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Wales Online
09-07-2025
- Wales Online
Major River Dee rescue launched to distress flares turned out to be 'malicious hoax'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A major rescue effort was launched along the River Dee last night, after three distress flares were launched. However after a search, it was found to be a "malicious" hoax. The Coastguard received about a dozen calls around 10.55pm from members of the public and North Wales and Merseyside Police. It came after martime red distress flares were launched from the area of the Duke of Lancaster ship, which is docked at Llanerch-y-Mor in Flintshire. Flint, Rhyl and Wirral Coastguard teams were lanched alongside Flint, West Kirby and Hoylake RNLI, supported by police from both North Wales and Mersyside and Merseyside Fire and Fire Service. A large-scale search of the River Dee was undertaken, until 12.30am this morning. However three used parachute rocket tubes, were later discovered near to the Duke of Lancaster, where a number of calls had indicated they had been launched from that area, a Coastguard spokesperson said. It was then deemed to be a "malicious" hoax. (Image: Hadyn Iball / North Wales Live) The Coastguard spokesperson said it was illegal to use the flares and had risked people's lives, by engaging multiple rescue teams in a false search, tying up precious resources. "It was a massive waste of resources, that could have endangered other people's lives," the spokesperson said: "It could have delayed these resources getting to another incident that was genuine, while also causing fatigue, to those out on the call. "We would urge unybody not to do this. It is very frustrating to have gone to this effort, only to find that it was a malicious hoax." The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here's how to sign up Find out what's happening near you
Wales Online
31-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
The Welsh village with a world-famous feature where house prices are surging
The Welsh village with a world-famous feature where house prices are surging It's not hard to see why the area has proved to be such a popular place to live - and people are willing to pay even more for the privilege Coastal housing in Wales in cheapest in Prestatyn last year, according to Land Registry figures (Image: Hadyn Iball/North Wales Live ) The Anglesey village of Llanfairpwll is renowned for having the world's second-longest name, but it boasts more than just a unique moniker. In 2024, when property prices across the UK were struggling, Llanfairpwll bucked the trend, with house values rising by 12% to an average of £266,746, according to data from the Land Registry. This growth was particularly notable given the 5.1% decline in overall property prices on Anglesey in 2024, although the market now appears to be recovering. Llanfairpwll's resilience was highlighted in the latest Lloyds Coastal Homes Review, which ranked the village sixth out of 197 seaside locations in the UK for the largest annual price increases in 2024. The allure of coastal living, which had driven up property prices since the pandemic, waned slightly in 2024, with the average price of a seaside home dipping by 1% year-on-year. However, this shift left Prestatyn in Denbighshire as the most affordable coastal location in Wales, according to the Lloyds review, published on Monday, May 26. Despite this, demand for properties in Llanfairpwll surged, although the reasons for this are not immediately apparent. The village has long been a desirable location, boasting an "excellent"-rated primary school, a GP surgery, dentists, and a range of shops, cafes, and pubs. Nestled near the banks of the Menai Strait and under the watchful eye of the 89ft Tŵr Marcwis (Anglesey Column), the village's standout feature is its superb transport links. Not only is it enveloped by the A55, but it's also bordered by a railway line, which has made the village famous, reports North Wales Live. Indeed, the village holds a lasting charm for visitors. Each year, around 200,000 people flock to Llanfairpwll to gaze at the 58 letters that form its adopted name. Most gather at the railway station before heading into James Pringle Weavers World of Shopping, with some even daring to tackle the 115-step climb to the top of Tŵr Marcwis. Adding to Llanfairpwll's appeal are its stunning coastal walks along the Strait. It boasts some prestigious neighbours too, including the National Trust's Plas Newydd and, closer still, Plas Llanfair, another property once owned by the Marquis of Anglesey and now an MOD mountain training centre. Tŵr Marcwis (Anglesey Column) stands proud over Llanfairpwll. It was awarded 872,800 by he National Lottery Heritage Fund for repairs and a new visitor centre including a shop and cafe (Image: National