North Wales News

[SteveH]

Truckers bypassing Holyhead     to Dublin route a sign of 'Brexit success' says Boris Johnson
The PM made the claims during the Liaison Committee meeting earlier this evening

The PM said that trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain is flowing so smoothly that many exporters are opting to use the new route and bypassing North Wales in the process.


https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/truckers-bypassing-holyhead-dublin-route-19621056

[SteveH]

Update on above...

Stena Line has cancelled Irish Sea sailings again this weekend as the post-Brexit trade slump continues at Holyhead and Fishguard.

The ferry firm is still reporting a 70% drop in freight trade on routes between Wales and Ireland compared with similar periods in previous years.

The reason is stockpiling prior to the end of the post-Brexit transition period and a surge in direct services between Ireland and the rest of the EU.

Additional red tape on trading is impacting retailers, hauliers and ports in the UK and the island of Ireland - while Covid travel restrictions are hitting passenger figures.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/stena-line-cancels-holyhead-sailings-19624567

[SteveH]

Irish hauliers are bypassing Welsh ports to avoid Brexit bureaucracy, industry leaders say.

So called "teething problems" with new export rules are causing "enormous strain on staff", according to one haulage company.

But others warn of a longer-term shift by truck firms from using Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke Dock.

long-term consequences for the ports.

cont   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55682597

[Hugo]

Plaque in memory of missing antiques dealer mysteriously appears on bench - and no-one knows why          I remember watching a TV programme on the original disappearance and it could shed no light on the reason why she vanished without trace



https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plaque-memory-antiques-dealer-mysteriously-19616661

[SteveH]

Traffic through Holyhead Port has been down by more than 50%, and traders at the frontline of Brexit in Wales are warning a long-term drop in its port activity will hurt its future.

The port is the second-largest roll-on-roll-off port in the UK and according to Wales Online, they carry 1,200 lorries and trailers across the Irish Sea every day.

The UK officially left the European Union on December 31 and many concerns have been raised about the falling numbers at the Port.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/brexits-taking-back-control-plan-19697798

[SteveH]

A CASE of Avian Influenza (bird flu) has been confirmed in pheasants at a premises on Anglesey.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has confirmed the case.

A temporary control zone (TCZ) has been immediately imposed around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading and as part of the wider surveillance and disease control measures.

Further laboratory results to determine if virus is a Highly Pathogenic type are expected in the next 48 hours. If so, the TCZ will be replaced by 3 km protection and 10 km surveillance zones.

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/19045177.bird-flu-discovered-pheasants-anglesey-chief-veterinary-officer-wales-confirms/

[Ian]

Is there no end to the good news. I wonder?

[SteveH]

Stories within stories................

The deep water jetty at Holyhead port is receiving an upgrade that will make it more attractive for cruise ship passengers and prepare it for a new use.

Work has begun on the £500,000 upgrade of the Orthios jetty at Holyhead  https://www.orthios.com/the-eco-park-anglesey/ - currently being used as a base for sea trials and training by the world’s most advanced polar research vessel the RSS Sir David Attenborough.

The upgrade serves two purposes - including getting the jetty ready to receive plastics for recycling for Orthios' Plastics-to-Oil facilities at the former Anglesey Aluminium site.   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55813259

It will also benefit Welsh tourism as Orthios said it will make the jetty "more attractive" to cruise ships when the holiday industry revives.

The improvement works are being managed for Orthios by Cadarn Consulting of Anglesey.

Orthios CEO Sean McCormick said: “Cruise traffic dropped off almost entirely in 2020 due to the pandemic but we already have 20+ bookings for later this year, with each liner expected to bring hundreds of passengers and their spending power into the region.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/holyhead-jetty-upgrade-make-more-19894584

[SteveH]

Welsh exports to Irish Republic 'hindered by wrong ink'

Welsh exports to Ireland are being blocked by extra paperwork and costs at customs, says CBI Wales.

Director Ian Price said the authorities in the Republic of Ireland were "zealous" when checking goods which was "causing some delays."

