MP highlights importance of step-free Ruabon station

* Simon Baynes MP speaking at the Westminster Hall debate. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has highlighted the importance of step-free access at Ruabon Railway Station.

He spoke during a Westminster Hall debate on the importance of North Wales transport infrastructure.

Minister for Railways in the Department for Transport, Huw Merriman, attended the debate and said he looked forward to visiting Ruabon with Mr Baynes. 

This follows a visit by the former Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, to Ruabon Station last year.

Speaking in the debate, Mr Baynes said: “I am very pleased that in September this year, following the Department for Transport’s call for nominations, Ruabon was nominated, along with my written support, for inclusion in the next round of the Access For All programme, Control Period 7, which I understand will begin in April 2024 and last for five years.”

He said later: “I was very pleased to raise the importance of step-free access as Ruabon Station directly to the Transport Minister recently, and to invite him to visit the station with me later in the year where I will make the positive case for step-free access, which will allow all passengers to access the jobs and leisure opportunities, making our community an even greater place to live and work. 

"Many representatives, organisations and residents in Ruabon have been campaigning for step-free access at Ruabon Station for several years and I was very pleased to be able to highlight the importance of our campaign to UK Government representatives in person.”

Campaigner gives update on local recycling campaign

     * Plas Madoc Recycling Centre.

Phil Jones, the man behind the on-going campaign to see Llangollen people secure easier access to recycling facilities has given his latest update on the situation. He writes: 

"Recycling; the quest for a service.

It;s been quite a while since I posted an update and you may be wondering if we will ever get access to the Plas Madoc recycling site.

In the last local Government elections we voted in two new County Councillors who stood on a platform to get a proper recycling service re-established in the Dee Valley. Councillor Karen Edwards has been working hard to move progress on this issue. 

Discussions are underway between Denbighshire CC officers and their counter-parts in Wrexham to establish the cost to DCC for this service provision by our neighbouring Council. 

Discussions within the Council begin at this time of year to establish how services will be funded in the coming financial year. Karen Edwards is working to make sure that a costed proposal is prepared in good time to be included in this process. Any proposal which may be agreed will require formal approval by both Councils.

Will we see access to Plas Madoc next April? Well, I am sure we will have to fight for our right to a fair service and we will be reminding the Council that over 1000 people have signed the petition."  

Council officers are moving ahead with more plans for changes to household waste services and building a new depot in Denbigh. 

Whilst finding money for these ideas they seem to have forgotten the fact that years ago when they closed our site at Wenffrwd without public consultation, they were tasked by Councillors to get an access agreement for Plas Madoc. This priority was quietly disregarded in favour of other plans in the north of the County. Its time we reminded them they failed to deliver on what was expected of them.

Roadworks planned for Regent Street

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Regent Street, Denbighshire 27 November - 27 November   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Traffic control (two-way signals)   Description: REPLACE TEMPORARY REINSTATEMENT WITH PERMANENT...   Works location: OUTSIDE NUMBER 20   Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: XY254004000173258

A483 Ruabon junction improvements raised in Senedd

The issue of improvements to the A483 in the Wrexham area has been raised in the Senedd. 

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates called for an update on the Welsh Government’s review of the key local route yesterday (Wednesday) – and said work to make Junction 1 at Ruabon safer was vital. 

In 2018, while Economy and Transport Minister, Mr Skates announced funding for work to improve junctions 3 to 6 on the A483. The Welsh Government, however, later paused all new road projects and said they would be reviewed. 

Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, is now responsible for transport. In the Senedd yesterday, he said: “The roads review panel has submitted its final report to the Welsh Government about its findings, and this includes the A483 junctions 3 to 6 improvements. I will be making a further announcement on the next steps of the roads review by the end of the month.” 

Mr Skates has recently spoken of his concerns that congestion at several junctions on the dual carriageway has led to increased traffic on local roads. One example raised by parents is the spike in traffic on the road outside St Mary’s School in Ruabon. 

He said: “Junction 1 at Ruabon was not included in the roads review and therefore work on improving that junction has not been paused, and it’s for good reason. That particular junction is utterly lethal and has created a congestion canyon right up the A483, with resulting carbon emissions increases. 