Lottery Heritage Fund ) Given its firm boundaries – the railway and the A55 – land is scarce in Llanfair. A green field buffer strip by the A55 is gradually being eroded, with the relatively new Llys Eilian development now bordering the dual-carriageway. Campaigners have been battling the expansion of the Y Garnedd estate, striving to prevent the building of 27 "affordable" flats and houses on one of the village's last green spaces. Despite a 1,051-signature petition, their efforts were thwarted when Anglesey Council approved the project last November. The development's backers have made the case for the dire need for affordable housing in a village burdened with a lengthy social housing waiting list on the Tai Teg Register, emphasising the increased property values in areas where demand surpasses supply. Throughout Britain, Lloyds' review pinpointed the plush Dorset area of Sandbanks as maintaining its position as the most expensive seaside spot, even with a 3% drop year-on-year, with average property prices remaining at a lofty £965,708. It was Gourock, an old Scottish coastal town, that saw the largest price spike in 2024, enjoying a 24% increase. Following closely was St Mawes in Cornwall with an 18% upturn. At Llanfairpwll railway station, place name photographs are a must for visitors such as YouTubers Geoff Marshall and Vicky Pipe (Image: All The Stations ) Over the past five years, this Cornish fishing village has witnessed a staggering 68% surge in house prices, adding an average of £222,602 to the price tags of local homes, a testimony to the draw of charming seaside locations. Amanda Bryden, spearheading mortgages at Lloyds, remarked: "Coastal living continues to hold a special appeal – whether it's the lure of sea views, sandy beaches, or a slower pace of life. "In some of the UK's most desirable coastal towns, average prices have dipped slightly over the past year. But, over the longer term, values remain significantly higher – especially in the South West (of England), where demand from lifestyle movers continues to shape the market. Article continues below "At the other end of the scale, there are still pockets of real affordability, where buyers can find coastal homes for a fraction of the price. For those willing to look beyond the traditional hotspots, there are some hidden gems offering great value and a strong sense of community. "It's also important to recognise that not all coastal areas share the same fortunes. Some seaside towns face significant challenges, from seasonal economies to a lack of affordable housing for local people."
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Wales Online
The North Wales beaches recognised for their clean waters and beautiful environments
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Three North Wales beaches have been recognised for their clean water and beautiful environments in this year's Keep Wales Tidy Awards 2025. The environmental charity said: "Wales boasts some of the most stunning and diverse coastline in the UK. "The Wales Coast Awards play a vital role in protecting our precious marine environment and are recognised around the world as a symbol of quality. We've managed the Blue Flag, Green Coast Award and Seaside Award for more than 20 years. "To attain one of these prestigious awards a beach, marina or tourism boat operator must meet and maintain the highest environmental standards and achieve tough water quality targets." The winners of this years awards were: Green Coast Award: Silver Bay (Traeth Llydan) Anglesey (Image: Traeth Llydan beach in Rhosneigr, Anglesey (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)) The Green Coast award recognises the beautiful, untouched, rugged beaches that line so much of our coast. They may not have the facilities of more traditional seaside resorts, but Green Coast Award beaches have excellent water quality and are held to high environmental standards. According to Keep Wales Tidy: "Silver Bay is a beautiful, remote beach facing south into Cymyran Bay. The beach is wide and sandy with rocky outcrops to clamber over and plenty of opportunities for rock pooling. "It is also popular for sailing, surfing and canoeing. The beach is backed by a conifer plantation, a Holiday Park and farmland and is bound by low rocky headlands. "There is no direct vehicular access to the beach and visitors should park at neighbouring Borth Wen beach before using the spectacular Anglesey Coast Path to access Silver Bay beach. "The path follows the coast in both directions and offers fine views of the Rhosneigr beaches to the south. In keeping with its rural location there are no facilities at the beach but the nearby resort of Trearddur, to the north, has a selection of shops and services and hosts a popular annual oyster festival. Between Rhoscolyn and Treaddur is the Porth Diana Nature