Welsh beef on the menu at three local schools

* Head cook Louise Roberts with Harlech Foodservices's Mark Lawton. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

Welsh beef is on the menu for pupils at Llangollen schools now a North Wales food distribution company has won the contract to supply over a million school meals a year for the county.

Harlech Foodservice won the three-year contract from a US-owned multi-national and have pledged that wherever possible the county's seven secondary and 48 primary schools - including Dinas Bran, Bryn Collen and Y Gwernant - will receive food sourced in North Wales.

Harlech Commercial Director Mark Lawton said: "This is a hugely important contract for us to win against competition from one of the biggest wholesalers in the UK.

"It shows we have the quality and the capacity to supply and deliver high quality food, including beef sourced from farms in North and Mid Wales, for well over a million meals a year.

"Pupils in Denbighshire eat 7,500 meals a day and each week the head cooks in each of the 55 schools in Denbighshire place their orders for some 35,000 meals and we have the capacity to guarantee delivery for that through our fleet of lorries and vans.

"It extends the service we provide for schools in North Wales where we already supply similar numbers of school meals for Gwynedd and Conwy which makes for over 100,000 school meals a month."

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council's Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: "We're very pleased to have been able to award this contract to a North Wales company because it is important that we support the regional economy wherever possible.

"Ensuring pupils at Denbighshire schools get healthy, varied and nutritious meals to improve learning and development is a priority for the council and this partnership helps ensure our School Meals Service can provide that.

"We know that the majority of their meat comes from their own farms and is prepared by their own butchers and that is another box we can tick.

"The contract has started and is going very well and Harlech have gone out of their way to adapt their systems to match with ours and it's good to know there is always someone on the end of the phone we can speak to.

"All the schools operate the same menu for the week and Harlech have that as well but it is still the head cook who orders for each school."

School Head Cook Louise Roberts places her orders twice a week and she said: "It works really well and the people we deal with at Harlech are very friendly and helpful.

"Most importantly it comes when I need it and that makes it much easier for me to organise the work and the menus.

"We have just done an American-themed week and Harlech were able to supply us with corn on the cob, potato waffles, donuts, ice-cream, milk shakes and burgers."

Harlech Foodservices bid for the contract through their membership of TUCO - The University Caterers Organisation - a framework which qualifies businesses to provide catering services for the public sector.

They recently signed a deal to supply meat to the expanding BBQ chain Hickory's Smokehouse which has 11 outlets from Southport to Worcester and other clients include Pendine Park Care Homes and the Portmeirion Hotel.

Welsh Conservatives choose Clwyd South Senedd candidate

* Barbara Hughes will fight Clwyd South for the Conservatives next year.

Farmer Barbara Hughes has been selected to fight the Clwyd South seat for the Welsh Conservatives in next year’s Senedd elections.

Mrs Hughes, who was born and bred in the constituency in Corwen, said she was delighted at her selection and planned to get straight on with holding the Welsh government to account for "failing policies".

She added: "I intend to stand up for local people, who deserve so much more than they get from the Welsh Government. Rural communities, like ours, are the backbone of Wales. We need more support and I will fight to make sure we get it.”

Securing more backing for local businesses is close to her heart, she says.

She runs a 220-acre dairy farm with her husband Derek on the Clwyd South border – as well as PYO pumpkin and strawberry ventures.

Mrs Hughes, who is a Welsh speaker, said: “I understand the needs and challenges of working in business, because I have set up and developed my own from scratch.”

A mentor for the Welsh Government Farming Connect programme, she says she is also passionate about improving communication and connectivity.

“I want to see the digital agenda developed further. With Covid-19 and more of us working from home, we need to make absolutely sure that rural communities are not disadvantaged by slow broadband speeds.”

Increased funding for local schools and the health service are among her top priorities, she explained.

Mrs Hughes is a former National Vice Chairman for the Women’s Farming Union (WFU) and served as Dairy Chairman. 

She was also the first lady chairman of Wrexham National Farmers Union (NFU). She  won the NFU Cymru Wales Woman Farmer of the Year in 2011.

Married with three children and five grandchildren, in her spare time, she enjoys reading, swimming and equestrian sports. 

New coronavirus measures from this Friday announced

PUBS, bars, restaurants and cafes in Wales will be forced to stop selling alcohol and to shut by 6pm in a new round of restrictions that begin on Friday night ahead of Christmas, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said.

