Anti-dog fouling firm wins warm praise

Shop the dog foulers by ringing 0800 2300234


A company employed by Denbighshire County Council to help address issues around dog fouling and littering has been praised by residents for creating visibly cleaner streets in the county.

Kingdom Security Services, the company contracted to carry out environmental enforcement for the council, has teams of enforcement staff working across the county who have joined forces with the authority to rid our streets of dog mess and litter.

Teams are kitted out with video cameras to patrol hot spot areas on the lookout for anyone who fails to clean up after their dog or throws litter on the street.

A resident of Maes Afallen, Corwen recently reported dog fouling in a children's play area.

They said: "I complained to the council about a woman who was regularly allowing her dog to foul in the children's play ground near to my home and not picking it up and also about the dog owners allowing their dogs to foul on Railway Walk near Maes Afallen.

"The response I received was without doubt everything I could have asked for. Enforcement officers came here immediately and now the problem has been sorted out. I have been given dog bags, signs and have been promised a bin for the play area.  I understand that the litter has also been cleared from the Railway Walk.

"I am over the moon with Denbighshire's response I can't fault them. Some commitment is clearly being shown dealing with the problem of irresponsible dog owners."

A Rhyl business owner said of their experience:  "As a local business owner in Rhyl town I am heartened to see the introduction of high profile enforcement officers regularly patrolling the town centre.

"I have watched the officers carefully since they started and have questioned them about their role, they were very open and told me what they did and the reasons why Denbighshire had engaged them.

"In the short time they have patrolled Rhyl I can see that there has been a huge improvement, the streets are much cleaner and more pleasant to walk in. I fully support the enforcement of littering and especially dog fouling. It is about time the couldn't care less culture changed and I believe that the reputation of Rhyl will change for the better. I can say I actually feel safer being in Rhyl.

"The council provide plenty of bins in the town so there is no excuse for anyone littering especially throwing the cigarette ends on the floor. We should report people we see allowing their dogs to foul and accept that we can help clean up our environment. Anyone who gets caught and fined has only themselves to blame. I support the council's actions."

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: "We are delighted to receive such positive feedback for our efforts to clean up the streets of Denbighshire. The company is an integral part of this success.

“Dog fouling and littering are two of the most common complaints we receive here in Denbighshire. It was highlighted in our latest resident’s survey as one of the most pressing issues in communities.

“Not only is dog fouling a health hazard, it blights the environment in communities across the authority and now is the time to tackle the issue robustly.

“We will be looking to engage with communities, educate people on the need to clear up after their dogs and make it much easier for people to report through a freephone number and social media as well as the more traditional methods of making a complaint.”

To report problems with dog fouling please call freephone 0800 2300234.

Police launch speeding crack-down

A crackdown on speeding motorists is set to take place throughout north Wales this week.

 

North Wales Police will be taking part in a European-wide initiative to crack down on speeding motorists from Monday, April 15^th to Sunday April 21^st.

 

 

The TISPOL (European Traffic Police Network) campaign will see police forces across Europe tackling speeding by conducting random speed checks.

 

North Wales Police Roads Policing Officers along with Go Safe will be combining their efforts to deter and detect motorists who choose to ignore the speed limits. Drivers who are caught speeding will be issued with anything from a Fixed Penalty Ticket to a summons to attend court.

 

Acting Sergeant Mark Jones from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “We want to work with drivers and that is why we are giving advance notice of this week-long operation.

 

“Speeding is an issue that concerns many residents and one that we take extremely seriously.

 

“Those who choose to ignore the speed limits can expect to be prosecuted for their actions.”

 

The campaign starts shortly after North Wales Police released figures under the Freedom of Information Act highlighting some of the highest recorded speeds on roads throughout the region – which included 125mph recorded on the A5 near Corwen.

 

A/Sgt Jones added: “We are committed to making our roads a safer place for all who use them and we will continue to crack down on those irresponsible drivers who choose to ignore speed limits and drive irresponsibly, not only risking their own lives but the lives of others.”

