Ruthin Gaol has lots of family oriented events scheduled during the month of August.
Crafts, art, educational and games sessions have been scheduled on Wednesday afternoons between 2 and 4pm.
5 August – The Great Teddy Bear Break Out! Bring your teddy bear along and enjoy some of the games and puzzles on offer.
12 August – Tails of the Gaol – story-writing and story-telling session about some of the long-tailed creatures you might find in the gaol.
19 August – Jack the Station Cat Takes Charge – Alan Cliff, the author of the Jack the Station Cat series, will be telling stories about his famous cat.
26 August – You’re Under Arrest! Have your chance to take part in games and educational sessions – including having your finger prints taken.
There’s no need to book and events are free after paying general Gaol admission fee – £3.50 for adults, £2.50 for concessions and £10.00 for a family ticket.
The guide books for this year’s heritage event – Open Doors Denbighshire – are now ready.
You can order your free copy and see what Denbigh, Llangollen and Ruthin have to offer when they open their doors this September – Denbigh on 13 and 14, Llangollen on 19 and 20, and Ruthin on 26 and 27 September.
There is a wide range of walks and tours, some of which need to be pre-booked, so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.
To find out more about what is on offer, visit the website at www.opendoorsdenbighshire.org.uk. The website is updated regularly with breaking news about the event.
Latest additions to the website include full details on the traditional building skills demonstrations taking place at the Dr Evan Pierce Memorial Garden, Denbigh and Nantclwyd Y Dre, Ruthin.
Each Town Council has kindly ageed to use some of their free parking days to allow visitors to park for free – making Open Doors Denbighshire a truly free event.
European Heritage Days are an initiative of the Council of Europe. Launched in 1991, last year over 20 million people visited all the participating sites throughout Europe. In Wales, European Heritage Days are co-ordinated on behalf of Cadw – the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment division – by the Civic Trust for Wales.
The weekends are made possible by the combined efforts of Denbigh Civic Society, Llangollen Civic Society, Ruthin and District Civic Association, Denbigh Town Council, Llangollen Town Council, Ruthin Town Council and Denbighshire County Council in addition to the contribution of owners and volunteers.
A project aimed at tackling criminal damage in Denbighshire is to feature as an example of best practice on a website being launched to coincide with a BBC crime television series.
The Denbighshire Community Safety Partnership will feature on the BBC’s Truth About Crime website and is one of 26 schemes from across the UK featured following a rigorous selection process.
It was chosen for its efforts to reduce crime. During the period from April 2007 to March 2008, the Partnership set itself a target to reduce criminal damage by 20% – the actual drop was 42%.
The initiatives used to reduce crime in the county and which are highlighted on the website include:
· Alley gates were installed in a hotspot area
· Multi-agency visits to licensed premises
· Test purchasing – denying young people access to alcohol
· Alcohol controlled zones in Rhyl, Prestatyn and Llangollen
· Environmental clean up and recording of graffiti
· Introduction of graffiti boards and some artistic support, to give young people the change to express themselves artistically without causing damage
· Operation GROG (Get rid of graffiti), a Crimestoppers based initiative
· Graffiti hotspots were identified and painted with a mural using a local artist and ‘local graffiti artists’
The panel that chose to feature the Denbighshire initative on the website said: “A good example of a project combining a mix of hotspots policing, environmental design and other safety measures,. Through conventional rather than innovative, the reported crime reduction results are impressive”.
Stephen Hughes from Denbighshire Community Safety Partnership said: “Although it is often low level things such as smashed windows, fly tipping or graffiti, criminal damage has a disproportionate effect on people’s fear of crime.
“We have used a variety of methods to achieve and exceed our target of reducing criminal damage in the county. However, we will not become complacent and the fight against crime in Denbighshire is continuing.
“To be recognised as an example of best practice across the UK is a tremendous achievement, something of which all the partners involved in the Partnership are extremely proud of and we would encourage people to take a look at the website for further information, as well as accessing a wide range of information and crime prevention advice.”
To visit the site, click on www.bbc.co.uk/truthaboutcrime, then click on the ‘Take Action’ section. You can access the information about the Denbighshire initiative by typing in a Denbighshire post code.
Judging in all categories of the Community Competitions, arranged by Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council [DVSC] has now been completed. Competitions are arranged for the Denbighshire Voluntary Youth Initiative of the Year; Denbighshire Senior Citizens Estate of the Year and the Denbighshire Village Hall/Community Centre of the Year.
The Competition for the Denbighshire Voluntary Youth Initiative of the Year 2009 was sponsored by the Chairman of Denbighshire County Council. First prize was awarded to Rhyl based Kids Fun Club. They will receive a prize of £150.00. In second place, with a prize of £100.00, was Denbigh Youth Project. In third place, with a prize of £50.00 was Rhos Street School, Ruthin. Certificates of merit were awarded to Prestatyn High School and Vale of Clwyd Young Life.
This year the title of Denbighshire’s Senior Citizens Estate of the Year has been awarded to Llygadog, Corwen. They will receive a cheque for £150.00. The second prize is shared between Plas Gorffwysfa, Prestatyn and Weston Court, Rhyl. They will both receive a cheque for £100.00. In equal third place with a cheque for £50.00 each are Trem y Castell, Llangollen and Bro Dinam, Llandrillo. Prize money in this category was donated by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association.
