Green light to free child care funding in Denbighshire

The Welsh Government’s 30 hours a week funded education and childcare in Wales scheme will be introduced in the county in January 2019, with the whole county benefitting from the roll-out at the same time.

In 2017 the Welsh Government (WG) pledged to offer 30 hours a week of government-funded early education and childcare to eligible working parents of three and four year olds, for 48 weeks of the year by September 2020.

Children will be eligible to access the offer from the beginning of the term following their third birthday until the September following their fourth birthday.

Eligible children will be entitled to up to 20 free hours of childcare during term time, on top of the 10 hours already provided by the Foundation Phase. During the school holidays, when there is no early education, the offer will provide 30 hours a week of childcare for up to nine weeks. Parents are able to choose any registered childcare setting that suits their personal and family circumstance, whether inside or outside of county, in agreement with the provider and the local authority.

Those not currently accessing the 10 hours a week free childcare provided by the Foundation Phase will be able to apply for 20 hours free childcare, as part of the scheme.

To be eligible for free childcare, parents/ guardians must meet a set of criteria:  their child must be aged 3 or 4;  parents/ guardians work and earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours at national living wage or national minimum wage, or are in receipt of specific caring benefits and they must live in Denbighshire.

Information about the registration process will be publicised in due course. For further information, please visit: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/fis

Call for Candidate Sites: Local Development Plan

As part of its work on a new Local Development Plan, the Council is now inviting landowners, developers and any others with an interest in land in the county to submit suggested sites for future development.

The Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out where, and how much, future development will happen in the county, as well as the areas to be protected from development. To help inform these decisions, a ‘call for candidate sites’ will be held until 26^th November 2018.

Submitting a site is not, however, a guarantee of inclusion in the LDP. All sites submissions must provide sufficient background information and the Council will assess each site before making a decision on its suitability. All sites selected for inclusion will be subject to public consultation as part of the Deposit LDP early in 2020.

Guidance and forms for submitting a candidate site are available on the Local Development Plan section of the Council’s website at www.denbighshire.gov.uk. All forms must be submitted in full, and accompanied by the necessary maps, before the deadline of 26^th November. Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.

For further information, please contact the Strategic Planning and Housing Team:

Email – planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk

Phone – 01824 706916

£18 million East Rhyl flood defence work plans go on show

The Council, supported by the Welsh Government's Coastal Risk Management Programme, has drawn up plans to install rock armouring and increase the height of the sea wall along the promenade between Splash Point and the slipway next to Rhyl Golf Club.

Construction is expected to take 18 months and start during 2019, subject to planning permission, other necessary consents being granted and funding agreement.

Residents will have the chance to view the plans and comment on them at a drop-in session on October 11 between 10am to 4pm at the Elwy Room, Rhyl Community Fire Station. A further event is planned for November 8 at the same venue.

The Council commissioned civil engineers Balfour Beatty and flood risk and environmental specialists JBA Consulting to undertake a detailed analysis of the situation to come up with the plans.

The rock armouring is being designed to dissipate the energy from storm waves so the impact on the new wall will be substantially reduced and significantly decrease the risk of flooding for over the next 100 years. 

Photo of the site for the proposed flood defence work

Your view needed on changes to the boundaries of Rhyl Conservation Area

The Council has reviewed Rhyl Conservation Area and is proposing some changes to the boundaries.  We are currently consulting on these proposals, which are outlined further below.

A Conservation Area is an area ‘of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which is desirable to preserve or enhance’

A conservation area designation is a way that a local authority can add an extra layer of planning control, to help protect areas which are valued for their special architectural or historical interest. The aim of Conservation Area Legislation is to preserve and enhance areas of our historic environment that hold value to the people that interact with them, in order that they are enjoyed by this and future generations.

Rhyl is a planned Victorian seaside town containing many Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Although it has been the subject of much alteration over the years in the form of inappropriate, low-quality buildings of unsympathetic design, there is still much to be celebrated in Rhyl.

Originally there were two separate Conservation Areas designated in central Rhyl with St Thomas Conservation Area designated in 1988 and Queen Street/Crescent Road Conservation Area designated in 1992. In 2007 it was decided to review both Conservation Areas in central Rhyl and combine them into one larger conservation Area.   The current Conservation Area covers a broad area of Rhyl Town Centre from Abbey Road in the east to Bath Street in the west and from West Parade in the north to the railway station in the south. We decided that the Rhyl Conservation Area would benefit from a review as it was felt some areas had lost their character and it was a large area to manage.

The review recommended four main changes to Rhyl’s Conservation Area boundaries. In summary, they are:

1. Extend the North-Eastern boundary to include the upper areas of Bath Street and Morlan Park.
2. Remove the Premier Inn Development Site, Harkers Amusements and the Queen Street Development Site.
3. Include the former Regal Cinema.
4. Exclude the Coach Park/Proposed Car Park on Crescent Road and redraw boundary to exclude 20-30 and 11-23 Edward Henry Street.

We are proposing to change Rhyl’s Conservation Area boundaries in line with these recommendations and public consultation on the proposed changes will finish on 2^nd November 2018.

