Bridge to be lit up to support #lovelivelocal

* Llangollen bridge will be lit up as part of the #lovelivelocal campaign.

Llangollen's famous bridge is amongst a number of key sites across Denbighshire towns being lit up in December as part of an overall winter shopping marketing campaign launched to support local businesses.

In the absence of some of the Christmas activities normally held in the county’s towns, Denbighshire County Council has been working with its partners on an alternative approach to boost the recovery of town centres, in support of the Winter Shopping campaign already underway.

The Light Up Denbighshire project will aim to boost the number of people visiting town centres and to enhance the work already carried out by Denbighshire County Council to make commercial centres safe places to shop and enjoy hospitality.

The lights are expected to be switched on from today (Friday) and will run for a month, to try and reap the benefits of additional visitors, not only in the run up to Christmas but into the New Year as well, says the council. 

Locations due to be lit up are:

·        Llangollen – Main town bridge

·        Prestatyn – Churches and chapels

·        Rhuddlan – Rhuddlan Castle (Currently closed to the public)

·        Rhyl -  Town Hall

• Denbigh -  Denbigh Castle  (Information on opening hours at:   cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/denbigh-castle  )

·        Ruthin – St Peter’s Square, St Peter’s Church

·        St Asaph – St Asaph Cathedral

·        Corwen – The Square

The scheme is funded by Denbighshire County Council.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans BE, said: “The lead up to Christmas is going to be a bit different this year, with large events normally held during switch on of town lights unable to take place.

“Whilst the towns will have their own traditional Christmas lights, the council came up with the idea of adding a little sparkle and bringing some additional Christmas cheer by lighting up historic and iconic buildings and structures in our main towns.  We are delighted to have received support from many city and town councils across Denbighshire to carry out the project.

“Our aim is to bring people into the town and to promote our Winter Shopping marketing campaign, designed to encourage residents to support their local shops through this crucial buying period. This campaign will also look at supporting wider businesses activities, including online sales and forms part of the #lovelivelocal initiative.

“ We hope people enjoy the lighting experience and are tempted to visit the town centre for themselves to see what’s on offer and add some festive cheer."

House fire has tragic consequences

 

* Firefighters at the scene of the tragic fire in Chapel Street last night.

The Leader’s online news site Leaderlive reported just after midnight that a man in his seventies has sadly died following the house fire in Llangollen reported on by llanblogger late last night. 

The story says that firefighters were called to the blaze on Chapel Street at 8.42pm last night. 

It adds: “Firefighters from Llangollen, Chirk, Johnstown, Corwen and Wrexham attended the incident and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property using hose reel jets to extinguish the fire and carry out a search for casualties.

“The crews found a casualty who was sadly later pronounced dead.

“A joint investigation is now being carried out into the cause of the fire by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police.”

The man who passed away has not been officially named.

 

Fire crews tackle major blaze in Chapel Street

* Firefighters pump water onto the burning building from the Hand car park.

* Above and below: Fire crews hose water onto the burning building from the Chapel Street side.

Fire crews are currently tackling a major fire at a property in Chapel Street, Llangollen.

It is understood the blaze began at around 8.30pm.

At least four fire appliances are at the scene and firefighters, a number equipped with breathing apparatus, are tackling it with hose-reels from Chapel Street while others, using a high monitor are pouring on water from the Hand Hotel car park.

It is not known whether anyone is inside the burning building.

Police have closed off Chapel Street and the hotel car park and thick smoke has been billowing down Regent Street.    

Latest update on coronavirus at Llangollen Fechan care home

Denbighshire County Council says in its latest update on Coronavirus at Llangollen Fechan Care Home that there has been one further death, taking taking the total since the beginning of this incident to 21.

The statement adds: "There have been no new positive coronavirus tests amongst residents and two members of staff, resulting in a total of 60 residents and 42 staff.

"The Incident Management Team (IMT), comprises of Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and BetsiCadwaladr University Health Board

"These organisations are still working together with the owners of the home to co-ordinate the response. It will take time for the impact of this work to bring this incident fully under control.

"Co-chair of the IMT, Nicola Stubbins, said: “Control measure are starting to have an impact with numbers of infections and deaths reducing. Even so we are still very sad to report this additional death, and to report that there are still residents who are very unwell.