The title of Denbighshire Village Hall/Community Centre of the Year 2009 has been awarded to Y Ganolfan, Llandrillo, together with a prize of £100.00. In equal second place, with a prize of £75.00 each were Neuadd Carrog and Canolfan Cae Cymro, Clawddnewydd. In third place receiving a cheque of £50.00 is Theatr Twm or Nant, Denbigh. This Competition was sponsored by the Denbighshire Church Acts Fund.
Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to all those who entered! A Presentation Ceremony for all the winners will be held in September and further details are available from:
Emyr B Williams Naylor Leyland Centre
Senior Development Officer Well Street, Ruthin LL15 1AF
Tel No 01824 702441 Friday, 17 July, 2009
Rhyl Week presents a series of Seaside Specials at the Open Air Theatre in the Drift Park on Rhyl Promenade, thanks to funding from Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly Government Strategic Regeneration Funds.
Every Sunday, from 26 July until 30 August (with the exception of Sunday 2 August), Rhyl will see the return of traditional free seaside entertainment. The programme will run from noon until 4pm and will include The George Formby Entertainers, playing all your favourite Formby numbers, variety acts such as puppetry, magic, accordion playing, sing-a-longs and bucket loads of nostalgia.
Special acts will be featured, including A & B Duo, (keyboard player with female vocalist), David Wren (former Cruise Ship entertainer), Guyathrie Perez (International Singer and former winner of the Young Singer of the World competition at Llangollen International Eisteddfod), David Fall (International magician and entertainer) and Alison Nadin (puppeteer and ventriloquist)
For further information, and a copy of the programme, please contact Rhyl Tourist Information Centre on 01745 355068 or Coastal Entertainments on 01745 330668.
We are often asked why there is less content in the‘new’ Y Bont compared with the ‘old’ and it is a valid point with a simple answer. Y Bont is a community newspaper and can only contain what the members of the community tell us about or submit for publication.
We all miss Wellies and Wheelbarrows and in the future perhaps Gareth will be persuaded to resume, but if anyone else would like to write a column we would be very pleased to hear from them.
Equally if you have a story, article or a point to make and are prevented from doing so by not being quite sure how to go about it we will always assist.
Firstly, many thanks to all those who contributed items to the Auction, some of which were of considerable value and raised over £100 each and to all those who turned up to help set up and organise the auction and to supply refreshments. A special thanks to Dick Auctioneer, who worked extremely hard, and also to one person who later provided a free delivery service.
However, whilst advertising brought people from several parts of North Wales, the auction was in general poorly supported and the consequent lack of bids meant many items went for a fraction of their value.
The final amount raised after expenses was £1120.
Expenses:
Adverts in Daily Post and Free Press – £120.95
Printing and laminating – £20
Tea, coffee, milk and biscuits – £77
Distribution of funds:
Neuadd – £300
Y Bont – £200
Ysgol Carrog – £150
Church – £100
Chapels (2) – £150
Over sixties – £30
Air Ambulance – £30
Breast Cancer – £15
Printer Fund - £145
When the proposal to charge for parking in Corwen was first made it caused a protest resulting in the A5 being blocked, but since then parking charges have been introduced with apparently little opposition. However, one area of concern has been the necessity for patients attending the Health Centre to also pay the charges. In some cases delays in the appointment time have also resulted in patients receiving substantial excess parking charges. The Community Council have taken note of these concerns and in the near future approximately 10 to 12 parking spaces will be made available free of charges for patients. Whilst it would be nice to think everybody will respect these spaces and use them for the correct purpose it will probably be necessary for the Health Centre to issue permits at reception. If these had serial numbers and were timed and dated, abuse could probably be avoided.
If anyone feels they have been unfairly treated regarding excess charges they should contact Derek McEwan at Denbighshire County Council offices in Rhuthun.
The Community Council have also raised concerns about parking between the bridge and the railway station in Carrog when there are events on. Several times lately motorists have parked on both sides of the road making it dangerous for pedestrians and frustrating for local people trying to leave or enter the village. As the result of photographic evidence, meetings are being arranged with the Railway and the Police with a view to increasing parking restrictions and making off road parking more available.
Many of you will also have noticed that thanks to representations from the Commuity Council, there is now a street light at the far end of the bridge.
If you have concerns which you think should be brought to the attention of the Comminity Council or would like to raise any matter, you should contact Eric Lea, Ian Lebbon or David Jones (Prof).
For those with internet access please do remember that not only are previous editions of Y Bont available on line, but also public notices and news from Denbighshire County Council, local information and a notice board amongst other things.
The new office is now nearly completed and at this date awaits only carpeting. The office will provide facilities for the running of the Neuadd and for the production of Y Bont. It will also be available to members of the community to use by pre-arrangement.
The snooker and committee rooms have also been redecorated and the stairs are to be re-carpeted.
Due to the demise of the OKI laser printer, a new (and cheaper to run) printer has been jointly purchased by the Neuadd and Y Bont.
The Committee have entered an application with British Telecom for the installation of a broadband connection (free for one year) to the Neuadd which, if successful, will be open for members of the community to use for research, employment opportunities etc.