Soft plastics trial to begin in parts of Denbighshire

A 12-week soft plastics collection trial will begin on Monday 14 September 2026 to find the best way to collect and recycle your plastic bags and wrapping. This is in preparation for forthcoming Welsh Government changes to recycling requirements.

We’ve invited around 4,500 homes to take part in the trial. The residents we’ve invited live in a mix of housing types and areas so that we’re able to get a good and fair understanding of how different homes will use the service.

The areas include homes in Denbigh, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Rhuddlan, Corwen, Llangollen and Efenechtyd.

If your home has been selected to take part in the trial, we’ll deliver a leaflet to your home explaining how it works between Monday 7th September 2026 and Friday 11th September.

The last collection in this trial is on Friday 4 December 2026.

Options regarding collecting future soft plastics will be considered once the trial has been reviewed, and any future changes will be communicated to residents at the appropriate time.

Denbighshire County Council’s Leader and Cabinet step down

Leader of the council Councillor Jason McLellan and his fellow cabinet members have resigned from Cabinet with immediate effect.

Councillor McLellan, who represents the Prestatyn North ward, was elected leader in May 2022. Announcing his resignation, Councillor McLellan said "This has been a very difficult decision for me as leading Denbighshire County Council has been a huge privilege and an honour over the past four years -  often in the face of tremendous challenges.

“Despite these pressures, I’m very proud of our efforts to ensure that essential services were delivered to the most vulnerable in our societies, especially in education and social care. I will continue to work in my ward to support the residents of Prestatyn.”

Each former cabinet member will continue to serve as a county councillor for their respective wards.

A new leader of the council will now be elected in the full council meeting to be held on Tuesday, 8 September. Following their election, the new leader will be entitled to appoint members to the cabinet.

While political arrangements can change, officers will continue to work to deliver services to the people of Denbighshire. The council’s governance processes allow for the continuation of business as usual until such time as a new cabinet is formed.

MP Becky Gittins visits VIBE Station to see impact of employment and community support

Working Denbighshire welcomed Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins to their integrated wellbeing and employability space at The VIBE Station in Rhyl.  Ms Gittins was keen to meet the teams helping local residents overcome barriers, build confidence and take positive steps towards employment, learning new skills and greater independence.

During her visit to the service, Ms Gittins met with staff from across Working Denbighshire to learn more about the wide range of support available to economically inactive residents facing challenges such as homelessness, low confidence and motivation and skills gaps. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the positive impact Working Denbighshire is having across communities throughout the county, helping hundreds of people each year access personalised support tailored to their individual circumstances and goals.

Team members shared examples of how early intervention, engagement activities, training opportunities and employability support are helping residents overcome barriers and move forward with confidence. Discussions highlighted the importance of providing support at the earliest opportunity, ensuring individuals can access the right help before challenges become more complex.

During the visit, Ms Gittins heard from staff across a range of services, including early intervention with our partners in health, training, employability, housing support, homelessness, mentoring and employment initiatives. Team members shared how their work is helping residents overcome barriers, build confidence, develop new skills and progress towards sustainable employment.

The visit allowed Working Denbighshire to demonstrate how a person-centred approach can help residents address multiple barriers at once, creating pathways towards employment, improved wellbeing and long-term stability.

Becky Gittins, Member of Parliament for Clwyd East said:

"It was fantastic to visit Working Denbighshire and meet the dedicated staff supporting residents across the county. The VIBE Station is a great example of an inclusive space that can support people into long term and sustainable working. Hearing about the challenges people face, and the practical support being provided to help them overcome those barriers, was incredibly valuable. The commitment and passion shown by the team is making a real difference to people's lives."

Melanie Evans, Service Manager, Strategic Employment for Working Denbighshire, said:

"Behind every service we deliver is a person with their own story, challenges and aspirations. We were proud to show Becky the breadth of support available through Working Denbighshire and the genuine impact it is having on people's lives. Whether it's helping someone overcome barriers to employment, supporting those facing housing difficulties, or creating opportunities for young people to thrive, our focus is always on building confidence, independence and hope. The visit was a fantastic opportunity to share not only the challenges facing our communities, but also the inspiring stories of resilience and progress that happen every day. We are incredibly optimistic about the future and the opportunities we can continue to create for local residents."

The visit reinforced the importance of early intervention, tailored support and strong partnership working in helping residents improve their circumstances, achieve sustainable outcomes so that they can feel good and live better.

