Town's Christmas Celebration cancelled due to weather

* Centenary Square where the entertainment 

was due to be held.

Organisers have reluctantly decided to cancel tomorrow's Celebration of Christmas due to predicted high winds.

A scaled-down version of the town’s annual Christmas Festival, taking account of ongoing pandemic safety measures, was due to be staged on Saturday afternoon featuring a programme of entertainment in Centenary Square.

But town mayor Councillor Austin Cheminais, who also chairs the Christmas Festival Committee, said this morning: "In view of the really bad weather forecast we have very reluctantly decided to cancel the event.

"I've been checking with a number of weather forecasts and they all predict very high winds. In fact, the Met Office is forecasting gusts up to 54mph and the gazebo in which the entertainment programme was to be staged just couldn't have coped with that.

"There was also a major question mark over whether the firework display which was to round off the afternoon could have gone ahead in these conditions."

He added: "We're really sorry to cancel but we've done it just to keep everybody safe.

"We will perhaps organise a post-Christmas event but of course we will let everyone know about that."

Latest information from the festival committee is that the Christmas lights will be turned on around 5pm tomorrow but without the usual ceremony.

* Once again this year the festival committee is hosting its popular Christmas Scarecrow Trail.

Throughout December they are encouraging people to come up with some creative and colourful entries.  

It was held last year and even during the pandemic it managed to attract over 50 inventive entries from all parts of the town.

Cllr Cheminais said: "I knew of 40 locations on the list and there were a lot more out there that I didn't know about.

"I’m hoping to get even more this year as I know how incredibly creative Llangollen people are.

"Santa and his elves will judge the competition in the week leading up to Christmas, and there are two main prizes of £25 plus five runners-up prizes of £10.

"People can help choose the winner by sending a picture of their favourite to: santa@btinternet.com." 

Snowman shows it's beginning to look like Christmas

* A picture sent in to llanblogger by Eileen Dart shows how it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our town. She took this photo of a very sophisticated snowman scene on Abbey Road and wanted to share 

it with our readers. We'd welcome others like this.

Improvements to public computer facilities in Denbighshire libraries

A programme of upgrading and improving the public access technology facilities in all libraries in Denbighshire has started.

The work began on November 20, and is anticipated to take 6-8 weeks to complete.

The project will see new public access computers installed, a new PC management system, self-service printing, an online booking system and printing via Wi-Fi.

Each week one or two libraries will be upgraded and during that week, customers will not be able to access computers or printing at that particular library.

Customers will be informed by staff and notices at each library and via social media, and advised to consider visiting another library to use the computers there.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “This upgrade will really benefit our library customers and provide a better service for those who use our public access technology facilities.

“Our libraries provide a wide range of services for our residents including free access to books, free downloadable books and newspapers, free computer internet and Wi-Fi access, and a shared space for community activity.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers during these improvements and thank them for their patience during this time.”

The programme started at Rhyl Library and will roll out across the county in the coming weeks.

Customers are advised to check with their local library before making a special journey to use the library computers or printing.

The free public Wi-Fi will remain available during this time.

£7m government support pledged for unpaid carers

Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan has outlined how £7m Welsh Government funding will support unpaid carers in recognition of the vital support they provide to the people they care for.

The support package will allocate £5.5 million to local authorities to provide targeted support to unpaid carers; £1.25m for the Carers Support Fund - last year, this fund successfully helped almost 6500 unpaid carers to cope with the financial impact of Covid 19; £20,000 to fund online mental wellbeing support sessions; and £230,000 for the Family Fund to support over 600 further low-income families with seriously ill or disabled children.

Welsh Government previously committed £3 million in 2021-22 to allow more carers to take a break from their caring role, bringing the total additional funding support for unpaid carers this year to £10 million.

The Deputy Minister for Social Services said: “The physical and emotional impact of caring can be overwhelming. We share concerns that many are at breaking point due to the additional pressures put upon them from the pandemic. Thousands of unpaid carers have been supported since the start of the pandemic but it its vital we continue to help unpaid carers cope with the emotional and financial impact of COVID-19.

“The funding announced today shows how much we appreciate the army of unpaid carers in Wales who have gone above and beyond to care for family or friends and our commitment to support carers to have a life beyond their caring role.

