A PETITION signed by residents desperate to see a solution to the maintenance issues surrounding Rhyl Cut and Prestatyn Gutter has been presented in Parliament.

Dr James Davies, MP for the Vale of Clwyd, started the petition following longstanding concerns over the state of the watercourse, which runs through both towns; reisdents can be plagued by rats, flies, stagnant water and fly tipping.

Presenting the petition in the House of Commons last Wednesday, Mr Davies said: "I rise to present a petition on behalf of residents of the Vale of Clwyd regarding maintenance of the Rhyl Cut and Prestatyn Gutter, alongside an online petition on the same topic that has been signed by 606 people."

The petition calls for the maintenance of the Rhyl Cut and Prestatyn Gutter to come under the responsibility of Natural Resources Wales, Denbighshire County Council and connected public sector bodies. It urges the Government to take "immediate action" to ensure a full public sector maintenance programme is introduced.

Mr Davies said: "The Rhyl Cut and Prestatyn Gutter has been a cause for concern for many years now and I am hopeful that presenting this petition in the House of Commons will encourage key decision makers within Welsh Government and regionally to take the necessary action and commit to a more regular maintenance schedule for the entire length of the Cut and Gutter.

“The UK Government will respond to the petition in due course, and I intend to liaise further with Natural Resources Wales and Denbighshire County Council, and then update residents.”