Denbighshire County Council is re-launching its campaign to tackle dog fouling in the county.
Over the past year, the council has been running a high profile campaign to warn people of the dangers of dog fouling and to encourage more people to report hot spots and provide information on those individuals who continue to act anti-socially by allowing their dogs to foul in public.
The campaign involved banners being placed in hot spots areas, lamp-post advertising, publicity in the media and messages being distributed on social media.
During 2013/14 the number of complaints received was 586. There were 255 complaints in 2010/11, 325 in 11/12 and 424 in 12/13.
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, said: "We are attributing the rise in the number of complaints down to the fact that people are more aware of the dangers of dog fouling and how people can report problems.
"We've had a positive response to our campaign to date. We have done a lot of work around educating people through a poster campaign and through sending out some strong messages through the media about the steps the Council will take against the individuals who continue flout the law. However, there is only so much the Council can do to catch those responsible and we are reliant on information from the public. By working together, we can all make a difference.
Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire's Public Protection Manager, said: "Residents in Denbighshire have told us that dog fouling is one of the biggest issues that worry them and we have been contacted by concerned members of the public who want to work with us to tackle the problem.
"The problem is no worse here in Denbighshire than any other area, but we want to be proactive in our approach through making people aware of the dangers posed to health, as well as effects on local communities.
"We hope that the minority of people who allow their dogs to foul in public change their behaviour and make Denbighshire a cleaner and safer place to live."
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Meeting planned over bank closure proposal
Clwyd South’s Labour MP and AM are ready for talks with bank bosses over the proposed closure of NatWest in Rhos.
Susan Elan Jones and Ken Skates will meet Royal Bank of Scotland representatives at the village branch on Friday, August 1, in a bid to get the company to rethink its ‘disastrous’ plan to shut it a month later.
MP Ms Jones said: “I wrote to RBS to express my concerns immediately after they informed us of this awful decision, and I am going to use the opportunity to sit down with the bank’s hierarchy and tell them exactly what I think of it.
“This decision does not appear to have taken into account the hundreds of my constituents who rely on this branch and who will struggle without the face-to-face service they have come to expect from the company.
“The bank has also failed to give satisfactory answers about what services would be available at local Post Offices, so we will be asking for clarification on that.”
Rhos Community Council and local county councillors have also written to RBS opposing the move, said Ms Jones.
Assembly Member Mr Skates added: “This is yet another example of a large multinational company putting pounds before people and turning its back on its loyal customers, just as we have seen HSBC do in Cefn Mawr and Llangollen.
“The branch has served thousands of individuals, families and businesses over many years, but there was not even token consultation with the public before this disastrous decision was announced. Sadly, I am not convinced the half-services RBS is offering as alternatives will make up for what is being lost either.
“Susan, myself, the local community council and county councillors will again urge RBS to reconsider its decision immediately, and will do all we can to retain the best banking services possible for the people of Rhos.”
Susan Elan Jones and Ken Skates will meet Royal Bank of Scotland representatives at the village branch on Friday, August 1, in a bid to get the company to rethink its ‘disastrous’ plan to shut it a month later.
MP Ms Jones said: “I wrote to RBS to express my concerns immediately after they informed us of this awful decision, and I am going to use the opportunity to sit down with the bank’s hierarchy and tell them exactly what I think of it.
“This decision does not appear to have taken into account the hundreds of my constituents who rely on this branch and who will struggle without the face-to-face service they have come to expect from the company.
“The bank has also failed to give satisfactory answers about what services would be available at local Post Offices, so we will be asking for clarification on that.”
Rhos Community Council and local county councillors have also written to RBS opposing the move, said Ms Jones.
Assembly Member Mr Skates added: “This is yet another example of a large multinational company putting pounds before people and turning its back on its loyal customers, just as we have seen HSBC do in Cefn Mawr and Llangollen.
“The branch has served thousands of individuals, families and businesses over many years, but there was not even token consultation with the public before this disastrous decision was announced. Sadly, I am not convinced the half-services RBS is offering as alternatives will make up for what is being lost either.
“Susan, myself, the local community council and county councillors will again urge RBS to reconsider its decision immediately, and will do all we can to retain the best banking services possible for the people of Rhos.”
Old Armoury opens its doors on Sunday
* The Old Armoury is open to the public on Sunday.
LLANGOLLEN’S
historic Old Armoury will be throwing open its doors to the public this Sunday,
July 27.
