Parents urged to sign up for Universal Primary Free School Meals

Denbighshire County Council is encouraging parents to make sure their children don’t miss out on healthy, nutritious meals by signing up for the Welsh Government backed Universal Primary Free School Meals.

Across Denbighshire, the Catering Service’s 54 school kitchens work hard every day to create 13,500 freshly prepared meals for pupils — that’s an incredible 67,500 meals served during the school week to help children learn, grow, and thrive.

Free school meals not only ensure that pupils have the energy to thrive in class, but they can also help families manage with the current cost of living. Many families are eligible and may not realise it, so the Council is urging parents and guardians to make sure their children receive the free meals.

All children are asked daily by their school if they would like to have school meals. There is no application process to check if a pupil is eligible for Universal Primary Free School Meals.

You can contact your child's school to find out more about how to get Universal Primary Free School Meals.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our catering teams across Denbighshire are passionate about providing healthy, balanced meals that give our children the best start to their school day. We don’t want any child to miss out on that. Having these free school meals could make a big difference for both families and primary pupils.”

“Denbighshire’s school kitchens are proud to be part of a service that provides thousands of meals made with care, local produce, and nutritional balance every single day.”

More details on the Universal Free Primary School Meals can be found at: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/education-and-schools/grants-and-funding/universal-primary-free-school-meals.aspx

Further information regarding the primary school meals menu can be found at: https://www.denbighshireschoolmeals.co.uk/primary-menus/

New energy-efficient homes in Denbigh nearing completion

A development of 22 energy-efficient homes in Denbigh is close to completion, with the tenants of the new homes moving in soon.

The Llwyn Eirin development is part of Denbighshire County Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which is helping to deliver new homes across the county. Other recent schemes in the town include the former Pennant Flats site (Grŵp Cynefin), the development at Rhodfa Cae Llewelyn next to Ysgol Pendref (Adra), and the Awel y Dyffryn Extra Care development (Grŵp Cynefin) which, together with Llwyn Eirin will deliver a total of 193 new affordable homes for local people.

The Llwyn Eirin homes have been built to the highly energy-efficient Passivhaus standard. This forms part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to increase the number of council houses available in Denbighshire.

The development is being used as a valuable learning opportunity to shape future new build and retrofit schemes across the county, contributing to our ongoing campaign to achieve affordable warmth within council housing. In addition, we will be engaging with new tenants to ensure they can fully benefit from the building’s design and technology to minimise heating expenses.

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities said: “These homes will help meet the housing needs of local residents by providing high-quality, affordable properties. Built to the highest levels of insulation, they maximise energy efficiency, reduce household bills, and cut carbon emissions - helping protect future generations by lowering reliance on fossil fuels.”

Each property features solar panels and ground-source heat pumps to provide natural warmth without the need for a gas supply.

The Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme has provided funding to enable the Council to work in partnership with Rhyl-based Creating Enterprise on this pioneering approach to use pre-manufactured timber components in housebuilding.

The development has been named Llwyn Eirin (Plum Grove) in honour of the Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum, one of the town’s oldest and most distinctive products. The name reflects Denbigh’s heritage while also highlighting the Council’s commitment to increasing biodiversity across the county.

Hydrotherapy Pool project at Rhyl school reaches final phase

The Hydrotherapy Pool project at Ysgol Tir Morfa in Rhyl has now reached its final stage, with the completion of the main construction phase by the contractor, Bryn Build, and hand over of the building to the school.

Hydrotherapy Pool Building 

A number of key milestones have now been completed.

The pool itself was fitted in October, and the site has now seen specialty windows and doors fitted and the completion of the bathroom and changing facilities. The main interior decorating elements have been completed, with the fitting of the internal doors, and painting of the pool room and hallway sections.

Entrance

Hallway

The building itself has been painted and fitted with decorative wooden cladding. The track which leads from the yard onto the playing fields has also been reinstated, and matches the previous design.

The 19ft specialised Hydrotherapy Pool is situated within the school grounds in a standalone building and is the first of its kind in Denbighshire.

The project has been designed by the council’s in-house architecture team and started earlier in the year.

The fitting of the access platform, which will encompass the pool itself will commence during the Christmas period, with the facility ready for use by the school early next year.

The building features energy efficient insulation helping the facility reduce its carbon footprint and reduce energy costs simultaneously. The building also features underfloor heating.

Hydrotherapy Pool

Susan Roberts, Headteacher at Ysgol Tir Morfa said:

“We’re delighted to see our new Hydrotherapy Pool taking shape and to have reached the final stage of the build here at Ysgol Tir Morfa.

We’re so thankful to our families and the local community for their incredible fundraising and support. This fantastic facility will provide our pupils with invaluable opportunities to enhance their physical development and overall well-being.” 

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“I am so excited to see this project reach its final phase. The building looks great and I am really pleased with the progress of the work on site.

This project brings a truly unique offer to the school, the first of its kind in our County.

I can’t wait for it to open so that the school can utilise this facility to its full potential.”

This project is being funded by the school through their fundraising activities, in addition to Welsh Government Additional Learning Needs grant funding.

UEFA Men’s U19 Euros test tournament to take place in north Wales

Cymru will host a mini international tournament in November with five of the six matches being held in Denbighshire. This tournament forms part of the build-up to the 2026 UEFA Men’s Under-19s European Championship, which will also be hosted across the region.

The tournament will feature some of the world’s top youth teams which include Germany, USA and Japan. Matches will be played at several venues across the north, including Central Park, Denbigh Town, Belle Vue Stadium, Rhyl and the STōK Cae Ras, home of Wrexham AFC.

Craig Knight will lead Cymru MU19s once again, looking to build on their October international window friendly fixtures against Switzerland, the Netherlands and England.

The tournament will provide another invaluable opportunity for Cymru to develop themselves against elite international opposition, ahead of the UEFA U19 Euro finals next summer.

All three of Cymru’s matches will be live streamed by the FAW on its RedWall+ streaming service and YouTube platform.

The mini tournament fixture schedules are as follows:

For most matches, you can pay on entry, except for the following:

Wales v Japan - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/fawtickets-english/EDP/Event/Index/531

Wales v USA - https://www.eticketing.co.uk/wrexhamafc/EDP/Event/Index/1141?position=1 

Further information about the Welsh team’s preparations is on the FAW’s website.

Refurbishment work set to begin at Corwen Library

Denbighshire County Council has announced that refurbishment work at Corwen Library will begin this November, following a successful bid for £83,469 from the Welsh Government’s Capital Transformation Programme.

The funding will be used to refurbish the ground floor of the library, modernising the space and improving facilities for the local community.

From 10 November, the library and One Stop Shop services will temporarily relocate to the first floor while work takes place. Although access to computers and printing will be limited during this period, staff will continue to provide a full library and enquiry service.

As there is no lift access to the first floor, customers who may find the stairs difficult are encouraged to borrow additional books before the move or make use of the Home Library Service. A doorbell will also be available at the entrance for anyone requiring staff assistance.

During November and December, the refurbishment will include:

• Creating a dedicated children’s library area to encourage more/or an increase in family visits
• New self-service technology will also be introduced, allowing customers to borrow and return books independently.
• Open+ technology will be installed, enabling registered members to access the library during unstaffed hours
• A complete decoration of the ground floor
• Installing new desks and display shelving
• Refitting the staff kitchen

The investment in the service will modernise it and help to make it more sustainable in the future.

Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant, said:

"Our libraries play a crucial role in preserving and promoting Welsh culture whilst serving as vital community hubs. This investment in Corwen Library will create a modern, accessible space where families and individuals can come together to learn, read and connect. I'm particularly pleased to see the creation of a dedicated children's area, which will help foster a lifelong love of reading and learning in our youngest community members."

Deborah Owen, Principal Librarian, said:

“We’re delighted to be moving ahead with this project, which will transform Corwen Library into a more welcoming, flexible space for everyone. The new technology and layout will help us provide an even better service to our customers and make the most of this valued community facility.”

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, added:

“Libraries are at the heart of our communities, and this investment will make sure that Corwen Library continues to provide a modern, welcoming space for learning, reading and connection. We look forward to seeing residents enjoying the improved facilities early next year.”

The newly refurbished Corwen Library is expected to reopen in early January 2026, with a community launch event planned for later in the month.

Lease signed and staffing interest for Rhyl cinema

Lease arrangements have been completed to allow Merlin Cinemas to enter the final reel for breathing new life into Rhyl’s Strand Cinema.

Denbighshire County Council and Merlin finalised agreements this week to officially hand over the cinema on the prom.

A recent recruitment day held by Merlin at the Scala Cinema for those interested in careers at the new Strand cinema at Rhyl saw 89 people attend the day, with 28 progressing to one-to-one interviews.

From these 16 candidates, most residing in Rhyl and a few from Prestatyn, St Asaph, and Dyserth, were offered positions, successfully filling all the general assistant roles needed for Strand’s grand opening.

The next step will be to invite those who accept their offers to a training programme at Scala Cinema in Prestatyn, scheduled a couple of weeks before Strand opens.

Strand Cinema Rhyl will operate alongside its sister cinema in Prestatyn, Scala Cinema, which is already part of the Merlin Cinemas group of independent cinemas.

Leader of Denbighshire County Council, Councillor Jason McLellan said, “This is exciting news to hear the lease has been signed and sealed to allow for the curtains to raise on films once again at this important venue for Rhyl.

Hot on the heels of the huge success of the opening of Queen’s Market, this will be another attraction for residents and visitors alike and will be an important part of the catalyst for regeneration in our seaside town.

