Universal primary free meals to be rolled out to year 2 pupils

Universal Primary Free School Meals are to be rolled out to Year 2 pupils in Denbighshire, following the Easter break. 

In December 2021 Welsh Government (WG) announced plans to offer free meals to all primary school pupils. The phased delivery approach will see all primary pupils offered free school meals by 2024. 

Since September 2022, the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) offer in Denbighshire has been successfully rolled out to Reception and Year 1. The UPFSM offer will be rolled out to Year 2 pupils in Denbighshire from the 17th of April, 2023. 

The authority recently gathered feedback from parents and carers of Reception and Year 1 pupils on their experiences of the UPFSM offer in Denbighshire. The results were extremely positive, with 70% of feedback received being comments of support and highlighting the benefits of the scheme for Denbighshire families. 

A second allocation of £1.2 million of funding has been received from Welsh Government to support the roll out of UPFSM across Denbighshire. Further refurbishment works have been undertaken within school kitchens during the Christmas break and February half term. More refurbishment works are scheduled for the Easter break in preparation for the next stage of the rollout. 

From the start of the Summer term, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils in Denbighshire schools will be asked on a daily basis whether or not they would like to access a school meal. They will be able to opt in or out without having to pre book and the meal will be provided free of charge.

Further information will be available on the Denbighshire website www.denbighshire.gov.uk/education. If pupils are already in receipt of free school meals and/or any other associated benefits, these will not be affected. 

Gill German, Lead member for Education Children and Families said: “I am hugely supportive of the introduction of Universal Free School Meals for primary age pupils in Wales and I am so pleased that our rollout in Denbighshire is progressing so well. 

"Every child of Reception age in Denbighshire has been able to enjoy a free school meal since September, and back in January, we were delighted to also be able to offer a free meal to every child in Year 1 ahead of our original schedule.

"A nutritious meal at lunchtime is essential to a child’s learning and development and ensures that every child can be well fed throughout the school day. It is fantastic news that the Authority will be able to extend the rollout of the Universal Primary Free School Meal offer."

Significant further refurbishment works to both kitchen and dining facilities are scheduled for completion throughout the Summer break, with a focus on ensuring that all Denbighshire Primary schools are able to deliver UPFSM to years 3 & 4 from September 2023.

Llangollen’s picturesque bus route back in action

A bus service providing the best access to see key destinations around Llangollen is back.

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus has started its third season providing access to some of the key destinations in this beautiful and historic landscape.

It runs a circular route running every Saturday until November 4 2023, linking Llangollen and the surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, Plas Newydd Historic House and the Horseshoe Pass.

The service will enable visitors and residents to visit and explore these locations without the need of having to constantly find car parking spaces at the sites.

It also makes it easier for those without their own vehicle to access these places, all helping to reduce congestion at some of the busiest sites in the Dee Valley.

The bus offers a hop on/hop off facility with a 1Bws ticket price allowing unlimited travel on the service through the day, making it ideal for getting off to visit a site and then back on the bus later.

Stops include Llangollen Pavilion where there is ample parking to leave vehicles for the day to enjou the bus transport provided.

The service also provides free travel for Welsh Bus Pass Holders through Transport for Wales.

Cllr Win-Mullen James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus offers the perfect chance to explore the Dee Valley in comfort without the stress of having to plan to park at these fantastic locations around Llangollen.

The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus Service 199 will operate Saturdays only from Saturday April 1st – Saturday November 4th 2023.

The bus is part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and is part of the Our Picturesque Landscape Project.

For the full timetable and ticket prices for the Picturesque Bus service please see Denbighshire County Council’s bus timetables webpage and 1Bws webpage, or pick up a leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

Barclays responds to Castle Street branch closure news

* The Castle Street branch will close on July 7.

Barclays says it plans to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up cashless banking site – in Llangollen to help customers after it closes its local branch this summer.

It says it will also be offering virtual ‘tea and teach’ sessions for customers wishing to explore digital ways of banking.

The banking giant was responding to request from llanblogger to explain why it is shutting its Castle Street branch on July 7, as revealed in our story earlier today.

In an official response a Barclays spokesperson said: “Our customers’ behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking. 

“This is reflected at Llangollen branch, and as we adapt, we are finding new ways to support our customers by maintaining our community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support.

“In Llangollen we plan to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support, as they would in a branch and without the need to travel. We are currently working with the local community to identify a suitable location and will announce details once confirmed.”

Later in its response, the company says: “We will be proactively engaging with local businesses and the wider community to discuss the alternative ways customers will be able to undertake their banking locally.

