Latest news with #Flintshire
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
House prices go up in one county with more increases expected across region
House prices in one North Wales county have increased with further rises across the region expected. Latest industry figures show they have risen in Flintshire, going up by 3.3% in the second quarter of 2025, to an average price of £238,455. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society's Wales House Price Index for Q2 2025 (April to June), which demonstrates the rise and fall in house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. Wales' largest building society's report also shows that there was also a 5.2% annual increase in average house prices in Flintshire, from the second quarter in 2024, where an average property cost £226,622. In the first quarter of 2025, an average property in Flintshire cost £230,902 - an increase in the second quarter of £7,553. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now READ MORE: This giant seawall will be transformed at North Wales seaside resort READ MORE: Holidaymakers vow never to return after problems at North Wales caravan park The average price of a home sold in Wales was £238,098 in the second quarter of 2025, showing a 0.7% increase from the same period last year and just 4.6% below its peak of £249,000 at the end of 2022. Despite ongoing affordability pressures, the steady rise in the number of transactions - which reached over 10,000 in the second quarter (up 13% on last year) - suggests growing buyer confidence despite persistent cost-of-living challenges and elevated rates. Speaking about the Q2 House Price Index, Iain Mansfield, Chief Financial Officer at Principality Building Society, said: 'The housing market in Wales continued to stabilise in the second quarter of 2025, with prices holding broadly flat compared to the start of the year. Encouragingly, the steady increase in transaction volumes signals increasing confidence among buyers. "While market conditions remain challenging, a downward trend in mortgage rates is helping to create a more favourable environment for buyers. This shift is contributing to a gradual uplift in consumer confidence as we move into the second half of 2025.' According to analysis of HM Land Registry data, there were over 10,000 property transactions in Wales during the second quarter. This marks a 13% rise compared to the same period last year, reflecting a trend in year-on-year recovery in property sales. Flintshire saw higher prices than neighbouring counties Conwy and Denbighshire, which both saw slight drops in average house prices for the second quarter this year. Conwy saw a fall of 1.7%, to £231,282, while Denbighshire's figures fell slightly to £219,004. However, Wrexham saw a slight increase, on the quarter, with an average price of £217,998 - an increase of 0.2% annually. Iain added: 'As a business, we remain focused on being part of the solution when it comes to the demand pressures within the Welsh housing market. As of this year, we're proud to support 19 of 32 housing associations in Wales - aiming to remove barriers to help support everyone to have a place to call home. "As the report demonstrates, price growth has eased this quarter. Looking ahead, we expect the market to gain momentum. A significant factor will be improving affordability which goes hand in hand with consumer confidence increasing - especially for first-time buyers. (This is) driven by falling interest rates and more favourable mortgage terms, likely boosting demand. "With demand rising and supply remaining a challenge for buyers across the country, we anticipate renewed market activity in the second half of the year.'
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour's four ‘rebels' aren't persistent – they are principled
As a former Labour MP who treated the whips with the contempt they deserved in October 2001 (the chief whip told me that war is not a matter of conscience), I feel qualified to judge Keir Starmer's clumsy submission for the Stalinist of the Year award (Keir Starmer removed Labour whip from four 'persistent rebel' MPs, 16 July). Starmer fails to topple the megalomaniac Donald Trump for the honour, since the prime minister considers an MP's three votes against the government over 12 months, out of 271 divisions, as being 'persistent'. The rebels aren't persistent – they are principled. Paul WB Marsden Oakenholt, Flintshire I am saddened by the decision to remove the whip from Rachael Maskell. Before the 2019 election, I phoned many potential Labour voters in her constituency of York Central. While I was surprised at the level of distrust voiced about the party, I was impressed by the number of those who spontaneously referred to Rachael, praising her as a committed and caring MP. Labour can ill afford to lose such an outstanding representative. Sheila Cross Newby Wiske, North Yorkshire This weak, self-serving prime minister has disenfranchised me. I voted Labour and Chris Hinchliff is a good constituency MP who certainly represented my views on universal credit and personal independence payments and on Gaza. If he stands in 2029, and I am still alive, I will vote for him again – if the current cabinet has been replaced with visionaries or if he stands as an independent. Margaret Waddingham Ware, Hertfordshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Leader Live
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Inbetweeners star James Buckley hints at Buckley visit
