Report illegal fly-tippers to us urges county council

Don’t waste our time with waste crime – that’s the message from Denbighshire County Council as it responds to a national increase in fly-tipping across the country.

Some local authorities across the UK have seen examples of fly-tipping during the current coronavirus outbreak and resources that are already stretched to the limit are having to take action to clear areas from the rubbish being dumped by a minority of people.

There are also concerns nationally about some companies using coronavirus as a reason to provide illegal waste removal services and targeting households with offers to dispose of rubbish.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment,  said: “Fly-tipping is a blight on the county’s landscape when it happens and it’s an issue that has been raised by our residents as one of the main issues they would like us to address.

“We are so fortunate to live in such beautiful surroundings and the vast majority of Denbighshire residents act responsibly and do not dump waste in areas such as fields, roadsides and open countryside.

“However, the council has dealt with incidents of fly-tipping in the past, caused  by a minority of individuals who think it’s acceptable to dump waste wherever they want. It’s against the law and will not be tolerated in Denbighshire.

“We are also concerned about some individuals who offer to remove waste illegally and use the situation with coronavirus as a reason for making money. 

"Residents who are arranging such services should ask the companies to show their waste carriers licence, to obtain a receipt and to find out where the waste is heading.  

"All waste must to be taken to a licensed site. If the company cannot provide these details then residents should get in touch with the council.

“We fully recognise that law-abiding residents will be frustrated that our waste and recycling parks are closed and the recent good weather has promoted people to have a clear out at home.  We are asking people to be patient. 

"We are in unprecedented times and we are all needing to live with changes which can be frustrating, but essential if we are to play our part in protecting our communities from spread of coronavirus."

If anyone knows of individuals or incidents of fly-tipping, they should contact the council on 01824 706000, or report it online: www.denbighshire.gov.uk

Latest Citizens Advice column

Q: My income has dropped due to coronavirus and I’m struggling to keep up with all of my bills. I rent my house from a private landlord and pay all the usual bills - electricity, water, and Council Tax. How best can I juggle them, and is there any help I can get from the government?

A: If your income is reduced because of coronavirus, you should check whether you’re entitled to sick pay or to claim benefits. You can check your eligibility for both sick pay and benefits on the Citizens Advice website.  If you’re already on existing benefits, these might also increase.

If you’re struggling to pay rent, talk to your landlord straight away. You should explain the situation and could ask for more time to pay, a temporary reduction in rent, or ask to catch up any missed payments by instalments. If you contact your nearest Citizens Advice an adviser can help you explain things to your landlord. If you can’t come to an agreement with your landlord, it’s a good idea to pay what you can afford and keep a record of what you offered.

The government passed an emergency law which means landlords have to give you three months notice to end certain tenancy types from 26 March. The court service has suspended all possession action for 90 days from 27 March. This means that even if you have been served a notice for eviction it’s unlikely it can be enforced during this time. You can find out more about what to do if you’re being evicted for rent arrears on the Citizens Advice website.

If you already claim Housing Benefit, you should tell the council your income has reduced. If you don’t claim it already, you might be entitled to help with housing costs from the government.

When it comes to your utilities, you should contact the provider as soon as possible. Depending on the type of bill, they may be able to arrange a payment plan, or have schemes in place for people in financial hardship. You should also talk to your local council, as your income has changed you might be entitled to a council tax reduction.

If you’re struggling to pay multiple bills, it’s important to sort out what’s known as ‘priority bills’ like energy bills or council tax over credit card bills. This is because the immediate consequences of not paying these things are much more serious. Citizens Advice website can help you with this.

Businesses urged to take advantage of government funding

Denbighshire businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of a Welsh Government funding scheme.

The Economic Resilience Fund has been created to address gaps not currently met by schemes previously announced by the UK Government, Welsh Government and the Development Bank of Wales, and is a unique additional funding stream for Wales.

The current phase of the fund, worth £300 million, is targeted at micro businesses, SMEs and large businesses of critical social or economic importance to Wales.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for the Economy, said: “I would encourage Denbighshire businesses to take advantage of this fund as soon as possible.

“This is additional support on offer from the Welsh Government and covers some of those businesses not previously eligible. The funding is limited, so it is vital Denbighshire businesses make their applications as soon as they can.

