Call for Welsh Government support for crisis-hit railway

Following news that Llangollen Railway PLC is to go into receivership, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised its plight in the Welsh Parliament and called for a government statement on support for the attraction.

Mr Isherwood, who has long championed the work of Llangollen Railway and worked with them over many years, said: “The directors of this wonderful Welsh standard-gauge heritage railway announced last week that they have taken the reluctant step of inviting their bank to appoint a receiver.

“The Trust Board stated it will need to take steps to negotiate with the receiver to try to secure the line and preserve rolling stock and infrastructure to the greatest extent possible. 

"It is intended to recommence operations in due course, but this is dependent upon legal and regulatory approvals, including licensing, all of which will clearly take time, it added.

“The impact this will have on their staff, volunteers, customers, suppliers, locomotive owners and their organisations, and anyone else with connections to the railway, is potentially serious, as is the wider impact on the visitor economy in Llangollen and throughout the Dee Valley.

“I have therefore been asked to raise this in the Welsh Parliament and alert the First Minister, and request a Welsh Government statement accordingly.”

In her response the Tefnydd, Rebecca Evans MS, told Mr Isherwood to write to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, which he said he will now be doing. 

Retail and tourism sector gets further protection against eviction

Retail, hospitality, tourism and other businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic will now be protected from eviction until the end of June 2021, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales Ken Skates has announced.

As part of the action Welsh Government is taking to support the business community the moratorium against forfeiture for the non-payment of rent, which was due to end on 31 March, will now be extended until 30 June, 2021.

While businesses should continue to pay rent wherever possible, the latest measure will ensure no business is forced out of its premises if it misses a payment between now and the end of June this year. The move will help ease the burden on a range of sectors, including retail and hospitality, at what continues to be an incredibly challenging period of time.

The Welsh Government’s package of business support is in addition to that available from the UK Government and is the most generous in the UK. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Welsh Government has ensured that more than £1.9bn has reached businesses across Wales with more money reaching firms every day.

Ken Skates, said: “The past year has placed untold pressures on our firms and our people as we deal with coronavirus and that is why we have moved at pace to support the business community through the pandemic with a package worth in excess of £2 billion.

“Today’s announcement of the extension of measures to prevent forfeiture for the non-payment of rent builds on that and is crucial in protecting businesses from eviction and securing jobs and livelihoods over the coming months.

“We will continue to do all that we can to help them through these incredibly challenging times.”

Vicar reveals provisional church re-opening date

Llangollen's vicar has given an update on the re-opening of St Collen's Church after the latest lockdown.

Father Lee Taylor says: "We are provisionally looking to reopen the St Collen's for public worship on Sunday 21st March. This date is provisional upon the further guidelines from the Welsh Government and of the Church in Wales.

"This gives us time to carry out a thorough and up-to-date risk assessment as well as air and sanitise the building.

"Legally, churches have been allowed to be open for communal worship, but the advice from the local health authorities and from the Diocese was to find alternatives to public gatherings, which is what we have done.

"When we reopen, we will be returning to the pattern of worship and practices that we developed since we emerged from Lockdown 1 last year: Only one service (11am) at St Collen's on Sunday morning until further notice.

"The details relating to these decisions for our group of churches has been given in the statement which is now available on our website.

"Our safe capacity in St Collen's stands at 60 people maximum. It is doubtful that we will exceed this number on a regular Sunday morning (apart from Easter Sunday – more details will follow). However, attendance will be on a first come, first served basis.

"Please note the following very carefully:

"Some people have been vaccinated and some haven’t. Remember, no one is safe until we are ALL safe.

"Only members of the same household or bubble will be able to sit together.

"No socialising is allowed in church, and only one person from two households can meet outside.

"Please wave your greeting rather than stopping for a chat, and please leave the church in a timely fashion.

"Masks are to be worn at all times.

"Hands should be sanitised before entering the church.

"Social distancing of 2 metres should be maintained (including moving all the way into the pew you have chosen).

"Do not attend church if you are feeling ill.

"Temperature checks will be taken at the door (this means that the person taking the temperature will be at the same arm’s length distance as the priest giving communion).

"As ever with this pandemic, the church will be open for Sunday worship for those who feel comfortable enough to attend, and live-streaming will continue for those who don't.

"All this means that we will be able to keep some of Lent, Holy Week and Easter in Church.

"After Easter we will look to re-open for private prayer. If you can spare an hour or so a week, do get in contact with Tony.

