County council sends out rogue trader warning

Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards Team are warning residents about rogue traders and doorstep crime and advising people on what to do if they suspect that they have been approached by a rogue trader.

Rogue traders can affect anyone, but often elderly and vulnerable people are targeted by offering home improvement services.

Callers may offer services such as window/gutter cleaning, path and driveway repairs, roofing or building work, gardening and tree maintenance or roof moss removal and can come across as being likeable pleasant individuals but can quickly become forceful and very persuasive once they start their sales pitch. Scare tactics about leaking gutters causing damp and roots of trees damaging foundations are often used and it can be very easy to be taken in by these individuals.

The Council is urging Denbighshire residents to make themselves aware of legitimate trading practices when buying goods and services in their own homes and promoting the simple message of “If in doubt, keep them out” when considering whether to allow a trader into their home or to start any work.

They are also advising that if you suspect that you have been approached by a rogue trader to report them by calling the police on 101, or if a rogue trader has taken money from you, is in your home or still in the local area, to call 999.

Cllr Win Mullen-Jones, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “Rogue traders and doorstep crime pose a risk, particularly to elderly and vulnerable residents in Denbighshire and so it’s important that people know what to do if they suspect that a trader who has visited their home is trading improperly. If you are approached by a trader at home that you suspect may be rogue, do not allow them access to your property, always remember ‘If in doubt, keep them out’.

“If a trader calls and states they have seen issues or faults to your home, seek the opinion of another trader first. Don’t fall for the scare tactics, pressure sales or price reductions, remember that genuine callers will not mind waiting or returning after you have had time to check their information.

“We strongly encourage residents to familiarise themselves with the Council’s guidance on rogue traders and doorstep crime by visiting our designated webpage.”

* Further information and advice about rogue traders and doorstep crime, as well as information about legitimate doorstep trading practices can be found on the Denbighshire County Council website: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/licences-permits-and-trading-standards/trading-standards/doorstep-and-workplace-sales.aspx

MS reveals fears over 20mph limit as sign on A539 painted over

* The new 20mph road sign on the A539 approach to Llangollen has been daubed with black paint.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says he is worried about a further crackdown on speed limits in Wales. 

Mr Rowlands, a harsh critic of the new default 20mph speed limit, which was rolled out on September 17, is urging people to keep signing a petition against the "disastrous" law.

He said: “The petition against this ridiculous policy is heading towards 400,000 signatures and continuing to grow but still Welsh Government will not listen. However, I do feel we must continue the battle. 

“I remain extremely concerned about the whole business and feel so sorry for drivers who are suffering because of this legislation. 

“My inbox is overflowing with angry and frustrated people complaining about the new speed limit and how it is like driving in a funeral procession on our streets. 

“I even spoke to one woman who said one of her pleasures was to go for a drive and that has now been taken away from her because of confusing road signs, constant changing of gears and braking because of cars going so slowly through our towns. 

“I will be supporting a vote of no confidence in Mark Drakeford’s Transport Minister, Lee Waters.  The disregard the Labour Party have shown for the genuine concern and frustration of people across Wales is staggering. 

“The Labour Party have even admitted to more 20mph speed changes over the coming months and I fear this is just the tip of the iceberg and he has further speed limit changes on the horizon, with 40mph, 50mph and national speed limits being reviewed. 

“All of which is bad news for motorists and will certainly not encourage people to come to Wales.”

In the Senedd this Wednesday (27/09/23), the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a vote of no confidence in the Deputy Minister for Climate Change given the record-breaking number of signatories to the petition.

The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads: 

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Has no confidence in the Deputy Minister for Climate Change given the record-breaking number of signatories to the petition: 'We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law'.

 

Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

Queen Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 September - 29 September   Roadworks, Delays possible   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: PARKING VAN TO UNDERTAKE MANHOLE SURVEY OFF HIGHWAY   Works location: OPP 5 QUEEN STREET, LLANGOLLEN   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 Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PE24870952354       Queen Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 September - 29 September   Roadworks, Delays possible   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: PARKING VAN TO UNDERTAKE MANHOLE SURVEY OFF HIGHWAY   Works location: STAR INN, QUEEN STREET. LLANGOLLEN   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 Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PE24870952359       Bridge Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 September - 29 September   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: PARKING VAN TO UNDERTAKE MANHOLE SURVEY OFF HIGHWAY   Works location: NEAR 25 BRIDGE STREET, LLANGOLLEN   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 Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: PE24870952355       Butlers Hill, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 September - 29 September   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: MANHOLE SURVEY   Works location: NEAR MIN NANT, BUTLERS HILL, LLANGOLLEN   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 Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: PE24870952353       Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 September - 29 September   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: PARKING VAN TO UNDERTAKE MANHOLE SURVEY OFF HIGHWAY   Works location: BETWEEN 7 AND 11, CHURCH STREET, LLANGOLLEN   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 Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PE24870952357       Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 September - 29 September   Roadworks, Delays unlikely   Traffic management: Some carriageway incursion   Description: PARKING VAN TO UNDERTAKE MANHOLE SURVEY OFF HIGHWAY   Works location: OPPOSITE HAND HOTEL, CHURCH STREET, LLANGOLLEN   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 Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PE24870952356