It’s also fantastic to hear how Merlin and the Strand have helped local people find local work opportunities at the cinema, and I hope they really embrace their roles in this exciting industry.

When Strand Cinema opens, I urge residents to come and check out films on the big screen, as well as supporting other leisure facilities in the town – we need everyone to be backing our businesses to ensure their continued success.”

Merlin Cinemas began its journey 35 years ago with a single screen in Penzance in Cornwall and now operates over 20 cinemas across the UK. Known for saving and restoring historic and modern venues alike, Merlin is committed to keeping cinema-going affordable, accessible, and magical for local communities.

Geoff Greaves Director of Merlin Cinemas said “We’re working with the local authority to get everything in place so that we can begin improvements to the town’s cinema which will be an ongoing process given the size and complexities of the building. We aim to have the cinema open before Christmas with a choice of the latest blockbusters, as well as older titles, with tickets starting from as little as £2.50. 

Seeing a film at the cinema with family or friends is a very different experience to watching the film at home. With the latest digital projection and sound, it is more memorable and offers a sense of occasion. With the additional availability of private hires and school screenings, we are pleased to have the opportunity to re-open this cinema for the people of Rhyl which I believe is a valuable social amenity.” 

Keep an eye on Merlin’s website and social media for updates about the Strand opening merlincinemas.co.uk

Dolwen Care Home welcomes public along to annual Autumn Fair

Dolwen Care Home in Denbigh opened its doors recently to celebrate Autumn.

This year, visitors to the annual Autumn Fair were greeted by pumpkins, scarecrows, garlands and bunting which adorned the home, with a number of fun games and entertainment also available throughout the day.

Games and activities challenged visitors, who were also challenged to guess the weight of a cake and take part in a scavenger hunt around the home.

A fancy dress competition was also held, and tasty refreshments such as hot chocolate and treats were available to buy in the day room.

Bric-a-brac and cake and craft stalls were set up around the home with local artists also invited to display their work.

Proceeds collected from the fair were put towards the residents’ comfort fund and Denbigh defibrillators.

Pamela Pack, Manager at Dolwen Care Home said:

“It was great to welcome the public into the home once again this year to celebrate Autumn and Halloween.

The residents always look forward to this fair, with the home decorated with Autumn decorations and colours to celebrate. We had a great turn out this year, with the proceeds from the day going towards the residents’ comfort fund and also Denbigh defibrillators.

Thank you to all who came along, we had a really great day!”

Fiction Fest at Denbighshire Libraries

This autumn Denbighshire Libraries have a fantastic line up of authors to brighten up the dark days. When it is cold outside what could be better than curling up with a good book but if you need some inspiration for your next read why not join us at our free events.

We are very excited to be joined by two fantastic Welsh authors. Prestatyn based author Rebecca Roberts won a 2021 Tir na n-Og Award and the 2021 Book of the Year with her first Young Adult novel, #Helynt. Rebecca writes adult and young adult books, titles include Mudferwi, Chwerwfelys, Diwedd y gan and Eat Sleep Rage Repeat.

Marlyn Samuel’s novels are full of romance and humour, and her latest book, Yr Ail Briodas, is due to be published in November.

Simon McCleave is a multi-million selling author based in North Wales, author of the brilliant DI Ruth Hunter series, which includes the Denbigh Asylum Killings. Simon also now has a series set in Anglesey, and a new series featuring Marshal of Snowdonia.

If you enjoy cosy crime join us at St Asaph Library when Margaret Holbrook will be introducing us to Jack France, a dashing, young and single motor racing driver, who is also an amateur sleuth.

In contrast there will be 'Murder and Mayhem' at Rhuddlan Library with local author David Ebsworth. The author reveals some of the “stranger than fiction” true stories which helped him find original ways to kill off some of his characters and create the background to his various historical thrillers and crime novels. Not for those of a nervous disposition!

Fans of true crime will enjoy meeting bestselling author Sion Tecwyn, who will be talking about his latest book, Murder on Ynys Môn; The Anglesey Crossbow Killing, in which he explores the events leading up to the brutal murder and the subsequent investigation.

Gene Moran’s book, Running on the Spectrum, is largely autobiographical, drawing on his experiences in special education. Gene will talk about his journey through education, challenges, and personal growth, and also the writing and publishing process.

Although it’s not fiction we are also being joined by local writer Graham Edwards, who will be giving a talk on Richard Jones Berwyn and his remarkable life in Patagonia.

Cllr Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, said:

“It’s fantastic to see our libraries hosting such a vibrant celebration of reading and creativity. Fiction Fest is a wonderful opportunity for residents to meet talented authors, discover new stories, and be inspired to read and write more. Our libraries play a vital role in bringing communities together, and this festival shows just how much they continue to enrich cultural life here in Denbighshire.”

If you would like to get into writing why not join our writing masterclass at Rhyl Library. Acclaimed children's author and poet, Oliver Sykes will share his top tips and tricks on how to find your writing voice, how to put yourself at the heart of your writing and how to write a stand out story for children, as well as discussing pathways into publishing.

Hopefully there is something everyone can enjoy in this free programme of events – just contact the relevant library to book your place, or book online. 

Information on our libraries can be found on our website.

Stronger connections to tackle climate change

Work is under way to closer support communities take action on carbon reduction and nature recovery work.

During Wales Climate Week 2025 Denbighshire County Council is building stronger connections with communities across the county to better support climate action on a local level.

The Council’s Climate Change Team in collaboration with the Education Service has launched a new school’s resource pack to help schools across the county plan and carry out their own inhouse climate change week work.

The Information pack brings together resources freely available online in one place so that schools can pick out relevant lesson plans, assemblies, school council discussions and other activity ideas. This allows schools to show how climate change and/or nature recovery links to other topics they are covering. This work hopes to help children better understand climate change and nature loss, how it can impact multiple aspects of their lives and how they can contribute to initiatives to tackle and adapt to it.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “Children will face the worst impacts of climate change in their lifetime and therefore need the space to discuss the issues and how they can be tackled to help them understand. Having this support will help open and honest discussions on this topic, allowing youngsters to voice their own concerns and be educated stronger on how they can play a part in reducing the impact of climate change in a safe and supported environment at school.The Climate Change team are also working more widely and “using influence” across the county to tackle area wide emissions. Support is available to help city, town and community councils understand how to make carbon reduction and adaptation work across their local areas.

Team members have run presentations to bodies across the county to support better understanding of initiatives to cut carbon emissions and the positive impact they have on the local environment.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion said: “We know climate change is causing an impact on our lives all the time, you only have to look at the increase of weather events and the man-made loss of nature’s habitats to see this. In Denbighshire we are doing all we can to manage these impacts locally through work including reducing our carbon footprint, bringing back lost habitats to support nature, moving our fleet to non-fossil fuel vehicles where possible and increasing our tree canopies once more.

“However, we know we need to go further by sharing our knowledge and experience. Communities taking action on carbon reduction and nature recovery at a local level can have positive social, health and financial benefits. We hope that this work will inspire and support our communities make positive changes which improve their communities while tackling climate impacts, creating a better future for generations to come.”

Tree planting boost for nature reserve

More roots have been put down to support the unique biodiversity of a new county nature reserve.

During Wales Climate Week, Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity team and volunteers from St Asaph business Celtic Financial joined forced to increase the tree canopy at Green Gates Nature Reserve.

Thousands of trees grown from locally sourced seeds at the Council’s Tree Nursery, which is based at the reserve, have already been planted out on the reserve earlier this year.

Celtic Finance staff, who are based at St Asaph Business Park, helped the Biodiversity team plant around 450 trees including a mix of oak, willows, alder, birch, wych elm, black poplar, the cherry and elder around the developed wetlands area which is planned to be home to the Denbighshire Beaver Project.

Wildflower seeding has also been carried out this week at to help provide a stronger biodiversity on the reserve to support wildlife on the reserve. Areas undergoing seeding include the viewing mound and on some of the bunds around site. More wetland and pond margin specific mixes are also going down around the edges of the ponds and the wetland areas to help to create the diversity and suit the conditions of each part of the site.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said, “We are really pleased that a business on the doorstep of this developing site has come and helped us continue to plant the plant the roots of what will be a fantastic asset for local nature.

“It’s also great that the trees grown in our tree nursery at St Asaph are able to be used at this reserve. Our volunteers and Biodiversity Team have worked hard to source and grow these trees at the nursery, and this will be a massive help with reducing carbon across the county to tackle the climate emergency and help support nature’s recovery.”

The 70-acre nature reserve development is part of the Council’s response to protect and restore local nature habitats to contribute to the nature recovery goal.

The Green Gates Nature Reserve Project has received funding from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund. Additional funding has also been provided from Denbighshire’s Climate and Nature Recovery Programme. Work at the tree nursery is supported by the Welsh Government, through the Local Nature Partnerships Cymru ENRaW project.

Ysgol y Castell extension project sees progress

Work on the Ysgol y Castell classroom extension project has seen a step forward with the installation of the attenuation tank now complete. The first two classrooms which are to be extended have also had temporary props installed in preparation for removing the external walls.

Work on site

Brynbuild, the project contractor, are now expected to progress with further drainage work, along with commencing with the first phase of LED lighting upgrades throughout the site.

During the course of the project, Ysgol y Castell in Rhuddlan will receive extra space upgrades in four of its existing classrooms as well as energy improvement works.

The first phase of the project commenced this summer with further energy reduction works pencilled in for the second phase of work.

The extension will provide 16 square metres of addition classroom space in all 4 of the classrooms, producing a total extension of 64 square metres for pupil use and will see updated learning facilities added at the same time.

The first phase is set to be completed in Winter 2026.

