Army helps ambulance service cope with Covid work

The Welsh Ambulance Service has re-enlisted the support of the military as it contends with a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 90 soldiers will once again assist the Trust’s Covid-19 effort by driving ambulance vehicles from tomorrow (Wednesday).

Among them will be soldiers from 9 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps.

On Sunday, Chief Executive Jason Killens visited their headquarters in Chippenham, where soldiers were undergoing training ahead of deployment.

He said: “The extreme pressure on our ambulance service in the last couple of weeks has been well documented, and it’s why we’ve taken the decision to re-enlist the military, who did a superb job of assisting us earlier in the year.

“Winter is our busiest period, and with the second wave of a global pandemic also to contend with, this is about bolstering our capacity as far we can and putting us in the best possible position to provide a safe service to the people of Wales.

“We’re proud and grateful once again to be working alongside the military in the collective effort against Covid-19, and I know colleagues will extend the same warm welcome as they did the first time around.”

More than 20,000 military personnel have been supporting public services across the UK during the pandemic as part of a ‘COVID Support Force’.

Their support of the Welsh Ambulance Service forms part of the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangement.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: “With coronavirus case rates at high levels in many areas of Wales, it’s welcome and reassuring that our Armed Forces will help our ambulance and NHS services during what is set to be a very busy winter period. 

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the military has stepped up to support health services across Wales with the distribution of PPE, construction of a temporary hospital in Cardiff, assisting community testing in the South Wales Valleys and will help roll out community vaccine in the coming months. 

“The use of the Armed Forces to help with this vital work demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to meet the needs of the whole of the United Kingdom as we continue to tackle the pandemic.”

Minister of the Armed Forces, James Heappey, added: “The whole of the United Kingdom must pull together if we are to overcome coronavirus and get back to the way of life we know and value.

“Our Armed Forces will do this again in Wales by joining the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust for the second time this year.

 

“Ninety four military personnel, including medics and drivers, will support the ambulance service as they care for the most vulnerable during these challenging times.”

Residents thanked for efforts during pandemic

* Cllr Hugh Evans.

Denbighshire County Council has thanked residents for their efforts to battle the spread of coronavirus this year and is urging people to follow Welsh Government regulations at Christmas.

It comes as the Welsh Government moved the country into alert Level 4 on December 20.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council, said: “I would like, on behalf of the council, to thank our residents for everything they have done this year to keep the most vulnerable members of our communities and frontline workers safe. Our communities have pulled together and this has had a real impact.

“I know the tightening of regulations over Christmas has been hugely disappointing after what has already been a very difficult year, many families will be making sacrifices and will experience a very different Christmas this year.

“With news the new strain of the virus is more infectious, spreads more quickly, and the number of cases is rising we have to act now to stop it, that means it is more important than ever to follow Welsh Government regulations.

“People should continue to practice social distancing and stringent hygiene measures and self-isolate for the full period if you have been contacted by Test, Trace and Protect.

“I want to wish our residents a Merry Christmas and encourage them to enjoy themselves in a responsible way so we can all play our part to continue to help protect our local communities.”

Welsh Government restrictions came into force on December 20 and include limiting household mixing to two households on Christmas Day only.

Throughout alert level 4 rules on household mixing have been tightened, there is a focus on staying-at-home with only essential travel permitted while all non-essential retail, including close contact services, leisure and fitness centres as well as hospitality premises have closed.

During alert level 4:

• Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open during alert level 4, continuing with the booking system currently in place. Residents are advised to only visit your recycling centre if it is essential, not to go if anyone in your household has symptoms or is self-isolating  and to observe social distancing if you do attend. You must only visit a Denbighshire recycling centre if you have a prearranged appointment. For Christmas opening hours and to book a slot visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling

• Denbighshire libraries will be closed during alert level 4, but are offering an order and collect service and a home library service delivering books to your home. Contact your local library to order books and we will call you back to arrange a time to collect them once they are ready, or arrange to deliver them. You can also order books online and the digital library service for downloading e-books, e-magazines, e-audiobooks and newspapers, continues to operate. For more information visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

• The Council’s country parks, including Loggerheads and Moel Famau, green spaces, other countryside sites and grounds will remain open. However, facilities including the visitor centre and café at Loggerheads Country Park as well as the cafe at Plas Newydd will close.

• The Ruthin branch of the North East Wales Archives closed on December 18 and will not re-open in the New Year. This will be reviewed later in January once further guidance is released. In the meantime the enquiry service will operate from December 28.