Roadworks alert for Berwyn Street

 

Latest roadworks alert from one.network is:

Berwyn Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 25 September - 25 September   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Description: CCTV cameras and power supplies urgently required on columns DCL205+209 to monitor the current issues with the new traffic signals   Works location: A5, Llangollen   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 NMWTRA/SWTRA.   Responsibility for works: NMWTRA/SWTRA   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PD50123263143650175

Llangollen people can use Plas Madoc tip from next month

* Llangollen people will be able to use Plas Madoc household waste recycling site from next month following an agreement between Denbighshire and Wrexham councils.

llanblogger exclusive

Campaigners for Llangollen to have a more convenient household waste facility have scored a major breakthrough with news that local people will be able to use the Plas Madoc tip from next month. 

Ever since the town lost its own refuse site at Wenffrwd years ago and Wrexham banned Llangollen people from using Plas Madoc, they have been faced with a 32-mile round trip to the nearest Denbighshire tip in Ruthin. 

The alternative has been to use the temporary ‘pop-up’ recycling facility set up for a few hours on the Pavilion car park on Saturday mornings but even this was halted during the Covid lockdowns.   

* The Saturday morning 'pop-up' recycling facility on the Pavilion car park. 

Over a thousand people have signed a petition, organised by campaigner Phil Jones, demanding that Llangollen should have a more convenient recycling facility. And the question became a campaign issue at the last county council election. 

Now word has come from Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates that Denbighshire has negotiated a deal with Wrexham enabling Llangollen people to use Plas Madoc from October. 

The breakthrough is revealed in a letter to Mr Skates from Simon Lammond,  Denbighshire’s Waste and Recycling Manager, the contents of which have been shared with llanblogger by Mr Skates. 

The relevant part says: “We have reached formal agreement with Wrexham CBC to enable Llangollen residents to access to the HWRC (Household Waste Recycling Centre) at Plas Madoc this will provide: 

• Increased number of available booking slots 208 a month initially as opposed to current 128 available for residents of Llangollen (will be subject to constant review dependant on demand) .
• More flexibility providing booking slots every day, not just between 9 and 11am on third and fourth Saturday of each month.
• Plas Madoc HWRC is a managed site ensuring the health and safety of all its users as a controlled environment.
• Plas Madoc HWRC has the capacity to increase recycling rates, through the process of checking and removing recyclable items that have been placed in the residual waste stream.
• Initially residents will be able to take residual and green waste and we are working with Wrexham to provide additional streams once the relevant processes are in place.
• Residents who turn up with chargeable waste will be turned away as the case at Denbighshire’s own sites
• As now residents with bulky items can either take them to one of the DCC HWRC sites listed on our website or use the bulky collection service provided by the council.
• The financial costs for the new service is in line with the exiting budget for the Llangollen pop-up service whilst providing an improved service and ensuring all material is treated and recorded in accordance with legislation. 

“We have a further meeting with Wrexham to iron out some of the operational detail, but we anticipate a start date for this new service in early October 2023, once confirmed we will communicate with local Cllrs, community groups and via our web pages. During the transition period DCC will maintain the existing pop-up service for two months.” 

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards, a strong supporter of a deal with Wrexham over Plas Madoc, said: “The establishment of a new agreement between DCC and WCBC to facilitate access to the Plas Madoc recycling facility for residents of the Dee Valley corrects a long-standing issue arising from the closure of the Council’s Wenffrwdd waste facility. 

“This is a great example of collaborative working by our two councils, and it demonstrates the advantage of sound asset management sharing public assets to better serve our communities and drive forward our recycling objectives.

“I was elected on a manifesto committed to restoring this missing service, an issue I have pursued for the past few years and I am delighted that it is now reaching a conclusion.”

Phil Jones, on behalf of the tip petitioners, said: "When the council’s recycling site at Wenffrwdd closed without public consultation in 2007 no-one would have thought it would take 16 years to secure access to an alternative facility just over the County boundary at Plas Madoc. .

"Thanks to a petition of two thousand signatures and the tireless work of our County Councillor Karen Edwards this long standing injustice has been rectified."

Ken Skates MS said: “I have raised the recycling issue numerous times with DCC on behalf of residents of Llangollen and I am very pleased to hear of the successful conclusion of negotiations between the two councils.”

 

Railway loses its founder and president

* Bill Shakespeare at the opening of Corwen station in June.

A founding member of Llangollen Railway has passed away.

A post of the heritage railway's Facebook page says: "It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that our Railway has to announce the passing of our President, Bill Shakespeare.

"Bill’s contribution to Llangollen Railway is immeasurable and as well as one of the founding members of our Trust, he has been a significant contributor to the preservation movement.

"As Chairman between 1976 and 1998, Bill also received an MBE for his services to the Railway.

"Bill will be sorely missed by everyone that knew him and those who had the pleasure to have worked alongside him since the inauguration of the Railway back in the 70’s. We express our utmost condolences to Hazel, Susan and Gillian at this very sad time.

"Thank you Bill – we will endeavour to follow the fine examples that you set."

Mr Shakespeare was amongst special guests who attended the official opening of the new Corwen station in June.