Working Denbighshire’s Jobs Fair comes to Rhyl in February

Jobseekers across Denbighshire are invited to join the Working Denbighshire Jobs Fair on Wednesday, 25 February, from 10am to 2pm at the 1891 Bar & Restaurant, Rhyl Pavilion.

Held in partnership with Job Centre Plus, this free event will bring together a diverse mix of local and national employers who are actively recruiting for a wide range of roles across multiple sectors.

Building on the success of previous fairs — which have welcomed over 40–50 employers and attracted hundreds of attendees — this February’s accessible event continues Working Denbighshire’s commitment to breaking down barriers to employment and connecting people with real opportunities close to home.

Attendees can expect to meet employers representing sectors such as hospitality and leisure, health and social care, armed forces, manufacturing and more, reflecting the varied workforce needs across the region. Organisations such as the Royal Navy, North Wales Police, Haven, and a wide mix of local employers offering both entry‑level and experienced career pathways will be in attendance.

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

“Our Jobs Fair is all about creating access to opportunities for local people.

“We’re delighted to welcome a range of employers who are actively looking for candidates, and we encourage residents to come along, explore what’s available, and chat directly with organisations ready to hire.”

Melanie Evans, Principal Manager, Strategic Employment, said:

“Our job fair is a fantastic chance for residents to meet employers face-to-face and discover what’s happening across key sectors in Denbighshire. It gives them the opportunity to spark future-changing conversations, build their confidence, and show people the variety of careers available right here in our county.”

The event is free and open to everyone, including jobseekers, career changers, young people exploring options, and anyone interested in training or employment support available through Working Denbighshire.

For more information and updates, visit working.denbighshire.gov.uk 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.

‘Treeific’ pupils plant hope for local nature

Pupils at Ysgol y Faenol in Bodelwyddan have put in a ‘treeific’ effort to provide new habitats for local nature at their school ground.

Pupils have joined together with Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity and Countryside Service team members to plant over 1,000 trees of varied species at the school.

This work is funded by the UK Government through the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund which has granted Denbighshire County Council £278,600 for nature recovery works across the county.

Rolling up their sleeves, pupils have been busy planting hedgerows and standard trees at Ysgol y Faenol.

Standard size trees planted include alder, sessile oak, rowan, hazel, silver birch, bird cherry, guelder rose and elder.

The children also planted wayfaring trees, which have an interesting history for the pupils to learn along with facts about the other species. Wayfaring trees were named in the 1500s after been noticed on the routes between Wiltshire and London. If you see a wayfaring tree, you are said to be on or near a path.

Over 1,100 smaller trees of different varieties planted at the school will also create hedgerows and woodland that will help pupils learn more about the habitat benefits to local nature as they develop and mature.

The trees planted to create these areas included wild pear that will provide a food source for birds and mammals and its flowers a haven for local pollinators. Also planted by the pupils is dogwood, the leaves of which are eaten by the caterpillars of some moths, including the case-bearer moth.

The habitat creation at Ysgol y Faenol will not only give the pupils an area to learn about local nature but will also contribute locally to the absorption of carbon emissions thanks to extra trees in the ground.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to all the Ysgol y Faenol pupils for their brilliant help towards shaping this great new area to support local nature to and to also benefit the wellbeing and learning of all pupils current and future.”

Company and conversation sessions to be held in collaboration with talking points

Three of Denbighshire’s Libraries are set to host a set of 'Company and Conversation' sessions in conjunction with the Talking Points service.

The free sessions will be held at Corwen, Rhyl and Ruthin libraries throughout February and March, alongside the regular talking points sessions, which are held in a different Denbighshire library each day of the week.

The sessions are facilitated by Making Sense.

As well as offering the regular advice and guidance information, these special talking points sessions will offer the chance for citizens to take a stroll down memory lane and allow interaction with ‘reminiscence boxes’.

The boxes feature a collection of memory boxes and bags, which hold nostalgic items that residents can interact with. Most of the items are from the 1950’s era.

Reminiscence box contents (Image credit, Making Sense)

Alongside the boxes, tea and cake will be supplied, as well as the opportunity to create through a number of arts and craft mediums.

