Petition started to remove Castle Street bollards

* The bollards along Castle Street.

An online petition has been started to remove the temporary bollards and lane defenders on Castle Street.

The temporary measures, along one side of Llangollen's main street where the butchers, bakers and charity shops are located, were put in place last November as part of Local Sustainable Transport scheme to ensure adequate pedestrian space for Covid-19 social distancing.

Parking along the opposite side of the street was temporarily banned at the same time.

However, the bollards and defenders have proved to be unpopular with some local residents and traders.

Ruthin rejected similar measures last week following resistance from the local Member Area Group.

Similar plans for Denbigh were shelved after public opposition to the idea.

Today, a petition to remove the bollards has been started by former town mayor and county councillor Stuart Davies who over the weekend announced his intention to stand for the vacant town council seat at a by-election on March 18.

By mid-afternoon today (Monday) it had been signed by 47 people.  

The petition, on Change.org http://chng.it/NhwVcbYC and intended to be passed to Denbighshire County Council's chief executive, says: "The changes brought in to Castle Street in Llangollen came about as a result of a flawed initial consultation with Denbighshire County Council.

"There was a lack of community awareness on the plans once published and how to respond to them once they were made public.

"Since implementation of the scheme its impact has been clearly evident with the complete loss of parking for the disabled, as well as the loss of any loading bay facilities on the high street.

"The ability for local residents to pop and shop has been lost impacting Castle Street businesses when they have been able to open.

"There are reports that people have been injured.

"The justification for social distancing is not warranted at a time of low footfall and lockdown.

"The measures taken over a 300m stretch of road have no significant impact on the aims of improving active travel.

"The lane defenders/bollards and associated fitting are unsightly and should be removed."

Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms, who supported the Sustainable Transport measures, has been asked for a comment.  

Former mayor to stand in election for town council vacancy

* Stuart Davies is to stand for the vacant town council seat. 

One of the area's best-known politicians is bidding to make a council chamber comeback.

Former Llangollen town mayor and local county councillor Stuart Davies has declared his intention to stand as an independent in a by-election for the vacant seat on the Town Council on March 18.

He was mayor in 1998 and served as one of the two county councillors for Llangollen, first from 2004-2008 and again from 2012-2017.

The vacancy he is contesting occurred as a result of the resignation of George Hughes last October. 

Announcing his candidature well in advance of the closing date for nominations of February 19, he gave a statement of his aims if elected which he said are: 

"To restore the voice of the people of Llangollen in the council chamber and hold to account our county councillors.

"Resolve the issues with the provision of waste disposal and recycling facilities, working with Phil Jones and his excellent petition to ensure the wishes of 900 residents are respected.

"Ensure that the proposals for change to Llangollen by the 2020 group have full and thorough public consultation and take into account the current views of the community.

"The potholes are a result of 2020 delays, so I will ensure a proper community based public consultation is put in place quickly that isn’t simply a paper exercise that endorses the 2020 plan."

He added: "Basically its about waste, bollards, potholes and parking and taking back control for the residents."

* So far Mr Davies is the only candidate to announce his intention to stand to llanblogger and we would be happy to highlight any further nominations. 

Health centre vaccinates 1,200 70-79s over weekend

Llangollen Health Centre has been on Facebook to give an update on its busy weekend vaccinating scores of people aged 70 to 79.

The post last night said: "Thanks to everyone for their lovely comments about our vaccination clinic this weekend.  

"It takes a lot of work and all the thank-yous and gestures of appreciation really lift the team and help us to keep going. It’s so good to be able to do something positive! 

"These clinics are a huge community effort. Not just health centre staff are involved, there are many volunteers who are all fabulous. We have vaccinated just short of 1200 patients this weekend." 

MP welcomes Cadbury's UK investment announcement

* Simon Baynes MP and David Mills, Head of External Affairs at Mondelez UK and Ireland, taken at a Parliamentary reception last March, before social distancing guidelines came into effect.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed the announcement that Mondelēz International, makers of Cadbury Dairy Milk, has announced plans to invest £15 million into the UK, at its Bournville site, which is supported by its factory in Chirk, where cocoa beans are processed and fresh milk is added.

The investment will include £11 million to create a new, line of the future for Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets as the company consolidates the majority of its tablet production at the site. 

