Councils hit waste targets a year early

The Environment Minister has congratulated Wales’ local authorities - including Denbighshire - for collectively achieving their 2013 target to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill a year early.

The Landfill Allowances Scheme helps Wales to meet its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive.

The Directive aims to reduce the pollution potential from waste by capping the amount of biodegradable municipal waste Welsh councils can send to landfill at 50 per cent of the amount produced in 1995 by 2013, and 35 per cent of the 1995 figure by 2020.

Exceeding these allowances can lead to severe financial penalties.

The report, released by Environment Agency Wales, shows that between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012 all Wales’ 22 local authorities achieved their individual 2011-12 targets and also collectively hit the 2013 target a year early.
Between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012 local authorities sent 389,738 tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill, which was twenty nine per cent less than the allowance for 2011/12. Collectively, Welsh councils also cut the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill by 560,262 tonnes against the 1995 figure, resulting in a reduction of fifty nine per cent.
As well as saving councils money, reducing the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill also cuts greenhouse gas emissions and helps reduce climate change.
Methane produced by the breakdown of biodegradable waste – such as paper, cardboard and kitchen scraps - in a landfill can have 25 times more impact on global temperature than carbon dioxide.
As a result, food waste is a key priority in Wales’ waste strategy Towards Zero Waste and every council in Wales runs a kerbside food waste collection service, which covers nine out of ten households.
The food waste collected is then composted or treated using anaerobic digestion to create biogas which can be used as a fuel.
Welcoming the report, Environment Minister, John Griffiths, said: “Today’s report is great news. I congratulate Welsh councils and residents for all their hard work and efforts to separate out the valuable recyclable materials and substantially reduce the amount of biodegradable waste disposed of in landfill.
“The figures show that councils are making significant progress in changing the way we deal with our waste. Burying all our rubbish in the ground and leaving it to rot is no longer an option – it uses up our precious land and damages our environment - and so it is essential that we to build on this progress and continue to meet the challenging EU targets right up to 2020.”
Councillor Neil Rogers (Wrexham), WLGA spokesperson for Environment, Sustainable Development and Waste said: “With councils facing the threat of substantial fines we hope people will continue to make the most of their local recycling facilities, as it is only through their participation that local councils will be able to meet the increasingly ambitious waste targets of the future.”

How to make the most of your leftovers

Do you want to learn how to make the most out of your leftovers and how to transform them into tasty meals and snacks?
For one day only, Love Food Hate Waste are dropping in to Ruthin Craft Centre car park, to host live cookery demonstrations (with samples) and to share practical advice on how to plan meals, work out portion sizes, understand date labels and store food correctly to make it last longer.
Spaghetti measures will be given away free on the day to those who fill out a simple questionnaire.
The event will start with Denbighshire County Council's Chief Executive Mohammed Mehmet showing off his cookery skills, in a 'cook off' against sea food chef Clover Hudson - for the title of Chef Executive.
If this whets your appetite why not drop down on your lunch break or if you have the flexi time to spare come and see our very own Chief Executive cooking at 10.45am.
The event is being held in Ruthin Craft Centre car park on Wednesday, September 5, between 10.30 am and 4pm.
Every year in Denbighshire residents throw away 7,500 tonnes of food.
Although nearly half of the food waste is now recycled, the food waste disposal bill still comes to over £500,000.
And it gets worse; national statistics suggest that the average family spends £600 every year on food that ends up being thrown away.
Recycling our food waste is very important, but it is far better if we can avoid creating it in the first place.

Dogs will have their day this Sunday

Plas Newydd, Llangollen * Plas Newydd - scene of a charity dog show on Sunday. l Street

We now have more details of the Dog Dayz charity dog show being held in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care at Plas Newydd in Llan this Sunday.

It will feature pedigree and novelty dog classes, a dog agilty demonstration, pets as therapy (pat) dogs, Greenfield Greyhound Rescue and a variety of trade stands.

Entries are accepted from 10am onwards. Entry fee is £1 per class.

