County backs small business campaign

Denbighshire County Council is lending its support to a major nationwide campaign, encouraging people to support their local businesses.

 

Saturday 5^th December is designated Small Business Saturday, with a major campaign launched to raise the profile of businesses in communities across the UK. 

 

 

* Castle Street is full of good small businesses. 

Organisers of the national campaign are encouraging all kinds of small businesses to get involved, including family businesses, local shops, online businesses, wholesalers, business services or small manufacturers. The council is running a promotional campaign to support the day, with banners and posters being produced as a visual reminder to people to support their local shops and businesses across Denbighshire.

 

Messages will also be circulated on social media and through the council’s website and local media.

 

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “This is an extremely important initiative to highlight the wealth of businesses in our towns and villages.

 

“People will be very surprised at the unique kind of products and businesses they can access locally, right on their own doorstep.  Public support is vital to the on-going success of our businesses which, in turn, will provide opportunities for businesses to grow and flourish.

 

“But we want people to support their local businesses all year round, not only for one day of the year. Nationally designated days like Small Business Saturday are really good for raising the profile of businesses – what we want is for people to consider their towns and villages as their first port of call when considering their needs."

 

* For further information, please visit: www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

 

People can also pledge their support on social media through Twitter: #SmallBizSatUK

Operatic auditions for new show this weekend

Llangollen Operatic Society is holding auditions for its latest show, The Producers, this weekend.

A society spokesperson said: "There are lots of fantastic parts up for grabs for both men and women and new members are very welcome."

* Anyone interested should register with Tracey Rawlinson in advance on 07875 639533, or e-mail traceyrawlinson@btinternet.com

MP questions Minister over road safety law

Today in Parliament a local MP who introduced a law to try and toughen road safety has called for more Government action. 

Speaking in the House of Commons, Clwyd South member Susan Elan Jones questioned Justice Secretary Michael Gove, saying: "546 days ago, many of us who campaigned on this issue welcomed the fact that the Government announced a full review of driving offences and penalties.

"But we don't welcome the fact that it's 546 days later and nothing has happened. Will the Government please get on with it and act now?"

Speaking afterwards, Ms Jones (pictured) said: "I was very concerned about the death of Robert James Gaunt, a little boy who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Overton in 2009.

"You can never replace a life, but I'm determined that we get justice for Robert and for all other road victims. That's why I brought a Bill to Parliament and it's why I've worked with MPs from different political parties to get the Government to commit to a full review of driving sentences.

"We need to continue our campaign to get the Government to do a proper review. Today, Michael Gove talked about the need to see 'sentencing in the round'. That mustn't be used as an excuse to deny justice to the families of road traffic accidents. We need action from the Government and we need it now."

National road safety charity Brake has given Susan Elan Jones MP their Parliamentarian of the Year award for her campaigning on this issue.

Minister reassures over Berwyn Street yellow lines

Yellow lines will be put in place opposite Stans supermarket before the end of the current financial year.

That’s the assurance from Wales’s Transport Minister Edwina Hart.

The road safety issue was raised recently by Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies who said he was angry that the lines had still not been put in place despite being approved by the government.

He told llanbogger: “The Welsh Government agency, the North Wales Trunk Agency, are the ones who are supposed to maintain and look after our trunk roads here in Llangollen.

“They were asked to put double yellows opposite the new Stans supermarket over three years ago.

“They agreed to do this in principle but then said they didn’t have enough funds.

“I got the local Assembly Member, Ken Skates, involved and we thought that the works were to be done this financial year.

“Nothing has happened so far and I’ve now been told that `funding consideration’ only is being done.

“This when we see the Welsh Government spending £20 million on just a study for the M4 and a Labour AM being sacked for questioning it.

“Yet we can’t get a couple of thousand pounds spent here in a bid to safeguard OAPs crossing the A5 to the Post Office.”

Ken Skates AM said he had written to the Minister asking what the situation was.

Now, he has received a reply from Ms Hart which says: “We are arranging for a trunk road order relating to the proposed parking restrictions to be finalised, subject to no objections being received. 

“This will allow the works to be included as part of our Llangollen Town Major Maintenance Resurfacing Scheme which is scheduled to be delivered before the end of this financial year.”

Businesses invited to apply for growth funding

Denbighshire County Council is inviting small and medium sized firms across the county to apply for a share of a £170,000 pot of funding being made available to encourage business growth and development.

The business grants totalling £50,000 in 2015/16 and a further £120,000 in 2016/17 are there to assist SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) where banks and other lenders have refused support for varying reasons.

At present there are no grants available either from the Local Authority or Business Wales and it is likely that any future funding from Business Wales will be focused on repayable finance. Businesses still require assistance where banks are not willing to lend and this is evident from the continuous enquiries for funding and requests from advisory services.

The scheme is open to businesses in the manufacturing, tourism (Activity, Hospitality & Accommodation), food and drink producers, science and opto-electronics and retail (where there is no direct competition) sectors.