Comments on the proposed changes to Rhyl Conservation Area should be sent in writing to The LDP Team, Strategic Planning and Housing, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ or can be made online at www.denbighshire.gov.uk or by email to planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk before 5pm on 2^nd November 2018. 

Manage your own Council Tax online

You can now manage your own council tax online. It’s free and easy to register! It will allow you to view details for:

• Council Tax
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
• Landlord
• Business Rates

You can set up a payment plan to pay your Council Tax online and e-billing is easier and greener.

You can log on to:

• Set up direct debits
• Pay your council tax online
• Report a change of address
• Apply for a discount
• Find out how much council tax is at a property

To set up e-billing, please e-mail revenues@denbighshire.gov.uk.  You will then be able to register to view your online account at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/counciltax. 

Residents recycle their way into the future

Denbighshire residents can be proud of the fact they have one of the best recycling rates in Wales. More than 64% of waste is recycled from households across the county.  

How the world deals with its waste is changing rapidly.  More and more manufacturers are now demanding the highest quality paper, card, plastic containers, cans, tins, glass bottles and jars so they can use them to make new products.

The Council has recently identified a way to help overcome the ever spiralling costs of managing Denbighshire’s waste.  Not only will the proposed new system help everyone to recycle more things more often, it will ensure we collect the best possible quality of recycling which we intend to sell to UK based firms who turn your items into new products. This is much better for the environment because these products can be recycled over and over again.  It also provides a valuable income to help us empty over 4 million waste containers every year.

We gave residents the opportunity to tell us what they thought about the newly proposed service. The Recycle More, Waste Less Survey has had an overwhelming response.  Over 2,300 of you responded online and 150 people completed surveys at libraries and One Stop Shops.  This information is extremely important and will help inform the decision the Council will soon have to make about the future design of our waste and recycling services.

Our proposed new service will include:

• A new weekly collection for recyclables such as paper, glass, cans, and plastic, collected at the same time as your food waste, with new and easy to use containers to store some recycling separate from each other.
• A new fortnightly collection for clothes, batteries and small electrical items
• By expanding the range of items you can recycle from your homes, and collecting them more often, there will only be small amounts of non-recyclable waste left.  We are therefore proposing to change the collection of non-recyclable waste to every four weeks.
• Instead of your current 140 litre black bin, we will provide the option of having a new, larger 240 litre black bin.

We are confident that Denbighshire households will be able to rise to the challenge, but there will be some circumstances where this might be more difficult. Therefore, we are already looking at:

• A new free service for waste such as nappies and incontinence products
• Additional waste and recycling containers for larger households
• Continuing with offering assisted collections for those that need them
• Alternative recycling containers for people who require adaptations to help them manage their waste, or for households with restricted storage or access.

We would like to thank everyone who got involved in the survey or attended on the drop-in sessions.  That won’t be end of the discussion.  If the council makes a decision to change our current waste and recycling service, there will be many opportunities for residents to join in the debate as we plan and implement those changes.   The earliest that any changes would be made to the current service would be spring 2020.

Winter Hours Opening Times: Household Recycling Parks

CAD Recycling operate three permanent recycling parks namely Marsh Road Rhyl, Colomendy, Denbigh and Lon Parcwr, Ruthin.  We also offer a Saturday service twice each month in Corwen (Green Lane car park) and Llangollen (Llangollen Pavilion).  Each site can accept a wide range of household waste that we can’t pick up on your regular kerbside service. For a full list of services please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk as services vary from site to site.

Some of the household items we can accept at our Recycling Parks
Bric-a-Brac	Computers and monitors	Textiles
Electrical goods	Fluorescent tubes	Engine oil
Furniture	Garden waste	Soil & rubble
Mobile telephones	Televisions	White goods
Scrap metal	Wood	Batteries

RUBBLE, BRICKS, SOIL and TILES: Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in the amount of rubble being brought to our sites. From the 29th October (the day the clocks go back), we will accept a maximum of 3 bags of rubble per visit. Building rubble, bricks, tiles and soil are not classed as domestic waste (even if they come from a household) and we have no obligation to accept these at our sites. If you need to dispose of more of this type of, then you can hire a skip from a licensed company. The Council have put the restriction back in place to deter traders from illegally trying to use the sites. We are also stepping up enforcement activities to identify and prosecute businesses who knowingly bring their waste into the sites to avoid their own disposal sites.

Winter Opening Times:  29 October 2018 - 24 March 2018

Summer Opening Times:  25 March 2019 - 28 October 2019

Site	Monday to Friday	Saturday and Sunday	Monday to Friday	Saturday and Sunday
Rhyl	10am-6pm	10am-6pm	10am-6pm	10am-6pm
Denbigh	10am-4pm	9am-4pm	10am-6pm	10am-6pm
Ruthin	10am-4pm	9am-4pm	10am-6pm	10am-6pm
Llangollen	N/A	9am-11am (2nd and 4th Saturdays only)	9am-11am (2nd and 4th Saturdays only)	9am-11am (2nd and 4th Saturdays only)
Corwen	N/A	9am-11am (1st and 3rd Saturdays only)	9am-11am (1st and 3rd Saturdays only)	9am-11am (1st and 3rd Saturdays only)

(All sites closed 25th, 26th December and 1st January)

Autumn Inspiration

Looking for events and places to visit over the autumn period? Take a look at www.northeastwales.wales for ideas on things to do and the latest events across North East Wales.