For durther information, call 01978 862834 or 01824 708223, or email: heritage@denbighshire.gov.uk

Full programme is:

Licence and Insurance sponsored by Rhodbri Welsh Cobs ( Ruthin )

Rosettes sponsored by Farm & Pet Place Ltd

Held under KC Rules : No puppies under 6 months of age

Entries taken from 10 a.m, Judging Commences 11 a.m

Pedigree -: Judge : Kim Lathaen

Class 1. AV Puppy Class 2 AV Junior

Class 3 AV Veteran Class 4 AV Toy

Class 5 AV Utility Class 6 AV Gundog

Class 7 AV Pastoral Class 8 AV Working

Class 9 AV Terrier Class 10 AV Hound

All unbeaten dogs to challenge for BIS. All unbeaten puppies to compete for BPIS.

JW, CC and RCC Holders not eligible to enter pedigree classes

Novelty -:

Class 11 AV Veteran – 7-9 years Class 12 AV Vintage – Over 10 years

Winners to compete for Best Veteran

Class 13 Cuddliest Puppy Class 14 Appealing Eyes

Class 15 Handsome Dog Class 16 Pretty Bitch

Class 17 Best Long Coat Class 18 Best Short Coat

Class 19 Best Rescue Class 20 Dog Most Like Owner

Class 21 Best 6 Legs Class 22 Best Crossbreed

Class 23 Best Terrier Type Class 24 Best Local Dog – within 5 miles

All 1

st prize winners to compete for Best Novelty

Entry Fee : £1 per class

Rosettes and Prize Cards to 5

th place

Show Sec : Miss P E Field, 53 Gwynfryn Avenue, Rhyl LL18 2BD

Tel : 01745 339037 W: 01824 712109 Email :

p.field673@btinternet.com

Only legally docked or dogs docked prior to April 2008 may be exhibited at this show.

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE DOGS IN YOUR CAR WHEN HOT.

Parking is limited on the field so priority will be given to Blue Badge Holders. Other parking on the road

directly outside the venue

During the lunchbreak there will be an agility demonstration by STAG.

There will also be an opportunity for dogs to have a go on some of the agility equipment for £1 per round

Refreshments available from the Tea Rooms all day

Trade Stands In Attendance

Farm & Pet Place – Selling a range of canine products

Pets As Therapy – Oswestry Branch

4 Paws Bakery – Home made dog treats –

www.4pawsbakery.co.uk

Marie Curie Cancer Care – Wrexham Fundraising Team

North Clwyd Animal Rescue, Trelogan – Micro Chipping available at show special price of £10 per dog

Sample Bags of Complete Food and 10% discount vouchers for 1

st and 2nd in each class kindly supplied by

Cobbydog

Watchdog will help air your views on health shake-up

* Pat Billingham.

The health service watchdog for North Wales says it is determined to help as many people as possible make their views known about the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s proposals for changes in services.

And that includes people in Llangollen with opposing views over the closure of the Cottage Hospital and its replacement with a new health centre, possibly on the site of the derelict River Lodge.

The Community Health Council has pledged to use its network of contacts, and its statutory powers, to make sure local people know what is proposed for their services, say what they think, and affect the health board’s final decisions.

Pat Billingham, the CHC’s chief officer, said: “Our work began several weeks ago when we pressed the health board to make sure that its consultation document was easy to read and understand, and that it offered people many and different ways of making their views known.

“Now we are ready to hear from people who would prefer to speak to us, as an independent organisation, about the effect of the proposals for them – wherever they live.

“We are using our network of contacts to help us get in touch with as many people as possible.

“We will also provide information about the proposals to anyone who contacts us.”

She added: “Towards the end of the consultation period, we will make a formal response to the board’s proposals, based on what people have told us about the effect they will have.

“We will say whether we believe that the proposed changes are in the interests of local people and the health service.

“The board has to consider what we have to say and reply. If we are not satisfied with what they say we can lodge a formal objection with the Minister of Health.”

CHC chair Christine Evans, said: “The CHC’s powers are set out in legislation and Welsh Government guidance.

“We can - indeed, must - object to proposals for change if we think that the consultation process has been inadequate or if we believe that the risks raised by the changes outweigh the benefits and are not in the interests of people who use services. We will check on the consultation every step of the way.” 

To contact the CHC:

Denbighshire/Flintshire/Wrexham Locality Office:

Cartrefle, Cefn Road, Wrexham, LL13 9NH
Telephone: 01978 356178
Fax: 01978 346870
Email: admin@bcchc.org.uk

 

 

Barrie's stunning marina picture

Local photographer Barrie Potter has come up with this stunning picture of Llan canal marina by night, which we are delighted to share with out readers.
If there are any other keen photographers out there who feel like sharing their pictures with us we would love to see them.
Just send them in to us at llanblogger@gmail.com

Pam provides a high degree of inspiration

She battles brain tumour to gain history 2:1

* Pam Williams-Hughes will graduate with a 2:1 in history from Glyndwr University.

