South Denbighshire Community Partnership are running a series of free cooking workshops in Hwb Pengwern.
Two of these will be specifically for men, two evening workshops for adults and two for families during February half term.
All participants will learn to cook food that they will be able to take home with them, all for free.
Places are limited, so booking beforehand is required. To book, contact SDCP: office@sdcp.org / 01978 280 365.
Police are investigating a burglary at a riverside bistro in Llangollen.
The incident occurred at the Dee Side Cafe Bistro, situated just off Castle Street in the town centre, in the early hours of January 16.
* For the full story, see the Denbighshire Free Press at: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/25786129.police-probe-break-in-llangollen-riverside-bistro/
Traffic Wales has given notification that resurfacing works will be carried out on the A5 Bonwm Bends, about one mile east of Corwen, between next Wednesday, January 28 and Sunday, February 8.
This could result in a higher than usual level of noise at intervals, warns Traffic Wales and they have apologised in advance for any inconvenience incurred.
The resurfacing works will be carried out under two-way temporary signals with convoy working at 10mph, which may cause some delays during the day, between 8am and 6pm.
There will be a width restriction in place for vehicles over 3.0m wide and a diversion route will be via A494/A5104/A542 and vice versa. All Abnormal loads over 3.0m are prohibited from travelling along the diversion route.
NMWTRA will distribute a letter to properties alongside the works area informing residents/businesses.
Arrangements will be put in place to allow customers/workers to access and leave the properties within the closure.
* Further information, including regular updates, regarding this project can be obtained on the website of the Welsh Government’s Traffic Information Service www.traffic.wales.
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Can you give an hour this weekend to help gather support for Denbighshire and UK birds?
From this Friday (January 23) until Sunday (January 25), the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch will take place.
The campaign that has run for over 40 years encourages people to put aside an hour in their own garden or local park to help count how many of each bird species lands nearby.
UK skies over the last 50 years have seen around 38 million birds lost, with popular species such as house sparrows and starlings continuing to struggle.
Denbighshire residents of all ages who want to lend a helping hand to local bird populations and do not have access to a back garden, can visit one of the many county parks and nature reserves that are available near their homes.
Denbighshire County Council Senior Biodiversity Officer Liam Blazey said: “Across Denbighshire you may see birds including the Long-tailed tit (who move around together in small flocks), goldfinches, starlings (who can form very large flocks over winter, and sometimes perform aerial displays called murmurations), redwings (a relative of the blackbird, who breed in the north of Europe, and visit us over winter).
“If you give your time to support this great campaign in your back garden you might also see blue tit, great tit, and robins who are common visitors to household gardens.”
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion said: “It is so important to keep track of the state of our local bird populations so we can help the birds that have decreased in numbers. Giving your time to this survey can really help protect the future of all county and UK bird populations.”
* To submit your findings to the survey, log on to https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch
* Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales.
Social care in North Wales is “sleepwalking into a crisis” unless a funding system that forces families to “pay twice” for essential support is ripped up, providers have warned.
The alert comes as Care Forum Wales (CFW), which represents more than 400 care homes and home-care companies, launches a hard-hitting manifesto ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections.
The organisation is urging the new Welsh Government to hold the nation’s 22 councils and seven health boards to account for creating a postcode lottery that can see funding for identical needs differ by as much as £20,000 a year per person.
CFW says national guidance is being ignored, leaving families to shoulder unfair costs while vulnerable older people are denied the financial support they need and deserve – all under the guise of local democracy.
According to CFW, the lack of a national fee model has left many homes and domiciliary care companies struggling financially.
It’s left some providers unable to cover basic costs and relying on third-party “top up fees” from families – a charge they describe as a “tax on care based solely on where people live”.
In a challenge to ministers ahead of the polling, CFW warns that crumbling funding, inconsistent assessments and the collapse of the international recruitment route are driving staff out of the sector.
As a result, extra pressure is being put on the NHS with hospital beds blocked because community care can’t cope.
CFW chair Mario Kreft MBE said: “A whole generation has been let down since the advent of devolution.
“Essentially, we are campaigning for equality for vulnerable people, many of whom have dementia and cannot speak up for themselves, so they can have the same funding towards their care, no matter where in Wales they live.
