County steps up dog fouling action plan

Denbighshire’s Cabinet members have approved an action plan and a raft of measures to stamp out dog fouling in the county.

At the Cabinet meeting, members gave their support for an anti fouling strategy which will involve three work strands - communication and marketing, suitable collection arrangements and enforcement, and will look to engage and educate residents in the first instance as well as ensuring there are adequate litter bins in public realm and robust enforcement.

In presenting the report to members, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith, said: “Time and time again, residents have raised the issue of dog fouling. It is one of the issues they would most like to see tackled.

"We appreciate that there are many responsible dog owners who do pick up after their pets but there is still a significant minority that do not.

"In taking this strategy forward, we will be contributing to our Corporate Priority for ensuring ‘clean and tidy streets.

"We will be improving the environment, improving the quality of life for residents and our visitors as well as reducing the threat to health, particularly for our children.”

Cabinet members voted unanimously in favour of the strategy and added a recommendation that further studies will be carried out into the benefits, or otherwise, of dog control orders.

Cittaslow group meets at Town Hall

About a dozen members of Llangollen’s new Cittaslow group had their second monthly meeting at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening.

Cittaslow grew out of the ‘Slow Food’ movement in Italy to encourage people to use local businesses and delight in local produce.

Now it is a worldwide organisation and is a demonstration that a community is serious about sustainability – economic, social and environmental.

In some respects Cittaslow is rather like business certification schemes such as ISO 9000 and ‘Investors in People’ which reassure potential investors and customers that a business is well run and progressive.

Similarly Cittaslow membership says a lot about a town and can be the key to unlocking funds from central government and the EU in support of local initiatives.

Mold, the first Cittaslow town in Wales has benefited enormously from it.

One of Keep Llangollen Special’s members, Phil Thane, suggested to the town council back in 2011 that Cittaslow embodied many of the things that the council was trying to achieve with its Town Plan - and which KLS are also trying to achieve with things like its Buy Local days.

The council took up the idea and following Phil’s election to the council in May 2012 asked him to lead the group which is aiming to get Cittaslow status for the town.

The working group consists of three councillors and representatives from a wide range of community associations, including Philk Robinson, editor of llanblogger.

At this week’s meeting, members discussed various measures and initiatives which could help quality Llangollen for Cittaslow membership.

There’s a lot of work to be done though, so each group member will be calling on their friends and associates for help.

If someone approaches you, please get involved, we need everyone’s help and enthusiasm.

If you want to get involved, but are not a member of any of the community groups contact Phil Thane by e-mail at phil@pthane.co.uk

AMs speak out about mental health issues

Two Assembly Members who represent Llangollen have shared their experiences of mental health issues ahead of a debate about stigma and discrimination.

* Llyr Huws Gruffydd AM.

Labour’s Ken Skates, who represents Clwyd South, and North Wales Plaid Cyrmu member Llyr Huws Gruffydd are among four AMs who have revealed facing problems with anxiety and depression and have written about them on the Time to Change Wales website which aims to alter attitudes.

One in four people think those with mental health issues should not hold office, research by the site found.

* Ken Skates AM.

The Time for Change Wales campaign was set up to try to end negative associations with mental health as well as discrimination faced by those who experience it.

The assembly debate was prompted by the group's research, which reported one in ten people saying they did not think those with mental health problems should have children.

For some of the AMs, it is the first time they have disclosed their illnesses to family or friends.

It was through writing his blog that North Wales Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Huws Gruffydd found the courage to tell his parents he had    suffered from depression nearly 10 years previously, which he had come through with support from his community mental health team.

His full account can be seen at http://www.timetochangewales.org.uk/blog/just-one-one-four-llyr-huws-gruffydd-am

Clwyd South Labour AM Ken Skates' says his first encounter with generalised anxiety disorder came during his first week at Cambridge University, although he was not diagnosed with the condition for several years.

Mr Skates' account can be seen at:
http://www.timetochangewales.org.uk/blog/putting-those-pieces-back-together-again-ken-skates-am

 

Some county roads now open after flooding

* Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones has been in St Asaph today speaking to flooding victims. 

Just after 2pm today (Wednesday) Denbighshire County Council announced the following road are now open following the flooding:

* A525 RUTHIN LINK ROAD - BOTH DIRECTIONS

* B5381 LOWER DENBIGH ROAD - ST ASAPH

* LLANNERCH ROAD BRIDGE - LLANNERCH HALL

* PONT-Y-CAMBWLL (CAMBWLL BRIDGE)- TREFNANT/GRAIG

* Y LON LAS (GREEN LANE) - CORWEN

Welsh Government unveils its budget

 

 

 

 

The Welsh Government is delivering growth and jobs at the toughest of times, Finance Minister Jane Hutt said yesterday as she announced almost £47m of extra capital funding to meet economic and infrastructure needs.

 

The Final Budget for 2013-14 includes an additional £30m for a second phase of the Economic Growth Fund and £16.7m for the use of public sector land for housing.