“It is still the case that residents in Llangollen Fechan and other settings, already vulnerable through their age or pre-existing conditions, are more likely to suffer the worst outcomes from this deadly virus. Our thoughts continue to be with all of those affected.

“We expect to see cases in other settings going forward, and we manage any clusters of Coronavirus consistently. 

“Anyone who meets the definition of a contact will be contacted as a routine part of the Test, Trace and Protect process and provided with additional advice for themselves, their household and other contacts. 

“We remind the public that they have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus.  They can do this by adhering to Welsh Government regulations currently in place in Wales, and by observing social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others – and washing hands regularly.”

Travel outside Wales now possible, says story

People in Wales will be able to visit parts of England and Scotland but not all areas, according to a story this morning on the Businesslive website.

Wales's new travel rules have been revealed in the latest coronavirus regulations.

The Welsh Government cabinet met on Wednesday to decide on the latest travel restrictions as England's lockdown came to an end.

Over the past month travel over the border has been banned - except for essential purposes - due to Covid rules in England and Wales. 

Tourism businesses had been pressing for answers from Welsh Government about what regulations would be in place when England's lockdown ended.

Now new coronavirus regulations published by Welsh Government have revealed the new restrictions, says the story.

And it adds: "Under the rules coming into force from Friday at 6pm people will be able to travel between Wales and Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas of England.

"But the regulations bar travel into Tier 3 zones like Manchester - unless it is for work or another essential purpose.

"It means visitors from the Tier 1 and 2 areas of England can now take holidays in Wales.

"When it comes to Scotland people cannot travel from Wales to Level 3 or Level 4 areas of the country - and visitors from those areas cannot come here.

"The whole of Northern Ireland is also restricted as they are currently in a new lockdown."

SM challenges First Minister over "harsh" new Covid restrictions

* Mark Isherwood, Senedd Member for North Wales.

North Wales Member of the Senedd, Mark Isherwood, has challenged the First Minister over his "harsh" new Covid restrictions announced this week, highlighting some of the many messages he has received from constituents objecting to them.

Speaking in the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood quoted North Wales residents and businesses owners who have contacted him since the new restrictions were unveiled on Monday and called on the First Minister to respond to their concerns.

He said: “In England, the proposals for pubs and hospitality are not the same with an absolute ban. It's a tiered approach based upon pragmatic considerations and real evidence.

“Typical amongst the deluge of messages I've received since your announcement are, and I quote, 'I appreciate this is a serious risk to ill or vulnerable people, but the measures put in place are far more worrying’. 

"‘Mr Drakeford has destroyed the well-being of a nation’. 

"‘My family runs two hospitality businesses, and we really can't afford any more restrictions. We have invested so much to make our establishment COVID safe. So, this is a final plea to you - please speak to our First Minister’.

“And perhaps the cruellest blow is to weddings. How do you therefore respond to the bride who wrote to me last Friday, 'I was meant to get married on 30th October and reduced the guest list to 30, but due to the Welsh circuit breaker, our venue closed. We have now pushed it back to 19th December and reduced it to 15 guests. I'm now playing “guess the date I can get married" ’, or to her father, who wrote to me today stating 'My daughter's wedding ruined for the second time!'?”

In his response the First Minister said: “The Member is entirely disingenuous in trying to pretend that restrictions in England are somehow not as strict as they are here in Wales. If you're in tier 3 in England, you will be in a far greater level of restriction than you will be here in Wales. And the position in Wales is as serious as that, and getting more serious by the day.”

Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood added: “He had the cheek to accuse me of being ‘disingenuous’, when his disingenuous statements completely misrepresented the situation in England once lockdown lifts there on 2nd December. Whereas almost 60% of people in England will be able to visit pubs and restaurants until last orders at 10pm, with an 11pm curfew, subject to table service (Tier 1) or alcohol being served as part of a meal (Tier 2), he is blanket banning every pub, bar and restaurant in Wales from selling alcohol and forcing them all to shut at 6pm from Friday. 

"He is also wrong to say that the position across Wales is as serious as Tier 3 in England, when the latest ‘cases per 100,000’ figures in Wales (Nov 23-29) show a spectrum ranging from 453.8 in Blaenau Gwent to 30.7 in Conwy.” 

