Hundreds sign up for garden waste service

Up to 1,400 Denbighshire residents have taken advantage of an early bird discount and signed up for the garden waste collection service that starts in March 2015.

On 1^st December, Denbighshire County Council launched a secure online payment system on its website to make signing up as simple and convenient as possible.

The 1,000 customer milestone was reached on Monday 8^th December with the total number of customers currently standing at 1,389.  In October, the Council announced an annual £24 charge for the garden waste service from March 2015.

The charge is one of a number of significant cuts the Council must make because of reductions in the settlement received from government.

Householders who wish to continue to receive a garden waste service must opt-in and pay the annual charge, which is reduced to £22 for those who sign up before 31^st January.

Denbighshire waste officer, Alan Roberts, said: “We are very pleased to have 1,000 households sign up to the scheme so quickly.

"The council wants the cost to residents to be as low as possible so we urge people to take advantage of the early bird discount.

"Signing up for a year is a commitment we know some people find difficult, but we know some groups of neighbours sharing costs which is great way of making the service more affordable. For those with green fingers, a year’s worth of garden waste collections could make a very welcome Christmas present.”

The secure online payment system can be found at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/gardenwaste or www.denbighshire.gov.uk. It is also possible to sign up for the garden waste service at Denbighshire County Council’s Customer Service Centre (tel. 01824 706101) or at any of the Council One Stop Shops throughout the county.

County to look at future of in-house social care

Members of Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet have agreed to consult on the future provision of the authority's in-house social care services.

On December 9, the council agreed a proposal to reduce the budget for in-house social care by £700k.  

The council currently funds over 500 older people to live in care homes across Denbighshire, with just 54 - or 10% - of those living in the three care homes (Awelon, Ruthin, Dolwen in Denbigh and Cysgod y Gaer in Corwen).  

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “Older people frequently tell us that they want to live in their own homes as they get older, not move into residential care, so we want to explore how we can develop alternatives to this such as Extra Care Housing Schemes.

"Demand is steadily declining for 'standard' residential care, which is currently provided by LA homes (they do not provide nursing or dementia care), and we are working across county to provide alternatives such as Extra Care Housing Schemes, which  are being developed in partnership with other Housing Associations/ housing providers in key communities across the county.  Also enhanced care packages allow people to live at home independently for  longer.

“Part of the consultation would be about what they think about the council supporting the development of more of this type of provision as an alternative to the three council owned residential care homes, which are a significantly more expensive to run than equivalent services provided by the third and independent sectors."

In relation to the 54 individuals living in Awelon, Dolwen and Cysgod y Gaer, many of them are likely to need to move into alternative settings as their needs increase and they develop needs for nursing or specialist elderly mental health care. 

The council has given a commitment to ensure that they will not close any council owned care home if there are individuals living there whose needs can not be met in alternative provision.

Councillor Feeley added: “We recognise that any change can be upsetting for those involved and that is why we are starting a consultation during which, we will meet with residents and their relatives or representatives to explain how services could be provided and to gather their views on any changes. Part of the consultation will include an impact assessment for those affected.

“We would like to reassure service users and their families that we will work with them and support them throughout the process. 

The consultation would include people living within the three Extra Care Housing Schemes (Gorwel Newydd, Rhyl, Nant y Mor, Prestatyn and Llys Awelon, Ruthin) where domiciliary care services are provided by the council. These housing schemes for older people are owned by Housing Associations, not the local authority,  and the consultation would purely be about the provision of care services within these housing schemes. Arrangements for housing support or any other services in the building will not be affected so will not be included as part of this consultation. 

Parish church Christmas services

St Collen's Church has given the following details of its services over Christmas:

Saturday 20th December - 7pm, Carols by Candlelight in Trevor Church – Tickets £5.

Sunday 21st December - 9.30am, Christmas bilingual Communion in St John’s; 11 am, Llantysilio Church: Carols and Seasonal readings; 6pm, St Collen’s Church: Traditional carol service.

 

Tuesday 23rd December - 10am-12 midday, Church Community Hall, Come and prepare for Crib and Christingle service.

Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24th December) – 5pm, St Collen’s, Crib n’ Christingle Service;

11pm, Eucharist of Christmas Night.

Christmas Day (Thursday 25th December) – 8am, St Collen’s, Holy Communion; 11 am, Holy Communion; 9.30am, Llantysilio, Holy Communion, Trevor Church 9.30 am - Holy Communion.

Sunday 29th December - St Collen’s 8.00 am – Holy Communion; 11 am - Holy Communion.

 

 

 

Lib Dems select General Election candidate

Welsh Liberal Democrats have selected Rob Walsh to be their parliamentary candidate for Wrexham at next year`s UK General Election.

Rob, 39, works as a lecturer at Coleg Cambria on Wrexham`s Yale site. He has been actively involved in politics since 2008 when he was elected on to Llay Community Council.

Rob was one of the key organisers behind the ‘Save Hayward`s Field’ campaign that saw Wrexham Council defer a decision to build houses on a local green space in Llay. He has also been a vocal opponent of issues such car parking charges at Wrexham`s country parks, through his role as Vice-Chair of the environmental group Friends of Alyn Waters.

