The following local roadworks alerts have come from one.network:
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Sunday, September 12, 2021
Two local roadworks alerts
Monday, September 6, 2021
llanblogger takes a short break
llanblogger is now taking a short break and will be back in a few days
Sunday, September 5, 2021
Viaduct checks mean overnight traffic diversions through Llan
* For the full story, see: https://www.wrexham.com/news/full-closure-for-part-of-a483-planned-for-viaducts-inspections-division-through-llangollen-due-to-newbridge-landslip-208538.html
Another local roadworks notified by one.network is:
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Saturday, September 4, 2021
Collen Players back live for their latest hit music hall show
* Father Lee Taylor in the chair.
* Neil Barrett and David Lyne as Barbara and Joyce.
* Phil Robinson as Champagne Charlie.
* Magician Paul Edwards - the Welsh Wizard.
* Susan Stokes - Danny Boy.
* Gethin Davies - Have Some Madeira M'Dear.
* Mike Connolly on the Road to Mandalay.
* Louise Cielecki closes the show.
After a gap of many months due to the pandemic The Collen Players were back in front of a live audience last night for their latest music hall and variety show in the Community Hall.
In the chair as usual was St Collen's vicar Father Lee Taylor - a devout fan of traditional Victorian music hall - introducing the evening's packed programme which featured a host of talented entertainers.
Following his opening breezy bout of patter and comedy songs first up came a favourite of Players audiences Susan Stokes with the catchy K-K-K Katy and a moving Danny Boy.
They've done a similar routine for previous Collen shows and there was another warm welcome for the double-act Neil Barrett and Dave Lyne doing their hilarious skit on gossips Barbara and Joyce.
Phil Robinson then took to the authentically-dressed stage to present the music hall staples Champagne Charlie and The Spaniard Who Blighted My Life.
During the interval a well-enjoyed buffet meal was served for the audience prepared by Fabiano Silva.
In the second half of the show Father Lee resumed the chair to present a rousing musical medley of golden oldies including Tulips from Amsterdam, Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer, Loch Lomond and Let’s Go Fly a Kite.
For something a little different there was Paul Edwards presenting some amazingly cunning magic tricks in his guise as The Welsh Wizard.
Staying in lighter mood Gethin Davies followed with the ditty Have Some Madeira M’dear and The Spanish Guitar, both accompanied on the piano by his wife Eulanwy.
Mike Connolly's powerful and well-received contributions were Keep the Home Fires Burning and The Road to Mandalay before Barrett and Lyne returned to take an hilarious peek at George and Leonard, husbands of Barbara and Joyce.
Louise Cielecki rounded off in fine style with a couple of big-hearted show numbers, Little Girls from Annie and I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.
All that was left was for the chairman to lead the entire cast in a rousing chorus of one of the best-known of all music halls songs, Down at the Old Bull and Bush.
Friday, September 3, 2021
Locals encouraged to use valley sightseeing bus
* Another stop at the Wenffrwd pocket park just outside Llangollen.
Llangollen people are being encouraged to try a trip aboard a bus service which is spending the summer touring some of Dee Valley's key beauty spots.
The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus service is a circular route which runs every Saturday until October 2021.
It links Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, PlasNewydd Historic House and the Horseshoe Pass.
The service aims to enable people to visit these key locations without the need of a car and reduce the need for parking spaces, making it easier for those without their own vehicle to access these places, and helping to reduce congestion at some of the busiest sites in the Dee Valley.
The service also provides both visitors and local residents the opportunity to explore the wider area.
The service has been made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, and delivered in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Our Picturesque Landscape project, a landscape partnership scheme which is working to conserve and improve access to the inspiring landscapes of the Dee Valley and Pontcysllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.
The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus Service, number 199, operates Saturdays only until October 30.
* For the full timetable and ticket prices for the Picturesque Bus service , see Denbighshire bus timetable webpage or pick up a leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.
Kate Thomson, Partnership Officer for the Our Picturesque Landscape project, said: “This project was due to launch in 2020 but was delayed by the pandemic, so we are really pleased that this service was able to run in 2021 and hopefully for many years to come.
"By working in partnership with Denbighshire County Council, we have been able to ensure that the service complements existing public transport provision.
"Connecting to bus timetables from Corwen and Wrexham makes the Picturesque Bus service the ideal option for planning walks in the area.
"We are grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Walesfor making this service possible, and hope it will go on to be a great success and a real legacy for the Our Picturesque Landscape project.”
