£180,000 to help struggling schools

GWYNEDD Council’s cabinet has committed £180,000 to improve standards at some of its struggling secondary schools.

Meeting virtually last week, decision makers backed transferring the sum from the authority’s transformation pot to fund the two-year long secondments to the education department looking specifically at the county’s smallest comprehensives.

The report, which was approved unanimously, noted that while standards within the primary sector are among the best in Wales, three of the 14 secondary schools are currently in the lowest ‘red’ category as adjudged by the Welsh Government.

But with the time of the authority’s two Area Education Officers described as “too limited” to be able to give the deserved attention to the secondary sector, the request was made for the extra funding to appoint more staff.

Head of education, Garem Jackson, said: “In considering where we need to concentrate our efforts to improve performance, we do recognise that the primary sector in Gwynedd is among the best in Wales.

“But we also acknowledge there are some aspects of the secondary sector that need more support.

“One of the department’s main aims is to develop leadership, specifically Meirionnydd where there are specific challenges in terms of de-population, a lack of applicants, some teachers teaching up to four subjects and where the critical mass can, at times, be too small.

“With that in mind we have been discussing with headteachers in regards to what we can do differently in the smaller schools.”

The report concluded: “The Department has identified Meirionnydd as a key priority project due to the challenges facing the schools in the context of recruiting teachers, middle managers and leaders due to the size of the secondary schools.”

AS is the case in most British towns and cities, Bangor’s High Street is going through unimaginable changes.

This was the case even before the coronavirus restrictions, and now retail experts are concerned the crisis has “fast-forwarded” the decline of the traditional high street.

Businesses on Wales’ longest high street which have remained open amid the lockdown spoke to the Daily Post about the effect it’s having on them.

The Air Vape Store continues to sell electronic smoking kits to customers, both via the physical shop and online.

Manager Alex Reeve revealed that although business has been good, important changes have had to be made.

“It has been very strange, a bit odd and surreal,” he said. “Most of the time, people have been really cool about the restrictions, a minority haven’t. I think times like this bring out the best and the worst in people.”

The business has five branches and has had to temporarily close its other four, in Caernarfon, Pwllheli, Llandudno and Oswestry.

According to Mr Reeve, the business would ordinarily receive around four to five online orders per day. Since the lockdown however, the average has risen to 45.

He said: “Everything has to be done with no contact, so we do everything either through postal delivery or paying contactless through the window. I won’t let anyone inside the shop.

“Although it’s working for us now and we’re still going strong, I’m worried that customers, who are now adjusting to online shopping during the pandemic will opt for that rather than their high street once the lockdown is over.”

Despite feeling uncertain about the future of the high street, Alex revealed that the sense of community remained consistent in his business. He said: “We get a lot of thank you messages from people, and we try to stay in contact with our customers, especially the elderly ones.

“As coronavirus is a respiratory disease, I think a lot of our customers are thankful that we are still open because vaping is the better alternative to smoking, and they don’t want to go back to that, especially now.

“We have a good community here.”

Since the lockdown was implemented, Kyffin Cafe Deli has been offering home deliveries within the Bangor area on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Owner Jo Pott, who has run the cafe for almost 30 years, described the experience as “stressful”.

She added: “Having two shops and a cafe closed due to this, I felt like I had to do something.

“I couldn’t just walk away from the customers that needed us.

“Our cafe has often been a community for a lot of them over the years, and we needed to maintain regular contact.

“We use social media to promote the cafe and the shops regularly, so that we can keep our businesses fresh in people’s minds.

“We are dealing with can.”

Footfall had been a worrying issue for the cafe owner even before the lockdown.

In December, a serious fire at a restaurant on the street led to construction being carried out in order to stabilise the building and remove debris by crane.

From Bangor’s cathedral to the Varsity pub, this part of the high street had been closed to all vehicles, and temporary traffic diversions had been put in place, meaning that footfall in the area had been decreased dramatically for neighbouring businesses, such as the Kyffin cafe.

According to Gwynedd Council, the “complex” and “challenging task”, was likely to be on hold until April. The situation at the site as the month nears its end, however, remains the same.

“At a time when we are having the least amount of footfall, you’d think the construction would continue,” said Ms Pott.

“Everything regarding the matter has just been put on hold, and I’m fearful about that.

“In order to move forward after this, I’m just hoping people will want to spend and enjoy going out to restaurants or cafes. it as best as we

“I also hope the council will support us through an already difficult situation.”

In response, however, the council revealed it was still working on the issue.

A spokesperson said: “The fire caused significant damage to 164 and 166 High Street Bangor, and in accordance with our statutory responsibility the Council has ensured that the site is safe and doesn’t pose a risk to the general public.

“The present phase of demolishing the existing buildings is managed by those employed by the building owners.

“Our officers have been assisting the contractors and engineers working on behalf of the owners of 164 and 166 High Street, and it is clear that this is proving to be far more complicated than originally envisaged.

“Before the lockdown, Gwynedd Council representatives, along with BID Bangor, met and discussed with each and every one of the businesses in this particular area of Bangor.

“This provided an opportunity to explain the help available and what particular issues the businesses were facing.

“Since the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that the vast majority of businesses are closed to the public, our officers have been working with our partners at the Bangor BID to highlight all financial support that is available to businesses.”

The co-owner of Domu coffee shop, Dale Hibbert, was also concerned about the post-coronavirus future, and in particular, the quality of his customers’ experience.

He said: “We are now in this coma-type state. But, the primary concerns for us right now isn’t being closed, emerge from this.

“A trip to a coffee shop with friends is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable; that’s what we offer – good coffee, good music, we create an ambience.

“It will be hard to create that ambience again, especially when we depend on social interaction, and who knows what effect this pandemic has had on our customers? People may not want to surround themselves with others.

“On top of that, we don’t know the financial situation we will all be in. Coffee is not a necessity and customers might not have the disposable income to spend on such things, so we might struggle and that is playing on my mind.

“And if we have to go through this again with another wave, this would be totally impractical for businesses with stock that deteriorates quickly. We couldn’t afford to open for four weeks and then close again.” it’s how we

Bangor BID chairwoman Pamela Poynton revealed that the organisation was working alongside the Welsh Government, Business Wales and the county council to support the city’s high street.

She added: “We are currently posting all information when we receive it on our Facebook page AGB Bangor Bid, and we have a Business Recovery Plan in place to provide support to the high street.

“We know there are going to be extremely difficult times financially and emotionally. We urge any Bangor business owners who have questions or concerns, to get in contact with the BID’s manager Jerry Miles.”