Richard Jones

Buckley Lib Dem Councillor Richard Jones is pressing for more parking facilities to provide easier access for residents to shop at local businesses in the town.

Cllr Jones is calling for a one way system to be introduced through Buckley Cross to Mold Road to facilitate the additional parking areas after local businesses voiced their concern at a recent Town Centre health check meeting.

The issue was raised with Arriva by Cllr Jones at a recent County Council scrutiny meeting and then followed up by being discussed at Buckley Town Council at Cllr Jones’ request.

The proposal by Cllr Jones called for Flintshire County Council and Arriva to investigate the feasibility of a one way system and was fully supported by all councillors at the Buckley Town Council meeting who endorsed the plans.

Cllr Jones said: “I’m pleased that all my fellow councillors at Buckley Town Council supported and endorsed my proposal for a one way system to be introduced to improve parking and access to local shops thereby supporting local businesses.

“Flintshire County Council and Arriva will now consider those proposals and I am hopeful they will agree to introduce the much needed one way system to give local businesses the support they deserve and need right now.”

Eleanor Burnham, Assembly Member for North Wales has called on the Welsh Assembly Government to end the uncertainty surrounding the funding of Community Transport schemes in Wales.

As the future of community transport schemes hangs in the balance, Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to lobby the Assembly Government and will tomorrow call upon the Minister during plenary to speak up on continuing financial support for these invaluable schemes.

Eleanor, Welsh Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Communities said, “I am appalled that these vital Community Transport pilots are not being told what will happen after funding ends on 31st March. It is distressing to the vulnerable people who use the services as well as to the staff who operate them.

“In Conwy, for example, around five hundred people depend on Community Transport. One elderly man lives in a nursing home a few miles out of the town and the Community bus picks him up and takes him home to spend a little time with his family then takes him back. There is no way he will be able to maintain that contact if the service is withdrawn.

“Conwy received funding of around £250,000 to buy vehicles, lease property and employ four members of staff. I have attempted to find out when an announcement will be made on the future of the project, but the Ministerial response has been disappointingly dismissive”.

Buckley Cllr Richard Jones has been working with Welsh Border Community Transport to seek funding for the service to continue after March 2009.

Cllr Jones said: “Welsh Border Community Transport provide vital links for elderly and vulnerable residents in Flintshire to local services and facilities.

“I am hopeful a solution can be found to ensure this vital community transport service can continue to operate at its current level beyond March 2009 when the current funding from the Welsh Assembly grants expire.”

Eleanor added: “The Government is dragging its feet on this and I don’t think there is a full appreciation of how important Community Transport is to those who use it, or the worry that this delay is causing. A decision should have been made public months ago.”

PLANS by the Liberal Democrats to massively increase the energy efficiency of all homes will lead to big savings in energy bills, say Liberal Democrats in Flintshire. 

In a message to local residents, campaigner Cllr Richard Jones has backed the plans to raise the standard of home energy efficiency. “The energy efficiency standards of 99 out of every 100 homes fall well below what they should be,” said Cllr Richard Jones. “Nearly every one of us is spending money on bills to heat the great outdoors as so much energy escapes from our homes. 

“We want to bring home energy efficiency up to the highest level possible. In the past year, fuel bills have gone through the roof. But too often, our heat is escaping through the roof as well. Our plans will put an end to that. ”By cutting energy waste, we are also cutting the damage we do to the environment. It’s a win-win situation: lower fuel bills and fewer emissions that are leading to climate change that has given us extreme weather.” 

The Liberal Democrats’ plans include requiring energy companies to use some of the £9 billion profit they have made from emissions trading to insulate the homes of the poorest residents.  They will also set up a National Green Loans scheme which will pay for a complete overhaul of the energy efficiency of people’s homes. Repayments will be added to energy bills with the loan paid off from the savings in energy use. Loan repayments will not be allowed to be more than the savings. “This is a great idea for helping people to cut their energy bills and help us save the planet,” said Richard.