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Driver shortage means pause on council bulky waste collections
Denbighshire County Council is pausing new requests for the removal of bulky household items due to rising demand and a backlog of existing collections.
The Council is unable to take new bookings for this service until Monday, September 13, due to driver shortages.
Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We are doing everything we can to keep all services going at this time.
“We would like to apologise to residents for any inconvenience caused and thank them for their understanding.
“Our priority is to collect requests from existing customers, with wait times currently around six weeks.
“We are seeing a rising demand for the service and this is exacerbated by driver shortages currently affecting many industries.
“To enable the service to continue, the Council is working with Denbigh-based firm CAD Recycling who are providing staff to carry out collections.
“The Council is currently managing to keep all other waste services operating, despite staffing issues, and we hope this short suspension will ensure those who have already booked a bulky waste collection have their items cleared more quickly.”
Many bulky items collected by the Council can be reused or recycled if they are kept dry and clean until they are collected.
Residents are asked to keep items inside or protected until they are notified of their collection day.
Business is booming for Llangollen hotel after pandemic
* The spa is now open again following the pandemic.
A Llangollen hotel is reporting record business in the wake of the pandemic.
The Wild Pheasant on the A5 stayed open throughout the Covid-19 crisis to accommodate key workers and is now rapidly getting back to normal.
Fresh from its caring role The Wild Pheasant is once again welcoming the more usual kind of guest to its 47 bedrooms, restaurant and spa and the weddings side of the operation is booming.
It was back in 2016 that the hotel was acquired by the Evenbright company which in its stable of hotels also numbers Rossett Hall, two in Lake District, Stonecross Manor and The George, as well a new one in Llandudno.
Wild Pheasant guest accommodation includes standard double/twin rooms, executive king rooms, the Dinas Bran & Berwyn Suite and the Dee Valley Penthouse with private hot tub on the balcony.
When it comes to dining there’s the Courtyard Restaurant and The Glasshouse with the Glanrafon Suite catering specifically for weddings.
A hotel spokesperson said: “The Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa has always been a popular choice for weddings in North Wales.
“Our Glanafon Suite is ideal for weddings up to 100 people and boasts its own private bar area.
“In 2020 we were awarded the title of best countryside wedding venue regionally and nationally That was a fantastic achievement for all the team, which includes over 40 full and part-time staff.”
Following the pandemic the hotel’s Llangollen Spa is now open for access to its hydrotherapy pool and treatments.
The hotel says the sauna and steam room will be open at a later date once it is felt safe to do so.
A spokesperson said: “The Wild Pheasant and its team are delighted to welcome people back after the easing of Covid restrictions, although we remained open throughout to accommodate key workers.
“The recent pandemic took the world of hospitality from one extreme to the other. But since the easing of lockdown restrictions all Everbright Hotels have enjoyed incredible levels of business and it seems as though the trend is set to continue.
“Both The Wild Pheasant and Rossett Hall have seen levels across every area of their business exceed any previous record.
“By the end of the year each hotel will have welcomed more brides and grooms than ever before, having rescheduled some weddings as many as three times during the pandemic.
“The two hotels have also experienced unprecedented numbers of leisure guests coming into the area for their holidays and short breaks.
“Restaurant and bars have been constantly
busy with many passers-by and locals calling in to eat and drink. This has
resulted in record numbers of enquiries from the local community already
getting in early with their Christmas bookings.”
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Politicians call for Universal Credit increase to go ahead
North Wales politicians are calling on the UK Government to abandon plans to halt increases to Universal Credit after it emerged their constituencies would be among the hardest hit in Wales.
Ken Skates and Lesley Griffiths have urged MPs to ‘show some humility’ and fight for their constituents by opposing Westminster’s plans to withdraw a proposed £20-a-week rise in payments – equivalent to £1,040 a year – from October 6.
Both Members of the Senedd say they have received emails and telephone calls from ‘extremely anxious’ constituents about the UK Government’s plans, but as benefits are not devolved to Wales it is incumbent on Members of Parliament to vote against the cut.
“We continue to hear daily soundbites from the Tories at Westminster about ‘levelling up’, which all sound pretty hollow when they’re complicit in plunging low-income families into further financial problems,” said Mr Skates, Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South.
“I would implore Members of Parliament to stand up and be counted. People have long memories and they won’t forget it if their MP supports the Tory Government taking this much-needed money away from them. It’s time for them to show some humility.”