The new regulations that come into force from 6pm on December 4 will also see cinemas, bowling alleys and other indoor entertainment venues forced to shut their doors until they are reviewed on December 17.

The announcement comes just three weeks after the end of Wales's 17-day firebreak lockdown and amid another rise in coronavirus cases particularly among under-25s in 17 of the country's 22 local authorities.

Earlier this afternoon Mr Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff that scientific and medical advisers believed unless further restrictions were put in place, the number of people in hospital in Wales with Covid-19 could rise to 2,200 people by January 12.

Modelling suggested another 1,600 people could also lose their lives over the winter period, he said.

Mr Drakeford told the Welsh Government's press briefing: "The measures we are taking are based on what the UK SAGE group of experts tells us has worked best elsewhere.

"From 6pm on Friday, our national measures will be amended to introduce new restrictions for hospitality and indoor entertainment attractions.

"Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will have to close by 6pm and will not be allowed to serve alcohol. After 6pm they will only be able to provide takeaway services."

* The Welsh Government is making a further £340m available through the Economic Resilience Fund to support businesses affected by the new changes to the regulations. It will include a specific fund to support hospitality and tourism businesses.

The new Welsh Government support is split into two funds: a £160m Restrictions Business Fund and a £180m sector-specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

The Restrictions Business Fund will enable eligible businesses in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors which pay non-domestic rates (NDR) to access grants of up to £5,000.

It is estimated around 60,000 businesses, with a rateable value of under £150,000 will receive this support.  

Businesses not on the NDR system, will be able to continue to apply to local authorities for the Lockdown Discretionary Grant of up to £2,000.

In addition, hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses will be able to access a sector specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

Small and medium sized businesses meeting the criteria could receive up to £100k. Larger Welsh-based businesses could receive up to a maximum of £150k.

This part of the package is expected to support up to 8,000 businesses in these sectors and a further 2,000 in the related supply chains.

More information about the funding and how it can be accessed will be published on the Business Wales website in the coming days.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “These are incredibly difficult days for businesses and these decisions have not been taken lightly.

“We expect today’s £340m announcement to support tens of thousands of businesses and help protect many more jobs and livelihoods. It must also be remembered that UK Government support is also available to businesses.

“We will continue to do everything we can to support our firms and our people through these challenging times.”

Health centre booking flu jab appointments for 50-64 year olds

* The huge queue for over-65s drive-through flu jabs at the Pavilion recently.

Llangollen Health Centre is now booking appointments for a flu clinic at Llangollen Pavilion on Sunday December 13th for the 50 to 64 year-old age group.

* If you wish to have a flu vaccination and you fall into this age category please ring the health centre on 01978 860625.

Former Llan PE man could have a role at Wrexham FC, suggests story

* The picture by Rob McElhenney that appeared on Twitter.

Hollywood star Rob McElhenney has hinted that a former PE teacher in Llangollen could have a role in the new-look Wrexham FC, suggests a story in Welsh news service Nation.Cymru.  

McElhenney, who recently sealed a deal for the club alongside fellow star Ryan Reynolds, tweeted that he would “never get into an airplane unless you trust the people flying it” and included a picture of himself standing next to Peter Moore, who is also a former Liverpool CEO.

He was wearing a Wrexham AFC face mask and Peter Moore a Liverpool FC facemask.

The story says Moore, 66, spent three years as CEO at Anfield having arrived in June 2017 and oversaw a period of growth and success on and off the field before handing over the reins to Billy Hogan at the end of August.

He had previously been linked with a return to the game to oversee the challenge of getting Wrexham into gear in the event of a successful takeover by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The former Reebok, Sega, Microsoft and EA Sports executive has his roots in Wales and recently became honorary president of Gresford Athletic, a lower-tier Welsh side that plays four miles from the Racecourse Stadium.

Moore was a PE teacher at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen before moving to the United States.

Campaign starts to bring back lost recycling facility

 

* A poster produced to promote the campaign. 

A Llangollen resident has started a campaign – complete with petition – for the return of a recycling facility to the Dee Valley.

Phil Jones claims that while 13 years have passed since the closure of the old refuse tip at Wenffrwd off the A539 no action has been taken by Denbighshire County Council (DCC) on commitments to look for a replacement site or a joint deal with neighbouring Wrexham for Llangollen residents to use its Plas Madoc recycling centre.

