Denbighshire libraries re-open for appointment visits

 

* Llangollen Library in Castle Street.

Libraries in Denbighshire are now open for customers to choose books, use a computer and print, use a photocopier and access One Stop Shop services via appointments.

The appointment system will help ensure social distancing measures are adhered to and appointments can be made by phoning your local library.

Visits to browse and choose books are limited to 20 minutes, and computer sessions are currently limited to 45 minutes, and one per week.

You will need your library card number to book a computer session.

If you require help at the One Stop Shop with a Council query or to make a payment, please call the library and ensure you have all the relevant details, so that we can deal with your query, and arrange an appointment if you need to come in.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “I’m pleased we are able to offer further services to residents wishing to use the library service.

“Customers will now be able to book appointments to use a range of services in their local libraries. Our popular order and collect service will continue for those who prefer staff to choose books for you to collect or have delivered to you.

“Our home library service is making deliveries of books to anyone who is unable to visit their local library – please get in touch to find out more about this service.”

All books currently on loan are being automatically renewed and no fines will be issued, but customers who have finished with books are asked to drop them off at the library to ensure stock levels are maintained.

Cat Meade explains what happens to help group as lockdown eases

* Cat Meade and her young son Connor.

The woman who spearheaded Llangollen's fightback against coronavirus has spoken of what happens to the support organisation she founded as lockdown gradually eases.

Immediately the Covid-19 crisis began back in March Cat Meade, whose day job is at Wingett's estate agents in Castle Street, launched the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group.

Since then she and a team of dedicated volunteers have devoted many unpaid hours to ensuring people isolated in their homes have been supplied with everything from food to daily newspapers.

The group also supplied many items of PPE to the vulnerable and organised deliveries of vital medication to those self-isolating in their homes across town.

To finance the work and support hard-hit local businesses she started a series of highly popular daily raffles offering a host of valuable prizes.

There have also been regular updates about the group's work on a dedicated Facebook page.

* The Coronavirus Help Group page on Facebook launched by Cat Meade in the early says of the pandemic. 

Now, as the pandemic crisis winds down and life gradually returns to normal, Cat has taken to Facebook to explain what happens to the help group.

Yesterday she posted: “It’s been a while since I’ve posted, which is good on one hand, on the other I hope you are all keeping well ... keeping safe, responsible and mindful.

“I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to every volunteer and resident that has assisted and kept this group going during lockdown, the fundraising, gifting, hours and hours of volunteering to our wonderful community. 

“I have had to put my role to one side as work life is taking over, most volunteers are back to their daily routine, kids back at school and a little normality forming. 

“The page will stay here (hoping we do not need it again). 

“In months to come we may be able to turn it into a different page of support for the community, for now, we will leave it open and our mainstream originators will be here, IF and WHEN, hopefully not needed again. 

“Big thank you Llangollen.”

Funding boost for railway welcomed by MP

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed news that Llangollen Railway has received £161,000 of National Lottery support to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As revealed by llanblogger recently, the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded the money through their Heritage Emergency Fund which provides assistance to organisations within the heritage sector struggling during the pandemic.

Mr Baynes previously highlighted the importance of Clwyd South tourism and hospitality businesses in Questions to the Prime Minister on Wednesday May 13, and asked him to congratulate the Llangollen Steam Railway team for their hard work fundraising during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Mr Baynes said: “Everyone in the area knows how tremendously important Llangollen Railway is to us as a community. So I’m delighted to see it benefitting from vital National Lottery Heritage Emergency Funding.

“The whole railway team work incredibly hard to ensure visitors to Llangollen receive a warm welcome and a great experience so I’m very happy to see them secure this much needed help.”

Former chamber chair says businesses oppose Castle Street parking ban

* The county council plans to remove parking bays along Castle Street.

The former chair of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism claims banning parking in Castle Street is a waste of money and will have a “negative, deadening effect” on the town centre.

Removing the parking bays along the main street is part of the county council’s plan to provide social distancing measures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But David Davies said: “Castle Street businesses are angered to see that the county council is proceed with the traffic order banning all parking and deliveries in the street on the pretence of Covid-19 social distancing and active travel reasons.

“Twenty eight businesses - 80% of all operating businesses in the street - individually signed letters of objection to DCC.  

