Latest schemes to help covid-hit businesses

Denbighshire County Council is informing tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses about the latest tranche of funding to support those affected by covid-19 and how to apply for assistance.

The First Minister announced earlier this month that additional grant schemes to support local businesses would be implemented. 

The two headline schemes are known as the Restrictions Business Rates Fund and the Restrictions Fund Discretionary payments.   

The Restrictions Business Rates Fund will be available for businesses within the Tourism, Hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value of £12,000 or less and which are materially impacted as a result of the restrictions will receive a payment of £3,000. 

The maximum number of awards for the £3,000 grant is two, which is in line with the Small Business Rates Scheme.

Tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses and their supply chains with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £150,000 and materially impacted by the restrictions will receive a payment of £5,000, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.  

There is no maximum number of awards under the retail, hospitality and leisure scheme.

Direct payments totalling £1.42 million will be made to 415  businesses  in the tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors  that applied for the firebreak grant funding and who meet the criteria.  

There will be no need to apply as the council will be making these payments directly, on behalf of Welsh Government by the end of this week.

Those businesses that did not previously apply for the firebreak funding, or who believe they may now meet the eligibility criteria can apply online, at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/coronavirus from Wednesday, 16 December at 3pm onwards.  

The Restrictions Discretionary Fund scheme will be put in place to support businesses that do not have a Business Rates liability.   

Discretionary grants of up to £2,000 will be available for those not on the non-domestic rating list. This scheme will be opened on Tuesday, 15^th December at 10.00 am at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/coronavirus 

Applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. This may lead to applications not being appraised after they have been submitted if the fund is fully committed.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “We have heard from businesses across Denbighshire that have suffered financially as a result of covid-19 and some are dependent on national funding  like this to bridge the gap and remain in operation.

“These latest funding packages will hopefully provide some financial assistance to alleviate some of the financial pressures and concerns facing businesses during these times."

MP shares call for enforced 20mph limit on Brook Street

* Jean Briffett and her guide dog Wendy with Simon Baynes MP outside her home on Brook Street.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially distanced visit to meet Jean Briffett and her guide dog Wendy in Llangollen and to learn more about the concerns of visually-impaired people navigating outdoor spaces in the town.

They stopped off in Brook Street where the lack of pavement outside Jean’s home means she has to step out of her gate and directly onto the road – potentially into oncoming traffic.

She said: “Visually-impaired people, and particularly guide dog and long cane users, rely on the kerb as a way of navigating the streets. 

"It’s extremely worrying for me when I have to go to the shops with Wendy – and I think it’s an issue that needs looking at.”

Mr Baynes said: “Having visited and seen Jean and Wendy cross the road outside her home, and the obstacles they face simply by walking down the road, I fully support her call for an enforced 20mph speed restriction on Brook Street, with clear signage and road markings so that motorists understand the importance of sticking to the speed limit.”

Pilot of Covid-19 jab roll-out to care homes begins

A pilot for the roll-out of the COVID-19 Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine to Welsh care homes is to begin on Wednesday, just over a week after the first jab was administered in the UK, the Health Minister has announced.

A designated care home in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will be the first in Wales to receive the vaccine, with teams in additional Health Boards taking the vaccine to care homes later this week.

The initial roll-out of the vaccine to care home staff, health and social care workers and those aged 80 and over began on Tuesday 8^th across the UK, based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Wales and other UK administrations are guided by these recommendations.

There had been concerns about maintaining the stability of the Pfizer / BioNtech vaccine outside hospital vaccination centres as it usually needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees centigrade.

The Welsh Government has discussed at length with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the vaccine’s manufacturer how to repackage and transport the vaccine without compromising the standards of safety and efficacy patients rightly expect. This meant that until now it had not been efficient to take the vaccine to care home residents.

This will mean Health Boards can take the vaccine to settings with at least five residents, rather than using it only in static vaccination centres. It will take a number of days to train staff and ensure standard procedures are drawn up and validated.

At first the vaccine will be issued to care homes in proximity to hospital pharmacies, but it is planned for the vaccine to be available in other settings in coming weeks, once learnings from the care home pilot has been captured.

The effects of the vaccine may not be seen nationally for many months and the advice on keeping Wales safe remains the same for everyone; keep contacts with other people to a minimum, keep a 2 metre distance from others, wash hands regularly, wear a face covering where required and avoid touching surfaces others have touched, wherever possible.

The Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “Following Wales' successful roll-out of the first COVID vaccine last week, we are starting the care home resident phase of the programme carefully; however we need to continue to make sure we can safely transport the vaccine to people who can’t come to clinics.

“If all goes well this week, we will roll out care home vaccination ahead of Christmas, bringing a new level of protection to some of our most vulnerable people.

“Our NHS staff have done a fantastic job to get this first vaccine out in a safe and timely manner. I’m extremely grateful for their hard work on this and across the course of the pandemic.”

