Wales plans licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation

Plans to introduce a statutory registration and licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation in Wales have been announced by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden.

Legislation expected to be introduced to the Senedd before the end of the year.

The registration and licensing scheme is intended to deliver a register of visitor accommodation types and to enable providers to demonstrate compliance with safety and quality requirements.

It is intended to enhance the visitor experience and visitor safety expectations in Wales by ensuring anyone who lets out visitor accommodation meets a relevant set of standards.

This follows a public consultation, extensive engagement with the sector, as well as a recently published survey that found 89% of visitors considered it important the accommodation they stay in is operating safely.

Many parts of the world have already adopted licensing, certification or registration schemes across their visitor accommodation sectors and the Welsh Government has been considering best practice to design one that is simple and easy to use for accommodation providers in Wales.

Across the UK, Northern Ireland has had a certification scheme established for all visitor accommodation since 1992, with Scotland having recently introduced a licensing scheme for short term lets. The UK Government is also pursuing a registration approach for short term lets.

In Wales, the first phase will be a statutory registration scheme for all accommodation providers, which will – for the first time – provide a register on the broad range of visitor accommodation available across the country and will include details on who is operating in the sector, where they are operating, and how they are operating.

Dawn Bowden said: “Tourism makes an important contribution to the Welsh economy and to Welsh life so this information will be crucial in helping us better understand the sector, as well as helping to inform future policy decisions at a local and national level.

“The visitor economy is changing rapidly, and while the growth of online booking platforms has brought many benefits, there are concerns around compliance with existing requirements and the impact of short-term lets on housing stock and our communities.

“I’d like to thank businesses across the visitor economy for the enormous resilience they’ve shown through the unprecedented challenges of recent years. The input from the sector, visitors and communities has been invaluable to our work so far. We will continue this engagement as we develop the scheme.”

Once a registration scheme is fully established, the intention is to follow with a licensing scheme for all visitor accommodation. This will initially focus on confirming compliance with safety requirements visitor accommodation providers should already be meeting, before looking at introducing quality standards at a later stage.

The Welsh Government’s Co-operation Agreement with Plaid Cymru commits to a statutory licensing scheme for holiday lets as part of a package of measures to address the negative impact second homes and short-term holiday lets can have on the availability and affordability of housing for local people in communities.

North East Wales Archives looking for volunteers

 

How would you like to volunteer to help preserve your area’s local history?

North East Wales Archives (NEWA) are currently looking for volunteers to join their volunteer group in Ruthin.

Through volunteering at NEWA, volunteers can learn new skills, expand their CVs, gain work experience and gain local knowledge.

Volunteering (and working) in archives can sometimes be a solitary job simply due to the nature of the work. On selected Tuesdays (2 sessions per month), the volunteer group meets for up to three hours between 9.30am and 12.30pm at the Archives in Ruthin.

The current project involves working through uncatalogued council files which cover many aspects of the council's responsibility during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including:

1. Road and rail developments and improvements.
2. Building and planning of new schools, residential sites and police houses.
3. County council reorganisation.
4. Civil defence and war provision.
5. Local election papers.
6. Public health and welfare.
7. Tourism and events.

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture & Heritage said: “Volunteering at the Archives is a brilliant way for people to get in touch with the history of their local area, as well as meet likeminded people who also volunteer.

"Volunteering can also help with things such as CV building, learning new skills and gaining valuable experience.”

* For more information please visit the North East Wales Archives website.

Latest roadworks alerts for the town

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 09 January - 09 January   Delays likely - Road closure   Name: Church Street, Llangollen   Location: Church Street   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned   Regent Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 09 January - 09 January   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: ADR - Church Street, Llangollen   Location: Regent Street   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

 

Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 09 January - 09 January   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Road closure   Description: LARGE TANKER REQUIRED TO ATTEND HERE AS WE HAVE A 500M DESILT SCHEME AND WITH THIS BEING SO CLOSE TO   Works location: CHURCH STREET (46700268) LLANGOLLEN, DENBIGHSHIRE   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Welsh Water.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: PE12595938984/03   Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 08 January - 09 January   Roadworks, Delays possible   Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Description: Deliver Lamps, Cones, barriers(same day) Job in Carriageway (Other )   Works location: 3RD LIGHT HEAD HEOL Y FARCHNAD   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000013551963A

Countywide roll-out of hygiene products collections

Denbighshire County Council’s Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) collections will be rolled out throughout the county from June 2024.

This follows a successful pilot scheme for residents in the LL16 and LL17 postcode areas last year.

