News
Christmas and New Year Information
For all the current up-to-date information about our services over the Christmas and New Year period, please visit our website.
Council urges bird keepers to be aware of new requirements
The Council is urging people to be aware that new compulsory housing requirements have been introduced for poultry and captive birds in Wales.
It is now a legal requirement for all keepers to keep their birds indoors or otherwise separated from wild birds. Bird keepers are encouraged to prepare for the new measures, making sure housing is suitable, with the housed environment enhanced to help protect bird welfare.
Keepers should consult their vet for advice where needed and are being encouraged to register their birds with the proper authorities.
Councillor Win Mullen-James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said: “These measures are crucially important to help prevent the spread. We encourage bird keepers to read up on the latest guidance to keep their flock and others safe this Winter.
“Registering your birds is vital, even if you keep only a small flock”.
There is a self-assessment checklist that poultry keepers can undertake themselves to check what they have in place and you can download it here.
To register your birds, go to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/poultry-registration or call the GB Poultry register Helpline on 0800 634 1112.
To report and dispose of dead birds, please call the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 if you find one or more dead bird of prey or owl; three or more dead gulls or wild waterfowl (swans, geese and ducks) or five or more dead birds of any specifies.
Please also contact the Natural Resources Wales helpline on 0300 065 3000. People are advised not to touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick wild birds they find. Any sick or injured birds found should be reported to the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 who may be able to offer assistance.
Levelling up Fund: Update
As part of Round 1 of UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF), the Council has been successful in their joint application with Wrexham County Borough Council for the Clwyd South Constituency.
The Levelling Up Fund is intended to invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK. The fund supports town centre and high street regeneration, local transport projects, and cultural and heritage assets.
The Levelling Up funding allocated to Denbighshire amounts to £3.8m and will benefit the communities of Llangollen, Llantysilio, Corwen and surrounding areas.
There are a number of exciting projects being delivered in these communities, which you will start to see evidence of early in 2023, with all project delivery expected to be completed by March 2024.
What is planned?
Llangollen / Llantysilio
- Access improvements around the historical Four Great Highways (Canal, Railway, River Dee & A5)
- Enhancing the visitor experience at Plas Newydd improving access to various areas of the attraction
- Accessible paths at Wenffrwd nature reserve including linking the canal towpath to the nature reserve. One path has already been delivered linking the nature reserve to the health centre.
- Improvements to the visitor experience at Horseshoe Falls and measures to protect the natural environment
Horseshoe Falls
Corwen
- Installation of a platform canopy to complete the new Corwen Station, delivered by Llangollen Railway Trust
- Improvements to the appearance of Corwen High Street including a refresh of benches, bins, and public realm along the high street. Also included within this is external renovation work to Llys Owain (the former HSBC bank), this element being delivered by a local social enterprise organisation, Cadwyn Adfywio
- Improvements to Green Lane Car Park which will include the installation of EV charging points and refurbishment of the toilet block
- A 1km active travel route from Green Lane up to the A5.
Improvement of toilet block at Corwen
Share your ideas….
The Four Great Highways Engagement Approach
Burroughs and The Urbanists have now been appointed by the Council to develop the design of the Four Great Highways Project. The project will seek to reconnect key parts of the town through various public realm improvements such as better signage and interpretation of the local heritage, natural play opportunities / experiences, seating and easier to access spaces for all. The priority will be to improve access between the canal, town centre, River Dee and railway station.
Given the rich heritage of Llangollen, we will be seeking feedback from a wide range of the local community from school children through to local businesses, people from across the age groups within the community and visitors alike.
Key dates and information on how you can take part will be shared on Denbighshire’s website and via posters within the community and will look to connect with local schools, public events, and targeted workshops, both in person and on-line, to give all members of the community a chance to have their say.
For further information on the projects, please go to: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/levelling-up-fund
If you have any questions regarding the Clwyd South Levelling Up Fund projects, please contact levellingup@denbighshire.gov.uk.
Partners come together to mark the start of a £12.2 million extra care project in Ruthin
A sod-cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of construction at Grŵp Cynefin’s Llys Awelon, Ruthin, brought together all partners involved in the major £12.2 scheme to update and extend the Extra Care Housing facility.
Grŵp Cynefin Chief Executive Shan Lloyd Williams, the Council's Chief Executive Graham Boase, Director of Read Constuction Wiliam Jones, and other key officers involved in the ambitious project, celebrated the ceremony on the site close to Ruthin town centre.
Pictured (front L/R) Graham Boase, Chief Executive of the Council; Wil Jones, Commercial Director Read Construction and Shan Lloyd-Williams, Chief Executive of Grwp Cynefin.
Picture credit: Mandy Jones
The project means completely redeveloping the present Llys Awelon to create a modern, low carbon, bespoke scheme to meet the needs of older people in the Denbighshire area. It will offer additional 35 one and two bedroom flats to the existing 21 flats, within a purpose-built building with communal areas such as gardens, lounges, a restaurant and a hairdressing salon.
