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Friday, March 4, 2022

All Covid measures in Wales could go by March 28

 

First Minister Mark Drakeford has published the country's longer-term plan to live safely with coronavirus.

Together for a Safer Future will mark the start of Wales’ transition beyond the emergency response to the pandemic – emergency measures have been in place for two years.

It sets out how Wales can live safely with coronavirus – just as we live with many other infectious diseases – and what that will mean for public health services and protections put in place to respond to the pandemic, including testing services.

Wales will remain at alert level 0 for the next three weeks with the current level of protections in place. But all legal measures could be removed from March 28 if the public health situation remains stable.

Mark Drakeford said: "We’ve been living in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic for 2 long years. It has touched all our lives – across Wales, families and communities have made many sacrifices to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. People in Wales have followed the rules.

"But sadly, too many families have experienced the pain of losing a loved one or a close friend. My thoughts are with them all.

"As we publish this longer-term plan, there is no doubt we have reached a significant moment in this pandemic and we can look to the future with growing confidence that the next year will be one in which we have a different relationship with the virus.

"This has been made possible by the hard work of everyone and by the efforts of all the health and care staff, public sector workers and volunteers who have done so much over the last two years.

"But the pandemic isn’t over – this virus is full of nasty surprises and we are likely to see fluctuations in global patterns of infection for several years. We need to be ready to respond quickly to any future outbreaks or new variants as we learn to live safely alongside coronavirus in the long-term.

"We have learned so much over the last 2 years and we need to harness this as we look forward to a safer and brighter future together."

Together for a Safer Future: Wales’ Long-term Covid-19 Transition from Pandemic to Endemic sets out a gradual transition away from emergency measures, based on evidence and with the protection of everyone, especially the most vulnerable, at its heart.

The plan sets out how Wales’ response to coronavirus will change under the two core planning scenarios – Covid Stable and Covid Urgent.

Covid Stable is the most likely scenario – with Wales expected to encounter new waves of infection, but they are not expected to put unsustainable pressure on the NHS thanks to the effectiveness of vaccines and other pharmaceutical treatments, such as new Covid-19 antivirals.

The plan sets out a gradual, phased approach towards the long-term management of the virus under Covid Stable, including:

  • Supporting people to maintain behaviours we have all become familiar with to help reduce the transmission of all respiratory infections, not just coronavirus.
  • Vaccination boosters in spring for the elderly and most vulnerable adults, and a regular COVID-19 vaccination programme from the autumn.
  • Test, Trace, Protect programme gradually moves away from universal and routine symptomatic and asymptomatic testing and the requirement to self-isolate, to a more targeted approach aimed at vulnerable people.
  • Adaptation of public services, including, for example, using local risk assessments and outbreak control plans.
  • Businesses and other employers to build on the elements of infection control they have put in place to protect staff and customers.

Contingency planning is also underway to enable the Welsh Government and other public services to quickly respond to a Covid-Urgent scenario – such as a new variant which evades the vaccine – if necessary.

The next three-weekly review of the coronavirus regulations will be carried out by March 24, when the remaining legal measures at alert level 0 will be reviewed.

Police burglary alert after elderly person robbed of cash

North Wales Police have warned people about a burglary in Llangollen in which an elderly person was robbed of cash.

Through the Neighbourhood Alert system, PCSO 2889 Karl Joseph, of the force's Conwy & Denbigh Rural section covering this area, says in an email: "I wanted to make everyone in Llangollen aware of a burglary in the local area. 

"An elderly person has had two males enter the property and they have stolen money from inside. 

"Please be careful with your home security and do not allow any unwanted persons into your home. 

"If you have concerns about any persons attending your address, please call 101 or 999 if an emergency."


 

Thursday, March 3, 2022

Peace vigil for Ukraine to be held in town square on Sunday


* Centenary Square where the peace vigil will be held on Sunday evening.

Following last week's invasion of Ukraine, Llangollen's former deputy mayor, Issy Richards, has organised a vigil for peace - Gwylnos Heddwch - in the town's Centenary Square this Sunday evening.

