MP encourages businesses to go for rate grants

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) is encouraging Llangollen businesses to apply for Welsh Government Business Rate Grant funding before the scheme closes at the end of June.

In April the Welsh Government announced support for businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, which Denbighshire and other local authorities across Wales are administering.

The Welsh Government has stated the Business Rates Grant Scheme is continuing to take applications up until June 30. After this date any application received will not be eligible for this grant.

Simon Baynes said: “There’s been good uptake from businesses in Clwyd South applying for this support. And I’m keen to encourage any businesses who haven’t applied yet, to take full advantage of the support available to protect jobs and get businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If you think you may be eligible, get in touch with either Denbighshire County Council or Wrexham County Borough Council who’ll be able to help. And as always, if there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me and my team by email on simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk.

Denbighshire County Council says it is expecting the total amount of support to be provided to businesses in the county to exceed £30 million.

* For information on support and business rate relief visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business-rates

Roadworks problem is highlighted at site meeting

A site meeting was held on Friday morning between contractors, county councillors and residents to discuss problems with a roadworks diversion.  

People from Fron Bache were concerned that work on the renewal of a water main on nearby Vicarage Road, due to start on June 15, would lead to their road being closed for five weeks, leaving traffic having to use Grange Road as a diversion for five weeks.

One resident, former county councillor Stuart Davies, said: "This would be impossible, a narrow sub-standard country lane being used by delivery vans, residents, emergency vehicles and no passing places."

Mr Davies explained how, after being contacted by fellow residents to help, he had phoned the appropriate county council officer and the contractor for the work and a site meeting was fixed between all parties involved.

He said: "I spoke to the contractors representatives and they assured me that they weren’t now going to close Fron Bache. 

"Another look at the site and a visit to Grange Road made them realise what a bad idea it was. 

"They had also spotted that the connection to Fron Bache wasn't in the middle of the highway but at the side and said that they were going to put the water main on the kerb-line so they wouldn’t need to block Fron Bache to connect the new main.

"So no closure but there will be some delays as they work with dump-trucks and so on but not too bad."

Libraries put newspapers and magazines online

* The new Press Reader facility on a mobile phone.

Library members in Denbighshire can now access over 7,000 newspapers and magazines online from home.

Denbighshire Libraries have added ‘Press Reader’ to their collection of digital resources, giving free access to newspapers and magazines, from 120 countries around the world, 24/7. 

The publications are available in full text, on the day of publication and look just like the printed edition. 

They can be viewed online through a web browser, or via the Press Reader app on a smart phone or tablet.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said:  “During the lockdown, while library buildings have been closed, many more people have been using our free digital library offer from home.

“We have introduced new offers such as Ancestry Library, uLibrary, and now we’re able to offer Press Reader to our members. These are in addition to all the eBooks and eAudiobooks already offered via Borrowbox, and the digital magazines and comics that are available through RB Digital.”

* To access this exciting new service visit the library web pages at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries and click on ‘Library Catalogue’. If you are not already a library member, join online.

Cat thanks another of her coronavirus help group volunteers

* Paula Lingard has been thanked for her work with

 Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group.  

To mark the current National Volunteers Week, Cat Meade, co-ordinator of the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group, has spotlighted the work of more local people who have been giving their services to help the community through the current lockdown. 

Featured yesterday on the group's Facebook page was Paula Lingard.

Cat says of her: "Paula has been with us since week 1, she contacted me and offered to help, and she has not stopped since, as well as continuing working she has taken a real load off me managing this page, doing all the Admin on Volunteers, logging info on databases and a real support with some tougher tasks where Paula, me and Mike have had to have 3-way calls to come up with a solution.

"Meeting Paula through this group has been a real joy, she has been a real rock at times, she has had some 'needed' chats with me when its all got a bit overwhelming, she is always checking in on me and has wise words to say.

"I am pleased to now call you a friend and one day get to sit in the pub and laugh about these times of you 'telling' me, honestly Paula, you have been a huge support to the group and me personally.

"I asked Paula what she had planned before lockdown and she said:

'The first night of lockdown I panicked. How do you keep someone in when they are used to going out? I had plans, annual leave, grandchildren to visit! The Cornmill, The three Eagles, Gales Wine Bar … The list goes on! I was just starting to get fit with training sessions, it was working until lockdown!

'Then I came across the Llangollen Coronavirus Help group FB page and I just knew I could fill my extra spare time helping in some way.'

"Paula is one special lady, a fountain of knowledge, a heart of gold and a pleasure to know. Please join me in a HUGE THANK YOU to Paula."

More volunteers of the week are thanked

* Volunteer Melvyn Mile has been 

thanked by Cat Meade.

To mark National Volunteers Week, Cat Meade, co-ordinator of the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group, has spotlighted the work of more local people who have been giving their services to help the community through the current lockdown. 

First one to be highlighted on Facebook is Melvyn Mile.