As Working Denbighshire continues to support communities across the county through the multi-agency services delivered at The VIBE Station and beyond, opportunities to showcase the experiences of residents and the dedication of frontline teams remain vital in raising awareness of the difference local services can make.

Working Denbighshire is part funded by the UK Government and multiple programmes, including the Welsh Government’s Communities for Work Plus, the UK–Wales Trailblazer initiative targeting economic inactivity, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF), and Connect to Work.

Project aims to restore woodland and hedgerows at Denbighshire farm

The Ffermio Bro project has tackled invasive species and restored vital hedgerow connections between ancient woodlands at a Denbighshire farm.

Launched in April 2025, the Welsh Government programme supports farming projects that aims to make improvements to nature and the environment across Wales’s National Landscapes and National Parks.

Each National Landscape team are responsible for setting local priorities for the scheme that reflects local needs and have specialist advisors who work with farmers and landowners to support them through the application process.

One Denbighshire farm recently received funding from the Ffermio Bro project to carry out a large-scale programme of woodland restoration and hedgerow revitalisation which look to improve habitat connectivity, tackle invasive species, and bring the farm’s ancient woodlands back into better ecological health.

Before any woodland management could begin, 1,200 metres of new fencing was installed to exclude the livestock from the woodland areas entirely, which was a step the project team regarded as fundamental to the success of the whole scheme.

The woodland works at Llangwyfan Farm focused on restoring species balance within the farm’s ancient woodlands by removing diseased trees and thinning dominant species, such as sycamore, rhododendron and cherry laurel to allow native flora and fauna to thrive.

Alongside the restoration of the ancient woodlands, the funding from the Ffermio Bro programme allowed for 240 meters of hedgerow to be fully restored to create wildlife corridors linking the farms woodland areas.

Julia Hughes, Llangwyfan Farm said:

“We applied with proposed works for consideration and were delighted that some of our proposals were successful in being awarded project funding. The guidance of the Ffermio Bro team in providing us with detailed guidance, technical and practical advice both prior to and during the work was invaluable and an intrinsic part of the whole project.”

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

“This project is a great example of collaborative working to improve the county’s biodiversity which contributes to the council’s corporate plan.

“Whilst the project has achieved a lot already, it has the potential to benefit the landscape on a wider ecological scale”.

Nature recovery project shortlisted for Welsh Local Government Award

Denbighshire County Council’s Wildflower Meadows Project has been shortlisted in the Leading Innovation category at the Welsh Local Government Association Awards 2026.

The awards, which mark 30 years of Welsh local government, celebrate the work, talent and innovation delivered by councils and their teams across Wales. The winners will be announced on 17 September 2026.

The Leading Innovation category recognises teams and projects that have solved a local problem in a forward-thinking way, using new approaches, creativity or different ways of working to deliver effective and sustainable services for local communities.

Established in 2019, the Wildflower Meadows Project now includes nearly 70 acres of native wildflower habitat across the county, supporting local nature, improving biodiversity and contributing to community wellbeing.

The Council’s Biodiversity team works closely with Streetscene teams, including specialist Streetscene Nature Recovery Operatives, to create, maintain and enhance meadow habitats. This includes cutting and collecting grass to reduce nutrients, encourage wildflower growth and support a wider range of species.

The project also uses a local provenance approach, collecting seed from meadows across Denbighshire before growing plants at the Council’s Tree Nursery in St Asaph and returning them to local sites.

The work has been supported by Welsh Government funding through the Local Places for Nature funding.

The winners will be announced at the WLGA Annual Conference at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, on 17 September.

Committee to hear update on waste and recycling container charge review

Denbighshire County Council’s Community Scrutiny Committee is set to discuss a review of Waste and Recycling Container charges.

The committee will be presented with a paper at the meeting on September 3 outlining a number of options for consideration and feedback following a notice of motion raised in May this year at Full Council.

Charging for waste containers in Denbighshire has been in place since 2019.The current policy of charging for waste and recycling containers was agreed in September 2023 prior to the formal roll out of the new waste model in June 2024.  This was reviewed in late 2025 which led to an approved Lead Member Delegated Decision for the relaxation of the charging policy to allow for those in receipt of School Essentials Grant or Pension Credits to receive one recycling container replacement free of charge per calendar year.

In May, councillors asked for a review of the current arrangements regarding the provision of waste and recycling containers and to give options for alternative methods of providing these items.

A full review of the arrangements and subsequent financial costs regarding different options ranging from improving the current system to introducing universal free provision has now taken place, and further details on this can be found in the papers for the Community Scrutiny Committee online here. 

