Latest news with #Denbighshire
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Three key roads earmarked for upgrades in Denbighshire after £4.8m spending boost
Three key roads in Denbighshire have been identified for improvements using money accessed from the Welsh Government. A similar exercise in Gwynedd has seen more than 60 roads and footpaths earmarked for upgrades. Denbighshire Council has secured £4.8m from Cardiff's Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) to boost its road maintenance programme. The local authority is now planning 'significant investment' to resurface three roads. They are the A525 Nany Y Garth Pass near Ruthin; the A547 Abergele Road near Rhuddlan; and Ty Newydd Road, a key conduit in Rhyl. Denbighshire's Highways aims to start work 'straight away' during the 'optimum time for carriageway surfacing works'. READ MORE: Three popular beaches in North Wales where common activity now frowned upon READ MORE: Cause of sisters' death in Watkin Path pools confirmed Cllr Barry Mellor, lead member for environment and transport, said: 'We know the improvement of the county's road network is a topic that comes up regularly from our residents. The work that will be carried out on our roads over the next two years will really help improve the network and driving experience for both residents and visitors to Denbighshire.' The LGBI funding runs for two years with Denbighshire saying improvements are planned on a 'number of roads'. Details of other highways to benefit from the funding will be released in due course. Cyngor Gwynedd received £7.8m through the LGBI scheme – it has a two-year target list that extends to more than 60 roads, paths and structures such as bridges and retaining walls. The local authority said these span the entire county from 'Llanrug to Llanystumdwy and from Tudweiliog to Tywyn'. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here's how to sign up Council leader Cllr Nia Jeffreys said: 'The condition of the roads is of concern to a large number of local people, but due to the dire financial situation of local authorities we have not been able to invest in the network as we would have liked. 'This investment will make a huge difference and target the areas most in need in terms of potholes in roads, resurfacing, footpaths, and other structures.' The LGBI initative was announced in March by Ken Skates, cabinet secretary for transport and North Wales. It provides an extra £10m of revenue funding to enable local councils to unlock £120m of additional capital funding. A similar scheme was rolled out successfully in Wales between 2012 and 2014. Cllr June Jones, Cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet member for highways, said the extra cash will enable a broader programme of work to be carried out on the country's roads. 'It also means the council will be able to plan spending much better,' she said. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox 'For example, this past financial year, £750,000 was spent on filling potholes on our network here in Gwynedd. This is not the best use of our road maintenance revenue funding as it is completely responsive. 'Through this investment over two years, we are confident that we will reduce our emergency spending on filling potholes in roads and spend more on programmed resurfacing work.' Find out what's happening on the roads near you
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Fibromyalgia leaves Denbighshire woman in constant pain
For 48-year-old Nia McGregor, talking to people and even wearing clothes hurts. She has fibromyalgia, a condition that causes extreme physical pain and tiredness, and said at her lowest she was taking 79 different tablets a McGregor, from Ruthin, lived with chronic pain for seven years before receiving a diagnosis and said she tried to end her life three times due to a lack of of a new support group in Denbighshire have claimed doctors do not take patients "seriously enough", with some waiting more than 20 years for a Welsh government said it invested £8m annually into its adferiad programme which had expanded to address gaps in services for conditions such as fibromyalgia. Warning: This article contains references that some people may find upsettingMs McGregor previously worked in health and safety as a scaffolding inspector and liked to travel and ride her motorbike but now every movement causes severe pain throughout her told BBC-produced Newyddion S4C: "Wearing clothes hurts, talking to people hurts. I can't work or drive a car. I just sit there." Fibromyalgia is often triggered by an event that causes physical or psychological stress and Ms McGregor believes the trauma of having a hysterectomy after years of living with endometriosis may have caused hers years later."Doctors pass you around from department to department. You lose your independence, I had no-one to talk to," she said."I really wanted to kill myself." During years of tests, scans and "all kinds of medicine" before she was diagnosed in 2014, Ms McGregor said she felt very low because doctors were unable to give her answers and "spent my life sitting on the sofa crying my eyes out".She believes a lack of awareness among doctors is the "main problem"."They didn't know what to do with me. At one point I had to go to the hospital as I hadn't been able to go to the toilet for 49 days," she said. "All because of the number of tablets I was taking." Ms McGregor, who also underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, said she had lost her independence because of fibromyalgia and relied on her mum to take her "everywhere".She said she was eventually given more appropriate medication and now "functions much better" by taking seven tables a day and morphine