County businesses receive £33m in government covid support

Businesses in Denbighshire have already received emergency coronavirus support totalling more than £33m from the Welsh Labour Government.

The most up-to-date information shows 2,761 businesses of all sizes across the county have been awarded crucial support since the pandemic struck – with more grants being awarded every day.

Clwyd South Member of the Senedd Ken Skates said: “I am proud that the Welsh Government has been able to help so many local businesses, from small and medium-sized enterprises to key local employers and hotels and pubs. The Welsh Government’s support package for businesses is the most generous anywhere in the UK and more money reaching small businesses every day.”

Welsh Government data shows 2,274 Denbighshire businesses already in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief got grants of £10,000 and another 297 in the tourism and hospitality industry were awarded £25,000 each. In addition, more than 2,500 start-up grants of £2,500 are currently being processed.

The Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF), which was designed to fill the gaps left by the UK Government’s support schemes, has so far awarded £3.17m to another 190 Denbighshire companies. Among the recipients was Llangollen Railway, which received a £70,000 grant.

Peter Carroll, managing director of ProAdventure in Llangollen said: "The help has made it possible for the directors to carry on with mail order all through lockdown, and given us the certainty that we can keep stock levels up to cope with increased mail order volumes and bring staff back from furlough earlier than might have been possible without support."

South Denbighshire Community Partnership, based in Corwen, has also received Welsh Government support throughout the crisis to help it meet the growing demand associated with the Covid-19 outbreak, enabling the not-for-profit group to help hundreds of vulnerable local people.

Neatcrown, which employs up to 70 people at its Corwen factory during busy periods, received £77,500 through the ERF. 

Managing Director Colin Roberts said: “The money from the Welsh Government allowed us to safeguard jobs at the site during a period of real uncertainty. Our orders had been decimated and we had workers shielding. It really was a lifeline at that point. 

“We are a close-knit company and we’re part of the community. We have multiple generations of the same family working here and have some members of staff who have worked here for more than 30 years. It would have been a huge blow to Corwen if we’d had to close. We wanted to keep going and the support from the Welsh Government helped us do that.”

Mr Skates added: “Around 11% of all awards through the Economic Resilience Fund have been to businesses in North East Wales, and almost £28m has been awarded in total across North Wales. Sadly, it is impossible to help every single business, but the vast majority of applications have been successful, and I’m pleased there are many which we have helped stay afloat.

“I’m proud to be part of a Welsh Labour Government which is standing up for our region.”

In addition to the support for local businesses, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – which had to cancel this year’s event – received a Welsh Government grant of £338,000 to help with business continuity through 2020, including planning and preparation for 2021.

Chairman Rhys Davies said: “We are very grateful for the support of Welsh Government so that we can continue to promote Welsh culture on the international stage and spread the peace message around the world. There are going to be challenges for all festivals, so collaboration is the key.”

Schools investment on the cards

Schools in Llangollen could benefit from a £52million investment programme.

Plans to improve facilities at Ysgol Pendref, Denbigh; Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gwernant, Llangollen; Denbigh High School and Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn are included in the second phase of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme.

Under the first phase a £90million investment saw a new school built for Rhyl High School and Ysgol Tir Morfa, a new faith school in Rhyl, Christ the Word Catholic School, a new joint site for Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras in Ruthin as well as a new schools at Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Ysgol Carreg Emlyn in Clocaenog.

A seven-classroom extension and refurbishment at Bodnant Community School, Prestatyn, a three-classroom extension and refurbishment at Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd and an extension and refurbishment of Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph were also included in this phase.

A proposal business case for the second phase of the programme, funded by the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council, will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting on September 22nd.  If approved the green light will be given to these projects which will see options for development at these schools progressed and business cases developed to seek the funding for individual projects. 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “Supporting young people is a priority for the Council under our Corporate Plan and during the first phase of the programme more than £90 million has been invested in Denbighshire’s schools benefiting more than 3,500 pupils.

