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The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting how a woman from Ukraine who left the country for Llangollen following Russia’s invasion last year has set up her own candle business with her host family.
Maryna Ustymenko, 27, has created “Ornate Candles” with Kim Evans, who she has lived with since moving to North Wales in May 2022.
* For the full story, see: Woman who left Ukraine for Llangollen sets up bespoke candle business | Denbighshire Free Press
A former Denbighshire county councillor has been selected as Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary Candidate for Clwyd East.
The new constituency,
which includes the towns and surrounding areas of Llangollen, Ruthin,
Mold, Holywell and Prestatyn, will come into being at the next general
election.
Carrying the Plaid banner will be Paul
Penlington, a former councillor for Prestatyn North who has worked voluntarily in the charity sector and teaching further
education at Coleg Cambria.
He said: “I’ve always lived and worked in this
constituency and only applied to be the candidate for the area I am already
committed to. I wouldn’t want to stand anywhere else.
“This is my home, my family have lived here for generations
and I hope will do so for generations to come.
“I’m not a career politician, I’m an active member of my
community and want to continue working as a representative of our community in
Westminster. The main reasons I originally became interested in politics have
been consistent throughout; supporting those in need, protecting our
environment and seeking fairness for all of us.
“This new constituency encompasses a wide range of communities but all of us deserve a fair deal from Westminster which we’re currently not getting.
“As just a few examples, we export more energy than we
produce but have the highest energy bills in the UK, we have the highest levels
of child poverty and the worst performing NHS.”
He added: “Llangollen is a beautiful town but still has a lot that needs addressing. The River Dee is virtually dead and is the worst river in Wales for sewage pollution, air pollution, particularly in the summer, is as bad as an inner city, public transport is appalling, there are very few opportunities for young people and smaller communities in the area are largely forgotten.
“Yet nothing is done. Westminster and the Welsh Government do nothing to protect our environment and public health and offer no practical support to improve and develop services for our smaller towns.
“This is all symptomatic of how Wales is unfairly used to drain our
resources with nothing returned. We deserve so much better and need a local
voice to fight for us in Westminster, as a member of a Welsh party not a London-centric
party.
“We have always been governed by Labour and Tory. I don’t want to govern, I want to represent my community and fight to get the best for us not a party based in London.
“My record of public service is easily googled, I’ve always worked hard as a voice for residents. I am ready to take other parties on nationally. I’m standing now as, at the end of the day, I’m the only local candidate and who else will actually stand up for all of us?”
A story in the Leader reveals that police have confirmed a body was found at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct yesterday (November 9).
North Wales Police said it received a report of a body being found at the aqueduct shortly after 3.30pm on Thursday.
* For the full story, see: Body discovered at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, police confirm | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk)
Latest local traffic alert from one.network shows two temporary road closures for this Sunday's annual Service of Remembrance in Llangollen town centre.
The service begins at 10.45am and will be held in Centenary Square.
|
Castle Street, Llangollen,
Denbighshire 12 November -
12 November Delays
likely - Road closure Name: Castle
Street, Llangollen Location: Castle
Street Description: Public
event - Remembrance parade Responsibility
for event: Denbighshire County Council Current
status: Planned
.png) Oak Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire
12 November -
12 November Delays
likely - Road closure Name: Oak
Street, Llangollen Location: Oak
Street Description: Public
event - Remembrance parade Responsibility
for event: Denbighshire County Council Current
status: Planned |
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is currently recruiting for two "exceptional and pro-active colleagues" to join its experienced team.
* Ken Skates with Sam Rowlands MS and Ashley Rogers, Chief
Executive of the North Wales Business Council, at the recent Theatr Clwyd
event. Picture: Mandy Jones.
Former Welsh Economy Minister Ken Skates believes a joint Wrexham and Flintshire Enterprise Zone could be a ‘game-changer’ for North Wales.
The Clwyd South MS welcomed the recent announcement by his successor Vaughan
Gething that the Welsh Government is backing the bid. But the final decision –
and funding – rests with UK Government Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.
During
a statement in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mr Gething said: “It is
important to note the UK Government will still need to make a decision on the
support it will provide to Investment Zones in Wales as part of the Autumn
Statement process. However, I can confirm the Welsh Government Cabinet has met
to discuss the proposals that have been in development.
“As
a result, I have written to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing
and Communities following our constructive engagement to indicate our
willingness to use our devolved levers and expertise to support Investment
Zones in Wales.
“Based
on our analysis of opportunities for growth in high-potential clusters we agree
that there is a clear case for two Investment Zones in Wales. Our preference
would be for one Investment Zone in South-East Wales and one in North-East
Wales, covering Flintshire and Wrexham.”
Mr
Skates said: “Minister, on behalf of Members across parties in north Wales, can
I thank you for this announcement today. You have already delivered for the
people of north-west Wales with the agreement over the freeport, which is
immensely important for the economy of Anglesey and Gwynedd, and right across
north Wales for that matter.
“Today,
you've delivered for the communities of north-east Wales with the announcement
of a successful bid by regional partners there to help ensure that Wales, along
with the south-eastern cluster, can continue to keep pace with those sectors
where we are strongest.”
Mr Skates recently spoke at an event at Theatr Clwyd in Mold to
back the cross-party campaign, along with business leaders, councillors and
fellow Labour, Conservative and Plaid Cymru MSs. He was one of six Members of
the Senedd to sign a joint letter of support to the Welsh and UK governments
backing the Wrexham and Flintshire bid.
He said: “I believe there’s huge potential, through an Investment
Zone, to play to our strengths in advanced manufacturing and the creative
industries across two local authority areas which are the engine of the
regional economy of North Wales and the Mersey Dee area.
“Economic growth in Wrexham and Flintshire, in terms
of jobs created, is far higher than both the Welsh and UK average, so something
special is happening in this region. We want to make sure we turbo-charge it –
and we do that through an Investment Zone. It could be a game-changer.”
Investment Zones already exist in parts of England,
where £80m in funding for each will be used over five years for innovation,
infrastructure and skills and training projects in the sectors being targeted.
A local consortium including Airbus
and JCB; the North Wales Business Council and Wrexham and Flintshire councils;
Wrexham University and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru,
based in Broughton, is spearheading the bid – and believes it can help leverage and secure an additional £1.7bn in
investment.
In
the Senedd yesterday, Mr Skates said the wide-ranging support for the Wrexham
and Flintshire bid ‘demonstrates the value of collaboration, both across political
parties and across institutions’.
He
added: “Minister, finally, would you also agree that we now need swift
agreement from the UK Government over the two zones along with assurance that
equivalent funding will be made available to those zones as is happening across
the border in England?”
The
Minister concluded: “The decision on whether to provide the funding and
reserved levers to support Investment Zones in Wales now rests with the UK
Government.
“For our part, we have indicated a willingness to work towards ensuring devolved and local tax levers are available to Investment Zones and to work in partnership with the UK Government on delivering a package of investment support, subject to the agreement of plans from each Zone setting out how the support will be used to deliver net benefits for the people of Wales.”
North Wales Police have been made aware of fraudsters targeting residents, pretending to be from their local pharmacy or chemist.
The criminals say they are calling to confirm a repeat prescription or delivery of medication.
The victim is then asked to provide their bank details.
A police spokesperson said: "I would urge residents to be aware of this tactic and not provide personal details or bank details to anyone over the telephone. If you receive such a call, please hang up and report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
"If you are concerned about your medication, please contact your pharmacy using a phone number you know and trust."