She said: "The widely-condemned invasion of Ukraine is unfolding before our very eyes. People's lives, livelihoods and homes are being destroyed, and international tensions are running high. 

"Ten years ago the staff and pupils of the Peace School, Kiev, Ukraine, sent good wishes to the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod on St David's Day. 

"As we know, LIME was founded 75 years ago in the spirit of international peace and cooperation. Llangollen has many links with Ukraine, we are 'Where Wales Welcomes The World'."

Issy added: "There will be a Vigil for Peace in Llangollen between 5-6pm on Sunday March 6 in Centenary Square, and everyone is invited to gather together to express our solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine. 

"Please arrive anytime after 5pm, wearing something blue or yellow if possible, (the colours of the Ukraine flag), wrap up warmly, and bring any refreshments you may need. 

"We will light candles at 6pm, so please bring your own candle, or we can provide you with a tea light.

"Our aim is to peacefully raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine, and to show Llangollen's solidarity with the country and its people. 

"There will be an opportunity to make donations to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal, being run by the Ukraine Red Cross Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross."

New drive to attract more overseas visitors to north Wales

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct may be a first port of call for high-end tour itineraries.

A  major international campaign has been launched to attract high-spending overseas visitors to North Wales after the easing of Covid restrictions.

One of the aims of the multi-lingual drive by North Wales Tourism  is ensure that  travellers from abroad can enjoy a warm Welsh welcome and information in their own languages.

Among the countries being targeted are European nations like Germany, Spain and France along with visitors from Japan, China and India.

As part of the campaign North Wales Tourism is going to be building on existing ties with Japan that were forged though the twinning of Conwy and Himeji castles in 2019.

Meanwhile, India is seen as an emerging market with huge potential to attract wealthy travellers

One of the centrepieces of the push will be high-end tour itineraries to see some of the region’s most spectacular highlights.

The stops will include the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the Norman castles in Conwy and Caernarfon and the newly-crowned Slate Landscapes of North West Wales

The campaign is being funded by the Welsh Government’s tourism arm, Visit Wales.

The Welsh Government’s Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, said: “It’s been an extremely challenging time for the visitor economy and especially so for businesses who rely on overseas visitors.  

“I’m pleased that we have been able to provide support for these businesses through the Wales International Inbound Tourism Fund and that we can now look forward with hope for recovery in our key overseas markets.

“This funding will help them to build on their existing itineraries to develop and promote new and updated programmes and packages for 2022 and beyond.”

Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism which has around 2,000 members operating in tourism and hospitality, said: “We are hugely grateful to Visit Wales for their support in providing the funding for this hugely exciting campaign.

“The purpose of the funding is to prepare us for what we hope will be a huge influx of inbound visitors from overseas.

“We think the potential is massive once the international market reopens, especially the Asian market.

“We want to make sure we  have all our ducks in a row so that those visitors  have access to information in their chosen language.

“We have a lot of experience in this area and we have done a lot of exciting things that have resulted in a big growth in the international market and we are definitely on the world map when it comes to tourism.

“One of things we are doing is creating very high-end itineraries, after arriving  via  either Manchester or Liverpool airports.

“The first ports of call would be somewhere like Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden before going  on to Mostyn Hall.

“They’ll then visit nearby Llandudno and the following day they will head for Conwy Castle, Bodnant Gardens and go down the Conwy Valley to Llechwedd.

“The visit to the Slate Landscape of North West Wales will be particularly timely after the area was granted World Heritage Status.

“Then they’ll catch the Ffestiniog Highland Railway from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and another castle with World Heritage Status before travelling to Anglesey and then one of the region’s distilleries en route back to the airport.

“We’re also going to do more work with Avanti Rail to promote walking routes and we have invested in our website so we  have route planners and itinerary maps.

“We want to enhance the website and make it multi-lingual and the languages we are specifically promoting are in line with the Visit Wales targets, so that’s German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese and Hindi.

“The Indian market is a potentially huge and growing market that we want to tap into.

