llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in about a week's time.
Monday, June 27, 2022
Calls for UK Government to back Ruabon station lifts
* Ken with Cllr Dana Davies and former Clwyd South
MP Susan Elan Jones at Ruabon station.
Community
leaders have called on the UK Government to finally back the long-running
campaign for lifts at Ruabon Station.
Member of the Senedd Ken Skates was notified this week that Network Rail will nominate the Ruabon project for the next round of the UK Government’s Access for All programme, and was quick to declare his support.
But the final say will come down to the UK Government, which has already stopped the project in its tracks twice by refusing to match the Welsh Government’s capital investment.
The local MS and Ruabon councillor Dana Davies have worked alongside the Friends of Ruabon to campaign for improved access at the station.
The
Welsh Government wants lifts installed to help people with mobility issues, families
with young children and commuters carrying heavy luggage move between
platforms, but the UK Government had twice refused to contribute to the costs
even though the work comes under Westminster’s remit.
Welsh Ministers have asked the UK Department for Transport to urgently prioritise work at Ruabon – with First Minister Mark Drakeford a keen supporter of the plans.
Clwyd
South MS Mr Skates said: “It has been well documented that the Welsh Labour
Government has twice before put money on the table for this long-awaited work
to go ahead, even though it’s not a devolved area, and I know the Friends of
Ruabon – and many other local people – have been extremely frustrated by the
slow progress and false dawns.
“I
have submitted a letter of support to Network Rail and I’m 100% behind this.
The Friends of Ruabon and local campaigners can’t do any more, and the Welsh
Government can’t do any more. The First Minister has even asked the UK
Department for Transport to prioritise this work. We’ve done all we can – now
it’s over the UK Government.”
Cllr
Davies said: “Some years ago when the Welsh Government first committed to
funding half of the project, we celebrated – we thought it was a done deal! We
didn’t think there was any way the UK Government would refuse to fund half the
cost of such an important project, particularly one it should be paying for in
full.”
While
transport is devolved to Wales, responsibility for track, station infrastructure and signalling remains
with the UK Government. Over the past 20 years, Wales has received less than
2% of the £100bn+ that that UK Government has spent on rail enhancement –
despite having 5% of the population and 11% of the track miles.
In 2017, former Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones presented a petition to Parliament on behalf of the Friends of Ruabon calling for action from the UK Government. And in an attempt to incentivise the UK Government to invest in Welsh stations, including Ruabon, the Welsh Government had offered to match-fund vital upgrades. But the UK Government had twice decided against funding for Ruabon, most recently in February 2020.
A factual briefing requested by Mr Skates from the Welsh Government stated: “Welsh Government, following detailed discussions with the rail industry on investment priorities, has twice submitted Ruabon Station as a priority nomination for UK Government investment in step-free access under the non-devolved Access for All programme.
“The first was a request for a new replacement
bridge with lifts, the second for a reduced cost alternative whereby lifts
could be fitted to the existing structure. On both occasions, the strong case
made for Ruabon was not accepted by the UK Government.”
New round of Loneliness and Social Isolation Grants announced
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Denbighshire Council for Voluntary Service in partnership with Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government has announced a new round of the Loneliness and Social Isolation Grant. Loneliness and social isolation can be experienced by anyone of any age and any background. It is required that the funding awarded is used to meet one or more of the following
criteria:
Grants for individual projects are available for the financial years of 2022-2023
and 2023-2024 for up to £5,000 per year. You can apply for one or two years
of funding. Information for Applicants:
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Sunday, June 26, 2022
Roadwork alert for Queen Street
Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:
28 June - 30 June
Delays likely - Traffic
control (two-way signals)
Description: MJ
QUINN TO RENEW JOINT BOX OR FRAME AND COVER...
Works location: AT
JUNCTION OF BUTLERS HILL AND QUEEN 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: BC006MQONSAWN0SRWD5L183F
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Update on cost of living support payments in Denbighshire
Denbighshire County Council has administered over £3.2 million of cost of living support payments being funded by Welsh Government.
A total of 21,535 people in the county have already
received the one off £150 payment. The Welsh Government’s Cost of Living
Support Scheme is in place to help residents with cost of living increases and
payments will be made to those with properties in Council Tax bands A-D.
Payments will also be made to residents who
were in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Scheme Support on February 15, 2022,
irrespective of the Council Tax Band, and those with properties in Council Tax
Band E where the property has had modifications for disability, reducing the
chargeable value to Band D.
Now the Council is encouraging other residents
to apply for the funds and an email or text message will be sent to people where the Council
has their contact details and a mailshot is being issued to all other
qualifying residents, inviting them to apply.
