Latest pandemic updates from Welsh Government

 

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government are:

• Guidance on Christmas bubbles: https://gov.wales/making-christmas-bubble-friends-and-family
• The Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund is providing essential support to theatres, music venues, heritage sites, libraries, museums, galleries, archive services and independent cinemas, right across Wales: https://gov.wales/cultural-recovery-fund-essential-support-making-difference
• The Welsh Government has announced plans for the safe return of students to Welsh universities after the Christmas break.
• Students will be invited to return to campus over a four week period, starting from 11 January, with a phased return to in-person teaching. Universities will prioritise students who most need to return early, such as those studying in healthcare professions, those on placements or who need access to campus facilities. 
• https://gov.wales/plans-safe-return-students-welsh-universities-new-year
• Guidance: https://gov.wales/managed-movement-students-person-teaching-and-learning-january
• A Technical Advisory Group report about the pre-Christmas non-pharmaceutical interventions, which includes a section about hospitality, is published today: https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-group-statement-regarding-non-pharmaceutical-interventions-pre-christmas-period  

 

• Technical Advisory Group report Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Saunas and Steam Rooms and Risks from Covid-19: https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-group-swimming-pools-hot-tubs-saunas-and-steam-rooms-and-risk-covid-19 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 2,021 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 91,013 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Sadly, there were two further deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 2,711.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary 
• Public Health Wales is publishing the bi-weekly local authority review of coronavirus cases, which includes details of infection rates in people under 25 and over 60 – the report is available under the local authority tab on the surveillance dashboard: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 14 days from when your symptoms started.
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test
• You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.
• Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus#section-38136 

Where to find the latest information

• Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance  

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• If you can help the effort to produce PPE in Wales please visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/provision-critical-equipment-and-personal-protection-equipment-ppe
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   Health Minister Vaughan Gething held today’s press conference. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1335920979847987201

o   Slides from the press conference are available at: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-minister-health-and-social-services-coronavirus-briefing-7-december-2020

 

Railway's bridge appeal hits its £15,000 target

 

* Thanks to a successful appeal Dee Bridge can now be repaired.

The appeal to raise enough cash to repair a Victorian bridge vital to the running Llangollen Railway has reached its target.

As llanblogger revealed in October, the railway put out an urgent call to its supporters for £15,000 to revive Dee Bridge, built in 1865 and now in desperate need of new timbers if it is to continue to carry services over it next year.

In a Facebook post fundraising officer Paul Bailey said at the time: "If we are to run trains over the Dee Bridge next year we first have to renew the timbers on the bridge.

"This work, including purchasing the timbers, is costing £15,000 - monies the railway currently has not got.

"We have therefore launched an appeal to raise these monies without which we will not be able to carry out the necessary repairs to run train services in 2021."

Now a railway spokesperson says Mr Bailey has announced the total was reached last Friday and already been used to pay for 18 new lengths of profiled timbers for the bridge repairs.

The spokesperson added: “This past week has seen a volunteer workforce lift the track from the three-span bridge and remove the old timbers ready for a reassembly exercise in the new year.”

More funding to help people with Rent to Own scheme

An extra £5million has been secured for an assisted home ownership scheme in Denbighshire.

Denbighshire County Council administers the Rent to Own grant for Welsh Government, a scheme which supports applicants who do not have the minimum five per cent deposit to buy a home, but are otherwise able to access a mortgage.

The scheme in Denbighshire, which is operated through Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), was initially allocated £1.8m over a three-year period between 2018 – 2021 and due to the success of the scheme in the county, an additional £5.8m has been secured from Welsh Government.

The funding is used by RSLs to build new homes specifically for the Rent to Own Scheme and currently includes new build sites in Rhyl, Rhuddlan, Meliden, St Asaph, Denbigh and Llanfair DC.

Cllr Tony Thomas, the Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Rent to Own provides a fantastic opportunity for Denbighshire residents to get on the housing ladder and contributes to our priority of providing homes that meet the needs of our residents.

“Securing an extra £5.8m to develop the scheme shows what a success this has been in the county and will make a real difference to the number of houses that can be created.

“The Council is also continuing to work with RSLs and private developers to ensure there is suitable affordable housing in the county, as well as progressing with our own programme of building council homes.”

Applicants rent one of the new build properties and after a period of up to five years they buy the property, with 25 per cent of the rent paid being returned to the applicant as a deposit for the home. 

The scheme has proved very popular in Denbighshire with a total of 99 new build properties being made available between 2018 and 2022.

These properties are in addition to properties secured for affordable or social housing through the planning process and also complements the 24 council houses being built on land above Tan y Sgubor, Denbigh, the first new council homes to be designed and built for the Denbighshire area in 30 years.

