Richard Evans

Denbighshire County Council has issued formal legal notices to residents who repeatedly leave bins on pavements or other public land after collection. The notices, issued under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, give householders seven days to comply and warn of prosecution or a Fixed Penalty Notice. Opposition councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts called the approach confusing and heavy-handed, particularly after problems with the council’s bin and recycling scheme. The council said the notices are intended to keep pavements accessible, prevent waste and container-related hazards, and ensure bins are returned inside property boundaries promptly after collection.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board recorded 11 never events in 2025/26, six more than the previous year and the highest total among Welsh health boards. The incidents, which include serious and largely preventable patient-safety failures, have prompted concern despite the board’s stated commitment to stronger investigations, learning and governance. The Welsh Government has kept the board at its highest escalation level since February 2023 because of concerns over emergency care, cancer waiting times and finances, while Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor has described the board as crisis-hit and given it a final chance to improve.