“That’s because we have a situation where two people with the same needs can receive funding that differs vastly - by up to £20,000 a year in the case of health boards and up to £13,000 a year for local authorities - depending solely on their postcode.
“That’s not just unfair – it is indefensible. Families are effectively paying twice for care and that is a tax on vulnerability.
“We don’t need more consultations. The evidence is already overwhelming. We already have a national approach to regulation and a national fee methodology would end the chaos, introduce fairness and transparency and finally reflect the true cost of providing care.
“Partnership should not just be a slogan. It means respecting every voice at the table, working collaboratively and ending artificial barriers that prevent integrated care from working as it should. Without trust and fairness, the system collapses under its own weight.
“We welcome the commitment to the Real Living Wage but it is meaningless unless the money reaches the frontline. You cannot pay care workers fairly if the fees themselves don’t cover the basic costs of running the service.
“As the former First Minister, Mark Drakeford said, social care is the scaffolding that holds up the NHS.
“When care providers are underfunded, hospitals overflow, waiting lists lengthen and outcomes worsen. Investing in care isn’t optional. It is essential for the future of our health service.
“You cannot build a stable care system on short-term funding. We need core, long-term investment so local authorities can plan properly and citizens know they will receive the support they need, when they need it.
“Rebalancing was never meant to pitch the public sector against independent providers. Yet in some area public bodies are competing directly with smaller homes instead of supporting a mixed economy. That drives up cost and reduces choice for citizens.
“Independent providers deliver extraordinary value for money. They are rooted in their communities, rigorously inspected and often more cost-effective than public provision. But they cannot operate on fees that fail to meet the true cost of care.
“Wales has a similar size population to Manchester. Yet we have 29 different approaches to funding and commissioning care. That is bureaucratic, inefficient and unfair on the people we serve. We need national consistency – and we need it now.
“This is a pivotal moment. The decisions made by the next Welsh Government will shape social care in Wales for a generation.
“We are urging every political party to put fairness, sustainability and dignity at the heart of their plans.
“If politicians fail to act now, they will be choosing crisis by design. This is the last chance to fix a broken system before it fails another generation.
“A civilised nation does not balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable people. This is a test of who we are as a nation.”
A new pressure group has been formed in Llangollen to fight plans for the new Glyndwr National Park, which would include this area.
Following a review of the evidence and the findings from the 2025 statutory consultation, the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Board recently agreed to make the official Designation Order for the park.
This is despite a number of councils in the area refusing to back the proposal.
Denbighshire, Wrexham and Powys have formally rejected the plan while Flintshire has raised its concerns. Llangollen Town Council also recently voted to oppose the plan.
The Welsh Government will further consider the proposal for a new National Park based on the existing Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) following a Public Notice period and on receipt of information and evidence, including consultation responses.
This Public Notice period runs until February 15, giving people a further opportunity to formally respond to the proposal.
Last night 28 turned up for a meeting about the park proposal in the Hand Hotel in Llangollen and a new campaign group of six was formed to oppose it, with a chair, secretary and treasurer.
The group has its own Facebook page called "No to Glyndwr National Park Proposal."
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DizMmaBdC/?mibextid=wwXIfrif yiu
Someone who was at the meeting said later: "We have had support from the successful No group in Galloway and Dumfries with a short-term strategy to try and raise public awareness and encourage public objection. We intend to lobby local and national politicians and a seek confirmation that all the county councils affected Gwynedd/Powys/ Denbighshire/ Wrexham and Flintshire reaffirm their objections to the National Park during this consultation period."
One of those who called the meeting, Wrexham county councillor Trevor Bates, who represents Dyffryn Ceiriog, said: "Thanks to all those who turned up at Llangollen tonight, we need to get the message across of how unfair the consultations have been.
"Disregard of the basic principles of public consultation have been ignored, showing utter contempt for the public. Say no to the Glyndwr National Park!"
During the past three years, NRW says it has carried out detailed evaluations, data gathering, technical assessments, and engagement with communities and stakeholders, including public engagement in 2023, public consultation in 2024, and the most recent statutory consultation in 2025.
The NRW Board claims its decision has been made based on issues relating directly to the statutory tests and the criteria for designation, whilst acknowledging the range of feedback, support and concerns, including objections from local authorities as statutory consultees during consultation.
