Monday, February 28, 2022

This week's work on town's 2020 project

Work planned for the coming week on the Llangollen 2020 project is:

  • Continue preparation for paving between Parade Street and Dee Lane on Castle Street west
  • Start installing paving between Parade Street and Dee Lane on Castle Street west
  • Dig out and install kerb line outside Fouzies Café, heading toward the bridge

Roadworks planned for Church Street

Latest local roadworks notified by one-network are:

Church Street, Llangollen


02 March - 04 March

 

Delays unlikely - Some carriageway incursion

 

Description: Bbox Install 25mm and Meter Job in Footway (10mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )...

 

Works location: IN FRONT OF 29 CHURCH STREET...

 

Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.

 

Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy

 

Current status: Advanced planning

 

Works reference: ZU0028102/000012968733

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Police appeal follows serious collision near Chirk

North Wales Police are appealing for witnesses after a three-vehicle road traffic collision on the A5 in Chirk, near the Halton roundabout, yesterday (Saturday) left a casualty with life-changing injuries.

The collision occurred at just after 12.05pm and involved a white Volkswagen Crafter, a Red Transit van and a black Honda motorcycle.

On its Facebook page North Wales Police says: "Did you see any of these vehicles prior to the collision? We are keen to speak to anyone with any information, or who may have dashcam footage of the incident.

"If you do have any information that can assist with our enquiries, we urge you to come forward using our LiveChat facility or 101, quoting reference B027421. https://orlo.uk/Vsoud

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here is the column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I’ve just been offered a new job and now I need to tell my current employer. The new company wants me to start as soon as possible. The problem is, we’re already a bit short-staffed where I am now and I don’t know how soon I’ll be allowed to leave. How should I bring all this up with my boss?

A: Congratulations on your new role. It can feel awkward telling your current employer you’re moving on. The time between telling your employer you’ve found a new position and you actually leaving is known as your notice period. 

If you’ve been in your current job for less than a month, you won’t have to give any notice period (unless your contract says otherwise). If it’s more than a month, you’ll have to give at least one week’s notice. Your contract should make it clear exactly how long is expected. 

If you don’t have a contract, and your employer has no written record of you agreeing to a notice period, you should give at least one week’s notice. 

It’s worth waiting until your new employer has confirmed your employment, for example by giving you a start date before handing in your resignation. It’s then best to resign in writing (email is fine), so that you have a record of the date you told your employer. On the Citizens Advice website we have a page on handing in your notice with tips on how to write this letter. 

You can work a longer notice than the one in your contract, if you wanagree it with your employer. If you’re keen to move on sooner rather than later, it may also be possible to negotiate a shorter notice period than your contract says. If you want to go down this route, it can be useful to reassure your current employer that you will tackle any urgent work before finishing. 

Fixed-term contracts are a bit different, as you won’t need to give notice if you intend to leave on the last day of contract. Leaving early would usually mean giving at least one week’s notice, unless your contract says otherwise. 

Don’t forget about your holiday days during your notice period. If you have unused paid holiday you should speak to your employer about either taking these during the notice period or being paid for them. 

Finally, sometimes people can change their mind about moving jobs or find their circumstances alter. If this happens to you, you should speak to your current employer to see what the options are and if you can stay in your current role. 

Everyone’s situation is different, but if you face any challenges with an existing or potential employer, contact Citizens Advice for advice: Freephone number 0808 278 7933 or visit our website pages about what to do when you’re leaving a job.

Friday, February 25, 2022

Thinking of becoming a councillor?

Denbighshire County Council is hosting an information event aimed at residents thinking of becoming a  councillor.

The next county council elections will take place on Thursday, May 5 on the same day as the city, town and community council elections.

Council representatives will be on hand to provide information on the role of the county councillor, how the council works, the issues county councillors will face after the elections, the nomination and election process and the support available to councillors once elected.

The event will be held on Zoom starting at 6pm on Tuesday, March 1 and will last for approximately an hour.