James Buckley rose to fame when he starred as Jay Cartwright in the hit Channel Four show. Alongside Simon Bird (as Will McKenzie), Joe Thomas (Simon Cooper) and Blake Harrison (Neil Sutherland), the quartet embarked on various daring adventures while trying to navigate through adolescence. Nowadays, Buckley stars on his own podcast 'At Home With The Buckleys' alongside wife Clair. On a recent episode, the pair were discussing place names throughout the UK and James highlighted the Flintshire town of Buckley. He further hinted that a visit could well be on the cards. He said: "There's a town called Buckley in Wales. We should do something there. We should go to Buckley." TOP STORIES He added: "We should do like a little live thing in Buckley. Just saying 'The Buckley's Podcast in Buckley'. Clair said: "Okay, I'll meet you there." If the visit was to go ahead, then it would not be the first time that Buckley has been spotted in North Wales. Last year, the star was seen having a great time at Zip World in Bethesda. Zip Word shared a photo of the actor taken by a staff member with the public on its Facebook page. The Inbetweeners - which Buckley starred in - also spawned two movies, is still fondly remembered by fans who love to recite memorable quotes from the series. He also played the young Del Boy in the BBC comedy-drama Rock & Chips and the main character Brian Weaver in the comedy-fantasy series Zapped.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
Ethan Ives Griffiths' murderers are 'evilest people on Earth', dad says
The father of a toddler murdered by his grandparents said he held his son as his life support was switched off and has branded his killers the "evilest people on Earth".Ethan Ives Griffiths, two, was killed by his grandparents Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, at their home in Garden City, Flintshire, in August mother, Shannon Ives, 28, from Mold, was convicted of causing or allowing Ethan's death and child father, Will Griffiths, 29, from Flint, said he partly blamed himself for the death and claimed he warned Flintshire social services the toddler was not safe with his grandparents. Flintshire council said it was co-operating with a child practice review. Mr Griffiths also said "the way they treated him is like a bunch of chimpanzees, just playing with him and everyone having a go like it's a toy". Ethan suffered a catastrophic brain injury at his grandparents' home on 14 August 2021, and died in hospital two days was severely malnourished and underweight, and had more than 40 injuries on his went to live with his grandparents in June 2021 after a domestic dispute which saw Shannon Ives separate from Mr Griffiths. A few weeks later, Shannon Ives also moved family's own CCTV was played during the trial showing Ethan's grandfather repeatedly carrying the little boy by one arm in a manner which the prosecution said was like "a bag of rubbish".He was also seen to apparently encourage another child to strike Ethan, who was regularly made to stand in stress positions and keep his hands above his head as a form of punishment. Describing watching the images in court, Mr Griffiths said it was the "worst thing" he had ever seen a person do to a child."My stomach turns just thinking about the way he carried him over and over again. I know it would have hurt a lot," he added: "I don't think you'd even see this in prisoners of war. I really don't think you would."It's very, very disturbing to think that these are people that were supposed to love him."And they've shown everything but love to him."The prosecutor said Ethan's fatal brain injury on 14 August must have been caused by a "forceful attack".His grandparents claimed he simply "collapsed" while watching TV at their home. The following day, Mr Griffiths was phoned by his ex-partner Shannon Ives to say Ethan had fallen and was in said on the way to hospital he picked up a get well soon card, thinking Ethan had had a "little fall" and was going to be he walked into the hospital room Mr Griffiths said he did not recognise his son, who he had not seen for 10 weeks."I couldn't believe it was my son. It didn't look like Ethan," he said."He was completely different from head to toe. There was no weight there. There was nothing of him… completely covered in bruises."It was a sight of horror." The following day Mr Griffiths was called to hospital with members of his family and a decision was made to remove Ethan's life support, after doctors said there was nothing more they could do."The decision is by far the hardest thing I've ever decided on, and still to this day and to the day I die, I will regret making that decision," he said."I still see the image in my head. I still have the exact time in my head like it was yesterday."I got the chance to hold him while he took his final breath. At least he knew in his final moment somebody he loved was actually holding him." The six-week trial heard there was social services involvement with Shannon Ives and Mr Griffiths, and their had been an allegation of domestic abuse against Mr Griffiths, and he was also accused of being aggressive towards a social worker on 9 June 2021 – which led to him being arrested and his family moving out, eventually ending up with Michael and Kerry allegations were also made, including that he abused Shannon Ives, and had physically thrown Ethan. He denies all the allegations heard in court and no further action was taken after his asked why, if all the allegations were untrue, his partner and children left, he replied: "Her family like to get into her head."He said they would "make up all kinds of stuff to make sure I don't get to see my children" but that he had always maintained his Griffiths said