ITV Wales highlights battle to save town's public toilets

* Dr Rhys Davies is interviewed by Joanne Gallacher from ITV Wales.

The fight to save Llangollen's under-threat public toilets will be highlighted on national television this evening (Friday).

A film crew from ITV Wales were in town over lunchtime to record interviews with two local people prominent in the battle to prevent Denbighshire County Council from getting rid of the Market Street loos.

In a bid to balance its budget the council aims to shed all the public conveniences it runs and offer local town and community councils the chance to take them over.

But Llangollen Town Council has already come out against a take-over on the grounds that it would be beyond its financial means and lead to a big increase in the amount it draws from council tax.

The county council has pointed out that it has no legal duty to provide public toilets.

But respected former GP Dr Rhys Davies, who was first to be filmed by the TV crew, stressed that it certainly had a moral duty to do so. 

He also pointed out the public health problems which would be created if visitors to the town found there were no toilets available.

* Town councillor Scott L Felton is filmed for his interview.

Also appearing on camera was town councillor Scott L Felton who branded the loss of the toilets as a "disaster", adding that the county council was failing to listen to the people of Llangollen who voiced their opposition to the move at a packed public meeting earlier this month.

Despite numerous invitations, no representatives from the county council attended that meeting.

The film crew later went out and about in the town speaking to residents, businesses owners and visitors about the potential loss of the toilets, many of whom agreed that it would do great harm to Llangollen.

* The item is due to be screened on the ITV Wales evening news at 6pm tonight.        

Panto group looks forward to its next big show

Llangollen Panto Group has issued an update on its next show while also looking back at its last smash-hit show.

It says: "Exciting times for Llangollen’s Panto Group, following on from our summer holiday workshops, we have our auditions for Beauty and the Beast on Sunday 1st September at 2pm at St Collen's Community Hall. 

"After the amazing success of this years panto Jack and the Beanstalk, which enabled us to make a donation of £1500 to Nightingale House, something we’re very proud of and couldn’t have a a done with out you, the Llangollen community, your support was, as ever the best, thank you. 

"We’re thrilled to have so many people wanting to join us and have been inundated with requests to be in the show or to get involved behind the scenes too.

"It’s not too late if you would like to get involved, whether auditioning for one of our hilarious characters or behind the scenes please message us and let us know before the 1st September."

Police issue warning about this morning's high winds

Police have put out a warning about the high winds currently affecting the region due to Storm Lilian.

On their Facebook page North Wales Police have posted: "We're receiving numerous reports of fallen trees and branches on roads due to high winds - we advice you to take extra care on your journey today. We've made highways departments aware and they will be dealing as soon as they are able to."

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for this morning, which says: "Started at: 05:00 BST on Fri 23 August.

"Ends: 11:00 BST on Fri 23 August

Storm Lilian will bring strong winds, which may lead to disruption to travel and infrastructure on Friday morning."

Universal primary free school meals available across county

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents to take advantage of the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) before the start of a new academic year.

In December 2021, the Welsh Government announced plans to offer free meals to all primary school pupils in response to the rising cost-of-living pressures on families, with the aim that by September 2024 all children in primary schools across Wales will receive free school meals.

Earlier this year, the UPFSM offer in Denbighshire had been successfully rolled out from reception to year 6, meaning every primary school pupil in Denbighshire had access to free school meals ahead of the Welsh Government’s target date. 

If parents or carers are in receipt of certain benefits and have a household income which does not exceed the current government threshold, they could be entitled to free school meals for their child. 

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “It is fantastic that pupils in primary school across Denbighshire have access to a free warm meal, and I’d like to acknowledge the dedicated work of our staff to achieve such a milestone ahead of schedule.

“The provision of school meals are essential in a child’s learning and development, and the catering team continue to work with local suppliers to provide a hot nutritionally balanced meal at lunchtime.

“Denbighshire County Council are committed to healthy eating and are working hard with schools to promote the health and welfare of pupils."

* To view the menu, or for more information visit the Denbighshire school meals website.  

Completion date for Four Great Highways scheme is now late September

* The Wharf steps where limited progress has been made.

The completion date for Llangollen’s Four Great Highways scheme has now been moved back by another month, which means it is now three months behind schedule.

Earlier this week llanblogger reported that there had been little progress made on certain aspects of the project, which was funded by the former Conservative government’s Levelling Up Fund and aims to “enhance the landscape and improve accessibility, interpretation and signage in the centre of Llangollen”.  

And we pointed out that there was less than a fortnight to go before the completion deadline of the end of August was reached – which itself had been moved back from June.

Today the project team revealed there’s been another change of plan and the scheme will not now be completed until the end of September.   

In an update they say: “As you may be aware the last update we provided advised that the project would be completed by the end of August 2024. 

“Unfortunately, despite the contractor working weekends to try and mitigate the time lost we are still running slightly behind due to a few issues in both areas - ground condition challenges at the Wharf and a slight re-design to the steps structure in Lower Dee Mill Park to accommodate the steel structure ramp. 

“In addition to this there is final landscaping works, which will be carried out in September 2024 as the correct time of year for certain planting. 

“Due to this delay, the planned completion date for the project is now end September 2024, however please be assured the contractor is working very hard to complete some aspects of the scheme sooner if and where possible. The signage and wayfinding aspect of the project will also be installed before the end of September 2024.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and disruption this may cause and appreciate your patience while the contractor works hard to complete this project for us.”

The first delay occurred when the scheme ran into unexpected ground conditions with its two key aspects - a raised walkway at Lower Dee Mill Park and the improvement of the flight of steps up from Abbey Road to the canal wharf.

An update from the team in early August said that because of a delay while steel supports were delivered the scheme would be finished by the end of this month.

But earlier this week while work at Lower Dee Mill Park appeared to be catching up well there seemed to have been little progress on the Wharf steps.

On Monday morning workmen were busy putting what looked to be the finishing touches to the park walkway but while large steels supports had  been installed at the top end and a mechanical digger was on site, there were few signs of any start being made on the wharf steps.

The project is part of a Levelling Up investment secured through a joint application between Denbighshire County Council and Wrexham County Borough Council for the old Clwyd South Constituency – Llangollen is now part of the new Clwyd East. 

The application was supported by former MP for the area Simon Baynes and £3.8 million was allocated to Denbighshire to invest in the communities of Llangollen, Llantysilio, Corwen and surrounding areas.  

Let councillor know if you've had missed waste collections

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards, who has been dealing with the many problems associated with the area's new household waste recycling scheme, wishes to know from residents if they have had any missed collections this week. 

She says that, if you have, you should contact her by email at: karen.edwards@denbighshire.gov.uk including in the email your full name, address with postcode and a telephone number.  

Roads around aqueduct closed due to police incident

Update: The roads around the aqueduct reopened a few hours later

The roads surrounding the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen have been closed due to a police incident this afternoon (August 22), reports the Denbighshire Free Press.

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24535299.roads-closed-pontcysyllte-aqueduct-due-incident/