MP says fight goes on for pension equality

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones (pictured) and other members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women have pledged to carry on fighting for women affected by the increase in their state pension age after a High Court ruling.

Yesterday (Thursday) the High Court rejected claims that increasing the state pension age for women born in the 1950s discriminated against them on the grounds of age and sex, and that the government had failed to appropriately notify those affected.

However, Labour MP Carolyn Harris and former Conservative Government Minister Tim Loughton, co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on State Pension Inequality for Women, said the All Party Group would continue to use all means available – including private members’ bills – “to seek justice for all the women affected”.

In a written statement the politicians said the cross-party group’s continued aim was to deliver on a series of measures proposed in April 2018.

The measures include:

- making a non-means-tested pension credit available to all women aged 63 and over from the day it is approved until they reach state pension age, which won’t be backdated.

- equalising women’s pensions, so that everyone receives a full state pension (£159 per week) regardless of the number of years of National Insurance contributions accrued.

- extending pension credit for those worst affected who have no other income or private pension available to them and are suffering financial hardship.

Plans to increase the state pension age were first announced in the Pension Act 1995 but these changes were accelerated as part of the Pension Act 2011.

Susan Elan Jones MP said: “Pension fairness matters hugely for ordinary people from our local area. I’ve worked very closely with many constituents who’ve been affected by these pension changes. I remain committed to working in Parliament with other MPs across the political spectrum who want a fair, common sense solution for women born in the 1950s.”

Keddie wins town council seat

Paul Keddie yesterday won the vacant seat on Llangollen Town Council.

Results were:

Paul Keddie (Independent) - 293

John Palmer - 276

Gillian Robertson (Independent) - 92

Turnout 22.69%

County encourages more food waste recycling

* See reaction at foot of story from former Llangollwn county councillor Stuart Davies 

A food recycling project is being piloted in three areas of Denbighshire as part of efforts to encourage greater use of recycling facilities before significant changes are introduced to the county’s waste and recycling services.

During a recent monitoring exercise the council noticed that a total of 600 properties had not placed their food waste caddies out in the previous weeks. 

Those households have received a leaflet which encourages them to recycle food waste and to make sure that householders are aware of the equipment needed to recycle food.

The equipment includes an orange kerbside collection bin, a convenient silver kitchen caddy that can be placed on counter tops or under the sink and a roll of compostable liners.

Any households not placing their food waste bins ready for collection will be visited by a team of recycling advisors, to see what can be done to rectify any issues.

In December 2018, the Council approved plans to change waste and recycling collections in Denbighshire.  Those changes will come into effect during 2021 and will be:

§  a new weekly collection for recyclables such as paper, glass, cans, and plastic

§  a new weekly collection for nappies and incontinence wear

§  a weekly collection for food waste

§  a new fortnightly collection for clothes and small electrical items

The council says that if residents use the recycling service correctly, it should only result in a minimal amount of residual waste being created.  

As a result, the council will be changing the collection of non-recyclable waste to every four weeks for the majority of households.

Residents will be issued with a  bigger black bin if they need one, but overall, households would have more capacity each week for managing their waste than they have with our current service.  

The new weekly recycling service, using a Trollibloc system, would provide more capacity for recycling when compared to the current fortnightly collection with the blue wheelie bin.  

The council says residents will be able to free up even more space in their black bin by using new kerbside recycling services for textiles, small electrical goods, batteries and where needed, nappies and incontinence waste.   

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet lead Member for Highways, Environmental Impact, Waste and Sustainable Travel, said: “The council provides a weekly food waste recycling service to properties and people should be using it to take away unwanted food. They should not be placing any food waste in their black bin. If this initiative is successful, it could be drawn out across  the county.

“The council can fine people who repeatedly fail to separate their rubbish so it is important people take the time to put the right waste in the right container. 

"The majority of residents in Denbighshire recycle their food waste and we thank them for that, but we need to understand why some people do not dispose of their food waste properly. Households receive orange kerbside collection  bins that goes out once a week with the remainder of the refuse. A convenient silver kitchen caddy is used to  gather the food waste and a roll of compostable liners.

“This is a very timely initiative as we prepare our plans for a significant waste and recycling project being rolled out in 2021. In the meantime, our efforts to encourage greater amounts of recycling continues. And over the coming months we will be rolling out a series of initiatives to make it safer and more community-spirited to recycle as much as we can."

* To find out information about waste and recycling in Denbighshire, visit: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling

Reaction from former Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies ...

How dare Cllr Brian Jones threaten residents of Denbighshire with fines when his department is just as guilty of not collecting recycling properly themselves?

About five years ago DCC rolled out the recycling scheme in Llangollen, however they did not have small enough vehicles to access country properties such as mine and we have been on sack collection since. One for plastics, paper, metal etc and one for everything else! That includes waste food! 

As the then County Councillor I was promised that as the fleet was renewed that vehicles suitable for collecting the various recycling would be incorporated and we could ALL do recycling properly! It has not happened! We still are on two sack collection! 