Arts and crafts (Image credit, Making Sense)

The sessions will be held in:

• Rhyl library - February 10^th, 17^th and March 10^th, 24^th.
• Corwen library – February 18^th, 25^th and March 4^th, 11^th,18^th
• Ruthin library – February 10^th, 17^th and March 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th

All sessions will run from 10am – 12pm.

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

“These sessions are a brilliant opportunity for residents to pop down to the library, have a chat, enjoy a cup of tea and possibly take a trip down memory lane.

They’re creative and fun, and I’m sure they will bring real value to everyone who takes part. I’d like to thank all of the partners involved, including our Library Service, for hosting these sessions and creating welcoming, enjoyable opportunities that bring people in our communities together.”

Tenants move into new energy-efficient homes in Denbigh

Tenants have now moved into their new homes at the Llwyn Eirin development in Denbigh, following the completion of 22 high-quality, energy-efficient council houses.

All 22 homes have been successfully allocated, with a strong emphasis on supporting local people, helping to ensure affordable housing is provided for local communities.

New tenants have praised both the homes and the support they received during the allocation process.

One resident said: “The housing officer has been very supportive in helping us. These properties are amazing and are beautiful inside.”

Another added: “Thank you for our beautiful new home. We are going to benefit so much. The long wait was worth it and being kept informed along the way as well.”

A community event is currently being planned to give new residents the opportunity to meet one another and begin building connections.

The Llwyn Eirin homes have been built to the highly energy-efficient Passivhaus standard, offering excellent insulation and significantly reduced energy use. The properties are fitted with solar panels and ground-source heat pumps, meaning they do not require a gas supply. This will help lower household energy bills, reduce carbon emissions and support the Council’s commitment to tackling climate change.

The development has been supported by Welsh Government funding through its Innovative Housing Programme, enabling Denbighshire County Council to work with Creating Enterprise on this modern and sustainable approach to housebuilding.

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

“It’s fantastic to see tenants moving into these new homes at Llwyn Eirin. This development shows our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable housing for local people while also delivering homes that are fit for the future. These energy-efficient properties will help residents keep energy costs down while supporting our wider environmental ambitions.”

The Llwyn Eirin development forms part of Denbighshire County Council’s Affordable Housing Programme, which is delivering new council homes across the county to meet local need.

Contractors appointed for Ruthin projects

The council have successfully appointed a contractor for the impending public realm improvement works to Ruthin town.

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.

Undertaken by OBR Construction, the proposed works to St Peter’s Square and Cae Ddol will look to widen the scope for hosting events, revitalise historical buildings and landmarks to support local identity, and promote pride of place by boosting the image of the town.

The St. Peter’s Square public realm improvement works are scheduled to start on site from mid-March 2026, and will be carried out through a phased approach, with the project temporarily paused in July to allow Gwŷl Rhuthun to take place safely and without disruption.

All construction activity will stop for the duration of the festival, and the site will be secured throughout this period. Once the festival concludes, construction works will resume as planned.

Work at Cae Ddol to introduce an active travel route and pump track will begin at a later date once the rugby season finishes in April, minimising disruption to regular users of the grounds.

As a part of the agreement, OBR Construction will provide a business liaison officer to support businesses with any porterage services required during the project.

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 and Cae Ddol, we are aware that residents and business owners will be affected whilst the work is carried out.

“Throughout both projects, OBR Construction and the council will work closely with the community, providing regular updates on progress and notify of any temporary impacts. Advance notices will be issued to ensure residents, businesses, and visitors are aware of temporary changes to access and traffic management during the construction phase.

"As we prepare for upcoming works in the area, we are asking all businesses and residents that have not completed an Access Needs Survey, to do so. Responses are essential in helping us understand what access businesses and residents will need once the works begin.

“By completing the survey, you will help us to ensure maintained access to properties and premises, allow us to plan and support appropriate routes and minimise disruption during construction”.

