County council puts out message about waste collection

Denbighshire County Council has put out a message about waste collection in the present wintry weather conditions on its social media page this afternoon (Tuesday).

It says: "Due to the adverse weather conditions at the moment, it may not be possible for Denbighshire County Council to collect household waste on your usual collection day.

"We are asking that if your bin is not emptied on your usual collection day, that you present your containers by 7am the following day, and we will empty them as soon as we can."

Nine weeks of major resurfacing work planned for A483

Major resurfacing works lasting for nine weeks are to take place on the A483 trunk route starting next month.

According to Traffic Wales, the agency responsible, the work is necessary to replace the road surface that has reached the end of its serviceable life from south of J7 Rossett to the Wales/England border.

The majority of works will be carried out under contraflow which will allow the A483 to remain open to one lane of traffic in either direction.

There will be full overnight closures at certain times to install and dismantle the traffic management system.

The programme of work is:

Week 1 (Sun 05/02/23 – Sat 11/02/23) 

February 5th and 6th

• Daytime single lane closures in both directions. 
• Overnight single lane closure northbound.
• Full overnight closure of the southbound carriageway, including Junction 7 southbound slip roads. Local diversion in place.

February 7th onwards

• 24hr contraflow, with one lane in each direction. Junction 7 northbound on and off slips will be closed during this time.

February 9th and 10th

•   24 hour traffic lights on Junction 7 Rossett Interchange roundabout. 

Week 2 (Sun 12/02/23 – Sat 18/02/23)  

February 12th to 18th  

• 24 hour contraflow, with one lane in each direction. Junction 7 northbound on and off slips will be closed during this time.

Week 3 (Sun 19/02/23 – Sat 25/02/23)  

February 19th to 25th  

• 24 hour contraflow, with one lane in each direction. Junction 7 northbound on and off slips will be closed during this time.

February 23rd and 25th

• Traffic lights on Junction 7 Rossett Interchange roundabout during the daytime.

The slip road closure diversions will be:

• Junction 7 northbound off slip closure traffic will be diverted via the A55 J38 and back in the contraflow to Junction 7.
• Junction 7 northbound on slip closure traffic will be diverted via the A483 J6 and back in the contraflow to Junction 7.
• Junction 7 southbound off slip traffic will be diverted via the A483 J6 and back in the contraflow to Junction 7.
• Junction 7 southbound on slip traffic will be diverted via the A55 J38 and back in the contraflow to Junction 7.

* For further information go, contact Traffic Wales on 0300 123 1213 or via Twitter @TrafficWalesN

Police issue road safety warning for sub-zero conditions

North Wales Police have issued a weather safety warning for people using the roads this morning (Tuesday).

With below-zero temperatures in the region they say on social media: "TAKE CARE! Road conditions are currently very poor across parts of North Wales due to the ice and snow.

"Unfortunately, we have already received several reports of road traffic collisions.

"Take extra caution on your journey this morning."

Llan-based specialist offers free advice on handling business risks

Running a business can bring with it all kinds of risks but a Llangollen-based expert is offering free advice on how to overcome them. 

Selana Kong, managing director of the International Dispute Resolution and Risk Management UK Centre (IDRRM UK), is on the list of experienced mediators and business strategists hosting a free lunchtime webinar later this month aimed at helping people deal with the increased uncertainties, risks, and costs of running a business in the UK today. 

Selana said: “During the webinar we will show you how she resolves disputes with parties through mediation. 

“You will learn tips in conflict management and negotiation. This webinar is ideal for international executives, UK newcomers, legal professionals, coaches, board directors, and anyone who has a general interest in mediation.  

“Our confirmed speakers are Doctor Francis Law, chairman of IDRRMI, Mrs Karen Cheung Dyer,  HKMAAL Accredited Mediator and Doctor Andrew Goodman, a CEDR Accredited International Commercial Mediator. 

“The webinar is on Wednesday January 25 at 1pm. You can register for it at 

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdeyupjosGNGqHSiJ_w0kgycA7MOVO77t

First snowfall of year leaves castle with light covering

* The first snowfall of the year brought a light covering to the castle this morning, as these photographs show. 

Cancer Research Christmas quiz raises record amount

According to the organiser, this year's Cancer Research UK Christmas Quiz proved very popular with more sheets than ever being returned and a record sum of £831.37 being raised for the charity.  

Judith Smith said: "Our grateful thanks to everyone who supported us.

"For the first time we had four absolutely correct answer sheets, and with only three prizes to give, had to bring in the proverbial hat.  

"The brilliant four who returned those perfect answers were Keith Stacey of Newport, Gwent; Jane Hurle of Llangollen; Kathryn Dunn of Llangollen and Will Craven of Ponthir, South Wales.

