North Wales News

[SteveH]

The projects across North Wales hit by collapse of well known developer
RL Davies (Construction), based in Llysfaen, near Old Colwyn, went into administration last month
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/projects-across-north-wales-hit-26372030?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


Huge pipeline plan to take water from Wales to London nears critical decision
The ambitious scheme, which ultimately could also involve the use of renovated canals, faces a next-step decision this month

An interesting read, especially the part about putting a tax on the water supplied.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/huge-pipeline-plan-take-water-26376163

[SteveH]

AMBITION North Wales is leading a call to action encouraging organisations to seize the opportunity to access a ?30million funding allocation.

With three weeks until the closing date, bids are sought for projects which have the potential to drive economic growth and innovation to create jobs and to support communities.

The North Wales Growth Deal?s portfolio of agri-food and tourism; low carbon energy, land and property programmes are to be the focus for the funding.

But bids for projects which align with the digital connectivity and innovation in high value manufacturing programmes are also encouraged.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23368992.final-call-north-wales-projects-apply-30million-funding/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

The head of the panel that recommended axing new road projects in Wales defends the review
'My view as Chair is that the Panel?s approach was proportionate'

The chair of the Welsh Government's Roads Review panel has defended the review's methods after Senedd Members criticised its "lack of engagement" with the public, elected representatives and others. The review, which resulted in the mass scrapping of upcoming roads projects in Wales to facilitate a move towards public transport and active travel, was criticised by Senedd members who said "for many residents... private road transport is the only practical transport option".

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/head-panel-recommended-axing-new-26476985?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Anglesey has secured freeport status in a move backers say will create thousands of jobs. In May 2022, the Welsh Government reached an agreement with the UK Government to establish a freeport programme in Wales after a long stand-off over the levels of funding.

The island freeport around Holyhead was up against the Celtic Freeport in Milford Haven and Port Talbot and a multi-site freeport in south east Wales that included Cardiff Airport. Tonight it was confirmed that Anglesey and the Celtic Freeport had both been successful.

This was a joint decision by UK and Welsh governments and the UK Government will provide up to ?26m of non-repayable starter funding for each of the freeports being established in Wales. This represents parity with the deals offered to each of the English and Scottish freeports. Wales had originally only been offered ?8m for a Freeport and they have now secured ?52m.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anglesey-freeport-status-reinforces-need-26537986


Anglesey freeport status reinforces need for third Menai crossing
Welsh Government pulled the plug on the project earlier this year although it was later placed under 'review'

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anglesey-freeport-status-reinforces-need-26537986


What are freeports and will they help the economy?
The Celtic Freeport and Anglesey Freeport are expected to be operational later this year.

Eight freeports have already been set up in England, with a further two soon to be operational in Scotland.

Freeports aim to create economic activity - like trade, investment and jobs - near shipping ports or airports.

Goods imported into freeports are exempt from taxes, called tariffs, that are normally paid to the UK government.

It means manufacturers in freeports can import raw materials tariff-free, only paying tariffs on finished products leaving the site for elsewhere in the UK.

Or the goods can be re-exported overseas without UK duties being paid.

Companies inside the sites will also be able to claim lower property taxes, including on new buildings they buy.

Firms also benefit from lower rates of national insurance - a tax paid on employees' wages - if they take on new staff.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55819489

[SteveH]

Anglesey freeport will 'rocket boost' economy and help Wales capitalise on natural resources
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came to Holyhead today

A freeport on Anglesey can give "rocket boosters" to the island's economy and help Wales exploit its "enormous" natural resources. Those were the messages from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford in Holyhead today.

Last night it was announced that Anglesey and the Celtic Freeport in Milford Haven and Port Talbot had secured freeport status in a joint decision by Welsh and UK governments. It will see UK Government provide up to ?26m of non-repayable starter funding to each location - a massive increase on the ?8m originally offered for a freeport in Wales.
cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anglesey-freeport-rocket-boost-economy-26544560


Two Welsh freeports are to be created which aim to bring 20,000 jobs and investment worth ?5bn.
Bids from Celtic Freeport, at Milford Haven and Port Talbot, and Anglesey Freeport have been given the green light by the UK and Welsh governments.

Freeports are zones where companies benefit from tax and duty relief and simplified customs processes.