Dr Gill Richardson, Chair of Wales’ COVID-19 Vaccine Programme, said: “The delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine to care home staff and residents has always been a priority for the Welsh Government. We have been working for months to meet the challenges of distribution and believe we have a feasible solution which we will deploy at pilot sites from Wednesday. Care home staff have been offered immunisation at Health Board centres whilst awaiting the mobile model to commence.”

“We are now very confident NHS hospitals can safely repackage and transport vaccine to care home without compromising its stability.”

As further supplies become available and additional vaccines receive MHRA approval, a staged approach will see other groups be offered the vaccine, based on risk of serious complications and deaths.

People are urged to wait to be invited, which will happen through NHS systems. Please do not ask your pharmacist or GP.

Council chief hears complaints about traffic changes first hand

* A problem with unloading outside 

Barnardos charity shop.

* Difficult cash servicing at Spar with 

the new double yellow lines.

Businesses in the town centre don’t feel their views were properly listened to before the county council made a series of major changes to Llangollen’s traffic system, according to the man who is acting as their spokesman.

But former Chamber of Tourism and Trade chairman David Davies says that after taking him on a guided tour of the area and meeting some of the traders this morning (Monday) the county councillor who authorised the moves had “definitely been listening” to what they told him.  

The changes, which are aimed at making for easier social distancing, include widening pavements in Castle Street - removing its on-street parking bays - and on Abbey Road reversing the one-way traffic flow in Church Street and making Market Street partially one-way. 

Just  after the moves were brought in an online petition to the county council gathered scores of signatures from people who were opposed to the changes.

And Mr Davies issued an invitation to County Councillor Brian Jones, Denbighshire’s lead member for waste, transport and the environment, to come to the town and speak to traders who say their businesses have been adversely affected by the package.

This morning Cllr Jones, accompanied by Ben Wilcox-Jones, the senior engineer who oversaw the changes, and Llangollen county councillor Melvyn Mile, was taken on a tour of the town centre by Mr Davies.

Mr Davies said: “I asked for the meeting with Cllr Jones because people with businesses in the area didn’t feel sufficient weight was given to their opinions about how the new scheme would operate.

“They didn’t feel they were listened to.

“We met the people involved in various businesses affected, including the book shop, cafe and gift shop in the courtyard off Castle Street, the Barnardos charity shop, Trespass, the butchers, the jewellers and The Bull public house.

“They all told him in detail about how they are being affected by the changes and many of the complaints concerned the lack of adequate loading and unloading facilities in Castle Street and Market Street.

“There were also complaints about the loss of the ability for people to leave their vehicles for a few minutes to ‘pop and shop’ and the lack of suitable disabled access.”

Mr Davies added: “I thought it was a very worthwhile meeting and I’d like to thank Cllr Jones for agreeing to meet us.

“I got the impression that he was listening to what he was being told and he said he would now discuss the issues raised with Mr Wilcox-Jones.

“I was asked to be the co-ordinating point for any further feedback from the local business community.”

Councillor Jones said: “We were pleased to take up the opportunity to meet up with some of the traders in Llangollen.  The main issues of concern they raised were  around the loading and unloading restrictions, enforcement and some traffic flow issues on Castle Street. 

“We thought it was a very constructive meeting and we welcomed the opportunity to discuss the changes directly with them and to listen to their concerns.

"We have made a commitment from the beginning of the scheme to continue to monitor the position and review the changes on a regular basis."

Serial testing in schools and colleges from January

The Welsh Government has announced plans to roll out serial testing in schools and colleges from January.

Under this process, pupils and staff identified as close contacts would be asked to either self-isolate as normal or to take a lateral flow test at the start of the school day for the duration of the self-isolation period.  

Those who test negative would continue attending school as normal, those who test positive would be required to self-isolate and book a confirmatory test.

Schools and colleges will be offered support, equipment and training.  All staff working in special schools will be offered weekly testing.

Education Minister Kirsty Williams said: “Throughout this pandemic our priority has been to deliver maximum learning with as minimal disruption as possible.

“The plans we are announcing today will play an integral role in delivering on that priority.

“We recognise that it has not been easy for pupils and staff who have been required to self-isolate as a result of having been identified as a ‘close contact’ and we recognise the impact it has had on face-to-face teaching.

“Earlier this month we announced the reduction in the period of time for which a person needs to self-isolate from 14 days to 10 days.

“Following discussions with Public Health Wales and the Children and Schools Technical Advisory Cell, we are pleased to confirm that we will introduce a serial testing programme in schools and further education settings in the new year.”

Lateral flow testing detects the presence of the Covid-19 viral antigen from a swab sample.

LFTs are handheld devices which produce results within 20 to 30 minutes, with the potential to be self-administered.

Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething added: “The lessons we have learnt from using LFTs in pilots in higher education institutions across Wales and secondary schools in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf will help inform how we can successfully deliver lateral flow testing in schools and other education settings in the future.

“It is vital everyone understands that testing alone cannot eradicate the risks associated with contracting and transmitting Covid-19. 

