Castle Street business creates extra job with new shop

* The new shop next door to ProAdventure in Castle Street.

* The interior of the new shop.

Owners of a Llangollen clothing and outdoor equipment shop reckon they now offer the largest selection of a top brand in two regions - and have opened extra premises to house it.

Its new shop next door to ProAdventure in Castle Street has also allowed the business to create another job.

Paramo is a British brand, which is Fairtrade, PFC free and popular with walkers, mountaineers and mountain rescue teams across the UK.

And ProAdventure's Pete and Lesley Carol believe they now offer the biggest Paramo Waterproof selection in North East Wales and the Marches.

They said: "We have more than doubled our Paramo clothing range and provided it with its own shop next door to our main Llangollen shop.

"The new shop has also enabled us to create another local job, paid at the Real Living Wage rate.

"Paramo use a pump liner, rather than a membrane of forever chemicals. The DWR, durable water repellency is PFC. Paramo waterproofs are fully repairable and just last and last."

The couple added: “We have been proud to sell Paramo clothing for many years, an effective clothing system for the Walker and Mountaineer in UK conditions. All our staff use and appreciate Paramo clothing in their adventures.

"We take time to make sure your new boots fit you before leaving our shop, checking your foot size and matching it to your boots and making sure the fit is right for you.

"We stock standard and wide fit boots and shoes from Meindl of Germany, Oboz from Bozeman Ohio and Grisport of Italy, along with insoles from Superfeet and Grangers, Socks from UK Brands Bridgedale and Horizon plus footwear care from Oboz, Nikwax, Grangers and Meindl. All Oboz boots come with a Free care kit while stocks last."

* See ProAdventure – Ethics and the Environment at: https://www.proadventure.co.uk/pages/environment-and-ethics/

Stalls on offer at this year's Christmas Festival

Llangollen Christmas Festival Committee has sent out the message below: 

Free tourism forum planned for October 5

* Llangollen Canal is a key tourism feature of the county.

Businesses are being invited to a free tourism forum this October. 

The Denbighshire Tourism Forum takes place on Wednesday, October 5 at the Oriel House, St Asaph, from 10.30am-1.30pm. 

The forum provides an opportunity for delegates to hear about the latest developments and meet other like-minded businesses and share experiences. 

Keynote speaker is Graham Boase, who will be providing a chief executive’s view of tourism in Denbighshire County Council. 

He will be followed by Tom Barham, Chief Officer of Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, who will be discussing the recruitment and retention of volunteers. 

The third and final speaker is Anna Taylor, owner of Chilly Cow ice cream, who will be telling the story of this family business and how it’s gone from strength to strength since it established in 2014. 

Ian Lebbon, Chair of Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership, said: “The forum is a great platform for everyone in the sector to get together and share their knowledge, ideas and plans to ensure sustained future tourism growth. It’s not only for tourism businesses, it’s a good opportunity for students and anyone with an interest in tourism to hear from industry experts.” 

Tourism plays a vital part in Denbighshire’s economy, with a total economic impact in 2021 of over £432 million, and over 4 million visits made to the county.

* A variety of information stands will be present including Clwydian Range & Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Business Wales, North Wales Tourism, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Working Denbighshire. Book your free Tourism Forum place here -  https://denbighshiretourismforumoct2022.eventbrite.co.uk

Skates warns of 'terrible consequences' at hands of UK Government

Member of the Senedd Ken Skates (pictured) has expressed his fears for the ‘terrible consequences in store for us all’ at the hands of a UK Government he branded the most right-wing in modern history.

During Trefnydd Lesley Griffiths’ Business Statement in the Senedd on Tuesday (September 27), Mr Skates said: “I’d be very grateful for a statement regarding the economy. It’s pretty clear now that the UK Government, and the Chancellor in particular, has lost control of the UK's economy, with terrible consequences in store for us all. 

“Could we have a statement, please, from the Economy Minister, specifically concerning businesses and the likely consequences for Welsh businesses of a plummeting pound, soaring interest rates and also rocketing inflation?” 

On Friday, Mr Gething had tweeted: “The Tory policy to deal with the cost of living crisis: handouts for the wealthy, hardship for working people. They've failed to grow the economy, and now after 12 years the mask has fully slipped - this is an economic package that would make Thatcher wince.” 

Ms Griffiths told Clwyd South MS Mr Skates: “I absolutely agree with you. I think to give the rich tax cuts is not policy that most people would think was very sensible, and clearly there are many concerns you can see right across the markets, and the international markets too just really have lost confidence and trust in the UK Government. 

“I will certainly ask the Minster to bring forward a statement at the appropriate time, but I think it's really important we give the Minster time to have those discussions with the UK Government.” 

After proceedings, Mr Skates added: “It’s becoming clearer and clearer each day that this is the most right-wing UK Government in modern history. The latest incarnation isn’t even bothering to try and hide its true colours. As usual, the rich will get richer while the majority of British people suffer.”

Leader carries tribute to 'incredible' Llangollen man

* William Jones pictured in the Leader tribute.

The Leader has carried a tribute to an "incredible" Llangollen man who lost his brave battle with cancer. 

The story says that, for a year, William Jones fought stage four Cholangiocarcinoma - a rare cancer affecting the bile ducts.

Sadly, on September 16, the 60-year-old former naval officer and firefighter died.

* For the full story, see: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/22680459.llangollen-tribute-former-naval-officer-firefighter/

Council prepares to administer winter fuel payments

Denbighshire County Council will be administering the Welsh Government’s winter fuel payments scheme to assist households financially with their increasing energy costs. 

The Government has made £90 million available to support households across Wales and eligibility for the scheme has been extended to allow more households to qualify for the £200 payments. 

The following benefits will qualify customers for the Winter Fuel Scheme: 

• Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS)
• Income Support
• Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Working Tax Credits
• Child Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Carers Allowance^[1]
• Contributory Based/New Style Jobseekers Allowance
• Contributory Based/New Style Employment and Support Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• War Pension Mobility Supplement 

If a householder (or their partner) who is liable for the fuel costs does not receive any of the qualifying benefits, the householder should be determined/considered as eligible for a payment if they have a qualifying person living with them. 

A person meets the definition of a qualifying person if they: 

• Occupy the householder’s home as their primary residence; and
• Are a dependent child or another adult living with the householder (or their partner); and,
• They receive one of the following benefits between 1 September 2022 and 31 January 2023: 

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• War Pension Mobility Supplement 

Customers can claim whether they pay for their fuel on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit, or whether they have on or off-grid fuel. 

This scheme is in addition to Welsh Government’s fuel voucher scheme, the Cost of Living £150 payment and the unpaid carers payment. 

The scheme will be open for applications on the 26 September 2022, with payments expected to be made in October 2022.

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “We are pleased to be working with Welsh Government to roll-out the payment programme in Denbighshire. 

Where a resident has previously been awarded a Cost of Living payment there is no need to complete an application form as we will be issuing an automatic payment, with circa 5,400 payments being issued this week.

“Our aim is for the process to work as smoothly as possible and we would ask residents who may wish to apply to get their applications submitted,” said a council spokesperson. 

* Information on the winter fuel payments, as well as the application form can be found at: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/costofliving

Urgent message from Town Clerk

Message from the Town Clerk 

Due to unforeseen circumstances the Chamber cannot be used for this evening’s Ordinary meeting of the Town Council. At 6.00 pm.

The meeting will take place via Microsoft Teams remote conferencing software using the following link:
https://msteams.link/45I8