"So, this is phase 1 of re-opening our churches. I hope that somewhere between Easter and the summer we can proceed with the next phase and consider safely (and legally) reopening St Tysilio's and Trevor church.

"When we do so, there will be a revised pattern of Sunday worship for our group of churches. More details will follow in due course."

Balloon festival aims to inflate funds for hospice

* Balloons take flight at the 2019 Oswestry Balloon Carnival in aid of 

Nightingale House Hospice.

The annual Oswestry Balloon Carnival is to return this summer after it was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions last year. 

And it will be the first face-to-face fundraising event for Nightingale House Hospice in 18 months. 

Following the Government’s recent announcement to lift lockdown measures, the Oswestry Balloon Carnival in aid of Nightingale House Hospice is due to take place on August 21 and 22. 

Extra safety measures are being introduced because of the pandemic to ensure this year’s family fun event can go ahead safely. 

The hospice is synonymous with the Balloon Carnival, held in association with Oswestry Town Council, Spirit Operations and supported by Oswestry Business Improvement District (BID), and had held the event for four years prior to 2020. 

Weather permitting there will be an array of hot air balloons on display including impressive special shapes, as well as family entertainment and an eclectic mix of food stalls and returns to Cae-Glas Park. 

The carnival atmosphere will spill over into the town centre where more entertainment and family fun will be on offer. 

It is the Balloon Carnival event that was the inspiration behind the hospice’s unique Build-A-Balloon Campaign, where supporters can sponsor a panel on our unique Nightingale hot air balloon. 

It is hoped the finished balloon, emblazoned with panels of images, illustrations, messages of love, good wishes and hopes and memories will take centre stage at this year’s summer event*.

Sarah Povey, Event Organiser for Nightingale House, said: “We are eager to start putting our plans in place, as we are confident that we will be able to go ahead with this year’s event, following government guidelines. 

"This Oswestry Balloon Carnival will be incredibly special for everyone involved in fundraising for the hospice, as it will mark the first participant event for Nightingale House since early 2020. We hope that as always the public will support us and mark the date in their diaries as a great community event to look forward to.”

* If you would like to sponsor a panel on the Nightingale House Hot Air Balloon you can reserve your spot via www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/event/build-a-balloon/

One million people have now had at least one Covid-19 jab

One million people across Wales have had at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, meaning almost 40% of the adult population now have a level of protection from COVID-19.

Today’s data [9 March] shows 1,007,391 people - or 4 in 10 adults - have received at least their first dose.

And 192,030 have also had their second dose, equating to 1,199,421 doses administered altogether within the first 13 weeks of Wales’ vaccination programme. 

Following an anticipated dip in supplies over the past few weeks, Wales is shortly going to see a significant increase again. Expected supplies should see the availability of around 200,000 vaccinations over the course of the next couple of weeks – with around 30,000 a day being administered.

This includes second doses for the many more people due to receive theirs in the coming weeks, and supplies for this have been planned for too.

An update to the Vaccination Strategy for Wales was published at the end of February and this brought forward two key target dates and also sets out plans for the next phase of roll-out.

It was recently announced that Wales aims to have offered vaccinations to every eligible adult by 31 July, as long as supply is maintained.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “To be able to say that one in four adults in Wales have now had at least their first dose of the vaccine is a truly incredible testament to the hard-work of everyone involved in the roll-out of this life-changing vaccine.

“We have seen an incredible level of up-take so far and my thanks go to every person who has done their bit for this national effort. It is crucial these high levels of uptake are maintained and I would urge everyone to take up their offer - every single dose really does count. Each is a step closer to opening up our society, a step closer to a brighter future and our ‘new normal’.

“We do however need to reiterate that even if you have had your jab, please keep to the social distancing and hygiene measures we’ve become accustom to over the past year - everyone’s efforts to keep this virus at bay are so vitally important.”

Although vaccination greatly reduces the risk of severe COVID, we are still learning about how the vaccine affects transmission of the virus and someone could still pass it on even after being vaccinated. 

Once someone has had the vaccine however they should still follow the same steps to keep themselves and Wales safe; wearing a mask, keeping a 2m distance, washing their hands regularly and keeping rooms as well ventilated as possible.

All eligible adults will be invited to for an appointment when it is their turn – please do not call local health services, unless asked to do so.

Progress made towards step-free access at Ruabon station

* Simon Baynes MP at Ruabon station.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed "major progress" by the UK Government on step-free disability access at Ruabon Railway Station. 

Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps has said that Ruabon Station will be progressing to the next stage of the Access for All programme.

