MIFFY recreational area a great success

Organisers behind the Mynydd Isa Field for Youth (MIFFY) say the new park and recreational area's first summer holiday has been a roaring success. MIFFY was opened by the Duke of Westminster in mid July and since then the field has been permanently busy, with children and people of all ages using it throughout the summer.

"Everyone has been involved in making this happen; it's a great example of people pulling together for the good of the community. We've had so much help from so many organisations. Flintshire County Council has given us fantastic support too. From the first day we discussed our plans with officers we've had the Council's help all the way through. But the emphasis has been on team work – we couldn't have achieved this without the Council and they couldn't have done it without us."

The fantastic 'Rural Walks in Flintshire' has just been given a face lift. The extremely popular booklet showcases some of the best walking routes in the county. Whether you enjoy the magnificent moorland and views of the Clwydian Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or you prefer exploring quiet riversides and rolling farmland, this booklet is a must. Even non-walkers will enjoy leafing through its pages of stunning photos and local anecdotes.

This new third edition contains highlighted 10 minute walks for those who are looking for the countryside experience in an easily accessible way. These routes have been hand picked for those getting back to health or families with pushchairs. The booklet also contains valuable information for the walker on rural services, for example, where you can get great local food and drink en- route.

Councillor Matt Wright, Flintshire County Council's Executive Member for Regeneration and Tourism, says:

"This fabulous walks booklet has always been great, and now it's just got even better! It's the perfect way for local walkers and visitors from further afield to see that Flintshire is an excellent county for walking. The booklet is part of our commitment to investing in regeneration, tourism and the local economy in this beautiful part of north Wales"

The booklet is a partnership project guided by Flintshire Countryside Services, working with the Ramblers Association and Flintshire County Council's Tourism, Regeneration, Health and Highways sections.

Councillor Tony Sharps, the Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "It's not surprising that this brochure is now in its third edition as it's always been a hit with walkers. We're particularly proud that this edition is now even more user friendly, making these walks even more accessible."

The project is backed by rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd as part of their Flintshire Sense of Place Project. It has received £23,000 through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Keira Derbyshire, from Cadwyn Clwyd, said: "This is a wonderful publication which really encourages people to get out and explore Flintshire's fabulous countryside".

'Rural Walks in Flintshire' is available at Tourist Information Centres and libraries across the region.

You can also ask for a free copy from Flintshire Countryside Service at Wepre Park Visitor Centre, Wepre Drive, Connahs Quay, CH5 4HL, or phone 01244 814 931 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

It will also soon be available to be downloaded from www.flintshire.gov.uk/countryside

If you're under 30 and run a successful business in Flintshire then there's no better time than the present to promote yourself!

The team behind the Flintshire Business Awards are on the lookout for young businessmen and businesswomen who have set up a flourishing local company. The Young Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by AGS Security Systems, is one of 11 categories in this year's Business Awards, which are run as part of Flintshire Business Week 2010.

Flintshire cemeteries safety inspection

Flintshire County Council has recently completed a memorial safety inspection programme in the following cemeteries: Bagillt, Holywell.
The Council's concern is to ensure that any memorial is not in danger of falling over and causing injury to people visiting the cemeteries.

As a result of these findings the Authority will be temporarily securing Lawn-type memorials until such time as the owners can arrange for them to be repaired. The owners of these memorials will be contacted where possible and notices placed on the memorial.

Older headstones over 1.5 metres high including kerbed memorials which were identified as dangerous will be laid flat and a notice placed on the grave to notify the family why this action is required in the interests of health and safety.

The Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 empowers a burial authority to take any action that is necessary to remove a danger that arises by means of the condition of a memorial. Memorial safety inspections have been introduced by local authorities as a result of a number of serious incidents across the UK over recent years.

Throughout the inspection programme the Council has tried to balance the requirement to address the problem of unstable memorials with the need to be sensitive regarding people's natural concerns in relation to this issue.

This remedial work will begin on Monday 30th August 2010.

Any questions regarding this sensitive matter should be directed to the Council's Bereavement Services Office. Tel: 01352 703360 or 01352 703361 or 01352 703362.

Pensioners living in Flintshire can benefit from a one-off grant to help towards their Council Tax. The Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative is not means tested but will invite claims from pensioners who meet certain qualifying criteria.

To qualify for a grant, you must be 60 or over on 30th September 2010, be liable to pay Council Tax on your main Flintshire residence, be in receipt of State Retirement Pension but not receiving any Council Tax Benefit at 30th September. The value of individual grants will be dependent on the number of applications received and will be credited to Council Tax accounts after the closing date of 30 September 2010.