He said documents had been rejected for being written in blue not black ink.

Ireland's consul general in Wales insisted the Irish Government was "focused" on facilitating trade between the two countries.

Mr Price called for "consistency of approach" when exporting to the EU.

The republic is Wales' fourth biggest export market, behind Germany, France and the US and the fifth largest market for the UK.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56201813

[SteveH]

Gwynedd council decides it will double council tax on holiday homes

The premium levied on owners of holiday homes and long term empty properties in Gwynedd will be doubled from April.

While second home owners already face premiums of 50%, it will rise to 100% after the cabinet-backed plans were supported by 38 to 16 during Thursday’s full council meeting.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-council-decides-double-council-19969848

[SteveH]

The Queen will address the nation via BBC One in a rare televised speech this weekend.

The speech will mark Commonwealth Day, the annual Commonwealth Day service, due to take place on March 8, is usually attended by the Queen and other members of the royal family.

However, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony has been scrapped and the Queen will instead share her message via BBC One on Sunday March 7.

Buckingham Palace has now released further details about the special programme to be aired at 5pm on Sunday evening.

The palace said: "In Her Majesty's annual Commonwealth Day message, the Queen will pay tribute to the way in which communities across the family of nations have come together in response to the pandemic."

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/19141966.queen-will-deliver-rare-televised-speech-nation-weekend-bbc-one/

[SteveH]

This is a major problem for NW ....... ridiculous

Plants destined for Caernarfon nursery sent on 1,400-mile three-nation detour to avoid Holyhead Port
Products for Neil Alcock’s Seiont Nurseries in Caernarfon have a four-day marathon via France, Holland and England

Plants are being shipped from Ireland to Wales on a 1,400-mile, three-nation detour instead of through Holyhead because of Brexit.

The 170-mile journey between Neil Alcock’s Seiont Nurseries in Caernarfon and his supplier in Kilkenny used to take just 12 hours via Holyhead.

Now red tape means a four-day marathon via France, Holland and England – at £280 a trolley instead of £100.

Neil, 51, told The Mirror : “It’s ridiculous and not sustainable.

"Holyhead is the best solution but we can’t find hauliers because they worry about paperwork errors holding them up.

"The only way is via Europe on existing trade routes.
"It makes no sense but it’s our only option.”

Plants are now driven to Rosslare and shipped to Dunkirk, in northern France.

They go by road to Aalsmeer, in the Netherlands, to join other plants being imported by Seiont.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plants-destined-caernarfon-nursery-sent-19984463

[Cambrian]

Doesn't seem to affect Irish mushrooms in local shops either in quantity or price.

[SteveH]

Take your pick of these stories "Chancellor’s £4.8m boost for Anglesey hydrogen hub could create extra jobs"  or   "The North Wales areas set to lose out on millions feels like 'slap in the face' for locals"

Chancellor’s £4.8m boost for Anglesey hydrogen hub could create extra jobs
Rishi Sunak hoped it would help Wales 'pave the way to a greener future'
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/chancellors-48m-boost-anglesey-hydrogen-19986341


The North Wales areas set to lose out on millions feels like 'slap in the face' for locals
There are fears the UK Government's new infrastructure fund has put some parts 'at the back of the queue'
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-areas-set-lose-19986353

[SteveH]

Update on March 07, 2021, 05:17:47 PM » above


The UK Government's Brexit plan to avoid 1,400 mile shipping 'rigmarole' for Welsh products
The Irish Sea freight woes highlighted in Westminster

“The freight hauliers don't want to accept mixed loads as any single item not having the paperwork would stop the whole load.

“Why is the paperwork so difficult between Holyhead and Dublin that the Irish exporter prefers to send the freight on such a long journey?

“The Port of Holyhead has been hit by the perfect economic storm, brought about by Brexit. As of the last week of February, freight was down 49% while between Ireland and France was up by 102%.

“No other port in Europe would put up with this daylight robbery brought about by EU red tape, there’s no need for it. Some spot checks should be all that are needed.”

Full story   https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/uk-governments-brexit-plan-avoid-20063017