MP presents Prime Minister with school's climate change poems

* Simon Baynes MP, right, hands over the Ysgol Dinas Bran students' poems to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has presented Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a collection of climate change poems written by the students of Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen.

Mr Baynes was given the poems following a visit to the school during Great Big Green Week which ran from September 18 - 26, when he met students and teachers to learn more about their week of activities to encourage awareness and to listen to students’ climate change concerns.

The poems highlight a range of climate issues such as global warming, single-use plastics and deforestation, and were written as a call for action ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26 – last October and November.

Since Mr Baynes’ visit the school has been recognised with presentation of the highest Eco-Schools Award – the Platinum.

The school’s liaison officer Catrin, from Keep Wales Tidy, said: "Maintaining the Eco-Schools Platinum status is a fantastic achievement. The school, staff and pupils, should feel proud of their hard work and commitment."

Andy Wallis, PSE coordinator at Ysgol Dinas Brân, said: “I would like to thank all the staff and students involved in the Eco Schools programme, and in particular the Great Big Green Week, for the work they have done which has enabled us to win this award. 

"Equally, I would like to thank both the headteacher Mark Hatch and our business manager Jamie Roberts for the investment they have made into making the school more sustainable and decreasing our carbon footprint with the instillation of the solar panels project.”

Simon Baynes said: “I was very pleased to present the Prime Minister with poems from the students at Ysgol Dinas Brân, by which he was very impressed. 

"He remembers the school very well from his time as the Parliamentary Candidate for Clwyd South 25 years ago and is always very interested in hearing about activities locally, particularly in relation to the environment.

“The students and teachers have put in a huge amount of effort recently to raise awareness of environmental issue and reduce the school’s carbon footprint. And it was a pleasure to highlight their exceptional work to the Prime Minister.”

Drakeford outlines plan to return Wales to Covid alert level zero

First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) has set out a plan to return Wales to alert level zero.

The move comes as the latest public health data suggests cases of coronavirus have started to fall back from their very high levels. 

More than two-thirds of people aged 12 and over have received a booster or third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The full move to alert level 0 will be dependent on the public health situation continuing to improve.

Mr Drakeford said: "I want to thank everyone for following the rules we have had in place since Boxing Day to help keep Wales safe while the fast-moving omicron variant has surged through our communities.

"I also want to thank everyone involved in our vaccination programme for the enormous efforts to give almost a third of the population a booster since the start of December – this has been vital in increasing our protection against omicron.

"The actions we have taken together have helped us to weather the omicron storm. The latest data suggests some positive signs that the peak may have passed.

"We can now look more confidently to the future and plan to start gradually removing the alert level 2 restrictions, starting with the outdoors measures.

"But the pandemic is not over. We will closely monitor the public health situation – this is a fast-moving and volatile variant, which could change suddenly. I urge everyone to continue to follow the rules and have your vaccines to keep Wales safe."

If conditions allow, the alert level 2 restrictions will be removed in a phased approach.

From tomorrow (Saturday), the number of people who can be present at outdoor events will rise from 50 to 500.

From Friday 21 January Wales would move to alert level 0 for all outdoor activities. This means there will be no limits on the number of people who can take part in outdoor activities.

• Crowds will be able to return to outdoor sporting events
• Outdoor hospitality would be able to operate without additional reasonable measures.
• The Covid Pass will be required for entry to larger outdoor events.

If the downward trend continues, from Friday 28 January Wales would move to alert level 0 for all indoor activities.

• Nightclubs will be able to re-open.
• Working from home would remain important but it would no longer be a legal requirement.
• Businesses, employers and other organisations must undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise the spread of coronavirus.
• The Covid Pass will be required for entry to nightclubs, events, cinemas, concert halls and theatres.
• The rule of 6, table service and 2m physical distancing no longer required in hospitality.

The self-isolation rules for all those who test positive for Covid and the face covering rules for most public indoor places will remain in force after 28 January.

The 3-weekly cycle would be re-introduced from 10 February, when the Welsh Government will review all remaining measures at alert level 0.

Ysgol Dinas Bran people talk about learning under shadow of Covid

* Ysgol Dinas Bran headteacher Mark Hatch has spoken to the BBC about Covid restrictions.

The thoughts of students and staff at Ysgol Dinas Bran about coping with the Covid-19 situation as they return to face-to-face learning have been shared with the BBC.

In an article on the news website there are interviews with headteacher Mark Hatch and a number of pupils about the situation they find themselves in.

Mr Hatch tells says in the story: "It's hugely upsetting how much impact it's having on the students."

And an 18-year-old pupil says: "It feels weird to be back with more restrictions. It's frustrating in a way to come back to more [restrictions] than there were before." 

* For the full story, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59945062

Denbighshire businesses urged to apply for funding

Further funding is available for businesses impacted by the latest restrictions arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

Denbighshire County Council is helping to administer the Welsh Government’s Emergency Business Fund - January 2022.

Under the latest package of support, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses who pay Non Domestic Rates will be entitled to a payment of £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 depending on their rateable value.

Applications for this element of the fund open from January 13.

A discretionary portion of the fund is also available to sole traders, freelancers and taxi drivers who are able to apply for £500 and businesses that employ people, but do not pay business rates, will be able to apply for £2,000.

Applications for this element of the fund open from January 17.

Businesses will need to re-register their details through an online process with Denbighshire County Council to receive their payments.

An eligibility checker from Business Wales is available to help businesses gauge how much they can expect to receive under the new support package.

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, the Council’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “We are alerting businesses to the fund and encouraging those eligible to apply.

“We understand it has been a difficult period for businesses who have worked hard to support the local economy and local employment.

