THIS has been a very busy year for Llanfyllin Town Council with many initiatives launched to boost the town and bring in more visitors.

These include fully re-opening the toilets, improving street cleaning, encouraging art and creativity with Stan Jankowski’s wind sculpture in the town square and securing the long-term future of the library.

We have also built closer links with Y Dolydd Llanfyllin Workhouse, promoted Cae Bodfach Community Field and its bike track and started two popular community Facebook pages for the town council and Llanfyllin events, which regularly reach hundreds of people per post.

The governors of Llanfyllin Primary and High schools are supporting the idea of a through school which is expected to protect education in Llanfyllin for the future.

We hope as many people as possible will take part in the current consultation process. The town council also strongly supports other initiatives in the town this year, including the community activity at the Cross Keys, the start-up of the community choir Llanfyllin Sings by Arts Connection and the formation of the Friends of St Myllin’s Church to help protect the fabric of the church.

The second Llanfyllin Christmas Market, held on Friday, November 30, was a great success, attracting a large number of visitors to the town.

Organised by the town council, particularly Councillors Josie Ewing and David Goodman, the Christmas market had an even larger number of stalls and activities than last year, including the amazing Santa’s Grotto at the Workhouse.

On Saturday, December 8 the Friends of St Myllin’s Church organised the first of a regular series of concerts in the church which featured the Guilsfield Singers and on December 19 the monthly Luncheon Club, started by former mayor Ann Williams for our senior citizens, had their Christmas lunch at the Cain Valley Hotel.

The town’s traditional carols in the Square will be held on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm and as usual we expect a big crowd to attend.

On behalf of the town council, I would like to wish everyone all the very best for Christmas and the new year.