The new, highly efficient line will enable 125 million more of the iconic large sharing bars to be made at its UK factory in Bournville annually, with additional capacity for any future growth. 

Alongside the new line, Mondelēz is also planning to invest a further £4 million at the site to increase its chocolate making capacity, to ensure sufficient chocolate mass to meet current demand and anticipate future needs.

Louise Stigant, UK Managing Director, Mondelēz International said: “At a time when manufacturing in the UK is facing significant challenges, it has never been more vital to secure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of our business. 

"We now have an opportunity at Bournville to further invest in its future as the home and heart of Cadbury by bringing more Cadbury Dairy Milk production to Bournville.”

Simon Baynes MP said: “The news that Mondelēz International plans to consolidate the majority of Cadbury Dairy Milk tablet production to the UK is excellent news for Chirk in Clwyd South, where cocoa beans are processed and fresh milk is added. 

"Investment in the new production line will see 12,000 tonnes more Cadbury Dairy Milk tablets – equivalent to 125 million bars - made in the UK each year.

“I welcome this investment with open arms and I’m proud to see Chirk and Clwyd South contributing to the success of a much-loved British brand and the production of the nation’s favourite chocolate bar.”

People in 70-79 age group flock to health centre for Covid jabs

Llangollen Health Centre is currently in the middle of its largest Covid-19 vaccination exercise to date.

Today an expected 600 people in the 70-79 age group will have turned up for their jabs at the rate of 80 an hour, with a similar number due tomorrow (Sunday).

Staff and volunteers have been working flat out inside the centre while the Llangollen Tidy Town Team are once again taking care of traffic management in the two busy car parks.

 

 

Another vaccination update from the health centre

Llangollen Health Centre has this afternoon posted another update on Covid Vaccinations, which says:

"Any patient who falls into one of the groups below and has not yet received a call from us regarding a Covid vaccine can now phone us on 01978 860625 to make an appointment.

* patients aged 70 - 79 years of age

* patients aged 18 and above who are in receipt of an official shielding letter.

"Please note that this applies only to the patients in the above groups."

Businesses urged to register for financial support

The Welsh Government is urging businesses to ensure they are registered for financial support to help them deal with the ongoing impacts of coronavirus.

Last month, the Government announced an additional £200m package to help firms through to the end of March. This takes the Welsh Government’s business support package from the December to March period to £650m.

The financial package is predominantly for businesses that pay non-domestic rates and have been forced to close or operate differently as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

As businesses need to have registered with their local authorities in October or later in order to receive the payments, the Welsh Government is urging firms that have not yet done so to take action now so they do not miss out.

Under the support package, eligible businesses with a rates value of less than £12,000, such as a small hairdressers or florists, would be entitled to receive £6,000 for the December to March period.

Firms with a rateable value below £150,000, for example a clothes shop, a restaurant or a gym, would be entitled to £10,000 for the same period of time. The money is to help cover costs like rent, utilities and insurance.

This funding is on top of support from the Welsh Government’s £180m sector specific fund for tourism, tourism and hospitality businesses which received more than 8,000 applications before closing, as planned, on 29 January. It is also in addition to income support offered by the UK Government such as the Job Retention Scheme and Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

Businesses that have received a payment via their local authority since the firebreak in October do not need to take further action.

However, the Welsh Government estimates that there are thousands of eligible businesses that might not yet have registered for this support.

Economy Minister Ken Skates said: “Welsh Government support continues to be crucial in protecting businesses and jobs throughout Wales.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have ensured more than £1.75 billion has reached the banks accounts of businesses to help them deal with the ongoing economic impact of coronavirus.

“Eligible firms that pay non-domestic rates and have registered with their local authority since the firebreak in October should receive further support automatically so do not need to take further action. However, we know that too many firms have not yet registered. I urge those business owners to take action now so they can receive what they are entitled to.

“This money will be absolutely vital in helping firms up and down the country through these incredibly challenging times. We do not want any business to miss out or go under because of inaction so if you pay non-domestic rates but have not registered with your local authority since before the firebreak in October please do so now.”

* Businesses who have not registered with their local authorities since the firebreak in October should visit the Business Wales website for more information on doing so - https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/restrictions-business-fund-local-authorities