 

This brings the total additional capital investment in the Final Budget to £220m.

 

The Minister said: "When I published the Draft Budget I announced £175m of capital funding. Today we are building on this with a further £47m investment in Welsh businesses and housing.

"In our Budget we are delivering growth and jobs at the toughest of times and we are determined to maximise this support for the Welsh economy. We have demonstrated this commitment with additional capital investment totalling over £220m in this Budget for Growth and Jobs."

Business Minister Edwina Hart said: "The first phase of the Wales Economic Growth Fund was a great success in creating and safeguarding jobs across Wales. This year we allocated more than £30million to around 120 business projects across Wales, with the potential to create around 1800 new jobs and safeguard some 1600 others.

"The additional funding announced today will now allow us to relaunch the Fund to provide much-needed financial support to even more businesses around Wales to allow them to grow and expand at a time when traditional avenues of finance are not readily available."

Housing Minister Huw Lewis added: "Thanks to this extra funding around 1,800 new homes will be built across Wales. During construction of the houses a potential 300 jobs will be created, so this funding will not only result in new homes for individuals, couples and families but will also give the construction industry a much needed boost."

Jane Hutt has also written to UK Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander urging the UK Government to consider further action in the Autumn Statement to increase capital investment in 2013-14 and beyond.

The Finance Minister has pointed to the Welsh Government’s top ‘shovel-ready’ projects in line with Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan priorities, including:

• A465 Heads of the Valleys Dualling;
• A55 Conwy Tunnel improvements;
• Next Generation Broadband for Wales programme;
• Acceleration of the 21st Century schools programme; Acceleration of new social housing projects; and,
• An enhanced flood defence programme.

Jane Hutt added: "I believe it is our duty and responsibility to provide an economic stimulus in our Budget for Growth and Jobs. I am therefore calling on the UK Government to take swift and decisive action to increase capital investment in projects that will create jobs quickly and make a lasting difference to our economy."

Two big dates for Llan Silver band

Llangollen Silver Band has two important events coming up in December.

The band's Christmas Fayre will be held in the bandhut in Parade Street on Saturday, Decenmber 8, from10am-2pm.

It includes games and refreshments.

Entrance is 70p for adults and children free, which includes tea or coffee.

The Christmas Gala Concert will be held at Llangollen Town Hall on Friday, December 21, from 7pm.

It will feature carols and performances by the training, youth and senior bands plus special items from other band members.

Tuickets at £5 and including mulled wine, juice, mince pies are available from Gwyn's the Butcher and Honeypots on Castle Street.  
This event is part of an on-going series of fundraising events throughout the year, which provide the basic income for the band to cover running costs.

A band spokesperson said: "We look forward to welcoming local people into the Band-room and so building a relationship with the local community.

"The gala is a showcase evening for all our players. Everyone takes part – even if they’ve only just begun to learn.

"The smallest children start to practice their pieces in September and always very excited to show off their new skills to family, friends, and anyone else who will listen. The music featured is both varied and seasonal.

"Everyone is invited to share this grand finale event with us."

A5 closed Corwen to Llangollen

Traffic Wales reported at 6.30am this morning (Wednesday) that the A5 was closed in both directions between Corwen and Llangollen due to adverse weather conditions.

* The BBC's travel news website expands on this further by saying:

A5 Denbighshire - A5 in Corwen closed in both directions between the B4401 junction and the A494 junction, because of flooding.

* In an update issued just before 10am today, Denbighshire County Council says:

Most services are operating normally again this morning although they may still be subject to delays.

The main known exception is service 51 Rhyl - Denbigh. This cannot operate south of Rhuddlan at the moment. Arriva is providing a skeleton service to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd but operating via the Rhuddlan Bypass and Abergele Road and Borth Crossroads. Arriva is assessing whether it can extend services ...

to Denbigh via Lower Denbigh Road. A bus is trying the route but stuck in considerable queues, at present.

Indeed, queuing traffic in and around St Asaph and Rhuddlan appears to be a feature of things this morning.

This is also the case in Ruthin, where roadworks at Anchor Corner are causing significant problems. Not in Ruthin the X5 and X50 cannot service Llanfair Road and Wrexham Road owing to the works (see my em,ail of Friday).

GHA Service X50/X52 Wrexham-Ruthin-Denbigh-Rhyl is operating NORMALLY but may be subject to delay. Going north, the bus can enter St Asaph, and is operating along High Street and then via Glascoed Road, St Asaph Business Park to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, after which it diverts via Borth Crossroads, Abergele Road and the Rhuddlan bypass.

We're sorry that passengers may need to be as patient as possible owing to these continued delays.

* The Daily Post is reporting this morning that a Facebook page has also been set up to offer help and support to #St Asaph flood victims.

It is at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Please-help-support-the-victims-of-flooding-in-Ruthin/250720598388913#!/pages/Please-help-support-the-victims-of-flooding-in-Ruthin/250720598388913