llanblogger launches regular Citizens Advice column

From today llanblogger is pleased to be publishing a monthly question-and-answer column provided by Citizens Advice Denbighshire ...

Q: I’m 3 months pregnant and just beginning to show, so last week I thought I’d sit down with my manager and let them know before any speculation could take place. My manager was really happy for me, but this week I’ve been pulled aside and told they’re letting me go due to poor performance. I’ve worked here for 2 years and never had any negative feedback so I don’t understand. Could they be sacking me just for being pregnant? Is this legal?

A: It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working for your employer, being fired because of pregnancy, or pregnancy-related issues, is automatically classed as unfair dismissal.

Although your employer said you were being sacked for poor performance, you’re right to be suspicious as this only came to light after you told your manager about your pregnancy. If your employer says your dismissal has nothing to do with you having a baby, you will need to prove that it was. You can ask your employer to send you written reasons for your dismissal.

As you have been employed for two years, your employer can only dismiss you for specified fair reasons, such as gross misconduct or persistent poor performance. Except in the most serious cases of gross misconduct, your employer will be expected to follow a fair process and show the dismissal was for a fair reason.

If you want to challenge the dismissal, you can take your case to an employment tribunal. You should first raise a grievance with your employer and contact the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service about Early Conciliation. Be sure to act quickly as time limits in employment tribunals are short.

To prepare for the tribunal, gather as much evidence as possible. This includes emails with your employer about your pregnancy, previous performance appraisals, and correspondence about you being dismissed. The new Citizens Advice Discrimination Toolkit, found on their website, can help you with this.

Record-breaking time for Denbighshire business

Denbighshire’s business community has taken part in a record-breaking month.

The county council’s fourth March for Business month saw more than 530 attendees take part in 26 varied events, the highest figures so far.

Working with partner support providers, business month offered a range of training events including updating businesses on the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal, a food event to showcase local produce and a summit on town centres with industry experts.

Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “I’d like to thank all the businesses, support providers and experts who have taken part in our biggest ever business month.

“The focus of March for Business was decided after we asked businesses what support they wanted. As a Council we listen to our business community and we are here to support entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

“The feedback from March for Business has been really positive with businesses telling us the support provided will help them moving forward. With a difficult trading environment facing High Street retailers and uncertainty around Brexit, it is vital we continue to provide support to Denbighshire businesses so they can carry on growing the economy and creating jobs county-wide.”

Other events included a session for businesses to make the most of the Urdd Eisteddford when it is held in Denbigh in 2020, helping businesses with taxation as well as social media training.

Organisations who worked with the Council included Business Wales, the Federation of Small Businesses, the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce and the Development Bank of Wales.

Fiona Evans from Denbigh’s Snow in Summer, said: “March for Business is a great opportunity for businesses to attend various free events and workshops throughout to help benefit their business.

“The social media workshops I have attended have been really beneficial for promoting the shop such as the Instagram workshop, and also the Urdd event.

“I would recommend March for Business, it’s a good opportunity to network with other local businesses.”

March for Business is part of the Council’s work on developing the local economy to make sure the county’s communities are resilient and residents have access to good and services.

Hannah James, who owns Rhyl’s Clwyd Chambers, said: “There were great events at March for Business. Marketing advice is invaluable to small businesses and the events give small businesses access to quality advice at an open and applicable level.

“I would recommend businesses take advantage of the training and support provided by the council.”

Llan features prominently in new tourism film

* The Chain Bridge features in the new film.

... as does Castell Dinas Bran.

Two of Llangollen's most iconic landmarks feature in a new film promoting key tourism experiences and attractions in Denbighshire.

Launched to coincide with Visit Wales’ Year of Discovery, the film highlights key destinations across the county including the Chain Bridge and Castell Dinas Brân along with Llangollen Railway, Plas Newydd and Valle Crucis Abbey.

It also features a variety of experiences like paragliding in Llangollen, stand-up paddle boarding on the River Dee, cycling on the Horseshoe Pass, mountain biking at One Planet Adventure and kite surfing in Rhyl.

The film was launched at the recent Tourism Forum, where nearly 100 people gathered to hear from guest speakers including Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Development Bank of Wales. The Forum is held twice a year and has proven to be a huge success for tourism businesses to learn from each other and develop new partnerships.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “The film really showcases the beauty of Denbighshire from Llangollen and the Dee Valley in the south to the northern coastal towns of Prestatyn and Rhyl. With the start of the main tourism season upon us and the recent opening of SC2 in Rhyl, we urge both visitors and local people to re-discover our part of North Wales.”

North Wales is fast becoming the renowned destination for being the capital of adventure and this film really highlights the varied and accessible experiences available in the county for all ages and interests.

The film received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. It forms part of the Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador project which will be launched shortly. It aims to improve the visitor experience by providing online training modules about Denbighshire’s tourism offer.

* To view the film, please visit North East Wales Facebook or YouTube Channel -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkPlkchN1HQ&feature=youtu.be

£2 million countryside project unveiled at Plas Newydd fair

* Visitors had the chance to meet a newborn lamb.

* An expert gives a demonstration of traditional spinning.

* A castle-shaped cake is cut to mark the launch of the OPL project. 

* Visitors to the fair are shown around the Dell. 

A £2 million five-year campaign to engage local communities with the stunning locations on their doorsteps was officially launched during a spring fair at Plas Newydd yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

Since the 1700s people have been on inspirational journeys through the Dee Valley, across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, along Telford’s A5, the Llangollen Railway and the River Dee. 