If you have not completed the survey yet or if you require further information about the schemes, please contact the project team: corporateprogramme@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Turf-cutting ceremony marks start of works on new community hub

A turf-cutting ceremony was recently held to mark the start of works to construct a new community hub and extension at Ysgol Bro Elwern.

The £2.7 million project is partly funded by the Welsh Government through its Welsh ;Language Capital and Universal Primary Free School Meals grant to provide a new classroom and state of the art kitchen for the primary school, whilst the community hub is funded by the UK Government as part of grant funding for 10 capital projects aimed at protecting Ruthin’s unique heritage, wellbeing and rural communities.

Attending the ceremony were representatives from Denbighshire County Council, pupils and staff from Ysgol Bro Elwern, local members and representatives of the Community Council alongside staff from SWG Construction who are undertaking the works.

The project is set to benefit the pupils at Ysgol Bro Elwern as it will deliver a new classroom, kitchen and ancillary spaces and access to an onsite hall space.

The Community hub itself will include a large hall and meeting space to provide improved facilities for social engagements for the local community and will be managed by the Community Council.  Cylch Meithrin will be relocated into the Community Hub.  The facility will also be used by the school, local community groups and the Post Office.

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

“The turf-cutting ceremony is a significant milestone to an important project that will make a real difference to the pupils of Ysgol Bro Elwern as well as the community in Gwyddelwern. The project will not only provide new state of the art facilities for one of our schools, but it will also provide a vital community hub for the community.

“I would like to thank the local member, Councillor Hugh Evans, and the Community Council for their commitment throughout this process and Denbighshire County Council are excited to support the project as it progresses”.

Riverside Park development begins

Work is set to commence to help improve and develop health and wellbeing along Llangollen’s Riverside Park.

Funded by Shared Prosperity Transitional Year Funding the work starting Monday February 2, will be coordinated by Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene department.

The development of the area follows previous improvement work at the park during the last few years which has seen initiatives including a 9-hole bespoke mini golf and play equipment added to the site.

Streetscene is working to further enhance the park for local residents and visitors to enjoy.

The project will see the replacement of an existing ramp from Aldi Car Park to the Skatepark/MUGA area to improve the accessibility of this area to wheelchair users and others with greater accessibility needs, and the installation of two further ramped paths to improve accessibility around the park.

Fencing will be added next to the old children’s play area to make this section more secure, and an additional access gate will be installed on the river side of the park.

An outdoor gym will also be installed which will include seven items of equipment to enable users to exercise with a view over the river. In addition to this, two accessible picnic benches will be installed in this area with concrete bases to enable easy access by wheelchair.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are pleased to be able to continue making improvements along this great area at Llangollen through this funding Streetscene has been able to access. This work will enhance other areas that have already been improved at Riverside Park to further raise the profile of this important part of the town for both the enjoyment of residents and those visiting Llangollen."

Denbighshire’s Council agrees extension to Corporate Plan

Denbighshire's full Council today (Tuesday, 27 January) agreed the proposal for its current Corporate Plan, The Denbighshire We Want, to be extended by one year to 2028.

This change will allow the next elected Cabinet and Council, following the May 2027 local government elections, the opportunity to develop their own five-year Corporate Plan for the period 2028–2033.

This has been done by the Council to strengthen the ability for the new Council to shape a plan that reflects its priorities and vision, strengthening councillor ownership of the Corporate Plan and its delivery.

The Corporate Plan is a key strategic document that enables the Council to meet its statutory duties under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and the Equalities Act 2010.

The change agreed today is supported by the ongoing delivery of detailed strategies such as the Climate and Nature Strategy, Digital Strategy, Economic Strategy, and Workforce Strategy.

Cllr Julie Matthews, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy, Equalities and Strategic Assets said, “This proposal gives the next Cabinet and Council the time and space to develop a Corporate Plan that truly reflects their priorities, while ensuring continuity and stability for our residents.”

DLL and Denbighshire County Council light up attractions for Holocaust Memorial Day

A reminder that the responsibility of remembrance doesn't end with the survivors - it lives on through their children, their grandchildren and through all of us.

