Care chief's warning on Covid: We're not out of the woods yet

* Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales.

A social care leader has warned the public in Wales not to become complacent and to "remain vigilant” as the number of Covid deaths in care homes continue fall.

Mario Kreft MBE, chair of Care Forum Wales, said new, more contagious and potentially more dangerous mutant strains of the virus could still throw a spanner in the works.

It was vitally important, he stressed, that people adhered to sensible safeguards like social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising properly.

The importance of doing the right thing was underlined by the catastrophic death toll in care homes since the onset of the pandemic.

The latest figures show that a total of 8.043 adult care home residents had died since March 1 last year – that was 43 per cent higher than the same period two years ago.

The rollout of the vaccine had led to a significant decrease in the number of Covid deaths in care homes .

According to Care Inspectorate Wales, there had been a 16.5 per cent decrease – down from 238 to 173  - in the number of cases involving residents and staff in the previous 20 days.

Following a peak of 20 care homes deaths  per day on January 21, there were now around three deaths per day, which was similar to the number observed at the beginning of November.

Mr Kreft said: “It is excellent news that the number of deaths in care homes is now decreasing and it is a clear indication that the vaccine rollout is having a major impact in helping to protect residents and staff from this deadly disease but we are not out of the woods yet, far from it.

“However, emerging mutant strains of Covid are a real cause for concern because they are more contagious and it’s feared the new variant from Brazil may be more resistant to the vaccine, posing a real risk to elderly, frail and vulnerable people.

“It is vitally important that we do not become complacent. We must remain hugely vigilant and I would appeal to people to adhere to all the sensible safeguards like social distancing, wearing masks and sanitising properly.

“Our first and most important priority is ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff so we need to adopt a cautious approach to care home visiting.

“Thanks to the availability of the vaccines, there is now light at the end of this very dark tunnel. This is hopefully the beginning of the end of this nightmare and it would be a tragedy if we blew it when we are so close to the finish line.

“Another level of protection would be provided if care homes in Wales were allowed to refuse to hire staff who have not had a Covid jab unless they have a legitimate medical reason because it only takes one person to bring one of the new strains of the virus into vulnerable people.”

“The statistics are also a stark illustration of the scale of the Covid catastrophe and the tragic toll the pandemic has taken on residents, despite the heroic efforts of front line staff, managers and care home owners. The number of deaths in care homes since March 1 last year is 43 per cent higher than the same period two years ago.

“While the success of the vaccine rollout is a real positive, we must never forget those we have lost and we must honour their memory by doing everything in our power to protect the vulnerable people  for whom we have pledged to provide care.”

Affordable homes up for rental, councillors told

Denbighshire housing officers have asked Llangollen's two county councillors to pass the word that a number of the affordable houses in the area are being advertised for rental.

Cllrs Geraham Timms and Melvyn Mile were told: "I just want to draw your attention to the fact that five of the two-bedroom properties at Vicarage Road, Llangollen are currently being advertised for Intermediate Rental (80% of market rate) on the Tai Teg Affordable Housing Register website.

"If you know of anyone who should apply or can promote the information further I would be grateful.

"The closing date to apply for the properties is April 5th, 2021."

More information is available at: https://taiteg.org.uk/en/properties/2bedroom-5person-terraced-houses-1

County councillor responds to bridge weight limit call

 

* County Cllr Graham Timms on Llangollen Bridge.

One of the town’s two county councillors has responded to a call by a town councillor and the area’s MP to impose a weight restriction on Llangollen’s historic bridge.

As llanblogger reported just a few hours ago, Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has backed a suggestion by new town councillor Stuart Davies to place a restriction on the structure, which dates from the 16^th century, to protect it from damage by heavy traffic. 

https://llanblogger.blogspot.com/2021/03/mp-backs-call-for-weight-restriction-on.html

Concerns have previously been raised by Cllr Davies about Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) coming from the A539 in Ruabon, crossing the bridge and going through the town to join the A5.

He has put forward a motion that Llangollen Town Council calls upon the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council to implement an Environmental Weight Restriction on it.

But the proposed move has brought a rapid reaction from Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms.

He says in a statement just received by llanblogger: “A weight limit on the bridge would be great, but these simple ideas are not quite as easy to implement.

“Impossibly simplistic solutions are popular and get a quick headline but a more thoughtful solution to the town's problems must be taken. 

