Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies welcomed the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Felicity Buchan MP, to Denbighshire last week and joined her on a visit to a village shop and post office which has been purchased by the community, thanks to Levelling Up funding.
Llandyrnog's community shop and post office received £200k from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund to enable it to be purchased and reopened.
The £150m Community Ownership Fund is for communities across the United Kingdom, providing people with the opportunity to become owners of at-risk local pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds and corner shops.
When it was launched, James encouraged people in the Vale of Clwyd to apply.
Llandyrnog resident Emyr Morris made an application for funding to purchase and develop the community shop in the village. His application was successful, and after 20 months of hard work, Emyr, along with directors Viv Rosser, Jackie Le Fevre and Gina Johnston, and chair Ivan Butler, were delighted to receive the keys to the shop earlier this month.
Last week, James was pleased to welcome the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Felicity Buchan, to Denbighshire so she could see first-hand how the £200k awarded for the community shop and post office will benefit the local community.
Speaking after the visit, James said:
“Having worked closely with Emyr and the rest of the team to help them secure the £200k from the Community Ownership Fund, it was great to catch-up with them this week at the shop to see how things are progressing.
“It was an opportunity for the Minister to see first-hand the good work that has been possible in Llandyrnog thanks to the money received from the Community Ownership Fund.
“The village shop has existed in Llandyrnog since at least 1841 when it was set up by Samuel Fox. It moved to its present location in 1982 after being located just across the road for many years. It is exciting that it will soon be open to the community once again.
“Emyr and his fellow directors have worked tremendously hard and I know the Minister was extremely impressed.
"I am confident that the Llandyrnog community shop will provide a sense of community, and that the facility will be a real asset to the village. I look forward to returning as work progresses, and once it is up and running.”
Emyr said:
"Now that we have completed the purchase we are looking forward to progressing the renovation and remodelling work to get the building ready for its new chapter as a Village Shop and Post Office for the community to use."
James also accompanied the Minister on a visit to Horseshoe Falls, a weir on the River Dee near Llantysilio Hall in Denbighshire which receives 100,000 visitors a year and is part of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site.
He said:
“We are extremely blessed in North Wales to have some stunning attractions and the Horseshoe Falls are one of them.
“Completed in 1808, Thomas Telford designed this elegant 140m horseshoe-shaped weir to divert water from the River Dee into what is the beginning of the Llangollen Canal.
“It is a truly beautiful spot which, courtesy of the Llangollen Levelling Up Fund award, is undergoing improvements to its surroundings, including the car park. This will help to enhance the visitor experience while ensuring a more acceptable impact for local residents.”
Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes said:
“The Horseshoe Falls are a truly magnificent site near Llangollen. As part of the World Heritage Site, they attract many visitors each year and serves as a wonderful local landmark for residents. I am proud of the work that is being carried out to help enhance the visitor experience as part of the £13.3 million Clwyd South Levelling Up Fund that I secured as the local MP and I look forward to seeing these works completed. I am grateful to Minister Buchan and Dr James Davies MP for making this visit.”
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Felicity Buchan MP, said:
"It was a real pleasure to visit this beautiful part of North Wales to see how Levelling Up funding is making a real difference to local communities there.
"What has been achieved in both Llandyrnog and Llangollen is hugely commendable and would not have been possible without this money from the UK Government.
"I thank and praise all those involved in both projects, they have worked exceptionally hard for the good of both locals and visitors."