“And, of course, it’s also sending motorists onto local roads, again putting lives at risk, particularly schoolchildren. Would you agree to visit the A483 and to meet with community leaders, and can you outline what progress has been made in the past year on work to improve junction 1 on the A483?” 

The Minister responded:“The proposals that have been put forward by the local council for junction 1 would involve a large remodelling of the junction, which would be carbon intensive and would increase road capacity. So, this is relevant to the recommendations we’re anticipating from the roads review about future road schemes. 

“There’s always a case for individual schemes. The cumulative impact of that is to add to traffic volumes. So, we do need to think very carefully. That said, where there are traffic problems there need to be solutions, and one of the themes in the roads review is how future roads can be made compliant with existing policies on climate change, transport, and planning. 

“So, when we produce the results, in the areas where we accept the recommendations of the review not to go ahead with a road, we will want to work with the local authority and other partners to see what else can be done in that case. I’m not able to preannounce what’s decided – largely because we haven’t yet decided – but we’ll be updating Members in the coming weeks on the next steps.” 

Mr Skates is due to meet Wrexham Council officers next week to discuss the problems with increased traffic around Ruabon and the concerns of parents at St Mary’s School.

Support Group still in need of Christmas donations for families

The volunteers dedicated to ensuring families facing tough times have a happy Christmas say they still need more help from the community.

Llangollen Support Group has teamed up with Llangollen Food Share to collect various items to help ease the seasonal spending burden.

In a joint post on its Facebook page the Support Group, headed by ace fundraiser Cat Meade, says: "Thank you to those who have donated so far.  

"We are supporting a lot more families this year and need your help.

"We have had some lovely donations so far but lots more needed please - children's books and toys that are new, handmade gifts, hats/scarves, choccy treats/ tins of biscuits, gift sets, socks.

"Donations can be dropped to Wingetts Llangollen between 9am and 5pm. Cash donations are accepted and we will shop and wrap.

"Please support so all can have a Christmas gift."

Free After Three Christmas parking scheme launched

* Market Street, Llangollen is one of the local car parks included in Free After Three until December 31.

As part of its annual #lovelivelocal campaign, Denbighshire County Council will once again be offering free parking in its car parks after 3pm until December 31.

The #lovelivelocal campaign encourages more people to shop locally and support local traders and businesses, and the council’s ‘Free After Three’ initiative will provide free parking in most council-run car parks, including four in Llangollen.

The campaign aims to encourage people to spend their money in Denbighshire, whilst encouraging shoppers and businesses to use their social media channels to share their positive experiences using the #lovelivelocal hashtag – the more people are out and about doing their shopping, and telling everyone about it, the better the atmosphere for everyone as Christmas approaches.

Car parks included in the initiative are:

Llangollen: East Street, Hall Street, Market Street, Mill Street

Corwen: Green Lane car park

Denbigh: Barkers Well Lane car park, Crown Lane car park, Factory Ward, Post Office Lane, Vale Street

Prestatyn: King's Avenue, Lower High Street, Prestatyn railway station

Rhuddlan: Parliament Street

Rhyl: Central, Morley Road, Rhyl library (disabled bays only), Rhyl railway station, Sky Tower car park, Rhyl Town Hall, West Kinmel Street. Morfa Hall private car park, Rhyl, is not included in the initiative.

Ruthin: Crispin Yard (Cae Ddol), Dog Lane, Market Street, Park Road, Rhos Street, St Peter's Square, Troed y Rhiw

St Asaph: Bowling Green

Cllr Barry Mellor, lead member for environment and transport, said: “Free After Three has proved popular in previous years because it is a great scheme that enables residents to support their local communities, and every little helps with the current cost of living issues faced by all of us.

“We hope that everyone supports our local high streets and back our businesses, especially in the run-up to Christmas and take full advantage of the benefits of the scheme by using the county’s town centre car parks free of charge.”

* For further information visit: Free parking after 3pm | Denbighshire County Council

Officer injured after police car in A539 collision

The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting that an officer was taken to hospital after a collision involving a police car in Trevor yesterday (Tuesday).

* For the full story, see: Trevor: Officer taken to hospital after crash involving police car | Denbighshire Free Press