Council Leader Arnold Woolley said: "This is an excellent opportunity for those pensioners who do not normally qualify for any assistance with their Council Tax. I urge everyone who is eligible to please make a claim."

Claims forms can be obtained by telephoning the Council Tax team on 01352 704848 or by visiting www.flintshire.gov.uk/pensionergrant

Flintshire receives £800,000 for affordable housing loans

Flintshire County Council has received Strategic Capital Investment Funding (SCIF) of £800,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government to promote access to sustainable home ownership, by assisting people who can't afford to buy on the open market via the Homebuy scheme. The scheme will be run by local housing associations.

Helen Brown, Flintshire County Council's Executive Member for Housing, welcomed the announcement saying, "This additional funding is great news to help local people to purchase homes on the open market in the county – particularly first-time buyers. In order to assist as many people as possible, it is essential that people register on the Flintshire Affordable Homeownership Register, so that the Council is aware of their housing circumstances".

For more information about the Flintshire Affordable Homeownership Register please contact Penny Storr at Flintshire County Council's Housing Strategy Unit on 01352 703830.

For more information about the scheme please contact Nan Pickering on 01352 702113 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bagillt section of All Wales Coastal Path receives much needed donation

Flintshire's All Wales Coastal Path has been given a helping hand. A £700 donation of top soil from Welch Civils Ltd to Flintshire Countryside Services Coastal Unit has secured £2,000 of Welsh Assembly Grant Aid, which means that the Greenfield to Bettisfield section of the Coastal footpath can be completed.

Councillor Mike Reece commented, "Funding like this is essential to the regeneration of Bagillt's foreshore and I would like to thank them personally for making sure we bring this section up to standard."

Managing Directors Philip Jones and John O'Connor, from Welch Civils, said, "We are pleased to be able to help in any way we can. Supporting the Welsh Assembly's vision of an All Wales Coastal Footpath, and the Coastal Rangers' work to secure its funding is a worthwhile contribution."

Works on this section in Bagillt and Boot End have cost around £32,000. Volunteers and Coastal Rangers have been fencing and doing re-surfacing work to keep a previously impassable route open and safe for the local community and visitors, whilst protecting the special flora and fauna of the Dee estuary. Works are set to be completed by the end of the summer holidays.

Sir David Bellamy opens Gronant's coastal community link

The community of Gronant has had its own official link to the All Wales Coastal Path opened with the approval and support of David Bellamy. The link was a Flintshire Countryside Service idea, and is now a project partnership being led by Cadwyn Clwyd's Footpath officer Sarah Jones. Artist Michael Johnson together with pupils from Gronant school created special bronze plaques marking the start and finish of the route.

A team of Flintshire Coastal Rangers, Michael Johnson, Presthaven Sands staff, Sarah Jones and David Bellamy saw the opening of the link, which is the second of seven proposed community links down the Dee estuary. The first is between the newly refurbished Greenfield Dock and the community of Greenfield, with the trail beginning outside the Greenfield post office.

David Bellamy said, "This approach to a landscape feature such as the Dee estuary will stitch communities back to the coastline of Flintshire allowing people to enjoy these areas while educating everyone on the value of this internationally important estuary site."

Senior Coastal Ranger, Mike Taylor said, "We are extremely grateful for the support given by Presthaven Sands, David Bellamy and Sarah Jones towards this important community project. We aim to re-link each community with just such an asset by 2012 along the Dee estuary, as the Coastal Unit delivers the All Wales Coastal Path, working with other Flintshire County Council departments such as Property and Highways."

Flintshire Youth Forum impress with hard-hitting drama

Members of the Flintshire Youth Forum (FYF) travelled to Llandrindod Wells recently to perform a thought-provoking drama, about illegal money lending, to an audience of professionals attending a financial capability conference. The audience included officers of the Welsh Assembly Government, police officers from the Illegal Money Lending Unit and representatives from major financial institutions.

The play, written by and performed by members of the FYF with the help of Emyr John of Clwyd Theatr Cymru and based on a request from the Wales and West Housing Association, delivered a hard hitting message about the dangers of young people borrowing money from illegal money lenders. The performers impressed a knowledgeable audience in how they conveyed the fear, misery and desperation of being in debt to the greed and ruthlessness of the money lender.

A sum of £400, a reward for their work on the drama, was donated by the group to families who have suffered at the hands of loan sharks. A small fund will be established and the money distributed in the form of food vouchers by Police Officers as a gift from the young people of the Flintshire Youth Forum.