Details of Welsh Government budget revealed

 

Investment to tackle the climate and nature emergency will be at the heart of the Welsh Government’s budget, published later today. Targeted, green investment of more than £160m revenue and a total investment of £1.8bn capital will be committed over the next three years. Responding to both the climate and nature emergency it will be spent in a range of areas including the national forest, biodiversity, active travel, the circular economy, renewable energy, flooding, and decarbonising housing. Wales has a legacy of over 2,500 coal tips pre-dating devolution and due to the growing impacts of climate change these tips are now exposed to increased risks of slippage.  The Welsh Government will also provide funding to support essential maintenance works and to develop a future reclamation programme, with an additional £4.5m and total capital investment of £44.4m.  It follows the UK Government’s decision not to provide funding of its own in October’s Spending Review. In April 2019 Wales was the first country in the world to declare a climate emergency and in October this year the Welsh Government published ‘Net Zero Wales’ - setting the foundations to make Wales net zero by 2050. Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: “Today’s budget will shape the Wales we want to hand over to future generations. Tackling the climate and nature emergency will require a collective effort and as a Government we know it’s vital we step up and lead the way. “That’s why we’re providing significant investment in a wide range of areas, so Wales can cut emissions and be a greener nation. “The effects of the climate and nature emergency are with us now. Intensifying rainfall and increasing temperatures have added to the urgency of providing funding to make coal tips safer. The UK Government failed to act but our funding will provide some reassurance to the communities. “This budget will leave Wales in a better place to manage the effects of the climate and nature emergency that are already affecting so many communities in Wales, and will only affect more in the future. We can never lose sight of the importance of protecting our planet.”

Police issue advice on how to deal with scams

Through its Neighbourhood Alert system North Wales Police has out out  advice on how to deal with scams. They say:

Fake emails and text messages are a common tactic used by cyber criminals, their goal is often to convince you to click a link. Once clicked, you may be sent to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords and personal information. In order to try and convince you that their messages are legitimate, criminals will pretend to be someone you trust, or from some organisation you trust. This could be your Internet Service Provider (ISP), local council, even a friend in need. And they may contact you by phone call, email or text message. Reporting suspicious emails: If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, you can report it by forwarding the email to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service at: report@phishing.gov.uk As of 31st October 2021, the number of suspicious email reports stands at more than 8,100,000, with the removal of more than 67,000 scams and 124,000 URLs. Thank you for your continued support. *In a small number of cases, an email may not reach our service due to it already being widely recognised by spam detection services. The vast majority of reports do reach our system so please keep reporting any suspicious emails you receive. Reporting suspicious text messages: You can report suspicious text messages to your mobile network provider, for free, by forwarding the text to 7726. If you forward a text, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious. If 7726 doesn’t work, you can find out how to report a text message by contacting your provider. (On many Android devices and iPhones, pressing and holding on the message bubble should present the option to forward the message) * For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

 

A539 closed in both directions following accident

North Wales Police posted around 6.30pm: UPDATE- The A539 between Llangollen and Trevor is now open. Thank you for your patience.

The Daily Post is reporting that the A539 near Llangollen is shut in both directions following crash this evening (Saturday).

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/live-a539-near-llangollen-shut-22507757

Llangollen features in 2022 mountain biking series

British Cycling has announced the dates and venues for the 2022 for the National Downhill Series. 

The series is to be delivered by five separate organisers, beginning in Rheola in April. Round two will be a UCI C1 in Fort William, followed by a UCI C2 event in Llangollen for round three.

The series ends with rounds in Caersws and at Revolution Bike Park, which hosted the national championships in 2019.

