UK Government accused of neglecting north Wales rail system

* Clwyd South MS Ken Skates with North Wales MS Carolyn Thomas. 

Labour politicians, including Clwyd South MS Ken Skates, has accused the UK Government of the "shameful neglect" of rail infrastructure in North Wales.

And they claim the local network is being "short-changed" by £5bn. 

The issue has been raised in the Senedd by North Wales MS Carolyn Thomas followed by former Transport Minister Ken Skates wh0 repeated his calls for rail to be fully devolved to the Welsh Government. 

While transport is devolved to Wales, responsibility for railway track, station infrastructure and signalling remains with the UK Government at Westminster. 

Labour claims that over the past 20 years, Wales has had less than 2% of the £102bn that the UK Government has spent on improvements – despite having 5% of the population and 11% of the track miles. 

During First Minister’s Questions this week First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Welsh Ministers take every opportunity to raise with the UK Government their shameful neglect of investment in rail infrastructure in north Wales.” 

And Ms Thomas told the Senedd: “The Tory UK Government are investing just under £100bn in HS2 rail infrastructure. If the Barnett formula were to be applied, Wales should be entitled to the population share of 5%which is £5bn. But, because the UK Government says that the line from London to Birmingham is going to benefit Wales, we are getting nothing.  

“On top of this, a levelling-up funding bid was made to UK Government for investment on the Wrexham-Bidston line, which is desperately needed. But, again, the UK Government failed to deliver investment. All we are asking for is that Wales be treated fairly.” 

The First Minister responded: “Wales is treated anything but fairly when it comes to rail investment by the UK Government. It is absolutely nonsensical to claim that because there is a new service from London to Birmingham somehow that means Wales has had its fair share of that investment.  

“And all of that comes on top of a decade of neglect of investment in the infrastructure here in Wales. You've heard the figures here before – 2% of the railway line in Wales is electrified. Twenty-two miles. It is pathetic, and it is the direct result of broken promises. 

“This Welsh Government, by contrast, goes on investing in rail services in north Wales. This year, we will increase services on the line between Wrexham and Bidston. Next year, we will provide new services between Liverpool and Llandudno. And, the year after that, there will be new services from the north to Cardiff. Where the UK Government treats Wales with contempt when it comes to rail investment, this government goes on investing – in the north and in the rest of Wales.” 

The Union Connectivity Review, commissioned by the UK Government and published in December, ‘concluded that devolution had been good for transport’, the First Minister said. 

Ken Skates added: “The most straightforward way to address historic underfunding would be to devolve responsibilities and appropriate funding to the Welsh Government.”  

Last year, Ms Thomas and Mr Skates were among the North Wales Labour politicians to welcome the cross-party Welsh Affairs Committee’s report recommending urgent improvements in rail infrastructure across the region by the UK Government. 

They called on the UK Government to urgently implement the recommendations, which included preparing a full strategic case for the upgrade and electrification of the North Wales mainline.  

The report also called for the classification of HS2 as an England-only scheme – which Mr Skates said ‘could in turn generate huge consequential funds for Wales’ – and HS2 incorporating improvements around Crewe and Chester to enable North Wales to benefit from the project. 

Latest round of Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund opens

The third round of the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund has opened for applications.

Businesses and organisations which have not previously received support under the fund are now eligible to apply, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden, has confirmed. 

Earlier this month, the Deputy Minister announced a further £15.4 million would be made available to cultural organisations in Wales who continue to be severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Impacted sectors including music venues, heritage sites, event venues, suppliers and organisers, independent local museums, community and independent libraries, galleries and independent cinemas who were previously supported via the Welsh Government’s CRF were contacted by letter during the week commencing January 17. 

The Welsh Government has already made payments of £2.2m to more than 88 applicants. It is expected most payments to those who have applied through this process will be made next week. 

New entrants for CRF 3 can today apply from the Business Wales website, where further details and application forms are available. Applications will need to be returned by Friday February 11. 

To be eligible, businesses from the events, creative and heritage sectors will have to provide evidence that they have experienced at least 50% reduced turnover between December 2021 and February 2022 compared to the same period in 2019/20. 