“In practice, a weight limit would mean an 18 mile stretch of river without a crossing for heavy goods vehicles.

“This is something that would not be allowed unless the bridge was unsafe. Environmental limits are not granted where an 18 mile journey is required to get across the river. We've been told for many years that it can't happen. 

“A much more complex, but realistic solution will be implemented over next winter to achieve a reduction in the number of heavy goods vehicles on the bridge.”

MP backs call for weight restriction on town's historic bridge

* Simon Baynes MP on Llangollen Bridge.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes is backing calls to place an Environmental Weight Restriction on Llangollen Bridge.

Llangollen town councillor Stuart Davies is calling for the bridge to be given greater protection from heavy traffic and to alleviate pollution. 

The bridge dates from the 16th Century and is a Grade I listed ancient monument and one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.

Concerns have previously been raised by Cllr Davies about Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) coming from the A539 in Ruabon, crossing the bridge and going through the town to join the A5.

He said: "I welcome Simon’s support and will be putting forward a motion that Llangollen Town Council calling upon the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council to implement an Environmental Weight Restriction to reduce heavy traffic transiting through Llangollen and protect this 16th Century Grade I listed building, ancient monument and one of the Seven Wonders of Wales.”

Simon Baynes MP said: “Llangollen Bridge is one of the jewels in the crown of Llangollen. And I think we should be doing everything we can now to minimise the risk of damage and preserve the bridge for future generations of residents and visitors to enjoy. 

"That’s why I’m backing calls for a weight restriction and supporting Cllr Stuart Davies in his campaign.”

* See separate story for response from County Councillor Graham Timms: 

https://llanblogger.blogspot.com/2021/03/county-councillor-responds-to-bridge.html

Health centre sends out new vaccination update

Llangollen Health Centre has this morning (Friday) given an update on the local vaccination situation, which says:

"We’ve had news that the supply of vaccines is going to improve considerably over the next few weeks which is fantastic. That’s not to say that there won’t be any blips but we are cautiously optimistic that we will be receiving an increased supply over the next month or so.

"Welsh Government has set a target for all patients in Groups 1 – 9 to be offered a vaccine by mid-April and I can assure everyone that we will be working our socks off to hit this target, as long as we get the vaccines.

"These are the groups we have still to do:

Group 5 – currently booking these in

Group 6 – 16-64 with underlying conditions*

Group 7 – patients aged 60 – 64

Group 8 – patients aged 55 – 59

Group 9 – patients aged 50 – 54

"All the above should be offered an appointment by mid-April depending on vaccine supply. I’m afraid at this stage we cannot be any more specific than that. We will have a rolling programme of vaccination clinics and we will work our way through the groups in order as quickly as we can.

"Please be patient – we will contact you when it is your turn.

"I will continue to update everyone as we get to the end of each group, so if someone thinks they have been missed, they will have the opportunity to let us know.

"Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Tessa

Practice Manager

*The Public Health Wales website has more detail on the eligibility criteria for this group:

https://phw.nhs.wales/.../eligibility-for-the-vaccine/

Talks held on using new pocket park for regular run

 

* Contractors at work on the new pocket park off the A539. 

Llangollen’s new “pocket park” should be perfect location for a local park run now in an advanced planning stage.

That’s the view of keen runner Mike Edwards who has been campaigning hard to establish a regular run for the area.

Park runs are free, weekly, community events all around the world.

Saturday morning events are 5k and take place in parks and open spaces. On Sunday mornings, there are 2k junior park runs for children aged four to 14.

A park run is seen as a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience where there is no time limit and no one finishes last.

Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate or marshal.

Mike Edwards said: “I’ve just seen llanblogger’s article on the pocket park and multi-use path to the health centre.

“I have been working for some time with Llangollen GP practice through Dr Michael Clarke and Jenny Coppock from Infinitee, a local company, to establish a park run for Llangollen. 

“We set up a core group some time ago, but obviously matters have been delayed and are on hold during the pandemic.

“The GP practice is registered as a Park Run Practice so they can encourage and socially prescribe the park run to patients in suitable circumstances. 

“I have been involved with park run for some time and normally run and volunteer at Erddig Park Run in Wrexham and was also on the core group which set up a park run at Henley Wood, Oswestry.