They came to enjoy and engage with the unique landscape and many felt compelled to recall this stunning landscape in art. 

Through a wide range of events and community activities, the Our Picturesque Landscape (OPL) project aims to engage local people to follow in the footsteps of the artists of the past and to  celebrate the beautiful and unique landscape around them. 

The team also hopes to encourage people to discover and learn about their heritage and habitats, the modern day pressures these face and how we can protect and manage them for the future.

The spring fair featured an afternoon of activities, including have-a-go at wool felting, discovering the story of wool and meeting a young lamb. 

There was also be an opportunity to try the new self-guided discovery trails round the grounds and join a guided walk and talk about the future plans to restore the Dell back to its former glory as it was in the romantic period when the Ladies of Llangollen lived at Plas Newydd. 

David Shiel, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty officer for Denbighshire Countryside Service, explained to visitors plans to put in a viewing platform over a small section of the river which runs through the Dell, remove some of the trees from the end nearest to Brook Street to open up the view across the Castell Dinas Bran and to create a pond in another corner of the area.

During the afternoon a cake made in the shape of the castle was cut to mark the OPL project's launch.

* For more details about the OPL project or if you are part of a community group based along the Dee Valley between Corwen and Chirk and would be interested in participating in the project through art or outdoor activities, then contact our.picturesque.landscape@denbighshire.gov.uk or by phone on 01824 706163.

Myths and legends talk at the museum

Railway heads back to the 1940s

* Winston Churchill gives a victory sign.  

Llangollen Railway is turning back the clock to the World War Two era as it stages its Home Front Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

The Home Front side of the period is represented with civilian vehicles parked at various locations together with displays of life in the 1940s.

Look-alikes of Winston Churchill, General Montgomery and Air Vice Marshall Harris are mingling with the crowds throughout the weekend to undertake inspections and make patriotic speeches. 

Earlier this afternoon there was a mock air raid and demonstration of military firepower, which will be repeated tomorrow. 

Entertainment is being provided at each station along the line by live performers singing songs of the era including the Bluebird Belles, George Formby, the Airborne Angel and Jayne Darling.

Tonight (Saturday) Llangollen Station will offer live acts for the evening dance with a real ale bar from 7-1p.m.  

A drum head church service will be held on Sunday morning at Llangollen Station.

* Further information on departure time so of trains and events can be obtained by contacting the Station Office at Llangollen on telephone number 01978-860979, or the website at www.llangollen-railway.co.uk   

* The Bluebird Belles serenade travellers in 1940s style.

* Military vehicles parked in the station approach.

* Period memorabilia on sale on the platform. 

* Military policemen on patrol.

* A serviceman feeds his ferret before boarding the train.

Cittaslow hosts series of networking events

* Discussions between groups at the Cittaslow meeting.

Over 25 town clubs and organisations attended a recent series of networking meetings organised by the Cittaslow Committee of the Town Council. 

The three meetings were based around Cittaslow principles and brought together groups involved in environment, food & farming, tourism, culture and heritage; and community and social inclusion.

The purpose of the meetings was to bring like-minded groups together to explore the potential for strengthening links and communication between them, and to test interest in Cittaslow Llangollen providing a role as an “umbrella organisation” for groups in the town and valley.

Councillor Austin Cheminais, Deputy Chair of the Cittaslow Committee, said: “I am delighted to have heard so much support for the Cittaslow principles and for the idea of the Cittaslow Committee continuing to support town groups in their work, as well as helping them working more closely together and with the Town Council.  

"It was fantastic to hear the buzz in the room as the various groups got talking with each other.

“We are still in the early stages of working out what might be feasible and sustainable ways of working together, but it is great to have got the conversations started.”

Councillor Melvyn Mile, a member of the Cittaslow Committee and also a county councillor, said: "I was impressed by the turnout across all three sessions. The process of inviting all the different groups, societies, charities and other interested parties together and getting them talking to each other has been a major achievement. Let's look to build on this momentum and look at what can be achieved by working together."

The Cittaslow Committee says it will look at the ideas discussed in the sessions over the coming weeks and propose some ideas to the groups on how greater collaboration might work in practice. 

Llangollen became a designated Cittaslow town in 2013 after a substantial effort from a large group of councillors and local volunteers to secure the designation, and has remained a member of the international network. 

Cittaslow promotes a way of life for market towns that is environmentally sustainable and supportive of local community groups and businesses. 

The Cittaslow Committee currently consists of nominated town councillors - Sheena Grindley, Tony Baker, Austin Cheminais, Robyn Lovelock and Melvyn Mile - plus co-opted members Mair Davies and Lesley Richards.

* Organisations that sent representatives included Ysgol Dinas Bran, Friends of the Earth Llangollen, Matt’s Food Bank, the Llangollen & Dee Valley Good Grub Club, the Llangollen Community Garden, the Llangollen Tidy Town team, the Llangollen Civic Society, Llangollen Museum, Llangollen Railway, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Dee Valley Active, Rural Futures, Plastic Free Llangollen, the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Llangollen Citizens Advice Bureau, Vale of Clwyd MIND, Ymestyn Befriending Service, Llangollen Refugee Support, City Church Llangollen, St Collen’s Church, Ysgol y Gwernant, South Denbighshire Community Partnership and the Llangollen Health Centre.