'Return our recycling' campaign looks for local support

* Above and below: The Plas Madoc recycling centre.

A Llangollen resident who has started a campaign for the return of a recycling facility to the Dee Valley has given his version of how the area found itself without one in the first place. 

Phil Jones, who has also started a petition to see recycling brought back, claims that while 13 years have passed since the closure of the old refuse tip at Wenffrwd off the A539 no action has been taken by Denbighshire County Council (DCC) on commitments to look for a replacement site or a joint deal with neighbouring Wrexham for Llangollen residents to use its Plas Madoc recycling centre.

He said: "Are you fed-up with the lack of recycling in the Dee Valley and how did we get here? 

"In 2007, Denbighshire CC closed our recycling site at Wenffrwd without public consultation. 

"The matter was discussed at committee, and officers were tasked to approach Wrexham CBC to negotiate an agreement to give access to the Plas Madoc site for DCC residents who had been deprived of their recycling facility. 

"Although discussions apparently began, Wrexham CBC had an ambitious programme to modernise its recycling sites and also build a new one on Wrexham Industrial Estate. To do so, it closed the Plas Madoc site for six months to rebuild it. 

"It seems that the initial discussions stalled at that point, and our council’s officers never completed the task of negotiating a formal access agreement. 

"No-one can say just how many residents of the Dee Valley continued to use the new facility at Plas Madoc when it reopened, but my guess from speaking to my friends is that every household took their bulky recycling waste to this site ‘on the QT’, being careful not to take waste in DCC labelled bags. 

"If your household did make use of Plas Madoc, we are asking everyone in it - of voting age - to sign our petition. 

"Our county council has served us very poorly by failing to sort out this problem for the last 13 years. It will only take notice if you act now to sign our petition."

He added you can support the campaign by clicking this link (we are not asking for donations): 

https://www.change.org/p/denbighshire-county-council-return-of-recycling-in-llangollen-and-the-dee-valley 

or, paper petitions are available in Watkin & Williams, Lilly Rose, and Gwyn the Butcher, (Fouzi’s might be closed). 

"Every signature counts. Please get your friends and neighbours to sign up and join our mission to reinstate proper recycling in the Dee Valley." 

Covid vaccine rollout to start across Wales

 The first COVID-19 vaccine has been given the go-ahead and the roll-out across Wales will start within a matter of days, the Chief Medical Officer has announced today [Wednesday 2 December]

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has now authorised the first vaccine as safe and effective on the basis of detailed independent expert review of evidence from large scale clinical trials.

The Pfizer Biontech vaccine has become the first to receive MHRA clearance in the UK and 40 million doses of the vaccine will shortly be available for delivery across the UK, with Wales getting its allocation based on population.

The effects of the vaccine may not be seen nationally for many months and the advice on keeping Wales safe remains the same for everyone; keep contacts with other people to a minimum, keep a 2 metre distance from others, wash hands regularly, wear a face covering where required and avoid touching surfaces others have touched, wherever possible.

Approval from the MHRA is the first step of Wales’ roll-out plan, which has seen preparations on-going since May. There are still a number of stages which need to happen before the vaccine reaches those in highest need and is ready for use, but this process is expected to happen over the next week.

These stages include;

• The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) finalising and publishing their guidance for the whole of the UK;
• Finalising training materials for staff and patient information leaflets;
• Training of experienced immunisers for this particular vaccine;
• Final legal frameworks to allow registered health professionals to administer the vaccine to patients need to be authorised by each Health Board in Wales.

The vaccine - which needs to be administered in two doses - will initially be prioritised and available for those aged 80 and over, care home staff and residents and those working within health and social care.

Pfizer Biontech vaccine needs to be stored at ultra-low temperatures. These centres have already been decided by Health Boards and are in the process of being stood-up.

As further supplies become available and additional vaccines receive MHRA approval, a staged approach will see other groups be offered the vaccine, based on risk of serious complications and deaths.

Individuals in the priority groups for a COVID-19 vaccine will receive an invitation from their employer or Health Board providing information about the COVID-19 vaccines, telling them where to go and what to do on the day of their appointment.

People are urged to wait to be invited, which will happen through NHS systems. Please do not ask your pharmacist or GP.

There are plans in place for people who are housebound and for care homes to be vaccinated as soon as safely possible, with the approved vaccine being safely taken to them using a mobile service, once cleared for this purpose.

