County council to carry out Welsh language audit

Denbighshire County Council has announced it is to carry out a county-wide audit of the Welsh language, to try and halt the decline in the number of Welsh speakers in its communities.

The 2011 Census data notes that 24.6% of Denbighshire residents can speak Welsh, with 18.6% able to speak, read and write in Welsh. 

This compares to 20.7% of residents being able to speak, read and write in Welsh in the 2001 Census, a decline of 2%. 
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Hywyn Williams, Corporate Director for Communities and Learning, said: "Nationally, efforts are being made to enhance the Welsh language through  the publication of the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011,  the appointment of a Welsh Language Commissioner,  the imminent introduction of Welsh Language Standards and the publication of the Welsh Government’s  A Living Language:  A Language for Living, a Welsh Language Strategy.

"The Council feels it is timely to undertake a full audit of the use of the Welsh Language within our community, to respond to the situation locally.  The findings from the audit should pave the way forward in order to develop a strategy to secure the growth of the language well into the future.

"Other key developments within the County such as the adoption of the Local Development Plan, the Modernising Education Strategy and our Regeneration & Economic Ambition Strategy will present challenges and opportunities in terms of the development of the Welsh Language.

"The risk of a further decline in the use of the Welsh Language is a real one, and if no action is taken, in all likelihood, the 2021 Census will confirm this decline.

The audit will look at four key areas:

1) Education provision, which will include the provision of Welsh Medium and Bilingual Education across the Authority, childcare provision, informal learning provided largely through the statutory Youth Service and broader Youth Support Services, pre-school provision and Adult Learning Provision

2) The support provided for families.  This to include the information that is provided for families and the information and support provided for the most vulnerable of families, together with the support for families to develop the Welsh Language within the home context and the support provided for non-Welsh speaking families, where their children are educated in Welsh medium/bilingual education.

3) The support for the Welsh Language and culture within communities which includes the support for voluntary sector organisations, business support and key policies that shape the future of communities such as the Local Development Plan, Modernising Education Policy and housing provision

4) Services provided directly and indirectly by the Council to include internal working arrangements, our ability to respond through the medium of Welsh and bilingually to residents and visitors, the way the Council promotes the use of the Welsh Language, the minuting of meetings, translation facilities, the use of social media, and the place of the Welsh Language in policy development

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for the Welsh Language said: "Our intention is to begin the audit in September and we will consult widely with interested groups and individuals such as Menter Iaith, Urdd, the business and voluntary sectors.

"The audit work will be carried out by an independent organisation and we expect to have clear recommendations as to how  Denbighshire should take the important matter of promoting and facilitating the acquisition and use of the Welsh Language within its community further through a robust action plan, which will lead to a greater number of residents able to use the Welsh language confidently by 2021".

Groups invited to lottery funding surgery

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is inviting community groups in the region to a Lottery funding information surgery in Flint on Friday, August 16.

 

The session will be held between 10.00am – 12:30pm at Flint Town Hall, Y Farchnad, CH6 5NW, and will provide information on Lottery funding programmes and its impact throughout the constituency.

 

There will be opportunities to discuss specific issues around funding your project with staff from the Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sport Wales, and Flintshire Local Voluntary Council.

 

Anyone interested in attending the session should email Jessica.Webb@wales.gov.uk

 

Mr Isherwood said: “This is a great opportunity for projects in the region to find out what funding they may be eligible for. Lottery funding is having a positive impact throughout Wales with money helping to establish groups, societies and clubs, promoting learning, increasing volunteering opportunities and helping to build stronger communities and it would be great to see more North Wales projects benefit from this funding opportunity.”

Police advice to avoid vehicle theft

Don’t give car thieves an easy ride – remember to lock your vehicle and remove all valuable items.

 

These are two of the main top tips that police in Denbighshire and Conwy are re-iterating to motorists in a further bid to drive down car crime.

 

With schools out for the summer, scores of people are heading for the nearest beach or attraction but sadly these are very same places that thieves are likely to go. Furthermore, opportunist thieves will try car doors anywhere on the off chance that they have been left open and will target a car should they see anything valuable or of interest to them left inside.

 

“Car thieves know where to target, what to look for and don’t just restrict their crimes to the car park for the local beach – they also target cars parked at rural beauty spots or landmarks which don’t have the same volume of visitors,” said Sergeant Aled Eynon who is based in Denbigh. “It also goes without saying that any items left on show inside cars and vans are enough to tempt thieves. The saying ‘Leave it on show – expect it to go’ is certainly true when it comes to theft from vehicles.”

 

Never leave anything on display in your vehicle. If you can, remove all valuable items and belongings.

 

Sgt Eynon added: “We appeal to people to please make sure they lock their vehicles and whilst we have increased patrols, we also ask that both visitors and residents play their part in preventing this type of crime.”

 

Posters reminding motorists of the dangers of leaving goods on show inside vehicles have been produced and put on display at many car parks including those near beauty spots and attractions.

 

Sergeant Sian Williams is based in Colwyn Bay. Recently a number of cars have been targeted in the area and items including,  lap tops, sat navs and an electronic pad were all stolen from inside.

 

“Simple tips can prove to be the most effective and that’s certainly the case when it comes to preventing car crime,” said Sgt Williams.

 

“Please remember to lock your car – even if you leave it left parked on your driveway. Take all electronic items, purses, bags and even coats and sunglasses out of your cars and vans. There have been some cases where thieves will look into the cars at the windscreens to see if there are any sat nav cradles or any tell-tale signs of suction marks from where sat nav system has been stuck on to the windscreen.”