Dawn Bowden said: “We are fully aware that these impacted sectors continue to face new pressures.

"The innovation and resilience which has been demonstrated by the people and organisations which make these sectors so vibrant has been remarkable. 

“We want to ensure that the sector continues to play a part in our recovery from the pandemic and in bringing people together once more. 

"The Welsh Government is also aware of the impact the pandemic is having on our creative freelance community and we have doubled (to £1,000) the Emergency Business Fund grant award available for qualifying sole traders and freelancers who do not pay rates." 

This third round builds on the previous two phases of the Cultural Recovery Fund which have provided £93 million and has supported business, organisations and individuals in the key cultural sectors.

Dementia network meeting planned for February 9

Dementia Aware Denbighshire Network has a meeting via Zoom on Wednesday February 9, between 10am and 12 noon. 

The aim of the network is to proactively lead and facilitate initiatives to improve the awareness of dementia with the aim of making Denbighshire a 'safe, supportive and inclusive place for everyone'. 

The network is open to all individuals, organisations, voluntary and community groups and businesses operating in Denbighshire, people living with dementia and their families and carers, alongside representatives of Third Sector organisations and social enterprises, town and community council members, Denbighshire County Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Speakers for this session include Owen Phillips from CADR and Gwenno Davies from the North Wales Dementia Centre as well as updates from the local dementia action groups and Dementia Friendly Communities.

* People can book a space at the meeting using this link.

Commissioner's plan to boost policing numbers approved

A police boss is beefing up frontline policing in North Wales with 82 new officers, 10 extra PCSOs and more than 40 additional police staff.

The pledge from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin (pictured) came after his funding plans for the coming year were unanimously signed off by a watchdog body.

His proposal for a 22p a week increase in the price of policing the region was given the go-ahead by the North Wales Police and Crime Panel yesterday.

The 3.68 per cent rise will cost Band D householders an extra £11.25 year – around the price of two portions of fish and chips.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, it will pay for a raft of new measures including an increase in drug driving tests to improve road safety and save lives, which is one of the commissioner’s strategic priorities.

Other initiatives include ramping up the fight against child abuse, domestic abuse and cybercrime.

Mr Dunbobbin says he is also delivering on a promise in his election manifesto to put more bobbies on the beat.

The force’s pioneering drone unit, which has saved three lives since it was founded last April, will be expanded with two additional pilots.

A further 10 officers and police staff will be dedicated to working with perpetrators of domestic abuse to change their behaviour with the aim of reducing re-offending, as well as bringing offenders to justice and safeguarding victims.

At the same time, he says, safeguarding victims will be central to the force’s approach and a new panel will be established so that the voices of victims can be heard.

The commissioner believes that bolstering Neighbourhood Policing Teams will help provide reassurances for all communities of North Wales, and in particular our elderly and vulnerable.

Meanwhile, he is strengthening the Economic Crime Unit with three more officers to help stem the rising tide of cybercrime, including online fraud.

Mr Dunbobbin said: “I am grateful to the North Wales Police and Crime Panel for their support for my proposals.

“I have worked closely with the Chief Constable and his senior team to draw up the measures which will now be enshrined in my Police and Crime Plan which sets out the blueprint for policing North Wales.

“I will be scrutinising the force to ensure that the plan is implemented in full and I take my responsibilities very seriously in this regard.

“There will be a renewed focus on road safety because far too many people are dying or being seriously injured on our highways.

“That’s why there will be an increased use of roadside drug testing because if you drive under the influence of drugs it’s an accident waiting to happen.

“In addition to robust enforcement, there will be a campaign to educate and raise awareness among road users.

“Roads policing also has an important role in cracking down on serious and organised crime as we step up our fight against the vicious County Lines drugs gangs.

“We will also be increasing the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras which are a highly effective way of identifying cross border criminals and other lawbreakers.

“As somebody who has a background in the IT industry, I am also pushing hard for the increased use of technology in a number of areas.

“As well as saving lives, expanding the drone unit will support policing operations and crime prevention initiatives particularly for communities in rural areas.

