Temporary "pods" to be provided for care homes

Temporary ‘pods’ are being provided to care homes across Wales to better facilitate visits over Christmas and the winter months, the Health Minister has announced today (Monday).

The £3million pilot will cover the procurement, installation and lease of 100 units, with an initial 30 being installed and ready to use before Christmas.

The semi-permanent units will be available for a period of six months, whilst longer-term solutions are sourced and put in place.

This also includes £1million for plans to support providers who prefer to make their own arrangements on a similar basis.

Expanding capacity within care homes, says the Government, will help to better support risk-assessed visiting during the winter months as some care providers have found it difficult to support socially distanced visits due to a lack of internal visiting space.

Visiting restrictions for care homes were eased as wider lockdown restrictions were lifted in the summer, and again following the fire-break. 

Since August, guidance has supported the reintroduction of indoor visits where possible with a designated indoor visitor.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “We all know how difficult recent months have been for people living in care homes and their loved ones, however ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable has always been paramount.

“We recognise both the distress and sadness that has been experienced since March, but also the desire from care homes to facilitate visits before and during Christmas as well as throughout the winter. Having engaged with key stakeholders, we are confident these units are a way to enable meaningful visits to take place.

“The pilot scheme will help us to understand whether visiting pods are an effective and practical way of supporting meaningful visits. We will use this learning to determine whether we should consider commissioning a bespoke Wales-based solution in future if the course of the pandemic means this is required.”

Work starts on 'pocket park' at old tip site

Work has started on the new "pocket park" being built on the former council refuse tip at Wenffrwd off the A539 on the approach road to Llangollen.

David Shiel, area manager for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of which the land is part, said: "This first phase will see the development of a small car park and new access road which we would hope to finish by end of February next year.

"We will then develop some trails around the site and hopefully onto the canal.  

"We are also working towards a link back to the Health Centre along part of the old railway line."

He added: "There are some lovely walks around the site with great views along the Dee Valley and up towards the Panorama.

"I think it is going to be a great additional area to explore in the valley." 

Inner Wheel plans Christmas stall on Tuesday Market

Llangollen Inner Wheel is planning to have a Christmas stall at the Tuesday Market on December 1st.

Vice president Eileen Dart said: "Usually at this time of the year we are making plans for our main fund event which is Christmas Cheer held annually in the Town Hall. 

"Along with most other groups we have had to cancel this and most other events for this year. 

"We are however planning to have a Christmas stall on the Tuesday Market on Tuesday, December 1st, weather permitting. If it is wet we will hold it on the following Tuesday."

MP speaks out in support of wedding venues during pandemic

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) spoke out in support of the wedding venue industry in  his constituency during a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament.

Mr Baynes addressed fellow MPs during the Live Events and Weddings: Covid-19 Support debate, stressing the importance of the issue to his constituents and the local economy. 

He spoke about the series of roundtable virtual meetings that he has organised over the last few months with representatives from the Clwyd South wedding venue industry, such as Tracey Owen of Tyn Dwr Hall and others from further afield in Wales. 

These meetings were also regularly attended by UK and Welsh Government Ministers.

Mr Baynes also highlighted the importance of the industry to rural economies such as those in parts of Clwyd South. 

And he stressed that while this is a devolved issue in Wales, it was vitally important to recognise that the wedding venue industry across the UK is facing the same issue.

During his speech, he said: “The limit on numbers for wedding venues, whether that be 15 or 30, is arbitrary and should be related to the size of the venue. 

"The limit is out of kilter with European venues, where the figure is often significantly higher - up to 100. The venues I talked to say that in the majority of cases, 50 guests is an economic number, and that it is difficult to break even with lower numbers.

“With all due respect to everyone in the health industry, weddings are not super spreaders of the virus. All the guests are known to the bride and groom and therefore easier to control in terms of track and trace by the venue. There is also a strong vested interest among the guests—to them, there are no random guests—to look after each other health-wise.

“Plenty of economic support has come forward but, as many have said this afternoon, it is not targeted in the way that it needs to be for wedding venues. 

"One suggestion of a practical solution, given that a lot of venues are suffering from the withdrawal of clients’ deposits - that is now getting to be a very serious problem - would be the underwriting or financial furloughing of those deposits. 

"That would bring stability and a breathing space so that the wedding venues can plan with greater confidence for the future.”

Business Minister, Paul Scully MP, in his closing remarks for the debate, said: "It is pleasing to see the dedication of my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd South (Simon Baynes) who, as a number of people have done, has brought the industry together, listened to the sector, reflected on its views and been working tirelessly for those sectors that are so hard pressed and unable to open fully, or in some cases at all."

 

Santa launches virtual grotto for good causes

 

* Santa's Grotto is going virtual this year.

Llangollen’s new Town Mayor Austin Cheminais, who works very closely with Santa Claus, has unveiled the latest of his ideas to make Christmas a little brighter this year.

He said: “Santa and I are I’m trying to help make Christmas just as special for the children of Llangollen as it is in other years, in spite of the current pandemic.

“As well as asking residents to decorate their houses and gardens to Light up Llangollen and hoping that we can create a Christmas Scarecrow trail, I’m opening a virtual Santa’s Grotto and am hoping to create video messages for the children who would normally see me in Santa in a local grotto.

“If you’d like a personal Christmas video message contact Santa for details. He now has his own email address at: santa@btinternet.com, or you can call me on 07813 761766 and I’ll pass on the message.

“It will cost £10 with all proceeds going to Wales Air Ambulance.”

The Mayor added: “This time of year Santa usually raises about £1,000 for Wales Air Ambulance and Llangollen Christmas Festival also raises a similar amount.

“I’ve set up a Just Giving account for Wales Air Ambulance and am hoping that the Llangollen Community will help. Anyone who wants to contribute can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/VirtualSanta

Friends rally round to help pay for young mum's funeral

* Rachael Taylor died at the age of just 34.

Friends of a young mum rallied round to pay for her funeral when she died suddenly at the age of just 34.

Rachael Taylor lived in Ruabon with her partner Sam and 11-year-old daughter Libby-Mae but was originally from Llangollen and attended Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Dinas Bran.

When she died a friend started up a Just Giving page in her memory.

So far this has so far raised over £3,300 towards the cost of her funeral, which takes place at Pentre Bychan Crematorium next Friday morning.

The funeral cortege will be leaving Hill Street at 11.15am on November 27 and going over the bridge for those wishing to pay their respects.

The funeral itself will have a limited number of mourners due to social distancing requirements.

* The Just Giving page can be found at:  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rachaeltaylor

Roadworks update

Latest roadworks update from one.network is:

Chapel Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 23 November — 25 November   Delays unlikely - Traffic control (give & take)   Works location: LLANGOLLEN BARBER SHOP CHAPEL STREET...   Works description: Boundary box Install 25mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )...   Responsibility for works: Dee Valley Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060355957