A total of 139 affordable homes were also provided in the county by private developers and RSLs including Cartrefi Conwy, Grŵp Cynefin, Clwyd Alyn and Wales & West between April 2019 and March 2020.

As part of the Rent to Own scheme there are two bedroom and three bedroom properties available under the scheme, applicants need to have a household income of between £18,000 to £60,000 to be eligible.

* Those interested in the scheme should contact Tai Teg on 03456 015 605 or info@taiteg.org.uk

St Collen's stages successful Christmas Fayre

* Parishioner John Jones sells raffles tickets.

* Bargain hunters check out the stalls inside the church.

St Collen's Church held its annual Christmas Fayre yesterday morning.

Due to coronavirus restrictions it moved from its traditional venue at the Town Hall to the church itself, where stalls were set up to sell fancy goods and home-made cakes.

Turkey burgers, expertly cooked by Fabiano Silva, and other refreshments were on sale inside a socially-distanced parish centre.

The morning, for which people all turned up wearing masks, ended with the drawing of two raffles by the vicar, Father Lee Taylor, with many valuable prizes being won.

£10m boost to transform Welsh towns

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government has announced a £10m funding boost for town centres, under the £90m Transforming Towns programme, to support businesses and increase vibrancy and footfall in towns across Wales.

The loan scheme will support local authorities to reduce the number of vacant, under-utilised and redundant sites and premises in town centres by providing interest free loans to redevelop or refurbish sites. 

The properties will be redeveloped as shops, homes and leisure facilities, with loans being recycled up to three times over a 15 year period. Once repaid they can be used again to fund new loans and be re-invested in similar projects.

As part of the Welsh Government’s overall investment of £41.6m previous successful projects include Tramshed in Cardiff, Tŷ Castell in Caernarfon and the Magistrates court in Newtown.

The Tramshed in Grangetown Cardiff, which acts as a hub for other local businesses and has fully repaid it’s loan of £500,000, used the funding to create hundreds of jobs, accommodated 25 enterprises, created 7,500 sq ft of business space, supported over 40 community events annually, and increased footfall by 25,000 people per year.

Local authorities funded through this year’s round of applications include: 

* £840,000 for Flintshire

* £500,000 for Wrexham.

The Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn said: “This Transforming Towns loan scheme highlights the Welsh Government’s commitment to revitalising our town centres and putting their health and vibrancy at the centre of everything we do. These loans supports activities that generate footfall, tackle empty sites and premises and support businesses to grow and prosper.

“The way we use our town centres has changed and many towns are struggling in the wake of declining retail sales. Whilst businesses across our towns and on our high streets have faced challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, we have also seen a positive shift towards shopping local. I hope that this funding will enable this shift to continue and become embedded in how we shop and use our towns in the years to come.”

This funding is part of the Welsh Government’s total investment of £900m for regeneration projects alongside key partners.

Electronic snowflakes fall on town centre

* Multi-coloured snowflakes beamed on the bridge pavements.

* Snowflake lights cast onto Centenary Square.

Llangollen's famous bridge has been lit up to mark the part the town is playing in a county council campaign encourage people to shop locally in the run-up to Christmas.

In addition to the traditional seasonal lighting arranged by Llangollen Town Council, Denbighshire has arranged for LED lights to be fixed to lamposts along the bridge to floodlight the roadway plus a projector to cast multi-coloured snowflakes onto the pavements.

The county council also agreed to a request by Town Clerk Gareth Thomas to cast the same snowflake-shaped lights onto the paved area of nearby Centenary Square.

Llangollen's famous bridge is amongst a number of key sites across Denbighshire towns being lit up in December as part of the overall winter shopping marketing campaign called #lovelivelocal. 

Yaris deserves high marks as a top hybrid

* The Toyota Yaris Hybrid.

Toyota Yaris road test by Steve Rogers

Unlike my primary school reports my parents would have been pleased with my marks for the Yaris hybrid.

Each trip ends with marks out of a hundred and comments on how well, or badly, you have done, and I did rather well. What I wouldn't have given for marks like 86,73 and even 66 along with 'excellent'  and 'very good hybrid driving'. Clearly a late developer.

In some ways Yaris is a bit of a late developer; it has taken four goes and 20 years to make it look really appealing. Now there is style in abundance with its eye catching front and dynamic tail end, in fact Yaris has gone through a total rebuild sitting on a new platform that has transformed the driving experience as well.