He said: “Both the Welsh Government  and DCC trumpet their achievements in recycling, but this doesn’t match reality in the Dee Valley where we have been kept in the dark by DCC and our elected representatives.

“So, 13 years have passed and what has DCC achieved?

“No replacement site was ever found and facilities were closed in Carrog and Corwen. Plans are now in hand to build a new facility in Denbigh, though.

“Negotiations with Wrexham CBC fizzled out without a conclusion and no formal agreement for access to Plas Madoc was obtained.

“With covid restrictions we now have little or no recycling service in Llangollen, and Wrexham CBC has banned non-resident access to Plas Madoc.

“I asked one of our county councillors what officers were doing to address this problem and was told there was ‘no appetite’ to negotiate a deal with WCBC.

“This information was soon contradicted when I subsequently wrote to the Welsh Minister and to the chief executive of DCC. I was assured that DCC was more than willing to collaborate with its neighbouring authorities to negotiate cross border arrangements for such things as access to recycling sites.

“Happy to know that common sense had prevailed, I waited a month or two expecting that an announcement would soon be made. I heard nothing, so I wrote to both chief executives of DCC and WCBC. I have never had a reply from DCC but I did get a response from WCBC.

“They are open to negotiation of an access agreement, but of course DCC will have to pay for it. Nothing will be set up before April 2021, I am told, and then it must be conditional on DCC allocating the necessary funds required.”

Mr Jones added: “Based on DCC’s performance over the last 13 years I have no confidence that they will be resolving this issue anytime soon.

“And because of their inability to communicate with their ratepayers, I think it would be foolish to wait until April next year to find out whether they intend to offer a full recycling facility in the Dee Valley.

“As a first step we should ask our county councillors, Messrs Timms and Mile, to get the free collection of bulky waste items for residents in LL20 reinstated.

“In order to push DCC into action we have to start a campaign.”

He says a petition is now open for signature, either online at https://www.change.org/p/denbighshire-county-council-return-of-recycling-in-llangollen-and-the-dee-valley or in person at Watkin & Williams, Gwyn the Butcher, Lilly Rose Interiors, or Fouzi’s Cafe.

Mr Jones added that paper copies of the petition will be available for signature as an alternative to the online version at these shops in week commencing today (Sunday).

Collen Players present smash-hit online Christmas show

* Show chairman Father Lee Taylor.

The Collen Players went online to present their Christmas variety show yesterday evening.

Unable to perform before their usual audience due to the pandemic they observed strict social distancing to livestream their hour-long mixture of song and fun on their own Facebook page.

Their aim was to bring a little pre-festive light to a grimly locked-down world.

And hundreds from across the UK and abroad tuned in to watch them.

Acts were accompanied on the piano by Owen Roberts. 

Presented as usual by their founder Father Lee Taylor, vicar of St Collen’s, who opened with his traditional brand of patter, the whole thing kicked off with a rousing version of Couple of Swells from Julie Thomas and Gethin Davies.

* Julie Thomas and Gethin Davies are a couple of swells.

Next to take to the stage was Phil Robinson reprising a couple of music hall favourites, Champagne Charlie and The Spaniard That Blighted My Life.

* Phil Robinson is Champagne Charlie.

Things were slowed down beautifully when Susan Stokes sang Wouldn’t It Be Lovely from My Fair Lady and O Holy Night.

* Wouldn't It Be Lovely sings Susan Stokes.

The show stayed in reflective mood as Mike Connolly presented the very seasonal Do You Hear What I Hear? And Adeste Fidelis.

* Mike Connolly sings Adeste Fidelis.

Gethin Davies returned for a light-hearted couple of numbers, My Old Dutch and Have Some Madeira M’Dear.

* Gethin Davies presents Have Some Madeira M'Dear.

Young Shea Ferron, who also arranged the technical bits of the show, switched into his other mode as a talented singer to ring out If I Can’t Love Her from Beauty and the Beast and the poignant Christmas in the Trenches.

* Shea Ferron sings the moving Christmas in the Trenches.

There was more music hall-style patter from Father Lee – including the naughty Marrow Song - before special guest Santa Claus was called up to deliver a Christmas message which spoke of Llangollen’s resilience in the face of the ongoing pandemic.

The show ended on just the right note with a rousing version of White Christmas.

* Santa Claus, a close associate of the new Town Mayor, Austin "Chem" Cheminais, delivers his Christmas message.

* A recording of the show can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/collenplayers