“Unpaid carers play a vital role in our society, helping reduce pressures on the health service by ensuring people can return from and stay out of hospital. Their extraordinary work and contribution to social care is part of a £42m package to support the NHS winter plan.”

Change in alert levels for Denbighshire secondary schools

* Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen.

Following a recent decrease in Covid-19 cases in Secondary schools across Denbighshire it has been agreed to revert back to the Low level of interventions status. 

An increase in cases at the start of the school year saw Secondary schools change their status which enabled schools to implement additional measures to help control the spread of the virus. 

Recent weeks have seen a reduction in case numbers for secondary age pupils and based on this, the overall alert level for Secondary schools has been changed to Low.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children's Services and Public Engagement, said: “It is pleasing to see the work of school staff and parents has helped to reduce Covid case rates in Secondary schools and that we can make this decision now. 

“In making this decision it’s important we all remain aware that Covid remains in our communities and we remember the importance of seeking tests when symptoms develop and following advice from TTP regarding self-isolation.

“I would like to reassure parents and carers, learners and staff at our schools that we will continue to monitor the situation and take action to help keep schools safe when required should the situation change and I would like to thank all pupils, parents and staff for their support during this difficult time.”

All those contacted by Test, Trace, Protect (TTP) are asked to work with the teams and to follow the guidance given.

* PCR tests can be ordered at https://gov.wales/get-tested-coronavirus-covid-19 or by calling 119

New Dot's next screening is Home Alone

New Dot Cinema's next screening will feature the 1990s feel-good film Home Alone. 

Kevin's classic solo Christmas adventure will be show on the big screen in Llangollen Town Hall on Friday December 10, from 6.30-9.30pm with last entry at 7pm.

Home Alone is a 1990 American comedy film directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes.

It is the first film in the Home Alone franchise and stars Macauley Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard and Catherine O'Hara. 

Culkin plays Kevin McCallister, a boy who defends his Chicago home from burglars after his family accidentally leaves him behind on their vacation to Paris.

* Tickets are available online now at: https://www.skiddle.com/.../Home-Alone---New.../35953137/

Pilot scheme to tackle second homes impact on communities

 

Climate Change Minister Julie James has just revealed details of a pilot scheme to tackle the impact second home ownership is having on some Welsh communities.

Speaking in the Senedd, the Minister confirmed the pilot will bring together a range of actions to address the impacts large numbers of second homes and short-term holiday lets can have. The Minister told MSs that Dwyfor had been chosen for a pilot which will launch in January with support from Gwynedd Council. The first phase of the pilot will build on the practical support Welsh Government is already providing to address affordability and availability of housing and will be tailored to suit the needs of people in the area. More details will be confirmed following the Budget, with the Minister keen to look at shared equity schemes, rental solutions and what we do with empty homes. Two dedicated posts will support delivery of the pilot in the areas to link the interventions, engage with communities and maximise the impact. The Minister also launched a consultation on proposed planning changes. This will seek views on the use of ‘class order’ in planning which would allow local planning authorities to require planning applications for additional second homes and short-term holiday lets in areas where they are causing significant difficulties for communities. The consultation will shape the second phase of the pilot which could involve making changes to planning, taxation and tourism systems.  Speaking in the Senedd, Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said: “We want young people to have a realistic prospect of buying or renting affordable homes in the places they have grown up so they can live and work in their local communities. “High numbers of second and holiday homes in one area can threaten the Welsh language in its heartlands and affect the sustainability of some rural areas. “We are a welcoming nation and tourism is a major part in our economy bringing jobs and income to many parts of Wales. But we don’t want ghost villages in seasonal holiday spots – places where no one’s at home in the winter months. “These are complex issues and there are no quick fixes. What may be right for one community may not work for another. We will need to bring forward a range of actions, there is no one silver bullet here!” In addition, the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles announced the launch of a consultation on additional measures tailored specifically for those communities in which the Welsh language is widely spoken. This will form the basis of the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Communities Housing Plan, and will play an important part in maintaining Welsh-speaking communities as places that facilitate the use of the language.  Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said: “We want our Welsh-language communities to continue to be economically viable places for local people, especially young people, to live and work and where the Welsh language and culture can thrive. “While there are no easy answers, I am confident the interventions proposed today will go a long way to addressing our objective of ensuring that people in Welsh-speaking communities can afford to live in the communities in which they grew up.”