Figures recently published by the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation revealed that all but four Welsh constituencies will see over a third of working-age families with children hit by the cut – including all six won by the Tories from Labour at the 2019 General Election.
In Clwyd South, which includes Llangollen, 42% will be affected, it says.
Ms Griffiths, Member of the Senedd for Wrexham, said: “In just a few weeks, the UK Government will impose the largest reduction to the basic rate of social security since World War Two. It’s impossible to over-state how hard this will hit local families, and it’s heart-breaking.
“As we cautiously emerge on the other side of the pandemic, governments should be aiding social and economic recovery, but the statistics prove significantly reducing the support offered by Universal Credit will have a detrimental effect on many Wrexham residents.”
It is estimated that 22% of all working-age families in Wales will see a £1,040-a-year cut to their incomes from October 6. A huge 42% of families with children in Wales will be affected.
Across the UK, more than a third (38%) of those who will see their income reduced are in employment – while one in six (16%) are under 25.
The Welsh Labour Government, along with the UK's other devolved
administrations, has written to the Secretary of State for the Department of
Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey, expressing ‘grave concerns regarding
upcoming plans to withdraw support to the poorest in our society’.
Use our service wisely, says Welsh Ambulance
The Welsh Ambulance Service is appealing to the public to use its services wisely as it recovers from a busy Bank Holiday weekend.
More
than 4,200 calls were made to 999 over the three-day weekend, up three per cent
from the same weekend last year but down six per cent from the spring Bank
Holiday weekend in May.
More
than 370 calls (nine per cent) were immediately
life-threatening ‘Red’ calls – but almost a fifth (19 per cent) were non-urgent
‘Green’ calls.
Among them was someone who said they had lost a toenail, someone who had gashed
their shin by kicking a bike and someone who claimed they were on Hollywood
Boulevard in Los Angeles before hanging up.
The top three reasons people called the ambulance service this weekend were for
breathing problems, falls and chest pains.
In the face of continued
high demand, the Trust has set out how it prioritises 999 calls so that the
public can make an informed choice about what to do if someone is ill or
injured.
Lee Brooks, the Trust’s Director of Operations, said: “We rightly prioritise patients that are the sickest or most severely
injured.
“A Red call is when someone is in imminent danger of death, like if they are in
cardiac arrest or choking – we try and respond to these immediately
life-threatening calls in eight minutes.
“An Amber call is serious but not immediately life-threatening, like chest pain
or fractures – we’ll still send the nearest resource as fast as possible.
“A Green call is neither serious nor life-threatening, like earache or minor
injuries – Green calls are often passed to NHS 111 Wales for a clinical
telephone assessment.
“If you’re not in imminent danger of death, you could wait longer for our help
in periods of high demand – potentially several hours – and you could also be
directed to help without an ambulance being sent.
“If you’re unwell but it’s not a serious emergency, the best thing to do is
take one of our online symptom checkers on the NHS 111 Wales website.
“You’ll answer a set of questions which will help you decide what to do next,
be that to visit a pharmacy or GP, administer self-care at home, visit the
Emergency Department or call 111 or 999.
“Taking some ownership and using our service responsibly will mean that more of
our precious resources are available for those who need us most.”
Ahead of the start of a new school year, the Trust is also asking the public to continue to take
precautions to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
Lee said: “We look around the rest of the UK to assess how Covid-19 is
spreading as this could provide signals about potentially what might unfold in
Wales.
“There has been a rapid
rise in Covid-19 cases in Scotland, and whilst that could be for a number of
reasons, schools restart in Scotland much sooner than here in Wales.
“With the re-opening of schools comes increased interactions, so it’s important
that the public continue to play their part to halt a further spread,
particularly now as we edge toward winter which is usually very busy for the
NHS.
“The Covid-19 vaccine remains the best line of defence to protect yourself and
others and also helps to reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying
from Covid-19.”
Welsh
Government is asking families and learners to continue to follow guidance on
isolating, testing and vaccination to minimise the risk of the spread of
Covid-19 in education settings –
- Get the vaccine if it’s
offered to you.
- Maintain
regular handwashing.
- Any
staff or learner with symptoms of Covid-19 – however mild – should stay at
home and book a PCR test at their closest test site.
- Staff in
primary schools – and staff and learners in secondary schools and colleges
– without symptoms should take two lateral flow tests three days apart
during the week leading up to their first day back. If the test is
positive they should self-isolate and book a PCR test.
