Shop local urges county council chief

* Support your local shops in Llangollen and across the county, says the council.

Support your local town centres is the message from Denbighshire County Council as it encourages people to shop local in the run up to Christmas and New Year.

Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader of Denbighshire, who is also the Cabinet Lead Member for Economic Development, met a representative of the Denbigh Business Group during a recent visit to the town and highlighted the need for people to think local, shop local.

Councillor Evans said: "The run up to Christmas and New Year is usually one of the busiest times for local businesses and we need people to support them and for businesses to make sure they promote what they have on offer. 

"More and more shoppers are choosing out of towns shopping centres or online shopping, thinking they are more convenient and they will get better bargains. 

"However, we think that our town centres in Denbighshire have a lot to offer - they are unique and offer a wealth of goods and services that people want. Not only do they provide a business, but they also provide a valuable service.

"It's vitally important to get behind local businesses during the current economic climate. Many businesses now realise that they must be in a position to compete with the larger out of town businesses and it is encouraging to see businesses taking initiatives to be able to compete and we would encourage people to offer their support. 

"Towns are also arranging a number of events in the run up to Christmas and New Year, in a bid to entice people for late night shopping and a festive atmosphere."

The council, working with the main town councils across the county, is offering free parking after 3pm in its car parks until the New Year, in a bid to encourage more people to use the town centres.

Advice on Christmas prescriptions

People suffering from long term health conditions are being urged to ‘be prepared’ and pick up their prescriptions to cover them through the festive holiday.

 

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is urging those with asthma, lung and heart disease and diabetes not to leave it too late to pick up their repeat prescriptions.

 

They say it is important to remember that most GP practices and pharmacies will operate limited hours during the holiday period.

 

A spokesperson said: “It is very important to be prepared for the Christmas period, especially if you do have a long term health condition. A simple call to your GP before the holiday or a trip to the pharmacist can help you stay safe and well and enjoy the festivities.

 

“Stocking up on over the counter medicines as well at your local pharmacy is a good idea as many people do succumb to illness despite the seasonal cheer. And don’t forget that if you do feel unwell between Christmas and New Year with a sore throat or cold, choosing a trip to a pharmacist can help put you right."

 

NHS partners in North Wales are supporting the Choose Well campaign which highlights the message that Emergency Departments and 999 services are for life-threatening and serious conditions.

 

The Choose Well campaign assists people by linking their symptoms or injury to the right service.

 

A new app has been developed and can be downloaded to show the pharmacies, GP surgeries, out of hours GP service and Minor injuries units close to you.

 

For more information log on to: www.choosewellwales.org.uk

Seasonal recycling arrangements announced

The county council has issued the following advice about recycling arrangements over the Christmas period:


BLUE WHEELIE BINS / RECYCLING SACKS AND ORANGE FOOD WASTE CADDIESYour recycling collection and food collection days may change during the holiday period so please CHECK your collection day to see the changes to the schedule:
USUAL COLLECTION DAY ACTUAL COLLECTION DAY
Monday 24 December stays the same Monday, 24 December
Tuesday 25 December changes to Wednesday 26 December
Wednesday 26 December changes to Thursday 27 December
Thursday 27 December changes to Friday 28 December
Friday 28 December changes to Saturday 29 December
Monday 31 December stays the same Monday 31 December
Tuesday 1 January changes to Wednesday 2 January
Wednesday 2 January changes to Thursday 3 January
Thursday 3 January changes to Friday 4 January
Friday 4 January changes to Saturday 5 January
USUAL COLLECTION DAY ACTUAL COLLECTION DAY

x2 GARDEN WASTE COLLECTIONS
There will be no collection of garden waste in the week starting Monday, 24 December.

X2 GREY WHEELIE BINS / PINK SACK COLLECTIONS

Your non-recyclable refuse collection day may change during the holiday period so
please CHECK your collection day opposite to see the changes to the schedule:

Monday 31 December stays the same Monday 31 December
Tuesday 1 January changes to Wednesday 2 January
Wednesday 2 January changes to Thursday 3 January
Thursday 3 January changes to Friday 4 January
Friday 4 January changes to Saturday 5 January

Fire service issues seasonal safety advice

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is appealing to residents to spare a thought for safety in the run up to Christmas.

Firefighters have attended events in Llangollen, Johnstown, Penmaenmawr, Caernarfon and Abersoch to spread the word on Christmas fire safety.

Gareth Griffiths, Senior Fire Safety Manager, said: "The build up to Christmas and New Year can be a time to relax and enjoy the party atmosphere - but extra vigilance is vital to prevent a fire that could easily devastate the family home with the loss of presents and valuables, or even worse seriously injure you or a loved one."

Gareth explained that Christmas trees, lights and decorations add considerably to fire risk in the home and shared these golden rules for festive fire safety:

• Always turn Christmas tree lights off and remove the plug at night, and when the room is going to be unoccupied for a length of time.
• Ensure Christmas lights carry the British Safety Standard mark.
• Do not overload plug sockets.
• Ensure candles are in proper holders so they can't fall over, and do not leave lit candles unattended for any length of time.
• Make sure open fires are well guarded and that wrapping paper, Christmas decorations etc., are kept well away.
• Make sure smokers extinguish their cigarettes completely.
• Take extra care after drinking alcohol.
• Push the button, not your luck - Check your smoke alarms are working and don't be tempted to use the batteries to power any Christmas presents.
• Make your plan. Get out alive - will everyone (including guests) know where your door and window keys are kept?
• Don't be distracted when cooking - fire starts when your attention stops.

