2020

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January

 

10th. In response to the Friends of Barkby Beach had DCC clear litter from land opposite Pontin’s. Asked Prestatyn MAG to invite officers to attend to look at long term solution to this ongoing issue. 

 

18th. Met DCC Countryside Services to discuss their thoughts on plans for the old market site. They hadn’t been informed and knew nothing about it previously. They made some good suggestions about how Cllrs might respond, mainly about the visual impact on the Morfa Wetlands.

 

21st. Wrote to DCC to object to their Climate Emergency meeting taking place in Ruthin whilst no meetings were to take place on the coast. 

 

Extract:

 

“Sounds interesting, however! My first thought is that as the bulk of Denbighshire’s population lives on the coast why are residents being invited to a consultation in Ruthin?

 

Surely that is contrary to the point of the exercise if residents are expected to travel to attend? To reduce transport needs, and therefore carbon emissions, can a similar consultation be held in each of the larger towns around the county, thereby meaning a small number of officers would travel rather than large numbers of residents?”

 

24th. After very lengthy discussions (over two years!) Two new bus shelters were installed on the North end (east side) of Ceg y Ffordd. Residents were so pleased local press reported on it. 

 

24th. Tried to help a resident find tickets for My Chemical Romance, failed but the resident’s son managed to find them somewhere else. 

 

 28th Spoke at full Council criticising the authorities and other Cllrs lack of action on the climate emergency. Voted in support of Cllr Graham Timm’s proposal we add 0.05% to council tax to provide some funding to address the climate emergency. Voted against an overall council tax rise of 6.4%. 

 

28th. Arranged a presentation from NW Police Cyber Crime team for retired residents on potential online frauds. Delivered 500 letters around the ward to raise awareness of the event. 

 

28th Voted to reduce town council precept:

 

Cllr Mike German proposed a reduction which I seconded. Cllrs Sandilands and Duffy abstained on that vote. Every other Cllr voted against a council tax reduction. PTC precept would then have been £55. 

 

Cllr Duffy then proposed no change, £62.80, which was seconded by Cllr Sandilands. As Cllr German’s suggestion had been defeated I , Cllr German, Cllr Sandilands and Cllr Duffy voted for no change, every other Cllr then voted against that.

 

Cllr Samson then proposed a 1.5% increase, £63.70, seconded by Cllr Murray. I voted against, with Cllr Sandilands, Cllr German and Cllr Duffy. Every other Cllr voted for an increase.

 

February

 

9th. Had the Tower Gardens floodgate locked after the lock was cut off several times during a very stormy weekend. Spent a lot of time wandering around the ward keeping an eye on potential flooding sites.

 

14th. Volunteered to staff DCC shelters for evacuated residents during Storm Dennis if needed. Wasn’t needed in the end. 

 

16th. Visited the Nova to look at storm damage to the roof. 

 

Worked on footpath routes to the beach along the ward: 

Met Countryside Service to look at improving footpath access at the Ffrith site, following a resident taking a tumble. 

Had maintenance done to the boardwalk just to the East of the Green by the floodgate on Tower Gardens.

Asked DCC to improve the footpath on Grosvenor Road through the caravan site.

 

Had huge potholes repaired on the A548 Bridgetown the East of Prestatyn.

Had huge pothole repaired in Bishopswood Road, at the bottom of Gwaenysgor Hill. 

 

Helped a resident resolve serious flooding issues on Maes Tegid. They had been ongoing for several years, he contacted me from frustration with lack of action from DCC and his ward Cllrs. DCC accepted responsibility for blocked gutter along the rear of The Dell and Maes Tegid and arranged to have it cleared by digger and have a regular maintenance programme put in place. 

 

Supported residents at the bottom of Dawson Drive Estate/ Gasworks Lane suffering from anti-social behaviour from a group of youths. Raised awareness in social media, (128 shares, 5.5k views)  was given two potential names of perpetrators, passed that information on to the police. 

 

27th. Was invited to speak at a  Yes Cymru Independence campaign event,  turned it down as I didn’t know a great deal about it. Attended though, it was a very interesting discussion/debate. 