Yes it looks pretty but the fourth generation Yaris needs to be hailed as a top hybrid in its class. The pandemic is crippling petrol and diesel but there has been a veritable explosion in hybrid and electric models this year so, remarkably, sales are up and when it comes to a self charging hybrid supermini Yaris is out in front.

Ten years of experience has made Toyota a hybrid master and this is the second Yaris with hybrid power. The more experience the better the product and this comes through strongly with performance, economy and emissions all improved.

This is a one engine fits all set up so we have a three cylinder 1.5 litre petrol beefed up by an electric motor powered by a battery pack slung under the back seats. Compared to the previous Yaris it is like someone has turned on the lights. It is quicker off the line but the biggest improvement is 50-70mph which has been trimmed by two seconds so overtaking is a breeze.

Not that you should be flooring Yaris too often if economy is a key reason for choosing hybrid. Aggression does not work, it has to be the complete opposite with measured, smooth acceleration and gentle braking. The car is at its most efficient puddling along the motorway at no more than sixty, or around town where the electric motor can take over for a short time. That is when petrol consumption can shoot into the eighties although a real time average will be mid fifties.

So all good on that front but how are we feeling about the restyled cabin? It has a modern look with either a seven or eight inch touch screen for everyday essentials and, thankfully, the heating controls are separate with a neat row of touch pads that are beautifully lit up at night but a little too dark in the day so additional back lighting would help.

The driver's binnacle is excellent with switchable information held in a central display, the best of which are the hybrid graphics so you can check how you are doing on battery power, recharging and the like. It is also the place that marks the driver and gives tips to improve hybrid efficiency.

If space is high on the wish list then pile everyone in to make sure they fit! Up front is fine but rear legroom is only average and beaten by some rivals. Honda Jazz is about the best I've come across for space. Boot capacity is also just average and without the option of a false floor suffers from too much of a drop into the well so retrieving heavy stuff is a pain.

With its new platform and sport suspension Yaris is good fun to drive through twists and turns, yet I think Toyota has got this all wrong.

There are four models, the first two with standard suspension and the top two with a sports set up. If you want a model with the best spec you can only have sports suspension which is going to be too hard for a lot of people. Over poor surfaces you can feel pummelled. If you want a hot Yaris then get the GR.

Yaris is one of the more expensive superminis (£19,910-£22,220) but hybrid power pushes up the cost, yet it has one of the best specifications particularly at entry level. All come with a rear camera, which is rare, rain sensing wipers and automatic lights, a strong safety list and mirroring for smart phones. With no satellite  navigation available you need to tag a phone app to the main screen for travel directions.

Like it or not it is starting to make more sense to think about hybrid or electric as your next car so if small is your bag then Yaris is a real front runner, strong on style, performance, economy and low emissions but the full range needs to be offered with standard suspension. Need to know

Yaris Hybrid Dynamic

£21,920

1.5 litre; 114bhp

0-62mph 9.7secs; 109mph

Transmission: CVT automatic

65.6mpg combined

98g/km. 1st road tax £125

Insurance group 14

Boot: 286 litres

Testing of frontline health staff to start this month

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced routine testing of asymptomatic frontline health and social care staff will start this month in Wales.

Lateral flow tests (LFTs) will be made available to test frontline health and social care workers twice weekly.

Mr Gething said: “I am pleased to announce that we will now be introducing a programme of regular asymptomatic testing of frontline health and social care staff and others in contact with patients and those receiving social care. This builds on the asymptomatic testing of health workers in Wales to assist with outbreak control and those working in care homes.

“This will be done using lateral flow testing devices, which can produce results in 30 minutes with the potential to be self-administered. While LFTs are not as sensitive as lab-based RT-PCR tests, scientific advice has indicated that by testing more frequently with LFTs their accuracy is on a par with RT-PCR tests.

It is vital everyone understands that testing alone cannot eradicate the risks associated with Covid-19 and testing needs to be carried out alongside other infection prevention control measures, such as the use of PPE, social distancing and hand hygiene. 

Protecting our NHS staff and our most vulnerable citizens in Wales is at the heart of our Covid response and a key element of our Test, Trace, Protect strategy.”

The new testing programme will be available for:

• Clinical NHS staff (doctors, nurses and allied health professionals) and those working with high-risk groups such as haematology staff working with transplant patients.
• Non-clinical staff including porters, cleaning staff, catering staff and volunteers.
• Social care workers, including domiciliary care workers, social workers and inspectors visiting care homes and other social care settings.

Mr Gething added: “We will begin rolling out the programme for these groups from 14 December, starting with those working in services with high risks of transmission, and introducing in lower risk settings in January.  We will also be introducing regular asymptomatic testing of staff working in hospice inpatient units and those delivering hospice at home services.”

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.”