If you would like to attend please email democratic@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone (01824) 712589 / 712575.

* For further information about any aspects of the elections process, please visit:

www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/your-council/voting-and-elections/be-a-councillor.aspx or call 01824 706000.

  

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Llangollen Railway offers passes for local residents


If you live in an LL20 or LL21 postcode you can now apply for an annual residents pass to use at Llangollen Railway.

The passes cost £50 for an adult or senior and £25 for a child and offer free travel on A, B or C timetables only. They are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

The passes are not valid for special events, galas, Santa Specials, evening events or charter trains.

If you would like to apply for a residents pass you need to visit Llangollen Railway Office on Platform 2, Llangollen Station.Passes offer free travel on A, B or C timetables only.  

Current office hours are Monday, Tuesday and Friday – 9am until 5pm.  The office is closed for lunch between 1pm and 1.30pm.

The railway says you will need to bring:

  • Proof of Address – current utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 3 months or current driving licence

Old passes cannot be accepted as proof of address.

  • Passport sized photograph for each pass

A new photograph is required as this cannot be taken off any old pass.

  • Payment

We can accept cash, credit/debit cards – not American Express. 

* For further information, telephone Llangollen Railway office on 01978 860979 or email: info@llangollen-railway.co.uk.

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Support available for residents looking for work

Residents struggling to secure a job can apply for free support through the county council's Working Denbighshire team.

Working Denbighshire has been in place since 2018 to help tackle poverty through employment.

The service aims to support individuals by providing access to a network of services to provide career opportunities and develop resilient communities around the county.

Over 300 Working Denbighshire participants have already secured a job through the scheme and over 100 participants have already completed a placement of their choice.

Some of the more typical elements of support Working Denbighshire provides are:

Job searches, CV writing, interview skills/ techniques and completing job applications

* Confidence building, motivational and wellbeing support

* Support in finding work and volunteering placements as well as training opportunities

* Training to learn new skills and gain qualifications

* Funding to help support with courses, transport, clothing or anything else which may be holding you back (subject to approval).

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “This proactive approach to improve employment gaps has been put in place to tackle poverty throughout the county.”

“It is important that we continue to support our people’s future and provide them with the best possible opportunities.”

“By removing barriers and providing this service of support, we are providing individuals with a greater chance of obtaining a job in their chosen career. I would encourage anyone struggling to secure a job to sign up to this service and make great use of the benefits being offered.”

The service has organised free events in libraries across the county to give anyone interested an opportunity to speak with a Working Denbighshire mentor face to face.

* Events will take place on Wednesday 23rd February, Thursday 3rd March and Friday 11th March. To find an event near you, visit – https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/jobs-and-employees/working-denbighshire/working-denbighshire.aspx or to apply for support fill out the Working Denbighshire referral form via  https://working.denbighshire.gov.uk/

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Special activities mark Dee Valley Wellness Week

* Fire on the mountain – outdoor skills expert Jamie Corry with Sally Lloyd-Davies, of South Denbighshire Community Partnership.

A chance to channel your inner Bear Grylls with activities like breadmaking over an open fire is part of a Wellbeing Week designed to help people in the Dee Valley chill out after the trials and tribulations of the pandemic.

The free six-day event features everything from bushcraft to knitting with sessions to boost mental wellbeing as well as countryside skills, cookery and crafts and is being staged in Corwen and Llangollen from Monday, February 28.

The packed programme has been put together by South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP) and will be based at venues in Corwen and Llangollen.

Alongside Knit and Knatter, pampering and cooking demonstrations there will be Nature for Health activities, Emotional Resilience coaching, exercise sessions and bread-making, which takes place at the Pengwern Centre in Llangollen.

But this is breadmaking with a difference and comes courtesy of outdoors expert Jamie Corry, who runs the Wild Bushcraft Company, a glamping and outdoor activities centre at The Forge, near Corwen, in the shadow of Moel Fodig, a 3,500-year-old hillfort.