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) and Denbighshire County Council will be lighting up its attractions in purple on Tuesday 27 January as part of the Light the Darkness national moment for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Ruthin Craft Centre, Rhyl Sky Tower, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, 1891 Restaurant and Bar, the Events Arena waterfall, and Denbighshire coastal shelters will all be lighting up in purple to support this campaign of solidarity and commemoration.

Photo credit DLL: 1891 Restaurant and Bar/Rhyl Pavilion

Holocaust Memorial Day is a day of remembrance to honour the millions who suffered and died during the Holocaust.  It also commemorates other genocides and acts of mass violence that have taken place across the globe. This theme for this year’s campaign is Bridging Generations which is designed to encourage us to engage with the past, whilst listening and carrying lessons learnt forward.

Jamie Groves, DLL MD said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with Denbighshire County Council to light up our buildings and attractions to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.  With Bridging Generations as the theme for this year’s campaign, we believe it’s extremely important for us all to listen and learn from past events and also to ensure these inform our future decisions and help us to challenge and speak out against prejudice”. 

Councillor Julie Matthews, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy,

Equalities and Strategic Assets, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember the millions of lives lost and to reflect on the importance of standing against hatred, prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. By remembering the past, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to promote kindness, understanding and respect within our communities today.”

Catering teams serves up treats to celebrate school anniversary

A school catering team provided a feast of treats to help celebrate a recent special anniversary.

Ysgol Glan Clwyd celebrated its 70^th anniversary of providing education on the evening of Friday January 23 with a special entertainment event hosted by Lisa Gwilym including guests, Mark Drakeford, Ian Gwyn Hughes, Owain Roberts, Mair Edwards and Elen Gwyn Williams.

Performances on the night were also provided by Steffan Rhys Hughes, Celyn Cartwright, Mared Williams and Meinir Llwyd.

Fresh from providing Ysgol Glan Clwyd pupils with healthy meals on a daily basis, the school’s catering team turned their skills to providing a three-course menu for the festivities for attendees to enjoy.

The team worked hard to put together a menu consisting of:

• Snowdonia Cheese Tarlet with Caramelised Onion
• Supreme of Chicken served with Vale Vineyard White wine and Leek sauce, selection of Vegetables and Potatoes

Hayley Jones, Principal Manager Catering & Cleaning Services, said: “I’m really proud of our team at Catering Services for stepping up and providing a service that’s a little different to what they normally do catering wise. What they did for this special event was fantastic and a great example of how skilled our school catering teams are across Denbighshire.

Cllr Diane King, Lead Member for Education, added “Our school catering teams work hard all year around to support pupils and teaching staff. Hats off to our Catering Services team for organising and preparing such a great menu to support a very important landmark in the school’s history.”

Event tackles impact of beach marine litter

A litter pick was recently held to reduce the impact of littering on Prestatyn beach towards localised flooding and the surrounding environment.

Denbighshire County Council’s Flood Risk Team orgainsed the event and with the support of local volunteers tackled the beach areas near the East Nova car park.

Marine litter can block up waterways and drainage, obstructing water flow and causing localised flooding further upstream.

By removing the marine litter more help is provided to the area’s natural defences. Cleaner beaches and healthy coastal environments including dunes and seagrass beds are more able to maintain their natural function as defences against the sea.

Twenty-six volunteers managed to collect 22 bags of litter from the beach and surrounding area on the day. Keep Wales Tidy also provided some of the litter picking equipment used at the event.

Claudia Smith, Coastal Erosion and Flood Risk Officer, said: “It was great to have the support from volunteers to help tidy up this area of the beach and we hope this Prestatyn Beach Clean will become a regular event.

“Not only have the volunteers helped reduce the risk of localised flooding in this area and the impact of litter on the environment, they have also helped to improve the look of the beach for residents and visitors and also provided a helping hand for local nature by removing elements such as plastic which can be harmful to some wildlife.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, added: “I’d like to thank all who made the time to come and support this litter pick. Monitoring the flood risks around Prestatyn beach is highly important for local residents and the surrounding environment. Not only that it’s a prime attraction for the town and the group’s efforts will improve the areas for people to walk and enjoy.”