The project involves working alongside the current facility, causing as little disruption as possible to the residents and staff and eventually updating that facility to the same low-carbon, high standard specification.
The project is a partnership between the Council, Grŵp Cynefin and the Welsh Government and is supported by £7.1 million of Welsh Government Social Housing Programme funding.
With schemes at Holyhead, Bala, Porthmadog, Denbigh and Ruthin, Grŵp Cynefin’s Extra Care Housing offers residents an independent lifestyle with additional support and care should they need it.
Shan Lloyd Williams, Grŵp Cynefin Chief Executive said: “We are proud to be able to work closely with Denbighshire Council and the Welsh Government to offer the highest standard of service at Llys Awelon, Ruthin, which will be a modern and valuable resource for the area. Read Constructions have been involved from the start, due to the complexity of the project and it’s proving to be a productive collaboration, with all teams working incredibly well to realise this ambitious project.
“Such projects bring together Grŵp Cynefin’s best qualities – expertise in Extra Care Housing and important principles – innovation in our construction methods using materials and technology to achieve low or zero carbon, and our ability to bring partners together to deliver ambitious and innovative schemes for the benefit of our communities.”
Councillor Elen Heaton, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “We are really proud to work with Grŵp Cynefin on such an important project as Llys Awelon, Ruthin, to help and support Denbighshire residents.
“It is a real privilege to mark the start of such an important and beneficial project that will greatly support our residents by giving them the means to live independently and provide them with high quality housing that meets a wide range of needs.
“I look forward to the completion of this work and seeing the benefits it will bring to our residents.”
Wiliam Jones, Read Constructions Director said: “As a North East Wales based company, Read are delighted to have commenced work on our latest extra care scheme for Grŵp Cynefin. This £12m redevelopment of their Llys Awelon site in Ruthin has a strong local emphasis with local design team and supply chain partners. Throughout the scheme, Read are committed to supporting the local town and surrounding communities through reinvestment of the local pound and work opportunities.”
Keep well keep warm this winter
With the arrival of winter, we are urging people to be a good neighbour and keep an eye on the elderly and vulnerable.
Councillor Elen Heaton, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “We are asking people to take care of our most vulnerable by keeping an eye on them and making sure they are safe and well.
“If people have neighbours, friends or relatives that are unwell, they are encouraged to visit, making sure they have everything they need and to offer with any daily tasks such as shopping. It is also important to check they are eating properly and keeping their property warm.
“You may be the only visitor they will have so it is a question of being kind and considerate. The severe weather is getting closer and is likely to last for another two to three days, so we want to make sure people do not feel vulnerable or isolated.
“Showing care and compassion towards the elderly or vulnerable will really make a difference to their quality of life”.
“This message is very poignant at this time of day, especially around Christmas when it can be a lonely time for those living on their own.
If you have any concerns about a vulnerable person, please call the Single Point of Access, on 0300 456 1000, or for out of hours, the Emergency Duty Team, on 0345 0533116.
We also have lots of useful information on our website.
Make people smile campaign continues – and we want to hear from you
Have you ever considered working in social care in Denbighshire?
Over recent times, the Council has seen an increase in the number of social care vacancies, especially during Covid when demand for social care increased.
The Gwnewch i Bobl Wenu/ Make People Smile campaign was launched earlier this year to raise the profile of careers in social care and to advertise the current vacancies that exist in the county.
You may well have seen our adverts on public transport, banners in community locations, adverts in the local media, social media activity and branding on some of the Council’s vehicles. The Council has also been out and about at various events and locations hosting recruitment roadshows and workshops.
The Council has also revamped its information on the Council’s website and has included case studies as videos, in an attempt to encourage more people into the profession. A frequently asked questions section has also been provided to provide answers to some of the most regular questions received.
Councillor Elen Heaton, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “This campaign is very much about selling the benefits of working for the Council and for starting a career in social care.
“Working in social care and making a real difference every day is a true privilege and our teams do make people smile every single day. It’s in their DNA to want to help people live as independently as possible but having the care and support they need in a variety of settings.
“Qualifications are not always needed and there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and complete qualifications through the workplace. The Council has put in place a programme of support for all employees and there are significant benefits to working for the Council. They include family friendly policies and a flexible approach to shift patterns.
“What’s needed more than anything is the ability to make people smile, to have empathy and to have a caring nature. The rest will fall into place”.
Anyone interested in a career in social care should visit the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/care-jobs
Flying Start
Denbighshire Flying Start is a Welsh Government funded programme to help families in specific areas of the county.
The help available includes:
- free, part-time childcare for 2- to 3-year-olds
- help, support and advice for parents
- extra support for children to learn to talk and communicate
- an enhanced Health Visiting service
In Denbighshire, Flying Start is available in parts of Rhyl, Prestatyn and Denbigh and from September 2022 is now available in East Rhyl and East Prestatyn.
To check whether you are eligible for the Flying Start programme, please visit our website >>> Flying Start | Denbighshire County Council
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