“We will also be establishing a dedicated digital contact team to broaden the available ways that people can use to get in touch with North Wales Police.

“Cybercrime is growing at an alarming rate across the world and we have seen a 50 per cent increase in its prevalence in recent times.

“As a result, I am providing funding for three extra officers to join our successful Economic Crime Unit so we can tackle this growing menace in all its forms.

“The crackdown on cybercrime will include tackling child sexual exploitation, targeting grooming offences, and online scams. 

“I am also passionate about the importance of good, old fashioned neighbourhood policing which is the bedrock of North Wales Police.

“Ensuring our officers are out and about providing a visible presence in our communities is particularly reassuring for elderly and vulnerable people.

“As well as nipping any minor issues in the bud, they are also the source of valuable intelligence as we tackle more serious criminality.

“That’s why I am investing in recruiting an extra 10 Police and Community Support Officers, building on the investment of the Welsh Government in paying for an additional 20 PCSOs across North Wales.

“Having more bobbies on the beat will increase opportunities to gather intelligence and combat hidden crimes such as modern-day slavery.

“I believe the 22p a week increase represents great value for money and it’s designed to strike the right balance between financial prudence and making North Wales an even safer place for the people who live and work here and visit the region.”

Have your say on county's ambitions for next five years

Residents are being invited to have their say on Denbighshire County Council’s focus for the next five years.

Housing, the climate and environment, the economy, young people, connected communities, addressing deprivation and continuing to provide a well-run, high performing Council are all themes to be included in the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022-2027.

The Corporate Plan sets the focus for the Council’s ambitions for the next five years including the vital core services it provides for residents such as education and social care.

The Council is launching an online survey to find out what members of the public think.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, the Council’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “This is a chance to tell us what you think about our direction for the next five years.

“Asking the views of our residents helps inform our decision making and allows you to tell us what our focus should be.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to take this chance to help improve services and your local area.”

Between May and July last year, the Council ran an engagement exercise called Continuing the County Conversation where we asked people to tell us what they thought about our planned work programme for 2022-2027.

From this initial engagement activity, we have created the draft themes for our new corporate plan.

The online survey is running between January 28 and March 11.

* To take part and have your say, please visit https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/662.

If you cannot complete the survey electronically, paper copies of the survey are available on request in all Denbighshire libraries and can be returned to libraries or posted to Strategic Planning and Performance Team, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ.

First Citizens Advice column of the year

Here is the first monthly column of the year from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I keep seeing on the news that my bills could be going up soon. It’s making me really worried, especially as I spent more on Christmas than I should have done. How can I get my spending habits back on track in 2022? 

A: A lot of people will be asking themselves this question right now. The good news is there are lots of things you can do to be more in control of your money and better prepared for the future. 

Firstly, find out exactly what money you have coming in and going out each month. Be realistic about what you need for essentials like food and travel. Then you can set yourself a budget that you can stick to - take a look at the budgeting tool on the Citizens Advice website to help you do this. 

If any of your bills do go up in the coming year, you can go back to our budgeting tool anytime to create a new plan and stay in control. Our website tips on how to reduce your regular living costs may be helpful if you find you have more money going out than coming in at any point.

You should also make sure you’re getting all the income you’re entitled to. Use the income checker on the Citizens Advice website to see if you could be getting more support, such as benefits or government grants. You can also use this to make sure you’re being paid the right wage.

If you’ve been using credit cards, your overdraft or store cards for your spending, it’s understandable if these debts are causing you worry. It’s important to prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first though. Not paying these has the most serious consequences. On the Citizens Advice website, we have advice about which bills you need to prioritise and the support available for paying these and other bills.

Once you have planned how to pay your priority bills, the budgeting tool can help you plan how to repay credit cards, overdraft charges and store cards.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, particularly when it comes to managing personal finances. If you need more specific support or don’t feel able to manage your situation alone, call our debt helpline: 0800 240 4420. You’re not on your own.

This week's planned work on 2020 project

Work planned for this coming week on the town's 2020 project is:

• Install kerb on Castle Street west
• Continue paving on Market Street south