Ysgol Dinas Bran celebrates set of 'fantastic' A Level Results

Students and staff at Ysgol Dinas Brân are celebrating another set of "fantastic" A level and vocational results, with students achieving "outstanding" grades and going on to top universities and other highly sought-after destinations.

A highly successful year with nearly quarter of all qualifications taken were passed with grades A* or A, with nearly 60% achieving grades A* to B.

The overwhelming majority of students making higher education applications have secured places at universities of their choice, including some of the most prestigious in the country.

Headteacher Mark Hatch said: "Our students have demonstrated impressive determination and resilience as a year group, tackling challenges with confidence. 

"We are proud of their remarkable achievements and delighted to see such success across a wide range of abilities, subjects, and qualifications. Once again, the results are impressive across the board, a testament to the hard work our students have put in. 

"We are extremely proud of each student’s individual accomplishments. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all students and thank their teachers and parents for their vital support in making these results possible.”

Council looks at plan to turn historic mill into holiday let

An historic listed woollen mill in the Ceiriog Valley could become a holiday let if plans are approved by Wrexham Council.

According to a story in Wrexham.com, the Grade II-listed Old Mill Welsh Shop was built in the 18th century as a small village flannel mill and is one of the oldest buildings in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog at the foot of the Berwyn mountains.

* For the full story, see: Plans to turn historic Ceiriog Valley mill into holiday let - Wrexham.com

Pioneering safety scheme targets sharp bend near Llangollen

A pioneering new road safety scheme is targeting sharp bends across north Wales - including one near Llangollen - to help protect motorcyclists.

* For the full story in the Denbighshire Free Press, see: New road safety scheme introduced on roads in North Wales | Denbighshire Free Press 

New Wrexham to Rhyl bus service starts in September

* Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales (left), announces the new route at the National Eisteddfod.

A new bus service connecting communities between Wrexham and Rhyl as part of Network North Wales is set to begin from September.

It will include an hourly bus service between Ruthin and Wrexham, an upgrade from the current two-hourly service, and an hourly service between Wrexham and Rhyl on a Sunday.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales joined Transport for Wales (TfW) at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham to announce the launch of the new TrawsCymru T51.

Replacing the existing 51/X51 services, the new T51 service will begin operating at the end of September this year and will improve connectivity between Rhyl, Denbigh, Ruthin and Wrexham.

It will be operated by Arriva.

On announcing the new service, Ken Skates said: "Network North Wales is about improving public transport and connectivity in this part of Wales to unlock opportunity and potential for the region.

"In May I announced immediate priorities and TfW is delivering on these with the new TrawsCymru bus service  a clear example of that.

"More frequent services, simplified fares, connectivity with other bus services and newer vehicles are all part of this new service."

Adam Marshall (Head of Commercial Arriva Cymru) said: "Network North Wales is an exciting programme for Arriva to be involved with – its ambitious and will deliver significant improvements which will grow the network, increase modal shift and create opportunity for the people of North Wales.

"Arriva are looking forward to joining the Traws Cymru family with the commencement of the T51 service this September. We have worked closely with TfW, local authorities and our customers to shape this service. The result is improved connectivity, higher frequencies, lower fares and fleet investment."

From September 2025:

• hourly buses between Ruthin and Wrexham (an upgrade from the current two-hourly service)
• introduction of hourly service between Wrexham and Rhyl on a Sunday
• simplified fares and digital ticketing options

From March 2026:

• better integration with rail services and other TrawsCymru routes
• new modern, accessible vehicles designed for comfort and sustainability

* Read more about the Network North Wales programme and the T51 service on the Transport for Wales website.

County's e-bin trucks prevent a jumbo jet-sized hole in the atmosphere

* The bin truck known as Crystal Clear out on the road. 

A jumbo jet-sized amount of carbon emissions has been saved thanks to a service’s greener fleet.

Currently around 15% of Denbighshire's waste fleet is electric powered and used on suitable routes for collection work.

This fleet has undergone changes since 2022 to help reduce its and the council’s carbon footprint whilst carrying out collection work across the county.

During early 2023 two Dennis Eagle e-Collect refuse collection lorries were introduced on county's northern routes. The vehicles are able to put in up to 100 miles and do 1,000 bin lifts per single charge.

These lorries provide long term costs savings through lower running costs compared to fossil fuel vehicles and cheaper maintenance due to less parts to maintain on the lorries.

Within the last 18 months five refuse recycling Electra e-Cargo lorries became a part of the fleet. The vehicles provide a range of up to 155 miles, again offering greener lower cost miles and cheaper maintenance. They can also be spotted out on the road as each are named on the front of the cabs, Christal Clean is one you can spot.

Currently the use of the vehicles has produced carbon savings of 409,493kg against the diesel equivalents. To put this into perspective this is the same as a loaded 747 Jumbo or Airbus A380, around 67 fully grown male African elephants or roughly four Flying Scotsmans.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We have looked hard at our overall fleet to see where we can reduce emissions through electric vehicles by introducing them to replace end of life stock and through funding support.

“Waste is an important service, and these EV lorries are integral to helping reduce carbon emissions their fleet produces on a daily basis.

“Our fleet department is constantly monitoring suitable ways for service delivery to reduce our vehicle carbon footprint and the use of these EVs is a prime example of this which will also help reduce long term costs compared to running fossil fuel vehicles."

 

Landslide repairs to Newbridge Road nearing fulfilment, says report

* The picture of the site used with the story.

Landslide repairs to Newbridge Road are nearing fulfilment, according to a council report.

Having been closed for more than four-and-a-half years remedial work on the B5605 is edging towards “substantial completion," it adds.

* For the full story in North Wales Live go to: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/landslide-fix-invaluable-road-nearing-32241697

Westheads lads are now heading out across Europe

* The lads riding off into the sunset as they headed across the Netherlands.

After a week of hard pedalling and camping three lads from the Llangollen aiming to ride 10,000 across the world to Thailand in aid of heart research are now on mainland Europe.

Friends Dyfan Hughes, 17, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 18, from Garth, and James Thomas,18, from Wrexham aim to cycle the 10,000 miles to Thailand in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack six months ago.

The intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, pedalled away from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ the Saturday before last at the very start of a mammoth ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

And they have been posting regular updates on their progress on social media.

* Getting ready to hot the North Sea ferry. 

Their bulletins began on day three of three of their journey with a short video which described how they had run into heavy rain just outside Leicester, Theyy also filled in details of their route, which should take them from their North Sea ferry landing point in the Hook of Holland and out through Germany, along the course of the Danube river, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey and into Georgia.

Later film updates saw them doing sometimes over 50 kms a day as they headed east towards the ferry in Harwich, stopping to buy food and even play a game of footy with some local lads they spotted along the road.

On day seven they recorded how they came ashore in the Netherlands, to buy breakfast, shop for food supplies and admit they were "buzzing with excitement".

They then found themselves some free showers for cyclists and spent their first night ashore sharing a flat with some other Brits.

* llanblogger will bring you further updates on the Westheads as they come in. You can see them yourselves here: https://linktr.ee/westheads