Well-being calls to Denbighshire residents expanded

Denbighshire County Council has expanded its wellbeing checks to residents during the coronavirus outbreak.

With the support of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, the council is contacting everybody receiving shielding letters from the Chief Medical Officer for Wales and is now expanding calls to residents over 70.

So far more than 5,000 residents have been contacted and support has included referrals to community groups or local charities for help with, for example, advice about finances, grocery shopping or dog walking.

Denbighshire Leisure’s Active Communities team has visited over 300 residents, with another 200 to be visited within the next few weeks.

The team has visited people who have received a shielding letter and had previously been uncontactable by phone and checked in on them to ensure they were being supported during this difficult time.

Overall, the project has involved more than 80 staff members from a range of council departments as well as Denbighshire Leisure Ltd and external partners including Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), the British Red Cross, and elected members have been recruited to support by becoming telephone befrienders.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “Thanks to the hard work and adaptability of staff, we have been in touch with more than 5,000 people, and are in regular contact with a majority of those.  

"We have referred more than 250 people for Welsh Government food boxes, and more than 300 people to DVSC to find help with shopping and collecting medications.  

"We have identified a number of safeguarding and wellbeing concerns and referred these for a quick professional response.  This has meant that many officers have had to work in a completely different way and I would again like to thank staff for their dedication and hard work during this process.”

A number of residents have contacted the council to offer their thanks to staff as well as posting on social media.

Feedback from a resident in Ruthin said it was very reassuring to have the Denbighshire Leisure Active Communities team call by and he said it was a great comfort for him and his wife who feel like they are being supported and are not alone.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “The team has gone above and beyond over the last month and it’s fantastic to hear the amazing feedback from the local community, who feel supported by the team during this difficult time. 

"They were happy to step up to the task and felt it was a great way to stay connected with our residents and service users at this time. Fortunately most residents were safe and well and enjoyed chatting to the team, at a safe distance.”

Ex-councillor on why he's against 40mph limit on Horseshoe Pass

* Former county councillor Stuart Davies.

The plan to introduce a 40mph speed limit on the Horseshoe Pass, revealed by llanblogger in a story last week, drew some criticism when it was shared on social media.

Here former Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies gives his view of the proposal:

"At the end of my term in 2012 – 2017 maybe 2016, the Welsh Government came out with an initiative for all councils to review their speed limits. So it started.

"A few residents up the Horseshoe Pass (HSP) started going on about motorcycles speeding and making a noise. Their argument was, stop speeding and the noise would stop.

"The council officers meanwhile, in conjunction with North Wales Police, went off on putting speed limits everywhere on A roads. You can see the result on the Llandegla roads and the road to Corwen from Llandegla. It's 40 mph everywhere and average speed cams.

"The residents from the HSP were very vociferous and so I had put in a speed checker for a week. The results were surprising, no speeding as such, with IIRC an average speed of 48 mph.

"So people weren’t speeding BUT when I told the residents they refused to believe it! I said that they should concentrate their efforts on the noise-making by bikers with illegal exhausts.

"I as a Cllr always used to base decisions on the facts. I asked the police how many tickets had been issued in the 5 years previous to this initiative for breaking the 60mph limit. They refused to give me the information and I was told to do an FOI (Freedom of Information) request. 

"A quick email to the chief executive officer of Denbighshire County Council (DCC) and the Chief Constable gave them straight away. It was 1 in 5 years, so no speeding, according to their stats!

"I also learned that NWP didn’t have the resources to police a speed limit.

"I got the accident stats from DCC for the area and realised that this initiative was being driven by things other than road safety based on stats.

"I stopped them doing it. I argued that if they were concerned about road safety then putting in guard rails would be a better option and that they should approach the Welsh Government and our local AM, Ken Skates.

"The issue of the noisy exhausts? I liaised with NWP and they started a re-education initiative with the bikers visiting the Ponderosa backed up with tickets for illegal exhausts.

"Now it has come back. The local councillors appear to be backing this 40 mph limit from the Britannia to the other side, nearly to the Llandegla roundabout. 

"This will impact on commuters travelling from here to Ruthin, on disabled children being taxied from here to that end of the county etc etc. 

"I had lots of emails from concerned residents ref this. There is also the issue that people would try to use the Old Horseshoe Pass to try and beat the system causing speeding in Pentredwr.

"I have looked at the statutory notice, the only “evidence” produced, as far as I could see, was the words 'To improve road safety'. No stats, no evidence, nothing.

"So I want to know, what has prompted this? Give me the evidence to prove it isn’t safe! Where are the stats for the public to make up their minds?

"I believe this is being driven by the dislike of noise from bikes, the mistaken belief that bikers are speeding. It wasn’t correct then and I don’t believe it is now. 

"The belief that putting in a speed limit the noise goes away is wrong. The issue is about illegal and 'fruity' after-market exhausts. Address that and you address the issue of the noise. That also then stops the issue of affecting the lives of commuters.

"One more point, if they are thinking of putting in average speed cams, I would ask the question, if DCC can't afford to put in a civic recycling site in Llangollen, as told by the local councillors, how can they afford to pay for this scheme?"

* Maggie Smith, chairman of Llantysilio Community Council said: "It is important that comments are forwarded via the link below to the Denbighshire County Council Consultation.

https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/kms/dmart.aspx?strTab=PublicDMart&fbclid=IwAR0tuCGuWRGKqiMnwQL2ciODM4BLbRgA7wRK-VPEz5LpOKrv4kf96jnxAXU

Roadworks start in Vicarage Road on Monday

Latest local roadworks notified by one.network are:  Vicarage Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire 15 June — 08 August Delays likely - Road closure Works location: From Jtn Hill Street & Vicarage road to Bryn Bedw Vicarage Road in CW and FW... Works description: Trial Holes. Install new reinforcement Water main and Transfer all existing water services and ab... Responsibility for works: Severn Trent Water Current status: Advanced planning Works reference: LB501H6W/00038011A

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.”