The development process for coronavirus vaccines has been as stringent as any other but the process in the face of the pandemic has been sped up by prompt, world-wide funding and a reduction in paperwork. The length of the trials have not been shortened, and the usual safety measures remain in place.

The vaccine will not be mandatory and people will be able to choose whether they take up the vaccine or not. Information will be provided to people before vaccination to reassure them about patient safety and robust consent processes will be in place.

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, said:

“It is fantastic to finally say that the first COVID-19 vaccine has been given the green light. We know now that we have a safe and effective vaccine for use across the UK - this is the positive news I and so many across the country have been waiting for.

“All our NHS organisations across Wales have embraced the challenge presented to them and are at the advanced stages of planning for the arrival of a vaccine. We have tested distribution and storage arrangements to ensure we can get vaccine safely to every part of Wales.

“There’s still a few stages we need to work through but once all these safeguards are in place, vaccination can begin. There will only be relatively small amounts of the vaccine at first, those who have been advised as most needing the vaccine first, through approved delivery mechanisms. A full announcement around the timetable for roll-out in Wales will follow in the next few days.”

The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said:

“Today’s news is a small glimmer of light at the end of what has been a long and dark tunnel.

“We know some people within our communities are much more at risk than others from the serious complications of COVID-19, which is why the new vaccine is being prioritised to protect them first.

“Whilst these first doses are given at fixed sites and occupational settings, and to protect our NHS and social care services, we must all continue to do our bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus: regular hand washing, social distancing, and wearing a face covering where required to protect yourself and others.”

Vice-chair of the COVID-19 Vaccine Programme Board, Richard Roberts from Public Health Wales, said:

“It is a significant achievement that only 9 months after WHO announced the global pandemic that we now have the first safe and effective vaccine available for use in Wales, and other vaccines to follow. Everyone has been preparing for months to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine programme, and it is very exciting that we will be able to begin, once the final steps have been put in place so that the programme can be delivered safely.”

Santa steps in to help youngster with rare neurological disorder

* Santa gets ready to zoom into action and chat virtually about all things Christmas with Nightingale House Hospice’s young supporters.

Santa Claus is all for making children’s dreams come true and this year is no exception, after fundraisers at Nightingale House rallied to take the stress off one youngster and his family. 

Normally the very sight of Santa Claus in person can cause upset and distress for 15-year-old Jake Edwards-Owen from Johnstown.  

Jake, a pupil at St Christopher’s School in Wrexham has a rare condition known as Angelman Syndrome affecting around 1:20,000 births. As a result, he has severe learning difficulties, delayed development and very limited speech.

 

It is not unheard of for Jake to run away at the very sight of the real Santa, when a trip to St Giles’ Parish Church Christmas concert in Wrexham turned into a hunt by his mother for the youngster after he bolted from the pews as he caught a glimpse of the man himself coming down the aisle.

 

The hospice is organising virtual Santa Calls for 2020 and as the hospice’s Santa is an expert in Makaton sign-language the team were happy to help arrange an extra special call for Jake. 

All money raised from the event will go directly towards patient care and family support at Nightingale House Hospice.

 

Jake’s mum Helen Edwards said that as her son cannot communicate verbally a virtual chat with Santa from the comfort of their own home would be the perfect setting to eliminate any stress. Nightingale House is close to her heart as her late father used the facilities in 2004 so the family have always thrown their support around the hospice.

 

She said: “I rang the hospice and told them about Jake’s communications difficulties. When I spoke to Sam in the fundraising team, she couldn’t do enough to help us as a family. 

"Some people may think it’s unusual that a 15-year-old wants to see Santa so I wanted to see if I could go on the call with him. 

"They went one step further and told me that Santa signs in Makaton which Jake can understand and put plans in place to make it happen. I think he’ll be much more comfortable with this arrangement rather than seeing him face to face.”

 

Sam Amis, fundraiser at Nightingale House, said: “We are delighted to help Jake and his family have an extra special call with Santa this year and I’m sure he’ll have a long list of gifts he’d like ready to pass on to him. With many Christmas events being cancelled this year – we didn’t want our lovely younger supporters missing out on the opportunity to see Santa.

