MP cuts ribbon on new Oak Street cocktail bar

* From left, Gyulaydan Ali, Silviu Pop and Simon 

Baynes MP outside Re-Fresh Cocktail Bar in Oak Street.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially-distanced visit to cut the ribbon at the newly-opened Re-Fresh Cocktail Bar in Llangollen.

During lockdown, owners Gyulaydan Ali and Silviu Pop refurbished the premises in Oak Street to a high standard with striking décor and say they have been very pleased with the large number of people who have come into the bar since it opened last week.

Silviu Pop said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Simon for taking the time to support us and officially open Re-Fresh Cocktail Bar for us. 

"We’d like to say a big thank you to all the customers who have visited and supported us so far. We can’t wait to meet and serve and get to know plenty of people in Llangollen in the near future.”

Simon Baynes said: “I was very honoured and pleased to officially open the new cocktail bar.

"The owners have already proved themselves with their successful S&G Bistro and Sweet Daisy on Castle Street and it is exciting to see them launch this new venture which has got off to a very encouraging start. 

"Llangollen is recovering very well from the Covid lockdown and the launch of Re-Fresh shows what an attractive town it is for new businesses. I wish them every success for the future.”

August Citizens Advice column

Latest advice column from Citizens Advice Denbighshire is:

Q: Last month I signed up to Universal Credit for the first time, after I was made redundant. I am looking for a new job but I’m not sure if there’s anything more I need to do to ensure I keep getting Universal Credit?

A: When you apply for Universal Credit you’ll agree a Claimant Commitment with your work coach. A Claimant Commitment is a record of the responsibilities that you have accepted to receive Universal Credit payments. Your claimant commitment will be updated each time you see your work coach.

When you agree to your Claimant Commitment you will be put into one of four work-related activity groups (sometimes called “conditionality” groups). These set out the tasks you’re expected to complete in order to receive your full benefit payment. You can check which group you’re in by logging into your Universal Credit account online and checking your Claimant Commitment. If you’re not online, you will have been provided with a paper copy of your Claimant Commitment.

This will tell you which group you’re in and what tasks you'll have to do regularly to get Universal Credit. These tasks could include writing your CV, signing up for job alerts or applying for vacancies.

In order to show how you have completed the to-do list set out in your Claimant Commitment, you should keep a record of the tasks you’ve completed and how long they took in your Universal Credit online journal, or in a diary if you’re not online.

Some claimants, mainly those who have applied for Universal Credit for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19, may not have a Claimant Commitment yet. Those who claimed before the outbreak, will have had their Claimant Commitment suspended during the outbreak and had no work-related requirements imposed.

From 1 July The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said it will be calling all claimants to help them to prepare for work, so people should expect to be contacted to set up the Claimant Commitment. They do not need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions in the meantime.

The DWP has said that they will take a common-sense approach to work-related requirements and that those who are shielding, have childcare responsibilities because of COVID restrictions, etc. will have their Claimant Commitment tailored to reflect their circumstances.

Llan-based soccer hero is diagnosed with cancer

Former Wrexham, Everton and Wales goalkeeper Dai Davies, who lives in Llangollen, has been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas.

Aged 72, he is being treated at the Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham.

For the full story, see the Leader story at: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18655713.former-wrexham-wales-keeper-dai-davies-diagnosed-cancer-pancreas/

Cancelled walking festival organisers come up with two alternatives

Organisers of the annual Llangollen Walking Festival have come up with two local  alternatives to this year's event which had to be cancelled due to the coronaviris pandemic.

Festival spokesperson Mike Smart said: "As you know, way back in April we - like so many other events - were sadly forced to cancel our Llangollen Walking Festival 2020. 

"Such a shame, everything was in place, bookings were almost full and, the weather was so perfect for walking.

"But we have good news for our walking friends who don’t live within easy reach of Llangollen but are keen for a North Wales 'fix’.

"We, together with our colleagues at Secret Hills Walking Holiday have two opportunities for you to join us in Llangollen, with accommodation, later this year."

Details of these events are: 

* 18th September 2020, 2 nights and 2.5 days walking CLICK FOR DETAILS

* 18th October 2020, 5 nights and 5.5 days walking CLICK FOR DETAILS

Mike added: "Again with Secret Hills Walking Holidays we have a weekend of walking on the beautiful Malvern Hills, Worcestershire."

