Further help for Covid-hit businesses announced

 

Businesses in Wales still affected by coronavirus restrictions will be able to claim up to £25,000 more in support to help meet ongoing costs, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

This next package of business support comes as the Welsh Government confirmed up to six people from six different households will be able to meet in indoor regulated settings, such as cafes and pubs, when they open from May 17. Since the start of the pandemic, the Welsh Government has provided more than £2bn to tens of thousands of businesses across Wales to help them through the pandemic. This latest support package will help those businesses, which remain affected by restrictions, to meet ongoing costs through to the end of June as they prepare for re-opening and more normal trading conditions. Businesses that stand to benefit include: Nightclubs and late entertainment venues Events and conference venues not covered by the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund (CRF) Hospitality and leisure businesses, including restaurants, pubs and cafes. Supply chain business, which have been materially impacted by restrictions. The support is the first phase of a £200m package earmarked for the incoming Welsh Government to help businesses affected by the pandemic. Ministers have made an immediate decision to release funding to support businesses affected by the restrictions but there will be further decisions for the incoming Welsh Government to make about further support, to help businesses recover and develop when restrictions are relaxed further. First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “The public health situation continues to improve in Wales – we have the lowest coronavirus rates and the best vaccination rates in the UK. “We know the restrictions have helped to keep us all safe but they have had a big impact on Welsh businesses, which is why we are making more funding available to support firms and safeguard jobs. “Eligible businesses will receive support of up to £25k as they prepare to reopen and move towards more normal trading conditions. “My new government will provide more detail about the extra financial support we will be providing to businesses to help them develop and grow as Wales recovers from the impact of the pandemic. “As we continue to relax the restrictions, I can confirm that from Monday, up to six people from six different households will be able to meet indoors in regulated settings, such as cafes and pubs.” An eligibility checker will open on the Business Wales website at midday on May 17 so businesses can find out how much support they are likely to be entitled to and how to apply. Businesses will be able submit applications by the end of the month and they will receive between £2,500 and £25,000 depending on their circumstances. Funding will be calculated based on the size of the business and the type of restrictions they are under. This support is in addition to the Welsh Government’s £610m non-domestic rates relief which will mean more than 70,000 retail, leisure and hospitality businesses  pay no rates in 2021-22.

Power cut affects part of Llangollen

A power cut is affecting properties in Llangollen as thunder and lightning hits north east Wales, according to the Denbighshire Free Press. 

Scottish Power says the power outage is affecting properties on Bridge Street, Castle Street and surrounding areas.

For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19294640.power-cut-affecting-properties-llangollen/?ref=rss&IYA-mail=8dece700-63e6-4ead-a6c3-995aba2dad1a 

Vaccination update from health centre

Latest vaccination update from Llangollen Health Centre is:

"Patients aged 40 and above:  We are continuing to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to patients in this age group.   If you have not yet had your first vaccine please email June.Jones4@wales.nhs.uk  with your name, date of birth and mobile number and you will be contacted to arrange an appointment.  If you wish to decline the offer of a Covid vaccine it would be helpful if you could let us know (using the above email) so that we can update our records.

"Patients aged 18 – 39 years:  The Welsh Government announced last week that patients in this age group should now have the Pfizer vaccine.  Therefore patients aged 18 – 39 will now be vaccinated at the South Wrexham Local Vaccination Centre at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.  This centre is run by the South Wrexham vaccination Team and not by the practice.  Eligible patients will be contacted over the forthcoming weeks in order of age.  Please be patient as there are approximately 10,000 patients to vaccinate." 

Job advert leads to hopes White Waters may re-open, says story

A story in the Daily Post says a job advert has sparked led to hopes that Llangollen's White Waters Hotel (pictured) may re-open after two years.

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/job-advert-sparks-hope-north-20552276

Online care recruitment session to be held

Denbighshire County Council is holding an online care recruitment session on Tuesday, May 18. 

The council is looking to recruit 18 new staff into a number of care positions, with positions including community based health and social care support workers; day care assistant; night care assistant; and domestic assistant.

The majority of these roles will be based in the south of the county and you will be working in the community, supporting people in their own homes, for these roles the ability to drive is most often essential. 

There are also vacancies in our residential care homes, Cysgod Y Gaer, Corwen and Dolwen, Denbigh, for both contracted and supply hours.

The virtual recruitment event will be held over Microsoft Teams on May 18, from 10am to midday, followed by a 20 minute informal interview in the afternoon.

* For more information contact 01824 706200 or HRDirect@denbighshire.gov.uk

Images of salmon spawning captured on Rhug Estate

* One of the images Jack Perk took of the salmon.

Incredible images of wild salmon during their spawning season have been captured by a wildlife photographer as they travelled through the Rhug Estate.

Jack  Perks filmed and photographed the salmon on the Rhug Estate to help document the £6.8 million LIFE Dee River project which is facilitated by Natural Resources Wales, with funding also provided by Dwr Cymru, Environment Agency and Snowdonia National Park Authority.