"The Santa Calls have been a magnificent success and we have introduced extra days to ensure he can speak to all the children who would like to chat.”

 

Helen added: “Thank you to Sam and the fundraising team at Nightingale House for making this happen for us – I am confident that our Santa Call will make it an extra special occasion for Jake and his younger brother Callum this year. Please support the hospice as it deserves every penny that it gets.”

 

* You can book a personalised chat with Santa direct from the North Pole via the website https://www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/event/santa-calls/or by ringing the fundraising team on 01978 316800. Santa will also send each child a personalised letter and a bag of magic reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve. Tickets are £15 per family (maximum of 3 children, additional children £5 each).

* From left, Jake with his brother 

Callum and Nana Jean.

Isherwood selected to fight Delyn for Welsh Conservatives

Mark Isherwood MS (pictured), the Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales since 2003, has been selected to fight the Delyn seat for the Welsh Conservatives in next May’s elections.

He said: “It is a privilege to have been selected as Delyn’s Welsh Conservative Candidate for the 2021 Welsh General Election.

“Twenty plus years of Labour Welsh Governments have been a disaster for devolution in Wales. The people of Delyn deserve better.”

Mr Isherwood, who is Shadow Minister for Local Government, Housing and Communities, Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces and North Wales, has also held the shadow briefs including Finance, Education, and Europe,  added: “Using my extensive experience as a Member of the Senedd for North Wales since 2003, I want to give the people of Delyn the voice and recognition in Cardiff Bay that they deserve.”

Still time to take part in climate change consultation

There is still time to have your say on plans by Denbighshire County Council to tackle climate and ecological change.

Last year the council declared a climate change and ecological emergency which included a commitment to make the authority net carbon zero by 2030, enhance biodiversity across the county and call on the Welsh and UK governments to provide assistance and resources to enable the council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A public engagement event was held earlier this year asking for the public’s views and now they can have their say on the council’s draft Climate and Ecological Change Strategy which covers the years 2021/22 – 2029/30.

Members of the public can complete an online survey to give their feedback on the document up until December 7 at https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/560

 

Welsh beef on the menu at three local schools

* Head cook Louise Roberts with Harlech Foodservices's Mark Lawton. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

Welsh beef is on the menu for pupils at Llangollen schools now a North Wales food distribution company has won the contract to supply over a million school meals a year for the county.

Harlech Foodservice won the three-year contract from a US-owned multi-national and have pledged that wherever possible the county's seven secondary and 48 primary schools - including Dinas Bran, Bryn Collen and Y Gwernant - will receive food sourced in North Wales.

Harlech Commercial Director Mark Lawton said: "This is a hugely important contract for us to win against competition from one of the biggest wholesalers in the UK.

"It shows we have the quality and the capacity to supply and deliver high quality food, including beef sourced from farms in North and Mid Wales, for well over a million meals a year.

"Pupils in Denbighshire eat 7,500 meals a day and each week the head cooks in each of the 55 schools in Denbighshire place their orders for some 35,000 meals and we have the capacity to guarantee delivery for that through our fleet of lorries and vans.

"It extends the service we provide for schools in North Wales where we already supply similar numbers of school meals for Gwynedd and Conwy which makes for over 100,000 school meals a month."

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council's Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: "We're very pleased to have been able to award this contract to a North Wales company because it is important that we support the regional economy wherever possible.

"Ensuring pupils at Denbighshire schools get healthy, varied and nutritious meals to improve learning and development is a priority for the council and this partnership helps ensure our School Meals Service can provide that.

"We know that the majority of their meat comes from their own farms and is prepared by their own butchers and that is another box we can tick.

"The contract has started and is going very well and Harlech have gone out of their way to adapt their systems to match with ours and it's good to know there is always someone on the end of the phone we can speak to.

"All the schools operate the same menu for the week and Harlech have that as well but it is still the head cook who orders for each school."

School Head Cook Louise Roberts places her orders twice a week and she said: "It works really well and the people we deal with at Harlech are very friendly and helpful.

"Most importantly it comes when I need it and that makes it much easier for me to organise the work and the menus.

"We have just done an American-themed week and Harlech were able to supply us with corn on the cob, potato waffles, donuts, ice-cream, milk shakes and burgers."

