Councillor David Williams

Cyng/Cllr David Gwyn Williams

Just a few brief points to make for this edition of the Dyserth Times.

The introduction of new bin collecting methods has, perhaps understandably, caused a lot of heated debate in recent weeks. If I could just mention or two things that might help explain why these changes had to be brought in.

When the blue bins were first wheeled out many years ago DCC were financially rewarded for every bin full of mixed recyclable material that was delivered to the recycling depot.

However in recent years, in order to comply with Welsh government targets, the council has faced increasing fines for delivering unsorted recycled material, to such an extent that had we not agreed to sort out our own material DCC, and hence we the ratepayers, would have faced increasingly unsustainable financial penalties for not sorting out our recycled material into glass, cardboard, cans, plastic etc etc. In other words the Welsh government have left us with no choice but to bin the blue bin recycling method.

Just how this waste was to be separated has been the job of specialist departments within DCC and the lead cabinet member for waste and recycling. The Trolibocs method due to be introduced in the next few weeks is their chosen method, and it remains to be seen how well this might work and what problems might arise. It is something that we as County Councillors have had little input on.

Following a site meeting on the A5151 at Bodrhyddan some weeks ago with DCC Highways personnel, Tom Rowley Conwy, and Councillor Arwel Roberts from Rhuddlan, it was decided to have a combined comprehensive operation to clear all gullies on the A5151 from Dyserth to Rhuddlan. At the same time as this was done, from the 6th to the 10th March, all pipe works were jetted clean and any culverts cleared of debris. This hopefully will greatly reduce the problems of storm water flooding on this stretch of road. I have also asked that these maintenance measures be done on a more regular basis than recently. I will also personally ensure that any large amounts of mud and debris brought onto this highway during any harvesting operations will be the responsibility of the relevant farmers to clear off the highway and back to the fields to the best of their ability.

We have also recently had a site meeting on Hiraddug road to look at ways of preventing storm water flowing down to Bron Haul and adjoining properties.

I met with the landowners, Mark Evans our Highways engineer and with representative land agents acting for the landowners and DCC.

It is now hoped that this summer new gullies and pipe works will be installed to intercept storm water and divert it through pipes in adjacent fields and thence down to the river Ffyddion. All being well this should be completed before the autumn.

As ever, I am available at any reasonable time to discuss any issues or problems that residents might have in relation to County Council matters.

Yr eiddoch yn ddiffuant,

David.