He said: “It’s not like regular breadmaking – this is bannock bread, unleavened dough twisted around a stick and cooked over an open fire.

“The air in the bread when you knead it makes it expand when it’s cooked – it’s delicious and very easy but first you have to make your fire with sparks from a flint and the bark from silver birch which is full of volatile oils and soon catches light.”

The breadmaking will be at the Pengwern Centre in Llangollen Centre and Scot Jamie Corry is also in charge of the sessions on countryside skills and axe-throwing but there are also less physical activities on offer.

SDCP Community Health and Wellbeing Officer Jess Horner said: “We have put this varied programme together to provide opportunities to try new things all of which aim to improve wellbeing.

“We want to trial a number of activities and get feedback on how successful and worthwhile they are with a view to offering them in future.

“Many people have found life very difficult in the pandemic and this is an opportunity for the community to come together as part of our National Lottery community fund funded ‘ Your place or Ours‘ and Betsi Cadwaladar Health Board funded ‘ICAN’ projects to help improve people’s wellbeing”

The wellbeing week has secured match funding from Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) as part of their ‘Winter of wellbeing’  initiative and on the first day of the wellbeing week SDCP will be hosting a drop-in financial wellbeing event at Canolfan Ni Corwen in partnership with Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, Citizens Advice Denbighshire and many other organisations.

* To access the full timetable of wellbeing week activities please visit  https://www.facebook.com/sdcpartnership and to book directly you can visit SDCP’s Eventbrite page http://sdcp.eventbrite.com/ or contact SDCP on 01490 266044.

This week's work on 2020 project

Work planned for the week ahead on the town's 2020 project is: 

  • Move the two-way traffic lights ready for the next phase of works on Castle Street
  • The following work will take place on the west side of Castle Street from Parade Street, heading north:
    • install kerbs
    • prepare and install paving
    • trial holes on Bridge Street (west side) and excavate for kerbs
    • prepare and install paving outside of the Town Hall (if the scaffolding has been removed) 

Monday, February 21, 2022

A483 viaduct now open again, says Traffic Wales

Traffic Wales North & Mid-Wales announced on Twitter at 1.17pm today that the A483/A5 viaduct was now open again.

The stretch of road was closed overnight due to high winds causing a 15-mile diversion through Llangollen which brought traffic gridlock to the town.

Calls for steps to control town's traffic gridlock


* Traffic gridlock along Regent Street this morning.

A petition started by a Wrexham councillor calling on the Welsh Government to back urgent repairs to the storm-damaged B5605 road bridge in Newbridge has so far attracted over 2,500 signatures.

The online petition, at you.38degrees.org.uk, is the idea of the independent member for Cefn, Sonia Benbow Jones, and is aimed at Welsh Minister for Climate Change, Julie James.

It was started eight months ago and now has 2,519 signatures of people who want to see the bridge back into use for the benefit of people living in the area and the avoidance of a 15-mile detour through Llangollen whenever the A483/A5 viaduct is closed as it has been today due to high winds.      


* The petition calling for repairs to the B5605 bridge.

The petition calls on the Minister to provide Wrexham Council with funding to repair the bridge following Storm Christoph over a year ago.

Describing the importance of repairs, the petition says: "The B5605 provides critical road links between communities Newbridge, Cefn Mawr, Rhosymedre and Ruabon and also Chirk to the south. 

"This is causing major disruption to local residents and businesses and also provides critical diversionary route from the A483. In the event of closures on or planned works on the A483 it means a fifteen mile division via Llangollen which is unacceptable."

The petition can be viewed at: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/repairs-to-bridge-b5605-newbridge?bucket&fbclid=IwAR1rFG2ze0g7T6JTZOSbsaOfwB26iFnkPNh3gJ0wCwZ1E5TJVdE6aiXoCdg

* Meanwhile, town councillor Stuart Davies has this morning (Monday) emailed local county councillors and Denbighshire chief officers about the congestion caused by the traffic diversions in Llangollen.