The first phase of this project is 65% match funded by the Welsh Government, through its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

The remaining 35% of funding has primarily come from a developer’s contribution provided by the Tirionfa housing development in Rhuddlan.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“I am glad to see that this project is seeing the next step in the process.

This is a long-awaited scheme, which will bring updated facilities and crucially much needed additional space to the school.

Ysgol y Castell is a very interesting and historic site, and I am glad to see that it is receiving the upgrades it deserves.”

Remember, remember to recycle this 5th November

Residents are urged to spark up their recycling while coming together to celebrate this year’s Bonfire Night.

As families, friends and communities celebrate November 5, Denbighshire County Council is calling on them to light up efforts to recycle following festivities.

If anyone has decided to host a private or community Bonfire Night Party, waste can be reduced by using real or reusable plates, cups and cutlery instead of disposable ones.

Make sure drink cans, beer and wine bottles and plastic drink bottles are gathered up at the end of the party and placed in appropriate recycling containers or taken to the nearest recycling centre.

Another idea to cut down on waste is to swap plastic straws for children’s drinks to paper ones for the event.

Most importantly, food waste can be recycled by placing in the recycling food caddies, or relevant items can be used for composting in gardens.

Leftovers can also be shared with guests before leaving to stop them going to waste or packed up for reuse the next day, instead of ending up in the bin.

Don’t forget, to dispose of fireworks safely, soak any ‘dead’ fireworks and sparklers in water for 48 hours to make sure they’re not flammable before disposing of them.

These even though they’re often made from cardboard, and plastic cannot be recycled due to the residual chemicals that can contaminate the rest of recycling items. Instead, they need to be put carefully in the non-recycling waste bin.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We know that every year a lot of traditional celebrations take place regarding Bonfire Night. Please remember to try and recycle properly and reduce waste during this period to help your local environment. We have many forms of recycling support to help everyone put a spark into recycling during celebrations.”

Solar power boost for Ruthin primary schools

Additional solar power infrastructure is improving energy efficiency at a Ruthin primary school education site.

Work has finished at the Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras site which has seen extra PV panels installed on the building’s roof to help reduce reliance from national grid energy, reduce long term costs and reduce carbon emissions from the building.

It’s all part of Denbighshire County Council’s drive to reduce energy use and costs at buildings run by the local authority.

The Council’s Energy team has managed projects across Council owned buildings including schools, to help improve building energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and also usage costs over the longer term.

They assisted the Councils Education department in assessing how to improve the building’s energy efficiency.

The work saw the existing 16.80kWp solar PV system on the roof of the school increased to a 56.85kWp solar PV system.

The new PV panels alongside the existing ones will help harness energy from the sun to power the site, taking pressure off the local grid system and improving the reduction of carbon emissions on site.

Every Kilowatt generated by the PV panels and used by the schools will save around 22 pence.

The additional solar PV array will save the site an estimated 43,000kWh, and reduce carbon emissions by over eight tonnes of carbon emissions. 

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “This work will help both school’s overall energy usage and is a step forward in increasing the renewable energy capacity in our educational buildings. This installation is a collaborative effort between our Education and Energy team, who are working in tandem to help reduce long term energy costs and emissions simultaneously.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, added: “Our Energy team is extremely grateful to the staff at the site for allowing us to carry out this additional work to help the school lower energy usage and reduce long term costs and at the same time create a more pleasant environment for learning and wellbeing to support both pupils and staff.

“This is an important piece of work that supports our continuing drive to lower energy usage and costs and reduce carbon footprints across our building estate and it’s fantastic to see the schools and our Energy Team working together to achieve this.”

Update on St Peter’s Square public realm improvements

(St Peter's Square, Ruthin)

Denbighshire County Council share an update on the public realm improvements to St Peter’s Square in Ruthin.

In 2023, the UK Government confirmed their intention to provide £10.95 million of grant funding for 10 capital projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing, and rural communities.

This funding has been awarded exclusively for successful projects included in Clwyd West and cannot be directed to other projects.

The proposed works will look to widen the scope for hosting events and revitalising historical buildings and landmarks to support local identity, whilst also promoting pride of place and boosting the image of the town.

With the project progressing, Denbighshire County Council are now able to begin consulting on three traffic regulation orders (TRO).

Traffic regulation orders (TROs) are legal documents which are necessary for making changes to traffic and parking restrictions such as double yellow lines and one-way streets.

The consultation will be open between 3 - 30 November and will seek the public’s thoughts on the introduction of a one-way system, new parking restrictions and proposals to introduce free parking on the top of the square.

Residents are also invited to an information session which will be held at the Old Court house in Ruthin on the 17 November between 12pm-6pm.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“Whilst this project is an exciting development to Ruthin that will look to revitalise the square, we are aware that residents and business owners will be affected whilst the work is carried out.

“As a result, business owners on and around the square as well as homeowners on streets affected by the works, will have received a letter and a short survey from our officers recently, which will inform how the works are managed to minimise disruption to businesses and residents.

“I would like to encourage residents to share their thoughts on the TRO proposals through either attending the in-person information event that will be held on 17 November at the Old Court House in Ruthin or by filling out the online consultation on our website”.

To share your thoughts on the consultation you can click here. For more information on the project visit our website.

Working Denbighshire offers support for young people

Working Denbighshire is reaching out to young people across the county who may have started college, sixth form, or university this September but have since decided it’s not the right path for them.

If you’ve recently left education and are unsure what to do next, Working Denbighshire can help. The service offers a range of free support to help individuals explore their options, build confidence, and take positive steps toward employment, training, or further education.

Please note, support is only available to individuals who are no longer in education.

Weekly Job Clubs
Working Denbighshire hosts regular job club sessions in libraries across Denbighshire. These informal drop-ins offer help with CV writing, job searching, interview preparation, and more.

One-to-One Guidance
Young people can also access tailored one-to-one support from experienced mentors who will work with them to understand their goals and help them plan their next steps.

Wellbeing Support
Recognising that career decisions can impact mental health and wellbeing; Working Denbighshire also offers wellbeing support as part of its service. This includes access to confidence-building group activities and signposting to specialist services where needed, all designed to help young people feel more positive and supported as they move forward.

Upcoming Events
A series of events are planned over the coming weeks to connect young people with local opportunities, employers, and support services. These include career taster sessions, wellbeing workshops, and meet-the-employer events.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation, said: 

“Working Denbighshire is a vital service that reflects our commitment to supporting young people across the County.

"We understand that changing direction can be daunting, but no one should feel alone in that process.

"The free service provides meaningful, personalised support to help young people feel seen, valued, and ready to take their next steps."

Ruth Hanson, Working Denbighshire Principal Manager, said:

"We know that not every young person’s journey is straightforward. If you’ve started a course and it’s not working out, or you’re unsure what to do next, we’re here to help. Our team offers friendly, practical support to help you move forward with confidence."

To find out more about the support available or to speak to a member of the team, visit or follow Working Denbighshire on social media.

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment.

Working Denbighshire is part funded by UK Government.

Energy efficient council homes recognised at awards

(Llys Elizabeth)

An energy efficient Rhyl council housing development has been recognised in the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Awards for Wales.

Llys Elizabeth took home the winning award in the Best Small Social Housing Development category.

The project team who breathed new life into what was once the former town tax office for the Council consisted of Denbighshire Building Control, Denbighshire Design & Construction, Denbighshire County Council Housing & Community Service, Pave Aways Ltd, and Cadarn BRP, Hydroc/Stantec.

Designed to support living accommodation for people aged 55 and over, Llys Elizabeth saw the creation inside the building of a total of 12 new homes comprising 8 two-bedroom apartments and 4 one-bedroom apartments.

Each home was designed to offer high levels of energy efficiency to support the new tenants with the cost of living and help Denbighshire County Council and Wales achieve its targets of lowering carbon emissions.

Air source heat pumps were installed to help heat the water at lower costs and drive down the building’s carbon emissions. Solar panels were also installed on the outside car port to help generate energy and a Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery system was fitted to help reduce the heating and cooling demands of each of the homes.

These new Rhyl homes are part of Denbighshire County Council’s continuing commitment to tackling accommodation waiting times by addressing the need for more local housing provision.

Working in conjunction with their partners, the council’s building control team were successfully recognised for a further two projects in the Local Authority Building Control Awards for Wales, with Llys Awelon winning ‘Best Large Social Housing Development’ and Llysfasi College winning ‘Best Public or Community Building’ respectively.

Llys Elizabeth was one of three projects that the council’s building control team worked in conjunction with partners that successfully won regional awards for their specific category. Throughout the project, partners had a strong working relationship with the building control team to overcome any issues that arose on site, obtaining all necessary certification to allow final certification and the subsequent award nomination.  

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said:

“This nomination is a great reflection of the building control team and the service they provide in a competitive market. The success of these projects is largely based on great collaborative work between different council teams, under our one council approach and a strong working relationship with our external partners.

“We’re very proud to have received this reward and hope that these three sites will become real assets to our communities”.

Cllr Rhys Thomas, Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said:

“We are really pleased to receive this award, and I want to highlight the hard work of all the Council staff and partners for breathing life into this old tax building and making it a wonderful energy efficient home for all of our residents living there, which exemplifies our one council approach.

“We continue to work to make sure homes are available in Denbighshire to meet the needs of our residents. Llys Elizabeth met these needs by giving good accommodation that is affordable as well as offering the highest levels of build quality to support the lowering of energy use and reduce carbon emissions that will result in lower household bills.”

Llys Elizabeth will now go onto the UK LABC Awards in January.