Reserve, home to the spotted rock rose, Anglesey's county flower." Seaside Awards: Rhyl East, Prestatyn Central (Image: Hadyn Iball / North Wales Live) With a distinctive yellow and blue flag The Seaside Awards is given to attractive and well-managed coastal stretches. According to Keep Wales Tidy Prestatyn Central Beach "is located between the Ffrith and Barkby Beaches, only half a mile from the town centre". They said: "It is popular for watersports including surfing, sailing and windsurfing and has a large tidal range. "A promenade joining Prestatyn's three beaches is more than 4 miles long and offers pleasant walking around the sandy bays. The promenade forms part of the North Wales Path. The beach also marks the beginning of the Offa's Dyke National Trail, which runs south to Chepstow, marking the boundary between Wales and England. "There are cafes near the beach as well as a play area, leisure centre and traditional seaside amusements. A wide range of shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants can be found in the town centre. The area is an ideal base for cycling, with two local cycle routes starting in Prestatyn, one of which takes in the picturesque Dyserth Waterfall." Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
Wales Online
29-04-2025
- Wales Online
Coastal village overrun as tourists bring traffic and tensions
Coastal village overrun as tourists bring traffic and tensions Newborough, a coastal village in Anglesey, found itself swamped by traffic as visitors flocked to its beach - and locals have threatened to take action if the problem is not resolved Visitors heading to Traeth Llanddwyn beach being turned away in Newborough due to traffic volumes (Image: Hadyn Iball/North Wales Live ) The quiet coastal village of Newborough in Anglesey is once again buckling under the strain of heavy traffic, as waves of beachgoers descend on the area. Frustrated locals, long weary of the recurring congestion, are warning they may take direct action if officials don't step in to resolve the long-standing issue. The story has sparked lively debate among North Wales Live readers in their comments section. Littering is a constant issue, tempers frequently flare and there are increasing reports of human waste being left out in the open. Unauthorised camping poses a fire risk at the 2,500-acre Newborough Forest, which serves as a backdrop to Traeth Llanddwyn and its tidal island. Yet, it's the traffic that presents the most significant disruption to a community already struggling with overtourism. On Easter Sunday, some locals reported a 40-minute delay to drive the final half-mile into Newborough due to tailbacks. Much of this traffic was trying to get to the 300-space beach car park at the picturesque Traeth Llanddwyn. This is one of seven car parks within Newborough Forest, but they all fill up quickly on sunny days, reports North Wales Live. Latecomers ended up queuing along a 1.8-mile access road to the beach or parking illegally on the A4080 next to the forest, leaving some villagers irate as visitors parked in residential areas and obstructed driveways. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here Article continues below In a move mirroring Cyngor Gwynedd's stringent actions around Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the Ogwen Valley in Eryri (Snowdonia), frustrated locals are calling upon the council to get tougher on unruly parking. North Wales Police have been towing away vehicles parked illegally, along with handing out fines. At the same time, Anglesey Council is celebrating a £2.4m cash injection from the Welsh Government aimed at connecting Malltraeth and Newborough through the second phase of an active travel project. The expansion of Lon Las Cefni network is seen as a way to alleviate traffic snarls by encouraging walking and cycling, but residents aren't wholeheartedly convinced. The locals' dialogue has spilled onto the comments section, stirring a mix of sarcasm and serious debate. Mrrogerdodger quipped: "What? ! They should make way for their tourist overlords. If it wasn't for the tourists, all of Anglesey would be empty and sink into the sea." Ofcourseitis highlighted the value of tourism, noting "People appear to have a complete downer on the tourism industry in Wales, 160 000 people rely on tourism for their livelihood, without which there would be even more poverty in Wales." Farman77 sympathised with frustrated residents: "Locals who are annoyed, rightly so, about the situation in their village at certain times of the year. I'm sure you or I would feel the same if we lived in Newborough." And Rojer showed support for incoming measures: "Roll on the tourist tax!". Onlyfair hit back: "'Trapped at home!' I think not as I drove through a couple of times over the period mentioned and yes it may have been busier than in winter, but isn't