Harlech Foodservices bid for the contract through their membership of TUCO - The University Caterers Organisation - a framework which qualifies businesses to provide catering services for the public sector.

They recently signed a deal to supply meat to the expanding BBQ chain Hickory's Smokehouse which has 11 outlets from Southport to Worcester and other clients include Pendine Park Care Homes and the Portmeirion Hotel.

Welsh Conservatives choose Clwyd South Senedd candidate

* Barbara Hughes will fight Clwyd South for the Conservatives next year.

Farmer Barbara Hughes has been selected to fight the Clwyd South seat for the Welsh Conservatives in next year’s Senedd elections.

Mrs Hughes, who was born and bred in the constituency in Corwen, said she was delighted at her selection and planned to get straight on with holding the Welsh government to account for "failing policies".

She added: "I intend to stand up for local people, who deserve so much more than they get from the Welsh Government. Rural communities, like ours, are the backbone of Wales. We need more support and I will fight to make sure we get it.”

Securing more backing for local businesses is close to her heart, she says.

She runs a 220-acre dairy farm with her husband Derek on the Clwyd South border – as well as PYO pumpkin and strawberry ventures.

Mrs Hughes, who is a Welsh speaker, said: “I understand the needs and challenges of working in business, because I have set up and developed my own from scratch.”

A mentor for the Welsh Government Farming Connect programme, she says she is also passionate about improving communication and connectivity.

“I want to see the digital agenda developed further. With Covid-19 and more of us working from home, we need to make absolutely sure that rural communities are not disadvantaged by slow broadband speeds.”

Increased funding for local schools and the health service are among her top priorities, she explained.

Mrs Hughes is a former National Vice Chairman for the Women’s Farming Union (WFU) and served as Dairy Chairman. 

She was also the first lady chairman of Wrexham National Farmers Union (NFU). She  won the NFU Cymru Wales Woman Farmer of the Year in 2011.

Married with three children and five grandchildren, in her spare time, she enjoys reading, swimming and equestrian sports. 

New coronavirus measures from this Friday announced

PUBS, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales will be forced to stop selling alcohol and to shut by 6pm in a new round of restrictions that begin on Friday night ahead of Christmas, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

The new regulations that come into force from 6pm on December 4 will also see cinemas, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues forced to shut their doors until they are reviewed on December 17.

The announcement comes just three weeks after the end of Wales's 17-day firebreak lockdown and amid another rise in coronavirus cases particularly among under-25s in 17 of the country's 22 local authorities.

Earlier this afternoon Mr Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff that scientific and medical advisers believed unless further restrictions were put in place, the number of people in hospital in Wales with Covid-19 could rise to 2,200 people by January 12.

Modelling suggested another 1,600 people could also lose their lives over the winter period, he said.

Mr Drakeford told the Welsh Government's press briefing: "The measures we are taking are based on what the UK SAGE group of experts tells us has worked best elsewhere.

"From 6pm on Friday, our national measures will be amended to introduce new restrictions for hospitality and indoor entertainment attractions.

"Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will have to close by 6pm and will not be allowed to serve alcohol. After 6pm they will only be able to provide takeaway services."

* The Welsh Government is making a further £340m available through the Economic Resilience Fund to support businesses affected by the new changes to the regulations. It will include a specific fund to support hospitality and tourism businesses.

The new Welsh Government support is split into two funds: a £160m Restrictions Business Fund and a £180m sector-specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

The Restrictions Business Fund will enable eligible businesses in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors which pay non-domestic rates (NDR) to access grants of up to £5,000.

It is estimated around 60,000 businesses, with a rateable value of under £150,000 will receive this support.  

Businesses not on the NDR system, will be able to continue to apply to local authorities for the Lockdown Discretionary Grant of up to £2,000.

In addition, hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses will be able to access a sector specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

Small and medium sized businesses meeting the criteria could receive up to £100k. Larger Welsh-based businesses could receive up to a maximum of £150k.

This part of the package is expected to support up to 8,000 businesses in these sectors and a further 2,000 in the related supply chains.

More information about the funding and how it can be accessed will be published on the Business Wales website in the coming days.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “These are incredibly difficult days for businesses and these decisions have not been taken lightly.

“We expect today’s £340m announcement to support tens of thousands of businesses and help protect many more jobs and livelihoods. It must also be remembered that UK Government support is also available to businesses.

