Latest news with #ActiveTravelFund
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Police warn drivers ignoring changes in Wrexham city centre
Changes made to the city centre divided opinion among business owners and residents when it was pedestrianised back in April. Over the last few months, funding secured from UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, the Welsh Government Transforming Towns Fund, Safer Streets Fund and Active Travel Fund allowed Wrexham Council to make High Street and Wrexham City Centre, they say, 'more inviting and pedestrian friendly'. As part of these improvements as of Monday April 14, there is now just one point of entry only to the city centre. That is via Yorke Street with access provided between 6am and 11.30am daily, with bollards in place to restrict vehicle access otherwise. But, within just a few days of it being introduced, several crashes were reported to Wrexham Council at the scene of the bollards. And, drivers are continuing to ignore the city centre warning signs nearly two months on, police have said. The force has warned that people who do this are putting others at 'significant risk'. They added that those drivers could 'face prosecution'. PC Dan Brown, community beat manager for Wrexham City Centre, said: 'We are receiving complaints that road users are ignoring the new traffic regulation order and are continuing to use the roads the 'old way'." TOP STORIES TODAY Wrexham Co-op store closed after car collides with its wall PC Brown added: "This causes significant risks to other road users and pedestrians who use them correctly. Road users ignoring the new order will face prosecution. We are committed to ensuring that Wrexham City Centre is a safe place for all who use it.' To familiarise yourself with the new layout and signage, pay particular attention to the following locations:- PC Brown said: " Please ensure these are adhered to, to avoid prosecution. "Wrexham City Neighbourhood Police team are working in partnership with Wrexham Council enforcement team to ensure that the roads in the city centre are being used as they should be. Thank you for your co-operation."
Pembrokeshire Herald
12-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Cyclists power into Tenby for Carten100 2025
CHILDREN'S playgrounds and play spaces across Wales are to be improved so youngsters have better opportunities to play within their local communities. The Welsh Government is providing an extra £5m to local authorities to purchase items to improve the quality of play spaces, refurbish playgrounds and support the creation of inclusive and accessible play spaces. Playing positively impacts children and families and is vital in a child's development, helping them to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem. When considering their proposals, local authorities are being asked to gather the views of people including children and their families on play provision in their area; consider play opportunities that are inclusive and encourage all children to play and meet together, and improve access and safety. Minister for Children, Dawn Bowden visited the refurbished Williams Field Lane playground in Monmouth where she met parents and children who benefit from the facilities. Funding from the Active Travel Fund has been used to enhance the playground through the Williams Field Lane active travel scheme. This has seen a mixture of planting, natural eco-friendly play areas, equipment such as swings and a host of eco-friendly equipment for children's development like hedgehog houses put in place. The play area is also used as a Forest School and for ecological work by Overmonnow Primary School, with the Active Travel network providing safe access. A parent whose child goes to Overmonnow Primary School, said: 'We use the park every day after school, it is lovely to let the children play together and decompress after the school day.' Another parent said: 'The park is nice, especially if we are slightly early, then we can use it. Also, at the end of the school day the park is nice to stop off at.' Minister for Children, Dawn Bowden said: 'We want a Wales where all children feel physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and can access their right to play. 'Playgrounds, such as Williams Field Lane playground, are fantastic places for children to play, make friends and enjoy themselves. 'This month we celebrate National Children's Day. This funding will improve children's experiences and help them build confidence and develop their skills. 'We will continue to work with local authorities and partners to support our ambitions in improving opportunities to play and promote the benefits of play for children's wellbeing.' Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant said: 'By working closely with local authorities, we're helping to ensure children in Wales have access to safe and engaging places to play, particularly in areas where families may face additional challenges. 'Our £5m investment in these vital community assets is more than just improving playgrounds. It's about investing in our children's development and wellbeing – and building stronger, better-connected communities across Wales.' This funding was secured through the budget deal between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Pembrokeshire Herald
12-05-2025
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
£5m to make playgrounds and play areas fun-tastic
CHILDREN'S playgrounds and play spaces across Wales are to be improved so youngsters have better opportunities to play within their local communities. The Welsh Government is providing an extra £5m to local authorities to purchase items to improve the quality of play spaces, refurbish playgrounds and support the creation of inclusive and accessible play spaces. Playing positively impacts children and families and is vital in a child's development, helping them to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem. When considering their proposals, local authorities are being asked to gather the views of people including children and their families on play provision in their area; consider play opportunities that are inclusive and encourage all children to play and meet together, and improve access and safety. Minister for Children, Dawn Bowden visited the refurbished Williams Field Lane playground in Monmouth where she met parents and children who benefit from the facilities. Funding from the Active Travel Fund has been used to enhance the playground through the Williams Field Lane active travel scheme. This has seen a mixture of planting, natural eco-friendly play areas, equipment such as swings and a host of eco-friendly equipment for children's development like hedgehog houses put in place. The play area is also used as a Forest School and for ecological work by Overmonnow Primary School, with the Active Travel network providing safe access. A parent whose child goes to Overmonnow Primary School, said: 'We use the park every day after school, it is lovely to let the children play together and decompress after the school day.' Another parent said: 'The park is nice, especially if we are slightly early, then we can use it. Also, at the end of the school day the park is nice to stop off at.' Minister for Children, Dawn Bowden said: 'We want a Wales where all children feel physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and can access their right to play. 