Free tourism leaflets direct to your door

Do you have a business? Would you like to provide your guests/visitors with free tourism-based leaflets? Leaflets on offer include Denbighshire Town Trails, Ruthin Craft Centre, and Denbighshire 5 Journeys. You simply complete a form requesting your leaflet choices and quantities required and they are delivered direct to your door, all free of charge. Forms must be returned by 9 October.

Please contact the Tourism Team for more details – tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone 01824 706223.

Benefits of tourism in Denbighshire increase

The economic benefit of tourism in Denbighshire is continuing to grow. The latest STEAM economic impact figures show that in 2017 tourism brought £490.35million into the local economy, an increase of 2.3% on 2016, and of 70% since 2007.

Last year tourism supported 6,231 jobs in Denbighshire, while 5.93m people visited the county, an increase of 25 per cent since 2007, for a total of 11.58m days. The number of visitors to the coast increased to 3.16m, as did the number of visitor days spent (6.92m) and the number of staying visitors (900,000).

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council, said: “The latest figures showing an increase in the overall economic benefit of tourism in Denbighshire are really encouraging, despite 2017 being a challenging year in terms of the weather. 

“The county has so much to offer, a beautiful coastline, rural market towns, areas of outstanding natural beauty, a host of outdoor activities as well as a wealth of history and some fantastic local produce and shops.

“Particularly encouraging is the increase in coastal tourism. With the addition of two new hotels in Rhyl, the SC2 visitor attraction due to open next year, as well as the already established 1891 restaurant and the Nova in Prestatyn, we would expect these figures to continue to grow. This shows investment from the Council and the private sector is having a real impact on the economic prosperity of Denbighshire, which is a priority under our Corporate Plan.”

In total last year there were 1.5m staying visitors who contributed a total of £331.46m to the economy in 2017, a 50 per cent increase in staying visitors compared to 2007.

Dave Jones, who owns the four-star Plas Efenechtyd Cottage B&B, near Ruthin, said: “We have seen an increase in overseas visitors staying longer, especially from the Netherlands, Germany and the USA. This year bookings over the summer months have been strong.

“Most people arrive with an idea of what they want to see and do but without much knowledge of Welsh history, geography and politics, something I would like to see addressed.

“The latest figures are encouraging and we look forward to continuing to work with Denbighshire and other key partnerships like the Clwydian Range Tourism Group to create themed itineraries and create attractive packages that will appeal to a variety of visitors.”

The Council continues to support tourism via strong partnership working in North Wales to capitalise on the growing tourism market. The Council also runs projects to upskill staff working in tourism related businesses to improve the visitor experience, creates new tourism leaflets and promotional films to reach wider audiences as well supporting key events and festivals such as Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Go North Wales Tourism Awards

Back for a third year, the Go North Wales Tourism Awards, in partnership with Heart, will be taking place on Thursday, 15th November 2018 at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

The purpose of the awards is to celebrate and recognise excellence in the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors.  The awards will showcase and celebrate the achievements, hard work and dedication of those working in the industry.

If you are involved in our region’s tourism industry then these awards are for you!

There are 13 categories and nominations are now open! You can nominate your own tourism business, or the best tourism business which you have experienced. It’s really easy to nominate, just choose a category and click on the link to open the nomination form. You can nominate in as many categories as you like, but will need to submit a separate entry in each category. Deadline for entries is Sunday 7^th October.

Nominate at: http://www.gonorthwalestourismawards.co.uk

Denbighshire Tourism Forum & Google Digital Garage

Do you have an interest in tourism? A  Forum set up to keep tourism businesses, students and anyone with an interest in tourism, up to date with the latest developments in the industry takes place this October. Key speakers include representatives from Visit Wales presenting on investment opportunities for businesses and Keep Wales Tidy.

The next Denbighshire Tourism Forum will be on Wednesday 10^th October at the Oriel House, St Asaph. This free event offers a great opportunity for delegates to network, learn new skills and share experiences, knowledge and ideas.

Google Digital Garage are running free sessions on digital marketing during the afternoon. Sessions include building a digital marketing plan and creating a social media strategy based on your business goals.

To book on the Tourism Forum and/or Google Digital Garage sessions please visit https://denbighshiretourismforumandgoogledigitalgarage.eventbrite.co.uk

An exhibition has opened in Llangollen

A photography exhibition showcasing the region’s outstanding coastline has opened in Llangollen.

The exhibition at Llangollen Tourist Information Centre, Y Capel, Llangollen, celebrates Visit Wales’s themed years, 2018 being Year of the Sea.

The exhibition called Routes to the Sea was commissioned by Denbighshire County Council and funded by the North East Wales Partnership. 