“We have been working with the Welsh Government to ensure the county’s businesses are being heard at this time and that the right support is being made available.”

More than 6,000 grant applications were received by the Welsh Government within the first 24 hours of this phase of the fund, which offers grants of up to 10,000 for micro-enterprises and up to 100,000 for SMEs and is designed to get money to businesses with the minimum of delay.

* To apply visit https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/

Consider use of accommodation sites before calling police

North Wales Police and Denbighshire County Council are reminding residents that some caravan sites, hotels and guest houses in the region may be accommodating key workers or vulnerable people during the current coronavirus outbreak.

They say reports have been received that some of these locations are still being used in but point out that councils have the ability to agree exemptions to allow certain groups of people to live in these locations on a temporary basis.

Councillor Mark Young, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Safer Communities, said: “We applaud the fact that people are being vigilant and want to do the right thing for the health and well-being of local residents and communities.  

"The majority of these locations should be closed, but in some cases, it has been agreed for them to provide temporary accommodation."

Sgt Beth Jones said: “We understand that people are concerned in the current situation, as a result we are working with our partners to ensure the public have an easy to follow reporting method.  

"By reporting these concerns directly to the council they will be dealt with by the right authority quickly and will reduce the demand on the police control room for non-policing matters. We would like to thank the public for their support and understanding during these unprecedented times.”

* Anyone who is concerned that businesses are operating without prior agreement of the councils, they should contact Denbighshire County Council on 01824 706000 or 0300 123 30 68 outside normal office hours.

If you think that a shop or a business is open to the public in contravention of government guidelines or is not operating safe distancing regulations then again you are asked to contact the county council.

If you see a gathering of people who are not from members of the same family or currently living together either in a public place or at a private venue then notify North Wales Police immediately on 101.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme goes live today

The UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme went live today, with businesses able to claim up to £2,500 a month towards staff wages.

Employers can apply for direct cash grants through HMRC’s new online portal - with the money expected to land in their bank accounts within six working days.

The job retention scheme, announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak as part of a package of support to protect jobs and businesses, allows employers to claim for a cash grant of up to 80% of a furloughed employees wages, capped at £2,500 a month.

Millions of people across the UK are expected to benefit from the scheme, with businesses including Pret a Manger, Brewdog and Timpsons using it to ensure staff keep their jobs and are paid whilst many high street businesses are closed.

HMRC’s easy to use portal has a step by step application process and up to 5,000 staff will be manning phone lines and webchat services to ensure any questions can be answered.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said:

Our unprecedented job retention scheme will protect millions of jobs across the country and is now up and running.

It’s vital that our economy gets up and running again as soon as it’s safe – and this scheme will allow that to happen.

Last week the Chancellor announced the scheme will be extended for a further month until the end of June, to reflect continuing Covid-19 lockdown measures.

Commenting on news that applications are now open for the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Adam Marshall, BCC Director General, said:

The opening of the Job Retention scheme is an important milestone for businesses, who can now begin to access the cash they need to pay their staff and protect livelihoods.

The government deserves credit for the speed, scale and flexibility of its response to the challenges facing our business communities. The focus should now be on delivering this support to firms on the ground.

Our research indicates that two-thirds of firms have furloughed some portion of their workforce. With April’s payday approaching, it is essential that the application process is smooth and that payments are made as soon as possible. Any delay would exacerbate the cash crisis many companies are facing and could threaten jobs and businesses.

Jonathan Geldart, IoD Director General, said:

These are immensely challenging times for the economy, and the Government is rightly responding with exceptional measures. This scheme is crucial to protecting jobs and ensuring the recovery, when it comes, can take off as quickly as possible.

We applaud the efforts of the scheme’s staff who will be working with businesses in desperate need of support, and we will continue to work with ministers to ensure that support reaches all who need it.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Economist, said:

The Chancellor has already shown a willingness to do whatever it takes and act at speed during unprecedented times.

Rolling out the job retention scheme will make a huge difference to tens of thousands of firms and millions of people, protecting jobs and living standards throughout the UK.

Ensuring support gets to where it’s needed most – fast – is of the utmost importance.

