News
Tributes to Councillor Win Mullen-James
It is with great sadness that Denbighshire County Council learned of the death of Councillor Win Mullen-James who passed away suddenly on Wednesday 1st May.
Councillor Mullen-James was elected to represent Rhyl South-East Ward from May 2012 until May 2017.
In May of 2022, Councillor Mullen-James was then elected to represent the Trellewelyn Ward in Rhyl and was the Lead Member for Local Development and Planning.
She was a valued member of Cabinet and also sat on the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Joint Committee, Licensing Committee and Planning Committee. In addition, she was a Councillor on Rhyl Town Council and served as Mayor of Rhyl from 2018 to 2019.
Paying tribute, Leader of the Council, Councillor Jason McLellan said:
“I was shocked and extremely saddened to hear the awful news. I have known Win for many years, through the Labour party, a councillor and more recently as a valued member of the cabinet. Win was an extremely hard-working councillor who always put her residents first. As a cabinet member she was highly regarded and respected. Her years of public service is a testament to her dedication. I will miss her as a colleague and as a friend. All my thoughts are with her husband Alan and her wider family at this very difficult time.”
Councillor Peter Scott, Chair of Denbighshire County Council said:
“Win will be sadly missed by all, especially Alan, who was a great help to me during my sad time, along with all the other councillors.
I'm sure Pete P, Brian and Sue will have sorted out a place for her at God's top table.
Alan, you and your family have my sympathy, but we will always have our precious memories. Goodbye Win.”
Councillor Scott went on to say:
“On behalf of the entire Council, I would like to express my deepest condolences to her husband, Councillor Alan James, her family and friends. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.”
Changes to Denbighshire Libraries Opening Hours
From 1 June the opening hours of Denbighshire Libraries and One Stop Shops will be changing.
The new hours have been informed and tweaked by Library staff, Library users and the numerous responses to the public consultation to fit each individual Library’s needs on a case by case basis.
The full array of library services are being maintained, and a full programme of activities will be available to users throughout Denbighshire. For example, the extremely popular Bookstart rhymetime sessions are continuing, and people will still be able to drop into their local Talking Point to find out what help and support is available in their local area, but there may be some changes to specific times.
The Digital Library offering will continue to be available 24/7, giving library members free access to eBooks, audiobooks and ePress via the Borrowbox app, and digital magazines via the Libby app.
The new opening hours are as below and will be implemented from 1 June:
| CORWEN LIBRARY |
|
LLANGOLLEN LIBRARY |
| Monday |
10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm |
Wednesday |
2pm - 5pm |
| Tuesday |
10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm |
Thursday |
10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm |
| Wednesday |
10am - 1pm |
Friday |
10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm |
| |
|
Saturday |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
| Denbigh Library |
Ruthin Library |
| Monday |
10am - 5pm |
Monday |
10am - 5pm |
| Wednesday |
10am - 6pm |
Tuesday |
10am - 6pm |
| Friday |
12pm - 5pm |
Thursday |
12pm - 5pm |
| Saturday |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
Saturday |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
| St Asaph Library |
Rhuddlan Library |
| Monday |
10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm |
Monday |
9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5pm |
| Wednesday |
10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm |
Wednesday |
9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5pm |
| Saturday |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
Thursday |
1.30pm - 5pm |
| |
|
Friday |
9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5pm |
| Prestatyn Library |
Rhyl Library |
| Monday |
10am - 5pm |
Tuesday |
10am - 5pm |
| Tuesday |
10am - 5pm |
Wednesday |
12pm - 5pm |
| Friday |
10am - 5pm |
Thursday |
10am - 5pm |
| Saturday |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
Friday |
10am - 2pm |
| |
|
Saturday |
9.30am - 12.30pm |
Liz Grieve, Head of Housing & Communities Service said:
“We have tried to choose hours that benefit each Library’s specific needs and create a balance between location and opening times.
No Library within Denbighshire is closing its doors permanently through these changes, and the core Library services that our residents have come to know and love have been protected and are fully accessible during these new hours.
We are looking forward to working with partners and community groups so that we can continue to keep libraries at the heart of our local communities.”
