Free school meal payments available for eligible pupils

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed news that the Welsh Government has made funding available to make free school meal payments for eligible pupils during school holidays, in response to the cost of living crisis. 

The council have made arrangements for these payments to be made for the forthcoming half term (31st October to 4th November),  with the payment due to be made on Monday 31st October. 

Parents/guardians are being informed that the payments will be made based on eligibility for Free School Meals. 

This is completely separate to the roll out of Universal Primary Free School Meals for Reception age children. 

Councillor Gill German, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “We welcome this additional funding as it will provide some reassurance and some peace of mind to those familieswho may struggle financially as a result of the cost of living crisis. 

“We want to make sure that all children receive a proper meal and these payments will allow parents and guardians to purchase food with payments that will be made directly to people’s bank or building society accounts. They don’t need to take any actions for this to happen."

Welsh Government announces state-owned energy company

Wales's Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, has announced a state-owned energy developer in response to energy insecurity, the cost-of-living crisis and the increasing threats posed by the climate and nature emergencies.

Speaking in the Senedd the Minister said energy profits created in Wales will deliver greater benefit for people in Wales.

Surplus funds generated through the new developer will go back into the public purse to be reinvested in improving energy efficiency in homes in Wales and creating good quality, home grown, clean energy jobs.

Delivering on aims to have more than one gigawatt of locally-owned generation by 2030, the new state-owned energy developer will scale up renewable energy rollout, initially through the development of onshore wind projects on the Welsh Government woodland estate.

Like elsewhere in the UK, some renewable energy projects on the Welsh Government woodland estate have been developed by state-owned energy developers, meaning profits go back to their respective countries.

The Minister said: “We want to harvest our wind and use it to produce power that directly benefits people in Wales.

“We will set up a publicly-owned renewable energy developer. This is a long-term sustainable investment that puts net zero and the communities of Wales at the heart of the transition we need. 

“We are in a climate emergency and our approach is in stark contrast to the UK Government that is focusing on fracking and fossil fuels – opposed by most communities and incompatible with our international obligations.”

With soaring living costs and an ongoing lack of certainty around energy supply, the Minister said the current UK market was “bad for bill payers”.

The focus of Wales’ energy policy is securing a reliable and diverse energy mix that delivers local benefit.

The Minister added: “This is an historic moment for Wales. The cost-of-living crisis is directly related to the major increase in the cost of energy, which strengthens the need for an approach that returns more to the people of Wales.

“If other countries are anything to go by, then we should expect considerable returns from our investment and – as we share the ambitions of these other nations – we have a genuine opportunity to produce an income that will really help us to deliver here.

“We are taking positive action to ensure we deliver on our net zero commitments in ways that benefit our communities.”

NatWest to close Castle Street cashpoint next month

* The cashpoint in Castle Street set to be closed.

Operators NatWest have confirmed to Clwyd South MS Ken Skates that they are decommissioning their cashpoint in Castle Street.  

They say the move comes after they failed to reach agreement with the landlord of the property in which is its located.  

Mr Skates says he is "extremely disappointed" and will be making further representations to the company. 

An official statement sent to Mr Skates said: "We have retained an ATM in Llangollen since the closure of the NatWest branch in 2015. 

"With the lease up for renewal, we entered into negotiations with the landlord but unfortunately were unable to reach an agreement, and as such, a decision was recently made to remove the ATM, with the new space created being utilised by the existing building tenant, Trespass. 

“Before making our decision, we undertook a review of the area’s free cash access. With the Barclays ATM on Castle Street, the ATM at Co-op on Regent Street, as well as the Post Office on Berwyn Road, we felt the community still had good free access to cash, even with our ATM being removed. 

“The NatWest mobile bank also visits the community on Fridays between 11.30am-12.30pm in the Market Street Car Park where customers can withdraw cash, pay in cash, as well speak to our team about their banking. 

“The ATM will remain in use until around 13 November, before the decommissioning starts. 

“I appreciate however that some of your constituents may find this disappointing.”

Work to begin on electric vehicle public charging points

Work is set to begin on the installation of public electric vehicle charging points across the county, including four in Llangollen.