He says: "Llangollen is gridlocked. Traffic backed up several miles to the Sun Trevor. People are not happy. Yet Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government, despite me warning them months ago, are still allowing this to happen. 

Attaching a screenshot of local people's complaints about the situation, he asks: "What are you intending to do to sort this problem, please?"

A483 closure means extra traffic through town

The closure of the A483 due to high winds this morning is causing extra traffic through Llangollen this morning. 

Traffic Wales posted earlier this morning n Twitter: 

: Both directions : Ruabon to Chirk (Gledrid) : Road closed : Due to high winds :

MP raises over £2,000 on cancer charity challenge

* Simon Baynes MP outside Chirk Castle during one of his runs.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes recently completed the 50-mile running challenge in aid of Maggie’s Centres and managed to raise over £2,000 for the cause in memory of family members. 

Maggie’s Centres are based in various locations and offer support free to anyone with cancer and their families who walk through the doors. 

The centres were founded by Maggie Keswick Jencks who used her own experience of having cancer to create a new type of cancer care. 

The first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996 and, since then, a network of centres across the UK and some abroad have now been established to offer care to those facing cancer. 

Mr Baynes had to run 50 miles for the challenge, with the money raised assisting those who use the centres. 

In total, he raised over £2,000, which was inclusive of match-funding. 

His efforts and those of others who took up the challenge resulted in a total of £115,037 being raised. 

Mr Baynes said: “I was pleased to complete this challenge for a cause that is close to my heart as both my parents and my father-in-law died of cancer. 

"It is quite a long time since I did any running and therefore I had to build up my fitness gradually over the 5 weeks of the challenge. 

"I did the running in Wales and also in London in the evenings after working in Parliament and I discovered many sights which I had not seen before. 

"I am very grateful to the large number of family and friends who sponsored me for this truly inspirational cause which brings so much comfort and hope to people suffering with cancer across the UK.”

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Dog owners reminded to pick up after their pets

Dog owners are being reminded to pick up after their pets while out walking.

A Public Space Protection Order is in force in the county which allows Denbighshire County Council to take action, including issuing fines against owners who allow their dogs to foul in an area of public land without cleaning up after them.

The council works with District Enforcement who deploy officers to regularly patrol the county in order to prevent littering and irresponsible dog ownership. 

Cllr Mark Young, Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “The majority of dog owners act responsibly and the Council would like to thank them for ensuring our communities remain clean and attractive for our residents.

“However, we have noticed an increase in dog fouling on pavements over the winter months as many dog walkers change their usual routes due to the darker evenings and mornings.

“We have received a number of complaints from residents because some dog owners are allowing their dog to foul outside people’s homes, businesses and even schools and not clearing it up. 

“We want to make it clear that irresponsible dog owners are in breach of the Public Space Protection Order and could receive a £100 fixed penalty notice.

“Patrols are ongoing and we are also encouraging people who witness this to contact us with information so we are able to target our enforcement patrols.”

To report a dog owner not clearing up after their pet, please provide a description of the person, a description of the dog as well as the time and location of the offence.

All litter bins and your black bin at home can be used to deposit dog mess which is bagged and tied and free dog bags can be collected from the Council’s one-stop shops.

To report an incident of dog fouling visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/dog-issues/report-a-dog-related-issue.aspx

Saturday, February 19, 2022

New railway exhibition opens at museum


* Above and below: the railway exhibition at Llangollen Museum.

A Llangollen Railway volunteer is currently staging a new temporary exhibition in Llangollen Museum.

Entitled Along Lost Lines, the display is by Peter Dickinsonone of the founding members of the railway's Heritage Group.

It charts the history of the old railway line linking Ruabon with the coast at Barmouth. 

The exhibition includes a range of artefacts, posters and exhibits relating to the line. 

