Welsh Government to consult on tourism tax

The Welsh Government has confirmed a consultation on proposals for a local visitor levy will launch this autumn.

Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said a levy would enable destinations in Wales to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Tourism provides a substantial economic contribution to Wales with tourism-related expenditure reaching more than £5bn annually in 2019. 

The government believes that a tourism tax would raise revenue for local authorities enabling them to manage services and infrastructure which makes tourism a success.

The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, and the Cooperation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, both contain commitments to introduce levies.

Formal consultation on draft legislative proposals for a visitor levy will launch in the autumn, providing a platform for a range of views to be considered.

Rebecca Evans said: "Visitor levies are a common feature in tourist destinations internationally. They are an opportunity for visitors to make an investment in local infrastructure and services, which in turn make tourism a success. 

"Without such a levy, local communities face an undue burden to fund local services and provisions on which tourists rely. From keeping the beaches and pavements clean, through to maintaining local parks, toilets and footpaths – the critical infrastructure that supports tourism should be supported by all those that rely on it.

"The introduction and subsequent use of such a levy would enable destinations in Wales to be enjoyed for generations to come and encourage a more sustainable approach to tourism.

"The levy would be proportionate by design, and powers to raise the levy would be discretionary for local authorities. This would enable decisions to be taken locally, according to the needs of our communities. 

"The levy will apply to those paying to stay overnight within a local authority area. Opportunities for wider contributions on the cost impact of other types of visitor activities on local infrastructure will be offered as part of the consultation on the levy."

Designated Member Cefin Campbell MS said: "Giving local people the power to introduce a tourism levy will make a difference to communities across the country, many of which attract a significant number of tourists. It will give local people and their representatives more power and resources to invest and deliver in their areas.

"Councils will be able to ask tourists to contribute in a small way to the areas they are visiting and the local services they use.

"This measure will help support a sustainable rather than an extractive tourism sector, which will help bring the greatest benefit to communities and the local economy.

"Such levies – often known as tourism taxes – are commonplace in countries across Europe and beyond. This is about mutual respect between our communities and the visitors they welcome. It is a new policy which is the fruit of a Welsh co-operative spirit."

Work planned for next week on 2020 project

Work planned for week starting Monday, February 14 on the Llangollen 2020 project is:

*Pave Castle Street east

* Sunday to Thursday: night works from Parade Street heading north to Dee Lane (affected properties have received letters with more information).

Trains return to Llangollen Railway in time for half term

It's now just a week before trains return to Llangollen Railway in time for the half term holiday starting on Saturday, February 19.

A two-train heritage diesel railcar service will be in operation on the weekends of 19th & 20th and 26th & 27th of February when Timetable B is to operate with trains leaving Llangollen for Carrog at 1030am, 1200 noon, 1.00pm, 2.30pm and 3.15pm.

A one-train railcar service will run on Wednesday 23rd to Friday 25th February. Timetable A operates with departures at 11am, 12,50 pm and 3.10pm.

Units expected to be in use are the Class 108/104 hybrid set and the unique Class 109 Wickham set, the latter following a major engine repair. All date from the late 1950s and show how trains used to be in British Railways days when operated on branch lines. 

Riding the railcar offers the best views of the Dee Valley in the late winter season when the results of wintertime maintenance work might be seen to advantage. 

The trains also offer the opportunity to enjoy recreational visits to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with many short walks, or longer from the stations at Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog. 

According to Llangollen Railway Unofficial Facebook page, the platform at Deeside is being demolished.

The facility, which dates from 1990, has become unstable and following the removal of the points which formed the loop, the platform is no longer required. 

Re-sleepering of six panels of track west of Deeside has also taken place during early February as shown on LR Facebook page.

One noticeable change for the start of the new season is that passing of trains must now take place at Glyndyfrdwy.

Wales to gradually relax Covid rules, says Drakeford

Wales will gradually begin to relax some of its remaining coronavirus protections as cases continue to fall, First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) announced today.

From 18 February the legal requirement to show a COVID Pass to enter certain venues and events will be lifted and from 28 February face coverings will no longer need to be worn in all indoor public places.