Each was chosen to exploit renewable energy opportunities and are expected to contribute to UK net-zero ambitions.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-65044061

[SteveH]

North Wales should have its own 'Metro Mayor' demand after road schemes halted
Askar Sheibani, Chief Executive of Comtek Network Systems and chairman of Deeside Business Forum, made the call

A leading businessman has launched a campaign for North Wales to have its own Metro Mayor to ensure the region doesn't continue to miss out on funding. Askar Sheibani, Chief Executive of Comtek Network Systems and chairman of Deeside Business Forum, decided to act after many planned major road schemes in North Wales were scrapped by the Welsh Government.

He says this will hamstring the area's manufacturing industry and its potential to provide a major source of cheap, green energy for the country. According to Mr Sheibani, it was yet another example of how the North-South divide is putting the region at a huge disadvantage.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-should-metro-mayor-26570020

[SteveH]

We need more success stories these days, especially nice to here that it is in N.Wales

A North Wales food wholesaler is on course for record sales this year after investing 500,000 in an ingenious hack to increase storage capacity.

Harlech Foodservice  which has premises in Cricieth and Chester  has increased the capacity of its giant freezer by 25% after reconfiguring the racking with narrower aisles and adding an extra row.

As part of the plan the company also bought ?bendy? forklift trucks that can navigate the tighter spaces.
As a result, the capacity of the freezer has been increased by 270 pallets to a total of 1,100.

The package of measures includes installing a new, more environmentally friendly refrigeration system to keep the temperature in the freezer at a constant -21C.

All told the initiative will lead to an annual reduction of more than 111 tonnes in CO2 emissions as well as generating significant savings on the energy bill.

Turnover is set to hit an all-time high of 38 million this year, which is well above the previous, pre-pandemic record of 32 million.
https://www.wales247.co.uk/food-firms-cool-storage-hack-with-bendy-forklift-trucks?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


PS
North Wales whisky distillery expands as demand exceeds 'all expectations'
Aber Falls Whisky Distillery has unveiled a new extension to its distillery in Abergwyngregyn.

The growth has also seen the Welsh distillery create eight new job opportunities. An additional six distillery operatives recently joined Aber Falls to help run the 24-hour operation with a further two roles to be filled at the cask warehouse.
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-whisky-distillery-expands-26581496?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

NEW pictures have shown what a gym, water-sports centre and wellbeing caf? could look like in Pensarn.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23429948.sneak-peek-pensarns-new-gym-cafe-water-sports-centre/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

I hope this is not a waste of good money, it does seem like spending for spending sake, we do seem to waste a lot of grant funding.

30m Active Travel route and A55 improvements officially opened

The completion of the safety and improvement work on the Aber Tair Meibion section of the A55, which includes a new active travel route, has been officially marked by the Minister for North Wales Lesley Griffiths.

The 30m scheme, which includes 20.7m EU funding, addresses the increased risk of flooding due to climate change and also improves safety on the section which was over 50 years old.  Work included removing eight gaps in the central reservation where agricultural vehicles used to cross.

cont https://www.wales247.co.uk/30m-active-travel-route-and-a55-improvements-officially-opened?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

New rules on fireplaces and log burners leave millions of homeowners baffled
Many people have questioned whether they now need to remove their fireplace

In light of the recent energy crisis, people are making desperate bids to warm their homes - but recent changes to the rules around fireplaces and log burners have left people confused about what they can do.

In May earlier this year, the UK Government began banning the sale of coal and wet wood for use in home fires as part of a plan to reduce air pollution.

The Government rules state: "Burning at home, particularly with traditional house coal or wet wood, is a major source of the pollutant PM2.5 - which has been identified by the World Health Organisation as the most serious air pollutant for human health.

"People with log burners and open fires can still use them but will be required to buy cleaner alternative fuels – if they are not already – such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels which produce less smoke.

"Burning dry wood also produces more heat and less soot than wet wood and can reduce emissions by up to 50%."

The UK Government restrictions, which began on May 1 2021, mean that sales of bagged house coal and wet wood in units under 2m3 are now unlawful.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/fire-log-burner-rules-heating-22147780


WHAT IS THE BEST MOISTURE CONTENT FOR LOGS?
It is generally agreed that a moisture content of less than 20% is best.

