Funding available towards cost of installing gigabit broadband

Rural residents and businesses in Denbighshire are being remind to apply for funding towards the cost of installing gigabit broadband.

The Welsh and UK governments are working together on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme which covers part of the cost of installing new gigabit-capable internet connections.

Under the partnership £7,000 is available for small-to-medium sized businesses and up to £3,000 is available for residential premises.

Gigabit-capable broadband connections offer the fastest and most reliable speeds available, and the scheme is open to rural premises with broadband speeds of less than 100Mbps.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for the Economy, said: “The scheme has now been relaunched by the Welsh and UK governments and we are urging Denbighshire residents in rural locations without decent broadband to check to see if they are eligible for these vouchers.

“Connecting communities is a priority for the Council under our Corporate Plan and improved internet connections ensure our communities have access to goods and services and help the county’s businesses provide services online.

“It is possible for residents or community groups to work together on applications and the Council is working to advise and assist them with their applications.”

As well as offering the Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme, the Welsh Government funded Fibre Roll-out will see a total of 1,862 extra premises in Denbighshire enabled for Fibre To The Premises

(FTTP) connection by June 2022 and Openreach has already enabled 399 premises in the county.

If you would like to discuss the options available contact the Council’s digital officer via communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk and to check eligibility for the Gigabit Broadband Voucher visit https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk

Campaigner gives update on battle for recycling centre

* Plas Madoc household waste recycling site in Wrexham.

A local tip campaigner gives his latest update on the fight for an arrangement to provide access to Plas Madoc household recycling centre for residents of the Dee Valley.

A few months ago Phil Jones organised a 900-signature petition calling for an agreement between Denbighshire and Wrexham councils which would mean local people would no longer have to drive over to Ruthin use the to tip there. He now says: 

"We have a new chief executive at Denbighshire CC. Mr Graham Boase. 

"I wrote to him 14 days ago to appraise him of the long outstanding issue of getting a proper recycling service for the Dee Valley. 

"I was hoping that he would see the clear disparity in the service provision we are getting in the Dee Valley compared to the north of the county and agree to do something about it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get that far.

"Mr Boase has registered my letter as an official complaint. This has the effect of ‘kicking the can down the road’ as the complaint procedure will no doubt take a few months. 

"Even assuming my complaint is upheld, the council’s response to it will be determined by the council not by the complaints procedure. 

"Of more concern is the fact that I am informed that the complaint will be dealt with by the Head of Service, Mr Tony Ward; the very person who has been obfuscating the whole process of sorting this out. I will be requesting that someone else is appointed to handle the complaint.

"Denbighshire says that the charge for a service at Plas Madoc is ‘unaffordable’, though they haven’t explained why their operating costs have been calculated to be just one seventh of those at Wrexham. 

"If we get a positive result from the complaints procedure, the best I think we can hope for is that our needs are put front and centre in the next budget round for the next financial year 2022/23.

"We want access to a modern recycling facility in the Dee Valley. It already exists and the Welsh Government and DCC are forever telling us how good they are at recycling. Why, you may wonder are they failing us so badly. 

"We live in a world where ‘spin’ counts for more the action. The saga continues. Thank-you for your continued support." 

Denbighshire congratulates pupils on A/AS Level results 2021

Denbighshire County Council is congratulating pupils receiving their A/AS Level results.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “On behalf of the Council I would like to congratulate all Year 12 and 13 learners on their results in this difficult year.

“The hard work and dedication pupils have shown over the last year has been amazing to see and they have been supported in every way by our schools, their staff and parents.

“Seeing how our schools and communities have pulled together during the coronavirus pandemic has been fantastic and despite disruptions pupils have continued to learn and achieve throughout.

“Reaching this stage has truly been a wonderful team effort, but the pupils themselves have really gone above and beyond.

“We would like to wish all our young people the very best for the future.”

* No results have been received from Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Headteacher Mark Hatch told llanblogger: "Unfortunately this year it has been a strange situation. We haven't had a 'results day'. Confirmation of results was sent to students via email. We aren't publishing school results this year due to the situation."

Education Minister Jeremy Miles has praised the achievements of students all over Wales as 2021 A, AS, VQ and Skills Challenge Certificates results are published.