Sue Hargreaves bought the empty and rundown building, dating back to 1834,
two years ago and since embarked on an extensive renovation programme
which has seen her introduce displays giving a flavour of its past uses as
a lock-up jail and a police station.It comprises the lock-up, the armoury shop and the old town hall/drill hall above.
Sue has now gifted the ownership of the building, which stands between Hill Street and the A5, to the Armoury Conservation Trust which has pledged to ensure that the lock-up and old town hall will be restored in a way that respects their status as heritage assets to the town.
The
trust will now seek external funding for future development of the building and
also make sure that it is used only for the public and community benefit,
as an accessible heritage site and venue for educational, artistic and
community purposes.
Trust
member Rachel Morris said: “The Armoury Conservation Trust is extremely
grateful for all the letters of support it has received from local people and
organisations, in preparation for an application for funding to help
restore the building.
“By
way of thanks, and for people who are interested in seeing and learning more
about this historic building and its journey, an open day with light
refreshments is being held there from 2.30pm on Sunday.
“A
new display about crime and policing can be viewed, as well as the plans for the
building's development. All of the people of Llangollen and their friends are
welcome.”
When Sue Hargreaves acquired it, the building was in a poor condition and volunteers from Llangollen’s Tidy Town Team stepped in to clear it up and strip it back to basics.
Sue then decided to recreate, as faithfully as possible, the building’s earliest days as a lock-up and police station.
By September 2012 the building was ready to be shown off to the public during Denbighshire’s Open Doors history event when it attracted 300 visitors on just two afternoons.
Old Armoury facts
· The building was designed by the county architect for Denbighshire and is the only known building in Llangollen constructed from limestone.
· Its first “keeper” was a David Davies who lived in Chapel Street.
· In 1871 the building was sold to local solicitor Charles Richards, with the purchase price apparently being less than the original cost of construction. In 1879 it became a base for the 9th Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers, which is why the drill hall was built above both the former lock-up/police station and the adjacent shop. It was at this time it became known as the armoury.
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
999 timewasters putting lives at risk
THE Welsh Ambulance Service is reminding people not to call 999 unless it is a genuine emergency.
The service took 31,219 non-urgent calls in the last 12 months, only 670 of which required an ambulance and just three of which resulted in a patient being taken to hospital.
One woman called 999 because her boiler had broken and she had no credit to call the gas board, while one man said he needed an ambulance because he had a ring stuck on his finger.
One woman had fallen out with her brother and called 999 for advice.
The Trust is urging people to choose the appropriate service for their healthcare needs so that call takers and ambulance crews are not tied up unnecessarily when a call to a genuine emergency comes in.
Richard Lee, Head of Clinical Services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “We don’t want to deter anyone from calling 999, but we want them to think twice before they do. Sadly, we still receive a significant number of inappropriate calls that do not require an ambulance response.
“When people misuse the service it means our precious time is being taken away from someone who really does need our help. During peak periods, like the summer, every non-essential call has the potential to delay a response to a serious emergency.
“Please remember only to dial 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk – let’s keep our emergency ambulances for emergencies.”
The thousands of non-urgent calls received via 999 last year include:
“We are asking the public to support NHS Wales’ ‘Choose Well’ campaign to ensure busy emergency services are available for those who need them most urgently. If you think you need medical attention, but not necessarily in the form of an ambulance, there are a host of other options you can consider.”
For advice and treatment of most illnesses, visit your GP, or contact NHS Direct Wales, the health advice and information service available 24 hours a day, every day, if you are feeling unwell and are unsure what to do.
“Using this service instead of dialling 999 inappropriately will free up the valuable time of emergency call handlers, and of ambulance crews whose job is to deal with the most serious and time-critical of incidents,” said Richard.
Website users can get tailored advice on an illness or ailment by using more than a dozen symptom checkers, including the Stings Symptom Checker, Sunburn Symptom Checker, Hay Fever Symptom Checker and Mole Symptom Checker or take the Choose Well Quiz to test their knowledge on the different available healthcare services.
They can learn more about their general health through the A-Z Encyclopaedia and even search for GPs, dentists, pharmacies or support groups in their area.
And if they still cannot find the answer to their question, or need advice about long-term conditions or help with health costs, they can email their query to the team of health information specialists via the Ask Us Your Health Question section of the website.
Alternatively, anyone concerned about their health can call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for over the phone advice from Health Information Advisers, Nurse Advisers and Dental Health Advisers.