“We have a track record that’s second to none when it comes to working with Japan, culminating with 2019 twinning of Conwy with Himeji.

“We’re looking to continuing that relationship and increasing the number of Japanese visitors.

“All of this means that we have to make sure we have plenty of information so our brochures and our videos will be translated into those languages and we’ll be doing a lot of marketing on social media in those countries as well.

“We want to increase the spread of visitors from those countries throughout the year whilst increasing their average spend.

“It’s well documented that international visitors spend more money and stay longer.

“Our Welsh heritage, history, language and culture are front and centre in the campaign and we’ll also be focusing on our food and drink.

“We want to promote tourism in a sustainable way by increasing the spend which will create jobs and create prosperity.

“There can’t be many places in the world with so many World Heritage sites in such a small geographic area – and so much more besides, including the breath-taking beauty of our natural assets.

“On top of everything else we have a plethora of world class adrenaline fuelled activities, including zip lining and inland surfing. We’ve got the lot in abundance.

“After all the trauma we’ve all been through over the past couple of years, this is a new beginning that herald a brighter future for North Wales as a dynamic region.

“North Wales is heaven on earth and if we all work together, we will be world leaders in tourism.”

New Dot Cinema returns to the town hall

New Dot Cinema returns to Llangollen Town Hall with a screening of King Richard on Friday, March 11. 

With six nominations to its name, King Richard sees Will Smith in the starring role.

Armed with a clear vision and a brazen, 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his two daughters, Venus and Serena, into history.

Training on tennis courts in Compton, California, Richard shapes the girls' unyielding commitment and keen intuition.

Together, the Williams family defies seemingly insurmountable odds and the prevailing expectations laid before them.

* Doors open at 6.30pm on March 11 and tickets are £6 online in advance, or £8 on the door (card payments only).

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Town mayor issues statement on Ukraine

Llangollen's mayor, Cllr Austin Cheminais, has issued the following statement about the current situation in Ukraine.

"On behalf of all Town Councillors and Council Staff, I would like to express that our thoughts and prayers are with Ukraine and its people and also with their families and friends. We condemn this unprovoked aggression and call upon President Putin to call off this assault.

"Although there is little that Town Council of our size can do about international events, we know our communities will do all they can to support those in peril and displaced by the conflict and know that fellow residents of Denbighshire, and across Wales, will stands with us.

"Llangollen has a long and proud tradition of promoting peace and international harmony and we stand ready to support those organisations arranging support and will do whatever we can.

"To show support for Ukraine and the victims of this aggression and inhumanity, I have asked the Town Clerk to organise that the Ukrainian flag is flown on Centenary Square as a matter of urgency, an initiative advocated by one of our Youth Representees on the Council, Shea Ferron.

"The Town Council supports the County Councils statement that residents wanting to donate items to those in Ukraine forced to leave their homes can do so via the Wrexham branch of the Polish Integration Support Centre. Visit www.facebook.com/PISCWrexham/ or contact 0752367826 for more information.

"There are also collection points locally. Check social media for any local collections.

"Residents can also visit www.redcross.org.uk for details of its Ukraine Crisis Appeal."



Rhug Estate sets up drop-off point for Ukraine donations


* The Rhug Estate conference room is a donation point for Ukraine. 

Rhug Estate has set up its conference room as a donation site for the people of war-torn Ukraine.

Blankets, coats for women and children, warm clothes including hats, gloves, scarfs and socks can be dropped off at the conference centre behind the farm shop between 9am and 5pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, March 4 - 7 March.

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate said: “I have friends who are still in Ukraine. There are Rhug Estate staff who have family still in Ukraine. 

"These are normal families who are now concerned for their lives. They have sent me terrifying footage of the war that is going on on their doorstep. 

"We have to do all we can to help. We searched for a local donation site but couldn’t find one in this area of Denbighshire so the team here at Rhug have rallied round and we will become that local drop off site for everyone to come to and donate items.”

He added: "The situation looks set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. The people of Ukraine are relying on international aid and the generosity of strangers around the world. We must do all we can.”