 

“Remove all belongings from your car,” added St Williams. “Furthermore, thieves like to steal from cars parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen. If you can, avoid parking in places that are concealed from public view or people passing by.”

 

Top tips for vehicle owners:

 

·         Never leave anything on display in your vehicle; a bag on the back seat is enough to tempt a thief

·         Remove all belongings – including bags, sunglasses etc.

·         Always remove portable sat nav systems including any support cradles and suction pads fitted to windscreens. Wipe the windscreen clean as thieves have also been known to look out for tell-tale signs of suction marks left on windscreens

·         When you leave your car, close all windows including your sunroof and ensure your car has been locked

·         Never leave credit cards or cheque books in the glove compartment and don’t leave the vehicle documents in the car.

 

For further information on keeping your vehicle secure, click here.

 

Anyone with information regarding theft from vehicles is urged to contact North Wales Police on 101. Alternatively, individuals can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Rising hospital waiting lists concern to Isherwood

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is concerned that the number of people waiting over 36 weeks for their first hospital appointment in North Wales increased by 66% between the end of April and the end of June, double the 33% all-Wales increase.

 

The latest Official figure for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has jumped from 1,401 at the end of April to 2,327 at the end of June. The figure across Wales increased from 7,611 to 10,123.  

 

Mr Isherwood said: “ A Welsh Government target recommends no-one should wait longer than 36 weeks when referred to hospital by their GP so it is deeply concerning to see that the target has once again been missed and particularly worrying that the increase has been so vast in North Wales – the people of North Wales deserve better.”

 

The total number of people on an NHS waiting list in Wales is now 80 per cent higher than it was when Carwyn Jones became First Minister at the end of 2009. At that point, 227,000 patients were waiting for treatment. At the end of June that figure stood at 410,000.

 

The Health Minister recently announced a review into NHS funding – and later admitted this would amount to a summer ‘interrogation’ of the budget with the Finance Minister.

 

Welsh Conservative Assembly Members have consistently called for the health budget to be protected in line with inflation – as it is in England. The Welsh Conservatives represent the only party to stand for significant additional investment in the NHS – a policy that has stood since before the last Assembly election.

 

Mr Isherwood added: “These waits not only lay bare the true scale of the cash crisis in the Welsh NHS, but also reinforce the HIW and Wales Audit Office concerns about Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s governance arrangements and organisational structure. The Welsh Government has dealt Welsh patients an unfair deal. The Minister’s review into funding must come up with more cash to eliminate target busting waiting times and this Labour Welsh Government should stop dodging calls for an independent inquiry into the Welsh National Health Service comparable to that already conducted into NHS Trusts in England."

AM criticises health board's `spin doctor' appointment

Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar has criticised Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for seeking to appoint a new communication professional on up to £56,504 per year.　

 

He is concerned that the troubled health board is intending to invest so much in a spin doctor in an attempt to boost public confidence in the services it provides, when the money could be better spent on improving services.

 

Mr Millar said: "There is much work to be done to restore confidence in the region’s health service and the successful applicant will face an uphill task.　

 

"Severe management failings have resulted in resignations and the service is bowing under the pressure of Labour’s record-breaking NHS budget cuts.

 

"While there is a clear pressing need to build bridges with communities in north Wales, this will take more than another NHS spin-doctor.　

 

"The only way forward for the health service across Wales is an independent Keogh-style inquiry into standards of care."

Ruthin offers special Wednesday events during August

Ruthin celebrates the arrival of August with three special Wednesday events on the 14th, 21st and 28th of the month. Retail businesses will be extending their opening hours until 8pm to give their customers a chance to spend a pleasant evening enjoying the variety of shops on offer in the town.  Ruthin Gaol, Nantclwyd y Dre and Ruthin Craft Centre will all be open until 8pm too so there'll be an opportunity to visit some of the town's cultural gems between shops.  Ruthin's cafes, restaurants and bars will be offering a friendly welcome to evening shoppers on each of the Wednesdays. Denbighshire County Council and local Ruthin businesses have worked closely together to bring about these coordinated events for the benefit the local economy.  Parking in the town is free after 5pm.

* llanblogger comments: Why not something similar in Llangollen?

£1.8m to help safeguard Corwen from flooding

Wales's Minister for Natural Resources and Food Alun Davies has approved £1.8m for Denbighshire County Council’s proposed flood alleviation scheme in Corwen.

The scheme will help protect 80 properties, and the A5 trunk road from the threat posed by  Nant Cawrddu and Nant Pigyn.

The Minister made the announcement on the same day that he travelled to St Asaph to meet residents who were badly affected by the flooding of November 2012.

Mr Davies said: “My visit to St Asaph is a stark reminder of the very real and increasing threat that flooding poses to communities across Wales , and of the long term issues that the type of  flooding that we saw last November can cause.

"The Welsh Government is committed to managing the risk of flooding for communities across the whole of Wales. That is why we are investing £180m into flood and coastal erosion management over the life of this Assembly; it is why we drawing down an additional £60m of European funding to supplement our own investment;  and it is why we are maintaining our investment in flood risk management despite a reduction in our overall budget.

"Over the last 10 years the Welsh Government has provided £14.5 m for flood alleviation schemes in Denbighshire. But last year’s events only serve to highlight the challenges we face and I very much welcome the ongoing work of Natural Resources to investigate long term solutions to reducing flood risk in St Asaph.

"As part of the Welsh Government’s  ongoing commitment to flood risk management I am today announcing £1.8m for a flood alleviation scheme that will help protect homes and businesses in Corwen, another Denbighshire community that has recent experience of  flooding, and  I will continue to support appropriate flood risk management schemes that offer increased protection to communities across Wales who are vulnerable to flood risk.”