The work will be undertaken over the next few months, with enabling works at Post Office Lane car park, Denbigh and Bowling Green car park, St Asaph, starting the first week of November.

The project aims to open up possibilities for people to transition to an electric vehicle where they didn’t previously have access to a charging facility. The work expected to be completed by January 2023

It is a part of the county council’s action to tackle climate change following the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and adoption of the Climate and Ecological Change Strategy in 2021.

Other electric vehicle initiatives are involved in the council’s goal to meet the target of a net carbon zero council by 2030.

The full list of car parks receiving electric vehicle charging points is: 

Location			Proposed Charging Points
Post Office Lane Car Park	Denbigh	LL16 3UN	2 x dual 22kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Bowling Green Car Park/ Lower High Street	St Asaph	LL17 0SG	1 x dual 22kW AC (ability to charge 2 vehicles)
Market St Car Park	Llangollen	LL20 8RB	2 x dual 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Pavilion Car Park, National Pavilion	Llangollen	LL20 8SW	2 x dual 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Cae Ddol Car Park, Crispin Yard, Clwyd Street	Ruthin	LL15 1HN	2 x dual 7Kw AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Craft Centre Car Park, Park Road	Ruthin	LL15 1BB	2 x dual 22 kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Fern Ave Car Park	Prestatyn	LL19 9BP	2 x dual 7Kw AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)
Morley Road Car Park	Rhyl	LL18 3HG	2 x dual 22kW AC (ability to charge 4 vehicles)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This is an important step forward in supporting community members who want to transition to electric vehicles but don’t have the facilities to do so. It will also help attract more electric vehicle drivers into our towns to benefit footfall and local business as a whole.

“Getting the infrastructure in place to support public use of electric vehicles across the county is important to tackle climate change and I look forward to seeing the end result which will also provide useful data to inform potential future expansion analysis of the EV Charging network here in Denbighshire.”

“Denbighshire County Council apologise for any inconvenience that these works may cause and we are grateful for local cooperation and patience during this time to ensure that the works are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Twenty Club to stage classic Vicar of Dibley show

* From left: Mrs Cropley (Heather Wolffson), Alice Tinker (Bev Maier) and Frank Pickle (Arwel Jarvis).

The Twenty Club drama group  of Llangollen are well into their rehearsals for the iconic Vicar of Dibley play, having performed a different selection of episodes some years ago. 

This much-awaited second series includes Dibley on Air and the Second Coming, in which the Dibley nativity play with a difference goes all rather wrong. 

According to director Chrissie Ashworth, the cast are enthusiastic and hard working and aiming to provide lots of laughs and good humour on the way.  

She said set building is going on apace and the club is applying its usual attention to detail to ensure that everything is spot-on and in keeping with late 1990s/2000 period in which the show is set. 

"Everybody loved the warm-hearted, vivacious vicar and her unworldly yet lovable verger," explained Chrissie, "and the actors are really stepping up to the mark, making sure that they are as close to the original characters as possible. 

"Who can help but have a soft spot for the likes of Jim (no no no no), the unkempt sex-starved farmer Owen, the precise boring Frank who harbours a wistful secret, mad Mrs Cropley with her offerings of unusual combinations in her bakes, the lovable simplistic Hugo with his overbearing father David complemented by Geraldine Grainger the Vicar and her adorable verger Alice Tinker.

"They are all her just waiting to entertain you, so do make a note in your diary and come along.  A good time with non stop laughter guaranteed."

The Vicar of Dibley will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday November 16t Saturday November 19 at 7.30pm with a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30 pm.

Stage play is by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter adapted from the original TV series by Richard Curtiss and Paul Mayhew-Archer with kind permission of Tiger Aspect Productions. 

* Tickets  - £12 and £10 concessions - are available online at: ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub or from Courtyard Books, Llangollen Oggie Shop or Jenni in Market Street. Tickets also available from cast and crew members, and at the door, subject to availability. 

New Rotary club collects first unwanted bras for recycling

* Llangollen Co-op's Mandy Hughes with the bras collected there.

* David Gough and the bra collection at Llangollen Nisa store.