St Collen's hosts first carols by candlelight service

* Father Lee Taylor leads the worship.

* All carols were sung by the choir.

St Collen's held the first of three Carols by Candlelight services earlier this evening.

In a candle-lit but socially-distanced church, a series of favourite carols was interspersed by readings from people representing various local organisations, such as the eisteddfod.

While members of the congregation remained masked all carols were sung by the choir as communal singing is not permitted under Covid restrictions.

Worship was led by the vicar, Father Lee Taylor.

The church is hosting two further ticket-only carol services at 6.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday.  

Minor changes in waste collection and recycling for Christmas

Denbighshire County Council is informing residents on some minor changes to waste and recycling collection services over the Christmas and New Year period.

There will be no changes to collections due on Monday to Thursday over the period.  

Those due to have waste or recycling collections on Christmas Day will see collections take place on Sunday, December 27th.  Collections due on New Year’s Day will take place on Sunday, January 3rd.

Meanwhile, the council’s recycling parks at Marsh Road, (Rhyl), Colomendy Industrial Estate (Denbigh) and Lon Parcwr (Ruthin) will be open every day, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. To book an appointment to visit these sites, click here.

The Saturday recycling services at Green Lane car-park, Corwen took place as normal last Saturday. There will be no Saturday morning services on either 26 December or 2 January 2020.

 

County encourages residents to be "Mighty Recyclers" this Christmas

As Wales’ recycling rate reaches an all-time high Denbighshire County Council is calling on residents to keep up their "mighty" efforts this Christmas. 

Denbighshire has pledged to support Wales Recycles’ Be Mighty. Recycle campaign, funded by Welsh Government, to encourage everyone to be Mighty Recyclers this Christmas. 

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “Residents in Denbighshire and across Wales are showing that they’re MIGHTY when it comes to recycling and we should all be proud of our efforts, but there is still more we can do. We’re calling on our residents to keep up the good work over Christmas to help us reach the top spot!”

“We know people in Wales care about protecting our beautiful country and recycling plays an essential role in tackling climate change. It’s a simple thing that everyone can do to help make a real difference."

The council has set out some "top tips" to follow at Christmas, which are:

• Eat, recycle, be merry. Every Council in Wales provides a weekly food waste recycling collection service. Please use it. You can recycle turkey bones, veg peelings and any leftovers from your Christmas dinner (that can’t be safely eaten later)! And keep recycling other waste over the Christmas period too, such as tea bags and coffee grounds, eggshells, peelings and cores from fruit, and stale bread.
• Conquer your card this Christmas. You can recycle all cardboard from online deliveries. Please remove all sticky tape first and flatten any boxes. And once Christmas is over, please recycle all your cards, just remove any bows and ribbons first, and any parts with glitter.
• Most plastic from around the home can be recycled; drinks bottles, cleaning products and toiletry bottles, such as shampoo and shower gel. Don't forget to empty, crush and replace the lids before recycling. And remove any pump dispensers or trigger sprays first as these can’t be recycled. You can also recycle the big plastic tubs of chocolate and sweets we have around the house at Christmas!
• Don’t overlook foil this Christmas. Please recycle foil cases from mince pies and any clean or unstained foil used in your Christmas cooking. Please empty and rinse foil trays and containers before putting them out to be recycled.
• Metal drinks cans and food tins as well as empty aerosols, such as deodorant, shaving gel and hairspray, can all be recycled.
• If you’re ever unsure what you can and can’t recycle, visit Wales Recycles’ Recycling Locator.

To learn more about the Mighty Mission and Wales Recycles’ ‘12 days of Christmas’ recycling facts and tips, visit www.bemightyrecycle.org.uk, look out for the ads on TV, listen to the radio ad, and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BeMightyRecycle

ORB's live-streamed New Year show aims to lift spirits

On New Year's Eve Llangollen-based ORB Sound and Lighting are teaming up with party band Rhythm Train to stage a live stream event which aims to raise the spirits of the community after a tough year by showcasing local talent.

The action-packed three and a half hour show, which runs from 9pm until 12.30am next morning, will be produced from one of the venues in Denbighshire the company usually works closely with but the exact location is being kept secret due to Covid regulations. 

An ORB spokesperson said: "The stream will include three live 45-minute sets from the band, interspersed with some pre-recorded content and adverts from local sponsors and local community groups

"We will also encourage people to send in messages to friends and family using a hashtag which can be moderated and shown on the bottom of the stream.

