Some - if not all - of Castle Street potholes are repaired

* Top and bottom: The potholes on the bridge which have been repaired.

Some of the deep potholes which litter Castle Street in Llangollen have been repaired.

Two of the more extensive holes on the bridge - on the left-hand carriageway heading towards the A5 - have been filled in what appear to be temporary repairs.

One of the deeper holes on nearby Abbey Road also appears to have been filled.

However, a number of other deep cavities in the roadway, such as the one on the right-hand bridge carriageway and another at the junction of Castle Street and Parade Street, have not yet been attended to.

The worsening state of the Castle Street potholes was pointed put to Denbighshire County Council, which is responsible for local road maintenance, by llanblogger a couple of weeks ago.

Shortly afterwards a spokesperson said an officer would be sent out to examine the holes and advise on whether they were a safety hazard.

This morning llanblogger has asked the county council if and when the remaining potholes will be dealt with.

* Two holes still unrepaired: On the bridge (top) and at the junction of Castle Street and Parade Street (below).

County gives guidance for businesses over coronavirus regulations

Businesses in Denbighshire are being reminded of the rules around trading during the current lockdown by the county council.

Welsh Government regulations state all businesses still operating must take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus for both customers and staff.

Businesses must complete a risk assessment in relation to coronavirus while retail premises, including takeaways, must control numbers entering and provide hand sanitisers as well as signs and announcements to remind customers of the need to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing.

Cllr Mark Young, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Safer Communities, said: “Businesses in Denbighshire have worked hard during the last year to follow regulations from the Welsh Government. They have played a vital role in keeping Denbighshire safe and protecting the most vulnerable in our communities.

“It is important, with the more transmittable variant of the virus, that businesses continue to follow the regulations. This includes taking all reasonable measures to ensure social distancing is followed.”

* To read the Welsh Government guidance visit https://gov.wales/business-closures-alert-level-4

 

Welsh spectator sports to get £17.7m government boost

A £17.7m funding package to help spectator sports severely impacted by the pandemic has been announced by the Welsh Government.

It has been designed to provide immediate financial support for spectator sports through the remainder of the winter period to ensure that sports will be ready for the beginning of the new season in September.

Support will be provided to rugby union, football, cricket and ice hockey. Rugby league, netball and horseracing are also in line to benefit. The funding will ensure the short-to-medium term survival of sports organisations and clubs who have been financially impacted by the restrictions on spectators at sporting events.

The revenue funding package will be allocated to the sports’ national governing bodies directly from Welsh Government.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas said: "While restrictions on supporters at events have been vital in stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives, there can be no doubt that they have created real hardships for many sports clubs, many of whom receive a significant proportion of their income through spectator attendance.

"Sport is an important sector of our economy and has a positive impact on our mental and physical wellbeing. Sporting events provide important shared experiences, have often been a welcome distraction during the pandemic and will be a vital player in our recovery and healing after the crisis.

"I know this money will provide some stability to those sports worst affected by the loss of revenue during the pandemic, helping to bridge the financial gap until spectators are able to return safely."

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: "We're committed to providing a responsible and targeted approach to addressing the financial impact of the pandemic. The package of support we have announced today takes the total funding for this sector to more than £40 million since the start of the crisis, helping to provide longer-term stability for a sector that has suffered significant financial loss. 

"As we look ahead to brighter days, sport and physical activity will be vital players in our recovery, helping to develop a healthier and more resilient Wales."

Young leaders win support for mental health campaign

Young people from schools, faith and community groups across North East Wales have created a resource and award for secondary schools to improve mental wellbeing in their school communities.

Young leaders from TCC (Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities) met with Karen Evans, Chief Officer for Education & Early Intervention at Wrexham County Borough Council, who supported the Healthy Minds Haven resource and award and agreed to encourage local schools to use it.

TCC brings together local groups so they can take action on issues and improve their communities. TCC’s Youth in Action group, with support and training from the charity, explores issues affecting young people and their communities. 

The group has been campaigning to improve mental health support in schools across North Wales because they passionately believe that school plays a vital role in supporting students, given half of lifetime mental health problems start by the age of 14.

In a survey carried out by TCC leaders from Hawarden High School, 92% of the school community felt more should be done to support young people around mental health. Healthy Minds Haven is unique as it has been designed by young people who are experts by experience, as a resource and checklist of practical things schools can do to improve mental health support for their students.

Schools can work towards achieving the Healthy Minds Haven Award by completing all of the actions if they wish, or they can use the checklist as a resource and still benefit from time invested in creating a learning community that feels positive and confident around the subject of mental health.

In January the young leaders held an online meeting with Karen Evans, gaining her support for the campaign and commitment to sharing the Healthy Minds Haven resource with schools in the area. 

The Chief Officer also agreed to share the toolkit with local authority counterparts in Flintshire and Denbighshire County Councils and to take forward a request for the resource to be added to the Hwb resource platform for schools in North Wales.

Secondary schools are invited to sign up and show their commitment to improving mental health. The group chose to focus on schools as the environment that most young people spend time in, and where the issue of mental health difficulties seems to be on the rise. 