Childcare offer to expand in Denbighshire
The Flying Start childcare offer is set to expand further into Denbighshire, with more areas soon to be covered in Dyserth, Rhuddlan and Denbigh. The offer is set to be available towards the second half of this year.
To fully introduce the offer to these new areas and help participants with registration, a series of introductory celebratory sessions will be held over the May half term period. Invites to these sessions will be sent via post to eligible households within the newer areas.
These sessions will include valuable information for parents, as well as fun activities for kids including Messy play, Soft play, Face painting and special guests.
The offer has already been expanded to more areas in Prestatyn, Meliden and Rhyl over the last few months, enabling more families with Children aged 2-3 to access the 12 ½ hours of funded childcare.
Children living in eligible Flying Start postcode areas can access this funded childcare provision from the beginning of the term following their second birthday, up to the end of the term in which they celebrate their third birthday.
Rhiain Morrlle, Head of Children's Services said:
"The Flying Start Childcare offer has been expanded to more areas in Prestatyn, Meliden and Rhyl over the last few months, meaning that many more Denbighshire families with Children aged 2-3 now have access the 12 ½ hours of funded childcare.
Over the recent Easter holidays a number of sessions were held for local families which featured Easter Bunny, Alice in Wonderland, Soft play, Messy play and face paints. They also provided registration information for parents.
The offer will soon be expanding to areas in Dyserth, Rhuddlan and Denbigh, and introductory sessions for eligible families will be held over the May half term, with the invites being sent out soon.”
To find out more and to check your postcode, please visit: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/flying-start
Public Consultation and Information Sessions: Projects in Ruthin
The next public consultation session is at the Ruthin Rugby Club on Friday, 10 May (2pm - 7pm)
New Denbighshire People and Skills Key Fund Grant
Is your organisation active in Denbighshire and committed to providing quality employability support including, learning and training?
If so, take a look at the Denbighshire People and Skills Key Fund Grant which enables organisations to deliver training, mentoring and support to help people of all ages to fulfil their employment potential, both personally and professionally.
The fund is open for applications. Go to http://bit.ly/4b16mXI for further information on how to apply.
The closing date for applications is 17 May 2024!
Funding secured for North East Wales Archives
Denbighshire and Flintshire County Councils are excited to have been recently informed that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a grant of £7.3 million to help fund the delivery of a new building for the North East Wales Archives (NEWA).
With match contributions of £2m from Denbighshire County Council and £3m from Flintshire County Council, this will allow NEWA to move from its current branches in Ruthin and Hawarden to future proof the region’s historic records in a purpose-built net carbon zero building in Mold.
Liz Grieve, Head of Housing and Communities Service at Denbighshire County Council said, “Local Authorities have a statutory duty to maintain an archive, and the current facilities are not fit for purpose. The decision to approve the project was made in principle in October 2023 and took into consideration the financial challenges facing the Council. That decision considered a range of options and concluded there was not a ‘no cost’ or a ‘low cost’ option.
“This collaborative approach with Flintshire County Council offers the best value for money and ensures that we can take advantage of the funding from the Heritage Fund that might not otherwise be available to secure this long-term solution. It will also mean that our staff can deliver an improved service and will be able to better engage with the community in north Wales.”
Claire Homard, Chief Officer for Education & Youth in Flintshire said “The successful project, called ‘Creative Archives’, will transform the way NEWA works giving local communities greater access to collections and providing opportunities for staff to interact with the public to celebrate their personal and communities’ histories. The project also includes an improved outreach and digital programme to extend access to the archives across the region and further afield as well as creating more spaces for research, performances, and exhibitions.”
Andrew White, Director for The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said, “Projects such as this highlight how funding from the Heritage Fund can be used not only to preserve our heritage and history but turn it into an exciting vision that will impact the lives of future generations.
“It’s thanks in no small part to players of The National Lottery that we’re able to enjoy seeing projects like the Creative Archives flourish and provide communities with a hub for creative and educational spaces.”
Ruthin Gaol and The Old Rectory in Hawarden have hosted the archive services for many years but can no longer meet the expectations and requirements of stakeholders or provide sufficient or suitable spaces to house the growing collections. The new site will help to revolutionise access to a wider and more diverse audience and protect the collections for future generations.
