Police to help monitor parking at Horseshoe Falls this weekend

County council officers will be monitoring parking at Llangollen’s Horseshoe Falls and the surrounding area this bank holiday.

Denbighshire is urging visitors to the hotspot to park responsibly and think about planning ahead to visit other nearby attractions across the Dee Valley if this area is busy. 

Visitors are reminded that there is plenty of parking in the town which is an "accessible and pleasant walk" along the canal towpath to reach Horseshoe Falls.

Parking restrictions are important for both road safety and ensuring there is a fair turnover of parking spaces, and the council have installed bollards and awareness signs at the site advising drivers to park responsibly.

Civil enforcement officers will also be monitoring the site especially at predicted peak times, and motorists not complying with parking restrictions risk receiving a Penalty Charge Notice.

As a World Heritage Site, Horseshoe Falls is popular amongst locals as well as tourists. Whilst visitors are welcome to bring picnics with them, barbeques are not permitted on the site.

"We’re asking all visitors to treat it, other users and the local community respectfully," said a council spokesperson.

The council are also liaising with partners including North Wales Police to monitor any increased issues at the site.

Inspector Joseph Dunn, Area Inspector for Conwy and Denbighshire Rural policing, said: “Parking at Horseshoe Falls was raised as a real concern for people living and working in the area and using the route as part of daily business. There are also clear concerns around emergency service access along the route. 

"Whilst responsibility for enforcing parking predominately lies with the local authority, I am pleased that our officers will work to support our colleagues in Denbighshire County Council with visible patrols, engagement with motorists and the community, and enforcement action where necessary. 

“North Wales Police and Denbighshire County Council will continue to work in partnership on long-term problem-solving measures for the location, and on engagement and diversion to prevent a recurrence of prior events”. 

Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “We ask visitors to enjoy this beautiful area responsibly, take their litter home wherever possible or use the bins provided. It’s also important that visitors are respectful to those working on the site to ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors and residents too.

“We also encourage visitors to adhere to the parking restrictions that are in place as they’re important for both road users and ensuring there is a fair turnover of parking spaces. Drivers need to be aware that while visiting, anyone not complying with parking restrictions risk receiving a Penalty Charge Notice from our civil enforcement officers."

Former Llangollen stage star releases her first single

                                       

* Former Young 'Uns star Katie Clark has released her first single.

A talented young singer from Llangollen has just released her first single.

And former Ysgol Dinas Bran student Katie Clark, who first went on stage with Llangollen Operatic Society's Young 'Uns junior section, used her hometown as the setting for the video launching her song Green Valley Girl, which is all about leaving a small Welsh town to live in the city.

Twenty-year-old Katie's shows with the Young 'Uns included Joseph, Bugsy Malone, Wizard of Oz, Grease, Little Shop of Horrors and The Addams Family in which she starred as Wednesday Addams.

She is currently in her second year studying BA Voice Performance and Pedagogy at Leeds Conservatoire.

Green Valley Girl is a lilting, folksy number in which she contrasts the beauty of the trees and sky with the "big, wide world" she's about to enter.

She said: "This is my first ever single release, and I enjoy experimenting with different music genres and styles.

"I have more songs in the pipeline and I am lead vocalist in a band in Leeds called Stop Talking.

"I’m really proud of this song which captures my feelings of moving from a small Welsh town to the city. To launch it I have also created a music video which was filmed in Llangollen.

"I’ve recently found a love for writing music and am proud to share this song with everyone."

The scenes for her video are filmed on the river, near the stream in the grounds of Plas Newydd, at Llangollen Station and on the train.

* Katie's new song is now available to stream on all platforms and you can sample it by following the link here:

Katie Clark Official: TikTok, Instagram | Linktree

View katiemayclark’s Linktree to discover and stream music from top platforms like Spotify here. Your next favorite track is just a click away!

New car park opens at Llangollen Cemetery

* The new parking area and (above) access from Vicarage Road.

Infrastructure improvements have been completed at Llangollen Cemetery.

Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene secured UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding alongside capital funding to carry out a programme of work at the site.

This has been done to address vehicular access to the cemetery which was only possible by traffic driving through the adjacent housing estate, which was narrow and difficult to navigate.

Following completion, a new vehicular access has been created at the bottom of the site which can be accessed via Vicarage Road.

This improvement provides easier access for visitors and will enable funeral directors to get to the site without disturbing neighbouring residents as well as providing onsite parking at the cemetery.

In addition to this, adjoining land located to the south of the site, which has in recent years been used for grazing, was earmarked for future burial provision when required.

Work here has supported the development of the infrastructure on this plot of land for increased burial provision. Minor landscaping has also been completed including tree planting in some areas around the car park to enhance the appearance of the site along with improvements to aid biodiversity such as installation of bat and bird boxes.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The completion of this  project has vastly improved the infrastructure at Llangollen Cemetery which will help to provide a more dignified and respectful service to local families going forward.”