Ysgol Y Gwernant says farewell to all its leavers

* The socially-distanced year six leavers in the playground.

* Diane Davies, left, and Bethan Jones who were both leaving Ysgol Y Gwernant. 

* One of the specially-designed leavers' hoodies. 

The Criw Ymadael or Leaving Class of 2020 at Ysgol Y Gwernant enjoyed a socially-distanced leaving party yesterday (Wednesday).

In the current circumstances there was no opportunity for the usual special day out, a leavers' assembly with prize-giving or even the traditional school shirt signing. 

But instead a socially-distanced picnic and game of football was enjoyed by the year six class. 

It also gave them an opportunity to say farewell to the Penaeth Bethan Jones and Assistant Head Diane Davies who also became part of the Criw Ymadael for the day. 

The children and teachers all joined together in wearing their specially designed Leavers' Hoodies by local company Llangollen T-shirts (InfiniteTee UK) https://www.infinitetee.co.uk/ 

The PTFA at Ysgol Y Gwernant worked with Llangollen T-shirts during lockdown to create a design. 

The school says it was a challenge to get the hoodies ready for the children's final week of primary school, but the PTFA is extremely grateful to the team at Llangollen T-shirts for achieving the goal. 

The PTFA has also sent all the children and teachers of the Criw Ymadael best wishes for the future.

Horseshoe Falls project aims to open up public access

* The new railings at the Horseshoe Falls. 

A landscape partnership project led by the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's Our Picturesque Landscape team has installed new railings at the Horseshoe Falls.

It aims to open up access and provide a viewing area for the River Dee and Horseshoe Falls.

The new railings have been constructed by a North East Wales blacksmith and are in keeping with the existing ironwork at this prestigious World Heritage Site.

A new viewing area has been created on the area formerly closed off to the public.

This enables pedestrian access closer to the river and will relieve congestion on the towpath, allowing visitors to enjoy the area and experience the Horseshoe Falls at the start of the 11 miles of the World Heritage Site. 

The project has been funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Natural Resources Wales.

The increasing popularity of the area was demonstrated during the 2019 luminaire staged at the Horseshoe Falls, which showed a 19-fold increase in visitor numbers during October 2019.

Adnan Saif, director at Canal & River Trust, said: “Horseshoe Falls is a beautiful part of the Dee Valley and is where the River Dee and the Llangollen Canal meet. This new viewing area is a fantastic addition to the area and will allow visitors to see the river and valley from a different viewpoint.

“Our research shows that being by water makes you happier and healthier, so I would encourage everyone who visits the area to spend some time exploring this stretch of the canal and river.”

Mark Hughes, North East Wales People & Places Team Leader for Natural Resources Wales said: “Natural Resources Wales has worked in partnership with Our Picturesque Landscape project to enhance parts of the existing green infrastructure in the Dee Valley. 

"At the Horseshoe Falls the work will provide improved access for visitors,with a new perspective, whilst reducing impacts on the special landscape of the AONB.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Community, said: “This is a great example of partnership working that is benefiting those visiting Denbighshire, as well as residents of the Dee Valley and surrounding areas.   

"This latest development forms part of the Our Picturesque Landscape project which has been set up to provide better access to the heritage sites through reflecting the area’s inspirational links to various forms of travel, including the canal, Telford’s A5 and the River Dee.

“These projects aim to protect these heritage sites for future generations to enjoy."

Welsh Government has fast-tracked over 50 new laws due to Covid-19

The Welsh Government has fast-tracked more than 50 new Welsh laws to deal swiftly with the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking from the Senedd in Cardiff, First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) outlined the "monumental" shift in government resources to limit the damage of coronavirus in his legislative statement.

The measures include the lockdown restrictions to keep people and businesses safe, to protect public health and enable public services to continue to operate in unprecedented circumstances.

Changes to planning systems have enabled the field hospitals to be built in a matter of weeks and supported the continued provision of healthcare; schools and the entire education system have been adapted; and protections have been put in place for people and businesses who are struggling to pay their rent.

With priorities having to be quickly shifted the First Minister has said difficult decisions have had to be taken about what legislation the Welsh Government will be introduce during the remainder of this Senedd term.

Bills and regulations will be focused on the response to coronavirus and EU transition.

Mr Drakeford sais the challenging deadline for a significant amount of EU-related secondary legislation remains as the transition period is due to end in December. 

This includes work to implement new regimes being established by UK bills and the Withdrawal Agreement Act, along with those arising from the negotiations with the EU.

The legislation which will continue alongside the coronavirus response in the autumn term are:

• The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill, which will extend the franchise in local government elections to 16 and 17-year-olds, to be in place by their next elections.
• The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Bill, introduced last week to support the new curriculum and assessment arrangements as part of a wider programme of education reform to raise standards and tackle the attainment gap.
• The Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill, will improve the rights and position of tenants in the private rented sector.

Bills which have been paused include:

• The Bus Services (Wales) Bill – to continue collaboration with the sector that has been hit hard by the pandemic to establish the best approach for the future and support recovery.
• The Tertiary Education and Research Bill has been issued as a draft Bill for consultation.
• A similar approach will be taken with the Social Partnership Bill.

The Welsh Government says it will also target resources to:

• Extend the smoking ban to outdoor areas of hospital grounds, school grounds, and local authority playgrounds;
• Implement the socio-economic duty and the new additional learning needs system;
• Ending commercial third party sales of puppies and kittens;
• Working with local authorities to extend 20 mph zones.