A dedicated section includes some original parts from Queen Victoria's Royal Train from 1897 which are being shown in public for the first time. 

The exhibition opens today (Saturday) runs until April 3. Entry is free.  

Currently, the museum will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11-4pm. 

The exhibition is a joint collaboration between the museum and the Llangollen Railway Heritage Group. 

Friday, February 18, 2022

Viaduct lane closure means extra traffic through Llan, county warns

Denbighshire County Council has issued the following warning on social media of a lane closure on the A483 viaduct due to Storm Eunice:  

𝗔𝟰𝟴𝟯 𝗗𝗲𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁

18 FEBRUARY @10.40AM
⛔There is currently a 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 on the A483 Dee Viaduct due to Storm Eunice.
⚠️A traffic management plan is in place to help manage the additional traffic diverted via Llangollen.
🚦 Traffic management contractors will manually operate traffic lights on Castle Street, Llangollen during today (Friday, February 18).
➡️ Castle Street will then temporarily open to two-way traffic between 5pm on Friday and the morning of Monday, February 21.


Storm Eunice - council's 10.30am Friday update

Denbighshire County Council continues to monitor the weather position as Storm Eunice is predicted to bring extremely strong winds to the region during the remainder of today (Friday)

A number of Council services have decided to change their arrangements, due to the strong winds forecast.

Libraries and One Stop Shop (County Hall):

In the interest of the safety of staff and visitors, it has been decided that all of Denbighshire’s libraries will remain closed on Friday.

The One Stop Shop at County Hall will also be closed on Thursday.

Waste and recycling:

The garden waste recycling service will not operate on Friday, due to the temporary closure of the composing site where we deliver most of the garden waste we collect.  This is down to the strong winds expected with Storm Eunice.  We’re asking garden waste customers NOT to put out their bin and present it on their next scheduled collection day in two weeks time.

However, the other waste and recycling services are due to take place as usual today.

Public transport:

Most public transport (bus) services are running as normal at the moment, but operators will make a decision if the weather situation deteriorates.

The T3 service (Barmouth –Wrexham via Corwen and Llangollen is not operating this morning, but may return this afternoon.

Severe Weather Emergency Protocol

This protocol was initiated yesterday.  It aims to prevent rough sleeping during extreme weather and provides emergency accommodation for rough sleepers.

This is additional targeted support to the ongoing work of our Homelessness Prevention Team.

No issues have been reported overnight.

Other developments include:

  1. Central car park in Rhyl has closed for the day.
  2. Rhyl TIC is closed for the day.
  3. The Nova Centre is closed for the day.
  4. Coastal public conveniences have closed.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Waste and the Environment, said: “Our teams have been working hard to minimise the risk of disruption to residents and we’re in regular contact with the emergency services and Natural Resources Wales to gather as much information as we can to track the storm and its effects.

“The warnings state that Eunice is a severe storm and we want people to be as prepared as possible for its impacts. The main impact in Denbighshire is expected to be the wind and there are calls for people should stay away from coastal promenades  during the storm, for their own safety.

“We are monitoring the position hour by hour and we have teams on stand-by to deal with any issues caused by the storm and to try and keep our roads clear from debris, fallen trees and branches”.

The Council is urging residents to continue to monitor the weather forecasts and updates in the media and on social media for any storm related advice and information. The Council will publish updates on the impact of the storm on its website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk and on its Facebook and Twitter accounts.

MP visits Llan river restoration project

* Simon Baynes MP, left, with Joel Rees-Jones at the newly-restored stone access ramp in Llangollen. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes recently visited Llangollen to see the latest developments at the LIFE Dee River Restoration Project. 

Mr Baynes met with Joel Rees-Jones, the Project Manager from Natural Resources Wales, and visited the Llangollen site to learn more about the developments taking place as part of the Natural Resources Wales’ project. 