There are three factors which determine how much heat you can get from a log when you burn it. The variety of the wood (and how 'dense' it is) and the efficiency of the stove are two, but these are fairly insignificant when compared to the importance of the third: moisture content. Depending on the variety, a log from a recently felled tree can have as much moisture as 60% – something like a pint of water for every kilo of log. A seasoned log will produce twice as much heat as a freshly cut (aka 'wet' or 'green') log because this water must be boiled away first before the log gives up any real heat. This makes unseasoned wet logs an incredibly expensive heat source, not to mention the damage that burning them does to our air quality and your chimney system, so it is vital that your logs are always 'dry' and ready to burn.

Virtually every wood burning stove manufacturer recommends only burning wood logs with a moisture content of less than 20%. Somewhere between 10% and 20% is ideal. Once the moisture content gets less than 10% then the wood quickly burns away, sucking in too much air and cooling the flue gases as it does this, which in turn increases unwanted emissions. A little moisture is good for moderating the burn rate.

cont https://www.thestoveyard.com/pages/what-is-the-best-moisture-content-for-logs

Update ...

Log burners won't be banned for key reason despite climate concerns
The polluting stoves have generated calls for a ban, but a recent report has outlined why this will not occur

Hundreds of thousands do not possess mains gas or electricity and must continue using the appliances. The 'Ready to Burn' scheme, administered by Defra, aims to limit pollution, ensuring that timber with the Woodsure RTB label is certified with content moisture of less than 20 per cent. this is important, but difficult to police.

It significantly reduces the emissions from wood burners, with untreated, non-kiln-dried timber considerably dirty and damaging to animal and human health.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/wood-burning-stoves-not-to-be-banned-for-key-reason-despite-climate-concerns/

[SteveH]

Every North Wales beach dogs can't be taken on from May onwards
There are dozens of beaches where dogs are now banned or partially banned

Conwy
Rhos on Sea Beach (between Rhos Point and the eastern end of the Cayley Promenade)
Colwyn Bay Beach (between the Victoria Pier and the entrance to Eirias Park).
Pensarn Beach (between the embedded wooden posts by the caf? and the embedded concrete posts at the western end of the promenade).
Kinmel Bay Beach (between Dinas Avenue, Kinmel Bay and Sandbank Road Towyn)
Llandudno North Shore Beach (from Llandudno Pier to Clarence Road)
Llandudno West Shore Beach (between the two stone groynes)
Penmaenmawr Beach (from the east side of the caf? to the sailing club slipway)
Llanfairfechan Beach (between the 2 slipways extending down from the promenade to the Low Water Mark)
Small Sandy Beach at Rhos Point, Rhos on Sea (all year)

cont plus full list https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/every-north-wales-beach-dogs-26824840?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Where ?58m will be spent on active travel routes as minister says 'small changes' can make difference
Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters announced the funding on a trip to North Wales

.Welsh Government has been under fire in North Wales in recent months after scrapping a number of road projects.

But the Government says it wants to help move people onto public transport and active travel (cycling and walking) - although minister Lee Waters admits services are not yet to scratch. More on that here.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/58m-spent-active-travel-routes-27123553

[SteveH]

Airbus secures biggest plane order in the history of commercial aviation
IndiGo has placed an order for 500 A320 Family aircraft in a big boost for Airbus Broughton

The wings for the planes will be made at Airbus Broughton - giving the site a major boost. The historic purchase agreement was signed at the Paris Air Show 2023. At list prices the deal is worth ?40bn but these will be discounted given the size of the order.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/airbus-secures-biggest-plane-order-27153783

[SteveH]

The things that will be banned in Wales in the next 18 months
From driving speeds to healthy eating Welsh Government has been busy legislating

Some of these steps are fairly well supported but others have attracted a fair degree of criticism from opposition politicians, the media and general public.

Here we look at what could be banned in Wales in this Senedd term and how those planned changes have gone down so far.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/things-banned-wales-next-18-27319671

[SteveH]

We can only hope this money is being well spent, especially these days !

Cable car venture and film studio among five new projects invited to join North Wales Growth Deal
The new projects could attract Growth Deal investment of around ?28m

New projects could be in line for multi-million pound funding boosts after being invited to join the North Wales Growth Deal portfolio. Today, members of the North Wales Ambition Board supported a recommendation to invite five new projects.

Subject to agreement of certain conditions, each project will now go on to develop an outline business case. The total investment of Growth Deal cash could be around ?28m - which would be backed by millions of pounds more in private or other public sector investment.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/cable-car-venture-film-studio-27365795