If the problem is very serious, advisers can arrange for an ambulance on the caller’s behalf.
Treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts, bites, stings and muscle and joint injuries, can be provided at your local Minor Injuries Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.
The Welsh Ambulance Service is working hard to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and support care close to patients’ homes.
Since September 2012, more than 5,270 patients, including non-injured fallers, and people who have suffered an epileptic and hypoglycaemic attack, have been referred on an Alternative Care Pathways instead of having to go into hospital.
Advanced Paramedic Practitioners (APPs) also provide a wider range of specialist healthcare at the scene of an incident or at a patient’s home.
Approximately 20 APPs operate throughout Wales with a further 19 currently in education and training, and latest figures show that around 50 per cent of patients seen by an APP are treated at scene or at home.
In addition, the Trust supports the discharge and transfer of patients out of hours to release beds in hospitals which in turn supports the improvement of patient flow in the emergency departments.
The service took 31,219 non-urgent calls in the last 12 months, only 670 of which required an ambulance and just three of which resulted in a patient being taken to hospital.
They include a woman who dialled 999 to ask if the green part of a potato was poisonous and a caller whose daughter had drunk water from a dog’s bowl.
One woman called 999 because her boiler had broken and she had no credit to call the gas board, while one man said he needed an ambulance because he had a ring stuck on his finger.
One woman had fallen out with her brother and called 999 for advice.
The Trust is urging people to choose the appropriate service for their healthcare needs so that call takers and ambulance crews are not tied up unnecessarily when a call to a genuine emergency comes in.
Richard Lee, Head of Clinical Services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “We don’t want to deter anyone from calling 999, but we want them to think twice before they do. Sadly, we still receive a significant number of inappropriate calls that do not require an ambulance response.
“When people misuse the service it means our precious time is being taken away from someone who really does need our help. During peak periods, like the summer, every non-essential call has the potential to delay a response to a serious emergency.
“Please remember only to dial 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk – let’s keep our emergency ambulances for emergencies.”
The thousands of non-urgent calls received via 999 last year include:
- A man who dialled 999 because he had a fly in his ear (Milford Haven, June 2014)
- A woman who had eaten cherries and felt constipated (Porth, August 2013)
- A man who had discovered a bruise on his foot (Tywyn, November 2013)
- A woman who asked whether the green part of a potato was poisonous (Bangor, November 2013)
- A man with a ring stuck on his finger (Burry Port, June 2014)
- A woman whose boiler had broken and had no credit to call the gas board (Swansea, October 2013)
- A woman who dropped a television remote and needed someone to pick it up (Llandudno, December 2013)
- A woman who didn’t have enough money to buy a train ticket (Newport, March 2014)
- A man with a cotton bud stuck in his ear (Bridgend, August 2013)
- A mother whose daughter had drunk water from a dog bowl (Swansea, December 2013)
- A woman who was intoxicated and needed a lift home (St Asaph, April 2014)
- A woman who needed advice because she had fallen out with her brother (Hereford, November 2013)
- A man with blisters on his foot (Penmaenmawr, January 2014)
- A woman with a cast on her leg and wanted it taken off (Tredegar, January 2014)
“The emergency healthcare system across Wales is facing unparalleled pressure,” said Richard Lee.
“We are asking the public to support NHS Wales’ ‘Choose Well’ campaign to ensure busy emergency services are available for those who need them most urgently. If you think you need medical attention, but not necessarily in the form of an ambulance, there are a host of other options you can consider.”
For advice and treatment of most illnesses, visit your GP, or contact NHS Direct Wales, the health advice and information service available 24 hours a day, every day, if you are feeling unwell and are unsure what to do.
“Using this service instead of dialling 999 inappropriately will free up the valuable time of emergency call handlers, and of ambulance crews whose job is to deal with the most serious and time-critical of incidents,” said Richard.
Website users can get tailored advice on an illness or ailment by using more than a dozen symptom checkers, including the Stings Symptom Checker, Sunburn Symptom Checker, Hay Fever Symptom Checker and Mole Symptom Checker or take the Choose Well Quiz to test their knowledge on the different available healthcare services.
They can learn more about their general health through the A-Z Encyclopaedia and even search for GPs, dentists, pharmacies or support groups in their area.
And if they still cannot find the answer to their question, or need advice about long-term conditions or help with health costs, they can email their query to the team of health information specialists via the Ask Us Your Health Question section of the website.