We’ll continue working closely across government departments as thoughts turn to restarting and reviving our economy.

Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said:

As a sector employing one million people, we greatly welcome the extension of the Job Retention Scheme into the summer. It will help pubs that are struggling through this crisis who are key employers in regions and communities across the whole of the UK. Rest assured the action taken by Government has prevented job losses.

To hear that the COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme portal is now live for employers to use is a welcome step too for our sector.

The Job Retention Scheme is part of an package of measures announced by the Chancellor to support the country through the coronavirus pandemic. He has already supported employers with a £30bn injection of cash by deferring VAT payments for the next quarter, has launched a scheme for the self-employed, loans for businesses and a rise in Universal Credit.

Roadworks alert for Llangollen

Latest roadwork alert from one.network is:

A5 Regent Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 22 April — 23 April Delays likely - Traffic control (two-way signals) Works location: FOOTWAY OUTSIDE 45 Works description: Traffic ctrl (2 way signals)-3rd Party Boundary Box Clear to Boundary - Locate Leak on Customers Su... Responsibility for works: Dee Valley Water Current status: Planned work about to start Works reference: ZU0028102/000060325019B

Appeal goes on to help Llangollen Railway survive lockdown

* A Llangollen Railway steam train carves its way through the 

Dee Valley in better days.

Around £12,000 has so far been raised by an appeal to help Llangollen Railway survive the enforced coronavirus lockdown.

Railway bosses have warned that the loss of revenue since the heritage line was closed on March 23 in line with government guidance could mean it might be unable to survive.

Since then hundreds of supporters have rallied to its aid and have so far donated about £12,000.

Of this almost £11,000 has come from an online appeal.

Normally the railway would just have had a bumper Easter weekend with two trains operating an hourly service between Llangollen and Carrog.

And last weekend should have been the Thomas the Tank event, which is another large earner.

Instead, all is quiet along the line of the only standard gauge heritage railway in North Wales.

All stations are closed and trains are in the depots, the full time staff laid-off, with volunteers staying at home along with the visitors.

A direct appeal for financial help was recently made on Facebook by railway general manager Liz McGuinness in which she said: “Forty-five years of endeavour in rebuilding the railway as a tourist attraction is under threat.

“Yes, the railway is closed and may never reopen its doors if we don’t receive enough donations or grant funding. We are extremely grateful for the donations we have received so far and they are helping to keep us alive for now.

“As a major attraction in the Dee Valley, Llangollen Railway puts approximately £8.5 million in to the local economy every year and to lose that would be a massive negative to all the town's businesses and the surrounding area which benefits from visitors to the local stations and access to the Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

“In appealing for help from our many supporters I say we cannot let this beautiful heritage railway die.

“We support too many businesses and jobs in the area to let that happen but help is needed if we are to see the way through this difficult period."

Llangollen Railway’s Facebook page has many comments in support of the railway and concern for its future as well as some criticism as to why a volunteer operation needs cash when UK government support is available.

Railway operations manager Paul Reynolds said: “Unfortunately there is a severe gulf between what Mr Sunak in London and Mr Drakeford in Cardiff announce and its processing out in ‘the wild’.

“Approximately 300,000 applications have been made for business support and only about 10,000 have been processed.

“Sitting in the pending tray of a bank or government department still does not pay the bills when your major source of income, namely train ticket sales, has been cut off and is likely to remain so for at least the next three weeks - or more. 

"Goods and services purchased over the last couple of months are now being invoiced – usually 30 days and possibly 60 days depending on your credit standing with your supplier – and payment is expected.

“Unless our railway can find an independent source of income, such as donations,  to cover the lost revenue it is unlikely to survive, at least in its current form.

“It brings no comfort to know that the greater portion of the heritage rail Industry is facing the same problems.

“All the narrow gauge lines in north-west and mid-Wales face a similar plight of course with varying degrees of support for their individual situations. Loss of any or all of these attractions would be a major disaster for Wales tourism.”

* To donate to the Llangollen Railway appeal, go to: https://llangollenrailway.charitycheckout.co.uk/cf/covid-19-appeal?fbclid=IwAR0jb9iNLjGRQZzEivGaXX90HVmPD-QvSU-x1AIOd95yDbl0lG83HgLHn-c