DVSC Key Fund helps to strengthen Denbighshire’s third sector

Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) Key Fund helped increase the sustainability and resilience of third sector organisations across Denbighshire.

The initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which supports the government’s five national missions, including empowering local communities, kickstarting economic growth, and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.

Supported by Denbighshire County Council, this year’s Key Fund has seen strong demand, with 99 applications submitted from a diverse range of organisations and community groups across the county.

Following a rigorous assessment process, 45 applicants were successful, securing vital funding to strengthen their operations. In total, DVSC’s 2025 Key Fund has awarded £212,114 in Capital grants and a further £633,906 in Revenue grants.

These grants are designed to help ensure the resilience and long-term sustainability of Denbighshire’s third sector organisations, many of which deliver essential services to local people.

The Key Fund is a central part of DVSC’s wider work under the UKSPF programme, which runs until 31 March 2026. Alongside grant funding, DVSC is delivering a broad package of support including:

• Free training sessions, masterclasses, and workshops
• A GROW support programme to strengthen governance and strategic planning
• An exciting mentoring programme, matching senior professionals from the corporate and public sectors with third sector groups seeking targeted support

Speaking on the impact of the Key Fund, Tom Barham, Chief Officer of the Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) said:

 “We are delighted to relaunch the Key Fund and to see such strong interest from organisations across Denbighshire. The funding and support available through this programme will help strengthen the resilience of our third sector, enabling groups to grow, adapt, and continue providing vital services for our communities.”

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation said:

“It’s fantastic that so many third sector organisations who deliver such vital services to the County can be supported through the relaunch of the Key Fund as well as other services that the DVSC provide. This is a great example of the strong partnership working that exists between the Council and the voluntary sector, through DVSC”.

The Key Fund represents DVSC’s commitment to empowering local organisations, building stronger communities, and ensuring that the third sector in Denbighshire is equipped to thrive in the years ahead.

Road improvements set for main Denbigh route

Denbighshire County Council Highways will carry out road maintenance on the Vale Street traffic lights junction next month.

Resurfacing work is due to take place from November 2 to November 18.

The work is part of the council’s ongoing road maintenance programme to improve the driving experience for residents and visitors across the county road network.

Traffic during the work will be managed by a mixture of both stop/ go convoy and traffic lights system.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The council is fully aware that the state of Denbighshire’s Road Network is a regular topic from residents. We are working hard to address the state of our roads across the county for the benefit of those who use these routes.

“I would like to also thank our Denbigh residents living in this area and drivers who use this route for their patience while we carry out this important work.”

Further information regarding Highways work is available on our website www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Chairman’s Charity Concert at St Asaph Cathedral

An evening of outstanding Welsh choral music will take place at St Asaph Cathedral on Friday, 21 November at 7.30pm, as part of the Chairman’s Charity Concert.

The concert will feature performances from two renowned local choirs: Meibion Marchan and Côr Rhuthun. Together, they will create a memorable evening in the stunning setting of the Cathedral, one of North Wales’ most iconic landmarks.

The concert has been organised to raise funds for the Chairman’s chosen charities, with all proceeds going to support important causes within the community, namely St Kentigern Hospice and Urdd Gobaith Cymru.

Councillor Arwel Roberts, Chairman of the Council said: “Music has always brought our communities together, and I am delighted that this concert will not only showcase exceptional Welsh talent but also support vital local charities. I look forward to welcoming everyone to what promises to be a wonderful evening.”

Tickets are £12 each and available now from:

• Siop Elfair: Ruthin (01824 702575)
• Siop Clwyd: Denbigh (01745 813431)
• WISH: Rhuddlan (01745 591264)
• Tudor House: Prestatyn (01745 859528)
• Eleri Woolford: 01824 706196 (eleri.woolford@denbighshire.gov.uk)

Denbighshire celebrates Age Friendly status with visit from Older People's Commissioner for Wales

At a celebratory event held at Eirianfa Community Centre in Denbigh on Friday 24^th October, the Ageing Well in Denbighshire team were joined by special guest Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People's Commissioner for Wales to celebrate Denbighshire becoming a member of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

Event held at Eirianfa Community Centre in Denbigh.

During the event, attendees received talks from former and current chairs of the Ageing Well in Denbighshire network, who plotted their journey so far, and how the World Health Organisation Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities membership was achieved.

Commissioner with Youth Club Members and Alison Price, Chief Executive, Age Connects North Wales Central.

An interactive session named ‘Ways to age well’ saw a panel of younger people pose insightful, thoughtful and intriguing questions to a similar sized panel of older citizens, a fun and interesting way to bridge the gap between the older and younger generation.

Question and Answer session.

Older People’s Commissioner Rhian Bowen-Davies led a talk explaining her role and the importance of ageing well, where attendees also had the chance to ask questions.

Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said:

“It was fantastic to be joined in our celebration of becoming of a member of the World Health Organisation’s Network by Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People's Commissioner for Wales.

Celebrating this success would not have been possible without the hard work of dedicated Ageing Well in Denbighshire partners.

It’s a fantastic achievement, but only marks the beginning of our journey to continue to make Denbighshire a great place to grow older.”

Rhian Bowen-Davies, Older People's Commissioner for Wales said:

“It was great to be back in North Wales to celebrate Denbighshire joining the WHO’s Global Network, recognising all of the hard work being delivered across the county to make communities age-friendly and support people to age well.

It was also really interesting to learn more about Denbighshire’s Ageing Well journey so far, and the ways in which the team have worked with older people and other partners to achieve so much, overcoming a range of challenges along the way.

As always, I really enjoyed talking with older people about my role, answering their questions and hearing directly about the change and improvements they’d like to see, which is always hugely valuable.

Thanks to everyone involved for giving me such a warm welcome, and a huge well done for having your achievements recognised on the world stage!” 

Don’t Let Halloween go to waste

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents that they can recycle their spooky items during this year’s Halloween period.

Preparations are underway for spooky pumpkin face carvings to light up the scares at homes across the county on all Hallow’s Eve.

Once finished with, pumpkins need to go in the orange food waste caddy and not the general waste bin. All decorations will also have to be taken off pumpkins before they can be recycled. Pumpkins can be harmful for animals such as Hedgehogs, so it is not advised to leave them out in the garden or outside homes after October 31.

Halloween decorations can be reused each year which will save material use and costs for families. If they are no longer needed they can also be donated to local charity shops for other households to enjoy them.

If residents need to dispose of decorations that are not fit for reuse, remember to use the appropriate container at home or at a recycling and waste park.

Halloween costumes can be reused year on year, and if no longer needed, can also donated to a local charity shop.

As trick or treating takes place it is important to also remember that chocolate, confectionary and sweet wrappers cannot be recycled.

However, batteries used within decorations can be recycled in the appropriate container for the recycling and waste collections service or at a Recycling and Waste Park. It is advised to try to use rechargeable batteries where possible.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We know that every year Halloween is an exciting time for many residents of all ages, with costumes and decorations being proudly displayed across homes and events. Please don’t forget to try and recycle properly during the Halloween period, as we have many forms of recycling help that will support a spooky and greener all Hallow’s Eve.”

New Chief Executive appointed for Denbighshire County Council

Denbighshire County Council has today (Friday, 24 October) announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive.

Helen White, who joins Denbighshire from Taff Housing Association, has been appointed to the role.

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council said: “This is an excellent appointment for Denbighshire and I would like to congratulate and welcome Helen to this new role on behalf of our staff, elected members and residents throughout the county.

“The selection process has been very rigorous and we had a number of strong contenders in the running who all performed to an extremely high standard.

“As a top performing council in Wales which was praised as ‘well-run’ in its Panel Performance Assessment at the end of 2024, Denbighshire has a strong senior team in place and we are now looking forward to working with our new Chief Executive to lead this team and continue that success into the future.”

A Welsh speaker who was raised in Henllan, Helen has been Chief Executive Officer with Taff Housing since 2019.  Having started her career in housing and community development, Helen has over 20 years’ experience working across the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Following her appointment, Helen said, "I'm honoured to be taking on the role of Chief Executive. I know it is a challenging time for so many in our communities, I am looking forward to working alongside dedicated colleagues to help make a positive impact in the county I was born and raised in.

"I want to thank the Leader of the Council and all of the other Elected Members for putting their faith in me as a new Chief Executive."

Team gets set to tackle winter weather

Preparations for the forthcoming Winter Maintenance season are currently underway in Denbighshire.

The Council’s Streetscene are preparing for the onset of potential wintry weather across the county which may cause disruption to the region’s road network.

Current Gritting vehicles are undergoing the pre-season servicing and operatives have completed training where required. New drivers have been added to the existing Winter Maintenance rota alongside new relief drivers to the existing pool.

The Council will also begin to phase out the existing fleet of gritters this year with eight new vehicles on order to help support the future of the service.

Denbighshire’s road network covers little used rural roads to the highest A Class Road in Wales. It also extends to crucial regional strategic routes such as the A55 to narrow tracks serving very isolated properties.

The gritted network is currently split into nine Priority Gritting Routes: four covering the North of the county, three covering the middle of the county with two covering the south of the county.

These nine routes cover approximately 950km and actually treat 605km of the total Denbighshire network which is 1418km.

The nine gritting routes are designed where the following is considered: Roads classed as First Priority Routes to be gritted when conditions dictate are as follows: - A55, A5, A494 Trunk Roads’ All Class 1 and Class 2 Roads i.e. the A and B road network.

Other important County Roads which are through routes with high volumes of traffic; or provide at least one access to centres which respond to emergencies or receive emergency admissions; County Class 2 or 3 Roads, which provide at least one access to towns and villages.