Give support to Denbighshire’s birds

Can you give an hour this weekend to help gather support for Denbighshire and UK birds?

From this Friday (January 23) until Sunday (January 25), the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch will take place.

The campaign that has run for over 40 years encourages people to put aside an hour in their own garden or local park to help count how many of each bird species lands nearby.

UK skies over the last 50 years have seen around 38 million birds lost, with popular species such as house sparrows and starlings continuing to struggle.

Denbighshire residents of all ages who want to lend a helping hand to local bird populations and do not have access to a back garden, can visit one of the many county parks and nature reserves that are available near their homes.

Denbighshire County Council Senior Biodiversity Officer Liam Blazey said: “Across Denbighshire you may see birds including the Long-tailed tit (who move around together in small flocks), goldfinches, starlings (who can form very large flocks over winter, and sometimes perform aerial displays called murmurations), redwings (a relative of the blackbird, who breed in the north of Europe, and visit us over winter).

“If you give your time to support this great campaign in your back garden you might also see blue tit, great tit, and robins who are common visitors to household gardens.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion said: “It is so important to keep track of the state of our local bird populations so we can help the birds that have decreased in numbers. Giving your time to this survey can really help protect the future of all county and UK bird populations.”

To submit your findings to the survey, log on to https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch

Cabinet agrees next steps for reactive maintenance framework

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has agreed to begin the re-tendering process for its Reactive Maintenance Framework, ensuring the continued delivery of essential repairs and maintenance across council buildings.

The current framework, which supports responsive repairs in schools and other council properties, is due to expire in July 2026.

To make sure services continue without disruption and to meet procurement requirements, Cabinet approved starting a new tender initiative process at the recent January meeting. The lotting structure of the tender should encourage local contractor participation and the retender process will be compliant with Contract Procedure Rules and Public Contracts Regulations.

The Reactive Maintenance Framework allows the Council to appoint approved contractors to carry out urgent and routine repairs, including electrical, mechanical and general building works.

It supports the Council’s Corporate Plan by helping keep buildings safe and operational, supporting local contractors, reducing disruption to services, protecting public health, maintaining schools and education facilities, and improving energy efficiency through timely repairs.

The new framework is expected to run for an initial two years, with options to extend for up to a further two years. 

Cllr Julie Matthews, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy, Equalities and Strategic Assets, said: “Looking after the condition of our buildings is paramount for delivering a range of important services across the county. I’m pleased we have been able to agree today to launch the retendering process for this Framework, in a format that should continue to encourage local contractor participation and ultimately provide continued provision for the essential maintenance and repairs at Council buildings. ”

Work progressing well at Corwen Library

Refurbishment work at Corwen Library is progressing well and the project is now entering its final stages, with completion expected soon.

The improvements are being delivered thanks to £83,469 of funding from the Welsh Government’s Capital Transformation Programme and will transform the library’s ground floor into a modern, welcoming space for the local community.

The refurbishment includes the creation of a dedicated children’s library area, new self-service technology to make borrowing and returning books easier, and the installation of Open+ technology to allow registered members to access the library during unstaffed hours. The work also includes full redecoration, new desks and display shelving, and upgraded staff facilities.

While work continues, library staff remain on hand to support customers and are looking forward to welcoming residents back into the improved space very soon.

The newly refurbished Corwen Library is expected to reopen later this month.

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

“It’s great to see work progressing so well at Corwen Library. These improvements will create a modern, welcoming space that will support reading, learning and community life for years to come.”

You can find further information on our libraries on our website.

Active travel works begin in Llangollen

Works have begun to improve the walking routes in and around Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council successfully secured grant funding from the Welsh Government’s Active Travel fund to improve some of the walking routes in the Brook Street and Pengwern areas of Llangollen.

The Welsh Government’s funding is in place to reduce the number of short everyday journeys that are undertaken in motor vehicles and to increase levels of active travel.

These works will aim to increase the levels of active travel in Llangollen, through creating safer walking routes to key local amenities such as schools and the town centre.