This next stage of design will allow the Department for Transport to establish any risks and the anticipated final costs associated with the project. 

Since becoming the local MP Mr Baynes has make the case for step-free access to the UK Government, which is responsible for the infrastructure of the railways in Wales, during Questions in the Chamber of the House of Commons and in meetings with Ministers in the Department for Transport, the Treasury and the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. 

He has also worked closely with the stakeholders involved in Ruabon Station including Wrexham Council, Network Rail, the Welsh government, Ruabon Community Council, Friends of Ruabon and the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership. 

Ruabon is a busy station with two flights of stairs that passengers need to use in order to access the Chester platform and it is the only station on the Chester to Shrewsbury route that fails to meet passengers’ step-free access needs. 

From 2002 to 2017, footfall increased by 220% among those entering and exiting the station and the addition of a new development 360 houses and a hotel in Ruabon is also expected to bring additional footfall and demand for the station. 

Ruabon Station is also the rail and bus gateway access for Llangollen and the World Heritage site at Pontcysyllte.

Grant Shapps said: “Simon Baynes has been championing the cause of constituents who need step-free access at Ruabon station, and I'm delighted we can now progress work to the next stage. This shows the value of having strong Conservative voices in North Wales. 

“Our railway should be easily available to all, not just the able-bodied, and we must press ahead with projects to make stations accessible.”

Mr Baynes said: “It is very good news for residents in Ruabon and the wider community in Clwyd South and Wrexham that the UK Government has said today that Ruabon Station will be progressing to the next stage of the Access for All programme. 

"This is something I’ve been campaigning for both locally in Clwyd South and in Parliament since day one of becoming an MP, and before that as a candidate, and it shows the commitment of the UK government to Clwyd South and North Wales. 

“Many representatives, organisations and residents in Ruabon have been campaigning for step-free access at Ruabon Station for several years and I am very pleased to see this important progress to the next stage of design. 

"This would not have been possible without the help and support of County Cllr David Bithell (Environment and Transport Lead at Wrexham Council), Darren Williams (Chief Environment and Technical Officer at Wrexham Council), County Cllr Joan Lowe (the local County Councillor for Penycae and Ruabon South), Sheila Dee (Community Rail Officer of the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership), the team at Network Rail, the Welsh government, Ruabon Community Council and the Friends of Ruabon who have all worked so hard to get to this crucial stage. 

“This project is needed to make sure all passengers can access the jobs and leisure opportunities that will make our community an even greater place to live and work.”

Government pledges £72m to support learners

Education Minister Kirsty Williams (pictured) has announced a further £72 million to support learners as part of the response towards recovery and progression since the pandemic.

The funding will include the continuation of the Recruit, Recover and Raise Standards programme into the next academic year, extra learning resources and support for foundation phase learners in schools and childcare settings that provide early education.

Support will also be targeted at learners in years 11, 12 and 13, to provide additional help with their transition into the next stage.

Since last July, the equivalent of 1,800 extra full-time school staff have been recruited in schools across Wales to provide extra support during the pandemic, double the original target of 900.

Funding will also be used to support 1,400 trainee teachers currently in Initial Teacher Education, enabling them to complete their practical experience in the autumn, complete their qualifications and move into full-time teaching.

In a comparison of UK nations in February, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found that Wales’ “catch up programmes are far better targeted at their most disadvantaged pupils”. The announcement today is expected to increase the spend-per-pupil equivalent to £239 – the highest in the UK.

Kirsty Williams, the Education Minister, said: “We all know it’s been a difficult period for learners and staff. Schools and colleges have done terrific work in ensuring learning has continued, while putting preparations in place so the return of learners is as smooth as possible.

“I know that extra help is needed, especially for learners at key stages in their academic careers and in their lives. As learners continue to go back to face-to-face learning, we are providing this additional funding to ensure support is in place when our young people return to the classroom.”

In a big week for education reform in Wales, the Minister also looked ahead to Tuesday’s final Senedd stage of the Curriculum and Assessment Bill and the introduction of the first ever ‘made in Wales’ national curriculum:

“It is a significant milestone in our national mission as the Curriculum and Assessment Bill reaches its final stage before being passed into law.

“I call it a ‘national mission’ as it has involved everyone working together – teachers, parents, academics, businesses, national organisations, and my department of course - to raise standards, tackle the attainment gap and have an education system that is a source of pride to us all.

“Diolch yn fawr to everyone who has played their part in this historic journey for education in Wales.”