Further assistance is provided by external agricultural contractors during periods of adverse weather and snow conditions, with the network divided into 31 additional routes.

Denbighshire has over 1500 grit bins throughout the county which have been were replenished following the last period of adverse weather the county faced.

The bins will be refilled as needed this winter and those running low can be reported via Denbighshire County Council Website.

Gritting of footways will generally not be carried out.  However, any ice and/or snow on footways in urban areas will receive attention as soon as possible subject to the availability of resources, bearing in mind the high labour intensity of the operation.  Priority will be given to shopping areas, hospital approaches, the vicinity of schools, colleges, health centres, and establishments caring for the elderly.

Each Council depot at Corwen, Ruthin and Bodelwyddan has a minimum and maximum stock level of salt which is maintained, and orders are in place to achieve these levels prior to the start of the season.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “I know last winter this team worked hard across the county to keep our road networks open and safe to use and we are grateful they are gearing up again to support our residents with winter around the corner.

“The work the staff do, who are often on-call throughout the night, to ensure that the roads are safe to use means that residents can continue with minimal disruptions to their day and essential amenities are accessible despite the adverse weather.”  

County EV charging network sparks millions of greener miles

Millions of greener miles of support have been provided by Denbighshire County Council’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network since the first chargers came online.

This Wales Climate Week we take a look back at the impact the growth of the council’s charging network has had on providing a greener public mode of transport for residents and visitors.

The county network sparked into life in June 2021 with rapid chargers at Prestatyn and has since grown with more charging facilities provided at Rhyl, St Asaph, Denbigh, Ruthin, Corwen and Llangollen.

Bringing the network online is part of the council’s continuing work to reduce the county’s carbon footprint and support those drivers who want to transition to electric vehicles but may not have the facilities to charge at home.

Other electric fleet vehicle initiatives are also involved in the council’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, such as the electric powered Ruthin and Denbigh Flecsi bus services.

Since coming online in 2021, the chargers have supported EV drivers by providing 46,200 individual charging sessions to support lower emission public traveling.

That’s the equivalent of 1,100,000 kilowatt hours consumed which would keep 367 Tesla Model 3 cars doing an average of 12,000 miles a year, charged up for the full 12 months. The amount of delivered kilowatt hours would also keep your local supermarket powered up for a full year.

Converting the charging into miles, the EV charging network across Denbighshire has delivered over three million miles for electric powered driving. That’s over 130 trips right around the earth and 950 times hopping on a flight from London to New York. And for a single EV owner, that number of miles generated by the network would keep you driving for well over 250 years.

The UK Government’s 99 percent uptime mandate for public EV charging ports was also introduced last year to make sure EV chargers are constantly working well for drivers who use them. The council’s network is currently running above this target at 99.95 percent.

Work on the additional charging network for a few sites has been supported by grant funding via the UK Government’s Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Chargers at Corwen’s Green Lane were funded by the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The creation of this charging network was an important step in our commitment to help our residents who want to move over to electric vehicles but don’t have the facility or off-road parking to do so. The provision of this network will help more to do so.

“We know also that it is helping local businesses as well who have electric vehicles in their fleet and also those with town premises as more EV users are discovering these locations and visiting local establishments and attractions while charging their vehicles along our network locations.

“With a continuing increase in electric vehicle use it has been important to get this infrastructure in place, not only for the users but also to support tackling climate change impact on our county by helping to reduce carbon emissions on the regions roads.”

Lost habitats are back to breathe life into nature

Nature’s been given a helping hand in Denbighshire for the last six years thanks to a project working to restore lost habitats.

Our Wildflower Meadows Project which started in 2019, aims to restore and increase this habitat in the county as since the 1930s. The UK has lost 97% of its meadow land, with Wales in particular having less than 1% left. This loss has impacted heavily on nature and communities.

The project is also part of our wider Bee Friendly campaign aimed at supporting the recovery of bees and other pollinators across the county

Our meadows are usually left uncut between March and August, except a small border mown around each site, allowing the flowers to set seed, and ensures that the meadow provides the greatest benefit to wildlife.

Cut and collect is carried out at the sites to help to lower the richness of the soil, and create the low-nutrient ground that our native wildflowers and grasses need to thrive.

Grass and wildflower seeds collected from areas around the county have been used to enhance our meadows. Some of the seeds have also been grown on at our tree nursery to produce plug plants. Only using local seeds ensure the plants which then grow are genetically suited to Denbighshire and will be the most beneficial to biodiversity in the area.

Here County Voice takes a look back at some of the project highlights that have benefitted both plant and wildlife across Denbighshire.

During 2021 the Biodiversity team recorded a nationally declining species on the Prestatyn Beach Road West site.

Hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and was previously only recorded in Denbighshire 18 times within the last 116 years.

Seeds were taken from the site to the Council’s tree nursery and thanks to the effort of the staff, new plants germinated for planting on other coastal meadow sites to help expand its range in Denbighshire.

In 2021 Bithynian Vetch, a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae grew on a single project site managed by the Biodiversity team. Since 2019, this was the only place in Wales it was recorded growing in the wild.

During June staff collected a small number of seeds from the Bithynian Vetch. These were taken back to the Council’s tree nursery at St Asaph to be grown on site to help boost the plants dwindling numbers.

An innovative organic method was carried out as well in 2021 to help control the length of grass in a Denbigh meadow.

The site was treated with locally sourced Yellow Rattle seeds. Yellow rattle is a parasitic plant, tapping in to the roots of grasses and other neighbouring plants and stealing their nutrients. This reduces the dominance of grasses within a meadow, allowing more native wildflowers to take hold.

During the 2022 season the Biodiversity team inspected the site and found a reduction in grass length and an increase in wildflowers.  The successful trial meant more food for pollinating insects and their predators

‘Bee Friendly’ really came into its own in 2023 after the Biodiversity team found a new resident at a Ruthin meadow.

A female Tawny mining bee was found resting in a nest on the site. The spring flying bee with dense orange and red hair feed from a variety of flowers which make wildflower meadows the perfect area to locate to.

Tawny mining bees are usually seen from March to June and are common throughout south and central Britain. This showed how designated sites are providing support for local nature to flourish as well by providing plants for pollinators and grass for insect food.

The team also discovered during this season pyramidal orchids at two coastal sites at Prestatyn which was recorded as a first.

And last year a pyramidal orchid was discovered inland at a meadow in Ruthin indicating the network of meadows were really starting to help nature fightback.

This year extra bee orchids were discovered at a meadow in Denbigh which shows the meadows  are working as a combined highway for plants, insects and animals to move across the county, increasing biodiversity as they go.

Orchid produce seeds which are incredibly small (also known as dust seeds). These seeds must come in contact with a special type of mycorrhizal fungi that will help the orchid seed germinate and aid it in its early growth. Each orchid tends to have a particular mycorrhizal fungi that it partners with, so unless the soil conditions are right for the fungi, orchids won’t grow. The resurgence of orchid shows the project in 2025 is heading in the right direction, and the meadows are continuing their journey to recovery.

Working Denbighshire helps residents overcome barriers to employment

Working Denbighshire provides tailored support to residents across the county who are facing barriers to employment, including low confidence, anxiety, and limited work experience. Through mentoring, volunteering opportunities, and skills development, the service helps individuals build confidence and move closer to their goals.

One example of this support is Derek, who was referred to Working Denbighshire through the Job Centre a few years ago. At the time, Derek was experiencing low confidence, anxiety, and lacked the skills and experience needed to enter the workforce.

With guidance from the Working Denbighshire team and through a volunteering placement at St Kentigern’s Warehouse, Derek has made significant progress. He’s now actively working towards a career in IT support or administration.

Derek, Working Denbighshire participant said:

“At one point I was extremely shy, with bad anxiety and no confidence.

“I never thought I’d get to where I am now, but with support from Working Denbighshire and through volunteering, I’ve overcome so many barriers.

“I know the younger me would be proud of how far I’ve come.”

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation, said:

“Derek’s journey is a brilliant example of the positive impact Working Denbighshire can have on people’s lives.

“It’s about more than just finding a job, it’s about helping people unlock their potential, overcome personal barriers, and feel confident in their future.

“We’re proud to support residents like Derek on their journey towards employment.”

Derek continues to build his skills and experience through volunteering and is determined to secure a full-time role in the near future.

His journey forms part of the Working Denbighshire Complex Disabilities and Mental Health Team’s wider “Work Works” campaign, which highlights the positive impact that working, or taking steps towards work can have on people’s lives. Whether it’s improving wellbeing, gaining confidence, meeting new people, or learning new skills, the campaign shares real stories from across Denbighshire to inspire others.

Working Denbighshire is a free service that helps residents access training, find employment, and build confidence in their job search. Anyone looking for support can get in touch by visiting our website.

Working Denbighshire is part funded through the Welsh Government Communities for Work Plus Programme which supports those most disadvantaged in the labour market to overcome the barriers preventing them from gaining employment.

Working Denbighshire is part funded by UK Government.

Save time, save money and power Wales to No.1 in the world for recycling this autumn!

Autumn is here, the holidays are behind us, and routines are back in full swing. Whether you’re juggling work, studies, or family life, autumn is the perfect time to reset habits – especially in the kitchen. That’s why Denbighshire County Council has partnered with Wales Recycles to show how cooking smart can help you save time and money, reduce waste, and make it easier than ever to enjoy your 5-a-day …all while helping Wales on its journey to becoming the world’s number one recycling nation.

We’re already proud to be second in the global recycling league – just behind Austria – but food waste is where we can make the biggest impact. A quarter of the average rubbish bin in Wales is still made up of food, and over 80% of that could have been eaten. That wasted food costs the average household of four around £84 every month. That’s money (and meals) straight in the bin!