Buckley Cllr Richard Jones has been working with Welsh Border Community Transport to seek funding for the service to continue after March 2009.

Black sack collections: Mon Dec 22, Tues Dec 23 & Wed Dec 24 all as normal Dec 25/26 will be collected on 2/3 January; Mon Dec 29 Tues Dec 30 Wed Dec 31 all as normal Jan 1/2 will be collected 2/3 Jan Monday 5 Jan all back to normal.

Fortnightly blue box and bag Week 1 no collections from Dec 25, Normal collections resume Jan 5

Fortnightly brown bin no collections in Christmas period, collections resume 19 Jan - week 1 26 Jan - week 2; Recycling Parks closed Christmas Day; Christmas trees can be taken to any recycling park.

Residents living in Prince of Wales Court properties will be able to recycle in the New Year thanks to a new scheme being introduced by Flintshire County Council.

Buckley Cllr Richard Jones has been working hard to get the Council to launch the new project after being contacted by local residents who wanted a recycling facility.

Cllr Jones said: “I was contacted by residents who wanted a recycling facility for their area.

” Providing recycling schemes for multiple occupancy properties is not easy but with a little bit of creativity and imagination we have been able to find a solution.

“I am pleased that the residents of Prince of Wales Court who want to Recycle will be able to play their part in reducing landfill starting in the New Year.”

The call in of an Executive decision regarding proposed new health centres in Mold and Buckley could jeopardise the plans say Flintshire Lib Dems. 

The move by the Labour group has been described as “yet another spoiling tactic” designed to undermine the current administration says Buckley Cllr Richard Jones. 

It is understood that the Labour group are seeking clarity that the sale of the land for the proposed centres for less than market value does not conflict with current Council policy. 

However, Cllr Jones claims that as there has been no change in policy since Labour lost control of the Council they should know full well what the policy is. 

Cllr Jones said: “Given there has been no change in policy since the Labour group controlled the Council I see no reason for them to seek the clarification they claim to be looking for. 

“General Disposal Consent (Wales) 2003 allows for an authority to dispose of an interest in land for ‘less than best’ when it considers that the purpose for the interest in land disposed of is likely to contribute to the promotion or improvement of economic, social or environmental well-being. 

“It is clear that the development of two new health centres fits this criteria and I can see no justification or reason for this to be called in other than it being yet another spoiling tactic by the Labour group. 

“The people of Mold and Buckley deserve better from their elected representatives than this on going petty approach from the opposition who appear to be hell bent on jeopardising progress for political gain rather than putting the people of Flintshire first.”ENDS

HOUSEHOLDERS in Flintshire will be able to recycle cardboard for the first time, thanks to a new pilot scheme.

Flintshire Council has launched a trial scheme, targeting one area in the county, which will give residents the chance to recycle their cardboard waste, alongside newspapers and magazines, in larger blue recycling bags.

The council has, until recently, only had access to facilities to recycle paper, cans, plastic bottles, glass and green waste.

Cllr Richard Jones said: “We have excellent recycling collection services in Flintshire, but people also want to recycle cardboard packaging, and now we are introducing a trial scheme so they can do this.”

Residents in the pilot area will be issued with new blue bags and a leaflet explaining how they can use the new service, collections for which began on Monday.

Cllr Jones added: “We appreciate residents in all areas of the county will be keen to have this service too, but we ask people to be patient, as we trial this only in certain areas initially.”

For more information on recycling, call 01352 703350.

  A proposal to provide struggling second home owners with a discount on their council tax was withdrawn after members raised concerns that it would benefit property speculators and others who didn’t need subsidies.  Buckley Lib Dem Cllr Richard Jones withdrew his motion when it became clear he did not have the support of other members during the Council meeting at County Hall on Tuesday (October 28^th, 2008).  

Flintshire Lib Dems are calling for the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance to be extended to include the blind. 

“I hope all members support this campaign,” he added.