Eisteddfod to gain more control over running of Pavilion

* Madness headline at the Pavilion during last year's Eisteddfod.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will gain more control over Llangollen Pavilion next month as new arrangements are put in place for the management of the iconic site.

Festival chiefs say this will allow them to open up opportunities for year-round entertainment and other activities in the town.

Under current arrangements overall management and responsibility of the Pavilion site, home to the world-renowned International Eisteddfod, rests with Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL). 

This responsibility will change to the Eisteddfod, with a lease from Denbighshire County Council granted subject to agreed terms. 

This will allow the Eisteddfod, as owners of the site, greater flexibility to develop the site for the benefit of Llangollen and the wider north east Wales region, they feel.

Eisteddfod chairman John Gambles said: "We would like to thank Denbighshire Leisure Ltd for being custodians of the Llangollen Pavilion. 

* The NEW Sinfonia orchestra play on the Pavilion main stage last year.  

"I’d like to thank them for their ready co-operation managing the transition. This new arrangement with Denbighshire County Council provides a huge opportunity for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as we move towards our aim of becoming an all-year round organisation for the benefit of local people and visitors.” 

This summer, the Pavilion will host a range of world-famous acts including the Live at Llangollen Pavilion concerts which will feature headline shows by Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, James, The Script, Olly Murs and The Human League.

This year's Llangollen International Eisteddfod takes place from July 8-13, which will see 4,000 competitors from 35 different countries heading for Llangollen. 

The festival also has concerts by legendary frontman from The Who, Roger Daltrey, a concert celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, featuring One World conducted by Sir Karl Jenkins, KT Tunstall, Il Divo, Choir of the World with special guest Lucie Jones and Sir Bryn Terfel and Fisherman’s Friends.

The Eisteddfod say the new arrangement will provide more flexibility and allow it to further cement its partnership with live music and event promoters, Cuffe and Taylor, to attract more entertainment acts in the future.

John Gambles added: “Last summer’s events including concerts by Sir Tom Jones, Manic Street Preachers and Bryan Adams delivered huge economic benefits to the town of Llangollen. This is something we will expand for the benefit of our wider region. 

"In any new arrangement for the site, the Llangollen Eisteddfod would honour all existing bookings at the Pavilion for 2025. 

"We are also working on a number of exciting projects that will not only safeguard the future of our iconic Pavilion and hall but also ensure we realise the exciting potential of this amazing venue.

* Manic Street Preachers take to the Pavilion stage at the 2024 Eisteddfod.

"The new arrangements will not incur any additional costs for any party but will simplify the management arrangements by ensuring fewer parties are involved."

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: “The team has worked closely with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Denbighshire County Council to ensure a seamless handover for everyone involved and we’re delighted that everything has transitioned so smoothly. 

"We would like to thank Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and wish them all the best in what we expect will be hugely successful summer ahead.”

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “The council is looking forward to working with the Eisteddfod as it embarks on these exciting new opportunities. 

"A core underlying principle of our Asset Management Strategy 2024-2029 is considering who best to own and operate each asset and identify opportunities for collaboration. 

"I’m proud of the collaborative approach between the council’s property team, DLL and the Eisteddfod for this site. 

"Llangollen is already one of the jewels in Denbighshire’s crown and a top-class tourist destination attracting, on average, over half a million visitors a year.

“There are exciting prospects ahead for the town and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as it looks to expand the opportunities and the use of the Pavilion. 

"This will bring significant benefits to the whole region. We’d like to thank DLL for supporting the Eisteddfod and maintaining this site over the past five years.”

Dates for local Citizens Advice drop-in sessions

 

Museum officially re-opened after new roof installed

* Becky Gittins MP and the museum's Dave Crane at the official re-opening event. They stand under the smart new roof with friends and supporters in the background.

Llangollen Museum was officially re-opened by the area's MP yesterday (Saturday) evening after being closed for a long period to allow the installation of a new roof.

Becky Gittins told a large gathering of supporters and friends of the much-loved facility that supporting museum leaders with their bids for the funding required for the work was the first job she tackled after being elected last summer.

She said: "This is a very special event for me. They were the first to write to me and this was the first piece of casework I did when it looked like the project might have been in jeopardy.      

"I am thrilled to be here this evening to officially declare the museum open again and to be in the presence of so many friends and in such a vibrant community."

The new roof was urgently required after many years of troublesome leaks.

The museum's Dave Crane outlined the many enhancements to the building the new roof project had made possible, including improvements to the displays and a new kitchen and toilets.

A stairlift had been fitted up to the first floor display area and still to come are a new CCTV system and improvements to the website.

There was a loud cheer and applause when he said one of the most significant of things that had happened during the closure had been the museum purchasing the building from Denbighshire County Council.

He thanked a long list of people and organisations who had helped in various ways with the project, starting with the museum's own volunteers and team member Sue Evans who had helped prepare two major submissions for funding.

