Skates urges people to "stay home and stay local" this weekend

As another bank holiday approaches Minister for the Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates (pictured) has been urging people to stay home and stay local.

The Minister, said: “Although it goes against our normal welcoming nature, we’ve been asking people to please stay home. We want nothing more than to welcome visitors to enjoy our wonderful scenery and attractions but to protect our NHS and keep people safe – stay home. “We are all acutely aware of the impact Coronavirus is having on the tourism and hospitality sector. As the industry remains closed to help stop the spread of the virus, we are also doing all we can to help the industry at this difficult time.” The Minister has this week announced that the Economic Resilience Fund eligibility checker will be available for new applications by the middle of June, allowing companies time to prepare their applications.   This will enable access to the remaining £100m of the £300m already approved and allocated to support micro businesses, small and medium enterprises and large businesses. Phase 2 of the Fund will operate in the same way as Phase 1 but with an update to the micro scheme.   This will enable limited companies who are not VAT registered to access the Fund, something which many small businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector, have been calling for.  Mr Skates said: "Our tourism industry is at the very foundation of our economy and plays such an important part in many communities across Wales. "Many businesses have adapted to help their communities and the NHS – by accommodating key workers and vulnerable people or running food delivery schemes for local hospitals.  “Although the sector has been hit hard by this crisis, it’s brilliant to see the welcome and caring nature of the industry still shining through – even these difficult times.” The Minister has said that the package of support offered by the Welsh Government is the most generous for businesses anywhere in the UK including: £100 million in loans to more than 1,000 businesses through the Development Bank of Wales; A £400 million Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme – which for phase 1 has received more than 9,500 applications, with over 6,000 offers already made to date worth over a £100m; Non-domestic rates based grant support for small businesses and businesses operating in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, awarding to date 51,100 grants worth more than £626m. A total package of £1.7 billion worth 2.7% of GDP. The Minister concluded: “The rules don’t change because it’s a bank holiday, lifting restrictions now would risk increasing spread of the virus, which could endanger more lives and cause longer term disruption and hardship for our visitor economy.  Along with the industry, I look forward to welcoming people back - but not now – later.”

MP welcomes extension of mortgage payment holiday

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed news that the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, in conjunction with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has extended the mortgage payment holiday for a further three months for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage due to Coronavirus.

The availability of a three-month mortgage holiday was first announced by the Chancellor in March as part of the package of support for individuals, businesses and the economy. 

Since then over 1.8 million mortgage payment holidays have been taken up.

Lenders will contact their customers next month about extending their mortgage holiday for a further three months.

Simon Baynes said: “This is good news for people and families in Clwyd South struggling to pay their mortgage due to COVID-19. 

"Everyone’s circumstances are different, and where homeowners can pay some or all of their mortgage, they should work with their lender on a plan. 

"But I want every resident in Clwyd South to know that this mortgage holiday support is available for a further three months if you’re still struggling.

“As always, if there’s anything I can do to support you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by email at simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk.”

Coronavirus updates from Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government are:

• The maximum fine for repeated breaches of the coronavirus lockdown rules in Wales will rise from £120 to £1,920, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.
• The increased fines are being introduced ahead of the bank holiday weekend and they follow a request from the four police forces in Wales and the Police and Crime Commissioners for increased penalties to help deter people from repeatedly breaching the stay-at-home regulations.
• https://gov.wales/fines-increased-repeat-coronavirus-lockdown-breaches-wales
• A new made-in-Wales antibody test is being introduced throughout the UK to tell whether people have had coronavirus.
• Wales – and the rest of the UK – will roll out the new-style blood tests, including those produced in Pencoed by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (OCD).
• The company is one of a number to produce the antibody tests for the UK – it became involved after responding to a call to action to help with the coronavirus response from the First Minister and Life Sciences Hub Wales.
• https://gov.wales/new-made-wales-blood-test-coronavirus
• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has approved £650,000 to fund a new system to allow GPs, paramedics and other healthcare professionals to get immediate specialist advice when reviewing and treating patients.
• The Consultant Connect app has been fast-tracked for use in NHS Wales to help deal with the Covid-19 outbreak and support primary care in the long term to offer better advice and guidance to patients.
• https://gov.wales/new-app-provide-specialist-advice-gps-seconds
• £30m will be invested in improving public transport and encouraging economic growth, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates has announced.
• Wales’ 22 local authorities were invited to submit proposals to Welsh Government’s Local Transport Grant funding to deliver projects which will:
• support economic priorities for jobs and growth
• reduce economic inactivity by delivering safe and affordable access to education, key services and employment, particularly for those living in disadvantaged or rural communities
• connect communities
• encourage active and sustainable travel
• improve public transport reliability and reduce journey times
• https://gov.wales/substantial-investment-improve-public-transport-and-support-economic-growth-announced
• How Wales created 19 new field hospitals in less than eight weeks… https://gov.wales/how-wales-created-19-new-field-hospitals-less-8-weeks  
• Professional sport and coronavirus https://gov.wales/written-statement-professional-sport-and-coronavirus
• The Wales Tourism Business Barometer 2020 https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2020-05/tourism-barometer-coronavirus-covid-19-impact-survey-wave-3-2020.pdf