- Going
into the new term, staff in primary schools and staff and learners in
secondary schools and colleges not showing symptoms should continue to
take regular rapid lateral flow tests twice a week and report the results
online.
- Learners in Year 7 and
above should continue to wear face coverings on school and college
transport.
* For up-to-date Covid-19 guidance, visit the Welsh Government website.
Stylish Spaniard more than pulls its weight
Hauling
my 24ft caravan 250 miles to the New Forest seemed a straight forward enough
task for a seven seat SUV until I read the pre delivery spec for the Seat
Tarraco.
Surely
a three-cylinder 1.5 petrol was a mistake? Towbars are always matched with a
diesel and Seat has an able 2-litre in its armoury. A call to Katie in the Seat
press office confirmed I was getting the petrol model...and to stop worrying!
I
know this engine well from various Seat, Volkswagen and Skoda test cars but
didn't figure it as a capable tow car. Did I need to be bothered? Of course not
it towed like a dream, cruising effortlessly and with a good punch of
acceleration on climbs. Humble pie eaten.
Modern
day automatics are the best solution for towing taking away the drudgery of
constant gear changing and tricky hill starts and the Tarraco's seven speed DSG
was always in the right gear at the right time.
Most
of the drive was dual carriageway and motorway and Tarraco was always stable in
crosswinds and while overtaking big artics when you can be troubled with sway. Oh
I did like towing with this car.
If
there was a downside it was economy. For a while we were ticking over at around
24mpg but a check at journeys end showed just over 22mpg. The 2-litre diesel
would probably have managed 27-28mpg but then diesel costs more so the
difference is marginal.
That's
towing done and dusted but how does Tarraco measure up in everyday life? Seven
seats tells you it is a big car but it does not drive like a big car. Seat has
always been the sporty arm in the VAG group so it drives a little firmer than
its Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace cousins although they share the
same platform and mechanicals.
This
is good because Tarraco stays tight through twisting and undulating roads and
we came across plenty driving around the New Forest. It does not absorb bumps
quite as well as Kodiaq or the seven seat Peugeot 5008 but is only a minor
point.
Inside
is practical rather than eye catching with a clear digital driver's binnacle
which includes a central block for information or a small navigation screen all
easily selected from steering wheel buttons.
The
central 8in touchscreen sits high so is in the driver's eye line and although
there are lots of menus and sub menus they are easy to fathom and helped by
short cut buttons. The graphics are sharp and quick to respond.
Tarraco
has been thoughtfully designed as a big family car with sensible touches like
door bins big enough to take things like a litre bottle, pop up tables on the
front seat backs so children can do what they do to while away the time on long
journeys. There are Isofix points on the front passsenger seat and the outer
seats on the middle row but not in the third row where children are likely to
sit.
That
third row is best suited for children because space is tight for an adult and
headroom is not that great although a grown up could cope with a short journey.
The only car in the class that can take adults comfortably is the Kia Sorento.
Tarraco
does well for load space with the third row folded and even has room for a
couple of carry on cases with all seats
in play. Try Kodiaq if more space is needed for family holiday clutter.
The
Spaniard does well when it comes to value for money although it would do even
better if it was offered as a five seater which it is not. There are six trim
levels with entry SE good for LED headlights, 8in touchscreen, digital cockpit
and smartphone integration among the highlights. Moving up to SE Technology gives navigation
but push the boat out to Xcellence Lux and you will want for nothing in luxury
or safety.
If
you are wondering about the name it is not just a jumble of letters. Seat is
proud of its Spanish heritage and has named its cars accordingly since birth -
Marbella, Toledo, Alhambra, Ibiza and so it goes on. Tarraco is the original
name for Tarragona, a beautiful city I know well with its ancient amphitheatre
overlooking the Mediterranean.
Fast
facts
Tarraco
Xcellance Lux
£35,970 to £29,155
1.5 litre TSI turbo; 148bhp
0-62mph
9.5secs; 124mph
37.7mpg
combined
171g/km.
1st VED £870
Boot:
230; 700; 1775 litres
Towing
capacity 2000kg
Insurance
group 21
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Story reveals anti-social behaviour in Dee Valley
Deeside.com is reporting that police are calling for people to act responsibly after issues with anti-social behaviour at a beauty spot near Llangollen.