By getting smarter with your meals and recycling what you can’t eat, you’ll cut down on waste, save money, and easily pack in more of your 5-a-day – all while helping Wales reach the top spot. And we’re going to show you how simple it can be.

Cook once, serve multiple times: Prep it. Flex it. Recycle it!

With the evenings getting darker and time often in short supply, autumn is the season for easy, no-fuss comfort food. The idea is simple: Prep it. Flex it. Recycle it.

Cook up a simple base dish with everyday ingredients, then add a few extras to keep it fresh and tasty. Serve it up in different ways over the week so you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meals.

And don’t forget – the bits you can’t eat, like peelings, stalks, bones or eggshells, should go straight into your food caddy. Food waste in Wales is turned into renewable energy. Just one caddy full can power a typical home for an hour! Here are 3 easy, simple recipes to get you started.

Jazzed-up stew – hearty, simple & flexible

This anything-goes stew is made for autumn evenings when you want something warming without too much effort. Start with a simple base of onion, garlic, tinned tomatoes, stock and your choice of protein - leftover meat, beans or lentils. Then add in whatever veg you’ve got to hand and let it simmer into something rich and hearty.

The beauty of this dish is how it can change through the week: enjoy it first with crusty bread, then ladle it over mashed potato the next night, and later in the week top it with pastry or mash to turn it into a pie. And remember, any onion skins, carrot tops, pepper stalks or bones go in your food caddy to be turned into green energy.

Mix ’n’ Match Curry – big flavour, minimal effort

Begin by frying onion, garlic and ginger, then stir through curry spices or paste. Add your choice of protein, whether that’s chicken, lentils or tofu, before pouring in tinned tomatoes or coconut milk. Bulk it out with whatever’s in season - pumpkin, peppers, mushrooms, spinach or beans all work brilliantly.

Once cooked, you can enjoy it with rice for a classic dinner, wrap it up in a flatbread for a quick lunch, or spoon it over a baked potato when you need something speedy. Don’t to recycle what you can’t eat to power Wales to No.1.

Healthy Fruit Crumble – simple, warming & versatile

When it comes to autumn comfort, nothing beats a fruit crumble. It’s simple to make and surprisingly versatile too. Just mix oats, flour and a little honey or syrup with butter to create a golden crumble topping, then bake it over soft seasonal fruit like apples, pears, plums or blackberries, with a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg for extra warmth.

Once baked, you can enjoy it hot from the oven with custard or ice cream, serve it cold with yoghurt for a wholesome breakfast, or even use it as a crunchy topping on toast spread with nut butter. As for the apple cores, pear stalks and plum stones - they all belong in your food caddy, ready to be recycled into clean, green energy.

Take the Smart Food Challenge and win a delicious Welsh prize

Head over to Wales Recycles to take the Smart Food Challenge, discover more smart recipes that will save you time and money, and be in with a chance of winning a delicious Welsh prize.

£66m scheme protects hundreds of properties in Rhyl from flooding

The largest project within the Welsh Government’s Coastal Risk Management Programme officially opened on Thursday 9 October.

Rhyl Coast (Picture: Balfour Beatty)

The £66m Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme will protect almost 600 properties in Rhyl from flooding and coastal erosion for decades to come.

85% of the construction costs have been funded by the Welsh Government, with the Deputy First Minister labelling the project a ‘significant milestone’ in efforts to protect Welsh communities from the growing threats of climate change. Denbighshire County Council contributed the remaining 15%.

The project has also supported the local economy by employing 34 local people, creating six new jobs and supporting 132 weeks of apprenticeships, building skills and careers in crucial industries. Hundreds of students were also engaged throughout thanks to curricular activities and work experience.

The scheme will protect 548 residential and 44 non-residential properties in Rhyl, safeguarding homes, businesses and the vital tourist economy that supports the local community.

Cllr Arwel Roberts, Chair of Denbighshire County Council, Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister, and Cllr Jason McLellan Leader of Denbighshire County Council 

Attending the official opening, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said:

“This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to keeping families and businesses safe from coastal flooding whilst supporting the local economy that so many depend upon.

“The completion of this project underlines the Welsh Government's recognition that investing in coastal protection is not just about infrastructure but also protecting livelihoods, preserving communities, and ensuring Wales is resilient in the face of our changing climate.

“The people of Rhyl can now face the future with greater confidence, knowing their community is better protected against the forces of nature.”

The Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme forms part of the Welsh Government's £291m Coastal Risk Management Programme, which is responding directly to the challenges posed by climate change.

Over five years, the programme will fund 15 schemes across Wales, benefitting almost 14,000 properties and providing thousands of families and businesses with enhanced protection from coastal flooding.

The Welsh Government's annual Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Programme will invest £300m over the course of this government term, including additional schemes benefitting coastal communities across Wales.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport at Denbighshire County Council, said: “Having witnessed the devastating effects of the coastal flooding which hit Rhyl on December 5, 2013, this work is particularly close to my heart.

“The Council opened Rhyl Leisure Centre at that time as an evacuation centre due to the severe flooding, and the sight of my residents coming in soaking wet clinging to their loved animals will never leave me.

“I still have residents coming up to me to this day saying how grateful they are as they now can sleep at night without having to worry about their homes flooding, so I’m so pleased to see the completion of this part of the project which will now give peace of mind to residents and business owners in Rhyl.

“The completion of the coastal defence schemes in Prestatyn, East Rhyl and now Central Rhyl is testament to the excellent working partnerships developed during these three projects and on behalf of the Council I must extend my gratitude to Balfour Beatty who have done a fantastic job of delivering these three schemes ahead of schedule and under budget.”

Kay Slade, Area Director at Balfour Beatty, said: "We are proud to have delivered this vital scheme which will protect hundreds of homes and businesses in Rhyl and stands as a reminder of the positive impact that well-planned, sustainable infrastructure can have on local communities.

“Beyond enhancing coastal resilience, this project has supported local jobs, created new opportunities, and helped to build critical skills that will serve the region well into the future."

The scheme’s opening comes as Natural Resources Wales holds its annual ‘Be Flood Ready’ week, encouraging people to check their flood risk online, sign up for free flood warnings and know what to do if flooding is forecast in their area this winter. Find out more here.

Ever wondered where your Council tax goes?

Many people think that Council tax pays for everything that a local authority delivers, however, the money collected from residents annually only accounts for 26% of total Council spending.

The majority of funding (62%) comes in the form of a ‘Revenue Support Grant’ from Welsh Government, while the remaining 12% comes from business rates which is a property tax that businesses pay to help fund local services. You can find out more about how the Council is funded on our website.

So where does your Council tax actually go? We’ve produced an infographic based on a Band D property council tax bill to help give a clear explanation of how council tax payments are used to fund the range of services for residents in the county. While this infographic gives a picture of how the money is shared between different services, understanding what residents gets for that money is really important.

As you can see, the majority of council tax spending goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in our society, with 66% spent on schools and education and adult and children’s social care.

With Education accounting for 36.7%, it means that Denbighshire can educate approximately 16,500 pupils in 44 primary schools, 2 all-through schools, 2 special schools, 6 secondary schools and 1 pupil referral unit across the county, with approximately 780 teachers delivering this education

Still in the field of education, school transport accounts for 2.9% for which the Council transports approximately 2,871 learners safely to schools throughout the county. In total, there are 650 school bus and taxi trips every school day.

Meanwhile, adult and children’s social care accounts for 29.8% of Council tax spending. For this, in 2024-2025, an average of 668 members of staff had over 25,000 contacts with the most vulnerable children and adults and provided a package of care and support where necessary giving these residents the opportunity to exercise choice, voice and control over their lives.

In other service areas, 1.9% goes towards public protection and environmental health and the Council’s teams inspects approximately 720 restaurants, cafes and take aways every year to ensure they’re operating safely for the residents of Denbighshire.

Emptying bins and recycling accounts for 1.8% of your council tax bill, which equates to £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property). That involves collecting around 73,000 containers from over 47,000 households every week across the county.

For 1.8% of council tax, we maintain 1,419km of carriageways (excluding trunk roads), 601 highway bridges and culverts, 302 retaining walls and 26,000 gullies. And for 0.8%, we maintain 11,763 street lights and 1,547 illuminated signs and bollards throughout the county.

Other services residents may not be aware that are delivered by the Council are the Countryside and Heritage Services. With 1.1% of council tax going to the countryside service, the teams manage over 80 sites and more than 1,200 hectares of public green for both recreation and conservation. These range from the Country Parks of Loggerheads and Moel Famau, the county tree nursery at St. Asaph, Brickfield Pond in Rhyl, Prestatyn Dyserth Way, Llantysilio Green in the Dee Valley and numerous smaller amenity community spaces across the county.

While the heritage service accounts for 0.9% of Council tax spending and for this, the service preserves and promotes the county’s unique history, caring for important historic sites including Ruthin Gaol, Plas Newydd, Nantclwyd Y Dre, Rhyl Museum (based in the library) and a large collection store. This work ensures Denbighshire’s rich history remains accessible for education, wellbeing, and enjoyment.

Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council tax spending and for that the Local Planning Authority processes around 1,000 planning applications each year alongside 10-20 appeals and 50-100 pre-application enquiries. We also respond to over 500 planning compliance cases.

Libraries account for 0.5% of Council tax spending and in 24-25, Libraries delivered 514 Bookstart sessions to nearly 6,500 children for this money. It also lent  2,869 audiobooks to 1,028 library members on Borrowbox (part of the Digital Offer) and printed over 56,000 pages on public access printers.

