Latest news with #Ruthin
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.
North Wales Live
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
I visited laid-back wine bar with a touch of French sophistication
There is something very appealing about simple wooden interiors, which make me want to put down my coat, grab a pew and glug down a refreshing glass of wine. A rustic table and a wine rack, visible from outside, was proving difficult to resist, especially as the sun was shining on a warm Ruthin evening. In the seventies, wine bars emerged as a concept, often seen as a more relaxed and sophisticated alternative to traditional, male-dominated pubs. But what makes a good wine bar now? Well, there's the wine, for starters. Jacques offers a vast selection of classic reds from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Or, you can sip a white wine from the Loire Valley region or swig a fizzy rose from Provence. The bar was absolutely heaving with bottles of the stuff, along with sparkling champagne and a host of different Belgium or European beers. The atmosphere is relaxed; the lights are dim with soft jazz playing in the background. There are paintings of French streets on the wall with peacock art cushions on the pews. We were sat on mis-matched paint splattered chairs, which give off a shabby chic relaxed vibe, and noticed a small roof terrace upstairs, where a few people were chatting and taking advantage of the good weather. Jacques wine bar has gone for Parisian flair with a menu influenced by French classics, which don't really need re-inventing. They include baked Camembert, frog legs or French onion soup for starters or baguettes with various French cheeses for lunch. There are plenty of sharing dishes such as a charcuterie platter, with a selection of cured meats and pâtés, served with homemade chutneys, bread and crackers or a selection of French cheeses. For mains, there are French classics such as beef bourguignon with tender braised beef in red wine with garlic, and puree de pommes de terre or ratatouille with stewed vegetables in a rich tomato sauce served with a warm crusty baguette. We noticed that some customers on the next table ordered the 'Moules Marinières' which was flamed mussels in a bacon butter sauce, with pickled lemon and parsley. They used a crusty bit of their baguette to mop the sauce up and appeared to be really enjoying it. On a Sunday, Jacques offer a variety of roasts served French style, such as a half roast chicken, roast potatoes, seasonal veg, purée de pommes de terre. However, we noticed a deal chalked on a blackboard, which offered their signature Steak Frites with a pint of beer or a glass of wine for just £15. It seemed too good of an offer to turn down. We decided to choose a glass of house white and a glass of house red to go with our Steak Frites. The white wine was tangy and crisp whilst the red wine was fruity and bold. The steak was cooked to our liking 'Medium rare' and was juicy, tender and succulent. The steak knife cut through the pan seared steak like butter and all the juices and flavour sizzled throughout the meat in a perfect haze of rouge. The steak butter was absolutely delicious and we were later told it was a secret recipe, although it seemed to be a combination of bacon, paprika and sage sauce. We were both given a generous portion of French fries and they were crispy and very morish due to a little hint of seasoning. We had a simple mixed lettuce salad on the side of both our plates. We were too happily stuffed for dessert but could see that they offered choices such as lemon tart, served with shortbread and ice cream, salted caramel chocolate pot or cheesecake for around £9. Instead, we sipped our wine and let our food go down as we were in no particular rush to leave. It reminded me of the perfect Parisian evening after a day of sightseeing and winding down with a glass of red. I half expected a man in a stripy t shirt to cycle past the window with some onions over his shoulder. Jacques wine bar has live music at the weekends and also put on a terrific roast. We saw notices for bottomless brunches for £25, which promised cocktails and chaos and a little French mischief for two hours. Yep, this little laid back wine bar has a certain 'Je ne sais quoi' and will leave you feeling full, happy and perhaps a little bit tipsy. The Facts Steak Frites with a glass of wine £15 with a service surcharge of 10% (£3) bringing the total to £33 Atmosphere - Va-Va Voom Car Parking - Limited Street parking or public car park just off St Peter's Square. Service - Confident and laid backed.
Rhyl Journal
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Prestatyn runners take part in Manchester & London Marathons
Jonah clocked 3-06, and although it wasn't quite what he had hoped for, he was justifiably pleased. "I struggled from 18 miles and was glad to finish, but was happy overall," he said. On his marathon debut in the same race, Craig Smith finished in 3-37.09. Four club members were among the 56,000 who lined up in London, and another in-form athlete, George Williams, clocked 3-08.37, five minutes inside the PB he set in Chester last year. Andy Parry, Dan Liddle and Zack Webster were all making their debuts at the distance. Andy finished in 3-30.10 and Dan, about 40 years after his parents Graham and Susie, who were also club members, ran in London, clocked 3-50.34. Zack, who went through halfway in 2-25, was forced to pull out. Meanwhile, although she failed to gain a place in the actual line-up, Ally Reid completed the virtual London Marathon, finishing in 4-44-23 to earn her medal and T-shirt. The weekend's parkruns provided a boost not only for individual members, but for the club as a whole. In June, the club will be fielding a team in the Welsh Castles Relay for the first time since 2019, a reflection of the club's current strength and status. Only three of the 20 members selected for the team have competed in the two-day event in the past but hopes are high, and five of them produced personal bests in Saturday's parkruns. In total, 10 members recorded PBs on the day. Among them were Tom Carter, who chalked up another victory in the Nova race, and Arwel Jones, the club's most experienced Castles participant, who has run all but three of the race's 20 stages. Placings: 1 Tom Carter 17.15 (pb), 9 Jamie Betts 20.21, 10 Lewis Pierce 20.32 (pb), 59 Martin Cortvriend 24.50, 61 Arwel Jones 24.55 (pb), 283 Neil Davidson 63.46 (Parkwalker). Greenfield Valley: 5 Dave Ellis 20.36, 10 Darrell Jones 22.33, 13 Judah Eastwell 22.53 (pb), 17 Marc Jones 23.16 (pb), 23 Meg Lewis 24.12 (pb), 28 Helen Ashworth 24.59, 30 Steve Weedman 25.12, 38 Philip Howarth 26.10, 39 Vic Manley 26.19, 44 Will Lines 27.04, 45 Lisa Lines 27.04, 57 Sophie Johnson 28.01, 62 Cathy Wood 28.37 (pb), 70 Rachel Jackson 29.11 (pb), 74 Debbie Jones 29.21, 84 Debbie Weedman 30.58, 86 Mandy Cartwright 31.01, 89 Mike Davis 31.25 (pb), 97 Emma Birchall 33.25, 102 Clare Manley 34.16, 117 Steve Hatfield 39.36. Ruthin: 3 Darren Thompson 20.44 (pb). Dolgellau: 22 Helen Alefounder 30.00. The run of good form was not limited to the parkrunners, either, as seven members turned in praiseworthy performances in the latest event in the Tuesday Night Fellraces. The infamous 3 Hills race at Penmaenmawr is probably the steepest in the series, but the Prestatyn members were undaunted. Off-road captain Lee Bailey once again led by example, coming 18th in 36.18, and he was followed by Gareth Jones (38th in 41.05), Ben Thomas (61st in 45.22), Ceri Vaughan (71st in 47.52), Mark Dakeyne (109yj in 53.59), Martin Cortvriend (115th in 55.26), Nem James (129th in 71.07) and Nicki Triggs (130th in 71.09). After a successful trial last week the club will be hosting the Borders League relays at the Ffrith Park on May 7, and it is hoped that those members not selected for any of the club teams will turn out to help on the night. The race will be followed by the presentation of League awards.
