Council reminds parents of grant funding scheme

Denbighshire County Council is informing parents and guardians that they can apply for the School Essentials Grant.

The grant scheme, known as the School Essentials Grant (previously Pupil Development Grant), is open for applications, and people may qualify if they receive at least one benefit, such as: 

• Income support

• Income based job seekers allowance

• Income related employment and support allowance

• Child tax credit (but not working tax credit) with an annual income below £16,190

• Pension credit (guaranteed credit)

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Universal Credit and your yearly net earnings must be no more than £7,400.

Parents or guardians who receive a qualifying benefit can receive a grant of £125 if their children are in Reception or Years 1 to 11. 

If the child is in Year 7, parents/guardians may be entitled to a grant of £200 if they receive one of the benefits. 

The grant can cover: 

•  School uniform.

•  School sports kit.

•  Kit for sports outside of school.

•  Uniform for wider activities such as Scouts and Guides.

•  Equipment for activities to support the curriculum, such as design and technology.

•  Equipment for out of school hours trips, including outdoor learning.

•  Duke of Edinburgh activities.

•  Computers, laptops and tablets. 

People cannot receive a School Essentials Grant if they are in receipt of Working Tax Credit.

If your child goes to a school in Denbighshire, you can apply online for a grant by visiting www.denbighshire.gov.uk/school-essentials-grant

People that are eligible for Free School Meals, as well as the School Essentials Grant, may use the same online application form to apply for both. 

Councillor Gill German, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “We know that families are feeling the pressure due to the cost-of-living issues and will be searching for further financial support to assist them.

"This grant funding can be a real lifeline to assist in paying for these goods."

Rotary provides poo-bag dispensers around town

 

Poo-bag dispensing boxes will be appearing in Llangollen to try and keep our environment clean.

Vale of Llangollen Rotary and the Rotary Community Team will be installing two by the river and three to near the canal thanks to sponsorship from 1st Enable Ltd in Chester.

A club spokesperson said: "We arehopeful that dog owners and indeed, non-dog owners, will put bags in when they out to help us keep them replenished so we all contribute to improving our environment."

Vale of Llangollen Rotary and Vale of Llangollen Community Team are ready to welcome individuals and couples of 18+ from the local community who want to be people of action.  

They meet face-to-face in St Collen's Community Hall in Regent Street, Llangollen on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

* For more information, email: valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or see www.valeofllangollenrotary

More details of collision which left pedestrian injured

The Leader has now given an update on the incident on Castle Street on Wednesday afternoon.

Their story says: "A person was taken to hospital after a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in Llangollen. 

"The incident occurred on Castle Street in the centre of the town on Wednesday afternoon. 

"Police blocked the road in both directions as paramedics treated an injured person at the scene. 

"Eye witnesses stated that the pedestrian involved was an elderly lady. 

"On Thursday morning, the Welsh Ambulance Service issued an update on the incident. 

"A spokesperson said: 'We were called on July 12, shortly before 3pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a pedestrian on Castle Street, Llangollen.'"

"We sent one emergency ambulance and one duty operational manager to the scene, where we were supported by colleagues from the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service.

"One person was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital for further treatment.”

llanblogger has asked the Welsh Ambulance Service about reports on social media that it took the ambulance an hour to arrive at the scene. They have so far not replied.

£300m cut poses ‘serious threat’ to canals, says MS

* Llangollen Canal could be amongst those under threat.

A funding cut of over £300m poses a “serious threat” to canals in North Wales, according to an MS.

Llyr Gruffydd, who represents the region in the Senedd, has branded the sharp reduction as “alarming” and has warned that it will lead to an “inevitable” decline in the condition of the canal network and could even result in closures.

The UK Government recently announced a long-term funding settlement for the Canal & River Trust which includes Glandŵr Cymru the Canal & River Trust in Wales, for the period from 2027 to 2037.

The network in Wales, includes the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the Chirk Aqueduct and the 11 miles of the Llangollen canal, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Chirk Aqueduct and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct were designed by renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford.