Details are: 

* 11th September 2020, 2 nights and 2.5 days walking staying at the 4 STAR

luxury Abbey Hotel. CLICK FOR DETAILS

"We have all our fingers and toes crossed that 2021 will see us back to normal and we very much look forward to walking and talking with you again in Llangollen," Mike said.

MP impressed with wharf's adaptions to leave lockdown

* From left, site manager Jane Hart, Simon Baynes MP, Neal and Irene Dufton, directors of Llangollen Wharf.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially-distanced visit to Llangollen Wharf to meet with staff and learn more about how their boat trips on the Llangollen Canal have adapted to new social distancing guidelines.

The wharf, which is a major tourist attraction and part of the World Heritage Site, has offered trips around the area since 1884 and continues the tradition of horse-drawn boat trips as well as motorised boat trips today.

They have seen strong demand since re-opening and have adjusted well to new social distancing requirements, all of which is helping to make up for the loss of income during lockdown.

Mr Baynes met directors Neal and Irene Dufton, site manager Jane Hart and staff members including Cadan Edwards, Pip Bolton and Ash Hart as well as one of the horses, Tobias.

Neal Dufton said: “We’re incredibly proud to welcome visitors back to Llangollen Wharf following our safe re-opening. 

"And we’re very grateful to the many visitors who have come to our newly re-opened tea rooms, which are almost back to pre-lockdown levels with additional takeaway business. 

"There’s also strong demand for our motorised self-drive canal boats and for the horse-drawn boats, so please feel free to come and enjoy our beautiful scenery with a perfect day out for all the family.”

Simon Baynes said: “Llangollen Wharf is a big generator of income for Llangollen not only in terms of the boat trips and tea room but also the benefits of the many canal boats which moor at the wharf and then visit the town. 

"It’s a major local employer, providing work for 41 people locally, and acts as an important source of tourist information for its visitors. 

"I’ve been so impressed to see and hear about how they’ve managed to safely re-open and I look forward to seeing them continue to bounce back.”

Welcome for exams announcement

The six education portfolio holders representing the 6 North Wales Local Authorities, their Chief Officers, the Regional School Improvement Consortium GwE and secondary head teachers warmly welcome the announcement by the Education Minister in Wales  that A level, AS, GCSE, Skills Challenge Certificate and Welsh Baccalaureate grades in Wales will now be awarded on the basis of Centre Assessment Grades. We feel this is in the best interest of our young people who have been anxious and unsure of their future.

We look forward to hearing more about the ‘independent review of events following the cancellation of this year’s exams’ announced by the Education Minister and hope that we will be given the opportunity to feed appropriately into the process.

It allows schools to now concentrate on the critical job of preparing to re-open safely in September. 

Isherwood calls for urgent action on A Level 'fiasco'

North Wales Member of the Welsh Parliament  Mark Isherwood is calling on the Education Minister to urgently address the A level downgrading fiasco which has resulted in hundreds of students missing out on University Places.

Students across Wales have accused the Welsh Government of "abandoning them" after 42% of grades were lowered by the exams watchdog.

Since the results came out on Thursday morning, Mr Isherwood has received  numerous emails from affected students, parents, Head teachers and Teachers in North Wales expressing upset and concern about the downgraded ‘A’ and ‘AS’ Level results.

He wrote to the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams MS, the next day (Friday), calling on her to give the matter her urgent attention and to put students out of their misery by confirming her intended course of action.

Mr Isherwood said: “The whole situation is absolutely appalling and demands urgent attention.

“The Senedd’s Children, Young People and Education Committee has been recalled and will now meet tomorrow (Tuesday), but every day of waiting is a day of torture for the affected students who desperately need answers now.

“I have received emails from students who have missed out on places to some of the UK’s top universities, including Oxford and Durham, because of this fiasco. Their future plans have been completely turned upside down by this fiasco.

“The process used to determine final grades is clearly flawed and it appears that it is students from disadvantaged schools who have been affected the most.  

“One student who contacted me attended a Wrexham sixth form that does not have a high A/A* record when looking at historical data, however they were given Centre Assessment Grades of A*A*A*AA and held an offer for the University of Oxford,  yet the standardisation process awarded them ABBBB. As the student stated “How can they justify downgrading me from A* to B?”

“This student is not alone, I have received many emails of similar cases, and the fear is we will see more cases of downgrading when the GCSE results are published this Thursday.

“This is not a matter that can wait, the well-being and the future success of our young people is at stake and the Education Minister must take action now to ensure that every student in Wales is treated fairly.”