Improved visitor access created at Horseshoe Falls

After six months' preparation the area around the intake and meter house at the Horseshoe Falls has been transformed to create an improved visitor welcome.

The Lengthsman Hut and stop plank shed has been full restored and an interpretation panel installed, the railings and down pipes on the meter house have been rubbed down and repainted along with the installation of further railings around the intake.

The work was undertaken by the Our Picturesque Landscape project, which is a landscape partnership scheme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund based in the Dee Valley and supported by Canal and River Trust.

The work has been made possible by Welsh Government’s Brilliant Basics capital fund, which is supporting local authorities and national parks to deliver the improvements which will benefit both communities and visitors, will support projects to help alleviate pressure in areas that are seeing increased visitor numbers.

Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership Officer Kate Thomson said: "Thanks to Welsh Government Brilliant Basics and National Lottery Heritage funding, the area around the intake and the meter house has been transformed to create a much improved visitor welcome.

"To celebrate this, we formally opened the Lengthsman’s Hut to the public for the first time. It has been closed up for many years and after a full restoration has been furnished as if the lengths man who would have been responsible for the maintenance of a section or length of canal has just popped out to work and will be back shortly! The Lengthsman's Hut can be found opposite the meter house on the canal towpath.

"We are keen to recruit volunteers to open it up going forward if anyone would be interested in helping please contact our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone 01824 706163."

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards said: "I was delighted to be invited to the opening of the Lengthman’s Hut and meet the team involved with the picturesque landscape project. It’s so important to restore and preserve these buildings that are part of the heritage of the Dee Valley."

Welsh Government Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “We’re very aware of the important part that local tourism amenities have on someone’s overall experience when on a day trip or on holiday. These facilities often go unnoticed, but they are an important part of people’s experiences when they visit Wales, while also benefit those who live in the area."

Police warn over Father's Day competition scam

* The fake competition advert.

North Wales Police have issued a warning about a Father's Day competition which they point out is a scam.

On the Neighbourhood Alert network force cybercrime officer Dewi Owen says: "Scammers are sending fake Father’s Day competitions via WhatsApp.

"The text reads B&Q Father’s Day Contest 2022 and goes on to advertise 5,000 free gas barbeques."

And he adds: "Do NOT click the link, report it to 7726 then block the number."

The officer sends a link to the Which consumer website, which says:  

"In time for Father’s Day, scammers are impersonating B&Q to offer you the opportunity to participate in a fraudulent contest. 

"Scammers stay on top of seasonal events so that they can try to more convincingly scam you. 

"We’ve received several reports from people who have received suspicious WhatsApp messages in the run-up to Father’s Day, offering you the chance to win a Weber BBQ as a present. 

"The text reads B&Q Father’s Day Contest 2022 and goes on to advertise 5,000 free gas barbeques available to be won by entering a competition by clicking on the link below. The message uses a catalogue-style photograph of the BBQ as well as B&Q branding to convince you it’s real.

"The WhatsApp message is sent via a mobile number, which brands will never contact you on and the message links to a Russian website with no connection to B&Q, a British company. 

"This link will either phish for your bank details or put you in danger of having malware downloaded onto your device. 

"On 8 June, B&Q put out a statement on Facebook stating: 'We’re aware of a fake message circulating via Whatsapp using B&Q branding in a Father’s Day competition. 

"'If you receive a suspicious WhatsApp message, which could be from a known or unknown contact, about a B&Q Father’s Day Contest 2022 offering the chance to win a Weber BBQ, we strongly recommend that you delete the message, do not click on any links and do not share with your contacts. 

"'We would never ask any of our customers to provide their full home address in order to enter a competition. If you believe you have been the victim of this scam, please consider reporting it to Action Fraud.' It posted a similar message on Twitter."

* Find out more here :- Watch out for this B&Q Father’s Day competition Scam - Which? News

Roadworks alerts for Regent Street

Latest local roadworks updates from one.network are:

Regent Street, Denbighshire 13 June - 15 June   Delays likely - Traffic control (two-way signals)   Description: MJ QUINN TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING WORK - TO REPLACE FRAME AND COVER IN CARRIAGEWAY.   Works location: S/0 INN REGENT STREET JUNC OF CHURCH STREET   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Openreach.   Responsibility for works: Openreach   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: BC006MQONSAWN0POWD5L0P4T

Regent Street, Denbighshire 14 June - 16 June   Delays likely - Traffic control (two-way signals)   Description: MJ QUINN TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING WORK - TO REPLACE FRAME AND COVER IN CARRIAGEWAY   Works location: BY THE POND - OPP 66/68 REGENT STREET   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Openreach.   Responsibility for works: Openreach   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: BC006MQONSAWN0POWD5L183F

Councillor told why Llan buildings won't be lit up for Falklands anniversary

* Rhyl's 1891 restaurant and bar lit up to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war.