There will continue to be a smaller Archive presence in Ruthin, and the relocation of NEWA releases space at Ruthin Gaol to allow for the development of an enhanced visitor experience which will increase footfall and income. The new archive centre is expected to open in late 2027.
Denbigh Youth host consultation event for safer bike routes
A group of young people from Denbigh held an event to consult the public on the need for safer biking routes in the town for young people to be able to get out and about and keep active.
The idea came when Osian Gregson, 13, who attends Denbigh Youth Club decided to take action after becoming frustrated that there wasn’t anywhere suitable in the town for him and other young people in the area to be able to play out on their bikes safely. He shared his concerns with a Youth Worker who advised him on what he would need to do to get his voice heard.
Osian went on to write to his local MP to share his views about the need for safer routes and areas for young people to be able to ride their bikes in Denbigh before banding together with other young people from the Youth Club to launch the ‘Bumps and Jumps’ campaign.
The aim of their campaign is to gather views and generate support for safer bike routes and areas where young people in Denbigh can go to ride their bikes safely.
The group launched the campaign on the 26 March, 2024 with a consultation event at Cae Hywel in Denbigh. The event was organised by the young people, with the support of their Youth Worker from Denbighshire Youth Service.
The aim of the event was to provide the local community with an opportunity to share their views on whether they believe that more biking routes and areas to be able to ride your bike, such as pump tracks, are needed in Denbigh in order for people to be able to ride more safely in the area.
The group also set up a portable pump track at the event to show off some of their biking skills and to exhibit the benefits of a potential pump track in Denbigh.
Other activities were also provided by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd. and Denbighshire Housing such as zorbs and painting activities, while Denbigh Hwb and Denbigh Youth Project arranged packed lunches for attendees. Drosi Bikes also attended with their Doctor Bike service to provide bike safety checks and advice.
This consultation event was the first phase of the young people’s ‘Bumps and Jumps’ project with the group already planning future activities with the support of their Youth Club to take the campaign further.
Osian said: “The idea for this campaign came partly from the fact that I love being outside; I would rather be outside than on my PlayStation! But also, not everyone is able to easily get about. Some parents don’t drive and so young people rely on our bikes a lot to get around and I want to be able to feel safe riding from one place to the other in Denbigh.
“The campaign isn’t just about having safer bike routes, but we don’t really have anywhere in Denbigh where we can go out and ride our bikes with our friends. That’s why something like a pump track in the area would be great because it would offer a space for us to go where we can socialise and keep active and not just sit at home.”
Liz Grieve, the Council’s Head of Housing and Community Services, said: “It’s refreshing to see such an enthusiastic group of young people pouring their efforts into something with the aim of benefitting their local community and encouraging other young people to get out and keep active.
“I would like to thank Denbighshire Youth service for supporting these young people on their journey to achieve their goals and I look forward to seeing the progress of the ‘Bumps and Jumps’ campaign. I wish the group all the best with any future activities or events that they arrange to help drive the campaign forward.”
New Food Network Event Held in Ruthin
An inaugural food network event was recently held in the Naylor Leyland Centre, Ruthin, to discuss a new partnership aiming to deliver food related projects around Denbighshire.
COGOG is a multi-agency partnership, working collaboratively to reduce food waste and food poverty in the County through developing sustainable food initiatives.
Over 40 members from various community groups across the County gathered to consider how as a County, Denbighshire can maximise access to healthy and affordable food and reduce food waste.
Members from the NHS dietetics team and FareShare were present to provide advice, whilst Use Your Loaf, a community bakery based in Rhyl provided freshly baked crusty rolls and focaccia bread for attendees.
Tom Barham, Chair of the Food Partnership said:
“We’re very lucky to have so many volunteer groups dedicating their time to address food poverty and promote healthy eating in their local communities, through initiatives such as family cooking sessions, and we look forward to the Partnership being able to support ongoing collaborations through shared learning and cooperative development.”
For more information about Denbighshire’s COGOG partnership, please contact Nikki Jones at nikki.Jones@denbighshire.gov.uk.
Libraries and One Stop Shops
Health and Well-being Sessions with Leisa Mererid
Health and wellbeing sessions for children and families were held at Denbigh, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Ruthin Libraries recently.