• Public Health Wales has today confirmed a further 166 cases of coronavirus in Wales today bringing the total number of cases to 12,846 – the real figure will be much higher.
• Sadly, there were a further nine deaths reported by Public Health Wales today, bringing the number of confirmed coronavirus deaths reported by Public Health Wales to 1,247.

Where to find the latest information

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Queries about support for businesses, including about eligibility for the Economic Resilience Fund? Visit the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• If you can help the effort to produce PPE in Wales please visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/provision-critical-equipment-and-personal-protection-equipment-ppe
• The Welsh Government holds a daily media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and routinely supported by a BSL translator. They will be held at 12.30pm every week day. They are live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel and are broadcast live on BBC One Wales and S4C.
• Dr Andrew Goodall, chief executive of NHS Wales, held today’s press conference – you can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1263431858894721024

Covid delays start on new pocket park at Wenffrwd

* llanblogger's picture of site investigation work going on at

Wenffrwd in March 2019. 

The start date for work on a new “pocket park” on an approach road to Llangollen has been delayed by coronavirus restrictions.

Denbighshire County Council is currently working through details of planning applications for the project on its land at Wenffrwd off the A539 around what was the area’s civic amenity site until its closure in the late 1990s.

In 2017 the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team on behalf of the Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership applied for permission to create the park.

According to the original application this would see paths, tracks and parking for 36 cars.

The original planning brief said: “The proposed new park would be developed along with community groups and other interested parties over a number of years and as this will take time, the ethos for this initial phase was to create a welcoming site for people to enjoy both in its own right but also as a gateway to the wider area.

“The plan has been developed as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund – Landscape Partnership Scheme bid and as part of this process consultation with stakeholders and communities has been ongoing.

“The site is seen as a key gateway into Llangollen and the wider Dee Valley, it will provide a new access point for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, promoting wider exploration of the area and a longer stay.”

Asked about progress on the scheme, last reported on by llanblogger in March of last year, a spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said:  “Planning permission has been granted for proposals to develop a car park and new access road at Wenffrwd as part of plans to develop a pocket park on the site. 

“We are currently working through re-commencement planning conditions and putting tender documents together.

“However, the anticipated start date for works has been delayed due to the current restrictions.”  

New higher fines brought in for breaking lockdown rules

The maximum fine for repeated breaches of the coronavirus lockdown rules in Wales will rise from £120 to £1,920, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

The increased fines are being introduced ahead of the bank holiday weekend and they follow a request from the four police forces in Wales and the Police and Crime Commissioners for increased penalties to help deter people from repeatedly breaching the stay-at-home regulations.

Evidence from the four police forces show a small minority of people are breaking the coronavirus regulations, particularly by travelling to well-known beauty spots throughout Wales, even though they have been closed since the end of March.

Announcing the changes to the fines structure, which will come into force on Friday,  Mark Drakeford said: “I am very grateful to the chief constables and our Police and Crime Commissioners for all the work they have done to keep Wales safe throughout the coronavirus pandemic.


“The police have adopted a ‘4Es’ approach to the regulations – they have engaged people, explained what they need to do and encouraged them to comply. But when people haven’t responded, they have used their powers to enforce the regulations.

“Fines are a last resort in the enforcement of the regulations which keep us all safe.

“The evidence from the chief constables and Police and Crime Commissioners shows we need a stronger fines structure to deter that small minority of people who persistently fail to keep to the rules.”

Evidence from the four police forces and Police and Crime Commissioners shows more than 1,300 fixed penalty notices have been issued since the lockdown restrictions were introduced at the end of March.

