More roadworks to come on Castle Street

* The roadworks on the bridge due to be finished today.

As one set of roadworks on Castle Street comes to an end the water company which has been carrying them out has warned of more to come.

Since last Friday there have been temporary traffic lights on the bridge to allow Hafren Dyfrdwy to repair a burst pipe under the roadway.

A spokesperson for the company said: "The work in question is in relation to a 3-inch cast iron main which has suffered a burst. 

"We have actually already repaired the main and the excavation was back-filled yesterday (Monday). 

"Full reinstatement and removal of traffic management should be completed tomorrow (Wednesday)."

She added: "It seems sensible that I should take the opportunity to inform you of some additional work that we will soon be doing in Castle St to replace a defective fire hydrant. 

"We’re in conversation with the council about this work and had hoped that we might be able to do it at the same time as repairing the water main but this has not been possible due to the traffic management requirements.   

"It not the easiest place to set up traffic management and we know it can be an inconvenience so we’re very appreciative of the patience and understanding of our customers as we complete our essential works ensuring continuity of supply as well as ensuring the fire service have a reliable network for use in emergencies." 

County approves 3.8% council tax rise

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved its budget for the 2021/2022 financial year, with an increase of 3.8% in council tax for the county’s residents. 

The draft settlement announced by Welsh Government in December showed an increase of 3.6% in the budget for Denbighshire and in cash terms this means an increase of £5.4 million.

The budget still has to go to Full Council for approval on January 26.

In setting the budget, councillors considered the fact that there are £10.6 million budget pressures facing the authority, including continued pressure on social services, education, schools and waste service.

In light of the better settlement, the Council says it has been able to keep the increase in council tax as low as possible, with this year’s increase of 3.8% lower than last year’s increase of 4.3%.

The budget for the 2021/22 financial year is £216.8 million.  This includes a £750,000 increase for education and children’s services; £3.3 million for schools; £2.4 million for adult social care; £250,000 for waste services; £276,000 for flood defences and £389,000 for the Council’s Carbon Zero target.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: “The Council has a legal duty to set a balanced budget for the forthcoming financial year and I must commend councillors and staff who have worked tirelessly to get us to this position today where we can officially set the budget. 

“They have come up with proposals to balance the books and have scrutinised and deliberated over the figures before coming up with the budget.

“The past year has seen a number of increased pressures due to the coronavirus pandemic and the Council will continue to work with Welsh Government to ensure that the Council plays its full part in the response and recovery to the pandemic.

“A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to identify more efficient and effective ways of working within the Council and the savings we have identified, together with the better settlement than expected, means that we have been able to keep the council tax levels low. 

“The public has told us that they did not want to see large increases and we have listened to their concerns and worked to find alternative ways of finding savings.

“The other good news is that we have been able to protect essential frontline services that people want and expect from the Council.   

"The savings we are taking forward this year will have little impact on the level of services that the public receive and that has been a crucial part of our thinking from the beginning. 

"The Council has a strong track record of doing this and we have tried to lead by example by being as efficient and effective as possible, reducing our budgets and making savings through not replacing some posts and identifying better ways of working or stopping some things altogether.”

 

Government cash helps railway travel through lockdown

llanblogger exclusive

Llangollen Railway has received a sizeable cash grant from the Welsh Government to help it keep ticking over during lockdown. 

Like many other local businesses the heritage attraction had to close its doors to paying customers at the start of the latest national lockdown.

This meant the cancellation of many of its key money-spinning events such as the Santa Special trains while its overheads still have to be covered.

 

But now its public limited company chair Pete Edwards says: “Llangollen Railway has been successful in securing a £147,000 grant from the Welsh Government Cultural Fund. 

“The purpose of the grant is to support ongoing running costs, including staff wages, between December 2020 and April 2021.” 

He added: “Despite being closed to visitors we cannot shut down completely, and there are still significant monthly costs we have to meet. 

“Essential maintenance and planning work need to continue during lockdown, and this assistance allows our volunteers to keep these key activities running while we look forward to welcoming passengers later in 2021." 

The area’s Senedd Member Ken Skates said: “It’s very pleasing to see another vital community organisation in Clwyd South being awarded vital Welsh Government funding. 