As part of the LIFE Dee Project, restoration work is taking place on the two weirs in Llangollen with the aim of improving conditions for threatened species such as Atlantic Salmon, Sea Lamprey and River Lamprey, by minimising the impact of physical barriers in the river and help these species build sustainable populations. 

The development has also provided an opportunity to help improve safety for paddle sports, as well as improving the stone ramp used for access to the River Dee near the downstream weir. 

The LIFE Dee River Project have also been working on similar projects across the catchment.  

The project also focuses on in-river restoration work, such as work recently completed on Brynkinalt Estate. 

Iain Hill-Trevor of Brynkinalt said: “The contractor has done an amazing job, the results are great, and the boost for the habitat of the river is really exciting.” 

Joel Rees-Jones, Project Manager of the LIFE Dee Project at Natural Resources Wales said: “The LIFE project is providing us with a great opportunity to work with partners across the Dee catchment to improve the conditions within the river for the species and habitats found there. We look forwards to seeing and sharing the positive results from the interventions carried out.”  

Mr Baynes said: “My recent visit to the LIFE Dee River Project was a wonderful insight into how the restoration work is going to benefit the local area and it was great to hear from Joel about the exciting developments taking place. 

"This is a positive step forward in ensuring conditions are improved for threatened species and will also improve safety for users of the river.”

The project is supported by the European Union LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity Programme, Environment Agency, Snowdonia National Park Authority and Dwr Cymru. 

Local appointments available to give blood

Local appointments are available to give blood.

* Follow the link for further details: https://wbs.wales/LlangollenTC

Fe allech chi achub 3 bywyd mewn un awr

Rhowch waed os gwelwch yn dda

https://wbs.wales/LlangollenTC

Thursday, February 17, 2022

County council urges people to take care during Storm Eunice

Denbighshire County Council is asking people to remain vigilant over the coming few days as Storm Eunice is expected to bring significantly strong winds to the county. 

The Met Office has issued an Amber warning from 5am on Friday February 18 through to 9pm on the same day. 

The extremely strong winds could cause extensive disruption, including flying debris, fallen branches and uprooted trees, damage to buildings and homes, power lines coming down, effects on roads, bridges and railway lines, as well as delays to public transport. 

The council’s teams have been carrying out gully checks across the county and external tree cutting teams are on stand-by to deal with any emerging issues. 

Discussions are taking place with the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency to put in place traffic management plans in the event Storm Eunice necessitates the closure of the A483 and A5  viaducts to the south of Wrexham.   

Traffic will be diverted via Llangollen should the viaducts be closed. In anticipation of this, traffic management contractors will manually operate traffic lights on Castle Street, Llangollen during the day on Friday, February 18. 

All schools in Denbighshire have been asked to move to remote learning on Friday, February 18 due to the amber warning for Storm Eunice and the significant strong winds predicted. 

This decision follows internal, regional and national discussions and has not been taken lightly. The decision has been taken to ensure the safety of all pupils, staff, parents and visitors to school sites. 

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Waste and the Environment, said: “We are working closely with partner agencies to do all we can to minimise the impact of Storm Eunice on services across the county. This storm has the potential to cause damage and we want to do all we can to keep people safe.

“We ask people to follow any advice issued by the Council, Natural Resources Wales or the emergency services and also ask people to keep an eye on the weather forecasts, the media and social media for the latest advice and information."

Residents are also advised to keep a record of the 105 Scottish Power number to report any power failures during the storm. 

The council will be updating its website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk, as well as Facebook and Twitter accounts with any council related information.

Number of extra homes created in Llangollen since 2017

* An example of the affordable homes built in the last five years. 

More than 1,000 additional homes have been created or brought back into use in the past five years in Denbighshire - with 23 of these in Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council has helped deliver 394 affordable homes, worked in partnership to develop two extra care facilities providing more than 100 homes, delivered 34 additional council homes while 695 empty homes in the private sector have been brought back into use.