Local photographer Craig Colville, has captured the area’s ‘routes to the sea’ from a different perspective to create interesting and thought provoking images.

The saleable exhibition will be on until the end of October and Llangollen Tourist Information Centre is open every day from 9.30am to 4pm, expect Thursdays.

 

New off road mobility scooter – Tramper

Our new off road mobility scooter called a Tramper enables better access to the countryside for all including people with wheelchairs, pushchairs and limited mobility.

The Tramper is a specially designed four-wheel drive all-terrain mobility scooter, which can be used off road and even on rough ground, mud and grass.

Based at Loggerheads Country Park the Tramper is available for hire for FREE around the park. Users are required to undertake a short induction before heading out on the designated trail around the park.

We would like to thank Natural Resources Wales and the Friends of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley for funding to purchase the tramper.

For more information contact Ceri Lloyd on 01824 712748 or e-mail ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk

Environment Minister visit to Bodfari

Hannah Blythyn Minister for Environment recently visited the Woodland Skills Centre in Bodfari to see the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund in action.

The Woodland Skills Centre is a community interest company based in Bodfari providing outdoor education learning. Due to the growth in demand for the programmes they offer, an additional meeting room was required to accommodate the vast range of courses on offer.

The Sustainable Development Fund gave grant funding towards a new timber frame building which included timber cladding, sheep’s wool insulation and lime plaster. All the timber was sourced from local woodlands and all the other materials sourced from local suppliers. The building is heated by a wood burner with electricity from the PV roof on the existing building. It is the only building of its kind with EPC Band A rating in Denbighshire. 

The Minister learnt how the building was constructed over a series of courses for people interested in sustainable buildings and also involved all the centre user groups, including; Community Support (adults with multiple complex difficulties), home education groups, special needs pupils as well as regular volunteers.

If you would like more information about the AONB’s Sustainable Development Fund contact Ceri Lloyd on 01824 712748 or ceri.lloyd@denbighshire.gov.uk

A great day out and the Denbigh and Flint Show

We had a fabulous time at this year’s Denbigh and Flint Agricultural Show promoting the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Denbighshire’s Countryside Service.

This year the theme was health and well-being. We partnered up with our lovely colleagues at Flintshire Countryside Service and Denbighshire Heritage Service and hosted a range of activities including;

• Badge making
• Countryside crafts
• Plastic quiz and pledge
• Nordic Walking advice and taster
• Tramper taster – our new off road mobility scooter

The Show was also an opportunity for us to promote our Take the Lead campaign, asking dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead when visiting some of our countryside sites such as Moel Famau Country Park. The dogs enjoyed the free gravy bones!

We also had an opportunity to support some local businesses in the food hall. Members of the Clwydian Range Food and Drink group worked together to promote and sell tasty food and drink produced on our doorstep!  No gravy bones here but the samples were delicious!

 

An Outstanding Week in September!

September has always been an outstanding month in our countryside, with harvests being brought safely home, trees and meadows taking on their autumnal colours, skies offering a full palette of hues, musky bonfires lingering in the evening air and a welcoming calmness for visitors.

September this year, however, promised to be even more outstanding!

The AONB family worked together to organise a week (and a bit) long programme of events to help people enjoy and be inspired by the UK’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

As NAAONB’s Jill Smith, explains

“Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are some of the most beautiful, cherished and outstanding landscapes in the UK. They are living, working landscapes and as such offer a wealth of opportunities for people to enjoy and benefit from their visit to the countryside.

“Outstanding Week helps people connect with nature, getting them out into and engaging with the the UK’s outstanding landscapes by enjoying local food and drink, country shows, dark sky discovery nights, walking festivals, archaeology walks, wood fairs, foraging, wildlife walks, coastal and marine days, thatching courses, drystone walling competitions, charcoal making, bioblitz, inspiration through art and music and many, many other activities.

“Whether you are looking for an outstanding view, intending to reward yourself with a cream tea or trying to kick start a new health regime, you can’t fail to have a great time in one of the UK’s 46 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They are Landscapes for Life in so many different ways”.

Roadside Verges

2018 was the first year the Council’s new road verge cutting regime was put into action, with the aim of providing a road network which is safe for road users and pedestrians, but also managed as an important resource for wildlife.

Denbighshire’s verge network is an important resource for wildlife, and is home to many rare and important plant and animal species. This includes the Bithynian Vetch, which grows on a verge near Denbigh but is found nowhere else in Wales. The new policy will allow the Council to comply with national legislation and help us achieve the objectives set out in the environment section of our own Corporate Plan.

The Council created the new verge cutting policy in partnership with “Life on the Verge” (a Denbighshire based action group made up of local residents and wildlife experts who advocated for a verge cutting regime that protected wildlife). This new policy reduced verge cutting to twice a year, with an early and a late cut. This allows wildflowers enough time to grow and set seed, ensuring that they continue to survive on the verges. The flowers provide an important resource for pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies, many of which are in steep decline.

In addition, the new policy includes a special "Biodiversity Cut" which is currently undertaken in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the community council area of Nantglyn.  The Biodiversity cut involves a single cut starting from the 1st of August each year.  This approach is expected to be even better for the plants and animals which live on the verges.