his relationship with Michael Ives was "sour from day one", when he first got together with Shannon Ives, aged 18. The couple went on to have three children Griffiths said Ethan was a "beautiful little boy" who had the "biggest of smiles"."He was a very, very loving boy and he was always wanting to do something. We said he had ants in his pants. He was always wanting to be running around and jumping around playing."Like any child would. He was just full of life, absolutely full of life."He described Ethan as "sassy" and "boisterous" and that he loved nothing more than a cuddle."Ethan was in his best element with his wellies on in the garden, no matter the weather," he Griffiths said one of the happiest moments of his life was when Ethan and his other children were all playing in the garden one summer."We were having a great laugh, enjoying the sunshine, soaking it all added: "We were just so happy."It was the first summer we'd all had together."We had no distractions, no-one else. It was just me and my children. That was all." 'The evilest people on Earth' Michael and Kerry Ives and their daughter Shannon Ives are all due to be sentenced on 3 Griffiths said he thought Michael and Kerry Ives were "arguably, the evilest people on Earth"."They are vile and disgusting, evil pieces of trash."They don't deserve to still be able to breathe our air while my son doesn't get to."It's a very horrible thing that they still get life, whereas my son doesn't."He said he hoped they would spend the rest of their lives in prison."I don't think any punishment could make up for what they've done".He said when it came to Ethan's mum Shannon Ives he felt a "lot of disappointment"."I would say I'm angry, but it's gone past that. It's gone past anger with her, and I'm just disgusted and disappointed in everything she's done and said and shown."Mr Griffiths said he blamed himself for "not just turning up to their house" as he now believes he would have been able bring attention to what was going on."I do blame myself for quite a lot of nothing happening," he a statement, Flintshire council said it was "inconceivable that his young life was taken by those who should have protected him".The council said it was co-operating with an independent child practice review by the North Wales Safeguarding Board."In line with agreed practice the North Wales Safeguarding Board has appointed a panel to review the involvement of agencies," it said."The independent reviewers will produce a report identifying their findings and recommendations. The report will be presented to the safeguarding board for scrutiny and assurance."
Leader Live
17-07-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Flintshire social services highlight urgent need for new foster carers
The issue came up as Flintshire's Social and Health Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the mid-term review of the Council Plan 2025-30 on Thursday. There are around 260 children in foster care in Flintshire looked after by 83 foster families. Some of those foster families are 'connected persons' – people with a family link to the children in their care like grandparents. Others are 'general foster carers'. These are people who take in any children in need of stability and care on behalf of Flintshire County Council. The authority has a strong track record of providing high quality support for children in foster care, but is facing difficulty recruiting new families. In 2024/25 Flintshire's recruitment target was 12 new families to meet demand. It approved just three general foster carers and two connected persons. Concerned about the low recruitment level, Brynford and Halkyn councillor Fran Lister asked: 'Is there a good retention of foster carers? Since Covid lots of people may be using spare rooms to work in and I'm just wondering whether the foster care market has declined since then and if we need to take that into account. 'The target was 12, there was five this year which is obviously nowhere near what we need. Is there any more we can do to recruit foster carers that are so desperately needed?' Outreach work is ongoing according to Jane Davies, Senior Manager for Safeguarding and Commissioning in Flintshire Social Services. But low numbers of applicants and the challenge of approving those suitable to foster has posed difficulties for Flintshire's fostering team. 'The demographic has changed – some existing foster carers have got older and have retired or are now looking after their own grandchildren so that has had an impact,' she said. 'We have also had less people coming forward as new foster carers. Part of that is lifestyle and expectations since Covid. 'It's not for everybody, it's a really difficult role and you have to be a certain sort of person to be a foster carer.' Ms Davies added that Flintshire was actively reaching out to promote its in-house foster care service to attract more applicants. 'We have policies to encourage our own council staff to become foster carers and supportive mechanisms to assist with that, we offer council tax discretion as in other North Wales authorities and we have a dedicated officer within the fostering team who supports promoting the service through social media and advertising. 'The fostering team, which is based in Flint, will have a presence at the Eisteddfod in Wrexham in three weeks. They will also have a presence at the Royal Welsh Show. 'There people will be able to go and learn more about becoming foster carers, understand better what it entails. 'It's important we get into lots of places and there is lots of activity around this to promote fostering.'
