Cat's big raffle today will benefit Ysgol Bryn Collen

Cat Meade, co-ordinator of the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group, has announced that the next big raffle, to benefit Ysgol Bryn Collen, will be this afternoon (Saturday).

On the group's Facebook site last night, she posted: "Join us at Llangollen Raffles at 3PM for the raffle to support Ysgol Bryn Collen to assist with outdoor supplies to ensure the children have a SAFE environment to allow them to return to school.

"We have been overwhelmed with support from local businesses and Residents with donations in support of Bryn Collen."

Thirteen prizes have been donated on this, the 13th of June, and they include:

* £100 Voucher Llangollen Railway
* A case of Prosecco Tyn Dwr Hall & The Three Eagles
* Football Tickets for Everton (when back in play)
* £30 cash and alcohol hamper
* £25 Amazon Voucher
* £20 Jades Hair
* £40 Blue Bay Launderette,Llangollen
* £20 Llangollen kebab pizza palace
* Hamper Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods
* Bracelet Beady Me
* £20 Abbey Farm Caravan Park bistro
* Handbag @jenni's llangollen

It's £5 per ticket to enter the raffle in which there will be 120 numbers available.

MP raises step-free access to Ruabon station with Minister

* Simon Baynes MP raises his question about Ruabon station in Parliament.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has raised the issue of funding for step-free access at Ruabon train station in the House of Commons.

His question a Wales Office Minister was part of his campaign on local transport issues in his constituency. 

The station at Ruabon currently has two flights of stairs which passengers must use in order to access the platform. 

It is also the only station on the line that does not meet step-free access needs for passengers.

Wales Office Minister David TC Davies MP said in response to Mr Baynes’ question in the Chamber:

“I’d be delighted to discuss step-free access at Ruabon station with the Hon. Gentleman, and I hope that I will be able to give him news of much greater infrastructure projects to rail and road that will be on offer to Wales as soon as this crisis is over.”

Simon Baynes MP said later: “Many representatives, organisations and residents in Ruabon have been campaigning for step-free access at Ruabon Station for several years and I am very pleased to add my support to their campaign. 

"This project is needed to make sure all passengers can access the jobs and leisure opportunities that will make our community an even greater place to live and work. 

"And I’m looking forward to discussing it with Ministers at the Wales Office and the Treasury to see what can be done for Ruabon residents.”

Gary aims to help people with same crippling condition with castle walk

* From left and properly socially distanced, Gary’s wife Traceyjane and Gary pick up some of the 10 walking poles donated by Tracy and Graeme Smith from the Watkin & Williams DIY store in Llangollen ready for the trek to the castle which is in the background. 

A Llangollen man whose life has been disrupted by a crippling condition is planning a fundraiser next month to support fellow sufferers.

Gary Sutton, 53, has had Cervical Spondylosis Myelopathy for a number of years but wasn’t diagnosed with it until last November.

He is slowly losing his ability to walk and will eventually be disabled, he has been told.

But on Saturday July 18 Gary will be summoning up his remaining stamina to walk from his house in Chapel Street to Castell Dinas Bran with the aim of raising enough cash to set up a charity based in north Wales to provide help and support for others hit by the condition.    

He has won the backing of Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes who will be accompanying him on his walk along a number of local councillors.   

Gary said: “I am trying to set up a charity to support people who suffer from Cervical Spondylosis Myelopathy. I suffer from this condition and can only walk 200 metres without a rest.

“I know I cannot work anymore in the job that I have loved. I work for United Utilities as a leakage engineer and have done for over 20 years.”

Gary added: “I want to raise awareness of this illness and set up a charity. I have businesses and our local MP involved, also local councillors. We have support from ORB Sound and Lighting when we get to the summit.

“We have all the necessary permissions and will be observing all the social distancing rules on the day.”

“I am getting donations in, but we need to get to £20,000, so I can set this up to support others. After three days we had reached nearly £500, my employer will donate £500 as well.

“My wife Traceyjane has been really supportive but it has taken its toll on her. She has to be my carer because I cannot walk properly and do tend to fall over.

“She works at Home Bargains in Llangollen and has to deal with Covid-19 whilst at work and make sure I am OK as well. She never gets the recognition she deserves.

“I just want to help others out as unfortunately the illness has gone too far for myself.”

Simon Baynes MP said: “I am greatly looking forward to joining Gary and others on his walk to Castell Dinas Bran on July 18, with appropriate social distancing, which will do much to raise awareness of his condition and further his plans to set up a charity.”

To support Gary’s fundraising, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dinas-bran-for-cervical-spondylosis-myelopathy?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet. 

MP reveals job protection scheme figures for Clwyd South

Clwyd South Conservative MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has welcomed new figures which show the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has protected 6,800 jobs in his constituency.

The scheme, which was launchedin April to pay 80% of an employee’s wages through the COVID-19 pandemic, has protected a total of 316,500 jobs across the whole of Wales.

The UK Government also launched a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which would allow self-employed workers to claim up to 80% of their average monthly profits.

In Wales, more than 102,000 self-employed people have claimed a total £273 million from the scheme. In Clwyd South, there have been 2,600 recipients of the SEISS, with a total value of £7 million paid out.

The UK Government has also made more than £2.2 billion available to the Welsh Government to support the Welsh NHS, charities, local government and businesses through the pandemic.

The CJRS scheme will continue to support jobs until the end of October, with flexible part-time furloughing beginning in July to support businesses as the economy reopens. 

The SEISS scheme has also been extended with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6,570.

Simon Baynes said: “The support by the UK Government for Clwyd South workers and businesses has been unprecedented and historic. I’m proud that the UK Government provided this support to support local people and stop the spread of the virus.

“As we start to look beyond COVID-19, businesses can start to plan a return, safe in the knowledge that they have been supported – and continue to be – by the UK Government.

“I’m proud of the take-up of both the CJRS and SEISS and pleased we’ve been able to help almost 11,000 people in Clwyd South. As always, if you live in Clwyd South, and there’s anything I can do to help, I urge you to get in touch with me at simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk.”

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