The new policy continues to put road safety as the number one priority, with visibility splays maintained at a much more frequent basis, whilst allowing areas which pose no safety issues to be managed for their conservation value.

Llantysilio Fire

The Countryside Rangers have been busy this Summer supporting the Fire and Rescue Service to tackle the fire on the Horseshoe Pass. The fire which broke out on the 14^th July eventually burned for nearly 8 weeks and spread over half of the Llantysilio mountain range taking with it important habitat and grazing.  The Horseshoe Pass was closed for weeks as the path of the fire moved towards the road and at its height there was real concern for the safety of properties close to the mountain. 

The ground was so dry and the fire burned with such intensity that it got into the peaty soils and continued to burn in the ground long after the vegetation was gone. The smoke could be smelt from 20 miles away as the mountain eerily continued to smoke and burn long after the flames had gone from the surface. 

The size of the blaze brought in fire crews from all over North Wales with over 60 fighters spread across the mountain tackling the fire on many fronts around the clock.

Our Ranger Service have specialist fire-fighting equipment which we use for traditional controlled burning of heather moorlands in the Winter so immediately made this equipment available for this incident and were able to work alongside the Fire Service to tackle areas of the fire, arrange for fire breaks to be cut and advise on access to key areas of the mountain.

It will be next year before the full extent of the damage will be clear but it is likely that as the fire burned for so long and with such intensity that the seed bank will have been damaged. It may be in some areas that the heather and bilberry will not come back for years, leaving bracken and gorse to move in.  The Mountain is designated a Special Area of Conservation which means it is internationally important habitat.  It is home to some of our rarest breeding birds – black grouse, Curlew, red grouse.  Time will tell the impact it has had on the populations of these bird species on the mountain.    

Christ the Word Catholic School Update

Progress on the new 3-16 Catholic school in Rhyl is gathering pace with the new name of the school confirmed and the construction of the new school commencing.

At the end of June the Bishop of Wrexham, Rt Rev’d Peter M. Brignall, invited guests to a turf cutting ceremony at the site of the development which will replace Ysgol Mair primary school and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School. At the event the Bishop announced the new name of the 3-16 school- Christ the Word Catholic School.

The site is next door to both existing schools and work is well under way with pupils returning from the summer holidays to see the steel frame going up. Kier Construction has been appointed by the Council as the main contractor for the new school which will be delivered for the Diocese of Wrexham.

To celebrate the progress a beam signing ceremony was held recently where guests were invited to sign a column. Pupils and staff at both schools were given a beam the previous week to sign and this was on display in the structure at the event.

The new building is set to open in autumn 2019, with the demolition of the existing school buildings and the remaining external works to the sports/play areas starting once the school building is finished with completion set for summer 2020. The new school will be for 420 full time pupils aged 3-11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16.

The project is funded in partnership by the Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.

Council heralds Welsh Language Centre investment as a major boost

The Council has hailed the Welsh Government’s decision to invest in a Welsh language centre in the north of the county as a major boost to the Welsh language.

The Council had submitted a proposal to create a Language Centre on the Ysgol Glan Clwyd site in St Asaph, will provide provision for pre-school pupils, support for latecomers to Welsh Medium education in Key Stage 2 and 3 through a “trochi” (immersion) programme, a facility for the development of Welsh Language resources and a potential base for Welsh Language delivery partners in addition to a small increase in capacity for Ysgol Glan Clwyd. 

This facility could also be utilised for adult learning outside of school hours.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Children, Young People and the Welsh Language, said: “This is a significant investment by the Welsh Government in Welsh medium provision in Denbighshire and is needed to help meet the increase in demand for Welsh medium places county-wide.

“In Denbighshire, we have a clear vision to develop the Welsh language in our communities, including our schools and colleagues have worked tirelessly on putting together a significant, ambitious and compelling bid for funding.  This high quality submission has evidently impressed the Welsh Government who had no hesitation in accepting our proposal in full.

“The Council has also made a firm commitment to enhancing Welsh medium education and providing opportunities for children and young people in its own Corporate Plan and this key project will play an important part in working towards this ambition.

“We will now work with partners to make this dream become a reality.

“This is a good news story for Denbighshire and we look forward to seeing this centre develop as our efforts to play our part in meeting the national target for Welsh speakers by 2050 continue”.

 

Would you like to be a School Governor?

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a community volunteer and be part of a team, making a positive impact in our schools?  It doesn't matter what your experience or background is.

If you think you have the commitment and enthusiasm to make a difference then register your interest in becoming a school governor at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/governors.

A member of our team will contact you with information on what the role requires.

Work progresses at two schools in Denbighshire

Pupils have been putting their mark on two new schools in Denbighshire, which will see nearly £10million invested in rural education in the county.

Students from Ysgol Carreg Emlyn and Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd have taken part in panel signing ceremonies as work on both schools progresses.

They have had the chance to sign panels which make up the structure for their new school buildings.