“Many businesses in Llangollen have been given grants to help them through what has been an incredibly difficult period for them, and with the vaccine roll-out increasing every day local businesses can now begin to be cautiously optimistic about 2021.  

“Obviously we do not know what the next crucial couple of months will hold, but the Welsh Government has provided the most comprehensive support package for businesses in the UK - with £1.67bn reaching our businesses since April - and we will continue to do everything within our power to help them through this crisis.”  

County says it will repair any urgent safety defects in Castle Street roadway

* The roadworks on the bridge are thought to be unconnected with the potholes in Castle Street.

The county council says it will repair any "urgent" safety defects found in the roadway of Castle Street.

The promise comes after llanlogger highlighted the crop of potholes which have appeared in Llangollen's main street.

Last week llanblogger described how the holes - at least one of which on the bridge is very deep - have become worse as the winter has progressed.

We sent pictures of a collection of the holes to Denbighshire County Council asking when they are likely to be dealt with.

A council spokesperson replied that an officer would be sent out to look at the road to see if any safety defects required immediate action.

Today, a county council spokesperson said: “An inspection of Castle Street has taken place, and any necessary work to repair any urgent safety defects will be undertaken by the council.”

When asked by llanblogger last week when general remedial work on the potholes was likely to be undertaken, the county said in a statement: "Regarding a longer-term solution we have set aside money in our capital budget for resurfacing works on Castle Street.

“However, we have been holding off from delivering this work because as a council we are currently developing proposals for Castle Street as part of the Llangollen 2020 project, which we are working on in conjunction with Llangollen Town Council and the local county councillors. 

"Should this scheme get the necessary approvals, it would enable us to deliver a much wider improvement scheme in that area which will incorporate the resurfacing work. If those approvals are not forthcoming, we will proceed with the resurfacing work alone.”

* Meanwhile, last Friday morning contractors for what is believed to be the water company Hafren Dyfrdwy began an excavation on the bridge thought to be unrelated to the pothole problem.

llanblogger has tried to confirm with Hafren Dyfrdwy whether these are their works and, if so, what is being done but has so far been unable to obtain any answer from its press office.  

Latest coronavirus update from Welsh Government

Latest coronavirus updates from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) are:

·       North Wales GP Dr Helen Alefounder has been sharing her experiences of rolling out the Covid vaccination programme in Wales on a special call with the Duke of Cambridge and other healthcare professionals from across the UK.

o   Watch the call: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1350795399662022656

·         The First Minister has confirmed travel corridors will be suspended in Wales to help prevent new mutated strains of coronavirus entering the UK.

o   Travel corridors will be suspended from Monday until at least 15 February – and possibly longer – as all four nations of the UK act together.

o   The changes, which come into effect across the UK from 4am on Monday 18 January, will mean most people travelling abroad will need to complete a pre-departure test and quarantine for 10 days on their return home to Wales.

o   https://gov.wales/travel-corridors-be-suspended-new-virus-strains-emerge

o   https://gov.wales/travellers-exempt-self-isolation-coronavirus-covid-19

·         More than 35,000 laptops and tablets will be provided to learners over the next few weeks bringing the total provided by the Welsh Government since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to more than 133,000.

o   At the very beginning of the pandemic education Minister Kirsty Williams made a pledge that ‘no child or family would be left behind during this crisis’ and that ‘all children will have the opportunity to continue learning’.

o   https://gov.wales/50-online-learning-logins-second-and-other-ways-show-how-wales-leading-way-digital-services-support

 

·         Updated – Alert level four lockdown: frequently asked questions https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions

 

Coronavirus in numbers

·         The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 1,172 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 180,161 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.

o   Very sadly, there were 48 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,274.

o   These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

·         The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.

o   The next update to the figures will be on Monday 18 January

 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

·         The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.

·         If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.

·         Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus

o   Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

o   You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test

o   You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.

·         Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
 

Where to find the latest information

·         Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

·         Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

·         Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws

·         Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/

·         Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/

·         The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

Businesses must do Covid risk assessment, says government

* First Minister Mark Drakeford.

Businesses in Wales will have to carry out a specific coronavirus risk assessment under new Welsh Government legislation.