National Downhill Series

Round 1: Rheola, 16 – 17 April (event organiser – Malc Dunn, Gravity Events)
Round 2: Fort William, 7 – 8 May (UCI C1) (event organiser – Colin Houston, SDA)
Round 3: Llangollen, 28 – 29 May (UCI C2) (event organiser – Si Paton, BDS Events / Malverns Classic Team)
Round 4: Caersws, 13 – 14 August (event organiser – Malc Dunn, Gravity Events)
Round 5: Revolution Bike Park, 17 – 18 September (Mike Marsden, Borderline Events)

Large metal gate stolen from Vivod area, say police

A Neighbourhood Alert from North Wales Police says that a large metal gate was recently stolen from the Vivod area near Llangollen.

Measuring 12ft by 5ft, it was taken sometime between 6pm on Tuesday December 6 and 7am the next day.

PC2264 Chris Jones, rural crime constable for Central, Conwy and Denbighshire, said: "Only the gate was taken and no further reports have been received at this time.

"This message is to make people aware of the incident and to ask that any suspicious vehicles, especially at night, are reported to North Wales Police.  

"We are asking that gates, especially those alongside roads, are secured as safely as possible." 

Reminder of Denbighshire's ‘Free after Three’ parking scheme

 * Market Street car park offers Free after Three parking until December 31.

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents about the free parking scheme which is running until December 31.

Council-run town centre car parks will be free to use across Denbighshire every day from 3pm to encourage more people to use their local high street for shopping in the run-up to Christmas and New Year.

The Free After Three initiative will be available in the following car parks:

•  Llangollen - Market Street, East Street, Hall Street and Mill Street.

•  Corwen - Green Lane

•   Denbigh - Barkers Well Lane, Factory Ward, Crown Lane, Post Office Lane and Vale Street.

•   Prestatyn - Lower High Street, Kings Avenue and Railway Station

•   Rhuddlan - Parliament Street

•  Rhyl - Central, Morley Road, West Kinmel Street, Library (disabled bays only), Town Hall, Sky Tower and Railway Station.

•  Ruthin - Market Street, Park Road, Crispin Yard, Troed Y Rhiw, Rhos Street, St Peters Square and Dog Lane

•  St Asaph - Bowling Green

Morfa Hall private car park, Rhyl, is not included in the initiative.

The council says it is also reminding people to follow Welsh Government guidance, to shop safely, including wearing masks in shops and to be courteous to our local traders during this busy period.

Residents reminded to follow Covid-19 guidance

* Cllr Mark Young receives his own jab.

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents to follow Welsh Government guidance around Covid-19.

The Welsh Government is advising people without Covid-19 symptoms to take a lateral flow test before going out – whether that’s to a Christmas party; Christmas shopping; visiting friends or family; going to any crowded or busy place or before travelling.

University students returning home for Christmas are also being encouraged to test before coming home.

Those who test positive, or who are showing symptoms of Covid-19, should not go out and arrange for a PCR test and self-isolate.

Residents are also being reminded to attend their booster jab appointment when they are offered one.

Cllr Mark Young, the Council’s Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “With the Omicron variant spreading throughout the UK, we are reminding residents of Welsh Government guidance around Covid-19 ahead of Christmas.

“We want as many people as possible to stay safe and Covid free during the festive period so they can celebrate with family and friends, safely and sensibly.

“Taking a lateral flow test before going out or visiting loved ones helps reduce the spread of Covid-19 and free lateral flow tests are available to pick up from your local Denbighshire library, pharmacy or to order online.

“We are also reminding people to continue to wear a mask when needed, and if you are meeting up with people to allow fresh air into indoor spaces.

“The emerging evidence around the Omicron variant shows three doses of the vaccine – two primary doses plus the booster – gives people better protection.

“Therefore it is vital residents who are offered the booster jab attend their appointments.”

* Free lateral flow tests, for those without symptoms, are available from Denbighshire libraries (libraries are closed from 1pm on December 24 and re-open on January 4) or you can order them or find out the location of pick up points at pharmacies at https://gov.wales/get-rapid-lateral-flow-covid-19-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms

* Those with Covid-19 symptoms can book a home PCR test at https://gov.wales/get-tested-coronavirus-covid-19 or to find your nearest test centre visit https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/covid-19/covid-19-testing/book-a-covid-19-test/