Houses should not be built on flood plains says AM

John Griffiths, Wales' Environment Minister, is visiting flood-affected Ruthin today (Thursday).

Llyr Gruffydd, North Wales Assembly Member for the Party of Wales, said: “The priority at the moment is the safety and wellbeing of everybody affected by the flooding, which has had a devastating effect across the region.

 

"We must also ensure that those areas affected are not subject to some kind of insurance blight due to the flooding. It’s vital that a safety net is maintained by the government and that we see proper and ongoing investment in flood defence schemes..”
 

Mr Gruffydd , who is also Plaid Cymru’s shadow minister for the environmental, added: “There is a also wider issue here that must be addressed by the planning authorities and the Welsh Government. We cannot continue to build houses on flood plains and expect to get away with it. Councils must address this matter in making their future Local Development Plans (LDP) fit for purpose.
 

“Some of the houses that were flooded were built very recently and all kinds of assurances were made. Those householders have clearly been let down and we cannot have more of this kind of development, which will end up with even greater disasters if we’re not careful.
 

“With that in mind, I want to see every council in Wales re-assess their housing allocations in light of these latest floods so that future LDPs do not repeat the mistakes made by planners in the past. Denbighshire Council, the worst affected area, is meeting next Tuesday to discuss allocating land for a further 1,000 homes. Can they give an assurance that these sites are safe from flooding?
 

“John Griffiths and his government also have to do more than offer words of sympathy for those whose homes have been flooded. He must act decisively and ensure that he does all in his powers to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”

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

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

 

Last flooding update of the day

The flooding situation has now eased in Denbighshire, according to the latest update from the county council, issued earlier this evening (Tuesday).
Latest reports suggest that approximately 400 properties have been affected in St Asaph, most if not all properties on the Glasdir Estate Ruthin and between ten and 15 properties in Rhuddlan, have been evacuated including the hotel/restaurant park.

The situation is stabilising and the rivers have stopped over topping now and the latest high tide had no impact on the flooding. T

The fire and rescue service is using high volume pumps to pump the water away from flooded areas where possible and Denbighshire staff are cleaning up where possible. The Environment Agency is in attendance.

The council continues to have two rest centres open at the moment, but with only one person expected to stay at St Asaph overnight .

The situation in Ruthin will be reviewed, depending on need.

There are enough volunteers to cover overnight and local supermarkets, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, as well as Ysbyty Glan Clwyd have all donated food, medical equipment, bedding, clothing.

Both Ysgol Esgob Morgan and Ysgol Glan Clwyd(both in St Asaph) will remain closed tomorrow (Wednesday)

Mohammed Mehmet, Denbighshire County Council's Chief Executive, said: "Today has been a difficult day for many people affected by flooding, not only in St Asaph, Ruthin and Rhuddlan, but also in other communities.

"Even though we are still in the response stage, work has already started to plan for the recovery phase. A series of sub groups have been set up to look at each area of priority such as welfare, clean up and temporary accommodation and housing needs.
We have had a number of offers of help from the public, voluntary groups and neighbouring Councils and we are extremely grateful for their kind offers.

"We have been doing everything we can and have primarily focussed our efforts on the immediate emergency, ensuring that people are warm, fed and safe and rehoused where possible.
"I have been proud of the Council's response, many working through the night and in difficult circumstances to try and deal with the on-going situation. Teams of staff from many departments have dealt with an extensive number of enquiries from the public and the media and I would like to thank them for their professional and co-ordinated approach to dealing with what can only be described as unprecedented situation for many.

"Staff have worked closely with volunteers from the British Red Cross in the running of two rest centres and with the other emergency services in dealing with the developing situation during the day."

Any further developments will be placed on Denbighshire's website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk

residents can access public health information by visiting: www.hpa.org.uk or www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/43887