Consultation over 40mph limit on Horseshoe Pass begins

* The meeting about the proposed speed limit which took place in 2017 

between, from left, County Councillors Graham Timms, 

Martyn Holland and Melvyn Mile.

The public consultation process about imposing a 40mph speed limit on the Horseshoe Pass has officially begun.

Over the years there have been frequent calls for speed restrictions on the A542 route to help control the number of accidents.

In the summer of 2017 llanblogger reported on a meeting which took place at the Ponderosa Cafe on the summit of the pass between the two Llangollen county councillors, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, and their counterpart from Llandegla, Cllr Martyn Holland, to discuss the imposition of a 40mph zone.

As a result of pressure they applied, Denbighshire County Council has now started the process by publishing proposed road traffic order to enable the limit to be applied.  

Cllr Timms said: "I'm pleased that the details and consultation on the 40mph speed limit on the Pass has finally opened. 

"Over the last three years accidents have continued to be a regular occurrence.

"The cause of most of the accidents on the Horseshoe Pass is speed and so I fully support the proposed limit. It will save lives and serious injury if it is introduced.

“Enforcement is also a key part in slowing down the traffic. If it is introduced I will be putting pressure on the police to dedicate time and resources to make sure that it is enforced."

More than £680m reaches businesses in Covid-19 support

Business support grants worth more than £680m have reached businesses across Wales to help them respond to the financial challenges of Covid-19, Ministers have announced.

The latest figures show that more than 56,000 grants have been paid to companies across the retail, leisure and hospitality sector whose property has a rateable value of £51,000 or less. 

These businesses are also benefitting from rates relief through the £1.4bn package announced in March.

New applications to the scheme will close on June 30 and Ministers are urging any businesses that have not already done so, to contact their local authority about this support.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: “We understand that businesses have been hit hard by the impact of the pandemic, and we have been doing all we can to ensure that businesses have access to the urgent funds they need as quickly as possible.

“It has been a challenge, but thanks to the tireless efforts of local authorities and the WLGA in administrating these grants, tens of thousands of businesses across Wales are already benefitting from this much-needed support.”

Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates added: “Our package of business support is the most comprehensive and generous in the UK, providing vital reassurance to thousands of firms across Wales at a time when they need it most.

“We made a commitment to getting funds out to businesses as quickly as possible and local authorities have played a key role in ensuring that hundreds of millions of pounds has reached them.

“We continue to do all we can to ensure that a good business in 2019, will be a good business in 2021.”

Minister said he would like to see shops re-open on June 22

According to the BBC, Wales' Economy Minister Ken Skates (pictured) said today he would "absolutely" like to see non-essential shops reopen the week of 22 June if coronavirus statistics continue to fall.

* For the full story, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52994758

Be considerate to neighbours during lockdown, says council

Denbighshire County Council is asking residents to be considerate to their neighbours during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.

The council’s Public Protection team has seen an increase in complaints relating to noise nuisance from loud music, televisions and gaming, DIY, dogs barking and other noise.

According to the council, noise nuisance can affect people’s mental health by causing sleep disturbance or being unable to relax in the garden or with windows open while the weather is nice.

Cllr Mark Young, the Council’s Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “We understand this is a difficult time for our residents which is why we are asking people to be considerate.

“Due to the lockdown many of us are making use of our time to catch up on jobs in the garden or around the house. If you are playing music while enjoying your garden, please don’t leave the speakers in your property on a high volume, try and use a portable device and play the music at a lower volume beside you or use headphones.

“Please also keep an eye on your dogs if you have let them out in the garden, with more people than usual around they may be unnecessarily barking at the unusual noises.

“We would also ask residents to hold onto waste rather than disposing of it by having a bonfire and book an appointment at one of our recycling centres which have now re-opened.”

Chester Zoo to re-open next Monday, says newspaper story

Chester Zoo will re-open on Monday following a massive public campaign, according to a story late last night in the Denbighshire Free Press online.

The campaign has been supported by many people in Lllangollen.

* For the full story, see: 
https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/18506814.chester-zoo-reopen-next-monday-following-dramatic-government-u-turn/?fbclid=IwAR3rrIPCcfsPKCHwZFtaqLph8beUsR7e03N9nOeuT-3EMH7q4rEOywRTwIo

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."