The existing fines structure, which imposed a £60 fine for a first offence rising to £120 for a second and subsequent offences, will be replaced by a new structure in which the fines double for every offence – rising from £60 to £120 to £1,920 for the sixth offence.

The First Minister added: “As we approach the bank holiday weekend, we continue to ask people to stay at home to protect themselves and their loved ones from coronavirus. If they are exercising – please stay safe and stay local.


“I want to thank everyone for their continuing support in reducing the spread of coronavirus in Wales – by sticking to the rules, we are all helping to protect each other and our NHS and we are saving lives.

“These changes will send a strong signal to the small minority of people who are blatantly ignoring the rules and undermining the efforts of everybody else who are doing the right thing.”

New regulations to increase the fines will be laid in the Senedd on Thursday and will come into force on Friday.

Police boss demands heavier penalties for Covid coughers and spitters

* Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A police boss is urging the courts to inflict the maximum penalty on people found guilty of spitting our coughing in the faces of officers saying they were infected with coronavirus.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones has been sickened after hearing of frontline police officers and other emergency workers being subjected to the “vile practice”.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, spoke out after hearing of a growing number of cases.

The issue has also been raised by First Minister Mark Drakeford who is “very concerned” about reports of police being assaulted, including being coughed and spat on.

Earlier this month a woman appeared before magistrates in Mold after spitting in the faces of two officers in Holywell.

The offence happened  after the officers were called to deal with a disturbance involving a man and a woman at a kebab shop in the town.

After the man was detained the woman became aggressive with both officers and spat in their faces.

She was charged with two counts of assaulting an emergency worker under Section 5 of the Public Order Act.

The woman received a 26-week prison sentence which was suspended for 12 months and she was ordered to pay £150 in compensation together with a Victim Surcharge of £128 and a curfew for 26 weeks with electronic monitoring

Other incidents are understood to have taken place in Flint and Bangor while a man from Rhyl was recalled to jail after preparing to spit at police whilst saying he had COVID-19.

Mr Jones said: “Unfortunately, we have had a number of examples of people spitting or coughing in the faces of officers in North Wales.

“The sentence was criticised by the Police Federation for being unduly lenient and it is unfortunate the magistrates did not take the opportunity to send a message out.

“The Sentencing Council for England and Wales, which produces guidelines on sentencing for the judiciary and criminal justice professionals, go by the seriousness of the offence and not by the evidence and there is nothing more serious than breaking the law to spread a deadly virus.

“This vile behaviour by a minority of offenders are putting these brave frontline staff at risk of contracting this awful virus, with potentially fatal consequences.”

After hearing the punishment imposed on the woman who was prosecuted following the incident in Holywell, Mark Jones, General Secretary of North Wales Police Federation, said: “I am absolutely appalled at this pathetic sentence.

“Two police officers, carrying out their public duty have been disgustingly spat on, in their faces, by this vile person. My two colleagues have received no justice whatsoever and have been completely let down by the judiciary.

“Given the national crisis we are in with COVID-19; the dangerous and killer virus that it is, for the Courts to give a light slap on the wrist for this disgusting act is shameful.

“We seemed to be making some progress recently with tougher sentences being issued to those who weaponised COVID-19 but with taking one step forward we have now taken two steps back."

Latest Citizens Advice column

Q: I’ve got tickets to an event next week and I’m not sure what will happen in light of coronavirus. I bought the tickets for myself and a few friends, one of them is worried about attending. What can I do?

A: Ticket holders who change their mind about going to see an event, such as a concert that is still going ahead, have no legal right to a refund.

If, however, the event is cancelled, your refund rights will depend on how you bought the ticket.

If you bought your ticket from an official seller and the organiser cancels, moves, reschedules, or makes the event behind closed doors, you should get a refund. This is the case even if it is cancelled due to a government ban on large events. The official seller is the best person to ask about how to get a refund.

If you bought your ticket from a ticket-reselling website, refunds will depend on the site's terms and conditions.

If you bought from a private seller and the event is cancelled or rescheduled then it is unlikely you will be able to recover your money. We recommend you contact the seller.

If you're due to go to an event, keep checking the information from the official seller or organiser to ensure you're up to date.

Unfortunately we’ve found that in these situations scammers prey on those who are affected.

If your event is cancelled and people or companies offer their services to try to recover money on your behalf, make sure that you're looking out for the signs of a potential scam.