The question needs to be asked of this arrogant councillor, is why he thinks it is ok to threaten residents with fines for not recycling when his own department is not doing its job properly by providing proper facilities for recycling to residents out in the country side? It smacks of having double standards! 

County gives underage knife sales test results

Denbighshire County Council and North Wales Police have issued the results of underage knife sales test in the county

The checks were carried out as part of Operation Sceptre, a national campaign taking place twice a year targeting knife crime and involves both education and enforcement activity with the aim of removing unwanted knives off the streets.

As part of a joint working initiative Officers of Denbighshire Trading Standards and North Wales Police have teamed up to carry out an exercise looking at the effectiveness of retail sales to young people.

On Saturday 21^st September 2019, a volunteer Police Cadet aged 15 attempted to purchase a knife at a number of local retailers.  The legal age for the sale of knives is 18. The volunteer attempted purchases in 13 premises within Denbighshire.   

Eight of those premises refused the sale, either asking the volunteer their age or for identification, and four of the premises did not have any stock of knives.  However, one retailer did sell to the volunteer and this matter is currently being investigated.

Councillor Mark Young, Denbighshire Council’s Lead member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities said:  “It is important to recognise the dangers surrounding the mis-use of knives and the dangers presented when these products are in the wrong hands. Whilst it is recognised that a child can access knives from other places, such as at home, this operation highlights that there is a need for staff working within store to be vigilant when making sales. There are restrictions on the age of sale for knives for a reason- any child carrying a knife is at a greater risk of harm. 

"As a result of this exercise Denbighshire Trading Standards will be looking at doing more follow up work by means of advice and education to knife retailers over the coming months. 

"If you are aware of any premises selling age restricted products to underage persons please report this to Trading Standards on tradingstandards@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706057 – this is an automated service and reports can be made anonymously."

Temporary Detective Inspector Tecwyn Green said: “Knives are dangerous and there is no place for them on the streets of North Wales. Using a knife can have devastating consequences, and I hope that by constantly stressing the dangers of knife crime we are getting the message across, particularly to our young people. I would urge people to continue to educate themselves, speak to their children and family members so that tragedies can be prevented.

“We are grateful for the support of the community and our partners with this campaign and together, we will continue to work towards removing knives and dangerous weapons and bring those responsible, for carrying and using them, to justice.”

* North Wales Police say they will act on all information reported regarding knife crime.  Anyone with information can call North Wales Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

#StopKnifeCrime #OpSceptre

Rehearsals going well for Twenty club's Blackadder

* Miranda Richardson and Rowan Atkinson in TV's Blackadder.

Rehearsals are going well for Langollen Twenty Club's next production, a stage version of the smash-hit TV comedy series Blackadder.

Fresh from their most recent success with the gripping Dinner with Otto, the group are lightening the mood by staging three episodes of the iconic show written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton.

They've chosen to depict Blackadder's Elizabethan-era incarnation in the play which runs at Llangollen Town Hall from November 7-9, each performance starting at 7.30pm.

Director Chrissie Ashworth said: “We have chosen three episodes which we considered to be the best mix and most suited to perform at our home at the Town Hall.

"We've assembled a fantastic cast, of a number of them new to Twenty Club, and rehearsals are going extremely well. In fact, sometimes it's hard to get anything done because we're all laughing so much at the lines and the plot situations."

She added: "We're aiming for a close ‘copy’ of the original TV characters, as that is what people remember and the humour that goes with it. The three episodes are entitled respectively Head, Beer and Bells. 

“Blackadder is hilarious. It is farce, quick witted and when staged well is a gem." 

To book tickets, go to www.twentyclub.co.uk

Town Hall to host special music event

Brexit uncertainty damaging to social care, says boss

* Mario Kreft MBE, chair of Care Forum Wales. 

A social care champion is calling for certainty over Brexit.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, says the current state of flux was hugely damaging.

He was speaking in the wake of the publication of the UK Government’s Operation contingency planning document, Operation Yellowhammer.

According to Mr Kreft, who is also the proprietor of the Pendine Park Care Organisation, the political paralysis surrounding Brexit was already driving up prices and had led to European workers returning home.

He said: “Operation Yellowhammer suggests the worst-case scenario would be very serious with some smaller care homes closing within a fortnight because of escalating prices and larger providers under threat within a month or two.

“The current uncertainty is already causing issues for social care because is ratcheting up prices while the issue of people not wanting to come and work in this country becoming a real problem.

“We’ve seen a lot of talented care practitioners and nurses leave Wales already and this is a major concern because we have an aging population and, planning ahead for the next 15 to 20 years, we are going to see a 100 per cent increase in the number of people aged over 85.

“Regardless of what happens with Brexit, the demographics are going to cause enormous issues but this uncertainty and this appearance that we no longer welcoming people who have talent and want to work here is causing even more problems because the NHS is already under tremendous pressure.

“We have been fortunate in recent years but if we have a bad winter, you would see pressures on the NHS that we have never seen before.

“Social care underpins the NHS and what business wants and what social care wants is an end to this uncertainty.

“While Westminster decides whether it’s a deal or a no deal Brexit, what the social care sector needs is certainty to be able to continue to provide services for the most vulnerable people in our society.”