Library and One Stop Shop open from next Monday

* Llangollen Library will re-open next Monday, March 29.

Libraries across Denbighshire will be re-opening their doors from Monday, March 29 for browsing for books, using a computer and printing, and accessing One Stop Shop services. 

To ensure a safe visit, customers will need to phone their local library to make an appointment to visit.

Libraries are a safe place to visit with plenty of room for social distancing, limited numbers of people in at any time, and hand and equipment sanitiser available. All returned books are quarantined for 72 hours before being touched.

Visits to browse and choose books are limited to 20 minutes, and computer sessions are currently limited to 45 minutes, and one per week. You will need your library card number to book a computer session.

If you require help at the One Stop Shop with a council query or to make a payment, please call the library and ensure you have all the relevant details, so that we can deal with your query, and arrange an appointment if you need to come in.

The popular Order and Collect service will continue if you would prefer for library staff to choose the books for you to collect or have delivered to you. 

The Home Library Service is making deliveries of books to anyone who is unable to visit their local library – please call the library or visit the website to find out more about this service.

So that the shelves can be stocked up, you are asked to please return any books you’ve had on loan by dropping them off at the library. All the books currently on loan are being automatically renewed and you won’t be fined even if you’ve had them for months.

You can join the library, order books and download e-books, e-audiobooks, magazines and newspapers free – visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries

Wales votes to protect its pets as new law passes Senedd

A vote has just passed in the Senedd introducing new regulations for pet sales. 

The regulations will also ban third party sales of puppies and kittens.

This means that from 10 September it will be an offence to sell a puppy or kitten which the seller has not bred themselves. 

Crucially the new regulations requires the seller to have bred the puppy or kitten “at the premises” – which puts a stop to lengthy and multiple transportations for the young animals, which can cause distress. 

This applies to travel in and around Wales, as well as banning puppies and kittens from being brought in to Wales, for sale.

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: “Our much-loved pets fill us with joy, complete our families, and have helped us get through tough lockdowns during the pandemic.

“I want to thank all Senedd members for voting to ban the third party sales of puppies and kittens today. The people of Wales who responded to our consultation were overwhelmingly in favour of making this happen, and the charities, vets, volunteers and organisations that have worked tirelessly to help form the law into what has been passed today also deserve our thanks.

“We hope a ban will encourage respectful and responsible attitudes towards all animals, provide greater transparency for people who wish to welcome puppies or kittens into their homes as to how they have been bred, and empower Local Authorities to take action if they have concerns about how puppies and kittens are being bred and sold.”

Chief Veterinary Officer Christianne Glossop said: “The way we treat animals reflects the values of our society. That is why Welsh Government and the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group work in conjunction to promote high animal welfare standards and the responsible ownership of animals. This law will now close loopholes to protect the welfare and wellbeing of our puppies and kittens, while educating us all about what is right and fair for our pets.”

The Regulations will come fully into force on 10 September.  

During this time Statutory Guidance will be co-produced to support enforcement by Local Authorities and this timeline will also allow existing sellers affected to make changes and consider a different operating model to mitigate any potential impact.

MP calls for support for Corwen station project

* Simon Baynes MP asks a question in the Commons.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has highlighted in Parliament the potential benefits of the levelling-up fund for projects in North Wales, and in particular his constituency.

Mr Baynes asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Wales, David TC Davies MP, whether he would meet with him and visit projects in Clwyd South that fulfil the requirements of the fund, such as the reopening of Corwen station on the Llangollen steam railway and Wrexham's regeneration plans.

In response, the Minister said: “I assure my Hon. Friend that it is always a pleasure to meet him and hear about the enormous amount of hard work he is undertaking in his constituency. 

"Unfortunately, I have been advised that it would not be appropriate for me to visit any specific project site, but I of course look forward to supporting him and other Members of Parliament who continue the work of using the funds being made available by the UK Government to drive forward regeneration in their constituencies.”

Speaking later, Mr Baynes said: “These projects have real potential to bring funding and investment to Clwyd South which our communities vitally need following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"So I’m keen, whenever possible, to bang the drum and support these projects and am eager to work with the UK Government to boost our North Wales economy and encourage growth and the creation of new, well-paying jobs locally.”

St Collen's carefully plans its Easter service

Llangollen Group of Anglican Church has issued information about its forthcoming Easter service.

This says: "Our Easter Sunday celebration at 11am will be going ahead as planned and in accordance with the latest restrictions from the Welsh Government. 

"Under Alert Level 4 for Wales, churches are allowed to remain open for public worship. 

"We have reviewed our arrangements (including Risk Assessments) for this service so that everyone will be kept safe.

"St Collen's is a large building and we have worked out a maximum number for attendance so that everyone is kept at a safe distance. 

"All those planning to attend will need to REGISTER (their names and contact numbers) by email: stcollens@gmail.com, or by signing up after the 11am service this Sunday (28th March).

"The services are much shorter than they would usually be.

"There is a small choir (of physically distanced singers) leading the music in full compliance with the Welsh Government.