for the pain. For her things changed after she was seen by a rheumatologist who she said "took one look at me" and told her: "I know it's not in your head." Ms McGregor is one of 200 members of the community group that was set up to support people with fibromyalgia and their was started by Kevin Jones from Ruthin after seeing his wife Pam, who has fibromyalgia, "suffer alone". He is worried it is not taken "seriously enough" and it was "hit or miss" whether you are diagnosed in an acceptable Jones said not enough people understood the condition but hoped the group would inspire others to set up similar ones across Wales. Angharad Rees, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and fibromyalgia, said getting a diagnosis was difficult and claimed some doctors accused her of "telling lies" about her said she was in tears when a specialist told her she was not telling the truth after being sent to hospital in 2023 following a flare up. "What they see is that you get upset and cry and then they tell you that it's definitely a mental health condition," Ms Rees said. The 45-year-old, from Llandegla in Denbighshire, wants medical professionals to "listen more to the patient".She said she found comfort in meeting others in similar situations at the support group. The Welsh government said it had extended its adferiad programme, which was set up to treat long Covid, to other conditions such as added: "While we acknowledge more progress is needed, particularly around data collection, we remain committed to ensuring these services develop as our understanding and evidence base grows." What is fibromyalgia? According to the NHS, it is a long-term condition with symptoms including:Increased sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffnessDifficulty getting to sleep or staying asleepProblems with memory and concentrationHeadachesIrritable bowel syndromeFeelings of frustration, worry or low moodThere is no cure, but there are treatments to help relieve some of the symptoms. If you or someone you know is struggling with issues raised by this story, find support through BBC Action Line.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
UK beachfront waterpark to open new soft play this summer and it's free to visit
A NEW free-to-visit soft play is opening at a waterpark this year in time for summer. SC2 waterpark was forced to close back in 2023, but has confirmed they would finally be reopening this summer. 6 6 And ahead of the reopening, a new soft play is opening inside as well. The new kids attraction is part of the Rainforest Diner, with the soft play also rainforest themed. Inside the two-storey climbing structure will have nets and tunnels to explore. Jamie Groves, managing director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd ( (DLL), said: 'We are bringing a free, brand new soft play to SC2 this Summer, ensuring maximum fun and play opportunities. "This Summer is going to the our biggest and best one yet." Guests can opt for coffee with Costa as well as ice cream from Red Boat Gelato at the cafe, as well as snacks such as pizza and burgers. The new rainforest soft play is alongside a larger dinosaur soft play and a Ninja TAG adventure course. But the main attraction is the indoor waterpark which is set to reopen next month. SC2 closed in December 2023 after huge storm damage. But from July 5, families will be able to visit the waterpark once again. TUI resort next door to giant waterpark 6 Inside is a huge indoor pool along with flume rides. This includes the Boomerang, where guests can whizz down on a rubber ring, as well as The Anaconda, the fastest ride in the waterpark. Or there is the Speedster, where guests can race each other to the bottom. For younger kids, there is the Piranha Play area with smaller slides, water cannons and wheels. And when the weather is good, there is also an outdoor splash pad with fountains and pools. Jamie Groves, managing director at Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: "Everyone at DLL is extremely excited to see our flagship attraction reopening. The damage to the roof was extensive, but we were never going to let that get us down. 6 6 "SC2 is the jewel in Rhyl's crown and our priority was to re-open the attraction as soon as we possibly could. "We know how important SC2 is to Rhyl, and we were determined to come back bigger and better than before. Tickets start from £11.50 for adults, which includes an hour access while kids are £9. Under 1s cost £1.95, while the Ninja Tag and soft play also cost extra. In the mean time, here is the £200million indoor waterpark opening in Manchester. And we've rounded up the best family-friendly waterpark hotels. 6
BBC News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
No 20mph roads to revert to 30mph in Denbighshire, council says
No roads will be changed back to 30mph from 20mph in one county following a Wales-wide shake-up.A review of the Welsh government's 20mph speed limit was announced last year following a public 20mph speed limit, covering 37% of the Welsh road network, was brought in by ministers in September 2023, attracting some Denbighshire County Council has confirmed it had no plans to increase the speed limit on any of the current 20mph roads. Transport Minister Ken Skates previously said the decision to reverse parts of the controversial £34m default 20mph policy was in response to "consistent" concerns raised by "a lot of people".Last July, the Welsh government gave councils more flexibility to assess the "movement" and "road characteristics" of specific routes, beyond just proximity to schools, hospital and other key March, the maximum speed limit on four busy roads in Cardiff was changed back to 30mph from 20mph, and in February it was