 

North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are speeding, drink and drug driving, dangerous driving including unnecessary risk taking, failing to wear a seat belt and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

 

Further information regarding TISPOL can be accessed via their website

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New Llan community book previews at museum

* Guests at the book preview in Llangollen Museum where the exhibition

continues until May 3. 

Around 30 local people - many of them featuring in it - were at the town's museum on Friday evening for the preview of a new book recording images of everyday life in Llangollen.

The book, entitled Llangollen Community, includes stunningly atmospheric pictures of about 100 groups and organisations based in the area.

The glossy 144-page work is the brainchild of local man Simon Collinge who has directed the project while Llangollen-based cameraman Andrew Gale has taken the pictures. 

They have been working steadily away since late last year and the pictures have all been taken in the muted style of Old Masters painters such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals.  

Simon said: “We have produced the book as we felt it was about time that a documented pictorial history of these groups was recorded for posterity – it also seemed rather a fun idea.” 

He and Andrew thought originally that there would be about 50 groups from the area needing to be photographed but the final tally was over 100 groups, societies and organisations.  

These included outfits as diverse as Llangollen Silver Band and the Christmas Festival Committee. 

Simon added: “The book is now back from the printers - all on schedule for revised launch date of  Thursday, April 25 at Llangollen Town Hall, starting at 7.30pm. 

“We’ve invited Courtyard Books, Llangollen Library and the museum to bring along copies of their local Llangollen history books to make this a literary evening to remember.”

Selected images from the book are on exhibition at Llangollen Museum until May 3.

For more information on the book, see http://llangollencommunity.co.uk

Town's Cittaslow bid on track

* Tessa Holland talks to Gill Thomas at the Country Market in Llangollen Town Hall. 

PhD student Tessa Holland from Newcastle University came to town on Friday to meet some of the Cittaslow bid team and look around the town.  

Tessa's research is focusing on how the various Cittaslow towns in the UK network with each other, learn from each other and from the global Cittaslow movement. 

She's only just started her research and is visiting existing Cittaslow towns, to get a sense of what they are doing.  

She is interested in Llangollen as a town that is just starting out on the Cittaslow process.  

Bid group leader Phil Thane showed Tessa around town and introduced her to several team members.

Llangollen's Cittaslow group is on track to complete the application process by June.

County council's guidance on benefits shake-up

The Welfare and Tax Credits system is currently going through its biggest shake-up for 60 years with many planned changes to working age benefits by the UK Government and Denbighshire County Council is making people aware of the changes and support helplines available.

Many have already happened but some of the biggest changes are due to come into force after April 2013.

Some of the important changes are listed below:

■ Most benefits and tax credits started to be increased yearly at a lower rate from April 2011 using the consumer price index. From April 2013 Local Housing Allowances (LHA) will be increased yearly in the same way.

■ People on Incapacity Benefit are being moved over to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA decisions are based mainly on face to face assessments, many of which are resulting in people being refused ESA.

■ Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for new claims from June 2013 which will involve a face to face assessment. People already on DLA will be asked to claim PIP between October 2013 and Spring 2016, earlier if you report a change in your circumstances.

■ Bedroom Tax: From April 2013 people under 61 who rent from the Council or a Housing Association will have their rent limited to the number of bedrooms considered to be suited to them. If you have one bedroom too many, your Housing Benefit will only be calculated on 86% of your rent, 2 or more too many then your benefit will be calculated on only 75% of your rent.

■ The DWPʼs Social Fund: made up of Community Care grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans will end during April 2013. A new grant scheme across Wales will be delivered by the Family Fund, based in Wrexham. This
scheme is likely to have less money.

■ The Benefits Cap: will limit benefits to the median income from April 2013. It is likely to affect out of work families who have a combination of several children and high rents.

■ Universal Credit: may be replacing the six main means tested benefits for new claims from October 2013. You will receive one monthly payment in arrears into your bank account. With this money you will have to budget to pay all your housing and living costs. For all existing working age benefit claims there will be a gradual transfer to the new schemes over a
number of years.