The improvements, which will take place between January and March, will include localised footway widening, improved pedestrian crossings and works to enhance junctions and will be undertaken by Pronin Ltd.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said:

“The introduction of a series of new active travel enhancement is a welcome addition to Llangollen. Not only is active travel creating safer walking routes for our most vulnerable road users such as the elderly and children, but it will also encourage residents to lower their carbon footprint by choosing to walk over driving short distances.”

If you have any queries regarding the scheme, please contact Denbighshire County Council via walkingandcycling@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706000.

Applications for commuted sums are now open!

Applications are now open for funding to help improve open spaces and play areas across Denbighshire.

Funding totalling £101,064.42 is available to support local projects.

The funding comes from commuted sums, which are payments made by developers when it is not possible to provide outdoor open space as part of a new development. These funds are set aside to enhance parks, play areas and other open spaces, usually within the same town or community where the development took place. In some cases, the money can also be used to benefit nearby communities within Denbighshire.

A range of organisations can apply for funding, including:

• City, town and community councils
• Community and voluntary groups
• Charities
• Public sector organisations
• Amateur sports clubs
• Denbighshire County Council

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

“Commuted sums funding plays an important role in helping us protect and enhance open spaces and play areas across Denbighshire. This investment helps ensure that local communities continue to benefit from safe, welcoming and well-maintained spaces that support wellbeing, play and community life. I would encourage eligible organisations to consider applying and to take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive difference in their local area.”

The funding closes for applications on 20 April 2026. Further information and application forms is available online here: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/commutedsums.

The amount of funding available, and in which areas is listed below:

Denbighshire County Council welcomes new Chief Executive

Helen White has officially joined Denbighshire County Council today (19 January) in her role as Chief Executive.

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 brings a wealth of experience to Denbighshire with over 20 years working across the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Helen joins a well performing council which was praised as ‘well-run’ in its Panel Performance Assessment at the end of 2024. It is also a pivotal time for the council in challenging times as it continues to deliver its activities in a sustainable way for the long-term benefit of its communities.

Embarking on her new role as Chief Executive Helen said: "I'm honoured to be taking on the role of Chief Executive. I know it’s a challenging time for so many in our communities, and I’m 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 the new Chief Executive."

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of the Council said: “I’m delighted to welcome Helen on her first day as Chief Executive bringing a new chapter of leadership for our county. This has been an excellent appointment and her previous experience and track record, particularly in housing and community development, aligns with Denbighshire’s organisational values.

“I’d also like to thank Graham Boase for his hard work and dedication to Denbighshire County Council in his many roles over a number of years, and of course, most recently in his role as Chief Executive. In this role he’s guided the authority skilfully through extremely challenging times. Graham has been a huge support to me, and we’ve worked well together over the years. I’d like to wish him the very best on his retirement.”

Rhuddlan school extension project sees first phase progress

Recent work on the Ysgol y Castell classroom extension project has seen advancements in the first two classrooms, with scaffolding now in place for the continuation of the work into this year.

External walls for the first two classrooms

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

The first phase of the project commenced last year, with the further energy reduction works to be undertaken during the second phase of work.

The external walls for the first two classrooms are currently being worked on, which will be rendered as part of the later project work.

Upon completion of the external brickwork, focus will then move onto the joinery for the flat roof and planning for the new sky-lights.

The work is currently focused on the first two classrooms, before moving onto the next set of classrooms which are due to be extended. The first two classrooms are due for completion by the end of spring this year.

The school yard will also be reinstated, with resurfacing work to commence towards the end of the project.

The extension will provide 16 square metres of additional classroom space in all four 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 of work is set to be completed in Winter of this year.

Work on the school

This first phase of the 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:

“It is pleasing to see the progression of the work on this project. It is a much-needed extension which will see generational benefits for pupils in the Rhuddlan area, with more space and improved learning facilities.

The work is progressing well, and I am excited to see how the first two classrooms look by the end of spring”.

Primary pupils help shape new school nature habitat

Pupils have rolled up their sleeves to experience creating a new habitat to help nature on their school grounds.

Guided by Denbighshire County Council’s Biodiversity and Countryside Service team members, Ysgol Llywelyn pupils have helped plant over 700 trees of varied species.