A leisure company boss has explained to a Llangollen county councillor why some of the town's landmark buildings haven't been lit up to mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war like those in Rhyl.

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, which manages county council leisure assets on its behalf, will light up attractions to remember those who tragically lost their lives in the conflict.

On Wednesday 8^th June and Tuesday 14^th June,  Rhyl Sky Tower, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, 1891 restaurant and bar, the Events Arena waterfall and coastal bus shelters are being lit up in red blue and white to reflect the colours of the British flag and in honour of all those who lost their lives, including members of the Armed Forces from the Denbighshire area.

When she heard about this Councillor Karen Edwards wrote to Jamie Groves, managing director of Denbighshire Leisure, saying: "I have been approached by numerous residents in Llangollen who wish to know why this town has not been included in the ‘Light up Attractions to remember those lost during the Falklands War’ .

"If you could provide me with the information as to who made this decision and the reasons for it I can then relay the information to the residents here. 

"I have to add that from both a personal perspective and as a county councillor it is very disappointing."

In a reply shown to llanblogger by Cllr Edwards Mr Groves says: "In fairness, you are not the first to raise the question about lighting up the assets elsewhere in the county, but unfortunately, it is not straightforward. 

"The simple answer is that the current attractions that we light up all have the feature lighting installed already, all of which are controlled remotely by Rhyl Pavilion. 

"When the waterfront was developed along the coast the programme of work included installing feature lighting. As a company we are paid by the council under contract to manage a number of attractions, most of which include the feature lighting capability. The only other installation we are aware of, is Ruthin Craft Centre, which was paid for by the town council. 

"We would of course take on the responsibility for lighting up other assets across the county for the council if the feature lighting was installed.

"I would be happy to commission a piece of work to look into the feasibility of installing the lighting in other facilities across the county, and then taking on responsibility for lighting them up to mark special occasions. But we would need to be commissioned by the council in order to do this."

Welsh Government pledges £4m help with fuel bills

Some of the most vulnerable households in Wales will receive further help with soaring energy bills, after Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt launched a £4m fuel voucher scheme. 

The extra help will be targeted towards people with pre-payment meters and households not connected to mains gas. 

It comes as figures show people on pre-payment meters in North Wales have been the hardest hit in the UK by rising standing charges, with costs increasing by 102%. 

The £4m of new funding will enable the Fuel Bank Foundation to introduce a national voucher scheme, providing direct support to eligible households on prepayment meters and those not connected to the mains gas network. 

Nearly 120,000 people on prepayment meters will be eligible for approximately 49,000 vouchers to support them during the cost-of-living crisis. 

Vouchers will range from £30 in summer months to £49 in winter, with households receiving up to three vouchers over a six-month period. 

The £4m will also include a Heat Fund, which will provide direct support to eligible households living off the gas grid, which are reliant on heating oil and liquid gas. This will help an estimated 2,000 households across Wales. 

Speaking as she visited a foodbank in Wrexham yesterday (Friday) to see the support available to people trying to balance rising energy costs with putting food on the table, Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt said: “The cost-of-living crisis is having a devastating impact on people in Wales. 

“Today, nearly half of all households in Wales are at risk of falling into fuel poverty. This is deeply shocking. 

“We are investing an extra £4m in the Fuel Bank Foundation to roll-out a national scheme that covers the whole of Wales and supports people most in need. 

“This extra help is for people on pre-payment meters and for those who are not on mains gas or electricity – both ignored by the Chancellor in his latest package.” 

The extra funding and target support comes as households across Wales are struggling to pay higher energy bills, exacerbated by the increase in the domestic energy cap rise in April. People with prepayment meters are the most susceptible to rising costs and increased standing charges. 

Those on default tariffs paying by direct debit have seen a typical average household energy bill increase by £693 a year, while people on prepayment meters have been hardest hit, with increases of £708 a year. 

Households not connected to the mains gas network are also suffering from rising fuel costs and being forced into fuel poverty, with approximately one in 10 households reliant on heating oil in Wales. 

Many have reported the cost of heating oil has more than doubled over the past two months. A delivery of 500 litres normally costing approximately £340 can in some regions now cost upwards of £750.