The new Vale of Llangollen Rotary has collected its first unloved, ill-fitting unwanted bras from the Co-Op and the Nisa (Stans) supermarkets in town.

Both stores have been hosting pink Against Breast Cancer Bra Bank bins near the doors where the underwear can be deposited. 

The Rotary club says it doesn't matter what condition the bra is in but they need it to be laundered. 

The initiative aims to keep these valuable textiles out of landfill, helps support the Against Breast Cancer charity in the UK and also families in Africa.

The collected bras will go to a recycling company in the UK to get sorted and baled to start a new life in Africa such as Togo, Ghana and Kenya.

Here the bales are bought by the African women to support small businesses for the women to help their families by selling them on local markets.

Rotary says new bras are impossibly expensive to make and buy in places like Africa. 

One of the unexpected gains of the initiative, now that these bras are affordable in town markets, is that more women are now wearing bras and sexual assault has gone down.

Many of the bras are resalable as they are. Some are taken apart by the African women and remade as cottage industries. The ones that are not reusable in the sorting process in the UK are broken down and recycled as cotton waste and metal. 

Against Breast Cancer have teamed up with a UK recycling company who help small businesses in Africa. The recycling company are donating £700 to cancer research for every tonne of bras collected, 

Vale of Llangollen Rotary is ready to welcome individuals and couples of 18+ from the local community who want to be “people of action”.  

A spokesperson said: "We normally meet face-to-face, at the Liberty Tavern, 20 Market Street, Llangollen on Monday evenings at 7.30pm and meet in the bar. Alternatively, people can join the meeting from wherever they are via our Zoom account connection."

* The club has another introductory meeting at Liberty Tavern tonight (Monday) starting at 7.30pm.

Guest Eiri Jones will make a presentation on the importance of soil, and how healthy soil is part of the solution to the challenges we face as a global community. And how we as conscious human beings can be part of the solution. 

* For more information on what their new style of Rotary has to offer contact Mike Lade on 07803 038858, valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or see www.valeofllangollenrotary.com.

Latest Citizens Advice column

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is: 

Q: The cost of things just keeps going up. The food shop doesn’t stretch as far and my bills just keep getting higher. I’ve made cutbacks and, at the moment, I’m just about managing but I’m really worried about how I’ll cope as it starts getting colder. What should I do? 

A: You’re not alone in struggling with rising costs, but it’s important to know there is support available. 

If you’re finding it hard to stay on top of bills, make sure you know what money you’ve got coming in and out each month. Citizens Advice has an online budgeting tool that can help with this. 

It’s also worth finding out if you’re eligible for any benefits or support with your energy and living costs. On the Citizens Advice website there’s a benefits calculator, advice on how to reduce living costs and information on other ways to increase your income. 

The good news is there is help with rising energy bills. From October 1 2022, there’s a limit on gas and electricity prices for most households - this is called the Energy Price Guarantee and will be in place for two years. 

From October you’ll also get £400 off your electricity bill. This is called the Energy Bills Support Scheme. 

You don’t need to do anything to get the money and you won’t have to pay it back. The money will be paid in six instalments, you’ll get £66 in October and November followed by £67 in December, January, February and March. 

You should automatically receive the energy discount if you pay by direct debit, standard credit or payment card. 

If you have a prepayment meter that isn’t a smart meter, you’ll get the discount via vouchers or as an automatic credit when you top up at your usual top-up point. Your supplier will let you know how they will issue it. 

If you have a smart prepayment meter, the credit should be automatically added to your meter.

If you can’t pay your bills, speak to your energy supplier as they have a responsibility to help you come up with a solution. 

Remember, if you need personalised support, contact your local Citizens Advice or call our Adviceline on 0800 144 8848.

Local MP again backs Sunak in Tory leadership race

* The Tweet by Simon Baynes yesterday.

Clwyd South Conservative MP Simon Baynes says he is once again backing Rishi Sunak in the latest Tory leadership race, as he did in the last contest back in July.

In a Tweet on his own page yesterday Mr Baynes said: "I am backing @RishiSunak in the leadership election: he has the energy, experience and compassion to be an outstanding Prime Minister."