Members of the committee will discuss and make recommendations on a proposed policy revision which includes

• Implementing a free customer exchange process at our HWRCs for blue bags and food caddies only
• Retaining charges for all items if customers require items to be delivered to their door
• Expand the free single item per year for any recycling container to those on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS). For clarity the trolibox component black boxes are each considered a single item.

Following recommendations from the Community Scrutiny Committee, the Council’s Cabinet will make the final decision on any options in regards to the container charges.

A second paper will also be presented to the Scrutiny Committee for discussion in regards to the performance of the Waste and Recycling Service which can also be found online.

Tourism Forum to support local businesses in Denbighshire

Denbighshire County Council is inviting local tourism businesses to attend its next Tourism Forum, taking place at The Beaches Hotel, Prestatyn, on Wednesday 21 October 2026 from 10am.

The event will bring together tourism businesses, community groups and sector partners from across the county for a morning of updates, discussion and networking.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from a range of speakers on topics relevant to the visitor economy, Sheila Gilmore the Chief Executive of VisitArran & The Arran Trust will be presenting on managing popular visitor destinations, Fiona Argyle with be presenting on developments and opportunities linked to the Offa’s Dyke Path and Claire Roberts from the Welsh Revenue Authority will be explaining the need for visitor accommodation registration.

The Forum will also include time for refreshments and networking, giving businesses the chance to meet other local operators, share ideas and discuss opportunities to work together to strengthen Denbighshire’s tourism offer.

Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Tourism, said: “Tourism is an important part of Denbighshire’s local economy, and our Tourism Forum is a valuable opportunity for businesses to come together, hear useful updates and make new connections. We would encourage local businesses with an interest in the visitor economy to attend.”

Places can be booked by clicking here on the Eventbrite link.

Refurbishment scheme update for county public toilets

Denbighshire County Council is providing residents with the latest update on the public toilet refurbishment scheme.

Last November the Council’s Cabinet agreed proposals that will keep most public toilets in the county open thanks to the collaborative support of city, town and community councils.

These were developed after money received by the council had not kept up with financial pressures and the rising cost of delivering services, especially statutory services like social care and education. This meant a reduction in money to spend on “Place-Making” services, like public toilets.

The Council recognises the importance of public toilets, however they are a non-statutory service, and local authorities have no legal obligation to provide them.

Despite this, work took place with city, town and community councils on a sustainable model to fund and protect as many county facilities as possible. This model includes direct financial contributions from the city, town and community councils.

To help the city town and community councils and Denbighshire County Council to keep the toilets open there will be an entry charge to access these sites.

Part of this work includes refurbishing some of the facilities that were saved due to the collaborative process. The refurbishments have been funded by PiPif funding – Pride in place impact fund.

The latest public toilets to reopen following refurbishment is Prestayn’s Barkby Beach and Llangollen Riverside.

Refurbishment for remaining sites in the scheme is listed below:

• Princes St PC, Rhuddlan closed – Due to reopen c/w 7^th Sept
• Rhyl Town Hall PC,  Due to reopen c/w 5^th Oct
• Nant Hall Rd PC, Prestatyn due to close 5^th October – reopen c/w 2^nd Nov
• St Asaph PC, due to close 2^nd Nov – reopen c/w 30th Nov
• Market St PC, Llangollen due to close 4^th Jan – reopen c/w 1^st Feb
• Coronation Gardens PC due to close 16th Nov – reopen c/w 14th Dec

Please note dates of completion can be subject to change due to the weather or other external factors.

Current work at Cae Ddôl, Ruthin, funded by the Local Regeneration Fund (LRF), also include the refurbishment of the public toilets, which will be transferred to Ruthin Town Council upon completion. While the works are in progress, a temporary facility has been placed at the park and is available for public use, free of charge.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said, “Thanks to the positive energy and close collaboration with city, town and community councils, we have been able to keep most of these public facilities open. This refurbishment programme will significantly improve the facilities for residents and visitors across the county.”

“I would also like to thank everyone for their support and patience while this refurbishment work is carried out.”

Further information regarding current public toilet facilities and entry charges in Denbighshire is available here

Work takes place to tackle fly-tipping at Rhyl church

Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene and Environmental Crime and Behaviour Change Team recently attended St Thomas’ Church in Rhyl to help clear fly-tipped waste and tidy the grounds, working alongside Brighter Futures and North Wales Police local PCSOs.