“As well as the benefit to young people, the investment of £90m also impacted on the local economy with a strong emphasis placed on local procurement which saw five of the eight projects led by North Wales firms and work secured for many local contractors.

“The second phase of the programme is set to see further investment in Denbigh and Llangollen which will benefit even more pupils in the county. This investment will be targeted to ensure we address the condition of our school buildings and improve the pupils’ learning environment.

“The Council has also been lobbying the Welsh Government for additional funding to enable investment at Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen, St Brigid’s Denbigh and the primary sector in Rhyl as part of the second phase of the programme.”

New Audi flagship still has that old Vorsprungdurchtechnik

* The new Audi Q8.

Audi Q8 road test by Steve Rogers

Audi had one thing in mind for the Q8: Make it the best premium SUV money can buy.

And the flagship of the Q family makes quite a statement with design lines a little more adventurous than we are used to. 

Compared to not so pretty Q7 the Q8, with its restyled in your face grille, frameless doors and sloping coupe roofline, is really quite attractive.

Flagship or not the Q8 is 66mm shorter than Q7 although there is no shortage of space inside. With the split rear seat backs folded two could happily bed down for the night while there is oodles of room for long legged passengers in very comfortable seats. 

That dipping roofline rules out a third row but the job of hauling seven people is the province of Q7.

Make no mistake a lot of thought has gone into this car and that becomes evident once inside. 

It is a bit like taking your seats in a top class theatre and waiting for the curtain to rise on a star studded show. In this case the main event is the virtual cockpit, a full width screen in the driver's binnacle and two central screens, 10.2in up top for the car's main functions, navigation, telephone, Bluetooth and stuff you are never likely to use, with the lower 8.6in screen for the everyday functions of heating, radio and the like.

It looks like touchscreen but requires a gentle press on the function which gives a satisfying tick to let you know the job has been done. Trust me, this is clever stuff.

Not only is it the most technologically advanced set up I have come across it looks fantastic and although intimidating takes little time to work out. The star turn has to be the ability to use a finger to write the navigation address on to the face of the lower screen. That is so cool.

I did not try inputting Llanfair PG full out but most of the time the town, street, postcode is predicted and can be selected from a list to complete the operation. Voice control was not so effective but can work if you have the patience.

For the first time I have had an Audi not loaded with 10 grands worth of extras and that's because the top Vorsprung model gives you just about everything in one package so sit back and enjoy the luxury of fine leather, exquisite trim and finish and such niceties as air conditioned front seats, powered steering wheel adjustment and gobsmackingly clever Matrix LED lights that dance around like a ballet company. 

There is much more along with a list of safety features as long as your arm.

Air suspension is a given on cars at this level and the Audi is again bang on the money. There are several settings but just go for comfort and feel how the Q8 can stifle the jarring affect of potholes, poor surfaces and even speed humps.

I used Q8 to tow my caravan - I can think of cheaper and equally capable tow cars - but my goodness did it do the job. The combination of the air suspension and torque from the 3-litre turbo diesel make this a mighty towcar - it could pull two of my vans, and the slick eight speed auto box is a stress free match. It was also surprisingly fuel efficient returning 27mpg over 160 miles with my wife behind the wheel and 24mpg with me. No sarcy comments please.

Some of this fuel efficiency will be down to the 48 volt mild hybrid technology which allows the engine to coast without any throttle. Driving solo the Q8 hit 40mpg which is seriously good for a car of its size and weight.

I've been banging the petrol drum with the last few cars I have tested but from what I have just experienced my recommendation would be diesel because of the engine's refinement, performance and economy.

So is Q8 now the best premium SUV on the market? In some ways it is. It is a technological tour de force and ahead of everyone, and I have always said no one can trim a car like Audi excepting the super luxury motors of course. It does not handle as sharply as a Porsche Cayenne, but does that matter when the majority of its life will be cruising in the fast lane?

Can it topple Range Rover Velar from the top of the pile? Well for me the Velar still looks the part but that's about all. Such difficult choices!