Rob (pictured right) is a governor at Darland High School, where he was a former pupil and is Chair of the school`s finance committee. He was also a member of the National Eisteddfod fundraising committee in preparation for Wrexham`s staging of the event in 2011.

Rob is very much looking forward to the forthcoming election contest. He said:

“Having grown up here, it would be a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to represent our area.

“The people of Wrexham deserve a full-time MP who will fight for them and for the things that matter to them. That is what I will do if they vote for me to be their new MP.

“I am proud that in government, the Liberal Democrats have proven our commitment to making Wales fairer by cutting Income Tax by £800 for low and middle income earners.  However, there is more to do: a future Liberal Democrats government will cut taxes by a further £400 so that people earning the minimum wage will not pay a single penny of Income Tax.

"Residents have the opportunity to elect a local candidate who has been actively involved with Wrexham issues consistently over recent years.  If elected, I will work closely with North Wales Assembly Member Aled Roberts to represent everyone in the constituency.”

Aled Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales said:

“Rob is a hard-working, energetic and determined individual who I know will be an exceptional candidate, especially given his local links and campaigning experience.

“Time and time again Rob has shown himself to be a passionate campaigner who will always put local people first.  Wrexham has so much to offer and its time we had an MP who is ambitious for our area.”

Railway starts new year with special event

Llangollen Railway has a Winter Warmer event planned for Friday and Saturday, January 2 and 3.

 

The promise is to have three steam engines operating, with one diesel locomotive and a diesel railcar to give an intensive service between Llangollen and Corwen East.

Railway spokesman George Jones said: "The event is exactly 50 years on from the month in which the through route from Ruabon to Barmouth was closed by Dr Beeching in 1965.

 

"It took a while, but enthusiasm and volunteer effort brought some of the railway back and to operate in a traditional manner, the like of which was unthinkable 50 years ago."

 

 

 

Politicians choose Christmas card design

* The winning design.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones visited a community school to congratulate an eight-year-old girl who won their annual Christmas card competition.

The Labour politicians met Evie Hesketh at Ysgol Carrog on Friday (December 12), whose festive design – featuring a penguin in a Santa hat – was chosen by the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones as his favourite from dozens of entries.

Llangollen-based AM Mr Skates said: “I loved Evie’s design as soon as I saw it and I’m delighted it is featuring on our official Clwyd South Christmas cards, which will be sent to hundreds of people, schools, community groups and businesses across the constituency.

“Last year’s winner was Sam Jones from Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy in Cynwyd, and there could easily have been three or four winners from Carrog.  We obviously have some very talented children in our area!”

The competition was open to pupils of all infant and junior schools in Clwyd South, with Mr Skates narrowing the entries down and the First Minister selecting his favourite from a shortlist.

The runners-up were 11-year-old Kim Thurlow from Ysgol Cynddelw in Glyn Ceiriog and Tegan Jackson, 10, from Ysgol Penycae.

Ms Jones said: “We have some brilliant entries once again, so I would like to thank all the pupils who took part as well as the teachers. The competition is always a fun way for us to engage with local schoolchildren and get them into the Christmas spirit.

“I was delighted to meet Evie and congratulate her personally.”

Police boss's older people promise

* Deputy Police Commissioner Julian Sandham with

Older People's Commissioner for Wales Sarah Rochira

 and Age Connects CEO Judith Wynne.

 

A police boss has pledged to put the views of older people at the heart of policing in North Wales - to help them feel safe out and about and in their own homes.

 

According to Julian Sandham, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales is one of safest places in the UK - but older people don't always feel that way.

 

Mr Sandham told a special’ Hubbub’ Forum organised by Age Connects, it was important to combat the fear of crime.

 

He was also keen to hear their opinions which would help in putting together an updated version of the Police and Crime Plan, the blueprint for policing North Wales.

 

The Deputy Commissioner was joined on the panel in Rhos on Sea by Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, who recently published a major report on care homes.

 

Mr Sandham said: "Meetings like this are critically important to hear the voice of the people and to assess the points that they make.

 

"We want to consult with all sections of the community including groups which can be hard to reach.

 

"We want people to feel secure in their homes.  We want people to feel safe in public places.

 

"Perception is really important. North Wales is one of the safest places in the UK but older people don’t necessarily feel that so there’s a job to be done in terms of reassurance."

 

Sarah Rochira is working with Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners on the Ageing Well in Wales programme.

 

According to Ms Rochira, ensuring that people feel safe was crucial to the quality of life the programme was aiming to promote.

 

She said: "Older people want those of us who are in public service to ensure that they’re listened to but more than that responded to and that’s something that unites us all as Commissioners.

 

"Policing is important to everybody and that includes older people. Many older people often say to me ‘we don’t feel safe so we don’t go out at night’. 

 

"Older people tell me and are very clear with me in respect of this - that feeling safe is just as important as actually being safe. We shouldn’t underestimate perception and how people feel."

 

Judith Wynne, Chief Executive Officer of Age Connects in North Wales Central which covers Conwy and Denbighshire, was grateful to Mr Sandham and Ms Rochira.

 

She explained: "Our primary purpose as an organisation is to make sure that the voices of all older people are not only listened to but also acted upon.

 

"It was clear to see that both Commissioners really engaged with Hubbub members and they gave assurances that their views would be fed back to appropriate agencies and departments so members' concerns would be listened to and where possible acted upon.”