Llangollen teacher bids to win BBC's Design Masters

A Llangollen teacher has begun her bid to win the latest series of the BBC's Design Masters programme.

* For the full story go to: Llangollen's Emma starts bid to win Interior Design Masters | The Leader

Councillors welcome extra £2.6m to finish Newbridge Road repairs

* Newbridge Road is expected to re-open to traffic in early summer.

Wrexham councillors have thanked the Welsh Labour Government for its ‘crucial’ investment to restore and reopen a key local route.

The B5605 at Newbridge is set to reopen in early summer, according to Wrexham Council – which will be more than three years since a landslip caused by a major storm.

After awarding the council £2.8m in April 2022, the Welsh Government has now announced a further grant of £2.6m to cover additional costs incurred in the interim.

Cllr Dana Davies, Labour group leader, said: “It’s a massive investment in Wrexham by the Welsh Government – without this crucial funding the project would never have got off the ground. It’s a huge show of support for our area.

“The £2.8m grant awarded in 2022 was in addition to the £175,000 Ministers had already given the council for ground investigations and designs. This has been a massive job and additional costs have been incurred in the intervening period, so this extra £2.6m on top of almost £3m already committed by the Welsh Government comes as a huge relief to us as councillors as it’s a significant amount of capital the authority doesn’t have to find.”

Cllr Frank Hemmings (Chirk North) said: “As a B-road, Wrexham Council is actually responsible for the B5605 but this was always going to be a huge undertaking and extremely costly, so I was delighted when the Welsh Government said it would foot the bill. They’ve saved the day, really, as the council doesn’t have that kind of money lying around for unplanned bills running into millions of pounds."

Cllr Derek Wright (Cefn East) said: “As councillors we are being asked for updates all the time and for explanations as to why things have taken so long since when the initial grant was announced almost three years ago. I share people’s frustration – we’d all have liked this to have been sorted sooner. It’s a major project, but I do think the council could’ve been better at updating the public and answering their questions.

“We are so grateful for the Welsh Government’s vital support, and I know residents in my neighbouring ward will be too.”

Wrexham Council’s last update to members said the work is progressing as planned and the project should accelerate towards the finishing line once some of the more complicated elements of the rebuild, currently being tackled, are completed.

The road is expected to reopen in ‘early summer’.

Bryn Collen's colourful end-of-term events boosts hospice funds

Ysgol Bryn Collen had a fantastic end to the Spring term on Thursday.

The whole shool did a sponsored walk and colour run for Hope House & Ty Gobaith Hospice in memory of Vicky Jones who died recently and was a parent, governor and vice chair of the school's PTFA. 

Their Facebook page says the children raised £5,368 by: 

* Year 5/6 - walking around Llangollen

* Year 3/4 - doing loops of Plas Newydd

* Infants  - walking around Pen y Coed Woods

* Nursery - walking around the school field 

The PTFA completed the colour run in the afternoon for the whole school. 

A comment on their page says: "Lots of fun and memories have been made as the whole school took part in a sponsored walk for Hope House & Ty Gobaith. Thank you to everyone who sponsored and helped this morning!

"We are delighted to announce that so far we have raised £5,368.

"We are still collecting sponsorships the final total will be revealed after the Easter break.

"In the afternoon we all took part in a Colour Run. It was a spectacular display of colour, laughter and smiles whilst remembering a very special Mummy who would have absolutely loved it.

"Thank you to all the staff, volunteers, the Ysgol Bryn Collen PTFA and our amazing children."

Illustrated talk on seed factory's history next Monday

Grow Llangollen and Llangollen Museum will jointly present an illustrated talk entitled "The Seeds of Llangollen Life - Cuthbert’s, Carter’s and Dobie’s" by David Crane next (Monday).

To launch a programme run by Grow Llangollen, and funded by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape, David will present the history of the Seed Factory in Llangollen, which, at its height of operations, employed around 20% of the working age population. 

He will follow the rise and fall of the company, look at what they did and where they worked, and finish with a 10 minute film showing scenes from inside the factory and at the testing ground at Pentrefelin.

 

The talk will be at Llangollen Museum, Parade Street, Llangollen LL20 8PW on Monday April 14, with a 7pm start. Admission will be £3 per person, on the door, which includes tea/coffee/biscuits. Everyone is welcome.

 

As part of the programme, organisers are also looking to collect any memories that people have about the Seed Factory.

David Crane said: "If you have any recollections, either from working there yourself, or from stories of family or friends, please do come along and let us know. 

"Also, if you have any photographs or other information about the Seed Factory, either come along to the talk, contact David on dcrane1@btinternet.com or 07852 726934 or pop into the Museum to see him on a Monday, between 10:30am and 4:00pm.

Fire in Pen y Coed woods

The fire service say they are in the process of attending a fire in Peny y Coed Woods above Llangollen.

The blaze, which is visible from the A5, is creating a large volume of smoke which is blowing towards the town

Newbridge Road to benefit from Welsh Government funding boost

Newbridge Road is to benefit as part of a £30m funding boost from the Welsh Government, which will help pay for its reinstatement following the landslip which has kept it closed since 2021.

* For the full story, see the Leader at:

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/25035990.work-continuing-repair-newbridge-road-wrexham/

Clair's 630-mile challenge to help fight pancreatic cancer

* Clair Abbott. 

Clair Abbott from Cynwyd, Corwen is taking on pancreatic cancer – the deadliest common cancer – through a non-stop 630 mile hike around the South-West Coastal Footpath starting on Monday 14th April. 

She is determined to raise much needed funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, which will go towards vital research into early diagnosis and treatment, as well as support for those affected by the disease. 

Clair has chosen to support the charity because she has lost both her mother and husband to the disease, as would like to raise funds and much needed awareness of symptoms!

Clair said: “I think this could make a huge difference. I originally planned to complete this challenge in 2023, in memory of my mum on the 30th anniversary of her passing. But in a cruel twist of fate, my darling husband Richard Abbott was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer early that year. Before he passed away in July 2024, he told me it was his wish that I continue as originally planned and complete this mammoth hike, not only to raise funds but to raise awareness.”

* Clair's dog Brodie helps pack her kit for the trip. 

Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer in the UK, with more than half of people with the disease dying within just three months of diagnosis. Survival rates for pancreatic cancer have barely improved in 50 years – in stark contrast to the welcome progress made in outcomes for many other types of cancer. 

Vague symptoms – including persistent indigestion, back or tummy pain, unexpected weight loss and changes to poo – mean pancreatic cancer is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages and, currently, there are no screening programmes or early detection tests to help doctors. Tragically, 80% of people are diagnosed too late for lifesaving treatment.  

Pancreatic Cancer UK is taking on this devastating cancer by investing in ground-breaking research, and by supporting patients and their loved ones through its Support Line staffed entirely by specialist pancreatic cancer nurses.

Sue Collins, Director of Fundraising at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “We are incredibly grateful that Clair is supporting us and we would like to wish her the very best of luck. 

“Tragically, 80% of pancreatic cancer patients are currently diagnosed too late to receive the only potentially life-saving treatment for the disease, surgery. Decades of underinvestment in research has meant that the odds of surviving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is no better now than it was 50 years ago. 

"The funds raised by Clair will help us offer support to patients and families, invest in vital research to help us see the breakthroughs we urgently need, and be a voice for everyone affected by the deadliest common cancer.”

*If  you would like to support Clair, you can do so at justgiving.com/page/clair-abbott-2 

For more information or to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK, please visit www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/fundraise