The total number of A level entries in Wales this year was 35,867, an increase of 14.5% relative to 2020, reversing the decreasing A level entries since the summer of 2015, and resulting in an extra 4,500 A levels being awarded to Welsh learners this year. Results for Wales show that 99.1% of learners achieved A* - E grades, up from 97.6% in 2019, with an increase at A* with 21.3% of candidates achieving this grade. This year’s assessment and qualification process have been different to previous years as examinations for summer 2021 were cancelled in response to the pandemic. A new system was designed and delivered by schools and colleges and put trust in them to draw together a range of assessment evidence on which to determine a learner’s grade.  Jeremy Miles said: “I hope everyone who received their grades today feels immensely proud of their remarkable achievement. “This year has been like no other and you’ve had to make many sacrifices. You have had to deal with so much disruption to your studies over the past 18 months, but have shown tremendous resilience and determination to continue your learning. You have also played an incredibly important role in keeping your classmates, teachers and communities safe. “While your experiences and the way in which you have been assessed have been different, the value of these qualifications is not. You can can be sure that your grades reflect your hard work throughout this year, and you fully deserve the qualifications you receive. “Our school and college staff have also been tremendous, working incredibly hard and under a lot of pressure to deliver and mark learners’ assessments. “The most important thing this year is that learners are able to progress to the next stage of their education, training or their work careers.   “Best of luck to you all in whatever your future holds.”

Steam trains are returning to the railway this Friday

Steam trains are coming back to Llangollen Railway.

Now rapidly recovering from the double blows of pandemic restrictions and its own financial crisis, the heritage line is set to re-introduce its highly popular steam services in a few days time.

On its Facebook page it has posted: "We are pleased to announce that this Friday (13th) will see the return of steam-hauled trains through the Dee Valley, as well as the extension of services to Glyndyfrdwy.

"As well as steam-hauled services, we will also be operating a heritage railcar.

"Trains depart Llangollen every 55 minutes from 10:30 until 15:05, and from Glyndyfrdwy every 55 minutes from 11:12 until 15:47. Trains will also stop at Berwyn. This timetable will be in operation over the weekend too.

"Tickets can be purchased on the day from our Booking Offices. For more information of times and prices, drop us a message or enquire at our Booking Offices.

"Rostered locos are GWR 3802 (Steam) and Class 109 'Wickham' (DMU)."

The railway has recently received high-level visits from Welsh Government and UK Ministers who both congratulated the operating team on the way it has fought back from its twin crises.

It swung back into action early last month and has since been successfully running heritage diesel railcar services as far as Berwyn.

But the new board had promised that steam would be back this month.

MP discusses future of key heritage building

* David Metcalfe, left, and Simon Baynes MP outside the Ebenezer in Cefn Mawr.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes visited the Ebenezer Chapel in Cefn Mawr to discuss future plans for the building to lead the economic regeneration of the area.

The Ebenezer was secured for the community at auction on May 25.

The chapel was extensively restored in 2007/8 as a part of the Article 4 Cefn Mawr Conservation Area. 

This was part of the preparatory work for UNESCO Inscription of the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site in 2009.

During the visit, Mr Baynes met with David Metcalfe, project leader for the Plas Kynaston Canal (PKC) Group.

They discussed many topics relating to the future success of the Ebenezer and prosperity of the community. 

These ranged from storm damage and the B5605 landslide to the prospects of the Trevor Basin Master Plan and how the PKC Group seeks to work with Wrexham Council. 

It was stressed that the community needs to be connected to overcome the lack of footfall in Cefn Mawr and the Ebenezer in an area with one of the highest visitor counts in Wales. 

Simon Baynes said: “It was a pleasure to meet with David and to see the excellent plans underway to not only regenerate the old Ebenezer Chapel, which is at the centre of our famous Pontcysyllte World Heritage site, but also, the wider development of our local economy in Cefn Mawr. 

"The project has my full support and I look forward to checking in and keeping a close eye on how it develops going forward.”

Police execute drugs warrant in Lllangollen over weekend

The latest Neighbourhood Action alert from North Wales Police says: "The Conwy and Denbighshire Rural Neighbourhood Police team executed a positive Drugs Warrant in Llangollen over the weekend responding to community intelligence. 

"We have also been on patrol in locations that have experienced a high volume of visitors recently such as Llangollen and Betws-y-Coed as well as patrolling in locations known for illegal off--road biking. 

"Anti-social driving in Ruthin Town Centre will also continue to be a focus at weekends. 

"What else and where else do you think we can focus our attention at the moment?" 

* For details of Neighbourhood Action, go to: https://www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/

Paper highlights Llan woman who is Wales' strongest woman

The Denbighshire Free Press has a story about a Llangollen woman who has broken three Welsh records and earned the title of Wales' Strongest Woman.

* For the the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19497074.llangollen-woman-breaks-three-welsh-records-wins-wales-strongest-woman/