Need to know

Q8 50 Vorsprung quattro

£84,375

3-litre TDI; 286bhp

0-62mph 6.3secs; 152mph

32.8mpg combined

228g/km. 1st yr tax £2175 then £145

Boot 605 to 1755 litres

Conservation work resumes on Old Lock Up

* Sue Hargreaves, chair of the Armoury Conservation Trust. 

* The renovated interior of the building. 

* The doorway.

* ... and the door knocker.

Conservation work has resumed on Llangollen's historic Old Lock Up building after being halted by lockdown.

In the last update given to llanblogger at the beginning of this year by the Armoury Conservation Trust which is undertaking the work, the team had just discovered a hidden original stone wall.

Now a trust spokesperson says: "Needless to say, progress has been hindered, and indeed came to a complete standstill, due to the pandemic.   

"However, with restrictions easing in recent months, we've welcomed the return of our team of top tradesmen.

"Stu Morris and son Brad have returned to repoint the stone wall with suitable lime mortar, entirely replace the wooden floorboards,  and insert a new partition wall, as well as fixing and replacing several doors.

"Jason Pryde has rerouted gas pipes, Les Davies has resited electrics, and Roger Morison has done an incredible job of oiling the new wooden floor, stripping and repainting historic doors, iron and woodwork, painting the shop in custom colours and fitting ironwork to our doors.

"Whilst there is still work to be done in the coming weeks, the progress is astonishing.

"The Armoury Conservation Trust is delighted to be bringing this important historic building back into use, and we look forward to our upcoming annual meeting to decide how best to share the space with Llangollen's residents."

Temporary increase in notice period for eviction to be extended

The temporary increase in notice periods for eviction, including those announced in July, will be extended to 31^st March 2021, Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James announced today.

Notice periods in relation to all tenancies, which had been due to return to their pre-Covid position after 30 September, will now be set at six months. However, where the reason for giving notice relates to anti-social behaviour or domestic violence, notice periods will revert to the pre-Covid position. These arrangements will be reviewed in December.

The extension is part of a wider package of Welsh Government funded measures to protect both tenants and landlords from the effects of the pandemic which include:

• a new low interest loan for tenants in rent arrears or struggling to pay their rent arrears because of Covid-19. The loan will be paid directly to landlords or agents and can be repaid over a period of up to five years at a rate of 1% APR
• a private rented sector helpline run by Citizen Advice Cymru for tenants struggling with rent, income or housing benefits to advise tenants on ways in which they can maximise their income and manage debt – with a view to helping them pay their rent if they can and hold on to their tenancies.

Addressing the Senedd, the Minister said: “The coronavirus pandemic is continuing to have a significant impact on daily life and is still posing major challenges for all of us. I have therefore acted to give additional protection to renters by extending the current six month notice periods for eviction, other than the notice periods for possession grounds relating to anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse which will revert to the pre-Covid position.

“I am committed to ensuring we continue to protect renters whilst at the same time mitigating impacts on landlords and protecting communities from the harmful effects of ongoing anti-social behaviour. Where rent arrears have accumulated due to Covid-19, private rented sector tenants will soon be able to apply for a loan through the Tenancy Saver Loan scheme when it opens for applications at the end of this month."

The Minister added: “While these changes offer greater protection to tenants, they are not an excuse for people not to pay their rent if they are able to, and address any financial problems they are experiencing. Having an early conversation with landlords to work out a way forward is vital, as is getting the right debt advice. This is why we have recently invested an extra £1.4m in advice services to ensure people have the help they need to build financial capability and to claim the benefits they are entitled to.”

In addition, eviction proceedings will not take place for properties in areas affected by local lockdowns and there will be a pause on eviction proceedings over the Christmas period.

Council chief quizzed over broken canal railings

* Karen Edwards's picture of the broken railings.

A council chief has been questioned about the safety of broken railings on the canal bridge near to Llangollen wharf.

Contacting Judith Greenhalgh, chief executive of Denbighshire County Council (DCC), late last month former town councillor Karen Edwards wrote: “I would like to draw your attention to the damaged railings on the canal wharf bridge. 