This work is funded by the UK Government through the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund which has granted Denbighshire County Council £278,600 for nature recovery works across the county.

Supported by the Council staff, pupils have helped plant hedgerows and standard trees on the school grounds.

Varieties of trees planted included alder, downy birch, bird cherry, field maple, holly and cherry plum.

Hazel trees planted by the pupils, once established, will help the children learn how this species provides food for moths, butterflies and shelter for ground-nesting birds such as the willow warblers and yellowhammers.

The youngsters will also learn how the hazel trees provide a valuable source of early pollen for bees and the nuts provide food for small mammal species including squirrels and most notably the Hazel Dormouse which is named for its association with this tree species.

Hawthorn trees, also planted by pupils to make up the majority of the habitat, will support pollinators through its nectar rich flowers and its berries will provide food for birds.

Seventeen fruit trees were also planted to create a school orchard. The fruit trees were all local provenance Welsh heritage varieties, including the Rhyl Beauty apple and Denbigh plum, to help conserve these rare local species in their area of origin for cultural importance as well as biodiversity.

The habitat creation not only gives the pupils an area to learn about local nature but will also create an area that will contribute to the lowering of carbon emissions locally thanks to extra trees in the ground.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to Ysgol Llywelyn pupils for their fantastic support in helping our staff shape this brilliant new area for the local nature to enjoy and also to benefit the wellbeing and learning of all the youngsters involved.”

Team treats thousands of miles to keep Denbighshire on the move

A team took on the equivalent of over 13 road trips from Land’s End to John O’Groats to help keep drivers moving safely during the recent winter weather.

Denbighshire County Council’s Highways and Streetscene  gritting crews have tackled 11,285 miles of county road network during the cold snap which impacted the region from New Year’s Eve till Sunday January 11.

During winter weather the county gritted network is currently split into nine routes covering 950km of which 605km is treated. We aim to grit priority gritting routes four hours before a minimum temperature of zero degrees or one degree if no actual frost is forecast by our weather forecast provider. The gritting salt must be crushed by traffic to make it effective.

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

During this period the crews used 2,805 tonnes of salt to treat the roads, that’s a larger weight than one of the UK’s famous landmarks, the Blackpool Tower which comes in around 2,000 tonnes

The team spent 2,040 hours treating the roads and in all completed 40 gritting runs covering the nine priority rotes throughout the county with additional patrolling and salting. 

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “A huge thank you to all our gritter drivers who have kept working hard often throughout the night into the early hours of the morning, during this period of adverse winter weather. They are a fantastic team who have worked hard in pretty awful conditions at times to keep our priority routes safe as possible for our residents and drivers, what they have done and continue to do is appreciated by so many in the county.“

Winter maintenance to boost community nature space habitat

A St Asaph nature site has received further support to help boost its biodiversity heading into the 2026’s spring and summer seasons.

Denbighshire County Council’s Climate team, Countryside Services and volunteers joined together to help plant 150 additional trees at the Glan Elwy Community Nature Space.

The site was created in 2024 as part of the Council’s Woodland Creation Project which received £800,000 from the UK Government through the 2023-25 UK Shared Prosperity Fund for this and other similar developments in the county.

Glan Elwy provides stronger habitat spaces for nature as well as improved access and facilities for residents young and old to enjoy.  It provides an opportunity to observe and learn about local wildlife, especially from the purpose-built viewing platform located next to the public footpath.

St Asaph City football club youth teams and Elwy Care Group helped originally plant nearly 2,000 trees on the site alongside council officers and other volunteers.

The new trees planted in December supplement the 2024 stock, taking account of continuous monitoring and aftercare by Countryside Rangers through the year, and include replacements for some trees that unfortunately did not survive the long periods of exceptionally dry weather faced by the UK in Spring and Summer.  The additional trees received funding from the UK Government through the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund which has granted Denbighshire County Council £278,600 for nature recovery works across the county.

The winter maintenance work has allowed the opportunity to look at new planting areas on the site and introduce different species and varieties of trees to increase resilience against any future drought conditions.

