Latest news with #DenbighshireCountyCouncil
Rhyl Journal
11 hours ago
- Science
- Rhyl Journal
Wych elms grown in bid to save rare white-letter hairstreak
Denbighshire County Council's biodiversity team has grown more than 1,800 of the under-threat trees at its tree nursery in St Asaph to support the white-letter hairstreak butterfly, which relies on wych elms to survive. Wych elms have declined sharply due to Dutch elm disease, and the loss has put the butterfly at further risk since its larvae feed exclusively on the tree's unopened flower buds. Sam Brown, tree nursery assistant, said: "We are really pleased we have been able to grow nearly 2,000 wych elms here at the nursery as the future of the tree has been threatened by Dutch elms disease and a reluctance to replant the tree. "Not only that, this tree goes hand in hand with putting food out there for an extremely rare butterfly and having this number that will be planted out on the Green Gates Nature Reserve will go a long way to encouraging white-letter hairstreaks to turn their decline around." The trees were grown from seeds collected at Loggerheads Country Park last year and will be planted at the nearby Green Gates Nature Reserve. The project is funded by the Welsh Government's Local Places for Nature grant and forms part of the council's work with the Local Nature Partnership. Mr Brown said: "It's so important to reverse the loss of trees and habitats by climate change and human action. "The wych elm is perfect as plants and trees all play their part in providing a vital food source for insects and animals. "The less and less there are in Denbighshire, the more at risk our local nature becomes." The white-letter hairstreak was last recorded at Loggerheads several years ago and remains scarce across Denbighshire. The council hopes that reintroducing flowering wych elms will provide the essential food source needed to help the butterfly return and thrive in the area.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Leader Live
20mph: Over 600 drivers caught twice the speed limit in Flintshire
New data gathered by Legal Expert reveals that 655 people were caught going at least double the speed limit on 20mph roads in the county between April 2024 and April 2025. Legal Expert's research shows that almost two-thirds of those offences were on just three roads. In just one year, 298 people were caught going 40mph or over on the A5104 Pontybodkin. That includes one driver clocked at 85mph in September 2024. Another 74 went at least double the speed limit on the A548 Greenfield, as did 70 people on Gladstone Way when passing through Hawarden. The Welsh government introduced 20mph as the default speed limit in September 2023, sparking widespread debate. While some roads are set to revert back to 30mph limits, Denbighshire County Council has said that it will resist calls to change. Flintshire is due to see some of its roads go back to 30mph, although these figures show that many drivers will still be in excess of the allowed speed. Legal Expert found that incidents involving drivers going well over the limit appear to be falling. An average of 67 drivers per month were recorded going over 39mph in a 20mph zone from April to September 2024, but that average fell to 46 in the following six-month period. One such motorist to have been sentenced for going twice the 20mph speed limit was - Matthew Dickin, of New Road, Dobshill, who appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Friday. The 54-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to one offence of speeding, which took place on July 6 last year. Prosecutor Shaun Bartlett-Evans told the court that on the morning of the offence, a speed camera on the A549 at Mynydd Isa caught the defendant travelling at 42mph in a Land Rover motor vehicle. Magistrates chair Stephen Copple handed down six penalty points - putting Dickin only three away from an automatic ban should he find himself back in court for any more motoring offences. Furthermore, he must pay a fine of £586, victim surcharge of £234 and costs of £130, which he agreed to pay within 28 days. MORE NEWS: The 'worst' driving offence in North Wales was on a 20mph road. In May last year, a person travelling on the B5129 in Pentre went 88mph, a full 68mph above the legal limit. On the A483, North Wales Police recorded one driver going 116mph, the highest speed recorded across North Wales in the past year. Nine drivers were seen travelling westbound on the A55 Rhuallt Hill at 100mph or over. A GoSafe spokesperson said: "Excessive speed is one of the largest contributory factors to collisions on our roads. Higher speed collisions often means a higher severity and a devastating impact on families. "GoSafe will continue to use the '4E' method to improve road safety; engineering, education, engagement, and enforcement. Enforcement is always the last option and is considered where the risk to people is highest. "We'll continue to use these methods to reduce the number of people killed or injured on Welsh roads."