NRW says that during the Public Notice period, the Designation Order and accompanying documents will be available online and in public buildings across the region.
At the end of this period, NRW says it will submit all information to the Welsh Government, which will consider NRW’s evidence alongside wider issues raised by the public and stakeholders before agreeing the next steps.
* To respond to the Notification Period, go to: https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/north-east-gogledd-ddwyrain/notification-period-2026/
* And for more information, go to: Wales’s New National Park Proposal - Natural Resources Wales Citizen Space - Citizen Space
* The railway’s popular Branch Line Gala takes place in April.
Tickets are now on sale for Llangollen and Corwen Railway’s popular Branch Line Gala, taking place from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 April 2026, with three days of intensive services, visiting locomotives and activities designed to appeal to both enthusiasts and families alike.
The event will recreate the atmosphere of a classic branch line, with frequent services operating throughout the three days.
The 2026 gala will feature a strong and varied line up of steam and diesel power, including an exciting visiting locomotive in the form of 1924-built Great Western Railway Small Prairie No 4555.
This will be joined by the railway’s home fleet of GWR Pannier Tank No 7754, 2-8-0 “Heavy Freight” locomotive No 3802, and the final running days of visiting Swindon-built diesel-hydraulic Class 14 D9525. A second guest locomotive is also due to be announced next week.
The appearance of Great Western Railway Small Prairie No 4555 will be particularly significant, marking the locomotive’s return to the Dee Valley for the first time since 26 September 1964, when it worked a Talyllyn Railway AGM special rail tour. During its working life, 4555 spent several years allocated to both Machynlleth and Pwllheli sheds, operating services along the Cambrian Coast and giving this 2-6-2T Small Prairie locomotive a strong historic connection to Mid and North Wales.
One of her sister locomotives, Small Prairie No 5532, is currently under restoration at Llangollen, having never steamed in preservation. Owned by the Llangollen Railway Great Western Locomotive Group, the part-complete locomotive will be on display at Llangollen Motive Power Depot, where gala visitors will be able to see it during guided shed tours.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy unlimited train travel with their gala tickets, allowing them to travel as many times as they like and hop on and off at all stations along the line. In addition to an intensive passenger service timetable, the gala will also feature Brake Van Rides, offering visitors the chance to travel in freight train brake vans and experience the railway from a very different perspective.
A wide range of catering and refreshment options will be available across the railway, including bars at Llangollen in the Henry Robertson Suite, Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen, tea rooms at Berwyn and Glyndyfrdwy, refreshments in Corwen, and hot food available at Llangollen.
Additional attractions across the weekend will include:
A bar with live music will also feature, with folk and Americana singer Chris Greve performing on Saturday 11 April in the Llangollen marquee on the station ramp from 7pm to 11pm. Entry will be free for wristband holders, with tickets available on the door.
Ticket Prices:
Adults:
1 Day: £36
2 Days: £65
3 Days: £86
Children:
1 Day: £6
2 Days: £10
3 Days: £15
Dogs: £3
* Tickets are on sale now, with full details and advance booking available at www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
Iain Ross, Event Organiser for the Branch Line Gala, said: “Branch line galas are all about atmosphere, variety and running trains the way they were meant to be run, and that is exactly what we are planning for April 2026. With an outstanding mix of Great Western steam, visiting diesel power and intensive services along the full length of the line, this gala will showcase the Llangollen and Corwen Railway at its very best. I have been involved with our railway from a very early age, and I am delighted to be so heavily involved in this amazing showcase for our railway.
“The final running days of Class 14 D9525 make this event particularly special, and we are delighted to be welcoming the 1924-built Small Prairie No 4555 back to the Dee Valley for the first time in more than sixty years. With its strong links to Machynlleth and Pwllheli on the Cambrian Coast, it feels entirely at home in North Wales.
“Importantly, we want this to be an event that families can enjoy together, with children’s tickets available from just £6 and unlimited train travel included, making it great value for a full day out. Add in brake van rides, live music, heritage buses, shed tours and great food and drink across the railway, and there will be something for everyone, whether you are a dedicated enthusiast or visiting for the first time.”