Countryside Ranger Matt Winstanley who is managing the development of the site explained: “Losing some trees at land the scale of this site isn’t unexpected, especially with the extreme dry conditions we have faced. Spring 2025 was an unprecedented season of warmth and sunshine and the driest in over 50 years, according to the Met Office.

“We are developing a slightly different area of the site to make use of the better ground. What we have planted are oaks, rowan, silver birch, downy birch and aspen. The gravelly conditions of this area next to the river should suit aspens and they are also more drought tolerant as well.”

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity champion added: “These sites take time to grow and develop and we are grateful to the continuing support from everyone setting foot on Glan Elwy that is nurturing a fantastic area for both the surrounding communities to visit and enjoy and for local nature to thrive in.”

Event to tackle marine litter impact at Prestatyn

A call has gone out for volunteers who want to make a positive difference to support their local coastline.

Denbighshire County Council’s Flood Risk Team are leading a marine litter clean-up campaign at Prestatyn Beach on January 19 from 3pm until 4pm.

The event will help reduce the impact of marine litter on the beach which can block up waterways and drainage, obstructing water flow and causing localised flooding further upstream.

Claudia Smith, Coastal Erosion and Flood Risk Officer, said: “By removing marine litter we are also helping to support the area’s natural defences. Cleaner beaches and healthy coastal environments including dunes and seagrass beds, are more able to maintain their natural function as defences against the sea.”

“Carrying out this campaign also gives us the chance to improve the look of the beach for residents and visitors and also give a helping hand for the local nature by removing elements such as plastic which can be harmful to some wildlife.”

She added: “Anyone willing to do their bit for their local beach at Prestatyn and help this great environment and reduce flooding risks in the area is more than welcome to join us.”

The Prestatyn Beach Clean event will meet at the East Nova Centre car park, by the Offa’s Dyke sign, at 3pm.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and the Environment, said: “Controlling the risk of localised flooding from the impact of marine litter hitting our county beaches is extremely important. It’s also beneficial for the wellbeing of our residents and people who visit these areas and the wildlife found on these beaches, I would encourage anyone who wants to make a difference to join in.”

For further details contact claudia.smith@denbighshire.gov.uk/ 07785517398

Garden subscription renewal goes live

Denbighshire gardeners who use the garden waste subscription service can renew their collection from today (January 12)

Renewal for 2026 to 2027 is now open to make sure there is time for everyone to sign up before the new service period starts from April 1.

The Council is encouraging residents who are subscribing for the first time also take advantage of this sign-up period from today (April 1) to take full advantage of the 12-month service.

Residents are encouraged to renew their collection service online using the link below:

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/bins-and-recycling/garden-waste.aspx

The two weekly garden waste service offers residents a convenient, cost-effective means of dealing with their garden waste and makes a significant contribution towards meeting statutory recycling targets.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “Today’s the day to renew or sign up for the 12 months garden waste collection service. I would urge residents to do this at their earliest convenience to account for the delivery time of any new containers and to and to take advantage of the full 12-month service.

Residents can check whether they have a live subscription on the bin collection dates page of the website or find out further information on the service here

Smart and Sustainable ways to dispose of your Christmas Tree

Did you know that there are sustainable ways to wrap up your Christmas Tree use following the festive celebrations?

Denbighshire County Council is encouraging residents to properly dispose of their Christmas tree, be it real or an artificial one.

If you have an artificial tree, it is recommended that it is reused year after year as much as possible to help reduce waste. When you do decide to dispose of your artificial tree, it can be taken to your local Recycling and Waste Park.

Real trees can be recycled by using the green wheelie bin (if you have a garden waste subscription). Make sure the tree is cut up first to ensure it fits properly in your bin. If you cannot fit it into your bin, real trees can also be taken to the local Recycling and Waste Park for disposal.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said:

“Celebrating the festive season with Christmas Trees and decorating them is often the highlight of many families’ Christmas period.  When it does come time to dispose of your tree, it is important to remember the correct channels that will really help cut down on waste over the festive period.”

For more information, please go to our website.