Mr Gruffydd, of Plaid Cymru, has said the “irresponsible” decision by the UK Government puts this UNESCO World Heritage site “at risk” and has called on Tory ministers to “think again”.

The amount awarded represents a steep reduction in its funding of over £300 million in real terms over the ten-year period.

The scale of the proposed cut has been projected to rise each year to reach a nearly £50m annual reduction by the end of the new grant agreement period in 2036.

It is so large that it is feared that it will inevitably mean deep cuts to canal maintenance and repair, and eventually lead to canal closures.

Llyr Gruffydd MS said: “This irresponsible decision by the UK Government presents a serious threat to the canal network in Wales.

“It should be remembered that these are historic waterways and they include a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the Chirk Aqueduct, as well as 11 miles of the Llangollen canal are an important part of our industrial heritage in Wales, and this funding cut by the UK Government clearly puts them at risk.

“It represents almost a halving of real-terms public funding for canals in the ten years from 2027 compared with recent years. It will inevitably lead to a decline in the condition of the canal network and the alarming prospect of canal closures.

“Inexplicably, the UK Government has made this decision despite its own review confirming that funding for the Canal & River Trust is ‘clear value for money’.

“It has shown that the network of canals delivers substantial benefits to the economy, to people and communities, and to nature and biodiversity.

“The announcement risks turning back the clock on one of Wales’ greatest heritage regeneration stories and will lead to the loss of both vital nature habitat and treasured public spaces with a loss of substantial benefits for millions of people.

“To make matters worse, the decision to reduce long-term funding comes at a time when, the cost of maintaining the historic canals, locks, bridges, aqueducts, embankments, reservoirs and other critical assets is increasing.

“This is in part due to the rising impact of climate change with more periods of drought and extreme storm events.

“The canals bring the benefits of green space and nature corridors into urban areas, reaching millions of people, creating wildlife corridors, contributing to flood defences and drainage, and transferring water to support public water supply.

“Research has shown that the canals support local jobs and boost the economy. They also deliver social welfare value to people and communities including significant physical and mental health benefits.

“Tory ministers need to seriously think again about this damaging decision

Llangollen Panto Group presents Jack & the Beanstalk in 2024

Llangollen Pantomime Group is to present Jack & the Beanstalk next January.

And they have a Meet and Greet session at St Collen's Community Hall on Sunday August 6 at 2pm.

The group says on its Facebook page: "Please come along if you would like to get involved in our new exciting production of Jack & the Beanstalk - our first show in over three years. We are very much looking forward to be bringing the Pantomime back to Llangollen Town Hall.

"Louise the director will be introducing all the amazing characters in the show and all the parts available for young and old.

"So if you are interested in having a part in the show or want to get involved in some of the amazing opportunities behind the scenes, there will be a lot of opportunity to chat and get to know everyone involved.

"Please do not worry if you cannot make August 6 we also have taster sessions/script run-throughs on August 13 and 20.

"The Llangollen Pantomime Committee are looking forward to meeting all who want to become involved in our show."

Rotary invites expert to talk about state of River Dee

 

* People examine trays containing samples of Dee river water on display.

The Dee running through Llangollen isn’t one of the worst rivers in the UK when it comes to its natural habitat.

That was the message from a project officer for the independent charity which is working to identify problems with world-famous watercourse and come up with ways of solving them.

The year-old Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club has set up a series of monthly gatherings at which members of the local community are invited along to St Collen’s Community Hall to hear about and discuss issues of general interest.

* A live stone fly could be seen in one of the sample trays.

At yesterday evening’s session project officer Gareth Jones gave an insight into the work of the locally-based Welsh Dee Trust and its five-year strategy for protecting and improving the river.

He explained that the project began in August 2020 and had since done most of its work upstream near Corwen.

It had looked at areas such as moving livestock away from the river in a bid to reduce erosion of the banks – particularly by grazing cows – and improving the habitat in and around the water.