These were a combination of yoga, movement and song activities with the actor and author Leisa Mererid.
The families joined in an interactive creative session which was an introduction to the benefits of yoga, breathing and the enjoyment of singing. Leisa based the sessions on her picture and story book 'Y goeden ioga' with easy and energetic movements taking the children on a nature journey through the life cycle of plants and animals in the forest. It was an excellent opportunity for everyone to participate whatever their ability, experience or background.
The author Leisa Mererid leading a well-being session with families at Denbigh and Prestatyn Libraries
There is an excellent collection of Reading Well books for children available at your local Library which support children's mental health a https://reading-well.org.uk/walesnd well-being. Ask in the Library for details or follow the link https://reading-well.org.uk/wales
Mental Health Awareness Week: 13-19 May
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 13 to 19 May 2024.
Did you know that reading is a great way to relax and de-stress? Research shows that regular readers for pleasure report fewer feelings of depression than non-readers, and stronger feelings of relaxation from reading than from watching television or engaging with technology intensive activities.
Advice and support for all ages can be found in our Reading Well collections, a selection of books all recommended by health experts, which help you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing.
Find out more here https://reading-well.org.uk/books.
Rhyme and Ramble with Bookstart
Over 25 families joined the Bookstart team for rhymes and fun recently at Rhuddlan Nature Reserve.
The families enjoyed an open air ramble through the reserve with stops to view the wildlife with the spectacular backdrop of Rhuddlan Castle whilst singing their favourite rhymes.
If you want to find out more about Bookstart activities follow their Facebook page.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
New Community Miles route announced
Walkers can now put their best foot forward along a new Community Miles route in Denbighshire.
A new addition has been launched to the Community Miles route scheme, covering the Nantglyn area.
Community Miles routes are designed with both communities and visitors in mind. They take roughly a couple of hours to complete and along the way introduce walkers to local businesses and transport routes, show hidden gems and help with physical and mental wellbeing.
Denbighshire County Council and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has 24 circular routes mainly covering Denbighshire from Prestatyn in the North to Llandrillo in South
Existing routes have been improved with new stiles, gates and bridges, and waymarked to make it easier to follow the route. Each walk has a leaflet with a map and information about what walkers can see, as well as ideas for local transportation to and from the beginning to the end.
The new Nantglyn route has also had improvements made to it with support from the Green Communities project. This includes improved signage and replacement of stiles for gates where possible.
It consists of two circular walks from the village, Y Waen and Foel Gasyth giving far reaching views of Hiraethog and the northern Clwydian Range
Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “Using the Community Miles routes is a great way to support your own personal and mental wellbeing. They are also fantastic for exploring great areas across Denbighshire and wider afield and I would encourage people to have a go by putting their best foot forward on one of these many routes.”
A Community walk is planned for May to June on the Nantglyn route, for more information email cc.nantglyn@gmail.com.
For more information on the Community Miles routes visit https://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/projects/community-miles/
Dark Sky Project
It has been busy in the Dark Sky world over the past few weeks.
We celebrated Wales Dark Sky week, with a week full of events to raise awareness of light pollution and the importance of dark skies. Dark Sky week ran from the 9 - 18 February and the AONB had 7 events organised throughout the week.
These events included two nights of stargazing while paddle boarding with SUP Lass Paddle Adventures, both sessions were sold out with over 30 people attending.
Two planetarium days were held, one at Chirk and the other at the Cathedral in St Asaph, all the sessions were full and over 120 people experienced the planetarium over the two days.
We had a stargazing walk at Penycloddiau with Dani Robertson the Dark Sky officer for project NOS and a Night of storytelling with Fiona Collins at Ty Mawr Country Park.
As well as dark sky week, Dark Skies project staff have been working on a lot of retrofitting projects across the AONB to reduce light pollution and increase awareness of the importance of dark skies. The project has been working closely with Llanfwrog Community Association to replace floodlights on the tennis courts and the lights on the golf driving range.
Through funding from the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Places (SLSP) fund, the AONB engaged environmental lighting designers Dark Source to outline a new lighting plan to conquer the effects of light pollution. With this plan the Club successfully attracted funding from the Clocaenog Forest Wind Farm Fund to retrofit the courts.
