* A picture of the work at Newbridge Road by Cllr Rondo Roberts.
Work to repair Newbridge Road remains "on track" for completion this summer, a local councillor has told the Leader.
* For the full story, go to: Work to repair Newbridge Road on track, councillor says | The Leader
Bands of determined-looking walkers were out in force in the town this morning (Saturday) as the fifth Llangollen Round Challenge got underway.
Organisers say more than 750 walkers from across the UK and abroad - plus a small army of volunteer helpers - are taking part in the largest-ever Challenge today and tomorrow, all raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
The often gruelling run/walk through the beautiful yet tough terrain of the hills surrounding the town was launched in 2012 by members of the Llangollen Ramblers group and is based roughly on the Alpine Walk Tour of Mont Blanc.
The amount raised for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by the challenge has climbed steadily to almost £120,000 which has been boosted by government returns on charity donations.
If anything shows the tremendous support for the event it is the scores of participants' cars packing onto the Eisteddfod's overflow parking area this morning. The school playing field was also full of their vehicles.
What's on guide for June at Pengwern Community Hub is:
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* Kuff Dam are looking forward to opening the Llanfest Party.
Llangollen’s iconic music event is back with a bang for Llanfest 2025, promising a day of unforgettable live music, family-friendly fun, and an unbeatable festival atmosphere in the heart of North Wales.
This much-anticipated event will take place at the Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday, June 8, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Officials from the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and their partners Cuffe & Taylor have dealt with concerns from local residents about how this year’s big-name concerts the Pavilion would be run.
Last year was first time the Eisteddfod had teamed up with the promoters to stage a series hugely successful musical gigs at the iconic venue.
And this year – from June 26 to July 5 – they will come together again to host stars such as Texas, Rag’n’Bone Man, UB40, James, The Human League and Olly Murs in the Live at Llangollen events.
A public meeting was held at the Pavilion last night (Thursday) to give residents and local businesses the chance to air any worries about how these would be run. It was attended by about 40 people.
On the panel along with Eisteddfod chair John Gambles and Keith Potts, who is now in charge of the volunteer team handling day-to-day management of the Pavilion, were Cuffe & Taylor’s event manager Rebecca Woodhead and traffic manager Ben Perkins.
John Games said: “Last year we had about 50,000 people coming here for the evening concerts and we’re holding this meeting to find out whether people have any issues or concerns about last year or this year.”
Rebecca Woodhead explained there would again be a one-way system put in place Abbey Road, Tower Road and Dinbren to ensure smooth traffic flow on the evenings of the concerts.
The official car park will be open daily for the concerts at 1pm – earlier on Eisteddfod week – and be closed at 11.30pm.
Organisers would also be opening a special phone line – and make an email address available – for residents to report any problems they were experiencing with traffic.
However, she said there had been “good feedback” on how the same system operated last year.
One resident close by complained that, last year, she had faced the problem of having people trying to gain access to the field for the concerts through her property.
Rebecca Woodhead replied that they would investigate to see if any extra security measures could be put in place to prevent this.
Another resident said she had had problems with the one-way barriers staying in place longer than had been stated and, despite complaining at the time, nothing was done.
Rebecca Woodhead responded that there would be a different traffic management company handing things this year and that they “would do their best to get it right” this time.
A further complaint was made about contractors fixing fittings connected to the one-way system to their property without permission and this would also be looked into, she added.
Also brought up was the problem of street hawkers selling goods connected to the concerts obstructing pavements in the area. Local county councillor Karen Edwards, who was in the audience, said she would see if council officers could address this.
One of the final issues to be raised was whether this year, like 2024, there would be any “flash” sales of reduced-priced tickets for the concerts. But Sarah Rhodes, on behalf of Cuffe & Taylor said this would not be case. However, she urged people to buy their tickets quickly as there were now “very few left”.