"Many congratulations to them, but there were so many more hard on their heels.  

"Ben McDonald of Bristol scored 49 ½, and behind him came 5 people with 49 – the Hindle family of Ponthir, Keith and Pat Campbell of Northampton, Helen Watson of Cleobury North, Fiona Black of Poynton, and Chris Potter of Llangollen.  

"In truth it was most impressive that so many of you scored so very highly this year.  A big pat on the back for everyone – and please come back for more next December."

Answers are:

Mammals

21           Good fodder   (4)                                                               Goat

22           Work hard   (6)                                                                   Beaver

23           Before rate changes   (8)                                                    Anteater

24           Sounds like a shy bear?   (5)                                              Coypu

25           Lament over awful childhood illness   (9)                         Porcupine

Birds

26           Pastime   (5)                                                                     Hobby

27           Italian river in an empty dish   (4,3)                                 Barn Owl

28           Cowardly end of a joker   (6,7)                                         Yellow Wagtail

29           Grumble   (6)                                                                    Grouse

30           This bird sank teeth into another   (7)                              Bittern

Fish

31           Russian bulldog?   (3,7)                                                   Red Snapper

32           Alien on an island   (6)                                                     Mullet

33           Get river out of the ditch   (5)                                          Tench

34           Taken for a ride on a harbour   (7)                                   Haddock

35           Fantastic!   (5)                                                                  Brill

Trees

36           Reversing the floor covering is chancy   (8)                    Tamarisk

37           Senior statesman   (5)                                                       Elder

38           Assassinated PM reconstructed   (5)                                Maple (PM Olof Palme of Sweden assassinated 1986)

39           Hear a sheep?   (3)                                                            Yew

40           Longing for Aberdeen?   (5,4)                                           Scots Pine

Insects

41           Medical officers going to Ecuador   (8)                           Mosquito

42           Bird meets fish   (9)                                                          Cockroach

43           Fair play   (7)                                                                     Cricket

44           Irritate Romeo   (6)                                                            Chafer

45           Timeless dwarf   (5)                                                            Midge

Wild flowers

46           Turning problem needs an article   (6)                             Yarrow

47           Maybe a fur coat?   (5,6)                                                   Lady’s Mantle

48           Current physician in appeasement   (8)                            Snowdrop

49           Savage without direction (6)                                             Violet

50           Edge fastener   (7)                                                              Hemlock

 

Senedd Member wants more support for 'fantastic' councillors

* North Wales Senedd Member Sam Rowlands.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for more support for "our fantastic councillors". 

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, highlighted the "great work" being carried out by councillors despite the demands of the job and the issues they face.

But he also highlighted the "abhorrent bad behaviour and abuse" that many of them receive.

 

In responding to a statement by the Finance and Local Government Minister, Rebecca Evans, ‘Diversity in Democracy—Survey Results’ he said: “The decisions councillors make have that real-life impact on our communities across Wales as a whole, and on this side of the benches we certainly welcome support being provided to our fantastic councillors and applaud their efforts to best represent their communities.

 

“There are just three points I'd like to pick up and expand on. You outlined the work that's being done to ensure more flexibility for council meetings. It is crucially important that our local councillors don't lose the focus of the in-person nature of representation as well. 

"Often, some of the best work is undertaken in person. Regretfully, a number of councillors in Wales still aren't meeting flexibly—they're insisting to only meet online and seemingly taking advantage of this way of meeting, which, in my view, does put limits on democratic involvement."

He added: "In terms of improving democracy and diversity in democracy, one of the biggest areas of opportunity, is in working with employers to enable their staff to carry out their role as councillors. 

"For my 14 years as a councillor, 10 of those I held a full-time job, but I was lucky to work for a company that saw the benefits of my role as a councillor and allowed me the flexibility to carry out both of those roles. Regretfully, many organisations still don't understand these benefits.

“The second point is the abhorrent bad behaviour and abuse that many councillors and candidates receive. There is a risk that abuse becomes normalised and is seen as part of the job, which we must not allow to happen as it really puts people off standing for election and certainly has an impact on diversity in our councils. 

“The final point is in relation to the level of commitment from many of our councillors. As mentioned in the public survey, 63% of councillors indicated that they were available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is a great commitment and a reflection of their work. 

"But I would argue it is a difficult expectation to sustain and this expectation makes it very difficult for councillors and prospective councillors to juggle family life, a career, and then also representing their community.”

Mr Rowlands urged the Minister, for more support for councillors and to ensure younger people, who want to become councillors, or who are councillors, had a fair expectation of the time and energy they need to commit to the role.