These risk assessments will be the starting point for implementing the reasonable measures that are required to be taken to minimise exposure to the coronavirus on premises open to the public and in workplaces.

This involves considering issues such as:

• whether ventilation is adequate
• hygiene
• ensuring physical distancing is taking place
• use of PPE and face coverings.

It will also include considering how employers maximise the number of people who can work from home.

The highly contagious new strain of the virus means we have had to look again at the rules regulating workplaces and premises that remain open to the public.

During his latest weekly press conference the First Minister thanked businesses for all their efforts to ensure their premises are safe places to work and visit.

He said: "Risk assessments must be reviewed and updated regularly, whenever circumstances change and I want to make clear in law this includes whenever the coronavirus Alert levels change in Wales.

"Recording the risk assessment will only be required by those who employ 5 or more people. We are working closely with employers, trade unions, local authorities and the Health and Safety Executive to consider the detail on how to keep work settings safe.

"Ministers have also met this week with key retailers to discuss their vital role during the pandemic. They set out the actions they are taking from providing sanitisers for hands and trolleys on entry; limiting the numbers in store at any one time; and making regular announcements reminding people to keep their distance from others.

"We will strengthen regulations to ensure retailers take these steps so that their premises are as safe as possible for shoppers and their employees alike. Many are already operating high standards and we need to raise the bar for those who could and should improve.

"However we all have a personal responsibility to help make shops as safe as possible. We all need to shop alone if we can, observe the 2m rule, practise good hand hygiene and wear a face covering unless exempt. Any abuse directed at store employees who remind people of their responsibilities will not be tolerated."

St Collen's offered as vaccination centre, says vicar

llanblogger exclusive

* St Collen's, a possible Covid-19 vaccination centre.

St Collen’s Church in Llangollen could become an official Covid-19 vaccination centre. 

Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire has already become part of the massive drive to see millions of people inoculated against the killer bug.

 

And Llangollen vicar Father Lee Taylor says he has volunteered the town’s historic parish church to perform a similar role for the Welsh Government.     

 

By late last week hundreds of people had queued at Lichfield Cathedral to get their coronavirus jab.

 

The centuries-old place of worship has seen field hospital-style facilities along with waiting areas set up inside, including along its central aisle.

 

The Dean of Lichfield said people working there had been "buzzing" to help. 

Although places of worship have been allowed to stay open during the latest lockdown, the cathedral had chosen to close, holding services online. 

The dean said he offered use of the cathedral to the Lichfield Primary Care Network after news of Covid vaccines emerged. 

* People queue outside Lichfield Cathedral for their jabs.

The Very Rev Adrian Dorber told the Press Association setting it up had only taken a couple of days. 

"We've got some really well-drilled volunteers and a really capable staff, who have just kind of gone into 'battle action' and done it," he said. 

Father Lee said the use of the cathedral was a “brilliant idea” and explained: “I’ve told the Welsh Government they can use St Collen’s if need be. I haven’t had a response yet. 

“I made the offer because the church is a large building in the centre of town and is there to serve people in the community.” 

Llanblogger recently revealed how Llangollen Health Centre had become one of the first north Wales GP practices to become a Cvid-19 vaccination centre.

The week before last the centre received and administered 100 doses of the Oxford vaccine. Later its staff received 70 doses and have now administered those too.

Over the next fortnight the centre is due to receive a further 400 doses which it says will be enough to vaccinate all its patients aged 80 and over.

Late last year llanblogger revealed how Father Lee had unveiled plans to upgrade St Collen’s with the aim of making it a hub for a wider range of religious and social use.

His Community Vision proposals include:

* The removal of pews at the front of the nave to allow a raised platform stage to be built for worship and performance events    

* The provision of a folding kitchen to provide refreshments at cafe-style social gatherings

* Repositioning of the font to a more practical location      

* The installation of modern LED lights in the roof to highlight its historic beauty

* Fitting glass doors at entrances to allow the heavy oak front door to be left open to make the building feel more welcoming

* A new chapel for private worship where the current vestry is sited

* Replacing the traditional pipe organ with a digital version

The plans are under discussion and the Diocesan Advisory Committee must approve them before Father Lee makes bids for funding.