Cat says of him: "Melvyn called me a few days after I asked for volunteers, he has been assisting every week since, sometimes 4 or 5 times a week with Shopping Requests, Stans Collections, assisting with the VE Day deliveries, delivering #llangollenfamily t-shirts and generally says YES to any task I assign him.

"He has made a real impression on the residents he has helped, with many requesting Melvyn to help them, he is always so friendly and always has time for a quick chat at the door, always smiling.

"I asked Melvyn to tell me a bit about himself and he said: 'I should be retired but I also need something to do, or else I’d be very bored. So, whilst presently furloughed I normally work part time for a Wine Merchant in Oswestry,l

'I’m also a member of Llangollen Town Council and also Denbighshire CC.

'Whilst I’m getting on a bit, I’m relatively fit and as I said easily bored. So thought it only right to volunteer. I know what a personal shopper feels like now.

'Similar to Sheena and Chem (Buddy Calls), I’m on the Cittaslow Committee of the Town Council, one of its tenets is to facilitate groups to get together and by doing so, get more done locally. The volunteering seemed like direct action.'

"A BIG THANK YOU MELVYN, A true gent and a pleasure to get to know you. Please Join Me in Thanking Melvyn for his continued support to our Group."

* Mike Connolly's work has been recognised.

Second volunteer featured by Cat is Mike Connolly.

And of Mike Cat says on Facebook: "I first had the pleasure of meeting Mike when I was assisting the fire service 2 yrs ago, gaining supplies and food to help them battle the mountain fires, he was a real help back then and once again, as soon as I posted for volunteers for Covid 19 help he was straight in.

"Mike collected and delivered prescriptions for the first 6 weeks on an evening (when anyone missed the 3pm deadline) aswell as a Saturday.

"He took on the out of hours calls for the support group to give me a break (there are always a varied amount of calls in the helpline) sometimes very draining.

"Mike is also assisting his local friends, neighbours and relatives with daily, weekly shopping. Along with joining the support group as Admin on here he runs the helpline for CAB to assist with benefits and support to residents of Llangollen.

"A personal THANK YOU Mike for your ongoing support, a big tribute to singing at my Bishops Walk VE DAY Party. A thank you to your 'COOK' Val, for keeping you going and a Big Thank you from Connor who calls you Mike the Man.

"Please join Me in a HUGE Thank you to Mike. A wonderful, kind hearted Gentleman."

Also on Facebook, the town's deputy mayor, Cllr Issy Richards, has turned the tables on Cat by spotlighting her own excellent voluntary work on behalf of Llangollen people.

* The work of Cat Meade herself has come in for thanks. 

She's pictured here with her son Connor.

Issy says of her: "This week, Cat Meade has been highlighting the fantastic work being done by the people of Llangollen to help the most vulnerable. Let's say a BIG THANK YOU to Cat herself!

"Throughout the last 10 weeks Cat has dedicated her time to coordinating the community's response to Covid-19, via the FB Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group.

"To name just a few things, Cat has produced leaflets, enabled food and prescription drops, raised money, organised bingo, raffles which also benefit local businesses, and laundry services for key workers. She has genuinely helped to keep the community's spirits up!

"She's done all this as well as being a mum, and working for Wingetts. (Thanks Connor as well! ).

"For BBC Wales #WelshHeroes day, I sent a little video thanking Cat, it didn't get shown, the reporter said they had hundreds, so I'll include it now and say again, thank you Cat!"

Peaceful demonstration in square against death of George Floyd

* Demonstrators drop to one knee in silent tribute to George Floyd.

Around 50 people took part in a peaceful demonstration against the recent killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, USA.

On May 25, Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old black man suspected of passing a counterfeit $20 bill, died in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes while he was handcuffed face-down in the street.

Observing correct social distancing, the demonstrators gathered in Centenary Square for the vigil which was organised by the group Black Lives Matter - Llangollen.

A number carried placards protesting at the injustice of his death and candles were lit in his memory.

At one stage the demonstrators dropped to one knee in tribute to Mr Floyd. 

Pictures: Jeanette Robinson

* A number of demonstrators carried placards.

* A small shrine is set up with candles.

* The Black Lives Matter Symbol.

     

Beauty spots remain closed to the public, says county

* The Horseshoe Falls is closed, says the county council.

Beauty spots remain closed in Denbighshire following the recent Welsh Government announcement on the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Horseshoe Falls, Loggerheads Country Park and Moel Famau Country Park will remain closed for the time being with travel for exercise still restricted.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We understand how important these areas are to so many people and we are really keen to open these sites as soon as we can, but the situation in Wales is different to that in England. 

 

“In Wales travel is still restricted to journeys generally within five miles from your home and we know a large proportion of our visitors travel significantly more than that. The Welsh Government has requested beauty spots and tourist spots likely to attract large numbers of people remain closed. 

“In the meantime, we are working really hard with our partners to make sure when the time is right we can welcome everyone back to the parks in a way that ensures the safety of our visitors, staff and local communities.

“The advice is for residents to take exercise in their local area and to follow the social distancing guidelines. We will continue to update residents and I would like to thank you for your patience at this time.”