 

29th, went to Wales strongest woman competition in Llangollen. That was the last event/day out me and my family went to! 

 

March

 

10th, had a meeting with DCC’s new tree Officer to discuss plans for Prestatyn and introduce him to local volunteers. 

 

12th, first confirmed Covid case in Wales.

 

Went into lockdown, work and council pretty much shut down so I volunteered with the Foodbank twice a week throughout lockdown, through to Sept.

 

17th Formed an emergency response Committee with Cllr Rachel Flynn and PTC staff. 

 

Collected prescriptions and shopping for several residents, and continued throughout lockdown for a small group of people. 

 

22nd Asked DCC to take urgent action to address lack of social distancing on the prom and in playgrounds. 

 

24th contacted Police about fraudsters taking advantage of people’s generosity during the crisis. 

 

Liaised with residents, DCC and Police about breaches of restrictions by tourists and caravan sites.

 

April

 

9th Had seafront car parks closed to try to reduce the influx of tourists we were facing from outside Wales.

 

Liaised with Police about numerous tourists staying at local caravan sites. 

 

10th Spoke to many residents about a sudden rise in garden fires affecting air quality. Raised awareness of the issue with DCC and in the press.

 

14th Raised £300 for the Foodbank for my birthday. 

 

21st. Created leaflets with the emergency Committee with useful contacts on, hand delivered them to the whole of North Ward. Other ward Cllrs didn’t, their wards received them in the Journal.

 

May

 

11th Tackled Network Rail about their failure to cut back vegetation alongside tracks. 

 

15th. Set up a petition to Welsh Gov to provide financial support to Zoos.  Mine was rejected as it was too generic but I supported another one that was accepted instead.

 

23rd Collected a huge donation to the Foodbank from Coleg Cambria.

 

June

 

Started doing some voluntary work with a children’s charity, delivering stuff.

 

2nd. Had DCC enforcement tackle massive parking infringements along Prestatyn seafront, mostly tourists from out of the area. Raised awareness of that in the press.

 

6th. After working closely with local Plaid Cllrs throughout the pandemic, and for years previously, and as a result of shocking incompetence from my former colleagues I joined Plaid Cymru.

 

8th. Attended a Black Lives Matter protest in Rhyl.  

 

12th. Responded to two residents and had DCC light landmarks in purple to acknowledge Black Lives Matter on the 25th

 

July. 

 

12th Helped the Prestatyn and Meliden Foodbank get recognition in local press. Which has been lacking for some reason.

 

17th. Built a hedgehog house for Hedgehog Help.

 

18th. Volunteered to be gunged for the Foodbank as part of Prestatyn Carnival's virtual event. Sadly I didn’t win but my wife did, I volunteered to gunge her to ensure social distancing.

 

August

 

11th. Ridiculed a local Tories idea to re-instate a railway from Corwen to the coats in the local press. I followed that by asking why a Tory cabinet member had used his position to promote this and how much it cost in DCC Officer time. I never did get an answer.

 

25th. Back to work so I had to retire from my lockdown job with the Foodbank. I still do a bit when I can fit it in. 

 

September

 

October

 

6th-23rd. Argued for PHS to be included in DCC future schools improvement funding applications. Not one other Prestatyn Cllr supported that, Plaid Cllrs we’re the only ones who did. 

 

13th. Persuaded DCC to include Hedgehog Highways in all developments from now on. 

 

November

 

5-10th Liaised with DCC and NW Police to address concerns about a substantial illegal encampment at the Cookhouse.

 

21st. Attended an open presentation by DCC Countryside Services on sustainable management plans for Prestatyn hillside. The only Cllr to attend!

 

December

 

8th. Argued against N Wales becoming a centre of nuclear energy, only Plaid argued against that. 

 

9th. Met with Adam Price, Leader of Plaid Cymru, avdv other local Plaid Cllrs to discuss local concerns and share ideas.

 

12th. Held my own online consultation about 12g of funding available to 

Prestatyn to alleviate effects of Covid.