Officers said evidence of wild camping and littering had been discovered in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
* For the full story, see: https://www.deeside.com/police-call-for-people-to-act-responsibly-after-anti-social-behaviour-issues-in-clwydian-range/
Llangollen Ramblers' latest steps along coast path
* Llangollen Ramblers walking down into Aberystwyth last week.
Llangollen Ramblers have been walking the Wales Coast Path for some six years and have now covered all the coast between Chester and Aberystwyth - including a circuit of Anglesey.
They now have only another 450 miles to go to Chepstow.
Monday, August 30, 2021
Spray paint attack was planned in advance, says railway
* Owner of the diesel unit George Fletcher and driver John Joyce are seen cleaning some left over blemishes off the carriage window whilst the train was stopped at Carrog. Pictures by George Jones.
Llangollen Railway believes that the recent spray-painting of its historic diesel railcar was part of a well-planned attack by a group of vandals who came prepared for their handiwork.
And it says police are currently examining CCTV footage in a bid to track down the culprits.
As llanblogger revealed last week, the 1960s-style British Railways diesel carriages had their smart green livery over-sprayed by multi-coloured aerosol paints between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
But thanks to the hard work of a team of volunteers to clean off the paint was able to get back on track carrying passengers this weekend.
A press release from the railway says: "Llangollen Railway is pleased to announce the heritage diesel railcar which was paint-sprayed by vandals last week was back in use in time for the Bank Holiday weekend train services.
"The two-car diesel unit was again working resplendent in its 1960s style British Railways green livery after hard work by volunteers removed the multi-coloured spray paint applied by vandals in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
"It is evident the incident was not a spontaneous action by an individual, but rather a well-co-ordinated attack by a group which had specifically identified a target for their handy work and came to the railway well prepared for their night-time activity.
"The police are reviewing CCTV footage and gathering forensic evidence to identify the perpetrators of this damage.
"If their intention was the railcar would have to run displaying their so-called artistic endeavours then it has been frustrated by some hard work by the volunteers using a lot of elbow grease to remove it."
Reviewing the paintwork whilst the unit was at Carrog station on Saturday, head of the railcars department John Joyce said: "Following the discovery of the mindless vandalism on Wednesday morning, volunteers set about removing the graffiti the same day.
"Experimentation with different methods
revealed that it could be removed with relatively little damage to the
paintwork underneath, although some repairs will be needed once the running
season is finished.
“We have been heartened by all the support shown to both the railcar department, and the railway as a whole, including some very generous offers of assistance and donations.
"Visitors to the railway who rode on the railcar were pleased to learn that the paint had been removed and the affected bodywork was none the worse for the damage.”
Owner of the railcar, George Fletcher, came over from Derby to inspect his vehicles and was relieved to see the unit back in action.
He said, “As a 60-year-old train set it is of
some historic importance and has been in preservation since the early 1990s.
“I like to see it is well looked after by the Llangollen railcars group. It looks the part when seen in operation on the Llangollen line and I am pleased visitors like riding in it as a memory of earlier rail travel.
“After all that the railway has been through over the last 18 months, a few cans of cheap spray paint couldn't be allowed to hold us back."
The railcars affected are once more available for passengers to enjoy the panoramic views of the Dee Valley scenery as summer turns into autumn over the coming weeks.
* A post of the railcars group's Facebook page says: "Many people have asked us how they can help defer the cost of the recent damage to our units caused by vandals.
"Contributions can now be made using one of the railway Trust's donation systems for which the details are:
Reference (important) - Railcar Fund."
Best of region's food and drink to be showcased online
* Lord Newborough, owner of the Rhug Estate.
A virtual celebration of the best food and drink produced in North East Wales is going online.
Organised by Llangollen and Dee Valley Food and Drink as well as Clwydian Range Food and Drink, it comprises a series of 29 videos encapsulating the work that goes on behind the scenes to produce the award-winning fare.
The Meet the Producers videos also have support from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and the local authorities of Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire.
Kirsty Wild from Llangollen and Dee Food and Drink said: “The series of videos we have created are an opportunity for consumers outside the area to meet our amazing food and drink producers and have an insight in to how they create their amazing products.
"Local businesses like Rhug Estate have shown how crucial they are to their communities during the past 18 months stepping up to meet online demand and providing the people of North East Wales with incredible customer service and locally-sourced food and drink. We want to pay tribute and provide a platform for them to showcase their products.”