A LLANGOLLEN woman has won her battle against a brain tumour and severe dyslexia to gain a university degree at the age of 69.

Pam Williams-Hughes will proudly collect a 2:1 BA Honours in History at the Glyndwr University graduation ceremony in October.

And she says her achievement marks the fulfilment of a lifelong dream to hold a university degree.

Pam, who is originally from Birmingham and moved to Llangollen last February after spending her working life first in the Royal Air Force and then with local authorities, was diagnosed with a brain tumour before she started as a mature student on a fine art degree course at Glyndwr in Wrexham in 2007.

She said: “I did the degree because I wanted something bigger in my life than the tumour.”

But a brain scan in September 2008 revealed the devastating news that the tumour on her pituitary gland had tripled in size in just three months.

Pam had to undergo a life-saving operation at a neurological hospital in Liverpool, which saw the tumour successfully removed.

Despite being given the welcome news the growth had not been malignant, her sight was affected.

Although this did not seem too critical to her, doctors told her it was severe enough to mean she could not wear goggles or a face mask which are often necessary on the art course she was on.

She said: “This meant I wasn’t able to continue with fine art but I was allowed by the university and Denbighshire County Council to transfer to a history degree  course and I was told the research work I had already done for fine art, privately and at the Glyndwr, would be acceptable on that.

“I therefore moved over to history and I am delighted to say I will graduate with a 2:1 in October.

“At the graduation ceremony I will also be presented with an award for being an outstanding student in humanities, so I am looking forward very much to that.”

She added: “I’ve had to work really hard and have achieved this despite the brain tumour and having severe dyslexia but it is the realisation of a dream I have had since I was a child to have a university degree.

“Throughout I have received excellent support from everyone at the university, especially Dr Kathryn Ellis, the head of history, and Peter Bolton, one of the main tutors, who have both been fantastic.

“Hopefully, what I have been able to do will inspire other people to see what they are capable of.”

The dissertation which helped Pam land her degree was an exploration of the case of Abraham Thomas, a young man from Henllan, near Denbigh, who was hanged in Manchester for the murder of his employer’s housekeeper in 1883.

Pam said: “There were grave doubts whether he actually did pull the trigger so I suggest in my dissertation there was a miscarriage of justice.

“I now plan to take a year off from my studies to write a book based on my dissertation before returning to Glyndwr in September next year to work with Kathryn Ellis and Peter Bolton towards an MA qualification and then a PHD in 19^th century Welsh crime and the social conditions linked to it.”

Pam will refer the case of Abraham Thomas when she delivers a lecture on miscarriages of justice for members of  the English Methodist Church's This and That group at Llangollen Memorial Hall next January.  

 

    

Walkers ready to step out in style

The Corwen Walking Festival will take place this weekend – September 1 and 2.

 

Walks to suit all levels of fitness will be on offer, from routes around Corwen itself finding out about the history of the town to a high level ridge walk along the Berwyn reaching over 800 metres in height.

Organisers are offering 12 guided walks on both days and you have the choice of doing a full two-day walk and, with some of the shorter walks, you could do one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Also arranged throughout the day are skills lectures, an evening lecture and Cotswold Outdoor the outdoor retailer will be having an on-site shop.

Due to sponsorship from both Cadwyn Clywd (the Rural Development Agency), Denbighshire County Council and the Corwen and District Business Association, the whole of the 2012 Corwen Walking Festival will be free of charge.

The event has been organised by the Corwen and District Business Association with support from Cadwyn Clwyd; Denbighshire County Council; Corwen Community Council; Ifor Williams; Yr Hen Felin Cynwyd Activity and Mountain Centre.

Bookings can be made by filling in a booking form which can be downloaded by clicking on the link http://www.corwenwalkingfestival.co.uk/booking.html

 

All booking forms should be sent back to: Gŵyl Gerdded Corwen Walking Festival,  C/O Egryn, Penybryn, Corwen, Denbighshire, LL21 0BD.

For further information  0797 006 4191 or, e-mail info@gwylgerddedcorwenwalkingfestival.co.uk