According to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press, a fundraiser in memory of a much-loved Wales goalkeeper has raised more than £2,000.
Dai Davies, who had who run a natural healing centre in Llangollen, died aged 72 on February 10, following a battle with cancer.
* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/sport/19101868.dai-davies-played-50-times-wales-also-played-wrexham/
Nominations for the by-election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Cllr George Hughes on Llangollen Town Hall closed at 4pm today.
According to the county council's elections office, there was just one person applying to stand in the election which was due to be held on Thursday March 18.
That being the case Stuart Arthur Davies, of Tyn-Y-Ffridd, Fron Bache, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 7BP (Independent) now automatically becomes a councillor.
Mr Davies is a former Denbighshire county councillor for Llangollen and also a former mayor of Llangollen.
Stay a home restrictions will continue in Wales as the youngest pupils begin returning to school from Monday, First Minister Mark Drakeford has confirmed this afternoon.
From Monday 22 February, children aged three to seven will begin returning to schools in a phased way, while some vocational learners on courses that require practical learning, will return to college.
Following the latest review of coronavirus restrictions, the Welsh Government also announced some minor changes to the current rules:
The First Minister said:
I know the last few months of lockdown have been a huge challenge for so many of us, but I want to thank everyone for the way we have worked together as a team to drive infection rates down.
As coronavirus cases fall, and our successful vaccination programme protects more people every day, there are reasons to be optimistic.
Our youngest learners will begin going back to school from 22 February and, if the situation continues to improve over the next three weeks, we hope more primary school children and older students will be able to return from 15 March.
We are also able to make some very modest changes to the regulations from 20 February as we take some very cautious steps to relax some of the strictest lockdown restrictions we have all been living with for so long.
We are seeing encouraging green shoots as we move into spring, with better weather and brighter days ahead, coronavirus cases falling and our amazing vaccine roll-out continuing at pace. We have seen, however, time and again the world over, just how quickly the situation can deteriorate in a matter of weeks. But, if we work together to keep Wales safe, we will see more elements of normal life returning.
The next three-week review of the regulations will also consider the restrictions around non-essential retail and close contact services.
The Welsh Government’s traffic-light Coronavirus Control Plan has been revised to take account of the emerging new variant strains of the virus and the impact of the vaccine programme.
According to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press, Llangollen residents are being warned to remain vigilant after one very nearly became a victim of a doorstep fraud incident recently.
The story says that a man had knocked on the door of the address on Regent Street and falesly told the occupant that they had won a competition to receive £500.
A spokesperson for North Wales Police's Community Safety Central Team said: "A resident of Regent Street in Llangollen was nearly the victim of a fraud.
"The resident had a knock at the door, on opening the door a male said you have won a competition to receive the £500 I need your bank details. The resident has refused and the male left."
Llangollen's mayor, Austin Cheminais, has issued a personal statement about the unanimous decision by the council at its meeting last night (Tuesday) to reaffirm its support for the temporary measures put in place in the town centre last November to aid social distancing.
This statement, which is the text of what he said during the meeting, says: "Way back in March 2020 Covid had only just arrived.
"In an article in the Wrexham Leader an ex-County Councillor and Mayor of Llangollen alerted us to the dangers.
"He described the potential risks posed by the large number of visitors we get in Llangollen, the risks to the vulnerable, the ill and the elderly, the need for everyone to follow the rules and the importance of us socially distancing and lockdown.
"When reflecting on Government advice he stated that 'To not take note of what people are telling you is just stupidity'. He even went as far as to state, 'If I do catch it I will die.'
"Since March 2020 nothing has changed! We are all still just as vulnerable. The virus has mutated, and newer strains are easier to catch. Social distancing when we are out and about is as important as ever.
"We need
to resist becoming complacent or dropping our guard. It’s serious! I have lost
friends to Covid and have relatives working in Intensive Care Units, they put
themselves at risk and every day they are watching people die!
"In July the Town Council considered the measures that Denbighshire County Council planned to take in response to Covid.
"Denbighshire developed the plan for reasons of public safety following the pandemic and in accordance with Welsh Government regulations.
"The only part of the document we disagreed with was the use of Centenary Square and the area adjacent to the Town Hall where they wanted place tables and chairs.
"The plan contained a few measures but the temporary
widening of the pavements to help with Social Distancing proved to be the most
controversial.
"The plan
was delayed and delayed because of objections and reviews!
"Throughout the Summer Llangollen residents asked me and other Councillors when something was going to be done to help them socially distance.
"With the influx of visitors when lockdown was eased some residents told some of us that they didn’t feel safe and were afraid to go out!