Not all Council tax collected pays for council services, 2.5% goes towards the Fire service to contribute to the funding of fire protection and prevention across the county.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance at Denbighshire County Council said, “I am pleased to see the production and release of this infographic information. It will, I hope, provide residents with the context they need in order to understand how their council tax payments are used to support the breadth of services delivered by the Council.

“In what is a continuing financially challenging climate, I think it’s important to be open and clear about the costs and the pressures. It’s also important to emphasise that many of the aspects of expenditure are, quite rightly, aimed towards the legal requirement to provide Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, and Education etc. These are the areas that support the most vulnerable in our society.”

Walking group given insight into council path network

A Vale of Clwyd group were recently given a special exploration of Denbighshire’s footpaths to mark a milestone anniversary.

The Vale of Clwyd Group of Ramblers Cymru recently celebrated 30 years of its existence, delivering regular walks across the area and further afield for hikers, with a ramble around the paths of Denbigh and a lunch and presentation at the Eirianfa Centre in Denbigh.

Adrian Walls, Rights of Way Officer for Denbighshire County Council, gave the group a presentation on the length and breadth of the council’s path network across the county.

He helped provided ideas for the group’s future planned walks and thanked them also for their assistance in helping manage the network through their walking excursions.

Gritting fleet test run

Denbighshire County Council winter maintenance crews will be completing a test run of our gritter fleet on Wednesday 12th November in readiness for the impending winter season. In recent weeks the team has been replenishing road salt stocks and calibrating the spreaders on our gritter fleet and the test run is essential to ensure that our vehicles are functioning correctly ahead of our first spell of sub-zero temperatures across the county.

Trading Standards team to host free electric blanket testing sessions

Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards team are set to host free Electric Blanket testing sessions at Prestatyn Library on the 25 November.

The Trading Standards Team will be screen testing the blankets and will test any double or single electric blanket as long as all leads, controls and plugs associated with the electric blankets are brought along for testing.

No appointments are necessary, and the drop-in session will run from 10.00am until 4.00pm. If electric blankets are found to have failed the safety test, a new one will be provided free of charge (subject to availability). Any blankets over 10 years old will automatically fail.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said:

“Electric blankets have become more and more popular as the colder weather has increased. Whilst they are great for keeping warm, it is important that they are maintained properly to ensure that they are safe.

“I would encourage Denbighshire residents to pop into one of the drop-in sessions to learn more about these blankets.”

For more information about Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards Team, please visit our website. 

For more information about this event please contact 01824 706057.

Road maintenance update for November

Our Highways department undertake maintenance schemes across the county.

We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of 1,400 kilometres of Denbighshire roads. Our teams carry out a regular programme of works to maintain and improve our roads, which ranges from the repair of potholes right up to resurfacing schemes.

Roads may need to be closed for us to carry out the patching, drainage and other supporting works.

November’s strategic Highways work is listed below:

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our Highways teams are regularly working all year around to support and maintain the routes we have across the county. We would like to thank our residents for their patience and support this month as we carry out this important work.”

Dates of work may be subject to change due to the weather or other external factors.

For all roadwork information across Denbighshire roads including other Council services and utility companies please visit this link for further information.

Over 100 attendees at successful caravan weighing sessions

Denbighshire and Conwy trading standard teams saw over 100 attendees at their free caravan weighing and advice sessions over the summer.

Held over four different sessions between June and August at the weighbridge on the A525 between Rhuddlan and St Asaph, the sessions offered an opportunity for residents and visitors to learn more about the dangerous of overloading caravans to themselves and other road users.

Following a trend of increasing road traffic incidents involving touring and motor caravans on the A55, the project started over six years ago and has seen an increase in people attending the sessions year upon year.

Not only have these sessions been used to warn and inform residents, but they have also been used to train Denbighshire and Conwy trading standards officers.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning said:

“Following the success of similar public sessions held in the past, it was decided that it would be useful to conduct these sessions once again.

“The feedback from residents and visitors that attended the free sessions was positive and it’s important that the public are aware of the potential dangerous when overloading their caravans or campervans”.

For more information on the council’s trading standards team or to get in contact visit our website.

Young people urged to claim their savings

Many young adults in Denbighshire could have an average of £2,200 waiting for them in their unclaimed Child Trust Fund account.

Child Trust Funds were introduced by the UK Government in 2005. Accounts were opened for almost 6 million children born in the UK between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011.

Nearly half of Child Trust Funds in Wales remain unclaimed. According to the Share Foundation, around 1240 accounts are still unclaimed in Denbighshire.

Young people aged 16 or over can take control of their own Child Trust Fund, although the funds can only be withdrawn once they turn 18. Families can continue to pay up to £9,000 a year tax-free into a Child Trust Fund until the account matures. The money stays in the account until the child withdraws or reinvests it into another account. If a parent or guardian could not set up an account for their child, the government opened a savings account on the child’s behalf.

Every 16-year-old is sent information about finding their Child Trust Fund from HMRC with their National Insurance letter. Anyone unsure about their situation should check with their bank or building society. Alternatively, young adults and parents can also search on www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds to find out where their Child Trust Fund account is held.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets said:

“I strongly encourage all eligible young people to check their accounts and claim what is rightfully theirs. The investment could be placed into an adult ISA or put towards their education, housing or driving lessons.

I would urge young people to use the online tool to track it down or, for parents of teenagers, to speak to them to ensure they’re aware of their Child Trust Fund. It could make a real difference to their future particularly at a time when finances are tight.”

The Child Trust Fund scheme closed in January 2011 and was replaced with Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISA).

For more information on Child Trust Funds, visit www.gov.uk/child-trust-funds. Alternatively, visit https://www.meiccymru.org/do-you-have-money-hiding-in-a-child-trust-fund/, text 07943 114449 or call 080880 23456.

Pension Credit Week of Action: The Credit that keeps giving

Pension Credit does more than provide direct financial help – it unlocks a range of support* that could save eligible pensioners hundreds of pounds each year.  

Four ways Pension Credit helps pensioners save: 

1. Housing costs: Pension Credit could help reduce your housing expenses. Eligible pensioners might also qualify for Council Tax Reduction to lower their council tax bill, Housing Benefit if they're renting, or Support for Mortgage Interest if they own their home. 

1. Energy bills:  Pension Credit can open access to additional energy support. Eligible pensioners could receive the Warm Home Discount to reduce electricity costs and Cold Weather Payments during particularly cold spells.  

1. Health and wellbeing: Pension Credit may provide access to essential free NHS services. This includes dental treatment and help with transport costs for hospital appointments. 

1. TV Licence: Pensioners aged 75 or over who are eligible for Pension Credit qualify for a free TV licence.  

If you’re aware of pensioners who could benefit or who may be eligible for Pension Credit, but unaware of the extra support it could provide for them, please share these messages with them.

To find out more visit the gov.uk website for full details and to apply.

 *Eligibility criteria apply. Pension Credit has two parts – Guarantee Pension Credit and Savings Pension Credit. You may be able to get one or both parts depending on your circumstances. The type of Pension Credit you get may affect which passported benefits you automatically get.  

Road maintenance update for October

Our Highways department undertake maintenance schemes across the county.

We are responsible for the maintenance and repair of 1,400 kilometres of Denbighshire roads. Our teams carry out a regular programme of works to maintain and improve our roads, which ranges from the repair of potholes right up to resurfacing schemes.

Roads may need to be closed for us to carry out the patching, drainage and other supporting works.

October’s strategic Highways work is listed below:

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Our Highways teams are regularly working all year around to support and maintain the routes we have across the county. We would like to thank our residents for their patience and support this month as we carry out this important work.”

Dates of work may be subject to change due to the weather or other external factors.

For all roadwork information across Denbighshire roads including other Council services and utility companies please visit this link for further information.

Discovering Denbighshire

Looking to discover more of Denbighshire?

Why not take inspiration from our walking and cycling maps for new ideas of places to visit.

For more inspiration on activities in and around Denbighshire visit - https://www.northeastwales.wales/  

Fancy learning something new?

The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador scheme is a free, online training course to enhance your knowledge and deepen your understanding of the Denbighshire tourism offer.

There are 14 modules to choose from on a variety of themes including walking, cycling, food, arts, coast, history and sustainable tourism.

Watch our short film highlighting the course.

Visit www.ambassador.wales and get started today!

More areas to receive Flying Start assistance in Denbighshire

Further areas within Denbighshire are now set to receive assistance through the Flying Start childcare scheme.

The expanded areas now cover Rhyl, Prestatyn, Meliden, Rhuddlan, Dyserth, Denbigh, Corwen, Llangollen, Llandrillo, Llanfair DC and are applicable to families who have a child who turned 2 years old between 1^st September 2024 and 31st August 2025.

This expansion means that families in the new areas will be eligible for up to 12 ½ hours of funded childcare per week during term time. With more settings offering funded Flying Start Childcare, and new postcodes being added regularly, families are encouraged to check their postcode using the postcode checker on the website.

Denbighshire Flying Start is a Welsh Government funded programme. The aim of the programme is to help children to have the best possible start in life for their future growth and development.

Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said:

“This latest expansion of the Flying Start scheme will mean that more Denbighshire families can now get access to the free childcare provision. This assistance is a massive help for parents and families.

Residents in the newly expanded areas can check if their postcode is eligible through the postcode checker.”

For more information please visit our website. 

Highlighting Denbighshire's main towns

Our Tourism Team have been highlighting each of our main towns in their North-East Wales blog.

You can find out more in their blog

Did you know you can watch live and recorded video webcasts of Council committee meetings?

You can watch live and recorded video webcasts of Council committee meetings at any time.