The First Minister said: “In Wales we have championed a careful and cautious approach to tackling coronavirus, but this by no means, means slow. Behind the scenes, the government has worked rapidly to reorganise and redeploy its resources, to save lives and protect our NHS.

“Thanks to the immense sacrifices by the people of Wales in following the legislation we have introduced in recent months, Wales is at its lowest ebb of coronavirus infections since the crisis began.

“Refocusing our resources to deal with the pandemic has led to some difficult decisions being taken but we will continue to prioritise progressive change, which will make the biggest difference to the lives of the people of Wales.”

Open-air dance class goes through its paces in the square

* Dancers fill the square for the open-air session.

* Julie Kirk Thomas (centre) leads the dance class.

* Dancers stay socially distanced across the square.

Julie Kirk Thomas staged the second of her DisDANCING open-air dance classes in Centenary Square this morning.
She said: "It's being held in accordance with the Welsh Government guidelines, with low-impact. easy-to-follow moves set to Latin music."

* For details, go to: Croeso mawr. danceworkshops@yahoo.co.uk

Steam train makes test run ahead of railway re-opening

* Engine No.3802 on its test run to Glyndyfrdwy yesterday. 

The picture shows how the vegetation has sprung 
up along the line. 

This is one of the things that will need attention 

before passenger trains can run.

A steam train has made its first run on Llangollen Railway for the first time in month.

Services on the heritage line were suspended as the lockdown began  although some essential track maintenance has continued where social distancing rules have allowed.

Yesterday (Tuesday) steam was raised in engine No.3802 as it made a test run to Glyndyfrdwy ahead of the line's planned re-opening on August 1.

This is a further step in the process of re-opening the railway in accordance with the regulations set out by the Office of Road and Rail for all the heritage railways to follow after lockdown.


Railway general manager Liz McGuinness said: "It’s great to see our preparations for opening on August 1 are well under way. 

"Our volunteers tested loco 3802 to ensure it was ready for service. 

"We are all excited at reopening and cannot wait to welcome everyone back. 

"Please check our website and social media for full details of the travel arrangements when they are announced."

More good news about re-opening from Llangollen businesses

* Gales horse box is at the centre of their new outdoors way of operating.

More Llangollen businesses have taken to Facebook to let people know they are either open or will be opening soon.

Gales Wine Bar posted: “We're open from Thursday in our new outside area!

“We've spent a lot of time over the lockdown getting things ready to open again.

Our decking area has had a complete overhaul and our horsebox has found a permanent home as out new outside bar.

“Bookings will be open online from 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday). We'll be open from 5pm Thursday evening for food and drinks then from midday going onwards.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming you back to Gales.

“Numbers will be limited and bookings will be restricted into timed blocks. All the details will follow tomorrow.”

Phoenix Bistro posted: “We’ve still got a few more finishing touches to add to it - but we’ll be ready to welcome guests to our little courtyard this weekend.

“We’ll be open from 12pm until 8pm this Friday and Saturday, serving tiki-style tapas and cocktails.

“As you can see, we have limited space available, so booking is advisable if you wish to come and dine with us or enjoy some drinks.

“We will also be providing takeaway for collection only, however slots for this will need to be booked in advance.

“As per government guidelines, we will not be allowing customers inside the premises - however, we will allow access to our toilet upon request, providing that guests use the provided sanitation products first.

“Please feel free to send us a message if you have any questions or would like to make a reservation. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!”

And Verve Health, Fitness & Wellbeing posted: “Very happy to say after nearly 4 months of closure the clinic area in Verve is now open for PHYSIOTHERAPY, OSTEOPATHY and COUNSELLING with ACUPUNCTURE back at the end of July.

“After a deep clean and sanitise, a little bit of furniture re-arranging and testing out all the new procedures and protocols we're welcoming clients back for necessary treatment.

“Please contact individual therapists directly for more information on how their practice has been affected by COVID rules and to make appointments.”

Finance Minister sets out Homebuyers’ tax holiday for Wales

* Finance Minister Rebecca Evans.

People buying their main homes in Wales costing less than £250,000 will not pay any tax under temporary measures announced by the Finance Minister today. 

The starting threshold for land transaction tax will increase from £180,000 to £250,000 for the residential main rates when this new measure is introduced on Monday 27 July. This is a tax reduction that will last until 31st March 2021.

The new threshold will further reduce the tax burden in Wales. Around 80% of homebuyers liable to the main rates of land transaction tax will not pay any tax. This will be a tax reduction of £2,450 per transaction.

These changes reflect the nature of the housing market in Wales, where house prices on average are considerably lower in Wales (£162,000) than in England (£248,000). For first time buyers the average price paid is £139,000 in Wales, and £208,000 in England.

This tax reduction will not apply to purchases on additional properties including buy to let and second homes.

The Finance Minister will also confirm that the savings made by adopting these temporary rates in Wales will release £30 million in new funding to support the construction of new, energy efficient social housing in Wales.

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: "This tax holiday will help first time buyers as well as those selling to move on, but we are taking a different direction to support jobs and house building in Wales.

"While eliminating taxes for those that need extra help, the tax holiday rate also reduces the tax paid on more expensive properties to help the wider housing market.

"Under these changes more than three quarters of homebuyers will pay no tax at all, an increase of 20% under our current measures.

"By setting these rates for Wales I am also able to confirm £30 million to support the construction of new social housing and the much needed jobs they can deliver."