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- General
- North Wales Live
This giant seawall will be transformed at North Wales seaside resort
A seawall built as part of new flood defences will be transformed at a seaside town. Working on behalf of Denbighshire County Council, Balfour Beatty's redevelopment of the East Parade in Rhyl included removing the old promenade and sea walls. The new prom was widened and raised to provide protection and for improved pedestrian and cyclist access, with a concrete-stepped revetment constructed to reduce flooding risk — protecting over 600 properties in Central Rhyl. Now a mural will be be created to span up to 60 pre-cast units - printed on durable materials such as aluminium to bring a lasting tribute to the town. Alongside the main installation, workshops with local schools, youth groups and families have helped shape a vibrant mural trail reflecting Rhyl's past, present and future. Artists are now putting the final touches to the striking new mural. Led by artist and facilitator Ffion Pritchard, the project invited creatives from across Denbighshire to contribute to the Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign. Supported by Rhyl Neighbourhood Board – an independent collective made up of residents, business owners, politicians, council officers and grassroots organisations - and Balfour Beatty, the mural aims to showcase the heart and heritage of the beloved seaside resort, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. 'The response has been incredible,' said Ffion, from Bangor. 'We've worked with a wide range of amazing community groups and seen just how much creativity and pride exists here. From young people to older residents, everyone has had something valuable to share. This project has brought people together in a powerful way, allowing them to express their vision of Rhyl - what it means to them, where it's been, and where it's going. It's been a joy to help guide that process.' Craig Sparrow, Chair of Rhyl Neighbourhood Board, added: 'We're incredibly grateful for the dedication and creativity that's gone into this project. It's been fantastic to see the community come together, from third sector groups to individual artists, everyone has played a part. 'Projects like this show just how much talent there is in Rhyl, and how art can help tell our story in such a meaningful and lasting way. I'm really looking forward to seeing the completed mural. 'It's going to be something we can all be proud of and will showcase the very best of Rhyl, both for residents and visitors.' Participants have included Ysgol Tir Morfa, West Rhyl Young People's Project, Viva LGBT Youth Cymru, Brighter Futures, Willow Collective, Ysgol Bryn Hedydd, and families through workshops at the town library. The project is on course to be completed in August. Denbighshire County Council will be receiving £20million for Rhyl from the UK Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. Rhyl Neighbourhood Board will develop a 10-year vison for the town and an initial investment plan to determine what priorities should be.
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Denbighshire's Flying Start scheme expanded to more areas
The Flying Start programme, funded by the Welsh Government, now covers additional areas including Rhyl, Prestatyn, Meliden, Rhuddlan, Dyserth, Denbigh, Corwen, Llangollen, Llandrillo, and Llanfair DC. The scheme offers up to 12.5 hours of funded childcare per week during term time for families with a child who turned two between September 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025. Councillor Diane King, lead member for education, children, and families at Denbighshire County Council, 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." The programme aims to give children the best start in life by supporting their early growth and development. A postcode checker is available on the Denbighshire County Council website to confirm eligibility. For more information, visit
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
On this day: Denbighshire complains of bins full of maggots
The local authority introduced its new Trolibocs system the month prior but was forced to apologise after collections for some had gone weeks overdue. The council was supposed to collect recycling on a weekly basis whilst rubbish collections were made every four weeks as opposed to the old two-week system. The council expected residents to separate items such as paper, plastic, metal, food cartons, and glass themselves to help cut costs. But a number of residents across the county slammed the service as bins and recycling containers remained unemptied. The council argued that most collections took place as planned. Stuart Davies, of Fron Bach in Llangollen, a former deputy leader at Denbighshire County Council, claimed his recycling and food waste containers hadn't been emptied for two weeks whilst some neighbours had waited three. He said: 'They are still missing collections out. 'I've been emailing the chief exec, the head of service, the corporate director, and they are just ignoring us. The food waste bin is full of maggots, and it is just not on. 'There are flies everywhere. It is stinking. The lanes are half blocked because the neighbours have left their Trolibocs out. "People can't deliver parcels. Fellow Llangollen resident Jane Palombella claimed the road was too narrow for refuse collectors to work. She said: 'As we thought, the new collections don't work. 'The workers have not got room to put the sides of the truck down, so they can't load the recycling. 'They are now refusing to come up here. "We have had no recycling collection for two weeks, our neighbours three weeks. 'Theirs included food waste too. We seem to be at an impasse with the council now.' A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said at the time: 'The majority of recycling and residual waste collections have been completed as planned under the new waste and recycling service. 'We however accept that a number of residents didn't receive the service planned and this has caused difficulties for them. 'The council is continuing to closely monitor the roll out of the new service and is doing everything we can to make sure that all residential waste collections are made as planned. 'We would also again like to thank all residents for their efforts to ensure that their recycling is sorted correctly and placed in the appropriate containers. 'These efforts are continuing to greatly improve the quality of the recycling materials collected and this is really appreciated.' This story was first reported on by Marko Vranic on July 24, 2024.