A new bilingual church school, in partnership with the Diocese of St Asaph, is being built on land opposite Bryn y Clwyd, Llanfair while in Clocaenog a new single site school for Ysgol Carreg Emlyn is being built.

Both schools are being funded through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme, in partnership with investment from the Council.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, lead member for Education, Children and Young People, said: “It has been encouraging to see pupils at both schools take such an interest in their new school buildings.

“Supporting our young people and making sure they have modern school facilities that further enhance their education is a priority for the Council and these new facilities are part of a £90m investment in Denbighshire schools.

“Work is progressing well at both sites and both schools are expected to be open by the summer of next year.”

Pictured above:  Elected members, Denbighshire County Council officers and representatives from the Diocese of St Asaph, along with children, teachers and governors from Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd with local dignitaries and staff from Wynne Construction

Pictured above:  Carreg Emlyn - Elected members and Denbighshire County Council officers along with children, teachers and governors from Ysgol Carreg Emlyn with local dignitaries and staff from Wynne Construction

What's going on in Denbighshire?

Our What’s On guide keeps you up-to-date with events happening everywhere from the glorious North Denbighshire coast to the iconic Dee Valley and the bustling market towns in between.

Our next edition will cover events starting in October 2018 including the fantastic Llangollen Food Festival. You’ll be able to download this special digital issue from our website straight to your device.  This edition will be a digital version only. Available from www.discoverdenbighshire.wales/whats-on.

And if you follow our social media channels you’ll see regular alerts about the best forthcoming events. Because we don’t want you to miss a thing.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram

SC2 Rhyl

SC2 is Wales’ newest and most exciting leisure attraction, with both indoor and outdoor water play and Wales’ first TAGactive arena. Visitors will delight when doors open in Spring 2019.

The amazing water park offers breath-taking feature flume rides, beach style paddling, a splash pad and slides for all ages and abilities, there really is something for everybody. There are themed cafés and catering outlets, along with an outdoor bar and terrace (open seasonally).

TAGactive is a fantastic indoor multi-level play zone that challenges your mental and physical ability, skill and strategy, whilst the junior TAG structure is available for 5-7 year olds.

SC2 offers something for every visitor, whether you’re a thrill seeker, a paddler or just want to put your feet up and relax.

Register on www.sc2rhyl.co.uk for further information and to enter our prize draw to win Free Family Tickets.

 

Spotlight on older people in Denbighshire

A week-long series of events were held across Denbighshire last month to celebrate older people, in the run-up to International Day of Older Persons (October 1st).

Nearly 30 years ago the United National General Assembly voted to establish October 1st as the International Day of Older Persons. In 2016 the United Nations took a stand against ageism by drawing attention to and challenging negative stereotypes and misconceptions about older people and ageing.

Building on last year’s successful programme we ‘Celebrated Age’ throughout Denbighshire again this year with a series of events arranged through Denbighshire’s Ageing –Well Multi-agency Group. This Partnership includes the Council, Age Connects, Alzheimers’ Society, British Red Cross, Care & Repair, Care Forum Wales, Citizens Advice Denbighshire, NEWCIS, the NHS and many more.

Events included social events, arts and textiles, a ‘culture club’ for arts and dance, information and advice and so much more.

A social media campaign was also used to promote the projects and help raise the profile of issues relating to older people.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, the Council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence said: “The increasing age profile is a fact we can't ignore.

"Throughout their lives older people have gained a wealth of knowledge, and as living longer becomes the norm, we need to recognise, value and harness their contribution. We must encourage people to take responsibility for keeping well and fit and to stay independent for as long as possible."

Councillor Ellie Chard, Denbighshire’s Older People’s Champion said “It is great that we held this event in Denbighshire; highlighting all the good work that is going on as well as engaging with older people themselves “

Sue Wright, Chair of the Ageing Well In Denbighshire Multi-Agency group said “Celebrating Age Week is a clear demonstration of effective partnership working between the statutory and the third sectors.

"It should be recognised that many of these events could not go ahead without the enthusiasm and commitment of older people themselves.

"The third sector survives not just because of the generosity of funders but also because older people value the benefits of active volunteering."

Denbighshire has the second largest population of older people in Wales. Nearly a half of the population of Denbighshire are aged over 50 and a quarter are over 65. More and more people are living past 100 than ever before.  

Call for new foster carers in Denbighshire

Have you ever considered fostering?   

Fostering is a way of providing a family life for children who cannot live with their own parents. It is often used to provide temporary care while parents get help resolving problems, or to help children or young people through a difficult period in their lives. 

There are two types of fostering:

Temporary fostering

Children join you at short notice and stay for a few weeks or months, and then they return to their family, or move on to adoption or long-term fostering. Temporary foster carers will look after several children in their careers.

Long-term fostering

Children are carefully matched with you, and they stay with you until they move out to live independently, usually at around 18 years of age. Some fostering relationships continue into adulthood, as children develop a lasting emotional attachment to you and your family. 

