Latest news with #AlanJames
Rhyl Journal
11 hours ago
- General
- Rhyl Journal
Rhuddlan Nature Reserve unveils new wildflower meadow
The habitat at Rhuddlan Nature Reserve is expected to benefit pollinators and contribute to ongoing conservation work in the area. Denbighshire Countryside Services has partnered with the Rhuddlan Reserve Management Advisory Group to deliver the wildflower meadow, continuing a collaboration that began in 2011.A new meadow taking shape at Rhuddlan Nature Reserve (Image: DCC) Over the years, the nature reserve has had several site developments, making it a haven for nature and the community. These include two wildflower meadows, three wildlife ponds, a 300-metre hedgerow, and an orchard of heritage species. They have also planted 6,000 trees, created wildflower seeded verges, built two picnic areas, and set up a pond dipping platform. The Dementia Group in the area also helped to set up a dementia-friendly part of the meadow will benefit polllinators and enhance biodiversity (Image: DCC) This includes sensory trees, wildflowers, traditional Welsh oak timber seating, and historic landscape features such as dry-stone walls and laid hedges. Volunteers and country rangers recently created the wildflower meadow to provide another area for visitors to enjoy. The new feature is made from wildflower earth and turf, which will support pollinators and the other wildlife at the site. Countryside ranger Vitor Evora said: "It's been great to provide an additional wildflower meadow habitat on the nature reserve as these are a vital habitat we need to support our pollinators and the wildlife that feed off the insects in this type of area. "It will also be a feature full of variety and colour for those visiting the reserve to enjoy." Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire's cabinet lead member for local development and planning, said: "The volunteers and rangers have made a real positive difference to this part of Rhuddlan Nature Reserve, and we are grateful for their dedicated work to improving biodiversity in the area and also visitor experience for those dropping by the reserve." Volunteers also helped to build a wattle fence around the boundary of the new meadow.
Press and Journal
05-06-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Founder retires as Moray engineering firm with 125 staff acquired
One of Moray's most prominent business figures has retired following the sale of his company in a major acquisition deal. Alan James, 71, has stepped down from AJ Engineering (AJE), the Forres-based firm he founded in 1999. The business, which employs 125 people across sites in Forres, Fort William and Carlisle, has been acquired by global environmental and engineering leader RSK Group. The deal includes AJE's sister company NEWCo, based in Fort William. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, brings AJE into a group of over 200 companies worldwide. Graham Alexander, who has worked with AJE for 11 years, will take over as group managing director. Neil Worsdall will remain general manager of NEWCo. Mr James said the deal secures the future of the companies and positions them well for further growth. He will remain for a short handover before fully retiring. He expressed confidence in the next phase of the business. 'By joining a larger organisation, AJE and NEWCo will benefit from increased new business opportunities, a broad range of knowledge sharing, and working in partnership and collaboration with the other RSK Group businesses on a wide range of varied and inclusive projects,' he said. 'This truly marks the start of exciting times for all at AJ's and NEWCo.' Mr James began his career in 1971 as an apprentice fabricator welder at William Reid Engineering in Forres. He progressed into project management and later earned an MSc from Aberdeen University. It was when he was made redundant at 45 following the closure of William Reid in 1999, that he took the leap to set up his own firm. He launched AJ Engineering with just one employee in a rented workshop at Greshop Industrial Estate in Forres. 'Starting out I remember working eight straight weeks – all hours, Saturdays and Sundays too,' he recalls. 'It's been a lot of hard work building up the company, but very satisfying.' Over the past 26 years, AJE has taken on major projects across the UK and beyond. Highlights include infrastructure support at SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland and ongoing work at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica. Mr James says he has always placed a strong emphasis on training and development: 'I started as an apprentice myself,' he said. 'Investing in young people has always been important to me. 'The intention is that for our staff here in Forres, Fort William and Carlisle, it's very much business as usual. 'I am well over retirement age, and making sure that the company that I have built, with lots of support along the way, continues to grow from strength to strength has been very important to me.' Outside his role at AJE, Mr James has been active in the Moray community. He is Depute Lieutenant of Moray and a director of Forres Events Limited. He helped organise the Piping at Forres festival and last year's Grant Park 100 celebration. RSK Group said acquiring AJE and NEWCo will strengthen its UK engineering base, particularly in water, energy and infrastructure.