* Applications
can be made on the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/costofliving.
Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Cabinet Lead Member
for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “The Council is
administering this scheme on behalf of the Welsh Government and we have been
working as quickly as possible to make these payments to our customers.
“Many people have already received payments,
but we want to make sure that all those eligible for the payments submit their
applications as quickly as possible.
“Payments will be made automatically to the
majority of residents paying via direct debit, with the remainder of customers
needing to complete a short form on the Council’s website.
“The cost of
living continues to challenge all of us it is vitally important that our
residents claim what is due to them and I would encourage people to apply for
the support payment.”
Friday, June 24, 2022
Llangollen Round raises record £100,000 for cancer charity
* From left, Llangollen Round organisers Sandra Woodhall and Judy Smith, Nadine Isaacs of Cancer Research UK, and organiser Jason Morley.
The fourth Llangollen Round Challenge, held last month, has raised a record £100,000 for a cancer charity.
And the often gruelling 35-mile run/walk through the beautiful yet tough terrain of the hills surrounding the town, which can be completed in either one or two days, saw another record set for the route being completed in the fastest time.
Volunteers and friends of the challenge who met for a post-event gathering at The Hand Hotel yesterday (Thursday) were given the full facts of the highly successful event by one of its long-time volunteers, Trevor Jeffries.
He said that since being launched in 2012 by members of the Llangollen Ramblers group and based roughly on the Alpine Walk Tour of Mont Blanc, the amount raised for Cancer Research UK by the challenge had climbed from £33,000 to over £100,000 this year.
* Trevor Jeffries gives fellow volunteers a report on this year's Round Challenge.
The 2022 challenge, on the last weekend in May, had attracted over 600 entries from across the UK and abroad and saw 238 walkers or runners finishing it in a single day with another 189 completing it in two.
A fresh record was set when the first person back at the event's Llangollen Leisure Centre base was certified to have covered the whole 35 miles in just seven hours.
The fastest woman completed it in just seven hours and 34 minutes.
As usual, a small army of over 80 volunteers manned checkpoints along the route, where those taking part were served with water supplied free by local businesses and cakes presented by home bakers in the area.
More helpers were back at base checking in participants and handing out their times.
Trevor Jeffries read out a series of messages organisers had received from participants describing in glowing terms their enjoyment of the event and the way it had been organised.
One said: "Thank you so much, organisers and volunteers, really great day out and all for a great cause - after the views and people and flapjack the highlight was a high five from the town crier!"
And another wrote: "What an amazing weekend. It's definitely not for the faint-hearted but with persistence and determination I managed to complete it, over two days mind you."
"Thank you so much for this year's event. My daughter and I loved the Saturday one-day round even though we both cried a lot at the end," said another.
There was special thanks - and a presentation - to the "dynamic trio" of Sandra Woodhall, Judy Smith and Jason Morley who organised the challenge.
And Nadine Isaacs, relationship manager (North Wales) at Cancer Research UK, said: "It's lovely to be here this evening to celebrate the huge success of the Llangollen Round Challenge.
"Forty years ago the cancer survival rate was one in four. Today it is two in four but Cancer Research UK's mission is to reduce this further to three in four.
"Without the support we receive from fundraisers such as you we could not continue with our research."
Council promotes county's overnight stay businesses
With another busy staycation season expected, Denbighshire County Council is promoting the county’s businesses providing overnight stays and parking.
A number of businesses have signed up to be included on the North East Wales tourism website and in printed brochures which are now available across the region.
The work also supports the council’s #LoveLiveLocal campaign which encourages people to support our local businesses.
Councillor Win Mullen James, Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “Denbighshire offers visitors a wide range of experiences with everything from stunning countryside and market towns to seaside resorts and centuries of rich heritage to explore.
“There are a number of fantastic businesses in the county that offer overnight stays and facilities for motorhomes and campervans. We are encouraging those visiting to make use of these sites to enhance your stay in Denbighshire.
“Visitors can plan their trips in the safe knowledge they can book a place and turn up to park in a location that is easy, on the route, and offers a warm welcome.
“Last year we saw visitors flock to the area as restrictions were lifted and we developed Denbighshire’s Destination Management Plan in partnership with tourism businesses to coordinate activity to ensure a positive experience for visitors, residents and businesses.
“Tourism contributes £552million a year to Denbighshire’s economy and we want people to come to Denbighshire this summer and return again year after year, so it is important we make the county safe and welcoming to visitors while giving residents confidence that they remain safe.”
* You can find the list of site at https://www.northeastwales.wales/tourist-information/motorhome-parking-in-north-east-wales
Businesses
offering motorhome parking can be included in this list by contacting tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk
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