“We are working closely with the Welsh Government on administering this fund and have made the application process as simple as possible.

“Businesses should also be aware the Welsh Government is reopening the Economic Resilience Fund from January 17 to support businesses that have sustained a 60% or greater loss in trade, within the hospitality, leisure and supporting supply chain sectors and applications for this fund must be made directly to Business Wales.

“Businesses can qualify for both the Emergency Business Fund and the Economic Resilience Fund.”

To find out more or apply you can visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/emergency-business-fund-january-2022.aspx

 

Denbighshire to consider 2.95% council tax rise

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet is set to discuss the draft budget for the 2022/23 financial year.

At a meeting on January 18, members will consider a plan to raise Council Tax by 2.95% ahead of the proposals being put to full council for final approval at a meeting on January 25.

As part of the budget process the council has received the draft budget settlement announced by Welsh Government which suggests Denbighshire’s budget will increase by 9.2% for the 2022/23 financial year, with increases of 3.3% and 2.2% the following two years.

The increase in funding comes with a number of new responsibilities the council will be required to fund, including pay increases, ensuring the Real Living Wage for social care workers and mitigation for the end of the Covid Hardship Fund.

The council therefore has a funding gap of £2.623million to fill for the coming financial year. Proposals to fill this gap include operational efficiencies amounting to £634,000 and an increase in Council Tax of 2.95%.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, said: “This budget comes after a second difficult year dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, which has put an additional strain on resources for example, continued pressure on social services, schools, children’s services and waste services.

“We have previously made a firm commitment to Denbighshire residents to try and protect services that the public value and expect as much as possible.

“The council has a strong track record of doing this and we have tried to lead by example by being as efficient and effective as possible, reducing our budgets and making savings through better ways of working.

“Councillors will continue to scrutinise the budget over the coming weeks before it is put to Full Council for discussion and final approval on January 25.”

Welsh Government to help people in arrears pay their rent

Minister for Climate Change Julie James is urging anyone who has fallen behind in paying rent because of the pandemic to contact their local authority to find out if they can receive financial help to avoid eviction. 

The call is in a bid to keep people in their homes and close to their social networks to avoid the devastating impact that homelessness can wreak on physical, mental and social wellbeing. 

First announced in July last year, new changes to the £10m Tenancy Hardship Grant just announced  mean that anyone facing arrears due to covid-related reasons from the start of the pandemic in March 2020 right up until December 2021, can apply. 

This means that tenants in rent arrears because they lost their jobs following the removal of the Furlough scheme in September, or who suffered a significant decrease in income when the Universal Credit uplift was removed by UK Government, may now be eligible under the new criteria. 

Other examples of rent arrears as a direct result of the pandemic include a loss of income due to lockdowns or because of becoming ill with Covid-19. 

Also now able to apply are tenants in social housing who are not in receipt of housing-related benefits. Tenants in private rented accommodation are still encouraged to apply. 

Julie James said: “I am urging anyone who is facing eviction or who has fallen behind on their rent because of the pandemic to contact their local authority today to find out what help is available to them.

“Our £10m Tenancy Hardship Grant will help prevent eviction and support tenants to remain in their homes. The impact of being made homeless on people and families is huge – including support networks being lost, children having to move school, and families’ mental health and well-being suffering. We want to do all we can to help avoid that situation. 

“The grant should provide significant cost savings to each local authority in preventing homelessness and supporting people to remain in their homes and maintain their tenancies.” 

Ruth Power, CEO of Shelter Cymru said: “We welcome the changes to the Tenancy Hardship Grant announced today. Widening the eligibility criteria will mean more people, who are struggling during the pandemic to pay their rent, are able to access support to keep their homes. Our advisors are working with people across Wales whose incomes have been seriously affected by the pandemic and who are really worried about the future. Getting money quickly to people in need will prevent families becoming homeless.”

* Applications are now open, with the final date for rent support being December 31st 2021.

Concerned parent criticises 'critically dangerous' roadworks

* A picture of the roadworks provided by the concerned parent.

A worried parent claims health and safety standards of the 2020 project roadworks in Llangollen town centre are "non-existent" making them "critically dangerous".  

The parent, who wishes not to be named but has a child attending a local school, said: "Healthy and safety standards none existent. 

"Schoolchildren, parents with prams, elderly, and the general public have to walk on busy main road to get past the pavement works. 

"There are trip hazards (feet of traffic cones and barricade feet) on the road. A accident waiting to happen.

"Last year three people where injured as they tripped into the busy road due to inadequate pedestrian road safety barricades. 

"How long will it be until our schoolchildren is hit by traffic due to the site staff and Denbighshire county council allowing this to stay unsafe and critically dangerous?

"The workforce is safe from harm as they are barricaded in and have hi-vis."

The parent added: "I have contacted the Denbighshire county council three times since Monday morning. They said they would contact the manager of the project to make it safe. Nothing has been done. 

"There was a pedestrian walkway before the Christmas break but nothing has be put in place since work resumed on the 4th January."

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “We will be installing today at the Church Street/ Castle Street area improved signage to inform the public about the closed footpath and to direct them to an alternative pedestrian route.

“Temporary tar ramps are to be installed at the suggested crossing points to cross the road to avoid the closed footpath.

“The walkway in place before Christmas is no longer possible to maintain due to the removal of the Traffic Management resulting in not enough room in the carriageway to safely route pedestrians.

“The alternative to this small pedestrian diversion would have been to install an additional set of traffic lights which would have caused additional delay for traffic”.

“Our site management team will continue to work closely with the contractor to monitor the temporary traffic management arrangements.”