Rhyl Journal
04-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Concerns over legal challenge after Denbighshire relaxes taxi rules
Councillors, though, were warned their decision could result in a legal challenge – if taxi companies catering to the able-bodied argued they should also be able to use older vehicles. Following a consultation with around 300 hackney carriage taxi drivers and private hire vehicle licence holders, the committee met today (Tuesday) to discuss relaxing the rules and instead introducing stricter vehicle testing. Under the old rules, all taxis over 12 years old had to be removed from the fleet. But following a vote, wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVS) will now instead be required to meet 'Euro 6 emissions standards' and undergo three compliance checks per year once they reach 12 years old. MORE NEWS: Rhyl children 'very upset' after 'unacceptable' stay at park near Prestatyn Councillor complaints to be discussed behind closed doors in Denbighshire Meliden teenager is a British boxing champion after winning gold medal The temporary change in the rules will stand until June 2026 when a review will assess whether WAV availability has improved – with the option of making the move permanent. Cllr Alan James proposed councillors backed the move. 'I actually think this is a good proposition,' he said. 'It will enable, possibly, the availability in the normal public arena for more disabled people to get out and about, so it isn't just about Denbighshire's view of the expense of school transport.' He added: 'So I think this is a good opportunity. We've got a proposal here. Let's see how it works in a year's time. 'We'll come back, evaluate any information we've got, and make some decisions.' But Cllr Gwyneth Ellis had legal concerns. 'I'd be interested in a legal opinion that if we change the requirements for these cars, could that open up a possibility that other operators will be able to say, 'Hang on, if those cars are safe enough for disabled people, then surely they are safe enough if people don't have a wheelchair?'' she said. Denbighshire Council's legal advisor Nashwan Fazlani responded: 'Invariably, whatever the decision the local authority is going to make, there is always going to be a legal risk. So it would be impossible to mitigate a legal risk with any decisions to zero; however, as a public body we have a public-sector equality duty, so if we don't, we get the risk from the wheelchair community, who might say we discriminated against them because we are making their life a bit more difficult in terms of access and taxis and other forms of transport for them to get around. 'So we are probably in a situation where you have to decide what's the least worst option in terms of legal risk.' Committee members at the meeting at the council's Ruthin County Hall HQ had heard how the county has only 14 WAVs available – six hackney carriages and eight private hire vehicles. Only a small number of these vehicles are available for school contracts, which led to concerns about availability and rising transport costs. The committee heard that while demand for wheelchair transport has remained relatively stable, supply has shrunk due to vehicle costs, insurance, and tight licensing regulations, leading to fewer bids for council contracts and less competition, driving up prices. Cllr Ellie Chard seconded Cllr James' proposal, and the vote was unanimous.
North Wales Live
03-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
Council could face legal risk over relaxing rules for wheelchair-friendly taxis
Denbighshire Council's licensing committee voted in favour of relaxing age restrictions on wheelchair-friendly taxis in the hope of boosting availability for school transport. Councillors, though, were warned their decision could result in a legal challenge – if taxi companies catering to the able-bodied argued they should also be able to use older vehicles. Following a consultation with around 300 hackney carriage taxi drivers and private hire vehicle licence holders, the committee met today (Tuesday) to discuss relaxing the rules and instead introducing stricter vehicle testing. Under the old rules, all taxis over 12 years old had to be removed from the fleet. But following a vote, wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVS) will now instead be required to meet 'Euro 6 emissions standards' and undergo three compliance checks per year once they reach 12 years old. The temporary change in the rules will stand until June 2026 when a review will assess whether WAV availability has improved - with the option of making the move permanent. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. Cllr Alan James proposed councillors backed the move. 'I actually think this is a good proposition,' he said. 'It will enable, possibly, the availability in the normal public arena for more disabled people to get out and about, so it isn't just about Denbighshire's view of the expense of school transport.' He added: 'So I think this is a good opportunity. We've got a proposal here. Let's see how it works in a year's time. We'll come back, evaluate any information we've got, and make some decisions.' But Cllr Gwyneth Ellis had legal concerns. 'I'd be interested in a legal opinion that if we change the requirements for these cars, could that open up a possibility that other operators will be able to say, 'Hang on, if those cars are safe enough for disabled people, then surely they are safe enough if people don't have a wheelchair?'' she said. Denbighshire Council's legal advisor Nashwan Fazlani responded: 'Invariably, whatever the decision the local authority is going to make, there is always going to be a legal risk. So it would be impossible to mitigate a legal risk with any decisions to zero; however, as a public body we have a public-sector equality duty, so if we don't, we get the risk from the wheelchair community, who might say we discriminated against them because we are making their life a bit more difficult in terms of access and taxis and other forms of transport for them to get around. So we are probably in a situation where you have to decide what's the least worst option in terms of legal risk.' Committee members at the meeting at the council's Ruthin County Hall HQ had heard how the county has only 14 WAVs available - six hackney carriages and eight private hire vehicles. Only a small number of these vehicles are available for school contracts, which led to concerns about availability and rising transport costs. The committee heard that while demand for wheelchair transport has remained relatively stable, supply has shrunk due to vehicle costs, insurance, and tight licensing regulations, leading to fewer bids for council contracts and less competition, driving up prices. Cllr Ellie Chard seconded Cllr James' proposal, and the vote was unanimous.
Rhyl Journal
28-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Denbighshire County Council to enforce ban on vapes
The Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (Wales) Regulations 2024 will make it a criminal offence to supply or offer to supply (including for free) single use vape products to consumers in Wales, as the law aims to prevent environmental damage caused by the production and incorrect disposal of these products. The ban will include vapes containing nicotine, non-nicotine, CBD and other health/vitamin devices, and the Council's Trading Standards team are encouraging Denbighshire businesses to switch to reusable products before the ban comes into place. When the ban comes into force, businesses will have to: For a vape to be considered re-useable, it must be: Businesses who still have banned products should speak to suppliers or existing disposal companies about how to recycle them safely and legally. Councillor Alan James, lead member for local development and planning, said: 'The decision to ban single use vapes is an important step in reducing the health risk that is associated with them as well as tackling the environmental damage that we have seen it can cause in our County. 'It's also important to note that there are specific ways that businesses can dispose of these single use vapes safely. "They cannot be placed in household waste due to the risk of them catching on fire and must be disposed of safely at the household recycling centre. 'I would encourage any businesses that would like more information on the future ban to contact our Trading Standards team." If you need any further advice or assistance, please contact the Trading Standards team on 01824 706 057 or email tradingstandards@