The changes will be confirmed today, following the first three-week review of Wales’ alert level zero measures.

The latest results from the ONS Coronavirus Infection Survey suggest levels of infection have recently fallen, but community transmission rates remain relatively high in all parts of Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "With increasing numbers of people vaccinated and boosted and thanks to the hard work and efforts of everyone across Wales, we are confident that coronavirus rates are falling and we can look forward to brighter times ahead.

"We can start to gradually and carefully remove some of the remaining protections we have in place at alert level zero. But we are not removing all the measures at once because the pandemic is not over yet.

"To keep Wales safe we need to remain cautious and do everything we can to reassure those who feel most at risk. We will keep some important protections in place, including face coverings in health and social care settings, on public transport and in all shops. We will also keep self-isolation rules in place.

"Next month, we will publish a plan setting out how we will move beyond alert level zero and the emergency footing on which we have been operating for nearly two years. This will help us all to make some plans for the future.

"From Friday 18 February, the domestic COVID Pass will no longer be required for entry into indoor or outdoor events and venues, including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls. But events and venues will be able to continue to use it if they choose to.

"The international COVID Pass will continue to be integral to arrangements for safer international travel. Travellers will need to check the relevant countries’ rules for entry, including any different requirements for children.

"From Monday 28 February, the requirement to wear face coverings will be removed from most indoor public places, apart from in retail, public transport and health and care settings.

"If the public health conditions continue to improve, the legal requirement to wear face coverings in all remaining settings could be lifted by the end of March.

"Schools will return to using their local decision framework from 28 February and from 11 February the guidance will be updated to make it clear adults can remove their face coverings when they are interacting with babies and small children at baby and toddler groups.

"The next three-weekly review of the coronavirus regulations will be carried out by 3 March, when the remaining measures at alert level zero will be reviewed."

County explains marks in road at Parade Street junction

* The lines etched into the roadway at 

the junction of Parade Street and Castle Street.

Denbighshire County Council has responded to concerns about the new pavements being created as part of the Llangollen 2020 project.

As the work progresses contractors appear to have marked out the line of the new paved areas to be created around the corner of the Parade Street/Castle Street junction using saw cuts.

The shape of the lines cut into the carriageway has prompted the campaigning Facebook page Llangollen Advocate to post: "Llangollen 2020 works ... Follow the cut mark to see the planned line of the new pavement from Parade Street down to the bridge.

"As well as significantly reducing the width of the exit from Parade Street to Castle Street for the buses and larger vehicles, it certainly appears to be choking down the road.

"Have Denbighshire County Council got this right? Cllr Brian Jones?"

Cllr Jones is the council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, which is overseeing the 2020 project.

The post adds: "Let’s not forget DCC Cabinet told the team to test this out for operability before finishing it off. DCC officers were very confident of their computer modelling though. Let’s hope the design team are keeping a close eye on this."

A number of people have commented on the post.

One said: "That looks like the buses will have to go on opposite side of road to get out."

 

• • 
    
  Another said: "They are off their heads. Large vehicles have to cut on to the opposite carriageway already ... this is suicidal and already a longstanding problem for buses using East Street.

A spokesperson for the county council said: "Work continues on the construction of the Parade Street/Castle Street/Bridge Street raised junction table.

"The junction table is designed to reduce vehicle speed and promote pedestrian movement.

"The works involve widening pavements to make it safer and easier for pedestrians, including vulnerable road users, to walk around the town centre.

“The saw cut line, on the junction of Parade Street and Castle Street, delineates the extent of the excavation and not the proposed kerb line. The finished kerb line will be 30cm inside the current saw cut line.”

Police boss warns the lonely about scammers

A police boss has issued an urgent warning to lonely men and women in North Wales not to be fooled by heartless scammers.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin (pictured) spoke out after it was revealed that cruel fraudsters had duped their targets out of nearly £500,000 last year

Mr Dunbobbin said the region’s police force had received more than 100 reports of romance fraud in 2021.

