Businesses can check if they are eligible for cash support

Businesses can now find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from the next phase of the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF).

The online eligibility checker has reopened and businesses will be able to make applications for support from this phase of the fund by the end of the month.

The ERF is designed to support businesses, social enterprises and charities, which are not eligible for other Welsh Government and UK Government support schemes.

The next phase of the fund will enable businesses to access a further £100m of financial support. 

It is being targeted at microbusinesses, small to medium enterprises and large businesses of critical economic importance, which have yet to receive financial assistance from the ERF.

Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates said: “Our package of support for Welsh business has been absolutely vital in supporting thousands of firms through these exceptionally difficult times.

“Close to £200m has now been provided to businesses from the Economic Resilience Fund with all applications being processed.

“We are reopening our eligibility checker for the next phase of funding. This will allow companies time to prepare their applications, ahead of the fund reopening for applications at the end of the month.

“The measures we have taken are in addition to the support available from the UK Government, making our package the most comprehensive and generous in the UK.

“This next phase will reach businesses, which have yet to receive funding, but we know it won’t reach all those in need. We are proactively working on further options, but it is clear we need the UK Government to step up and provide the longer-term and additional funding needed to see Welsh business through this pandemic.”

This latest phase will operate in broadly the same way as the first phase but with an update to the eligibility of the micro scheme. This will enable limited companies which are not VAT registered to access the fund, subject to other criteria being met.

Large businesses, which have suffered more than a 60% reduction of turnover since 1 March 2020 may also qualify for funding if they meet other conditions. A further £10m has been available from the ERF to support larger firms.

To date, almost £200m of ERF funding has been distributed to companies across Wales, supporting a wide variety of businesses to deal with the impact of coronavirus.

This includes the Development Bank of Wales’ loan scheme element of the fund which has seen more than £90m offered or invested in 1,300-plus firms.

Work is continuing to develop further options to support those businesses, which have not yet been able to access help, such as start-up firms not eligible for the UK Government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

* The eligibility checker for the next phase of the ERF is available at: https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales

Council calls for Information about return to school

* Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Denbighshire County Council is working with governing bodies and headteachers to plan the re-opening of schools from June 29.

And it is now asking for information from parents and guardians on whether they are intending to send their child or children back to school.

Last week, the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams MS  published details of the next phase for schools in Wales. 

She confirmed that schools will plan to start the next phase on June 29, with the summer term extended by a week to end on July 24.

The autumn half-term break will be extended to two weeks.

Further guidance is expected from Welsh Government this week and the council says it has already begun its initial planning and considerations, prioritising the well-being of learners, staff and families supporting schools and governing bodies.

Now the council is sending out a questionnaire to parents/guardians of Reception Year onwards asking whether they intend to send their child(ren) to school from that date and to explain about transport.  

This questionnaire is being circulated through schools and aims to give a clear idea to headteachers of the numbers of pupils expected and how the school can plan and communicate effectively with parents and guardians about details for the re-opening.

The deadline for responses to the survey is tomorrow, Wednesday, June 10. To access the questionnaire, please follow the link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NR7WYXM 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “The safety of our children and young people is a priority and we are waiting for the detailed guidance that will help us to plan and prepare for this next phase.

“The guidance from Welsh Government is expected to include information about managing facilities and logistical arrangements, including buildings, resources, cleaning, school meals and transport. 

“We would be extremely grateful if parents/ guardians could complete the survey and inform us whether they intend at this stage to send their child(ren) into school.  This information will allow us to plan effectively and make sure that arrangements and plans are put in place to welcome children back to school."

Stay apart to keep us all safe, pleads Cat

* Cat Meade, with her young son Connor, has pleaded with people to observe social distancing.

The woman who has spearheaded Llangollen's fightback against coronavirus has made a heartfelt plea for people to observe social distancing.

Immediately the Covid-19 crisis began back in March Cat Meade, whose day job is at Wingett's estate agents in Castle Street, launched the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group.

Since then she and a team of dedicated volunteers have devoted many unpaid hours to ensuring people isolated in their homes have been supplied with everything from food to daily newspapers.

To finance the organisation and support hard-hit local businesses she has started a series of highly popular daily raffles offering a host of valuable prizes.

There have also be regular updates about the group's work on Facebook.

However, Cat has just taken to social media to put out an urgent plea to local people who she says are not following the Welsh Government's social distancing rules.

Late yesterday she posted: "Social distancing is in place for a reason!

"The amount of kids I have seen out with their mates today is shocking - very close, playing footie, riding bikes, walking side by side.

And she added: "Please do not think they are invincible to this and also could be carriers.

"I know the kids are missing their friends and its hard, but it will much much harder to have your child take this awful virus.

"The R rate has already stopped schools opening over the border in Cheshire.

"Please be responsible and keep your kids and the rest of us in Llan safe."

Roadworks on Market Street this week

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 11 June — 13 June Delays unlikely - Some carriageway incursion Works location: OUTSIDE NUMBER 22 Works description: Int to Perm - 6mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )... Responsibility for works: Dee Valley Water Current status: Planned work about to start Works reference: ZU0028102/000012065738

Latest on appeal to help railway survive lockdown

The appeal to help Llangollen Railway make it through the coronavirus lockdown has so far raised almost £80,000.

The good news for the heritage attraction comes in the latest update from railway general manager Liz McGuinness.

She says: "A few weeks have gone by since our last update so we felt it only right to keep you up to date with what is going on at Llangollen Railway.

"Firstly, thank you to all those who donated to and took part in our online auction. We had an excellent response to this and will be running another one later this month. If anyone has any items they would like to donate for auction please email donate@llangollen-railway.co.uk.

"As mentioned last month, our fundraising efforts have so far raised approximately £78,000 including online donations, share purchases, gift aid and the online auction. We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported the railway over the last couple of months.

"We are sure many of you are wondering why we need so much money when we are closed and very little is happening. 

"The monthly outgoings whilst closed, are approximately £14,000. This includes things like utility bills. In July when our payment holidays cease this will jump to approximately £26,000 per month."

She adds: "Once we are given the go ahead to open we have a lot of work to undertake. The listed buildings we take care of will need maintenance/repairs, the track will need a full inspection and the engines, which have stood idle for months, will need servicing.

"This will all cost money and we need to be in a position to hit the ground running when we are given the go ahead. Your donations will continue to make that possible.

"If you are in a position to donate to our online fund the link is below. Shares can also be purchased to help support the railway and more details can be found on our website.

"We, like all of you, await the next Government update but until then, take care and stay safe."

For the railway's appeal go to: https://llangollenrailway.charitycheckout.co.uk/…/covid-19-…

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."