"Face coverings in church are mandatory.

"The church building is fully sanitised after each service and hand sanitiser is readily available for individuals around the church. 

"All up-to-date information can be accessed online by visiting the Welsh Government & Church in Wales websites."

Welsh Government's coronavirus update

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

•  First Minister Mark Drakeford has led tributes to all those who have died during the pandemic in Wales and the enormous contribution from people across the nation as Wales today marks the first anniversary of the pandemic.
• Statement in Plenary: https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/11187#A65549
• National Commemorative Event: https://gov.wales/national-coronavirus-commemorative-event
• Health Minister Vaughan Gething has published an update about Wales’ Vaccination Strategy: https://gov.wales/written-statement-covid-19-vaccination-strategy-update-0
• Vaccination Equity Strategy: https://gov.wales/covid-19-vaccination-equity-strategy
• Up to £30m to support Wales’ diverse culture sector through the ongoing pandemic has been announced by Welsh Government in a second round of the Cultural Recovery Fund.
• The fund will be delivered jointly by Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales and local authorities.
• https://gov.wales/cultural-recovery-fund-extended
• Update about field hospitals: https://gov.wales/written-statement-review-field-hospital-phase-2 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 127 newly-reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 208,119 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• There were no deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 5,488.
• 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 1,288,250 people have received their first dose.
• And 353,347 people have received two doses of the vaccine.
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary
• If you think you’ve been missed off the vaccine appointment list: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination-if-you-think-you-have-been-missed
• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published statistics on provisional weekly deaths, including deaths involving Covid-19 for the week ending 12 March 2021.
• The cumulative number of deaths involving Covid-19 occurring in Welsh residents up to 12 March 2021 was 7,731.
• Of these, there were provisionally 68 deaths involving Covid-19 registered in Welsh residents in the week ending 12 March. This was 35 fewer than the previous week. The number of registered deaths involving Covid has declined for eight successive weeks and is at its lowest level since late October.
• For the period 7 March 2020 to 12 March 2021, there were a total of 5,600 excess deaths (17%) above the five-year average.
• More deaths involving Covid were registered in the second wave of the pandemic than the first.
• The excess death rate for Wales for the pandemic period to date was lower in Wales than in England.
• For the latest week, both England and Wales saw deaths below the five-year average.
• The numbers reported by ONS are different from those from Public Health Wales because of different reporting methods and timing.
• https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest 

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 must have a test on day one and day eight if you have been told to self-isolate by NHS Wales Test Trace Protect.
• 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

• Wales is at alert level four. A stay local rule is in place. A summary of what to do is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4-summary
• More information about the national measures is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4 and the roadmap in and out of alert levels is at: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-control-plan-alert-levels-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
• Want to join Wales’ vaccination team? https://gov.wales/join-covid-19-vaccination-team
• If you think you’ve been missed off the vaccine appointment list: https://gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination-if-you-think-you-have-been-missed
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/ 

Town Hall lit up in tribute to those who have died from Covid-19

 

* Llangollen Town Hall is one of the buildings in Llangollen and Wrexham lit up this evening by a team of technicians from locally-based Orb Sound and Lighting on the National Day of Reflection  in tribute to those who have died from Covid-19.  The castle was also lit up tonight.

Eisteddfod journalist among those remembered today

* The late Kevin Hughes with his wife Sally. 

Among those who died from Covid-19 and will be commemorated today on the anniversary of the first lockdown will be a journalist who covered the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for a number of years.

Kevin Hughes, who was also a Flintshire county councillor, died at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital after a long battle against Covid-19 in January aged 63.

His death followed that of his mother, June Margaret Hughes, 89, also from the virus on November 25 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Kevin had visited her briefly in PPE and accepted that going to the hospital may have caused him to contract the disease but he added: “I don't know how I got it, whether it was visiting my mum, it might have been in the shop or in the garage. I just don't know.”

He was born in Chester and attended Queen’s Park High School, Handbridge, and leaves a wife, Sally, with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage three years ago, sons Chris, Steve and Andy, and seven grandchildren.

In a varied career Kevin Joined Cheshire Constabulary and was a police diver during his service and after his retirement worked for a time as head diver at the Blue Planet Aquarium, at Cheshire Oaks.

He moved into journalism with the Chester Chronicle and rose to be editor of the Flintshire Chronicle before his retirement and in recent years has worked for North Wales-based public relations company Ceidiog Communication with whom he helped to cover the Llangollen Eisteddfod for a number of seasons until just a few years ago. 

He represented Gwernymynydd as an active and committed Flintshire County Councillor.

He was a former colleague of llanblogger journalist Phil Robinson, both at Ceidiog Communication and previously when they worked together on the Ellesmere Port Pioneer newspaper in Cheshire.

Paying tribute in January Phil said: "The small north Wales journalistic community has lost one of its most outstanding members which it could ill afford to do. 

"Kevin, who I was privileged to know for 20 years, was a big man - in stature, talent and heart."