announced that 50 stretches of road in Wrexham would revert to comes as the data for the first year of the policy showing there had been about 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads. Chris Evans, councillor for Tremeirchion, said that Wrexham had reverted some roads back, as had Flintshire and questioned why Denbighshire had not."It is having a massive detriment to travel, slowing things down," he said."I appreciate through towns and outside schools, but for example going past the golf club, it is 20mph. Why?"It was a 40mph road, to me it needs to change. People are not happy."Councillor Brian Jones said he understood that 20mph was needed outside schools and hospitals, but "if you put your business hat on, and if you are a plumber or an electrician, travelling on Russell Road in Rhyl at 20mph, and you are doing that every day of the week, that will add considerable time on to your journey and will cost you business over a month or year"."Some roads should, like Russell Road, have reverted back to 30mph. I think Denbighshire have missed a trick," he added. The announcement by Denbighshire council follows Monmouthshire council's decision to reject calls to raise the default 20mph speed limit on a number of roads in the council said it had received more than 300 submissions for exceptions for a total of 202 roads, adding that barely any requests were made by residents living on any of the roads concerned, with almost all of the requests made by people who travel through rather than live in the area.""After assessing all 202 roads individually against the exceptions criteria, we can confirm that none of the roads met enough of the exception criteria that the council could safely consider increasing the speed limit," it said.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hockey player 'in limbo' after head struck by ball
"I understand there is an element of risk in hockey, but surely a brain injury must trigger some help?" Claerwen Render, 42, loved sports but her life changed when she was hit on the forehead by a hockey ball five years ago. Advertisement The mother-of-three has suffered daily migraines and fatigue since and has seen her income halve after giving up her role as a member of a secondary school's senior leadership team. But after being refused an insurance payout through her sport's governing body, she has been left questioning if affiliation payments are worth it. Hoci Cymru said it had developed their approach to head injuries but that more needed to happen to explain the limitations of insurance cover. Mrs Render was playing for Clwb Hoci Rhuthun in Denbighshire in November 2019 when she was caught on the temple by a ball struck by an opposing player. Advertisement Bleeding badly, she was taken by ambulance to the nearest A&E department. Over the next few months she tried to return to the classroom as a maths teacher, but struggled to cope. "I'm not getting half my old life back. I'm just in limbo, in pain," said Mrs Render. "I can't do anything. It really affects my sleep. I've taken time off work but no amount of rest gets rid of my symptoms. It's debilitating. "I can't do normal things like before. I can't enjoy going to the kids' activities. If I stay I suffer, or I'll go to work in more pain and I have to go to bed." Advertisement Nine months after the incident, Mrs Render, from Denbigh, made an insurance claim through her Hoci Cymru membership but said her application did not trigger any benefits. She now works four mornings a week having been diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. "Why have I paid 15 years of affiliation and insurance? It was for something like this," said Mrs Render. "I understand there is an element of risk, but surely a brain injury must trigger something? Are we just paying into a bottomless pit? "I'm just disappointed that I'm not compensated for loss of earnings, the future of my kids, everything." Advertisement One sports lawyer said few players were fully aware of the level of cover they have for head injuries. "No-one signs up to play these sports to get permanent and progressive brain damage and a very high number of sports men and women, we believe, have that," said Richard Boardman, from law firm Rylands Garth. Claerwen Render had to give up her role on her secondary school's senior leadership team after being injured [BBC] "It is critical that all grassroots players know about the risks involved in collision sports, and whether they are covered for brain injuries," Mr Boardman added. Colin Morris from brain injury charity Headway, stressed the health and social benefits of sports, including brain health, but also said players needed to be aware of how insurance cover works. Advertisement "It is something that governing bodies and insurers need to be transparent with and really convey to people what circumstances they wouldn't be covered. "So people can take out further insurance if they need to, protection against loss of income for example," he said. Hoci Cymru's concussion policy was first introduced in 2021. Its chief executive, Paul Whapham, said they could not comment on individual insurance cases but acknowledged the "very real impact" Mrs Render's injury had and took her concerns "seriously". "This situation highlights the importance of clear communication and transparency around insurance coverage," said Mr Whapham. Advertisement He added Hoci Cymru's approach to head injuries had developed but there was "always more" to be done so players "understand the extent and limitations of cover provided through affiliation". "We are committed to working with our insurers, our clubs and partners to ensure that policies are clear, fair and supportive of our players' wellbeing," Mr Whapham said.