Supplying pictures of the damage, she added: “This damage occurred at least three years ago. It begs the question as to why this hasn’t been fixed and I would like to know what DCC intend to do about it.

“To be honest, we’re all getting pretty fed up with the lackadaisical approach being taken by DCC in this town and it’s high time DCC officers stepped up to the mark and stopped taking this town for granted as a ‘cash cow’ for DCC coffers.”  

Ms Greenhalgh responded: “As this relates to the parapet railing of the bridge I can confirm that the area was inspected by the Senior Engineer in the Structures team and he is of the view that the fence is still fit for purpose and is therefore a low priority in terms of repairs.

“Unfortunately the railing does get caught quite regularly by buses travelling up to the school but to rectify the alignment so that damage won’t occur is unfeasible.

“We do monitor the situation carefully and should any further damage occur then the position will of course be re-assessed.”

Ms Edwards wrote back to the chief executive saying she was “perplexed” by the response.

She told Ms Greenhalgh: “School buses do not use this route. The children attending Dinas Bran school walk to the Pavillion car park where the coaches are parked . I’m somewhat surprised you don’t seem to be aware of that.

“Coaches do however take tourists up Wharf Hill to Llangollen Wharf where visitors enjoy the canal boat trips.

“ Whilst I’m not a structural engineer, the photographs I provided clearly show that the metal railings are no longer securely fixed to the stone parapet base. When was this last inspected?

“Surely you are placing your council at risk of a negligence claim for failure to protect the safety of users of a public highway, both pedestrians, including the plethora of visitors and residents  that regularly walk that way to access the public footpath that leads up to Castell Dinas Bran, not to mention the school children and drivers of vehicles .

“The pedestrian access to the canal is also below that bridge, so what happens if a vehicle goes through those damaged unsecured railings and crashes onto the path below?

“Regardless of the safety aspects, which are paramount, the damaged railings look an absolute mess rather like the ones on the A539 also reported recently and damaged months ago.

“Bearing in mind that Llangollen is an important inland tourist destination set in the picturesque landscape of the World Heritage Site and AONB , this needs urgent attention  to deal with their damaged appearance.”

Welsh Government's coronavirus updates

 

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government are:

• The Welsh Government’s bespoke Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) has helped to protect more than 100,000 jobs across Wales during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures show.

• To date, the fund has delivered almost £300 million of support to more than 13,000 companies in Wales, which has been vital in helping businesses manage the challenges and economic impacts of coronavirus.
• https://gov.wales/more-100000-jobs-safeguarded-welsh-government-covid-fund

• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has made a statement about the NHS winter plan to the Senedd today https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/6563#A60247

• Press release https://gov.wales/winter-plan-health-and-social-services-wales-published

• Education Minister Kirsty Williams has made a statement about schools re-opening in the Senedd today https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/6563#A60245
• The latest summary report published by the Technical Advisory Cell is available at https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-cell-summary-advice-11-september-2020
• Download information about testing and contact tracing in languages from English and Welsh to Arabic and Tigrinya at https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-multilingual-information-about-coronavirus 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 110 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 19,681 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

• There have been a total of 1,597 deaths reported by Public Health Wales.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The latest ONS figures show the cumulative number of deaths involving coronavirus in Welsh residents to 4 September was 2,569.

• Of the deaths registered in the week ending 4 September 2020, there were provisionally four involving coronavirus registered in Welsh residents – one more than the previous week. Most deaths occurred in hospitals.
• The excess death rate for Wales for the period 29 February to 4 September was lower than in England (14% in Wales compared with 23% in England)
• The ONS figures for deaths are different to those provided by Public Health Wales as they include all deaths registered; they also measure deaths over a different time period.
• https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

Where to find the latest information

• Information about local restrictions in Caerphilly County Borough Council area: https://gov.wales/local-lockdown 

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• If you can help the effort to produce PPE in Wales please visit https://businesswales.gov.wales/news-and-blogs/news/provision-critical-equipment-and-personal-protection-equipment-ppe
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL translator.

They are held at 12.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.