Rhyl Community Forum - Monday 29th March

Meeting held at the Oak Tree Centre and the following issues were raised;

Council are to hold a Towns summit on 20th May 2010 and everyone is welcome to discuss how towns can be supported and invigorated.

Concern expressed over the health agenda and in particular the capacity of Ysbyty Glan Clwyd to cope with demands of the local population which is constantly growing. Reference made to long waiting times. Comments made by concerned residents with regard to Royal Alexandra Hospital given the number of beds has reduced significantly over the last few months. Local Health Board representative explained in detail how they were tackling both the issues . A resident commented how it was extremely difficult to get a Doctor to do a home visit and again the Health Board explained that action was now being taken around a new scheme called Home Enhanced Care Services (HECS) which effectively puts the resources into the home thereby supporting people to live independent lives without the necessity for hospitalisation unless of course the circumstances do warrant an admission. The Voluntary sector confirmed they have 17 voluntary organisations signed up as a consortium to support the HECS project.

Council confirmed the new recycling park will open around September 2010 to which concern was expressed by various residents as to the condition of the roads leading to the recycling park. It was acknowledged that due to the severe winter the roads had deteriorated and the Council had now budgeted to spend £4 million in the new financial year on repair of roads, drainage etc. Question raised as to why mechanical sweepers appeared to be used everywhere , the answer to that being roads can be cleaned far more efficiently.
Parking on pavements and down various roads were causing difficulties for residents and so police will investigate. Council did say that if residents wanted residents only parking that could be an area that could be explored further - door open for residents to Council.
A request was made for their to be a zero tolerance policy on anti social behaviour and the police gave a response as to the actions they were taking to reduce such behaviour. The Council commented that the work of the Community Safety partnership had been widely acknowledged by Welsh Assembly Government and others as being hugely successful in reducing the levels of crime and the statistics supported this fact. References were made to specific properties in two streets where there appeared to be unlawful activity taking place and so the police will now investigate and discuss findings with the residents concerned.
Alley gating had proved to be hugely successful and residents wished to ensure such initiatives remained and it was suggested that any changes would form part of the new West Rhyl masterplan which will be issued later this year.
Question was asked as to when schools are to be open at evenings, weekends and school holidays for community use. Director of Lifelong Learning stated he would talk to Head Teachers about opening the facilities given the new initiative around "Community Focused Schools". Director was asked as to the start time in the morning for Rhyl High and as he didn't know he would find out and report back. A Governor of Rhyl High supported by the Director emphasised the improvements that had been made at the school in the last 12 months or so in that teaching staff and pupils were now positively working towards increased school performance and the tone and mood of the school was uplifting and invigorating. Calls for a primary school in West Rhyl were made but it was declared no plans exist for such a school.