“Park runs quickly establish a community of local people interested in improving their health and wellbeing and the following link tells people all about it: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/”

Mr Edwards added: “We are in active discussion with David Shiel, manager of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but our park run will not be able to be launched until pandemic restrictions are removed in Wales and of course when the AoNB’s scheme on the pocket park and trail to the health centre is completed.

“This is not likely to be at the earliest till later in the year, and it may even be 2022 before we can launch, but watch this space. 

“We are using the current time to get all our ducks in a row and recently Park Run Cymru have appointed an ambassador to support and mentor us to set up the event.

“Anyone interested in the event can email us at LlangollenParkrun@googlemail.com”

Llangollen’s pocket park is being built on the former council refuse tip at Wenffrwd off the A539.

First phase of the work involves the development of a small car park and new access road which was due to be finished early this year.

Next phase means the development of trails around the site and possibly onto the canal.  

There is also an aim to create a link back to Llangollen Health Centre along part of the old railway line.

Giving an update to llanblogger recently, David Shiel of the AONB which is overseeing the project, said: "Works are proceeding well at Wenffrwd – the car park and new access road are now more or less complete.  

"We are currently working on new trails around the site which include some lovely wooded areas with fantastic views across the River Dee and along valley from the old railway line.  

"We would hope to have these works complete in the next few weeks so that the site can be open for Easter – should Covid-19 restrictions allow."

Government's new £15m fund to help towns build better

* Could Llangollen be put forward for help from the new town centre fund?  

Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn, has today announced a £15.2 million ‘placemaking’ funding package to help Wales’s town centres build back better.

It’s all part of a wider £110 million investment through Transforming Towns, the Welsh Government’s town centre regeneration programme, which funds projects for the benefit of local communities in town and city centres in Wales.

The new funding package, available to all of Wales’s Local Authorities, is designed to be as flexible as possible and will offer support for a wide range of projects, from green infrastructure developments and the creation of active travel routes, to internal and external improvements for business owners.

In addition, the funding will support the improvement of town centre markets, create new uses for vacant buildings, and drive activity to support Welsh Government’s ‘digital towns’ agenda — among other projects to make Wales’s town and city centres thrive.

Designed in collaboration with Wales’s local authorities, the £15.2 million support package will offer increased flexibility and control over available funds for town regeneration projects — with one lead authority within each region administering the fund.

The flexibility will allow Local Authorities to choose which towns are supported and make use of the range of options available to best suit each individual location, says the government.

Wrexham County Borough Council has been selected as lead authority for north Wales.

Those eligible to apply for funding include local authorities, town centre businesses, Business Improvement Districts and Town and Community Councils.

It is hoped that the new grant, alongside other existing Transforming Towns support packages, including the £5.3 million announced last summer to support town centre and traders respond to the Covid-19 by funding adaptions and improve public safety, will help with recovery efforts from the pandemic — helping to bring new economic opportunity and employment back to the centre of Wales’s towns.

This is in keeping with Welsh Government’s ‘Town Centre First’ initiative and long-term ambition for 30% of the Welsh population to work from, or closer to home — through repurposing vacant buildings into co-working hubs and encouraging public sector organisations to set up offices in town centre locations. Superfast Business Wales’s work to improve connectivity across Wales will further aid this, with businesses and individuals encouraged to explore their connectivity options and make more of digital.

The Welsh Government’s work to further improve digital connectivity across Wales will also help support this with a number of existing interventions including a £10 million Local Broadband Fund and a range of voucher schemes to help those without access to superfast broadband. This is in addition to its current roll-out out of full-fibre broadband with Openreach to around 39,000 properties using £56 million of public funding. Individuals, businesses and communities are encouraged to explore their connectivity options to make more of digital. 

Hannah Blythyn, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, said: "Our town centres are unique, special places. Each town has its own proud history, sense of place and memory — with many of lives shaped by the towns we have grown up in, moved-to or visited.

"However, we know that towns in Wales are facing huge challenges in light of Covid-19, which is why the Welsh Government is committed to doing everything we can to ensure our town centres not only survive but thrive in the future.

"By offering Welsh local authorities the broadest and most flexible package of support through our new placemaking fund, we have enabled our regional partners to decide upon the most appropriate mix of interventions and how to put them into practice effectively in towns across Wales.

"Together with wider Transforming Towns programme grants, this will help us to re-build our Welsh towns and to realise wider plans set out by Welsh Government — to open up new, local economic opportunities while creating sustainable places for the people of Wales to live, work, learn and enjoy."