John Gambles ended by saying that on a visit last year the North Wales Chief Constable had assured him security of the site had been impressive and that Cuffe & Taylor were “pretty much the best in the business at looking after people’s safety.”
Leaflets containing all relevant information about how the concerts will be run are to be distributed around the affected areas soon.
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* Events at the International Pavilion will bring more than 50,000 people to Llangollen this summer.
Residents and businesses are being invited to a public meeting tonight (Thursday) about what's happening at the International Pavilion this summer.Starting at 7pm in the Pavilion, it aims to give people the chance to find out about what will happen at the TK Maxx presents Live at the Pavilion and Llangollen International Eisteddfod events in June and July.
* Lynda Colwell, Chief Officer of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair, and Chair Clifton Robinson. Picture by Mandy Jones.
A respected housing expert is on a mission to recruit volunteers to help run an agency that helps older people live independently.
Clifton Robinson, the chair of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair, has launched a search for four new management board members to join the charity that covers a vast area of north Wales, stretching from Llangollen in the east to Llanfairfechan in the west.
The organisation, a subsidiary of the Grŵp Cynefin housing association, assists older, homeowners and tenants in private sector housing aged over 60 to live independently in comfort, safety and warmth by helping them with all kinds of improvements, adaptations and advice.
It also helps householders access all benefits to which they’re entitled, achieving a record £1.5 million for clients last year.
Becoming chair of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair saw life come full circle for Clifton Robinson.
In 1990 he was one of the founders of Colwyn Care & Repair which later merged with its sister organisation in Denbighshire 10 years ago.
At the time Mr Robinson was a housing manager with the ClwydAlyn housing association, later moving to the North Wales Housing as housing director before becoming chief executive of the Housing Diversity Network, a social enterprise working across England.
He also served as chair of North Wales Probation and on the board of Cartrefi Conwy housing association before joining the board of Grŵp Cynefin for four years.
According to Mr Robinson, he’s particularly proud to have taken over as chair of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair which helped a record 5,800 clients last year.
Being a member of the management board was, he said, a “challenging and hugely rewarding” role.
“We’re looking to recruit at least four new members. We’re looking for people who are passionate and will be committed to the kind of work that we do,” he said.
“We’re not necessarily looking for people who have experience of being on a board – we’re looking for people who have energy and are enthusiastic.
“They will need to be willing to do their homework in reading reports and coming to meetings as well as engaging with the work of the officers, ask questions and critically support what we are doing.
“Somebody with organisational experience who is good with people would be brilliant.
“For those who are interested, we could organise a taster session so they could see if it’s for them.”
Mr Robinson added: “Our mission is to help people aged over 60 to maintain, repair or adapt their homes by giving them practical advice and guidance, signposting them to other relevant agencies to support their needs.
“We also have an excellent team of in-house contractors who can also support clients by providing advice and support.
“We have an approved contractor list of first class contractors across Conwy and Denbighshire who we can refer our clients to.
“We are a trusted organisation so people will get in touch and ask either if we can recommend a contractor to carry out the work that they require either using our inhouse team or external contractors from our approved contractors list.
“We rely heavily on Welsh Government support and we are part of a network of 13 similar agencies across the country.
“Typically, we help people to remain living in their own homes as independently as possible.
“Another aspect of what we do is provide advice on adapting homes for people’s changing needs as they get older, a whole range of disabilities including sensory impairment working alongside organisations who can help in terms of sight loss and hearing loss.
“A lot of what we do is life-changing in a really good way and clients who’ve had some really excellent work done are happy to act as ambassadors for Care & Repair.
“They are living, breathing examples of the value of the services we provide and the positive difference they make.”
* More details are available on the organisation’s website https://careandrepair.org.uk/agencies/care-repair-conwy-and-denbighshire/ and anyone wanting to know more about becoming a board member can email post@gofalathrwsio.com or ring Chief Officer Lynda Colwell for an informal chat on 0300 111 2120
