MP raises questions over Welsh farmers

Susan Elan Jones MP has accused Conservatives of not listening to the voices of Welsh farmers and rural communities.

The Clwyd South Labour MP (pictured) was questioning Tory Secretary of State Alun Cairns MP yesterday (Wed 26th) at Welsh Questions in the House of Commons Chamber.

She said: "There is so much uncertainty about life post Brexit in our rural communities - and the UK government really is not listening to the very legitimate concerns that our farmers have.

"Farmers and others in rural communities have to plan and they need very definite commitments about being able to access the European Single Market."

Ms Jones also repeated a call for all powers relating to agriculture to be devolved to the Welsh Government after Brexit.

Good news for county businesses

Businesses will find it easier to bid for public sector contracts thanks to changes to a website.

Denbighshire County Council has revamped the procurement section of its website to make it easier for firms based in Denbighshire to apply for contracts as part of the £100 million it spends to deliver public services each year.

Businesses can now register online to be made aware when a contract is available and the council is also making the process more transparent by publishing a comprehensive list of all the contracts the authority currently has in place.

The website also features guidance to help businesses based in the county gain a better understanding of the procurement process and make it easier for them to be considered for contracts.

Improving the procurement process is part of the Council’s work on developing the economy to help businesses thrive.

* Visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/business/selling-to-the-council/selling-to-the-council.aspx

Ambulance chiefs apologise over response delay

According to a story on the BBC Wales website, ambulance bosses have apologised after a man who severed part of his finger in Denbighshire had to wait over an hour for a taxi to get him to hospital.

For the full story, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-39692194

AM raises North Wales rail issues

Rail issues facing North Wales were raised by Mark Isherwood AM during the latest session of an inquiry into the Welsh Government’s plans for the next Wales and Borders Rail Franchise.

Mr Isherwood (pictured), who has long been calling for improvements to services for the region, championed North Wales Rail Issues when questioning Network Rail, UK Department for Transport, Engineering Sector Panel and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure in the Welsh Government during the latest session of the Assembly Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee inquiry into the plans.

Mr Isherwood spoke of “a number of witnesses here and in Shrewsbury reinforcing the need for rail investment in north Wales” and referred to the North Wales & Mersey Dee Rail Task Force’s ‘Growth Track 360’ proposals with both Governments.

Questioning them over the North Wales and Merseyside connectivity - the Halton curve, he said: “We know that the Liverpool City Region have made the decision to invest up to the border, but there’s not yet been a parallel decision this side of the border. What might the potential implications of that be, or do you have any thoughts about how that might go forward?

“Similarly, with Wrexham-Saltney, or particularly Rossett, and the notorious missing two miles, what will the implication of that be if those two miles aren’t filled, and the capacity issues that will result? We understand there might be capacity for one extra train per two hours, but I don’t know if you’re able to indicate anything about that.”

Mr Isherwood also spoke of concern over the connectivity to Crewe, particularly with electrification, and where the absence of a hub connection at Crewe might impact on the proposals for North Wales, and connectivity to Manchester and Manchester and Liverpool airports.  

He said: “My understanding is that the north-east Wales border has the highest cross-border motor crossing anywhere in the UK daily, and rail usage is amongst the lowest in terms of travel to work cross-border, or travel to shopping, or whatever it may be, because of the limitations. What greater capacity could be provided if that two miles had been dualled?

“Given, obviously, that Growth Track 360 is about two sides of the border, it’s about the travelling area and the commercial area of the region, what about connectivity into Manchester? Because obviously, at the moment, you effectively miss the city and have to come back in again. And obviously ensuring the sustainability of connectivity with the two main airports.”

Man dies in River Dee say police

North Wales Police has confirmed that they were alerted by the Welsh Ambulance Service to an incident which occurred at 2.51pm yesterday (Sunday) on the River Dee in the Newbridge area near Wrexham.

Police say a 31-year-old man local to the area was taken ill in the river and despite best efforts was pronounced dead at the scene.

They say it is too early to speculate what caused his death but it is not believed that there any suspicious circumstances.

His family and next of kin have been informed, as has the coroner.

* The Daily Post has an update on this story, at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-emergency-services-wrexham-incident-12933489

Back to work help scheme launched

A scheme which aims to get people aged 25 and over back into the workplace and overcome barriers that prevent them from getting work in the first place has been set up in Denbighshire.

The Opus programme supports individuals who are either economically inactive or long term unemployed and are eager to progress into training, volunteering and work.

People that may be eligible for OPUS support may have:

·        * No or low employability skills

·        * A work limiting health condition

·        * Learning disability or difficulty

·        * Physical disability or sensory impairment

·        * Care or childcare responsibilities

·        * Aged 54 and over

·        * Or from a jobless household.

Opus is part funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government and provides support and interventions that help people with appropriate skills towards gaining work.

The support available includes one to one assistance to create individual plans, work around confidence and building self esteem, training opportunities to improve skills, volunteering and work placements to gain practical work experience, job search, CV writing skills and interview techniques.

* For further information, please contact the Opus team, on 01824 712838 or by e-mail: OPUS@Denbighshire.gov.uk. Twitter: @OPUS_DCC

Extra hotel beds needed in county as tourism rises

* Paddle boarding is one of the activities bringing more tourists to the county.

Creating extra hotel beds to Denbighshire is the aim for the coming year as tourism in the county rises bringing hundreds of millions of pounds into the local economy.

Denbighshire County Council’s Tourism Growth Plan has helped contribute to a rise in the number of visitors to the county to 5.86million, a 5.3 per cent increase on 2014, while more than 6,100 jobs, up 7.4 per cent, are supported by the sector.

The total economic impact of tourism in the county for 2015 was £458.39m, a six per cent rise from the previous year.

Carolyn Brindle, the Council’s Lead Officer Business Support & Local Growth, said: “Tourism is a vital part of Denbighshire’s economy. Tourism helps makes towns and villages sustainable and the Tourism Growth Plan, sets out the county’s approach to developing this sector.

“The aims of the Plan are to increase numbers and, importantly, visitor spend as well as creating more jobs and more opportunities.

“Work on the Plan is being carried out by a number of departments, including the Council’s Tourism, Marketing and Events Team, as well as the Countryside Services team, working together under the direction of the Economic and Community Ambition Programme.”

The main focus for the coming year is to increase the quality and number of beds in the county and developments in the pipeline include a Premier Inn and Travelodge in Rhyl which will bring an extra 140 beds to the county. 

Over the past year the plan has provided funding to update the Ride North Wales website, which promotes the area as a haven for mountain bikers, and for the Clwydian Range Food Trail producers group to attend a range of food festivals and develop promotional materials.

Funding was provided to Dee Valley Active, a group of 15 businesses created to harness the economic potential of the Dee Valley by providing and promoting outdoor adventure tourism.

Part of the funding was used to set up a single point of sale booking system for the group.

Lianne Ing of Corwen-based Stand up Paddle Board UK, said: “This could mean big things for our business locally and other businesses like us.

“To have a central booking platform for outdoor activities it will bring us local businesses together collaborating under one roof to provide the activities that we run and love to tourists and the local community.”

Other projects included encouraging businesses to use Welsh to build on the economic strengths provided by Denbighshire’s strong Welsh identity and culture, which included helping the Oriel Hotel in St Asaph provide a Welsh wedding package.