People looking to foster must: 

• Be over 21 and mature enough to meet the demands of parenthood
• Be in reasonably good health, and fit and well enough to care for children into adulthood 
• Be able to offer a secure home with a spare room for one or more children, but you do not have to own your own home 
• Have the time and ability to foster. You don’t need to give up work to foster, as long as your work is flexible enough to cope with the demands, and you have a support network in place.We do not discriminate on the grounds of class, race, culture, sexual orientation or disability. We also welcome enquiries from single people who are interested in fostering. 

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, you can either call us for free on 0800 7313 215, or complete an online enquiry form below. When we receive your enquiry, we will contact you and arrange to visit you at home. We will discuss fostering with you, and help you to decide whether to make a formal application to foster.

For more information about what fostering involves, click here or contact Sue Colman Fostering Service Manager 01824 712279 or Penny Moran 01824 712287 Placement and Commissioning Officer.

Please don’t feed the seagulls

Seagulls is a regular topic of conversation on social media and in the press.

In response to concerns raised locally, we have launched an awareness campaign to reduce the problems caused by seagulls. Seagulls are a common cause of complaint for the Council and are seen as something of a nuisance, predominantly in coastal communities, but also inland.

And we are repeating our calls for residents and visitors to the county not to geed seagulls.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and the Environment, said: “We fully recognise that seagulls are part of life in all coastal communities. They have been present for many years and continue to thrive.

"However, we do get regular complaints from residents in coastal communities, as well as some of our towns inland about the dangers posed by seagulls, especially when they are attracted to food.

“There are limited options to the Council as they are a protected species.  We have tried some scare tactics similar to the angry birds and netting/ bunting being provided in some areas and to a degree they have been successful.

“What we need is the public’s support. By not feeding the seagulls and making sure food waste is covered, we can greatly reduce the amount of opportunities for the seagulls to swoop on our town centres”.

Denbighshire roadshows engage with tenants

Hundreds of housing tenants have taken part in a series of roadshows across Denbighshire.

The Council’s housing department hosted seven events over the summer to engage with tenants, provide free activities for children and to raise awareness of services available.

More than 500 tenants took part in the Denbighshire Housing roadshows in Denbigh, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Meliden, Dyserth, Rhuallt and Llangollen.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: “The housing roadshows over the summer were a great chance for us to engage with tenants and provide fun activities for children. They were well attended and provided some great feedback and I’d like to thank everyone who took part.

“These events gave us the opportunity to talk to residents to get an understanding of the community and to share information about services that are available.

“Providing housing that meets the needs of Denbighshire residents is a priority for the Council.

“Denbighshire Housing will be providing 170 additional Council homes throughout the county over the next four years.”

Activities for children included face painting, arts and crafts, bridge making, sports games, robotic programing, virtual reality headsets and online safety while organisations who attended included North Wales Police, Age Connect, Menter Iaith as well as a number of Council services.

Housing Developments Update

In the last edition we told you about the progress we were making with our programme to build 170 new council homes throughout the county over the next four years.

We’ve recently submitted our proposals to Natural Resources Wales for a new culvert across the site of the old Bodnant School in Marine Road in Prestatyn and once we’ve had their consent, we’ll be starting work on its construction and this will clear the way for us to start building new homes on the site.

Over the summer, consultations have been taking place about proposals for new homes at The Dell in Prestatyn and, in conjunction with Grŵp Cynefin, on the site of the former Pennant Flats in Denbigh. These consultations have now closed and applications for planning permission for both developments are currently being processed and we should hear the outcome before Christmas.

A local contractor has just been appointed to convert the property we’ve bought in Brighton Road in Rhyl into three new apartments and work is expected to start on site this month.

This is just the start and we’ll be bringing you news about more exciting developments in future editions.

 

Survey of Tenants and Residents

October in Plas Newydd, Llangollen

Plas Newydd House and Tearooms will be staying open in October, but will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

There will be a whole host of spooky-fun going on at Plas Newydd during October. The Llangollen-based museum is hosting a series of events over the coming weeks specially designed for Halloween.

From October 20^th to 31^st there will be the Halloween Trail to enjoy from 11am to 2.30pm. Pop into Plas Newydd and follow the trail, gather creepy clues and win a prize. The trail is available from the tearoom at a cost of £3 per person.

On Tuesday October 23 from 6.30pm to 8pm “Death on the Canal” will take place at Plas Newydd. Local historian and author Peter Brown will set the tone with tales of accidents, drunkenness, stupidity and murders. Advance booking is required.

A fabulous Witches' Tea Party is going ahead on Wednesday October 31. The event runs from 3pm to 5pm with revellers meeting at Plas Newydd's art exhibition centre, Y Caban. There will be stories, crafts, games, and of course a tea party with Plas Newydd's very own witches and wizards. There is a charge of £6 per person and advance booking is required.

Meanwhile, away from Halloween, Plas Newydd is eager to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer to help keep its grounds in tip-top shape. The museum has some 12-acres of land in total. The widely varying landscape includes everything from beautiful intricate gardens to rugged woodlands.

The contribution of volunteers towards maintenance of the grounds is well-established and greatly appreciated. If anyone would like to know more they are welcome to get in contact for further details.

To make bookings for the Halloween events, telephone 01824 712757.

For details on volunteering, telephone 01978 862834.