Additional properties have been provided in communities right across Denbighshire - including Llangollen, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Dyserth, Rhuddlan, Cefn Meiriadog, Trefnant, Meliden, Denbigh, Ruthin, Gellifor, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, Corwen and Llandrillo – including the first brand new council homes to be designed and built for the Denbighshire area in 30 years.

Below is a breakdown of the homes created in Llangollen since 2017:

Year

Units

Tenure

Provider

2017-18

1

Intermediate Rental

Grŵp Cynefin

 

12

Social Rent (RSL)

Grŵp Cynefin

 

1

Council Buy Back

DCC

2018-19

Nil

 

 

2019- 20

5

Intermediate Rental

North Wales Housing

2020 – 21

2

Supported Accommodation

DCC/Wales & West

2021- 22

2

Intermediate Rental

North Wales Housing

Total

23

 

 

 

The council’s work was carried out under the Housing priority as part of its Corporate Plan 2017-2022, which set the direction and ambitions for the authority for the past five years.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “The council has carried out a wide range of work on improving and creating housing for the needs of our residents.

“We set ourselves ambitious targets under our housing priority and we have exceeded many of these, helping to ensure there are more homes across the county for our residents.

“As a council we recognise the need to ensure housing is available to meet the needs of Denbighshire residents, and affordable housing is an essential part of this, so we can retain and attract young people to live in the area.

“The affordable housing created is a mix of social housing, intermediate rental, and home ownership through shared equity, rent to own options and private developments.”

Two extra care facilities have been developed in partnership with Grwp Cynefin at Awel y Dyffryn, Denbigh, opening in February this year, and Llys Awelon, Ruthin, due to open next year.

These developments will see 70 extra self-contained homes in Denbigh and 35 in Ruthin which give residents a balance between living at home and having on-site, dedicated care available if needed.

A total of 34 additional council homes have been delivered since 2017 and this includes new builds, conversions and the purchase of properties.

Further developments of new energy-efficient council homes are underway in Denbigh, Dyserth and Prestatyn with 45 new properties due to be completed this year, with work starting on a further 59 new council homes during 2022.

The council has made a number of improvements to the homes of council tenants which includes installing 1,100 new heating systems, 465 new roofs, 325 new windows, 125 air source heat pumps, 775 kitchens and bathrooms while 2,550 properties have also been externally painted. 

Nearly £2million has been invested on neighbourhood improvements for council tenants, including 17 new play areas.

Other work as part of the housing priority included the successful resettlement of 20 Syrian families under the UK Resettlement Scheme.

The council has contacted owners of empty homes and helped encourage renovation or matched them with developers, with a view to bringing them back into use on the housing market.

A total of 695 empty homes have been brought back into use to date, exceeding the council’s target of 500 between 2017 and 2022.

The council has launched its Housing & Homelessness Strategy to co-ordinate its work to ensure everyone is supported with pride to live in homes that meet their needs and to end homelessness in Denbighshire.

The aims of the strategy include providing more housing, ensuring housing is of good quality, supporting people with their housing issues, addressing homelessness and supporting communities. 

This includes developing our approach to homelessness by providing even more of our own emergency and temporary accommodation with onsite support and renewing the focus on early intervention to prevent homelessness, with a model of rapid rehousing at its heart.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “Supporting the creation of so many new homes has taken a considerable amount of work to achieve and has involved sound financial planning. 

"We have taken advantage of a wide range of funding grants and affordable homes have been built by private developers and in partnership with Welsh Government and registered social landlords, with the Council managing the Social Housing Grant programme, which has enabled the building of the majority of affordable homes in the county.

“We will be continuing to build on this success and provide more affordable homes in our communities which is part of our ongoing work to retain more young people in Denbighshire as well as ensuring there is adequate housing for the needs of all our residents.”

* You can find out more about the Corporate Plan 2017-2022 here www.denbighshire.gov.uk/corporate-plan-ambition-achievements