"The event will be shared across our own website, YouTube and Facebook sites, as well as shared on the evening by other groups such as Ty Pawb in Wrexham.

"We aim to reach as many people as possible as we realise New Year's Eve can be a hard and lonely time for many people - this year more so than before. 

"We want to bring people together virtually, lift spirits as we enter the new year, and to give back to the community."

ORB Sound and Lighting provides staging, equipment and technicians for the outside stages of the International Musical Eisteddfod and Llangollen Fringe Festival each July.

They also support Llangollen Operatic Society, Young 'Uns and the pantomime group with all their equipment alongside technicians, who installed all of the new upgraded equipment for the Ysgol Dinas Bran ‘Curtains Up’ appeal, and who most recently gave up their time and equipment weekly during lockdown to beam a ‘Thank You’ message across the town during the Clap For Carers campaign.

The spokesperson added: "We have chosen a venue which we can adhere to Covid regulations and will have a number of measures in place including strict social distancing between all persons present.

"All equipment will be thoroughly sanitised before and after use, face coverings will be worn by the production team, and sanitiser will be provided throughout. 

"The building will also be locked during the entire evening to ensure we can remain safe inside, and that no members of the public can enter.

"Although the event is free we are asking for people to buy tickets for it to help us cover the costs. 

"We are asking them to pay what they can and the link is on the event's Facebook page at: 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-year-eve-live-stream-featuring-rhythm-train-tickets-133473720491?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

"We are still appealing to local businesses to help sponsor the event, and we will have a page set up to take donations on the night. 

"We are estimating the total cost of the event to be in the region of £2,000, and are offering sponsors publicity on the night from adverts on the stream. Company logos will be included on all our publicity posters and page shares on social media sites."

Stricter Covid rules apply in Wales from midnight

* Announcement: First Minister Mark Drakeford.

The whole of Wales will be placed under level four restrictions from midnight with festive plans cancelled for all but Christmas Day.

First Minister Mark Drakeford made the announcement after urgent talks with fellow ministers over a new strain of coronavirus.

From 23 to 28 December rules had been due to be relaxed to allow people to celebrate the holidays with loved-ones.

But now this is limited to just Christmas Day.

In a statement issued just minutes ago Mr Drakeford said: "Today, I met the First Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Michael Gove, from the UK Government, to discuss the very latest information on a new strain of coronavirus.

"We now know that this new strain is significantly more infectious and spreads more quickly than the original one. 

"Many of you will have heard the Prime Minister this afternoon setting out the pattern of transmission in London and the South East of England, which has been linked to this new variant of coronavirus.

"This is remarkably consistent with the rapid acceleration of transmission in Wales and the high rates of cases we have seen in recent weeks.

"The latest evidence suggests this new strain is present throughout Wales.

"Throughout the public health emergency, we have had to respond quickly to the rapid changes, which have been so typical of coronavirus.

"Today has been one of those days when new information has required an immediate response.

"This afternoon, the Cabinet met to discuss this worrying new development in the pandemic and to hear the latest advice from our senior medical and scientific advisers, including the impact on our NHS.

"The situation is incredibly serious. I cannot overstate this.

"We have therefore reached the difficult decision to bring forward the alert level four restrictions for Wales, in line with the action being taken in London and the South East of England.

"These new restrictions will come into effect from midnight tonight instead of during the Christmas period."

He added: "This will mean non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality will close at the end of trading today.

"Stay-at-home restrictions will also come into effect from midnight.

"Unfortunately, we must also look again at the arrangements for Christmas – we cannot expose people to the risk of this new, more virulent strain of coronavirus.

"We will therefore change the current rules, which allow two households to come together to form a Christmas bubble over a five-day period, so that they will apply on Christmas Day only.

"Throughout the alert level four period, a single person household will be able to join with one other household.

"While we all want to avoid further disruption to businesses and plans for Christmas, our overriding duty is to protect lives here in Wales.

"We know that 2021 will be a different and a better year.

"Our economy will recover.

"Christmas will come again.

"But lives which are lost, are lost for ever.

"This new strain of the virus is another dreadful surprise in this long-running pandemic.

"We now have a pandemic within a pandemic, a crisis within a crisis.

"It is another challenge we must overcome. But one we will overcome together.

"We will continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and, together, we will keep Wales safe."