“We will continue to do everything we can to support our firms and our people through these challenging times.”

Health centre booking flu jab appointments for 50-64 year olds

* The huge queue for over-65s drive-through flu jabs at the Pavilion recently.

Llangollen Health Centre is now booking appointments for a flu clinic at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday December 13th for the 50 to 64 year-old age group.

* If you wish to have a flu vaccination and you fall into this age category please ring the health centre on 01978 860625.

Former Llan PE man could have a role at Wrexham FC, suggests story

* The picture by Rob McElhenney that appeared on Twitter.

Hollywood star Rob McElhenney has hinted that a former PE teacher in Llangollen could have a role in the new-look Wrexham FC, suggests a story in Welsh news service Nation.Cymru.  

McElhenney, who recently sealed a deal for the club alongside fellow star Ryan Reynolds, tweeted that he would “never get into an airplane unless you trust the people flying it” and included a picture of himself standing next to Peter Moore, who is also a former Liverpool CEO.

He was wearing a Wrexham AFC face mask and Peter Moore a Liverpool FC facemask.

The story says Moore, 66, spent three years as CEO at Anfield having arrived in June 2017 and oversaw a period of growth and success on and off the field before handing over the reins to Billy Hogan at the end of August.

He had previously been linked with a return to the game to oversee the challenge of getting Wrexham into gear in the event of a successful takeover by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The former Reebok, Sega, Microsoft and EA Sports executive has his roots in Wales and recently became honorary president of Gresford Athletic, a lower-tier Welsh side that plays four miles from the Racecourse Stadium.

Moore was a PE teacher at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen before moving to the United States.

County council describes test and trace efforts

Great efforts are continuing to be made in Denbighshire to try and reduce the number of coronavirus cases in the county, says the county council.

Moli Lloyd Evans from Pwllglas near Ruthin is a member of the Contact Tracing Team within the Test, Trace and Protect service.

Moli said: “My role is to phone anybody who tests positive for coronavirus. The first thing I’ll do is check how they are doing, whether they need any help. 

"I’ll monitor their symptoms or if they have any concerns, I can signpost them to other services in the NHS.   

"I will then give them their isolation advice to self-isolate for 10 days after their symptoms began or  it will be ten days after a test if they have no symptoms."

She added: "The symptoms are a cough, high temperature  and no taste or smell. That’s what we ask people to look out for.  

"Then everyone else in the household will also be asked to self-isolate. I then conduct an interview to establish all the contacts and locations they’ve been during their infectious period so that we can contact those people and give them the advice they need and put them in isolation as well.

“Generally the response from the public is really good. People are happy to work with us, to give us the information and they want our help as well. Sometimes  people can be scared or anxious or sometimes they can be unwell.  

“As a team we always work with those individuals to guide them through things in a friendly and supportive manner.   If  someone needs a bit more time to gather their thoughts and provide the information then that’s fine.  The biggest hurdle we have is working against the clock and it does sometimes hold us back if we cannot get hold of someone. We’d rather be one step forward and try and prevent any further cases of coronavirus from spreading."

Meanwhile, the council is advising residents in Denbighshire of two testing centres that have opened to the public in the county.  

One has opened at County Hall car park in Ruthin since Wednesday, 18 November and will remain open for another two weeks between the hours of 9.30am and 4.30pm. No appointment is necessary for this walk-on and drive-in service.

A walk-in testing centre has also opened in Rhyl.   The testing centre is located on Quay Street car park, near the blue bridge. People will need to make an appointment to have a test and can do so by visiting the Welsh Government website: www.gov.wales/coronavirus or by phoning 119.

Councillor Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “I would like to commend the teams working on the Test, Trace and Protect service right across Denbighshire.   

"They are doing a sterling job in tracing the contacts of positive cases and providing advice for people to self-isolate. It’s an extremely demanding job but completely essential in our efforts to try and reduce the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

“This work is being complemented by a number of testing centres that have been set up in the county, to provide tests for residents.  

"I would urge people that require a test to use their great facilities in our communities.  You don’t need an appointment to visit the Ruthin testing centre, you simply need to turn up and a test will be carried out.  The testing centre in Rhyl requires an appointment, so I would ask you to get your appointment booked at the earliest opportunity."