Two key Llangollen roads to be resurfaced soon

Two key Llangollen roads are to undergo major roadworks over the next month or so.

Work on the Horseshoe Pass and Abbey Road will be carried out as part of a programme by the county council's Strategic Highways Team. 

They say: "It is our intention to close roads so that we can do more substantive work rather than just basic maintenance."

Resurfacing of the A542 Horseshoe Pass, near the cattle grid, will take place from Tuesday March 24 until Thursday April 2, with convoy working in operation.

In Llangollen itself, the A542 Abbey Road, from Oakleigh to the bridge junction,  will be resurfaced from Monday April 13 until Thursday April 30. Again, there will be convoy working in operation.

Town councillor raises concerns over boarded-up NatWest ATM

* Councillor Damon Richards-Gwilliam at the boarded-up NatWest ATM on Castle Street. Image: Cameron Richards. 

A Llangollen town councillor has raised concerns about the future of the NatWest ATM in Castle Street.

Following a break-in early last December the machine has remained boarded up with no details being given about when it might be back in operation. 

Councillor Damon Richards-Gwilliam has contacted NatWest to seek clarification on the current situation and to highlight concerns raised by residents and local businesses about the importance of maintaining access to cash in the town.  

He said: "We have already lost our bank branches in Llangollen, we can’t afford to lose access to cash as well. 

"While there are other places to withdraw cash locally, even the loss of a single ATM reduces the resilience of our town’s cash provision, particularly during busy tourist periods when machines can run out of cash. 

"Despite the move towards digital payments, many people still rely on cash, including some of the most vulnerable in our community. Access to free and convenient cash remains vital for residents, visitors and the small businesses that are the lifeblood of our town. 

"I have been in correspondence with NatWest since the ATM break-in to highlight these concerns and I am currently awaiting further clarification regarding the future of the ATM. 

"I will continue to press NatWest on this issue and do everything I can to ensure the voices of our community are heard. I will of course keep residents, businesses and the wider community updated as the situation develops."

He added: "If residents or businesses share my concerns on this issue, or require support with local matters, they are welcome to email me at cllrrichards-gwilliam@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk or write to me at Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam, Llangollen Town Council, Town Hall, Parade Street, Llangollen, LL20 8PW."

Genesis Project at St Collen’s welcomes local history research

The Genesis Project team at St Collen’s Church say they were delighted to welcome Morgan Ditchburn from Conwy History (@conwyhistory) on Monday who shared fascinating insights from her ongoing research and how it connects with the history of St Collen’s and the wider area.

As the Genesis Project continues to move towards the final stages before work begins, the project team is bringing together historians, researchers and heritage specialists to help shape new interpretation within the newly reordered church.

This work will ensure that the rich stories of St Collen’s, its people, its heritage, and its place within the community, can be shared with visitors and future generations in engaging and meaningful ways.

A spokesperson for Genesis said: "We were also pleased that documentary filmmaker Mal Malloy, who is working with the project, was able to film an interview with Morgan during her visit. This will form part of the project’s developing digital archive and documentary material, helping to capture the research and stories connected with St Collen’s.

"The Genesis Project aims to create a more flexible and welcoming space within the historic church, while also enhancing opportunities to learn about and experience its remarkable history.

"We are extremely grateful to Morgan for sharing her expertise and contributing to the growing understanding of the church’s heritage.

"Further updates, including the anticipated start date for the works, will be shared soon.

"Watch this space!"

@conwyhistory

Tidy Town Team win High Sheriff of Clwyd Award

Llangollen Tidy Town Team has won one of the High Sheriff of Clwyd's Awards for 2026.

They received the honour during a ceremony held at Airbus in Broughton last Saturday.

They had been nominated for the award by Llangollen Town councillor Lee Todd.

It was presented by the High Sheriff, Julie Gillbanks, in recognition of their community spirit, dedication and long-term voluntary service.