“We want to create a properly clean river and that means one that looks natural, with trees and twigs and so on visible in it,” he said.

He added: “Our findings so far are that there are far worse rivers than the Dee in terms of habitat, especially its upper catchment areas.

“Another of our aims is to remove barriers to the fish population and to change the attitude of landowners towards our work.

* One stage, Rotary club member Kurly Marwaha questions Welsh Dee Trust project officer Gareth Jones about its work. 

“When our project first started I think they were a bit unsure about what we were trying to do to improve things, such as fencing off the river to prevent erosion by livestock, but I believe they now have a better understanding of our work.”

Mr Jones explained that another aim of the project was to reduce pollution in the river from agricultural work nearby and he said that grants were available for landowners to help them achieve this.

The Welsh Dee Trust had special schemes to recruit local volunteers to help with their work and assisted with taking regular samples of river water and litter picking around the waterway.

The samples showed the number of invertebrates living in the river which, he said, was an indicator of its health.

He had set up a number of tables in the hall showing trays of samples of Dee water in which invertebrates such as stone flies and May flies could be seen wriggling amongst the grass and soil.

Asked by a questioner in the audience about the levels of invertebrates in the Dee Mr Jones said monitoring showed a general decline in their numbers which may be due to phosphates in the water.

Asked by another questioner whether leisure activities on the Dee such as kayaking, canoeing and paddle-boarding had any negative impact on the river, Mr Jones said: “They have no detrimental effect as far as we are concerned.”

* More details about the work of the Welsh Dee Trust can be found on its website at: www.WelshDeeTrust.com

* Vale of Llangollen Rotary meets face-to-face in St Collen's Community Hall in Regent Street, Llangollen on Wednesday evenings at 7pm.

For more information, email: valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com or see www.valeofllangollenrotary

Skates wins assurance over Welsh station ticket offices

* Ken Skates MS: ticket office reassurance.

Former Transport Minister Ken Skates has welcomed confirmation that ticket offices at Welsh train stations will not close, as is happening in England.

The Clwyd South MS raised the issue in the Senedd yesterday (Tuesday) after Plaid MS Sioned Williams asked how the Welsh Government is ensuring people with learning disabilities have access to public transport. 

Train operators last week confirmed the Conservative UK Government’s proposals to shut down almost all of the 1,007 remaining ticket offices in England within three years – even leading to criticism from some of their own Tory MPs. 

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the move was a “retaliatory measure in the ongoing industrial dispute that the UK Government fails to settle”. 

And rail union RMT claimed the closures “will restrict passengers’ access to the best value tickets, worsen passenger service, accessibility, safety and security and lead to a de-staffing of stations”.

Mr Skates said: “First Minister, we know that people with learning difficulties and other people who face disabling barriers in life hugely value the presence and assistance of staff at railway stations. 

“Would you agree that it’ll be a source of reassurance to them to hear that Transport for Wales have no plans whatsoever to reduce the number of staff at stations that they manage here in Wales and, indeed, where they manage them in England? In stark contrast, the Department for Transport in England have announced the wholesale closure of ticket offices at stations managed by them.” 

The First Minister said: “I absolutely do agree with what Ken Skates has said. Almost 900 ticket offices in England are affected by the announcement of the Department for Transport in what many people regard as simply a retaliatory measure in the ongoing industrial dispute that the UK Government fails to settle in the transport industry. Here in Wales, we proceed, as the Member knows, through social partnership, working closely with our trade union colleagues. We achieve far more by working together than forcing through changes as part of ongoing industrial disputes. 

“I’m able to confirm exactly what Ken Skates said. Transport for Wales does not plan to make similar changes to ticket offices in Wales, or indeed to the ticket offices that they manage in England – in Chester, Hereford and Shrewsbury, for example. 

“We know that, particularly for those people who may struggle to access services, then the presence of staff on the station able to respond directly to their requirements is a very important part of how they are able to access services.”