Local testing centre reminder from county council

* The Covid testing centre on Market Street car park.

Denbighshire County Council is reminding residents in Llangollen and surrounding areas that a Covid-19 testing centre opened in the town last Saturday.

The centre based at County Hall, Ruthin, has now closed and has moved to the Market Street car park in Llangollen and is open between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

No appointments are necessary but the walk in/drive through session is open to those with symptoms that need a test.

The centres have been operated in partnership between Public Health Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Denbighshire County Council.

Councillor Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “These testing centres are extremely important facilities in the fight against coronavirus in the county.  They are so convenient and will provide some peace of mind to residents that they can access treatment if necessary.

“The centres at Rhyl and Ruthin have worked extremely well, with many residents taking the opportunity to come and have a test.  We look forward to working with our partners on the new centre in Llangollen and would encourage anyone displaying symptoms to come and take advantage of the services offered at the testing centre.”

Residents who are displaying symptoms and have been given self-isolation advice are asked to stay at home until the end of the self-isolation period.

MP becomes ambassador for small business

* Simon Baynes MP meets Siân Glyn-Jones from Courtyard Books. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has been appointed Small Business Ambassador for Wales by Conservative Party Chairman Amanda Milling.

In every region of the UK, a Conservative representative has been chosen to champion local firms. 

And on Small Business Saturday 12 Conservative MPs were chosen to as voices to represent businesses and help shape crucial government policy.

Mr Baynes said he was honoured and delighted to take on the new role. 

He said: "Since being elected in December last year, I’ve tried my very best to champion our small businesses in Clwyd South, and, along with my team, have been supporting many of them through the ongoing pandemic.

"This new role will enable me to better stand up for our local business leaders in Clwyd South and the rest of Wales, and to represent their voices to the UK Government as we rebuild our high streets and local economies post-Covid.”

Former Llan resident Peter Lingard dies in Thailand

 

* Peter Lingard, second from left, with members of his family.

A well-known character in Llangollen for many years, Peter Lingard, has died in Thailand at the age of 69.

Peter came to live in Llangollen over 30 years ago and soon developed many ties to local stage organisations, including the Operatic Society and the society’s junior section, The Young ‘Uns, of which he was a founder and director.

He was perhaps best known as the director and star of the St Collen’s annual pantomime.

For a number of years he ran the Welsh Love Spoon Centre gift shop at the corner of Market Street and East Street.

He moved from Llangollen and eventually went to live in Thailand where latterly he had been running a country club in Pattaya.

Peter leaves a family in this country.

Paying tribute to him, one of his sons, Nick Lingard, said: “He was a man of great character and had the power to light up the room within seconds! I’m sure a lot of you hold many happy memories with him from his many ventures down the years! He is going to be truly missed all over the world.”

Search is on for pet heroes of the pandemic

Pet charity Blue Cross, in collaboration with North Wales MS Mark Isherwood, are searching for Wales’ most loyal pet which has supported its owner or the wider community during the coronavirus pandemic. 

With research showcasing the positive impact between pet ownership and improved mental health, the competition seeks to celebrate pets who have been a positive influence on the mental health of its owners or wider community during the course of the pandemic.

Launching the competition in North Wales, Mr Isherwood said: “2020 has been a difficult year for us all, and we know pets have helped so many with their mental health and wellbeing. 

"I am delighted to be working with leading pet charity Blue Cross to acknowledge and celebrate this contribution and we’re calling on people across North Wales to nominate their covid hero – in order to find Wales’ most loyal pet.

“At a time when there is so much uncertainty in all of our lives and pressure on our wellbeing, this competition presents an excellent opportunity to recognise the applaud our pets for the positivity and happiness they bring into our lives.”

ITV Wales Weather Presenter Kelsey Redmore, one of the competition judges added: “As a pet lover I’m pleased to be supporting Blue Cross in trying to find Wales’ most loyal pet. I know of so many individuals who have found much needed companionship and support from their pets in this most difficult year. They have been a lifeline for many, and we look forward to celebrating the benefits of pet ownership in this special way.”

Speaking on behalf of Blue Cross, Head of Public Affairs Becky Thwaites said: “We are encouraging nominations from pet owners and friends of pets from across Wales. Submissions are to be sent to your regional or constituency MSs or MPs.

"You should include a summary of why your pet should be considered “Wales Most Loyal Pet of 2020”, highlighting how it has had a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing over the course of the pandemic, you can also include a picture.”

Please email your submissions to Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or post to his office in Mold: 8 Chester Street, Mold, CH7 1EG. The competition closes on January 11.

Shortlisted nominees will be published on February 1 and winner announced on February 5. The winner will receive amongst other things, a six-month subscription to Love Louie’s personalised pet boxes and vouchers for Pets at Home.

Rhug Estate owner wins top agriculture award

* Lord Newborough is presented the Dafydd Jones Memorial Award Cup, at a covid19 safe distance, by NFU Cymru Clwyd County Chairman, Dewi Jones. 

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate near Corwen, has been announced as the winner of NFU Cymru Clwyd Branch’s Dafydd Jones Memorial Award.

The award winner was announced last night at the NFU Cymru Clwyd County Conference which was held virtually. 

The Award Cup is presented annually to the NFU Cymru Clwyd member who has made a great contribution and a lasting, positive impact on agriculture in the county.

Dewi Jones, NFU Cymru Clwyd County Chairman, said: “Congratulations to Lord Newborough on winning this year’s award. He has made an enormous contribution to the local economy and the organic farming industry over many years. 

"His endeavour and dedication to his work sees him frequently travelling between Corwen, London, the middle and far east to meet customers face to face to explain the virtues of buying their meat from Wales.”

The Dafydd Jones Memorial Award was created in 2019 in memory of Dafydd Jones, from Pencoed Ucha, Pwllglas, who was the Clwyd County Chairman in 2019 but suddenly passed away after he courageously battled with Myeloma throughout the previous 18 months. Dafydd had represented his county on NFU Cymru’s Rural Affairs Board for eight years.

Lord Newborough said: “I am truly honoured to have been chosen for this award by my fellow local NFU Cymru members. It is particularly special this year as we have just celebrated our 20th anniversary of the farm being certified organic. This has been a tough year for the business but work on the farm has continued regardless of the pandemic as we, like all farmers, have continued to produce food for the nation.”

At the heart of Rhug is Lord Newborough’s commitment to an organic lifestyle. Rhug Farm is self-contained and a true ‘field to plate’ operation applying the highest standard of sustainability. Using the most sustainable farming practices Rhug prides itself on superior tasting meat products. 

The organic farming enterprise extends to two farms and has grown over the past 20 years to nearly 8,000 acres. Organic beef, lamb, chicken, deer, bison, turkey, goose, and game when in season, are reared on the farms. Rhug Farm Shop stocks almost 3,000 products from local suppliers and small businesses.

Café Rhug is located just next to the farm shop and creates dishes that are made with seasonal produce using Rhug’s own products where possible. For those who are on a much needed pit-stop, Rhug has the On The Hoof takeaway service. 

This takeaway isn't your average roadside burger van, it uses organic meat from the farm to create an unforgettable experience on-the-go. There is also the Drive Thru, which opened in 2018, the first opened on a farm in the UK for those that don’t have time to stop there is a wide selection of meals on the go.

Lord Newborough is adding value wherever he can, by utilising natural ingredients and wild forage off the Estate he has recently created a luxury, organic and sustainable skin care range to sell into the global market further putting north Wales on the world map as well as creating valuable employment into this rural part of the country where employment is hard to come by.

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.”