Residents must register for this free weekly service which has been launched to reduce the amount of waste in non-recyclable bins, as currently, 20% of this is AHP waste. It is part of wider work the council is undertaking to improve recycling rates in the county.

Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We’re starting by collecting this waste separately now so that when a contract is in place with a recycling facility, we’ll be ready to recycle it straight away. In future, this waste could be used to produce a variety of new products, which might include fibreboards and acoustic panels for floors and walls, and as an engineering material used in road surfaces.

“While it’s great that we’re looking at even more things we can recycle, we also encourage residents to consider other ways of reducing their waste. One way of doing this is using reusable nappies which is a cheaper alternative to disposable nappies. The council offers a reusable nappy voucher scheme to help residents by providing £25 worth of vouchers to buy reusable nappies.”

The new AHP collection service will be available to households with babies or children in nappies, and individuals who use incontinence products. Registration for the service will open on Monday, January 8 and close on Friday, March 1 with collections starting from June 2024. Another registration window will open later in the year.

* Further information about the new service, including how to register, will be available from Monday, January 8 on the council’s website on www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling

Llangollen panto is back next week ... oh, yes it is!

* Cast members hard at work in rehearsals for Jack and the Beanstalk.

After a gap of three years due to the pandemic, Llangollen Pantomime Group are back with their 2024 production of Jack and the Beanstalk next week.

And they are also making a return of their traditional venue of Llangollen Town Hall when they stage the show from next Thursday-Saturday, January 11-13.

A group spokesperson said: "We haven’t put on a production since Pinocchio in 2020 for obvious reasons.

"We are also back at the town hall after several years of being up at the Pavilion.

"We have a new director this year in Louise Lyne, with her husband Dave Lyne as assistant director. Dave has written the script from scratch and it’s very funny.

"Although it’s their debut directing and producing a pantomime they have been on stage previously, performing in the Llangollen pantomime and Louise appeared in Llangollen Operatic's production of Calendar Girls."

The spokesperson added: "We have a total of 28 in the cast and although there's a few of the old - but not so old - cast and crew still kicking about it has been a pleasure to have many newbies this year, on and off the stage. 

"Our chairwoman Sharon Jones found out a couple of days ago this pantomime group is in its 40th year, which is wonderful. Coincidentally, the first production was Jack and the Beanstalk, which we were all thrilled to find out."

* Performances start in the evenings at 7.30pm and there's also a matinee on Saturday January 13 at 1.30pm.

Tickets are priced at £9 and £7 concessions. You can book online by scanning the barcode on the poster, by calling the group secretary on 01978 860297, or at Dee Valley Produce (01978 861805). Tickets are still available for the evening concerts, says the group.

Roadworks alert for Market Street

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 08 January - 09 January   Roadworks, Delays possible   Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Description: Deliver Lamps, Cones, barriers(same day) Job in Carriageway (Other )   Works location: 3RD LIGHT HEAD HEOL Y FARCHNAD   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.   Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000013551963A

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is: 

Q: I’ve built up a bit of debt and I am panicking. Even though I cut back, Christmas was expensive, my rent has gone up and my paycheque just doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. I’m doing everything I can but it’s not enough - what can I do? 

A: First of all it’s important to know you’re not alone in finding things difficult and, crucially, there’s support available. 

You say you’ve built up a bit of debt. The first step is to collect all the information you have about your debts, this might include contracts, bills and statements. 

Next, make a list of your debts and write down the details of each. This could include whom you owe the money to (this person/company is your ‘creditor’); when you first missed a payment; and how much you now owe. You’ll also need to make a note of your account or reference number and what steps the creditor has taken to get the money back, eg. sending you letters. 

It might feel overwhelming when you see all of your debts written down - but try not to worry, the important thing is that you're sorting them out. 

If you’re behind on household bills, prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first. Not paying these bills has the most serious consequences. You should speak to the person or company you owe money to, to see if there are any manageable steps you can take to start reducing your debt. 

Once you’ve got these debts under control, you should look at any other debts like credit card or store card debts, payday loans or missed Buy Now Pay Later payments. 

While you’re looking at the money going out, do remember to consider money that could be coming in. It’s always worth checking if there are any benefits that you’re eligible for, including support with your energy costs and living costs. There’s a benefits calculator, advice on how to reduce living costs and information on other ways to increase your income, on the Citizens Advice website. 

There’s also emergency support that you may be able to access, such as a food bank or fuel vouchers. You could also contact your local council to see if they can offer support. 

We know that times are incredibly tough but please remember, you don’t have to face this alone, do contact Citizens Advice to help you find a way forward.