AONB team to lead Panorama walk

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB team has organised a leisurely amble around the Panorama Walk overlooking the picturesque Vale of Llangollen. 

People taking part in the four-mile walk on Friday June 17, from 10am-2pm, will be encouraged to be on the lookout for some of the wildlife and geology that make the Panorama so special and also learn about some of the pressures the area is experiencing from visitors. 

It is hoped walkers will spot peregrine falcons, plenty of plant life, insects and even hear a cuckoo.

The Panorama is part of an internationally important designated area called the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation which represents the largest tract of upland dry heath in Wales. 

It’s part of the Ruabon/Llantysilio Mountains & Minera Site of Special Scientific Interest designated for its upland heather moorland, upland birds, calcareous grasslands, geology, caves and bat species. 

The rolling heather moors contrasts strongly with the dramatic limestone cliffs, screes and disused quarry workings of the Eglwyseg.

A unique species of Whitebeam tree grows on the limestone cliffs and nowhere else in the world.

The Panorama is a working landscape shaped through the management of the land by generations of landowners, farmers and their livestock. 

Working with the farmers and visitors, the AONB says it hopes to protect the special qualities of the landscape and wildlife for the wellbeing of future generations. 

* If you would like to join the walk, register a place by emailing: our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk

Meet at laybyon Blackwood Rd, approx. 200m north from Panorama Walk cattle grid towards Prospect Place. Grid Reference: SJ 24846 42900. What 3 Words location: opera.chose.delighted.

The walk will cover approximately four miles over uneven ground.

Senedd Member calls for Welsh NHS improvements

Member of the Senedd Ken Skates has set out the steps he believes the Welsh Government should take to improve health services in north Wales. 

The Clwyd South MS called on Health Minister Eluned Morgan to commission independent assessments of the short-term impact and future benefits of splitting Betsi Cadwaladr, which is Wales’ largest health board. 

He also called for the creation of a People’s Panel in the north to scrutinise and shape what the future of the NHS in the region and repeated his belief that the new Citizens Voice Body, which will represent the voices and opinions of the people of Wales on health and social care matters, should be based in the north. 

Mr Skates was speaking in a Senedd debate on Wednesday (June 8), in which the Conservatives called for BCUHB to be put back into special measures. 

He said: “There is no doubt that health provision is the single biggest issue of concern to people in north Wales right now, and by some distance. And, whilst the vast majority of people in the region would doubtlessly applaud the phenomenal and tireless efforts of the healthcare workforce, there is considerable concern over service provision and outcomes. 

“The Conservative motion sees a different set of special measures as the answer to the health board's failings. The Plaid amendment offers reorganisation as the answer. 

“I’ve considered both really, really carefully, and I do feel that both are worthy of further investigation and also an open-minded response. But I can also appreciate the likely response to both, that now is not the right time to reorganise and that we have an established process for placing specific services and entire boards into special measures.” 

Mr Skates continued: “I'd make the following suggestions. Firstly, conduct some form of a truth review to completely look at the special measures process as a means of delivering improvement. If special measures arrangements are found to be deficient in any way, then let's move to revise them. 

“Secondly, conduct a truly independent assessment of the real and likely short-term impacts of reorganisation on service outcomes. Let's have our eyes opened to the likely short-term consequences before examining the long-term possible benefits of reorganisation. Deciding on whether to embark on such a journey should be informed by the long-term potential benefits, but also by the short-term impact on services and outcomes. 

“Thirdly, I'd recommend establishing, without delay, a People's Panel in the north to interrogate the challenges and all possible solutions. A People's Panel could offer, I think, an objective, informed, depoliticised and citizen-led view of what needs to change. 

“And fourthly, let's improve communications and transparency, establish an easily accessible online data dashboard for the seven health board areas so that the public can see how their services compare to other parts of Wales in terms of outcomes. 

"We can't be back in again in six or 12 months having the same debate. I'd implore the Minister to consider all constructive suggestions, such as those that I've offered, in order to restore public confidence in health services in north Wales." 

Mr Skates also tabled a Statement of Opinion this week – seeking support of other Members – proposing that the Senedd:  

·       Calls for the new Citizen Voice Body for Health and Social Care (CVB) to be headquartered in North Wales.

·       Believes that locating the CVB headquarters in the North would demonstrate an early commitment by the organisation to decentralisation.

·       Further call on the CVB to guarantee citizens that it will serve all parts of Wales equally by having fair representation of each of the health board areas at an executive and board level.