Under this new scheme, the Council could offer up to 50% of the project cost, with a maximum grant of £5,000 available. The funding could be used for a variety of projects:

  *   Capital Items - One off purchase of an item that will remain in the business such as Equipment, machinery, IT hardware.
  *   Marketing Items - Creating new websites or additional website functions such as introduction of e-commerce, promotional literature i.e. design work for brochures and leaflets, promotional videos.
  *   Specialist training for upskilling of owner or employees can be included as eligible expenditure.
  *   Professional fees (e.g. ISO achievement) to acquire accreditation or higher accreditation for the business, to allow them access to tender opportunities
  *   Shop frontages and improvements - including bilingual signage and occupying empty premises.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire said: "This new funding pot offers businesses in the county the opportunity to grow their business which hopefully in turn will see increase in turnover.  The funding could also assist in creating new jobs, encouraging take up of empty shops and assist in staff training.

"This is a great opportunity for businesses in the county to invest in their businesses. Using this funding available could pay dividends in the future and we would encourage all small and medium enterprises to consider how they could use this funding to progress their business and submit an application".

"As a council we have made working with our businesses a priority and this innovative approach is testimony to that despite difficult financial constraints, we appreciate that a thriving business sector is key to improving the economy in Denbighshire".

* For further information, please contact the Council's Economic Development team, on 01824 706701 or via the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business

Vote for your favourite crime fighting scheme

People across North Wales are being urged to vote for their favourite crime fighting schemes - using money seized from criminals.

 

The successful groups stand to win £3,000 each from a pot of money set up by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC (pictured below).

 

There is a total of £42,000 up for grabs with two groups from each county set to be rewarded.

 

In addition, one group that works throughout North Wales will receive a grant of £6,000.

The only condition is that the successful groups have to pledge to run projects to tackle anti-social behaviour and combat crime and disorder.

 

The ‘Your Community, Your Choice’ scheme was launched by Mr Roddick and Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki  in partnership with the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

 

It is being jointly funded by money recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act, using cash confiscated from offenders, and the Commissioner’s Fund.

 

A shortlist of applicants has been chosen by a special panel and the public will decide which groups to support with a vote via the two websites and a dedicated email address. Voting  takes place until November 27.

 

Commissioner Roddick said: "This scheme takes money away from the crooks and gives it to the people to improve the quality of life in their communities by helping them to combat crime and disorder or anti-social behaviour and that is very appropriate.

 

"The money is going where it’s going to make a difference in reducing crime and in improving the quality of the communities which suffer the crime."

 

The message was reinforced by Assistant Chief Constable Debicki who said: "It is a very good thing for community groups to be able to access pots of money in order to be able to reduce crime and disorder within their communities and improve the quality of life for the community in their area.

 

"It sends a really positive message that money taken from the pockets of criminals is being recycled. This is turning bad money into good money that's being used for a constructive purpose.

 

"We really value our relationships with the public and we recognise that we can’t reduce crime and disorder on our own.  It’s a partnership and a joint effort with other agencies but absolutely crucial and critically is the public themselves.

 

"The public often are the ones who know what the things are that will work best in their area and for them to be able to bid into a pot of money is a really positive thing."

 

According to PACT chairman David Williams, it was also a very democratic process because the public will be able to decide who gets the money.

 

Mr Williams said: "One of the real pluses of the scheme is that ultimately it’s the public who has the voice and who will say which projects will go forward and are worthy of this important money.

 

"And very appropriately, one of the conditions is that the people who apply for this money have to be doing something that combats anti-social behaviour or addresses crime and disorder in some way.

 

"The aims Your Community, Your Choice scheme also coincide with the objectives of the Commissioner's Police and Crime Plan so it creates a virtuous circle."

 

For more information on how to vote ring 01745 588516 or go to www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk

Dee Valley gets share of £6M funding boost

Three of Wales’s most distinctive landscapes, including the Dee Valley, are set to benefit from more than £6m worth of investment, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced.

Clwydian Range and Dee Valley along with the Elan Valley and The Gwent Levels are the three funding recipients.

All are recognised as areas of great beauty – and they all have the potential to use their natural landscapes and wildlife, distinctive buildings, local traditions and stories and even industrial archaeology to increase tourism and boost jobs through carefully planned conservation and renovation activity.

Visitors, on an annual basis, flock to the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Project, many to see the iconic Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site.

The project will concentrate on ensuring the visitors’ experience can be enhanced while, at the same time, preserving the area’s unique landscape to inspire future generations.

The funding for all three areas aims to give people at the heart of these rural communities the power to play an active role in deciding how these extraordinary places will be looked after and managed for their benefit in the future.

The latest investment will see 3,000 training opportunities created, as well as a similar amount of volunteering opportunities.

Making the announcement, Richard Bellamy, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, said: “Our stunning landscapes define the very character of Wales and are as much a part of who we are as our castles, language and rugby. They are as much loved by the people who call Wales home as by tens of thousands of tourists who visit them.

“These fragile places must be conserved. However, if carefully managed, our landscape and countryside can also play a vital role in growing our nation’s economy.

“Thanks to National Lottery players we now have the chance to support three stunning areas, each with their own individual character and rich man-made heritage. They will now be looked after in a holistic and appropriate manner, harnessing their economic potential to the benefit of everyone who lives and works there.”

Welcoming the announcement today, the Welsh Government’s Minister for Natural Resources, Carl Sargeant, said: “These areas are being rightly recognised, not only for their beauty but for the significant role they play in representing the Wales people think of and love – and come to visit."