Information and advice on all of these changes can be obtained at:

■ DCC Welfare Rights Team
Free phone advice line: 0800 169 6625
(10am to 4pm)

■ Denbighshire Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone 01745 334568 or 814336

Labour team hit out over welfare changes

Local Labour duo Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones have hit out at the UK Government after new figures revealed that welfare changes will cost working age people in Denbighshire £589 a year.

 

The research produced for the Financial Times also highlights that welfare cuts will cost the Denbighshire economy £34m a year.

 

The pair said the figures were shocking and highlighted the devastating impact benefit reform would have on communities in North East Wales over the next few years.

 

Clwyd South MP Ms Jones said: “These punitive welfare cuts will only serve to increase the inequality gap in our communities and will have a devastating effect on businesses and local jobs. 

 

“The Government is hurting the communities I represent in Clwyd South where one in 20 economically active people is now unemployed. My constituents are paying the price for the Tories incompetent handling of the economy over the last few years.

 

“These changes will take £34m out of the Denbighshire economy each year, sucking out much needed demand for local businesses at a time when they need it most. 

 

“It’s economic illiteracy from the government because the cuts mean less money in the local economy, only pushing the recovery further away.  Just as with the VAT rise, it will be another blow for small and medium sized businesses in our area.”

 

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: “The changes will cost the average working age adult in Denbighshire £589 and will have a catastrophic impact on families already struggling to make ends meet.”

 

“These figures are a sobering reminder of the how uncaring and unaware the UK Government are about the devastation welfare reform will have on our already vulnerable communities.

 

“The figures show that the changes are hitting everyone in Denbighshire, working families, those on unemployment benefits, the disabled, and children.  The only people not getting battered by this Tory Lib Dem coalition government are the millionaires who are just seeing their top rate tax cut kick in.

“This isn’t my idea of fairness.”

  

According to the research, the financial loss per working age adult, by local authority:

 

 

• Bleanau Gwent £698
• Bridgend £599
• Caerphilly £644
• Cardiff £477
• Carmarthenshire £579
• Ceredigion £432
• Conwy £558
• Denbighshire £589
• Flintshire £458
• Gwynedd £438
• Isle of Anglesey £511
• Merthyr Tydfil £722
• Monmouthshire £393
• Neath Port Talbot £696
• Newport £560
• Pembrokeshire £539
• Powys £433
• Rhondda Cynon Taf £668
• Swansea £559
• Torfaen £589
• Vale of Glamorgan £473
• Wrexham £511

Health board's £1.5M mental health investment

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is investing nearly £1.5million over five years in Counselling services for people with common mental health problems.

 

The service, known as ‘Parabl’, which means ‘to talk or discuss’ in Welsh, became operational on 2^nd April, 2013.

 

The service is being managed by CAIS on behalf of a consortium of North Wales charities. Partners include Advance Brighter Futures, Flintshire Mind, Aberconwy Mind, CAIS, Tan y Maen, Ynys Mon and Gwynedd Mind, Vale of Clwyd Mind and Relate.

 

Referral to the service can be through a health professional, such as a GP, or individuals may refer themselves by telephone. Once a referral is received a telephone assessment is carried out to establish the most appropriate support for that individual. Support ranges from self-help resources, one-to-one counselling, through to group sessions, available in Community settings such as GP practices, leisure centres and community centres throughout North Wales.  

 

Wyn Thomas, Assistant Director, Community Partnership Development for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board,  said “We are pleased to be working with partners to offer such a comprehensive service for people throughout North Wales.  The Parabl Talking Therapies is a service to meet the needs of adults over the age of 18, who are resident in North Wales. The service is aimed at people with common mental health problems, including bereavement and relationship difficulties.”

 

“As well as providing self-help resources, including an interactive self-help programme called the Serenity Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme, group sessions are available over 7-8 weeks to cover such subjects as Coping with Life, Stress Management and Mindfulness.  Up to 6 weekly sessions of individual counselling sessions are also available for individuals who want to discuss any challenging life events which are impacting on their mental well being.”

 

Self-referrals can be made by telephoning 0300 777 2257.