Alternatively, anyone concerned about their health can call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for over the phone advice from Health Information Advisers, Nurse Advisers and Dental Health Advisers.
If the problem is very serious, advisers can arrange for an ambulance on the caller’s behalf.
Treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts, bites, stings and muscle and joint injuries, can be provided at your local Minor Injuries Unit, where there is no need for an appointment.
The Welsh Ambulance Service is working hard to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and support care close to patients’ homes.
Since September 2012, more than 5,270 patients, including non-injured fallers, and people who have suffered an epileptic and hypoglycaemic attack, have been referred on an Alternative Care Pathways instead of having to go into hospital.
Advanced Paramedic Practitioners (APPs) also provide a wider range of specialist healthcare at the scene of an incident or at a patient’s home.
Approximately 20 APPs operate throughout Wales with a further 19 currently in education and training, and latest figures show that around 50 per cent of patients seen by an APP are treated at scene or at home.
In addition, the Trust supports the discharge and transfer of patients out of hours to release beds in hospitals which in turn supports the improvement of patient flow in the emergency departments.
Llan man married in Morfa Nefyn
llanblogger reader Mike Connolly has sent in this picture showing the wedding of his friend Paul Young to Alison in Morfa Nefyn on the Lleyn Peninsula.
They were married on Saturday at the beautiful St Beuno’s Church, Pistyll, Nefyn, with a good few supporters from Llangollen there to join them on the happy day, and after a honeymoon in Ireland they will live in Pwllglas, near Ruthin.
They were married on Saturday at the beautiful St Beuno’s Church, Pistyll, Nefyn, with a good few supporters from Llangollen there to join them on the happy day, and after a honeymoon in Ireland they will live in Pwllglas, near Ruthin.
Paul, a forensic musicologist (MA Cantab), is well known in Llangollen as an accomplished musician and as well as being a highly respected private music teacher, he has also acted as musical director for a number events in Llangollen.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Denbighshire welcomes older people's rights deal
Denbighshire County Council has welcomed news that Wales has become the first country in the world to adopt the Declaration of the Rights of Older People - hailing it as a major step in the right direction.
The Welsh Government's Declaration will help older people understand their rights more effectively and how they relate to current equality and human rights laws in Wales.
It will help those responsible for the development and delivery of public services, by making clear how they can support and engage effectively with older people across Wales.
Earlier this year, Denbighshire County Council signed a pledge to take forward work based on the World Health Organisation and the United Nations' principles to make their communities more age friendly.
The pledge, known as the Dublin Declaration due to Ireland's presidency of the EU, highlights the need to create age friendly places, with a key focus on promoting awareness of older people, their rights, needs and potentials, as well as highlighting the positive social, economic and cultural contribution made by them.
Councillor Bobby Feeley, Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Social Care, Adults and Children's Services, said: “There is clearly more focus on the rights of older people than ever before, and rightly so.
"Older people have an extremely valuable contribution to make in all walks of life and we must continue to celebrate this contribution.
"We must support and engage properly with our older people and making sure they have a strong voice in how we deliver public services, but also about their rights as individuals.
"This Declaration is very much a step in the right direction."
The Welsh Government's Declaration will help older people understand their rights more effectively and how they relate to current equality and human rights laws in Wales.
It will help those responsible for the development and delivery of public services, by making clear how they can support and engage effectively with older people across Wales.
Earlier this year, Denbighshire County Council signed a pledge to take forward work based on the World Health Organisation and the United Nations' principles to make their communities more age friendly.
The pledge, known as the Dublin Declaration due to Ireland's presidency of the EU, highlights the need to create age friendly places, with a key focus on promoting awareness of older people, their rights, needs and potentials, as well as highlighting the positive social, economic and cultural contribution made by them.
Councillor Bobby Feeley, Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Social Care, Adults and Children's Services, said: “There is clearly more focus on the rights of older people than ever before, and rightly so.
"Older people have an extremely valuable contribution to make in all walks of life and we must continue to celebrate this contribution.
"We must support and engage properly with our older people and making sure they have a strong voice in how we deliver public services, but also about their rights as individuals.
"This Declaration is very much a step in the right direction."
Saturday, July 19, 2014
River Lodge demolition reaches final stages
llanblogger reader Phil Meyers has sent in these pictures showing the demolition of the former River Lodge in Mill Street in its final stages.
Contractors are understood to be making a start early next month on the £5 million new health centre to be built on the site.
Contractors are understood to be making a start early next month on the £5 million new health centre to be built on the site.
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