Schools will benefit and learn from lived experience of school pupils in their area. A 2020 Barnardo’s report said 85% of school staff worried that lockdown has affected pupils’ mental health and over 70% called for additional staff training.

Schools are invited to register for Healthy Minds Haven and use the checklist which they can download at www.tcc-wales.org.uk/hmh. Any schools interested in finding out more can also get in touch by contacting youthorganiser@tcc-wales.org.uk

The snow is back as forecast in Llan

* The view towards the castle from the town.

As forecast, snow began to fall in Llangollen and across Denbighshire at around 8.30am this morning (Saturday).

Such was the intensity of the fall that the view of the castle was obscured and it was easier to see spire the tower of St Collen's Church.

A mixture of snow and rain is due to continue for the rest of the day.

* The tower of St Collen's under heavy snowfall. 

GPs urge people not to delay seeking support during lockdown

* Giving Covid jabs is just part of the service provided by GPs.

Doctors in North Wales are urging people to not delay seeking support if they are worried about their health during the latest COVID-19 lockdown.

The plea is being made after some GPs reported a drop in the number of people with health concerns contacting them for consultations during the latest lockdown, leading to fears that the opportunity for successful early treatment could be lost.

Despite the stay-at-home restrictions and GP involvement in the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout, GP appointments continue to be available, with telephone, video and face-to-face consultations offered.

Mold based GP Dr Jim McGuigan, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s East Area Assistant Medical Director, said its vital that people don’t delay seeking advice or support if they have any health concerns. He also appealed for people to be patient when attempting to book appointments.

“We have a clear message for the public that they should continue to contact their GP surgery if they have any concerns about their health,” he said.

“This is particularly important for people who have persisting worrying symptoms. You are not wasting your GP’s time by getting your symptoms checked and contacting us in a timely manner makes it much more likely that you will be offered successful early treatment.

“Telephone, video and face to face appointments are still being offered, where needed, and all GP practices have introduced appropriate infection prevention measures to keep patients and staff safe.

“If you are contacting your GP to make an appointment for any health concerns we ask you to please be patient. Reception staff are working incredibly hard, as they have done throughout the pandemic, and will answer your call and offer you a consultation as soon as one is available.”

All 98 GP surgeries in the region are playing their part in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, which is set to ramp up significantly in the coming weeks, as vaccine supplies increase.

People are being invited to vaccination centres and GP practices to receive their vaccine in order of the priority groups identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Dr McGuigan says people can help reduce pressures on GP surgeries by not contacting them to try and book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.

“Please do not contact your GP practice directly unless you have been contacted and given a vaccination appointment. We won’t be able to offer you the vaccine any sooner, but you may cause delays for people who are trying to book general appointments.”

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board website contains a range of helpful information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme and how to access appropriate local health services.

* For further information on the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in North Wales please visit: COVID-19 Vaccination Information - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)

For further information on choosing the most appropriate health service for your needs, visit: Where Do I Go? - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)

For information and resources to help you access support for your mental health and wellbeing, visit BCUHB’s Mental Health Hub: Mental Health Hub - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (nhs.wales)

Welsh Government's coronavirus update

Latest coronavirus update from the Welsh Government (dated yesterday) is: 

• The First Minister has today set out the results of the second review of the alert level four lockdown restrictions in Wales.
• Wales will remain at alert level four for the next three weeks.
• We will work towards opening primary schools for the youngest children from February 22, if cases of coronavirus continue to fall.
• A further £200m of support for businesses has also been announced: https://gov.wales/written-statement-extension-restrictions-business-fund
• Written statement: https://gov.wales/written-statement-review-health-protection-coronavirus-restriction-no5-wales-regulations-2020-0
• Watch the First Minister’s press conference: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1355127737179017217
• Watch Education Minister Kirsty Williams’ video message: https://twitter.com/wgmin_education/status/1355048032199462913
• Alert level four frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-frequently-asked-questions
• Leaving your home and seeing other people in alert level four: https://gov.wales/leaving-your-home-and-seeing-other-people-alert-level-4
• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has today published a written statement extending the stay-at-home advice for people in the clinically extremely vulnerable group: https://gov.wales/written-statement-advice-those-who-are-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-extension-period-advice
• Guidance to protect the clinically extremely vulnerable: https://gov.wales/guidance-protecting-people-defined-medical-grounds-clinically-extremely-vulnerable-coronavirus
• All travellers arriving into Wales who have been in the Republic of Burundi, Republic of Rwanda or the United Arab Emirates in the previous 10 days will be required to isolate for 10 days and will only be able to leave isolation in very limited circumstances in line with amendments made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020: https://gov.wales/written-statement-amendments-health-protection-coronavirus-international-travel-wales-regulations-3
• The latest summary report published by the Technical Advisory Cell: https://gov.wales/technical-advisory-cell-summary-advice-22-january-2021 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 546 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 190,940 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 29 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,695.
• 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.
• The latest figures show 362,253 people have received their first dose
• And 717 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary 

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
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• 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
• 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/ and https://gov.wales/vaccine-coronavirus
• 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.

o   The First Minister held today’s press conference. You can watch again at https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1355127737179017217

o   Slides used in today’s press conference are published at: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-first-ministers-coronavirus-briefing-29-january-2021