All the related papers are also available for you to see.

If you want to know more about what’s happening in the Council, look at the calendar of meetings to find out what’s going on.

Did you know that 1.8% of Council Tax spending goes on emptying bins and recycling?

Emptying bins and recycling accounts for 1.8% of your Council Tax bill, which equates to £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property).

For that, the Council collects approximately 73,000 containers from over 47,000 households every week across the county.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that roads and infrastructure accounts for 1.8% of Council Tax spending?

Roads and infrastructure accounts for 1.8% of Council Tax spending.

Within that, the service is responsible for 1,419km of carriageways (excluding trunk roads), 601 highway bridges and culverts, 302 retaining walls and 26,000 gullies.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Part of Council Tax spending goes towards the Fire Service?

Part of Council Tax spending goes towards the Fire Service.

Not all Council Tax collected pays for council services, 2.5% goes towards the Fire service. To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website.

Working Denbighshire has its own section on our website?

Working Denbighshire has a section on the Council's website. Working Denbighshire is here to help residents aged 16 and over who might be struggling or worrying about money. Whether you’re looking for work or need support to get back on your feet, we’re here to guide you towards a better future. Why not have a look on our website.

Did you know?

Schools and education accounts for 36.7% of Council Tax spending, and social care accounts for 29.8% which means that over 66% of your Council Tax goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in society.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website.

Did you know that single use vapes are being banned in Wales from 1 June?

Single use vapes have been banned in Wales since 1 June.

The ban includes vapes containing nicotine, non-nicotine, CBD and other health/vitamin devices, and the Council’s Trading Standards team is encouraging Denbighshire businesses to switch to reusable products before the ban comes into place.

You can find out more on our website.

Did you know that all primary

All primary aged children are eligible for free school meals through the Universal Primary Free School Meals scheme? This is a Welsh Government initiative which has been set up to help with the rising costs-of-living. You can find out more information on the Council's website.

Council Tax only accounts for 25% of total Council funding

Council Tax only accounts for 25% of total Council funding. When you pay your annual Council Tax bill, 1.8% of that pays for waste and recycling collections - the equivalent of £32.89 per year (based on a Band D property council tax of £1,799.48 per year). Most of Council Tax spending goes towards the most vulnerable in society - schools and education is the biggest expenditure accounting for 36.7% while adult and social care accounts for 29.8%. Find out more on our website

Denbighshire Youth Service

That Denbighshire Youth Service is open to everyone aged 11 to 25 years. They offer social activities and opportunities to develop interests as well as help and support for anyone that needs it. To find a youth club near you or for help and support for children and young people, please visit our website.

Did you know that street lighting accounts for 0.8% of Council Tax spending?

Street lighting accounts for 0.8% of Council Tax spending.

For that, the Council maintains 11,763 street lights and 1,547 illuminated signs and bollards throughout the county.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that 1.1% of Council Tax spending goes towards Countryside Services?

1.1% of Council Tax spending goes towards Countryside Services and for that, the service manages over 80 countryside sites and over 1,200 hectares of public green, for both recreation and conservation.

These range from the Country Parks of Loggerheads and Moel Famau, the County Tree Nursery at St. Asaph, Brickfields Pond in Rhyl, Prestatyn Dyserth Way, Llantysilio Green in the Dee Valley and numerous smaller amenity community spaces across the County.

The Service has specialist team covering Ecology and Trees throughout the County, the National Landscape designation, recreation and rights of way, organises nature for health walks and events and manages the Countryside Centre at Loggerheads and catering at Plas Newydd.   

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council Tax spending?

Planning and economic development accounts for 0.7% of Council Tax spending.

The Local Planning Authority processes around 1,000 planning applications per year alongside 10-20 appeals and 50-100 pre-application enquiries.

The Authority also respond to over 500 planning compliance cases.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that Denbighshire Heritage Service accounts for 0.9% of Council Tax spending?

Denbighshire Heritage Service accounts for 0.9% of Council Tax spending. For that it preserves and promotes the county’s unique history, caring for important historic sites, including Ruthin Gaol, Plas Newydd, Nantclwyd Y Dre, Rhyl Museum (based in the library) and a large collection store.

This ensures Denbighshire’s rich history remains accessible for education, wellbeing, and enjoyment.

Through our attractions, events, and learning programmes, we support local pride, cultural tourism, and the economy while protecting heritage for future generations.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Downloading eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers etc

You can download eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines and newspapers for free using the Borrowbox app? All you need is your library card and PIN. Not a library member? It’s free to join online www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

Did you know that school transport accounts for 2.9% of Council Tax spending?

School transport accounts for 2.9% of Council Tax spending and for that the Council transports approximately 2,871 learners safely to 75 schools throughout the county.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Working Denbighshire offers free, weekly wellbeing sessions

Working Denbighshire offers free, weekly wellbeing sessions across the county - from drop-ins and wellness walks to youth support and confidence-building activities. They're open to all Denbighshire residents aged 16+, and they’re completely free! Check out the latest timetable and events here. 

Did you know that 1.9% of Council Tax spending goes towards public protection and environmental health?

1.9% of Council Tax spending goes towards public protection and environmental health and as part of this, the Council inspects approximately 720 restaurants, cafes and take aways every year to ensure that these premises are operating safely for the residents of Denbighshire.

In addition, the Council responds to over 1,200 requests a year relating for housing and pollution.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know that 29.8% of Council Tax spending goes towards adult and children’s social care?

29.8% of Council Tax spending goes towards adult and children’s social care. And with 36.7% going to schools and education, this means that over 66% of your Council Tax goes towards protecting the most vulnerable in society.

To find out more about how your Council Tax is spent visit our website

Did you know the Council’s Licensing Team have launched their new service standards.

The Council’s Licensing Team have launched their new service standards. It explains what you can expect when applying for licences, during inspections and enforcement, and how to get in contact or provide feedback. For more information visit our website.

Major road maintenance programme

Denbighshire County Council has announced which road areas will benefit from a major Welsh Government funded road maintenance programme. More here

Fiction Fest at Denbighshire Libraries

This autumn Denbighshire Libraries have a fantastic line up of authors to brighten up the dark days. When it is cold outside what could be better than curling up with a good book but if you need some inspiration for your next read why not join us at our free events.

We are very excited to be joined by two fantastic Welsh authors. Prestatyn based author Rebecca Roberts won a 2021 Tir na n-Og Award and the 2021 Book of the Year with her first Young Adult novel, #Helynt. Rebecca writes adult and young adult books, titles include Mudferwi, Chwerwfelys, Diwedd y gan and Eat Sleep Rage Repeat.

Marlyn Samuel’s novels are full of romance and humour, and her latest book, Yr Ail Briodas, is due to be published in November.

Simon McCleave is a multi-million selling author based in North Wales, author of the brilliant DI Ruth Hunter series, which includes the Denbigh Asylum Killings. Simon also now has a series set in Anglesey, and a new series featuring Marshal of Snowdonia.

If you enjoy cosy crime join us at St Asaph Library when Margaret Holbrook will be introducing us to Jack France, a dashing, young and single motor racing driver, who is also an amateur sleuth.

In contrast there will be 'Murder and Mayhem' at Rhuddlan Library with local author David Ebsworth. The author reveals some of the “stranger than fiction” true stories which helped him find original ways to kill off some of his characters and create the background to his various historical thrillers and crime novels. Not for those of a nervous disposition!

Fans of true crime will enjoy meeting bestselling author Sion Tecwyn, who will be talking about his latest book, Murder on Ynys Môn; The Anglesey Crossbow Killing, in which he explores the events leading up to the brutal murder and the subsequent investigation.

Gene Moran’s book, Running on the Spectrum, is largely autobiographical, drawing on his experiences in special education. Gene will talk about his journey through education, challenges, and personal growth, and also the writing and publishing process.

Although it’s not fiction we are also being joined by local writer Graham Edwards, who will be giving a talk on Richard Jones Berwyn and his remarkable life in Patagonia.

Cllr Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, said:

“It’s fantastic to see our libraries hosting such a vibrant celebration of reading and creativity. Fiction Fest is a wonderful opportunity for residents to meet talented authors, discover new stories, and be inspired to read and write more. Our libraries play a vital role in bringing communities together, and this festival shows just how much they continue to enrich cultural life here in Denbighshire.”

If you would like to get into writing why not join our writing masterclass at Rhyl Library. Acclaimed children's author and poet, Oliver Sykes will share his top tips and tricks on how to find your writing voice, how to put yourself at the heart of your writing and how to write a stand out story for children, as well as discussing pathways into publishing.

Hopefully there is something everyone can enjoy in this free programme of events – just contact the relevant library to book your place, or book online https://denbighshire.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRNGEN/OPAC/EVENTS

Information on our libraries can be found on our website.

Chairman's Charity Concert at St Asaph Cathedral

Councillor Arwel Roberts, Chairman of the Council invites you to his charity concert in the company of two renowned local choirs: Meibion Marchan and Côr Rhuthun.

Concert details:

      📅 Friday, 21 November

      🕢 7.30pm

      📍 St Asaph Cathedral

Tickets for the concert are £12 and are available from:

• Siop Elfair: Rhuthun/Ruthin (01824 702575)
• Siop Clwyd: Dinbych/Denbigh (01745 813431)
• WISH: Rhuddlan (01745 591264)
• Tudor House: Prestatyn (01745 859528)
• Eleri Woolford: 01824 706196 (eleri.woolford@sirddinbych.gov.uk)

All proceeds from the concert will go the Chairman’s chosen charities namely St Kentigern Hospice and Urdd Gobaith Cymru.