But he fears it could be “just the tip of the iceberg, with many more lovelorn victims who were too embarrassed or ashamed to contact the police about being swindled.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, the increased isolation and loneliness caused by the pandemic had also led to an increase in romance fraud.

One of the cases that came to light involved  a single man aged 57 who was conned out of £150,000 after being groomed over a period of months when he was gradually isolated from family and friends.

The fraudster told him she wanted to renovate a property abroad so that she could sell it to move to the UK so they could spend the rest of their lives together.

The victim was persuaded to send money to the suspect for the work to be completed.

He was persuaded by the scammer that she needed to pretend to be married to claim and inheritance and he was persuaded to pose as her husband.

It ended up with him making “significant payments”  for bogus legal fees to various bank accounts to release the funds to the suspect.

North Wales Police are investigating the case and providing support for the victim.

Tackling fraud is a key priority in Mr Dunbobbin’s Police and Crime Plans which sets out the blueprint for the policing of North Wales.

The commissioner has pledged to bolster the force’s Economic Crime Unit with three extra officers.

Mr Dunbobbin also provides funding for the Victim Help Centre in St Asaph which serves the whole of North Wales.

The centre brings together the support services of North Wales Police, the Witness Care Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the former Victim Support organisation.

The commissioner also revealed that people who fear they have been victims can now call a new hotline, 159, which aims to be a “999 for fraud”.

The 159 number is being trialled by Stop Scams UK, a group of banks and telephone firms and will enable people to speak to their bank instantly about a suspected fraud

Mr Dunbobbin said: “Being a victim of fraud can have a devastating and traumatic impact on peoples’ lives, often leaving them emotionally destroyed.

“The problem is that these scammers are incredibly plausible and have the gift of the gab so it is understandable that people can get taken in, particularly if they are feeling lonely.

“It’s therefore important for people to be on their guard for this kind of crime and not to be fooled by these smooth-talking swindlers whose only interest is fleecing their victims remorselessly.

“Over the past two years it’s understandable that due to the pandemic people have been feeling insecure and lonely which has increased this type of fraud.

“The pandemic has also provided fraudsters with the perfect excuses as to why they cannot meet their victims in person.

“I am  urging anyone who is concerned they may have been a victim to seek help and support.”

If you have been the victim of a fraud you can report it to Action Fraud via the website, www.actionfraud.police.uk or by ringing them on 0300 123 2040 while people who suspect they have been scammed can also call a new hotline by ringing 159.

MS urges people to have their say about policing

Senedd Member for North Wales Sam Rowlands is calling on his constituents to have their say and help the police prioritise their neighbourhood policing activity. 

The initiative, ‘North Wales Talking’, which is aimed at understanding the crime and disorder concerns of local communities across North Wales, is  a key priority of North Wales Police Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

Mr Rowlands said: “I think it is a great idea to ask local people, who live and work in my Region, what issues matter to them in their communities.

“I know that North Wales is one of the safest places to live, work and visit and I welcome any measures which will help to keep it that way.

“It is also good to see people being given the opportunity to have their say and I urge everyone to take part in the survey.”

The short survey asks people what it is like to live in their areas and what issues matter most to them in their community. There is also an opportunity to raise any concerns they may have.

Feedback via North Wales Talking will enable Neighbourhood Policing Teams, together with partner agencies to tackle the issues raised and have a voice in how Neighbourhood Policing activity is prioritised. You can also choose to register for the North Wales Community Alert, NWP’s  free community messaging system where you will then receive updates from your Neighbourhood Policing Team on the action taken to tackle the top three local community issues.

Superintendent Helen Corcoran said: “North Wales Talking will provide residents the opportunity to tell us what issues matter most to them in their local community. It could be anti-social behaviour that is worrying you, or perhaps you have information to pass on about drug dealing in your local area.

"We want your feedback which we will use to help identify the top three issues in your area that our Neighbourhood Policing Teams will work on over the next few months.

* To take part and be part of the conversation, visit: www.northwalestalking.co.uk Or www.gogleddcymrunsiarad.co.uk for our Welsh survey.