Llanfwrog Community association have done everything they can to reduce light pollution at the centre and have mitigated as much as possible whilst also creating a safe environment for using the tennis courts and the golf driving range.
Figures have shown by replacing the old 2KW floodlight with the new 800W dark light sport floodlights, when all six courts are switched on they are saving 31.2KW/h which is a saving of 61.9 percent in electricity and carbon emissions which is very positive for the environment and the cost of running the centre.
Countryside Services
Building a better bug’s life!
Crafty hands have made it a better bug’s life for the county’s insect population.
Denbighshire Countryside Service rangers alongside Nature for Health volunteers have crafted new homes to increase biodiversity support for local insects.
Rangers work with Nature for Health volunteers to help them enjoy the outdoors for physical and mental wellbeing by providing physical activities to take part in.
The Nature for Health Programme recently received £703,854 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Craft skills were put to the test at the Brickfield Pond based Countryside Services base to weave together hotels of the miniature kind to help insects thrive through the coming spring and summer months.
Volunteers helped the rangers create bug hotels which will help support different types of insects such as ladybirds, bees, spiders and woodlice, which in turn allows them to help increase local biodiversity and boost surrounding nature by increasing food sources for animals such as birds.
Some of the builds created will be used to support an upcoming school project to encourage pupils to participate in building bug hotels to help local insects.
Countryside Ranger Matt Winstanley explained: “Our insect populations play a vital role in sustaining local biodiversity and its important to protect them as much as we can. These hotels can help given them the support they need to boost their populations and also our local nature for communities to continue to enjoy.”
It’s also important to protect the nature we have on our coastline, and this will help preserve the area around Rhyl harbour for people to continue to visit and enjoy.”
Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, added: “It is important that we work to protect the future of our local biodiversity and this type of initiative will provide much needed support.
“This type of work is also really beneficial for helping physical and mental health and we are grateful the support of the volunteers who I hope have found the experience beneficial for their own well-being”
Little Terns summer home ready for arrivals
A famous UK bird colony site is ready to welcome back its annual occupants.
Gronant Dunes is once again open for business to welcome the arrival of the Little Terns this season thanks to the support of Denbighshire Countryside Rangers, North Wales Little Tern Group and other volunteers.
The team has worked this month to prepare the area of the largest breeding colony found in Wales for the arrival of the summer visitors.
Situated on the shingle of Gronant Dunes the area is known internationally as it contributes to over 10 percent of the entire UK breeding population as well as supplementing other Little Tern colonies. Gronant and Point of Ayr are the only breeding colonies in Wales.
Towards the end of the month and into May the Little Terns will flock into to the site from the west coast of Africa to breed and then head back South to the continent with newly fledged chicks. Last year 155 fledglings were recorded at the site.
For nearly two decades Denbighshire Countryside Service has managed the colony (together with its satellite colony at Point of Ayr), with the help of North Wales Little Tern Group.
North Denbighshire Coastal Ranger Claudia Smith explained: “We have been busy getting ready for the arrival of the Little Terns at the colony site. Thanks to support of the many fantastic volunteers who have joined us on site, we have been able to set up the colony area which includes constructing electric fencing, an outer rope fence and hides
A 3.5km perimeter fence and three kilometres electric fence stretch along the beach area to protect the birds from ground predation, these will be taken down at the end of the season to ensure a no trace policy on the area which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Claudia added: “We have this set up as the birds are very vulnerable to human disturbance and they are also at risk from predators both in the air and on the ground. Our team of wardens will once again be present from early May at the Visitors Centre to protect the birds, talk to visitors to the site and also collect the all important informant about this year’s colony.
Emlyn Jones, Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services, said: “For nearly two decades Countryside teams alongside volunteers have worked extremely hard to protect and support this site to make the colony a real area of significance for protecting the future populations of the Little Terns. They can all be immensely proud of what they do to maintain this bustling colony on Gronant Dunes.
If you are interested in volunteering or visiting the colony site, please contact claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk or 07785517398.
Setting up homes for the Little Terns
Do you want to know more about how we go about setting up the summer home for one of Wales’ most important bird colonies? Watch this clip to go behind the scenes of the work at Gronant Dunes to support the Little Tern colony.