Llangollen will not be served by Wrexham

Many locals argued that they had more in common with Wrexham and used their facilities including the town's Maelor Hospital.

A referendum on the issue was held two years ago, but a margin of just nine votes to maintain the status quo did little to quell the debate.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales was set up to investigate how the town should be served.

On Monday, the body recommended that the county's boundary should stay the same.

This ends the long-running uncertainty as to whether the popular tourist town and the neighbouring community of Llantysilio should remain with Denbighshire or become part of Wrexham.

The people of Llangollen and Llantysilio can now be certain as to where their future lies

Elwyn Edwards, Denbighshire County Council Leader

However, a final decision will have to be made by the Welsh Assembly in around six weeks time.

Denbighshire County Council Leader Elwyn Edwards is confident the decision will be ratified.

"We are delighted with the recommendation. It would be very unusual for the Assembly to reject the Boundary Commission's report, which follows extensive consultation," he said.

Mr Edwards added: "The people of Llangollen and Llantysilio can now be certain as to where their future lies."

"Changing the boundary would have been damaging to the rest of Denbighshire.

Financial implications

"It would have been contrary to the democratic wishes of the people of Llangollen as expressed in the referendum held in 2000," he added.

A spokesman for the Boundary Commission said their decision was partly financial.

"The perceived benefits of the proposed change do not outweigh the perceived benefits of the existing arrangements taking into account the costs that will be incurred by the councils in administering the change."

The review was ordered two years ago by Peter Law who was the Welsh Assembly Secretary for Local Government.