that true of most places? I know a couple of people who live in the village and all state the situation is massively exaggerated by the anti English brigade who seem to think they own all of the local beaches themselves and no one should visit except them." Furq reminisced: "I spent a few summers here back in the 1970s. It was usually fairly quiet in those days. I have great memories of long hot days in the sand and swimming with seals." Hogangymraeg responded: "It was quiet back then, it was heaven, it has now become hell. It's not as if there were no other beaches on the island. But now they all try to go to Llanddwyn, knowing full well that the road to the beach will undoubtedly be closed." LifeboatMan argued: "The beach does not belong to locals, nor do the locals have any more rights than anyone else to dictate who visits it, or how." Gymraeg fired back: "Locals have every right to complain when visitors park in housing estates, and on yellow lines." Rocky-Reform chimed in: "Anglesey County Council is to blame. You can paint double yellow lines all you like, but without enforcement it is just a waste of yellow paint. Anglesey needs to embrace tourism but there must be a strategic approach to this." Wiseone11 has little sympathy, remarking: "I have no sympathy, the locals are only too glad of the income they make during holiday seasons, only to moan when it gets busy! Be grateful!". Caeuchaf challenges the perceived economic benefits, stating: "Tourism represents less than 8% of the Welsh economy, the so called "economic benefits" of tourism are a complete myth, nothing but propaganda put out there by the vested interests that are the tourism business owners, who happen to be the only people who make a decent living from tourists and tourism." Stra highlights local discontent, commenting: "This is why all the local people of North Wales despise the visitors, they bring nothing but disrespect and problems." Article continues below
Wales Online
22-04-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Parking charges at popular seaside promenade to be extended
Parking charges at popular seaside promenade to be extended Conwy County Borough Council has put forward proposals to extend the Controlled Parking Zone along The Parade in Llandudno Llandudno promenade and beach on a sunny day (Image: Hadyn Iball/North Wales Live ) Plans are currently on the table for potential new parking fees along Llandudno's promenade, as Conwy County Borough Council considers expanding its Controlled Parking Zone down The Parade. These would run between Ty'n y Ffirth Road and Nant-y-Gamar Road in the Craig y Don area of the town and should the measure pass, from May 1 to September 30, vehicles might incur a fee of £5.50 for parking durations of up to four hours, climbing to £7.50 for longer stays. During the off-peak season, from October 1 to April 30, it's been suggested that prices would be set at £2.40 for up to two hours parked. It would be £3.80 for a max of four hours, and £5.40 should drivers exceed four hours, with the proposed charging times being 10am to 4pm. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Local concerns have prompted Janet Finch-Saunders, Aberconwy's Senedd member, to contact the Council Leader, Councillor Charlie McCoubrey, sharing the discontentment voiced by residents and small businesses about this move. Article continues below She said: "Craig y Don is a wonderful unique area, with bespoke businesses that attract many customers. "This proposal will have an negative impact on the small business in the area. "It will place even more strain on Craig y Don businesses, that are already facing increased pressures from the rise of employer National Insurance Contributions and business rates of 56.8p, which are the highest rates in Great Britain for small and medium sized enterprises. "Residents are also worried that expanding the Controlled Parking Zone will encourage visitors to park on nearby residential roads for free, further complicating parking for those who already struggle to find spaces near their homes. "This is a poor proposal from Conwy County Borough Council and I urge them to take into account the impact on local businesses and listen to the voices of residents." Llandudno is a popular destination in the summer time (Image: Daily Post Wales ) Conwy council also recently secured a multi-million pound funding boost for Llandudno's flood defences - a campaign has been running in the resort for several years to secure the money to bring back sand as part of the new coastal defences. The cost of going for a sand and groynes option for a 600m section of beach is estimated to cost an extra £12.54m. Neither Welsh Government cash or new UK Government levelling-up funds - the replacement for European funding - have been on offer to cover that extra cost. Article continues below
