MS slams Welsh Government over "delays" in re-opening economy

North Wales Senedd Member Mark Isherwood (pictured) has claimed that the "fragile" economy has been damaged by the Welsh Government's delays in re-opening it after the coronovirus lockdown. 

He made the comments when closing yesterday’s Welsh Conservative COVID-19 Economy debate in the Welsh Parliament.

The opposition party said the pandemic had been both a public health and an economic emergency and called on the Welsh Government to establish a recovery fund to provide targeted economic support for communities most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Speaking via Zoom from his home Mr Isherwood said: “The Welsh Government’s delay in re-opening the economy has been damaging to the fragile Welsh economy.

“Take passenger transport. Through the Confederation of Passenger Transport,  the industry presented a proposal to the Welsh Government on 15th May which would enable operators to ramp up bus services, with full costings. They have still not received a considered official response.

“Wales is now the only country in the United Kingdom that has not agreed funding for transport operators to begin to ramp up services to cover costs for additional services.

“Take our vital bed and breakfast sector. In England and Scotland, grants are available to B&B operators who did not qualify for any other COVID-19 grant support schemes. In Wales, legitimate businesses have been denied access to equivalent grants.

“Take our crucial Housing Market.  The Welsh Government has failed to open the housing market in Wales alongside the rest of the UK. Within Wales, viewings can only take place in vacant properties and house moves are only allowed where a sale has been agreed but not yet completed.

“Within England, people are allowed to sensibly view properties that are occupied, provided that initial viewings are done online, and that physical viewings only take place with serious buyers and are done by appointment only."

Mr Isherwood added: “Take Holiday let businesses. The Welsh Government has announced that self-catering businesses could reopen on 13 July as long as they adhere to the government guidelines and the Economy Minister, Ken Skates, told North Wales media that comprehensive guidance has been put in place for the tourism and hospitality sector to ensure that the sector can be restarted in a safe way.

“However, self-catering businesses are telling me they have just spoken to their council and that it doesn't have the guidance.

“Take our Town Centres. The Centre for Towns found that Wales is the worst performing area of the UK with regards to its economic well-being, and that specific communities, including ex-industrial towns in parts of Wales, will need an effective support mechanism at a local level to support businesses plan their recovery strategies.”

Reminder for businesses to apply for rate relief scheme

Businesses are being reminded to apply for business rate relief before the scheme closes at the end of June.

Denbighshire County Council is urging businesses to apply for the Welsh Government’s Business Rates Relief fund before June 30 when applications close.

So far the council has paid out £27,550,000 in grants to 2,338 businesses but a further 500 Denbighshire organisations, including small charities within the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, may be eligible for the £10,000 grant.

The council is currently contacting all eligible businesses to inform them of the support which will help traders through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council and Lead Member for the Economy, said: “These grants are providing essential support for Denbighshire businesses and with the Welsh Government closing applications on June 30, it is essential businesses act now.

“Some businesses have been telling us they did not think they were entitled to a grant. However, businesses who have received a business rates bill with nothing to pay and are entitled to small business rate relief are, in most cases, still eligible for a grant. The majority of businesses yet to apply are in this category and our advice is for them to visit our website and see if they fit the criteria.”

* Details of the scheme and application forms can be found at http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business-rates

County's public toilets to open next week

Denbighshire County Council has confirmed that public toilets will open next week (Monday 29 June), as part of on-going efforts to support town centres across the county.

This week,  non-essential shops in Wales have been given the green light to start operating.  Last week the Council announced that a Task Group had been set up specifically to assist town centres as they respond to the easing of the lockdown restrictions.  Staff will be working in the main towns to provide help and advice to residents and businesses; they will identify where posters and signage are needed and will look at what support is needed for businesses to comply with the current social distancing and hygiene regulations. 

Public toilets are seen as important facilities within town centres and conveniences and our facilities will open on Monday, June 29.  The toilets are located at:  Market Street, Llangollen; Events Arena, Rhyl and Rhyl Town Hall; Factory Ward, Denbigh; Market Street, Ruthin; Green Lane, Corwen and unstaffed facilities in Prestatyn (near the Nova, Nant Hall Road, Barkby Beach and the bus and railway stations); Rhuddlan; Dyserth; St Asaph; Cae Ddol, Ruthin and Coronation Gardens in Rhyl.  Normal charges will apply.  