He also supported the former Chancellor in the last summer's leadership campaign and explained on his Facebook page at the time: "I have decided to back Rishi Sunak as I think he is the best placed in terms of ability and experience to be Prime Minister." 

BBC News reports this morning (Sunday) that Rishi Sunak is well ahead of his rivals in the contest to be the next PM, with at least 129 Tory MPs now backing him.

The BBC’s tally of public declarations of support currently has 55 MPs for Boris Johnson and 23 for Penny Mordaunt - candidates need 100 by Monday.

llanblogger takes a short break

 llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in just over a week's time

MP praises success of town's country market

* Simon Baynes MP with (from left to right) Marjorie Crosbie (Chairperson), John Weedon, Marian Williams (Market Manager) and Joan Sneyd (Secretary).

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes recently visited Llangollen Country Market at the Memorial Hall in Bridge Street and praised its success. 

He met with Marjorie Crosbie (Chairperson), Marian Williams (Market Manager), Joan Sneyd (Secretary) and many other stall holders and people who were enjoying the market. 

The market currently takes place on the last Friday of the month from 9.45am-12.45pm and offers seasonal fruit and vegetables, local goods, art, crafts, cakes and much more. The next one is due to be held on Friday October 28.

Mr Baynes said: “It was great to visit the Llangollen Country Market and I would like to extend my thanks to Secretary, Joan Sneyd, for inviting me. 

"It was fantastic to see the success of the market, meet with stall holders and see the variety of stalls that the market has to offer. 

"Everything sold there is home made so it provides a great outlet for people's craft, growing and culinary skills.  This is also a fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and I would strongly recommend a visit."

Welsh Government plan to improve voter participation

The Welsh Government has set out proposals to improve voter participation, including trials for automatic registration in Senedd and local government elections.

The Counsel General, Mick Antoniw, said the proposals are designed to remove barriers to voting.

It comes as a consultation opens on new legislation to modernise electoral administration and wider electoral reform.

Currently people must register in order to vote, but under the new proposals anyone who is eligible would be added to the electoral register automatically by their local authority. This will make voting simpler, especially for young people and for those who have moved to Wales from another country.

The Welsh Government is proposing to work with a number of local authorities to run a series of pilots focusing on how best to collect data and use existing data to support automatic registration, and will be inviting local authorities to take part in pilot projects.

Views are also being sought on how best to improve student and young people’s registration rates, who have a proportionately lower rate of registration and participation.

Other areas being considered are the accessibility of information on parties and candidates, the equipment available to help disabled people vote, and the digitization of elections in Wales.

Steve highlights his three of the best new cars

* No. 1 - MG4 EV. 

* No. 2 - Lexus NX450H+ F Sport Takumi.

* No. 3 - Genesis GV60 EV.

Steve Rogers samples three 'brilliant' new cars

It is rare for me to award top honours to a car company two years running but it has happened.

This was the annual event run by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders when motoring journos get the chance to compare like for like from a variety of car companies. Last year my drive of the day went to the MG HS plug-in hybrid and the Chinese-owned company has done it again, with a car that is even better.

The MG4 EV is a brilliant budget busting electric car, and with a cost of living crisis and fuel prices through the roof it could not have picked a better time to arrive.

Check this out. A family hatchback the size of a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf with eye popping styling for a fiver under £26,000. An electric VW ID3 or Kia Niro EV will set you back an extra 10 grand. The trim quality right through the MG does not measure up to its well known rivals but it is plenty good enough and there were no creaks or rattles on the car I drove.

The entry SE goes with a 51kWh battery that is good for 218 miles, move up to 64kWh SE Long Range and it stretches to 281 miles. At £28,495 this is still bargain of the century territory. A fast charge from a public 150kW post will top the car up to 80 per cent power in 35 minutes.

Performance is on a par with the rest of the leccy pack with sixty coming up in brisk 7.5 seconds and although my drive was brief there were no complaints on the handling, comfort and steering front.

Equipment level from entry level is more than adequate with climate control, all round electric windows, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections.