“We will be offering virtual ‘tea and teach’ sessions for customers wishing to explore digital banking and other alternatives to branch based banking.”

In its notification of the closure to Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates – seen by llanblogger - Barclays talks about the ongoing change in banking behaviour which has led to the closure.

And it reveals: “This ongoing change in behaviour means we are seeing a sustained fall in customer transactions across our network and this is reflected at the Llangollen branch where there has been a 58 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the last twelve months, compared to the twelve months to March 2020. In addition, we can identify that 87 per cent of our customers at the branch are using alternative ways in which to undertake their banking, including via the telephone, online and mobile app.”

It adds: “Despite the branch closure, we are confident that access to banking remains sufficient in the local community; everyday transactions can be completed at any Post Office, with the closest located at Berwyn Street, Llangollen, a short distance away. There are 2 free-to-use ATMs within one kilometre, the nearest located at the NatWest Bank, 38 Castle Street, Llangollen while the closest Barclays branches are located at Wrexham and Chester.

“We appreciate that not all of our customers will adopt change at the same pace, and we would like to underline our commitment to supporting our vulnerable customers through this change. We have identified that in total 12 regular customers use this branch exclusively for their banking and do not interact with us in other ways. We will be making personal contact with our regular and vulnerable branch users to discuss their options and guide them through alternative ways to bank.”

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes commented: "The announcement by Barclays that they are closing their branch in Llangollen on 7th July is very sad and will inconvenience many people, businesses and organisations locally.

"I have been working hard to keep the branch open alongside other elected representatives and members of the community in Llangollen so I feel very disappointed by this announcement.

"In the letter I received from Barclays today about their decision they asked for my views on the following three questions and I would be grateful for feedback from local residents on thee points which you can send to me by email on simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk:

"What do you believe will be the biggest impact of the closure of the Llangollen branch on the local community?

"What do you believe will be the biggest impact of the closure of the Llangollen branch on customers of the branch?

"What alternative ways to bank do you believe need to be provided to help customers and the community adapt to this change?"

Customer letter tells of Barclays bank branch closure

* The customer letter posted on Facebook.

Barclays is to close Llangollen’s last traditional bank branch on July 7, according to a letter to a customer which has been shared on social media.

The letter says: “We’ll be closing out Llangollen branch on Friday 7 July 2023 at 12.00pm.

“The decision to close a branch is never easy and we appreciate this might not be welcome news but we’ll make sure you and your local community continue to have access to our banking services when you need them.

“We’ll still be part of your community in Llangollen, we’re just finalising details of when and where we’ll be based to support you with your banking.”

The letter starts by describing how many customers are choosing to bank in different ways which it says means that fewer of them were visiting branches.

And it goes on to say ask customers for their comments about the closure.

“We want to hear what you think. We’ll be speaking with customers, the local MP, council members, charities, community groups and local businesses to gain feedback,” it goes on.

“Two weeks before the closure we’ll share a summary of this feedback.”

If this closure happens it will mean all three of the town’s three traditional bank branches will have been lost with just the Post Office left to provide basic banking facilities.

The Facebook post about the latest closure had attracted over 50 comments by earlier this morning.

One points out that the closure will come during Eisteddfod week while another says that some elderly people do not use computers to do their banking and are unable to travel other areas to use branches still open.

Llanblogger has sought comments from Barclays and local politicians.      

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards said this morning: “While I’m afraid this unwelcome move has been suspected for some time, it is still a shock to learn that it is now actually happening.

“The closure is bound to have an adverse effect upon residents – especially the elderly – and our smaller local businesses which rely heavily on the branch’s services.

“This is, of course, a major tourist town and visitors are also likely to be affected by this decision.

“The letter mentions that Barclays will still have some sort of presence in the town and I sincerely hope this will be the case.”

According to the letter, details of the closure are available online at home.barclays/ukbranchclosures - although this doesn't mention Llangollen - and in the branch.

Llangollen man encourages others to have breast cancer check

* Jim Allen's story appears in the Mirror.

According to a story in the Mirror, a Llangollen man who was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer is now encouraging others to check their bodies.

* Fort the full story, see: Man given breast cancer diagnosis wants others to know the signs and check their bodies - Mirror Online

Weeks of roadworks planned for A525 Nant y Garth Pass

Roadworks are due to commence on the A525 at Nant y Garth later this month.

These comprise carriageway patching,  road cleansing, gully emptying and the reconstruction of a damaged section of wall supporting the carriageway.