'Playgrounds, such as Williams Field Lane playground, are fantastic places for children to play, make friends and enjoy themselves. 'This month we celebrate National Children's Day. This funding will improve children's experiences and help them build confidence and develop their skills. 'We will continue to work with local authorities and partners to support our ambitions in improving opportunities to play and promote the benefits of play for children's wellbeing.' Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant said: 'By working closely with local authorities, we're helping to ensure children in Wales have access to safe and engaging places to play, particularly in areas where families may face additional challenges. 'Our £5m investment in these vital community assets is more than just improving playgrounds. It's about investing in our children's development and wellbeing – and building stronger, better-connected communities across Wales.' This funding was secured through the budget deal between the Welsh Government and Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
Rhyl Journal
09-05-2025
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Streets by school in Rhuddlan could become one-way roads
Denbighshire County Council and walking, wheeling and cycling charity Sustrans are looking at making roads near Ysgol y Castell easier and safer to exercise on. The roads concerned are Castle Street, Hylas Lane and Abbey Road, along with their surrounding areas. Sustrans said: 'We're looking at these streets because it is part of a route that connects residents of Rhuddlan and pupils of Ysgol y Castell with shops and services in Rhuddlan town centre.' The project is being made possible by Welsh Government's Active Travel Fund, which supports councils in Wales to develop, promote, and support walking, wheeling, and cycling schemes. In October 2023, six possible designs to improve active travel near Ysgol y Castell were shared, each offering different changes that could make walking, cycling, and using a wheelchair easier and safer. Feedback involved comments about pavements being too narrow, difficulty in crossing roads safely, worries about cars driving too fast, too many cars during school drop-off and pick-up times. Sustrans has now created a new design that shows possible changes to the streets by Ysgol y Castell, based on this feedback. Residents can share their thoughts on the new design via an online survey: One-way streets are being proposed because, Sustrans said, 'when cars only travel one way, the actual road width can be much narrower, making room for wider pavements without the need to remove car parking spaces'. Sustrans added: 'It was made clear from engagement that maintaining car parking was a priority as improving the pavements, and this is one way of achieving this whilst keeping parking spaces. 'People were mostly in favour of the one-way system.' The proposal also involves widening pavements, making changes to junctions, adding informal/simple pedestrian crossings, creating a 'shared surface' on Castle Street between Cross Street and Hylas Lane, adding green spaces. As well as completing the online survey, people can also come to in-person workshops on Tuesday (May 13). These will be held at Ysgol y Castell's school gates from 3-4pm, and at Ebeneser Chapel from 5.30-8.30pm.
Leader Live
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Leader Live
'Real improvement' - What you think of changes made to Wrexham's high street
Over the last few months, funding secured from UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund, the Welsh Government Transforming Towns Fund, Safer Streets Fund and Active Travel Fund has allowed the council to make High Street and Wrexham City Centre, they say, 'more inviting and pedestrian friendly'. As part of these improvements as of Monday, April 14, there is now just one point of entry only to the city centre. That is via Yorke Street with access provided between 6am and 11.30am daily, with bollards in place to restrict vehicle access otherwise. The change has drawn mixed reviews from business owners and residents alike. Within just a few days, several crashes were reported to Wrexham Council at the scene of the bollards. Last week, the Leader took a trip into the city centre to see what life is like since the change was made and spoke to some of the local business owners and residents. Since then, more of our readers have been getting in touch to give us their views. Nigel Jones said: "It works in Chester, why can't it work in Wrexham. Waiting for seating outside the pubs and nice brollies and decor, not cars whizzing back and to." Trevor Coxon told us: "Absolutely brilliant. I was getting sick of the boy racers tearing through the city centre risking injury to pedestrians. Now something needs to be done about Hill Street and Regent Street and pedestrians can breathe again!" TOP STORIES Glyn Chaplin added: "Changed the atmosphere completely, real improvement." John Davies said: "It's great." Alun Jones said: "Looks very pleasant. Hope Street soon I dearly hope." Chris Cousins said: "All the complaining is not going to change the council's decision. People should get used to it. It's a good thing as we won't have cars coming up the street and will be able to walk safely." Others were not so pleased about the change however, like Jane Prescott who said: "We've talked to a local business owner in the town centre and a lot of the time he can't get his delivery done at the given times. He is strongly thinking of moving out of town centre completely, somewhere with car park and 24/7 access."