Even the all singing and dancing top of the range Trophy at £31,495 is a steal and will provide such luxuries as wireless mobile charging, 360 degree parking camera and powered seats.

I cannot think of any other electric car that comes close to the MG4 for value for money with few sacrifices and should be a shoe in for European Car of the Year.

Second slot goes to the new Lexus NX450H+ F Sport Takumi plug in hybrid, a hugely sophisticated car drawing on the decades of experience of parent company Toyota. What they don’t know about hybrid power is not worth knowing.

Power comes from a 305bhp 2.5 litre petrol with 43 miles of electric driving available and emissions between 20-26g/km.

It has a beautifully crafted cabin, is brilliant to drive but you will need to find £62,450.

Completing my top three is the Genesis GV60 EV. Launching a luxury brand in Europe, even if it does have the might of Hyundai footing the bill, is a huge challenge but the fledgling company is building a strong range.

Two things grabbed my attention: Phenomenal acceleration - FOUR seconds to reach 62mph,  50-75mph 2.5secs, from two electric motors with a total output of 480bhp, and a range of 289 miles.

Wow factor interior styling backed up by high quality materials and trim which it should be with the Fun model costing £71,445 (more than two MG4s). 

Have your say on new two-counties well-being plan

The Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board (PSB) have produced a draft Well-being Plan for the region and want to hear people’s views on the chosen objective and the approach to be taken.

The PSB is a collaboration between public and voluntary sector organisations who are working together to improve economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being in the region. 

Every five years, following an assessment of local well-being in its area, the PSB has to agree objectives for the benefit of its communities, and the steps it proposes to take to meet them.

The draft outlines the content of the PSB’s future Well-being Plan for 2023 to 2028, where the Board will focus on making Conwy and Denbighshire a more equal place with less deprivation.

This document provides only the outline of our plan, and it is through this consultation that we are seeking you views on the direction we are taking and the steps that we propose to take, which will then better inform a final version that we will approve in the Spring, 2023.

To share your views on the draft Well-being Plan, please visit the link: https://conwyanddenbighshirelsb.org.uk/draft-local-well-being-plan-2023-2028/ .

To request a paper copy, please get in touch through the contact us page.  Alternatively, you can also send any comments or suggestions on the Well-being Plan to countyconversation@conwy.gov.uk, or phone 01492 574059.

* For more information on the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board (PSB), please visit https://www.conwyanddenbighshirepsb.org.uk/about-us/

Local opportunity to take part in seed gathering season

Green-fingered enthusiasts are being given the opportunity to grow their knowledge of seeds in Llangollen later this month.

Denbighshire County Council’s biodiversity team is opening up their annual seed gathering work to those interested in making a difference for their own local environment.

Currently it is the Seed Gathering Season campaign, organised by the Tree Council to inspire people with the right permission to gather seeds, fruits and nuts and grow the trees of the future.

The council has arranged a number of seed collecting days which will see seeds gathered and grown at the St Asaph based Tree Nursery as part of the continuing work to improve local biodiversity in Denbighshire.

Once grown the trees will be planted at Denbighshire woodland sites to maintain and improve species richness across the county.

The seed collecting days are set to take place at various woodland and estates across the county which will enable collection from veteran and ancient trees and some uncommon species not regularly found.

On some of the sites the team will also be joined by local countryside rangers who will be able to help people learn more about the area and the past environmental history.

The seed gathering days include:

1. Weds 5th            Oct       Coed Collfryn
2. Weds 11th         Oct        Loggerheads
3. Weds 19th         Oct        Chirk
4. Weds 26th         Oct        Dinas Bran
5. Weds 2nd           Nov       Coed Collfryn
6. Weds 9th            Nov      Big Wood (Mold)
7. Weds 16th         Nov       Erddig
8. Weds 24rd         Nov       Coed Pwllgwyn
9. Weds 30th         Nov       Loggerheads

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “ We have had some fantastic volunteers helping us so far with our biodiversity work and I would really encourage anyone with an interest in growing trees or wanting to learn more to take up this opportunity.”

* Anyone interested can email biodiversity@denbighshire.gov.uk  for more information and to secure a place.