Gareth added: "Everyone likes to enjoy themselves over Christmas, and we're just asking them to keep safety in mind while celebrating. I'd also like to remind residents about the dangers of cooking after drinking alcohol - cooking and drinking just don't mix.

"We all need to consider the possible consequences of our actions and think safe to stay safe."

For more advice on fire safety and for the opportunity to have free smoke alarms fitted in your home, please contact North Wales Fire and Rescue Service for a free home fire safety check.

* To register, please call our free 24 hour hotline on 0800 169 1234 or visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk or text 88365, ensuring you prefix your message with the word HFSC.

Beware of dodgy "David Cameron" e-mail

* Cheers! Hope you enjoy the two million quid I'm sending you.

llanblogger has received an e-mail from the Prime Minister.

And, apparently, he wants to make us £2 million richer.

The only stipulations are that I get in touch with Foreign Secretary William Hague to arrange for payment to be made, I can’t have the windfall all at once and I shouldn’t tell anyone else about it – or I’ll get nothing.   

Hard to believe?

Well, of course it is because it’s a load of rubbish.

The e-mail in question dropped into our inbox early on Friday morning, and it says: 

“Our ref: ATM/13470/IDR
Your ref:...Date: 13/12/2012

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION

I am The Rt Hon David Cameron MP,Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury
and Minister for the Civil Service British Government. This letter is to
officially inform you that (ATM Card Number 5454 7168 0041 0640) has been
accredited with your favor. Your Personal Identification Number is 1090.The
VISA Card Value is 2,000,000.00(Two Million, Great British Pounds Sterling).

This office will send to you an Visa Card/ATM CARD that you will use to
withdraw your funds in any ATM MACHINE CENTER or Visa card outlet in the
world with a maximum of ?5000 GBP daily.Further more,You will be required to
re-confirm the following information to enable;The Rt Hon William Hague MP
First Secretary of State for British Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs.. begin
in processing of your ATM Card.

(1)Full names: (2)Address: (3)Country: (4)Nationality: (5)Phone #: (6)Age:
(7)Occupation: (8) Post Codes

Rt Hon William Hague MP.
First Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Email; ef-ministry@superposta.com
Tel: +447035907446

TAKE NOTICE: That you are warned to stop further communications with any
other person(s) or office(s) different from the staff of the State for Foreign
and Commonwealth Affairs to avoid hitches in receiving your payment.”

Even if you’re tempted to believe there might be a grain of truth in all this, there are a few glaring errors such as the “Prime Minister’s” reputed e-mail address of (araraquara@stb.com.br), which hardly seems like one Mr Cameron is likely to have, the spelling and grammatical errors and the fact that governments usually take money away from you rather than handing out.

The expert advice to anyone who receives such communications is always that if something seems too good to be true it invariably is.

This e-mail is so preposterous it’s laughable, so let’s hope no-one actually falls for it by giving the sender any personal information.

Hospital visitors asked to help combat stomach bugs

Visitors to hospitals across North Wales this winter are being asked to help banish the bugs which can put a serious strain on services.

This time of year traditionally sees cases of sickness and diarrhoea rise considerably, causing admissions to be restricted, staff to go off ill and appointments to be postponed.

 

The bugs behind the winter blues are the two types of virus, Norovirus and Rotavirus, which cause short-lived unpleasant symptoms for the patient and a headache for hospital services.

 

Already the virus will be circulating in the community, waiting to thrive in a place where there is a lot of people movement and contact...such as a hospital.

 

A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spokesperson said: “The ideal environment for this virus to spread is any place where large numbers of people mix together which is why outbreaks of the illness are particularly common in hospitals.

 

"One the bugs gets into the hospital, they can make already poorly patients seriously ill, especially the elderly and those with chronic conditions.

 

“Although we have decontamination polices in place to combat outbreaks, these can take a few days to have an impact, meaning wards and services are still affected during an already busy time for the NHS.

 

"We might have to restrict visiting or even close wards until the problem is contained, meaning a lonely festive period for some patients.

 

"People can help the NHS beat the bugs and keeps services running over by choosing to take the few simple steps below:

· Wait at least 48 hours if you have experienced symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea

· No more than two visitors to be at a patient’s bedside at any one time

· We strongly advise visitors not to bring small babies or children onto the wards

· Visitors should always wash their hands with soap and water before entering and exiting the ward

· Visitors should always use the chairs provided and not sit on beds

· Always wash your hands after visiting the toilet

The main symptoms of the Norovirus infection are sudden nausea, stomach ache followed by severe ‘projectile’ vomiting and or diarrhoea.

 

You may also have a slight fever, headache, stomach cramps and aching limbs. Symptoms usually begin between 12 – 48 hours after a person becomes infected, with most healthy people making a recovery within one to three days; however young children and elderly people can sometimes suffer complications, the most frequent of which is dehydration.

 

Sickness and diarrhoea can be best treated by staying at home, drinking plenty of fluids and getting some rest. Advice is available from your local pharmacist, or by logging on to www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk or calling 08454647.

Council's weather warning

Denbighshire County Council is urging people to take extra care on the roads this morning, as icy weather continues to affect the North Wales region.

Gritting teams have been out and about overnight, but the road temperatures have been slow to rise this morning. All roads are open, but the Council urges extreme caution.

Wetter, milder weather is forecast for the rest of the day.