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Assets, said: “Great efforts are being made by council services, town councils, business associations and other partners (including North Wales Police) to assist town centres to get back up on their feet following the easing of restrictions.

“There are a number of issues that the Council can address directly to assist in this work – and opening public toilets is an important part of the plans. They are important public facilities for residents and visitors to our town centre. We will be doing this in a phased approach over the coming few weeks, to ensure that plans for operating the facilities are put in place and that safety of the public and staff is made a priority.

Councillor Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “We fully recognise that businesses in our town centres have suffered during the covid-19 outbreak and the Council wants to support businesses in any way it can, to help them get back on their feet during these very difficult times. 

“We will be talking and listening to businesses and residents and see what other kind of help is needed in terms of advice and support, as well as more practical measures such as posters and signage”. 

Posted on Thursday 25th June 2020

 

How town got government cash to help in lockdown aftermath

* Castle Street before the lockdown.

One of the area’s county councillors has given an insight into how Llangollen was included in the list of Denbighshire towns to benefit from a £1 million funding boost from the Welsh Government.

But Graham Timms could give no specific details of the amount of money involved or how it will be spent locally.

Llanblogger revealed last week that Llangollen was to get a share of the cash earmarked by the government for Denbighshire communities in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

The county is to get £981,000 through the Local Sustainable Transport Covid Response Fund to provide improved access to town centres and schools for pedestrians and cyclists and to facilitate social distancing in public spaces and on public transport.

This is seen as especially important as people return to town centres as non-essential shops re-open.

The lockdown period has seen increases in the numbers of people walking and cycling and many of the measures proposed will further encourage people to choose these modes of transport by providing measures such as wider pavements.

Funding has been secured for projects in Llangollen, Rhyl, Ruthin and Denbigh, as well as outside schools throughout the county.

Projects include the reallocation of road space for pedestrians and cyclists by introducing one-way systems and making spaces outside schools safer for social distancing and reducing the number of car journeys outside schools.

Cllr Timms, speaking as chair of the Llangollen 2020 group, said: “We are delighted that Llangollen is one of the towns in Denbighshire that will receive funding to help residents and visitors maintain social distancing in the town.

“As soon as the Llangollen 2020 group heard the announcement by the Welsh Government of possible funding we contacted the Denbighshire road safety team to discuss what could be done to improve matters in Llangollen’s narrow streets.

“We discussed a range of suggestions with officers. The Denbighshire team then put together a final grant submission for the whole of the county. 

“It's great that Llangollen is specifically mentioned in the Welsh Government announcement, alongside Rhyl, Denbigh and Ruthin. This means that we will definitely get much needed safety improvements in the town. 

“We also asked the Denbighshire team to look at making improvements to help pupils to walk or cycle to our schools more safely after discussing the issue with Llangollen Friends of the Earth.

“Although the final details have not yet been settled, we are hoping that something can also be done to make walking and cycling to school safer for our children and young people as they begin to return to their lessons. 

“There will be detailed discussions with local councillors and other organisations in the town to ensure that the particularly difficult set of challenges that Llangollen's narrow streets pose can be met.” 

Talks being held on closure of Mail Solutions factory this autumn

llanblogger exclusive

* The Mail Solutions factory at Cilmedw.

Company bosses are consulting about their plans to close the Mail Solutions envelope factory in Llangollen.

The factory at Cilmedw was purpose built for Dobson & Crowther but when they went into administration in 2015 it was taken over by Telford-based Mail Solutions UK Ltd.

Mail Solutions group managing director Alan Griffiths told llanblogger that “challenging” conditions in the envelope market made worse by the coronavirus situation had led the company to propose the factory’s closure by the end of September.  

Mr Griffiths said: “We’ve been in consultations about this for a little while now and it’s become common knowledge.

“The envelope market has been in decline for many, many years and it’s a very challenging market.

“Royal Mail volumes are down by 35 per cent and the situation has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are looking at downsizing and consolidating production in one unit at Telford.”