“It is understood they were deemed unacceptable and irrelevant and unfortunately our two local county council representatives, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, failed to support the businesses objections fuelling the view that the traffic order is being used to further the plans of the 2020 Group to permanently ban all parking, 24 hours a day, in Castle Street.”

Mr Davies added: “No parking in the street will lead to loss of significant business to a number of shops including Spar and Chatwins, with no pop and shop and trades people unable to park to purchase break and lunch foods.  

“The Bull will need to unload barrels of beer in Market Street and roll them along the road into Castle Street posing a safety issue to pedestrians. 

“People delivering to the charity shops will have to carry all their contributions from the nearest car park and parking in the street to use Barclays Bank or the cash machine or access the Town Hall will not be possible.

“The idea is a waste of money and will have a negative, deadening effect on the atmosphere of our town centre.

“During the past 12 years, six professional consultants have reviewed the town’s traffic and parking and none have recommended banning all parking,  24 hours a day, along Castle Street. 

“Traders are continuing their objections to the plan.”

In a joint response, Llangollen county councillors Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile said: "These works are Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council’s response to the very real threat of the C-19 pandemic to Llangollen. 

"We have visitors from far and wide being jammed together on our narrow pavements. A perfect scenario for the spread of C-19. How would the businesses react to another lockdown?

"The safety measures will be in place for a limited time and it’s just a coincidence that Llangollen 2020 objectives are similar.

"These measures are designed to help people move about the town in a safer manner than the chaos that we experienced in July and August, when some residents stayed away from Castle Street, literally in fear of their lives.

"They would also have been introduced much earlier if David Davies and others hadn’t gone about the traders organising their objection. 

"Those 28 objections were not ignored but were taken into consideration, as were the 146 letters of support from residents and visitors and the 95% support from those who completed the official consultation.

"We make no apologies for trying to make Llangollen a safer place for its residents, visitors, shop workers and traders."

Local roadworks update

 

Latest roadwork alert from one.network is:

Vicarage Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire 04 September — 10 September   Delays unlikely - No carriageway incursion   Works location: Front of Castle Buildings Vicarage Road...   Works description: Due to main being Shallow this needs diverting...   Responsibility for works: Dee Valley Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU003H6W/00038013A

Visitors urged to have Plan B should beauty spot car parks be full

* The Horseshoe Falls where the car park has filled up rapidly.

Visitors to the Denbighshire countryside are urged to have a Plan B in place if they find car parks at some of the county’s scenic locations busy. 

Since the easing of restrictions, car parks at some popular countryside sites such as the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen, Loggerheads and Moel Famau have filled very quickly, especially at weekends and the car parks have needed to close.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We have seen significant number of visitors coming to our beautiful countryside sites and we are delighted to welcome people here.

“Inevitably, with the number of visitors being experienced, the car parks become full very quickly, especially at the more popular sites.Please park in designated parking areas only – parking on road verges very quickly causes serious congestion. 

“We are asking visitors to consider having a Plan B during busy periods and potentially making alternative plans to visit other locations or paths in the county, to help ease the pressure on the busier sites."

MP welcomes £2bn scheme to help create young people's jobs

 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes MP (pictured) has welcomed the UK Government’s new Kickstart Scheme, designed to create thousands of new jobs for young people across the UK.

The £2bn scheme has been developed to enhance job opportunities for 16-24 year olds as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Plan for Jobs.

The idea is a way for young people on Universal Credit to take part in a six-month placement to acquire skills and experience to take into full time employment within the future. 

Businesses across the UK are now able to sign up, with Tesco and The Prince’s Trust already pledging their support.

Employers are able to top up the wage of workers and the Government has promised to pay employers an additional £1,500 to assist with support and training, alongside paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and Pension contributions.

Simon Baynes said: “I’m delighted to see the UK Government supporting young people here in Clwyd South and across the whole of the UK in developing their skills and opportunities ready for future employment.”

“There have been an additional 250,000 young people claiming employment benefits since March, with Covid-19 having a significant impact on employment opportunities for those looking for work. However, I’m very optimistic that this scheme will help those who are only just starting out in the world of work.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "This isn’t just about kickstarting our country’s economy – it is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic.”

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “We have taken unprecedented action to secure Wales’s economic recovery from the pandemic. More than 500,000 Welsh jobs have been protected through the Job Retention and Self Employed schemes while over 40,000 businesses in Wales have received more than £1.4 billion in loans.”