“Testing helps to mitigate the risk but it needs to be taken alongside other infection prevention control measures, including appropriate social distancing and hand hygiene measures.

“We are grateful to everyone in the sector who has worked hard to make sure these measures are in place.”

The Welsh Government intends to roll out testing to all schools and further education settings, including primary and childcare staff.

However, in order to ensure there is a model that works and is safe, the roll out will be phased on levels of risk starting with secondary schools and further education settings.

Couple's custom-made decorations hand-crafted with love

* Wendy and Andy Radley outside their Flower Studio near Llanarmon yn Ial. 

* An example of their work.

A wreath on the front door or a floral centrepiece for the Christmas lunch table may be part of a romantic festive scene and for one Denbighshire business couple the beautiful countryside surrounding their home provides inspiration for their artistic creations, all hand crafted with love with incredibly realistic and long-lasting artificial flowers. 

Making an Entrance is a company run by Wendy and Andy Radley from their home in the Clwydian Range near Llanarmon yn Ial. 

Everything is made to order in a log cabin-style Flower Studio which they converted from a stables at the bottom of their garden.

Making door wreaths and centrepieces all year round which reflect each new season, their company motto is ‘A wreath isn’t just for Christmas’

Originally from Warrington, the couple moved to Llanarmon at the end of October 2019 and have got actively involved in community life, including volunteering in the local shop and singing in the community choir. 

They have also been busy with their online shop: www.makinganentranceuk.co.uk, an Etsy Shop and have a combined total of 8000+ active followers on their Making An Entrance U.K. Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Making An Entrance has received nothing less than a 5 star rating from hundreds of genuine customers for the quality of their products and exceptional customer service, these are proudly displayed at their online shop, Etsy shop, Facebook and Google pages and is perhaps why they have attracted so many social media followers and loyal customers in Denbighshire, throughout Wales and the rest of the U.K. even as far afield as the U.S, Canada, Australia and Europe. 

The company is one of a number of businesses across Denbighshire supporting the Winter Shopping campaign, co-ordinated by Denbighshire County Council, which encourages residents in the county to support local businesses this winter.

Wendy said: “We moved to Wales a year ago from Warrington to start our new ‘chapter‘ as ‘Empty Nesters’ as our two boys have ‘flown the nest’ and it’s the best thing we’ve ever done. The move here has allowed us to build a lovely flower studio with inspiring country views where I can create seasonal floral decor for my lovely clients all year round”. 

“Unfortunately during the lockdown Andy was made redundant from his management position with a national construction company so we have worked really hard together to create new business opportunities, generate increased sales and to grow our company reputation, particularly here in Wales. 

"Andy is now working for the business full time we make a good team: he has taken over many of the (non-creative) tasks which I previously did myself including delivering orders to local clients (following Covid safety guidelines) which allows me to fulfil more orders and therefor increase our sales revenue. 

“As a small business we have a limited budget for advertising so we rely on word of mouth and promoting our business with local Facebook groups. The support we’ve received has been incredible. I’m delighted to say my sales figures have increased week on week even during the pandemic for which Andy and I are incredibly grateful."

Wendy added: "Clients often share with me the ‘stories’ behind their Making An Entrance purchases. I find it both humbling and heart-warming to have such an insight into the love between families and friends separated by Covid and to be able to facilitate their acts of kindness by making the floral gifts they’ve ordered and delivering them to their loved ones‘ doors on their behalf.   

"I have clients who purchase wreaths for the gravesides of loved ones, others order door / wall wreaths to brighten their surroundings and to cheer themselves up, particularly those who are now working from home who have often described feelings of loneliness and feeling imprisoned in their own homes.

“I’ve made heart-shaped floral wreaths to be delivered to elderly relatives in care homes to show them they are loved by those on the outside and to remind them they will be together again soon. I’ve created flower wreaths for brides and grooms whose wedding plans have been changed and numbers reduced and yet they remain determined to say ‘I Do’. I’ve made wreaths to be sent as gifts from my clients to nurses and teachers to show their gratitude for the amazing work they do.

“And recently, in response to client demand I’ve created a personalised, heart-shaped door / wall wreath with a heart pendant at the centre inscribed with the words ‘A Hug In A Heart’ for my clients who are wanting to show family and friends how much they miss seeing them due to local travel restrictions and social distancing measures. These are just a few examples of why every single order is hand-made with love.

“I am incredibly proud of our small business and extremely grateful to our loyal clients, particularly during these difficult economic times.   I feel blessed to do what I love for a living for clients who truly appreciate the effort my husband and I put in to offer quality hand-made products and exceptional customer service." 

Hundreds turn up for drive-through flu jab session

* Cars queue for the drive-through flu jab session at the Pavilion.

Hundreds of eligible people in the 50 to 64 year old age group turned up at a rain-swept Llangollen Pavilion for their flu jabs this morning (Sunday).

Those receiving the injections in the busy drive-through session, which has now finished, had to pre-book their places. 

The jabs were given by a team from Llangollen Health Centre while volunteers from the Tidy Town Team took care of traffic management.