Many of the local products featured in the videos are available to buy from Rhug Estate’s farmshop which is located near Corwen. The shop is one of the biggest in Wales and is a showcase for the very best local, artisan food, drink and gifts.
Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate said: “As a member of Llangollen and Dee Food and Drink for many years we welcome this opportunity to be able to showcase Rhug Estate’s organic meat and skincare range to a wider online audience.
"The last 18 months or so have not been easy for us, or any business in this region which relies on tourists and the hospitality sector. The immediate shift to online shopping last year certainly tested our website and our staff.
"We had to act fast to meet the increased online shopper demands. We are delighted to be able to welcome our customers back to visit Rhug Estate but appreciate that the increased demand for shopping with Rhug ‘virtually’ is here to stay and initiatives like this one that directs new customers our way are always appreciated.”
The Meet the Producers videos will be available to view on Llangollen and Dee Food and Drink website and will be shared on their social media over the coming weeks. Click here to view the video that features Rhug Estate: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=365199641809228Fringe pays tribute to reggae legend Lee "Scratch" Perry
Llangollen Fringe has paid tribute to a reggae music legend who appeared twice at the festival and has died at the age of 85.
Lee "Scratch" Perry, the legendary producer, provocateur and dub pioneer, first headlined at the Fringe in 2017 and came back again the following year.
Yesterday it was announced he had died at home in Jamaica.
Grammy award-winning Perry was highly influential in the development of reggae and dub music world wide.
Working under many names - as well as in many capacities including disc jockey, producer, record businessman, songwriter, singer - he was a guiding force in the development of reggae.In addition to his own trailblazing music, Perry produced hits for the Wailers, Junior Byles, Max Romeo, the Heptones, Gregory Isaacs, Junior Murvin, and the Clash.
Known for his bizarre behaviour and stream-of-consciousness interviews, he often donned costumes and headdresses made of found objects such as feathers, toys, playing cards, and coins.
A spokesperson for the Fringe team said: "What a character he was, still touring and starring in the Fringe well into his 70s.
"His lovely son looked after him throughout making sure his special microphone was alight as he went on stage.
"We at the Fringe feined ignorance as both were so sweet and beautifully eccentric.
"We feel proud that the Fringe could bring such a
renowned international performer to Llangollen."
Sunday, August 29, 2021
Views sought on using taxes to tackle 2nd homes issue
Views are being sought on potential changes to local taxes which could be used by local authorities to tackle the effects that large numbers of second homes and commercial holiday lets can have in some parts of Wales.
The Welsh Government consultation on council tax and non-domestic rates is part of a summer of action launched by Climate Change Minister Julie James last month to address the impact of second home ownership seen in some of Wales’ communities.
The government says: "While second home owners and people who stay in holiday lets can make an important contribution to our local economies, we want to ensure all homeowners and businesses make a fair contribution to the communities in which they own or let property."
The consultation will seek views on the maximum level at which local authorities can set council tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties and the criteria for a property to be defined as non‑domestic, self-catering accommodation.
Wales is still the only UK nation to give local authorities the power to introduce a 100 per cent council tax premium on both second homes and long-term empty homes (empty for more than a year).
This additional income can be used to address issues affecting the supply of affordable housing or for the provision of public services and other facilities such as public transport.
The consultation also seeks views on the circumstances in which properties are classed as self-catering businesses and are listed for non-domestic rates.
Currently all occupied small business properties below a specified rateable value, including self-catering units, are eligible for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), subject to a limit of two properties per business per local authority.
This consultation considers the criteria for defining properties as non-domestic self‑catering accommodation and whether different thresholds are needed.
Finance and Local Government Minister Rebecca Evans said: “We want to hear from people living in communities affected by these issues as well as owners of second homes and holiday lets, trade representatives of the self-catering and tourism industry, and local authorities.
“We anticipate receiving a wide range of responses which will all inform our future policies on potential changes to local taxes so that we have a fairer system for everyone.”
Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “We cherish our reputation in Wales as a welcoming, bilingual society in which tourism and current second home owners have a contribution to make.
“However we also recognise the impact that higher numbers of second homes and self-catered holiday lets can have on local housing and rental markets and on the sustainability of local communities. In some areas they may compromise the sustainability of Welsh as a community language."
Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language said: “Ensuring that local people can live in the communities in which they grew up and maintaining the health and vitality of Welsh as a thriving community language, are top priorities for the Welsh Government.”