"Many residents complained about there
being so many visitors in Town and the lack of any action to address the risks
associated with Covid. The mantra being 'when is somebody going to do
something?'
"The modifications including bolt-down kerbing weren’t completed till November 2nd, whilst we were in lockdown.
"Apart from some brief respite we have been in
Lockdown ever since. During the brief periods when we have been allowed out the
response from the Llangollen residents I have spoken to has been largely
positive with people feeling more secure and more able to safely socially
distance if they wish.
"Unfortunately, the 'bollards' continue to be controversial. As Councillors we have recently received communications from those that want the barriers to be removed and others that want the barriers to stay.
"There have been at least 2 surveys that came up with different results. Both sides have argued the legitimacy of their particular point of view. We have even received emails from people who live in other parts of the UK who have a view on the bollards.
"All the discussion that has taken place recently has been within the bubble of Social Media.
"I believe that to only rely upon Facebook and other Social Media platforms to seek the view of those who live in the Town disenfranchises the majority of Llangollen residents who don’t use the internet to communicate.
"Unfortunately, because of current restrictions they don’t have a voice other
than us and when we have had the opportunity to talk to them I believe they
have overwhelmingly been in support of the measures taken.
"The barriers are not permanent, they are a temporary measure to help residents and visitors to Socially Distance.
"My reason for bringing this to the council tonight is that shortly restrictions will be lifted and we will again welcome hundreds and on some days thousands of visitors into our small town with its narrow pavements.
"We have duty of care to keep residents and visitors safe and
although not ideal the Denbighshire plan is trying to do that!
"I believe
that it is an appropriate time, in light of the potential lifting of
restrictions, for us to let Denbighshire County Council know that we still
support the temporary measures put in place to make Llangollen more Covid
Secure and I hope that Councillors support me in my Proposal.
"I propose
that Llangollen Town Council reaffirms its support for the temporary widening
of the pavements and other measures undertaken under the Local Sustainable
response to Covid-19 and that the Clerk notify Denbighshire County Council and
our County Councillors accordingly."
Cllr Cheminais explained that, according to the Town Clerk's reports, when the social distancing plan as proposed by Denbighshire County Council, came before the town council last July it was "proposed, seconded and resolved to agree to these proposals and that the Town Clerk be instructed to advise the County Council accordingly. Agreed with one abstention.”
* Cllr Cheminais has asked llanblogger to point out that this statement is issued on behalf of himself and not the town council.
Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has welcomed the announcement that the UK Government has provided the Welsh Government with an additional £650 million to support people, businesses and public services affected by Coronavirus.
He says the funding brings the total allocated to the Welsh Government since the start of the pandemic to £5.85 billion.
That, he says, is on top of all of the other UK Government support packages including the furlough scheme, the Eat Out to Help Scheme and the different business loans.
In recognition of the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic and in response to calls for flexibility, the Welsh Government will also be able to carry over any of the £650 million not spent this year into the 2021/22 financial year on top of their existing tools to transfer funding between years.
However, Mr Baynes has called on the Welsh Government to now re-examine its proposed Local Government Funding Settlement for 2021-22, in which he says Wrexham Council is set to receive the second lowest funding increase in Wales of 2.3%.
Mr Baynes commented: “I’m very pleased that the UK Government continues to support Wales through the pandemic. This additional funding boost highlights the value of our United Kingdom.
"It’s important now that this funding gets to businesses and individuals in Clwyd South and across Wales as we look to rebuild the UK economy.
“I would urge the Welsh Labour Government to spend some of this money on a more generous support grant for Wrexham Council which currently has the second lowest settlement in Wales despite having to deal the Covid crisis. The proposed increase of 2.3% for Wrexham compares to an average increase in South Wales of 4.17%, thereby reinforcing the unfairness of the North-South divide.
“This means that, with the heavy burdens of Covid-19, flooding, snow, increased social care and many other factors, Wrexham County Borough Council will be forced to increase Council Tax on residents by 6.95%, despite being a well-run Council. I therefore hope that the Labour Government in Cardiff will look again at the funding settlements for Wrexham Council.”
Llangollen Health Centre have this evening put out a further Covid vaccination update on social media.
Their post on Facebook says: "We have now moved onto the next priority group which is patients aged 65 to 69 years old and yesterday held our first Covid vaccine clinic in Glyn Ceiriog.
"We have a very limited supply of vaccines over the next couple of weeks and so it may well be early March before we can complete vaccinating this group. Please bear with us – we will arrange clinics as soon as we are in receipt of sufficient vaccine.
