE

* To book tickets for Thursday July 4^th - CLICK HERE

* To book tickets for Friday July 5^th - CLICK HERE

* To book tickets for Saturday July 6^th - CLICK HERE