The project aims to transform the River Dee and its catchment by restoring the river and its surroundings back to their natural state, most notably improving the numbers of salmon, lamprey and freshwater pearl mussels to help them become more sustainable in future.

The Dee is the largest river in north Wales with a catchment area of more than 1,800 km2. 

It is also one of the most highly regulated rivers in Europe, and along with Llyn Tegid it has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). 

The Alwen and Camddwr rivers join the Dee between Cynwyd and Corwen collectively running through the Rhug Estate for eleven miles.

From its headwaters in the uplands of Snowdonia, the Dee descends via Llyn Tegid, the largest natural lake in Wales. 

After flowing through a broad valley to Corwen, it tumbles eastwards through the spectacular Vale of Llangollen, under the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site, before breaching the Welsh foothills near Bangor-on-Dee, and meandering northwards through the Cheshire plain to its tidal limit just below Chester.

The main uses of the River Dee are farming, predominantly cattle and sheep grazing; water abstraction for water supply for 2.5m people; tourism including recreational angling, canoeing and navigation and nature conservation.

Rhug Estate takes its job as a custodian of the land very seriously. 

Almost 9km of riverside corridors have been introduced so the livestock cannot get to the river’s edge. This means the riversides have been fenced off so as to protect the waterways, the riverbanks and encourage habitats for wildlife.

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate, said: “It is only natural that I would care for the rivers that run through the estate and the aquatic life that resides in them as much as I care for the land on our organic farm, the animals that we rear and the wildlife we encourage to visit. 

"We are proud to be able to play our small part in this enormous project being managed by Natural Resources Wales.” 

Joel Rees-Jones, LIFE Dee River Project Manager, said: “The communities living along the River Dee and Llyn Tegid will be at the heart of this project. We will work closely with local stakeholders to ensure they understand the biological, social and economic value of the habitats and species found within the river, that contribute to the designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

“We look forward to working with land managers and farmers throughout the catchment to improve these important habitats, supporting the future sustainability of rare species for which the Dee is famed for worldwide. Creating fenced riverside corridors, similar to those carried out by Rhug Estate will be core to this work, as well as tree planting, soil profiling and pollution prevention advice.”

* To learn more about the project visit the Natural Resources Wales website:www.naturalresources.wales/LIFEDeeRiver or follow @LIFEAfonDyfrdwy on social media or email the team at lifedeeriver@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Plan to welcome visitors safely to Denbighshire

* Llangollen's Horseshoe Falls is ready to welcome back visitors.

Denbighshire County Council has produced a plan to ensure the county can welcome visitors safely as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Denbighshire’s Destination Management Plan has been developed in partnership with tourism businesses across the county and seeks to coordinate activity over the coming months to ensure a positive experience for visitors, residents and business.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of the Council, said: “We have worked in partnership with tourism businesses to produce a plan that ensures key sites and facilities are ready to welcome visitors and that local residents will feel safe and well-informed.

“Tourism contributes £552million a year to Denbighshire’s economy and we want people to come to Denbighshire this summer and return again year after year, so it is important we make the county safe and welcoming to visitors while giving residents confidence that they remain safe.

“To do this we will build on the work we have already undertaken and continue to encourage responsible visitor and resident behaviour, recruit more Tourism Ambassadors and actively engage with existing Ambassadors to encourage visitors and residents to visit sites across the county to help alleviate busy periods at our honeypot sites.

“The Council and its partners will play a key role in supporting the tourism industry, work with it and enable it to re-establish itself over the coming years. It’s very important we continue to work closely together to ensure our sites and facilities are safe and suitable for residents and visitors as we move through 2021.”

Activity across the authority will be coordinated within its Business Recovery Group which has representation from all relevant Council services as well as from North Wales Police and the private sector.

Actions within the Destination Management plan include:

•  Engagement with businesses, communities and with residents and visitors

•  Ensuring that Denbighshire’s facilities, sites and attractions are ready for residents and visitors as the tourism industry gradually moves back to full capacity

• Promoting messages about responsible visits and developing sustainable tourism

The Tourism Strategy Group will monitor delivery and be ready to identify any issues that need to be addressed to ensure that Denbighshire has the most successful tourism season possible.

Work has taken place at sites across Denbighshire, including Moel Famau and Loggerheads country parks, to ensure measures are in place to keep visitors safe.

These include improvements to the car parks at Moel Famau and the upgrading of paths at Loggerheads and works at Horseshoe Falls to improve access.

Ian Lebbon, Chair of Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership, said: “The Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership is pleased to have been closely involved with the county council in the production of the Destination Management Plan.

“We recognise and very much appreciate the importance that the council places upon the tourism industry within the local economy for residents and visitors as well as those working within the sector. Denbighshire has a proud and successful history of attracting and welcoming visitors to our wealth of attractions. We look forward to continuing to work closely in partnership with the council in maintaining and building on that success in the future."