Funders for the project, he said, included the Lottery Heritage Fund, the Community Ownership Fund, the Denbighshire Key Fund, the Clocaenog Wind Farm Fund and the Welsh Government Collection Management Capital Improvement programme.

Llangollen Silver Band played as the evening's guests mingled and explored the revamped building.

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards was unable to make it to the re-opening but sent a message of best wishes.

She said: "Sadly, I was unable to attend the re-opening of the Llangollen Museum due to unforeseen circumstances.

"I’m very much aware of the sheer hard work and determination undertaken to save this much-loved museum in the heart of the town which cannot be underestimated. It is a glowing testament of resilience and courage in the face of adversity.

 

"I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest congratulations and heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with this project. Da iawn pawb."

Cytun Churches Together Llangollen to host Lent course

Cytun Churches Together Llangollen is hosting a Lent course entitled "Opening the Scriptures: Setting our hearts on fire", on Tuesdays during the Lenten period, starting March 11, between 12.30 and 1.30pm. All are welcome.

It will be held at the Memorial Hall and organisers say people attending can bring lunch with them if they wish.

The course could also be made available online at Zoom if there is any interest. To arrange to join by Zoom, contact Ruth by email at: ruth.gee@methodist.org.uk. 

Parties disagree over Welsh Government budget

A £26bn funding package from the Welsh Labour Government has been backed by Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates.  

He voted for the Welsh Government budget this week and says it will lead to ‘a brighter future’ for Wrexham and Wales.

Mr Skates said: “The 2025-26 Welsh Budget has the top priorities of the people of our area at its heart and includes additional funding for our schools and hospitals, investment in more and better homes and extra support for jobs and economic growth.”

In total, an additional £1.5bn will be spent on public services in the next financial year – including an extra £600m for the Welsh NHS.

Another £15m is being invested in a pilot scheme which will mean young people aged 21 and under will only pay £1 for a single bus fare in Wales.

Mr Skates added: “Thanks to the hard work of the Welsh Labour Government, in partnership with the UK Labour Government, the £1.5bn of extra funding which has been secured is being carefully targeted to make sure it makes a real difference to people’s lives. 

“An additional £600m for health and social care means more appointments, better medical equipment and more investment in crucial new technology.

‘With over £400m allocated to tackle housing pressures, there will be more support to get first time buyers onto the property ladder, and money to make existing homes greener and more sustainable.

“After 14 years of UK Tory under-funding, this Budget is a hopeful one. With it, we can start to undo some of the damage of the past and focus on delivering the brighter future Wales deserves.”

But Sam Rowlands, Conservative Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says Labour is continuing to fail Wales.

Speaking in the budget debate in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance said: “Let's see what the results of the last 26 years of Labour budgets look like: Wales by far has the longest NHS waiting lists in the United Kingdom and the worst educational outcomes, stunting the futures of our children and young people, despite the Welsh Government receiving £1.20 in funding for every £1 spent on these services in England.

“We were desperate to see a budget that sought to fix Wales instead of ploughing on with the same old failed orthodoxy.  Instead of tackling the big issues, they've increased the bureaucracy budget by a third in two years.

“They want to channel funding towards 36 more politicians in this place, and rather than putting forward and funding a Welsh winter fuel allowance, which they argue is outside of their remit, they spend millions and millions of pounds on international relations, which have nothing to do with the Welsh Government's remit.

“We will stand up for Welsh pensioners by backing the implementation of a fully costed Welsh winter fuel allowance, which was slashed by the UK Labour Government, meaning 400,000 Welsh pensioner households will be going without the allowance thanks to London Labour."

Former Three Eagles to open under new owner this spring, says story

Following its closure last year the former Three Eagles gastro-pub will reopen to customers this spring after being sold to the owner of Fouzi's, according to a story today in the Leader.

* For the full story, go to: Llangollen: New owner confirms reopening of The Three Eagles | The Leader

Riverside Park facelift has now been completed

An extensive programme of improvements at Llangollen's Riverside Park is now complete.

The work, undertaken by Denbighshire County Council and funded as part of the Shared Prosperity (SPF) scheme, was recently topped off when the signage and street lighting lanterns were finished.

 

Full list of work at the park, which is enjoyed by locals and visitors, includes:

* Painting of Metal railings within the park

* Painting of all Street lighting within the park

* Refurbishment of existing benches and installation of some new ones

* Installation of some new bins

* Timber knee rail fence installation around bandstand

* Fixing some of the broken/missing timber and painted the ends of the MUGA, done via the sports pitch funding of SPF

* Repair of the retaining wall near East St car park

* Drainage improvements

* Repair of wobbly fencing on A5 side of the park

* New signage for the whole park including new posts

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards said: It's a real good news story that all scheduled improvement works at Riverside Park are now completed."