Have your say on living in Denbighshire

 

Residents are encouraged to have their say in the “Let’s Talk: Living in Denbighshire” survey.

Denbighshire County Council has launched the survey which is designed to capture people’s views and voices on life in their local communities and the services they use.

The survey gives residents the opportunity to share what matters most to them around their local area in the county

Councillor Julie Matthews, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy, Equalities and Strategic Assets, said: “This survey is a real opportunity for residents to make a difference to their local area. Your voice will help us understand what’s working well and where we need to improve going forward.

“The more people who take part, the better picture we will have of what matters to our county communities and how we can shape services for the future in Denbighshire.”

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey and to share it with family, friends, and neighbours to ensure as many voices as possible are heard.

The survey is open to all Denbighshire residents and can be completed online here

Paper copies of the survey are also available at libraries across the county.

Wrexham makes long list for 2029 City of Culture

Wrexham are one step closer to securing the UK City of Culture 2029 title, as they officially make the longlist of finalists. Competing against 9 places from across the UK, the race to the top has officially begun. 

Wrexham is the only Welsh city bidding for the title, which provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of Welsh culture and put the whole of Wales in the national spotlight by flying the flag for Wales.

Being longlisted helps to highlight the evolving story of Wrexham. As a county already steeped in culture, this recognition adds even more momentum to the incredible things already happening across the county, including the recently opened Creative Industries Hub, the soon-to-open National Football Museum for Wales, the exciting development of Stori Brymbo, the newly developed Public Art Trail and a growing calendar of vibrant cultural events. 

Looking ahead of the longlist, if Wrexham win the 2029 title, they could secure £10 million from the UK Government, helping to attract investment, boost tourism and improve access to arts and culture in the area and across the region. Winning could also help grassroots music and sport, support people working and living in the area, back new infrastructures, and generally make Wrexham an outstanding place to live, work and visit. 

Having narrowly missed out on the win in the 2025 competition, Wrexham are more eager than ever to declare victory this time round. But the title doesn’t just include boasting rights. It’s estimated that the investment could further generate more than £200 million for the whole region in years to come. This is something seen similarly by previous winners of the bid, with Hull and Bradford, for example, seeing positive outcomes from their initial investment. 

A Welsh city has yet to hold the UK City of Culture title. Success for Wrexham extends far beyond the city and its surrounding counties; a victory would provide a significant boost to the cultural profile of Wales as a whole. National support is vital to demonstrating why Wales is a worthy contender on the UK stage, with the whole country encouraged to back Wrexham’s bid.  

Amanda Evans, Culture Bid Director at Wrexham Community & Culture Trust comments:

“We are delighted to make the longlist and are more driven than ever to win the UK City of Culture title for 2029. 

“Winning the bid will help to secure a bright social and economic future for Wrexham, bringing new opportunities for people who live and work in the area, as well as supporting our arts and culture sector in more ways than ever before. This is a really, really exciting time for us and we are committing everything over the next few months to put Wrexham on a global stage and show why we are worthy of winning the title.”

“Thank you to everyone in Wrexham council who have supported our campaign so far. It’s always massively appreciated.”

Councillor Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s lead member with responsibility for City

of Culture, said: 

“This is fantastic news, and means we’re firmly in the race for UK City of Culture 2029.

“We can now move forward with confidence as we begin to build the case for making Wrexham the UK’s cultural focal point in 2029. Wrexham has so much to offer, and the competition will provide a fantastic platform for us to showcase the county borough.

“Congratulations to the bid team and Culture Trust for all their hard work – we are in it to win it.”

Wrexham will now be invited to submit a full application to the UK Government Department for Culture, Media & Sport by Summer 2026. This application will demonstrate Wrexham's ambition and ability to deliver, while creating a strong vision for culture in the county and show a panel of judges how the whole community is backing Wrexham's bid. 

Following the submission, a shortl

ist of up to 4 places will be announced in Autumn 2026.