Autumn in Plas Newydd, Llangollen

Despite the summer visitor season drawing to an end, it is still a busy time at Plas Newydd. Among the events taking place, the museum will be the focal point for a series of organised walks which the public can join.

The story of the two courageous women who defied their families and eloped in the 18^th century to start a new life together is about to be performed for audiences to enjoy. In 1778 Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby fled from Ireland and came to live in Wales. They went on to gain national fame and became known as The Ladies of Llangollen.

Now their story is the subject of a lively re-imagining taking place in period costume by Living Histories Cymru. The work is entitled An Extraordinary Female Affection – The Life and Love of the Ladies of Llangollen.

Walking in the Footsteps of the Ladies of Llangollen will allow people the opportunity to step out and follow some of the favourite routes which Eleanor and Sarah loved to take as they strolled along the glorious countryside surrounding their home. These will be:

• Friday 5^th October,   11am – 2pm.      Blaen Bache, Allt y Badi and Pen-lan Farm
• Sunday 14^th October, 10.30 am – 2.30pm – The Tower, Llantysilio Church and Valle Crucis Abbey.

Watch out for open days and Hallowe’en events in October.

For further details on all the above events please get in contact with Plas Newydd by telephoning 01978 862834 or plas.newydd@denbighshire.gov.uk

Ruthin Gaol Halloween Week

Skeletons are lurking, spectres are in the night air, and creepy creatures lurk in the shadows. It is that time of year again where Ruthin Gaol opens its doors for Halloween week, encouraging people of all ages to come and enjoy themselves within the Gaols spooky walls.

The Gaol has been decorated for the occasion and will have plenty of seasonal craft activities and a Halloween trail to follow while you wander around the eerie cells of the Victorian prison. We encourage any intrepid visitors to come in their scariest Halloween costumes to get into the spirit of things, visit if you dare!

All activities are included in the admission prices, open 10:00 until 17:00 throughout Halloween week (Last entries at 16:00)

Heritage Services Seasonal Report

Denbighshire Heritage sites have enjoyed a long period of gorgeous weather for our visitors, as well as great success in our events this year.

Ruthin Gaol had an impressive turnout at our World War II Day in June, celebrating the role the Gaol played as a munitions factory during the Second World War, and what impact it had on the people of Wartime Ruthin. We had plenty of vagrants and vagabonds turn up for the “Captured on Camera” Event in July, where visitors had their faces put on WANTED posters to take home with them, with some creative crimes and scary scowls all around! Finally our wonderful staff entertained visitors with true stories of former occupants at our “Tales from the Gaol” event in August. We also had the lovely addition of fresh and local Chilly Cow ice cream that is now sold in the Gaol shop, and we could not have picked better weather to introduce it.

Ruthin Gaol will close for the season at the end of September, however will be open for private tour bookings throughout the winter months, and will be reopening for our Halloween Week event.

Visitors to Nantclwyd Y Dre got their hands dirty in the gardens with our “Beastly Bug Hunt” event, where guests searched the beautiful Lord’s Garden for various creepy crawlies, learning about biodiversity, and the insects that live in our woods and gardens. Shakespeare once again came to the Lord’s Garden as well, with Illyria Productions performing “The Merchant of Venice” in a classic open air theatre. The gardens flourished in the amazing weather, positively shining with colourful flowers thanks to the efforts of our volunteer gardeners.

Denbighshire Heritage Services also trialled our Nantclwyd Y Dre Garden Pass, which allows access to the Lord’s Garden all season long for a onetime payment. The pass will see a full launch next season and will allow you to pop in anytime during opening hours to relax in the gardens, enjoy a picnic, or simply unwind in the tranquil atmosphere of the medieval garden.

The amazing sunny weather has made the already picturesque Plas Newydd a sight to behold this summer. The house and gardens have enjoyed plenty of visitors from far and wide to learn about the famous Ladies of Llangollen. Nature Quest walks throughout the grounds have been running between May and June, allowing guests to explore the grounds and learn some interesting facts about nature through a quiz, as well as after school activities running through the rest of June. On the 22^nd of September the grounds will be hosting a play titled ‘An Extraordinary Female Affection’ detailing the lives and relationship of the Ladies of Llangollen performed by Jane Hoy and Helen Sandler of Living Histories Cymru.

Rhyl Museum now has a monthly event we call “Meet the Curator” where visitors can talk with our Curator for Denbighshire and interact with genuine objects from local history, ranging from the ancient Romans to the seaside resort heyday of 20^th Century Rhyl. Visitors will also be able to bring their own items and stories in to tell and share their significance, as well as get a professional opinion on any local artefacts they have.

“Meet the Curator” will run on the last Wednesday of every month all year round in Rhyl Museum, which can be found upstairs in Rhyl Library.

We will be closing for the winter months after September 30^th, however some sites will be available to book guided tours throughout the off-season period. Send an email to Heritage@Denbighshire.gov.uk if you wish to make a booking or simply to find out more.

We would like to extend a big thank our staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to keep the sites active throughout the season to such a high degree, and we look forward to our next season.