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Young people aged 16 or over can take control of their own Child Trust Fund, although the funds can only be withdrawn once they turn 18.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.  

Volunteer support recognised nationally for historic gardens

A national awards scheme has recognised volunteer efforts to support an historic Rhyl site.

Rhyl South West Central Residents' Association’s (RSWCRS) work to support Rhyl Botanical Gardens was recently highlighted at the 2025 Wales in Bloom Awards.

The volunteer group works to support the continued flourishing and growth of the historic town site which is owned by Denbighshire County Council and supported by the Council’s Streetscene team.

Rhyl's Botanical Gardens took root in 1878 when the grounds were first sold, showcasing an area full of different tree and plant species alongside a lily pond. In 1928 the addition of new facilities such as the tennis courts were opened to the public.

Volunteers were recognised for their support to the gardens in 2008 when they received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2008 for their work in reinstating and managing the gardens.

In 2017 the Earl and Countess of Wessex also visited the Botanical Gardens to meet the people working to protect and grow the site and planted a Monkey Puzzle Tree in the grounds.

The Rhyl Botanical Gardens Volunteers were entered into the Royal Horticulture Society and Wales in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards 2025. This area of Wales in Bloom is a scheme for volunteer-led community gardening groups which are focused on cleaning up and greening up their local area.

Wales in Bloom judges awarded the team a Level 2 ‘Improving’ classification for 2025.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s lead member for environment and transport, said: “It’s fantastic to see these volunteers recognised by Wales in Bloom for the hard work they put into such an important site for Rhyl, year on year. Their commitment and dedication at the Botanical Gardens is keeping a vital piece of the town’s history flourishing into the future and they deserve this recognition for their efforts."

Preparing for Storm Amy

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings as Storm Amy is expected to bring strong wind and heavy rain to parts of Scotland, northwest England and north Wales until Saturday (4 October).

Extreme weather can impact the electricity network, here's how you can prepare for a potential power cut:

1. Have the national 105 emergency helpline on hand – it’s best to keep this on the fridge or saved in the contacts on your mobile phone. Report any power cuts immediately and we will keep you updated by text or voice alert messaging whilst our engineers are working to restore your power. 

2. Store a battery or wind-up torch – leave this somewhere you can access easily so you can use the torch to check on the fuse box and make your way around the house safely. 

3. Beware of fallen power lines – power lines may have fallen so beware of this when venturing out of your home. Always treat them as live and report them right away by calling 105. 

4. Keep your mobile charged – having your mobile phone charged means you can call for support if needed. It’s also worth having an analogue phone as this doesn’t run off the main electricity supply. 

5. Keep the heat in – if your power does go out, your heating might not work so keep extra blankets nearby and close window shutters, blinds, or curtains to help keep the heat in. 

A Priority Services Register is also available for customers who may need extra support in a power cut. Find out more here.

Click here for the latest information and updates about known power cuts in your area or visit our X/Twitter channel @spenergynetwork. 

St Asaph pupils learn about once widespread animal

Primary school pupils are continuing to learn about a once widespread native animal in Wales.

Denbighshire County Councils Biodiversity team alongside the North Wales Wildlife Trust are hosting a number of engagement roadshows at schools to help youngsters find out more about beavers and their natural habitats.

These sessions, which are underway at a number of schools, are part of the Biodiversity team’s current overall project to house a family group of Eurasian beavers within a secure 24-acre enclosure at the Green Gates Nature Reserve as part of a 5-year trial.  These plans are subject to the granting of a licence from Natural Resources Wales and would be the first enclosed beaver project in North Wales.

They recently visited St Asaph VP Infant School where the team held a presentation on beavers and their ecology, before heading outside to tackle lodge building, finishing off with looking at  beaver masks and colouring sheet tasks.

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.

The Young Ranger programme

This summer, the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley ranger team has expanded the Young Ranger programme to include a Youth+ group for young adults aged 18-25.

This new group of Youth + Rangers will be trained to help the ranger team carry out surveys around the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley. Volunteer sessions will include 4 training sessions a year, learning specialist skills to carry out ecological surveys. Participants will then be encouraged to carry out independent surveys throughout the year to feed back data to the ranger team.

Anyone interested in joining in should contact Imogen Hammond at imogen.hammond@denbighshire.gov.uk.

Road maintenance update for September

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.

September’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.

Help shape Rhyl’s future

Big changes are coming to Rhyl, with £20 million of regeneration funding set to be invested over the next 10 years.

The Rhyl Neighbourhood Board has been set up to lead this exciting work, bringing together local residents, businesses, visitors, voluntary groups and community voices to shape a bold new vision for the town.

They would be grateful to receive your views.

Click on the link to complete a short survey >>> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ourRhyl

You can find out more about the work of the Rhyl Neighbourhood Board and read their latest news on the Council's website.

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: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/childcare-and-parenting/families-first-and-flying-start/flying-start.aspx

Merchant Navy Day

Denbighshire County Council pays tribute to those who have served in the merchant navy on Merchant Navy Day.

Celebrated annually on September 3, Merchant Navy Day honours the sacrifices of past and present seafarers.

In commemoration, the Red Ensign flag will fly outside of County Hall to mark the occasion.

A525 & A547 Cyclic Maintenance Works

Denbighshire County Council will undertake cyclic maintenance works on the A525 Dual Carriageway between the Talardy Roundabout and Bryn Cwybyr roundabout and on the A547 Abergele Road on the dates provided below. The works will be carried out between 7pm and 6am and take 3 evenings/nights to complete. The works shall comprise of grass cutting, Strimming, litter picking and sweeping.

To ensure that the works are carried out safely, the A525 and A547 will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the dates stated below:

• Monday & Tuesday 15^th and 16^th September - Road Closure – A525 Talardy - KFC
• Wednesday & Thursday 17^th and 18^th September - A525 Rhuddlan Bypass
• Monday 22^nd September -A547 –Abergele Road - Borth Roundabout to Area Boundary

The Alternative diversion route for each section of road closure will be signed accordingly.

Denbighshire County Council apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and would be grateful for your cooperation and patience during this time.

Willow weaves growth at nature reserve.

A natural symbol of renewal is helping the growth of a new nature reserve.

Willow trees grown from seed at Denbighshire County Council’s local provenance tree nursery, at St Asaph, have made their way to a new outdoor home.

Over 500 willow trees will be planted in willow pits and around the wetland land areas, at the Green Gates Nature Reserve.

Willows are one of the quickest growing trees and can symbolise renewal, immortality and vitality. The bark was also chewed on in the past by people to help treat fevers.

The tree is best known for its use in making wicker items such as baskets through weaving.

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