All teams worked together to remove the waste and improve the appearance of this important community space, which has significant cultural and historical importance to Rhyl.

The Council is committed to working with communities and partners to tackle environmental issues and help keep Denbighshire’s towns and public spaces clean, safe and welcoming.

As part of the work, residents in the area were also given advice about the impact of fly-tipping, how they can help prevent it and how to report any incidents they witness. Community engagement is an important part of the Council’s approach to tackling environmental crime, helping residents understand how they can play a role in keeping their local area clean and reporting issues when they occur.

The Council’s Environmental Crime and Behaviour Change Team would like to remind residents that fly-tipping is an offence and can have a real impact on our communities. It can spoil local areas, harm the environment, attract vermin and costs money to investigate and clear.

If you see fly-tipping or have information that could help identify those responsible, please report it to Denbighshire County Council via the Denbighshire County Council website or by contacting the Council's Customer Services team on 01824 706000. Your information could help us take action and prevent further fly-tipping in our communities.

A big thank you to everyone involved in helping to improve the grounds of St Thomas’ Church and protect this important community space.

Improvement work completed at Llangollen Cemetery

Infrastructure improvements have been completed at Llangollen Cemetery.

Denbighshire County Council’s Streetscene secured UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding alongside capital funding to carry out infrastructure improvement work at the site.

The work was carried out to address vehicular access to the cemetery which was only possible by traffic driving through the adjacent housing estate, which was narrow and difficult to navigate.

Following completion, a new vehicular access has been created at the bottom of the site which will be accessed via Vicarage Road.

This improvement provides easier access for visitors and will enable funeral directors to access the site without disturbing neighbouring residents as well as providing onsite parking at the cemetery.

In addition to this, adjoining land located to the south of the site, which has in recent years been used for grazing was earmarked for future burial provision when required.

Work here has supported the development of the infrastructure on this plot of land for increased burial provision. Minor landscaping has also been completed including tree planting in some areas around the car park to enhance the appearance of the site along with improvements to aid biodiversity such as installation of bat and bird boxes.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The completion of this  project has vastly improved the infrastructure at Llangollen Cemetery which will help to provide a more dignified and respectful service to local families going forward.”

Working Denbighshire’s September Jobs Fair brings new opportunities for residents

Denbighshire residents looking for work, a fresh start, or a new direction in their careers are invited to attend the Working Denbighshire Jobs Fair at Queen's Market, Rhyl, on Wednesday 30 September from 10am to 2pm.

Delivered in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, the free event will bring together a wide range of employers from across North Wales who are actively recruiting for vacancies in sectors including health and social care, hospitality, retail, manufacturing, public services, logistics and many more.

The Jobs Fair has become a key event in Denbighshire's employment calendar, helping hundreds of residents connect directly with employers while accessing the wider support available through Working Denbighshire.

More than just a recruitment event, the Jobs Fair provides an opportunity for attendees to speak with the Working Denbighshire team, who offer personalised guidance and support.  Residents are encouraged to talk to a member of the team on the day to explore the opportunities available to them.  The team can help Denbighshire residents access training funds, build confidence, overcome barriers to employment, and gain the support they need to move closer to securing a job.  By taking the time to understand each individual's skills, interests and aspirations, the team can also introduce them to employers and opportunities that match what they are looking for, helping to build confidence and remove the fear of taking that next step into employment.

Over the years, Working Denbighshire's Jobs Fairs have welcomed thousands of visitors and supported hundreds of people to engage with employment services, with many attendees going on to secure jobs, training opportunities, qualifications and long-term support through the programme.

Whether someone is searching for their first job, returning to work after a break, considering a career change, looking for training opportunities, work experience or simply exploring what's possible, the event aims to open doors and create opportunities for people at every stage of their employment journey.

Melanie Evans, Service Manager, Strategic Employment, said:

"We know that finding employment isn't always straightforward, and for some people the hardest part is knowing where to start. That's why Working Denbighshire is proud to organise this Jobs Fair. Time and again, we've seen the difference these events can make, with residents securing jobs, accessing training opportunities, gaining qualifications and, in some cases, transforming their lives. By taking the time to understand each person's individual circumstances, skills and aspirations, the team can help residents identify opportunities that match what they are looking for, introduce them to employers and provide the support needed to build confidence and take that important next step towards employment."

The event is free to attend and open to everyone, including jobseekers, young people considering their future careers, those looking to return to work, and anyone seeking training, skills development or employment support.

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.