The works will take place from B5429 Llysfasi to B5431 to Llanarmon Yn Ial.

Work is due to start on Monday April 17 and is expected to take up to six weeks to complete.

Initially, the road will be closed for vehicular traffic and pedestrians from Monday April 17 to Wednesday  April 19 and thereafter, two-way temporary traffic signals will be in place for a further five weeks to undertake the retaining wall works. Public Transport will operate as normal.

Access to residential and business premises which are located on Nant y Garth will be available although some delay and disruption maybe experienced and residents are encouraged to keep journeys to a minimum to reduce traffic congestion.

The alternative diversion route will be signed accordingly. Normal working hours shall apply to the works.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Denbighshire County Council apologise for any inconvenience that these essential works may cause, and we are grateful for local cooperation and patience during this time to ensure that the works are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Mazda bucks EV trend with super-clean diesel

Mazda CX-60 diesel launch by Steve Rogers

Here we are in the middle of the electric revolution and one car company decides the time is right for a new diesel. And a big one at that, an in-line 3.3 litre.

But this is Mazda we are talking about, a company that is anything but conventional when it comes to everything motoring, particularly engines.

It is taking a pragmatic approach, happy to follow the Government edict to be all electric by 2035, but still have a range of super clean, economical petrol and diesel engines in the bank for those who prefer to stick with the good old internal combustion engine. And there will be plenty who will, after all lots of enthusiasts still enjoy driving classic cars.

Mazda’s UK boss Jeremy Thomson is all for the company’s ‘multi-solution approach’ with more efficient internal combustion engines and a range of electrified powertrains.

He told me the new diesel is designed to meet the needs of customers who want an efficient, long distance driving car with great towing capacity, and rural Wales is one of its target areas.

So has Mazda pulled a rabbit out of the hat or built an engine that no one will want? The company is realistic, predicting no more than 15 per cent of the CX-60 cake, with the majority favouring the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models.

That said this is the world’s cleanest diesel, capable of mid fifties to the gallon, powering a sizeable SUV with a towing capacity of 2,500kg - music to the ears to people like me who tow a big caravan.

Mazda has gone for an inline 6-cylinder rather than a V6 because it vibrates less and to be fair it does not feel like a heavyweight under the bonnet, in fact the engine weighs around the same as the 2.2 litre four cylinder diesel which is a measure of how much weight has been saved.

It comes with a choice of 196bhp or 254bhp, the latter powering the all wheel drive version. The engines are very refined, both helped by a 48 volt hybrid power unit to boost economy and acceleration as well as lowering engine emissions. The lower powered version feels punchy enough until you get behind the wheel of the ‘bully boy’ which benefits from an extra 100Nm of torque and is a good bit quicker with foot flat to the floor in the mid range.

It loses out on economy, 56 to 53mpg, and costs more because of all wheel drive and a higher level of equipment, but there is no need to be put off by going for the rear wheel drive entry level. Mazda has always been more generous with its basic specification compared to premium German rivals - yes Mazda has climbed into the upper class - so the Exclusive Line is not that poor a relation of the CX-60 trio.

For £42,990 you get the digital binnacle with excellent head up display, the central 12.3in touchscreen which can be operated by a rotary controller, glad Mazda is sticking with that, it is much safer than fingering the screen while on the move, and the heating controls are physical switches. Other niceties include navigation,  heated front seats, and smart phone connectivity.

An extra £1,900 adds a pack that includes a 360 degree view camera, wireless charging and a full suite of safety features which is well worth considering.

Moving up to Homura brings in the more powerful engine, all wheel drive and pretty much the comfort pack (£1,400 extra on Exclusive-Line) that includes powered and ventilated front seats and heated outer rear seats. Top of the range Takumi is more plush with leather and fabric finishes but the £1,900 package with the safety features is still a £1,900 extra.

All Mazda’s favour enthusiastic driving and even this big SUV is a pleasure to drive, flowing through twisty roads thanks to its taut suspension set up which can be switched on the fly between comfort, off road and sport. I will even go so far as to say it is good fun although not quite as well planted as my current Audi Q5 Sportback test car.

Whether you think it is bold or barmy the addition of a powerful, economic diesel to the CX-60 range is a worthwhile option especially when many rivals have ditched diesel for good.

Fast facts

CX-60 Takumi 8sp auto

£50,730

3.3 litre turbo diesel; 248bhp

0-62mph 7.4secs; 136mph

53.3mpg combined

139g/km. 1st tax £285

Boot: 570-1726 litres

Insurance group 39