Explaining that they were aiming for the factory to close at the end of September, Mr Griffiths added: “We are going through the consultation process. 

"This is a work in progress and it depends on the consultation how many redundancies there are. We have a total of 35 employees bu there will be an opportunity for a proportion of these to transfer to Telford.

“This is unfortunate but no-one can say that we haven’t given it a go and we have invested in the site.”   

Senedd Member for Clwyd South Ken Skates said: "Closure of the business at this site would be bitterly disappointing, so I would urge the company to work with Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government in exploring all alternatives."

And Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes commented: “I am very sorry to hear about the trading problems being experienced by the Llangollen's Mail Solutions factory and I hope that that every effort will be made by the company to help and look after the 35 members of staff who work there during the consultations which are currently being conducted into the possible closure of the factory.”

Dobson & Crowther went into administration in early June of 2015 with 55 of its 79-strong workforce being made redundant.

The following month Mail Solutions stepped in to purchase its assets and re-started envelope production in the September.

Although Mail Solutions was formed in 2000, some of its business roots can traced back to the 20th century and a stationery company called Kenrick & Jefferson Ltd.

From just a small operation the company has continued to grow and become one of the most successful manufacturers of envelopes and print in the UK. 

In November 2017 Mail Solutions completed the transition to an employee-owned company. Purchased by the employee-ownership trust (EOT), all current employees are the beneficial owners of the business.

St Collen's re-opens but for private prayer only

St Collen's Church will be open for private prayer only from today and each day from 10am-4pm.

Like churches across the UK, it has been totally closed since the lockdown began in March. 

A message on social media from the Llangollen Group of Anglican Churches says: "The South Aisle only will be open for private prayer. All other areas of the church will be cordoned off."

The post stresses: "Please do not enter the church if you have been advised to stay at home, or you are feeling unwell, or have and symptoms associated with Covid 19.

"Pay attention to signs and follow the directions of the stewards.

"Please sanitise your hands when you enter the church and when you leave.

"You may only sit in the pews that have not been taped off.

"Please always maintain 2m distance from other people.

"If you want to have a chat please go outside.

"The vestries and toilets are closed.

"There will be occasions when the church will be closed while private worship is being offered by the priest. For example, Sunday mornings."

Llan to benefit from £1m county funding boost

Llangollen will benefit from £1 million of Welsh Government funding secured by Denbighshire County Council in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

The council is to get £981,000 through the Local Sustainable Transport Covid Response Fund to provide improved access to town centres and schools for pedestrians and cyclists and facilitate social distancing in public spaces and on public transport.

This is seen as especially important as people return to town centres as non-essential shops re-open.

The lockdown period has seen increases in the numbers of people walking and cycling and many of the measures proposed will further encourage people to choose these modes of transport by providing measures such as wider pavements.

Funding has been secured for projects in Llangollen, Rhyl, Ruthin and Denbigh, as well as outside schools throughout the county.

Projects include the reallocation of road space for pedestrians and cyclists by introducing one-way systems and making spaces outside schools safer for social distancing and reducing the number of car journeys outside schools.

Cllr Brian Jones, Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has led to unprecedented changes that are affecting all aspects of our lives, including transport.

“We welcome this funding from the Welsh Government which will help provide a number of schemes throughout Denbighshire.

“The council has been looking at how we can safely reopen our town centres for visitors and this includes making sure there is space for people to adhere to social distancing and to offer alternative forms of transport by making walking and cycling easier.

“We have a number of plans for the county and we will be seeking feedback from members of the public following their introduction. We will also be carrying out extensive monitoring of the projects we implement in order to fully assess their effectiveness.

“By making our town centres more accessible for active travel we can help support the county’s businesses, improve air quality in our towns, help protect the environment and improve the health of our residents.”

These projects form part of the overall work that the council is undertaking in town centres to ensure social distancing guidelines are met. 

This will include signage to remind people to maintain social distance, working with retailers to facilitate the management of queues for their shops, minor works to remove or relocate non-essential street furniture, pedestrian one way systems where considered necessary, enhanced cleaning regimes and amendments to parking areas.