Leading law firm pioneers online system as virus threat sparks a surge in wills
WELSH zoos and aquariums could collaborate to press for a specific emergency fund in Wales to match that offered in England.
UK Government last week unveiled a £14m coronavirus fund for zoos and aquariums in England - with calls for Welsh Government to do the same in Wales.
This was raised last week in an online sitting of the Senedd by Clwyd West MS Darren Millar - but Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said there were no current plans for a specific emergency fund - although added this was always “under review”.
She said zoos and aquariums had been directed towards phase one of the £500m Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) in Wales.
Welsh Mountain Zoo and Anglesey Sea Zoo have both secured funding from the ERF - which is not available in England - but with no prospect of reopening soon this will only keep the “wolf from the door” for a temporary period.
They are collaborating together and with other sites to apply more pressure on Welsh Government for longer term support.
Clwyd West MP David Jones said as well as asking for Wales to copy England’s zoo fund he will raise with UK chancellor Rishi Sunak the possibility of furlough being used to pay staff to work in sectors where revenue has disappeared but essential work must continue.
MS Mr Millar said he was disappointed with the Welsh Government response.
He added: “With nobody currently allowed to visit zoos and other animal attractions in Wales, they are really struggling and desperately need support if they are to survive.
“The UK Government recognised this and provided a special fund to support them, it’s a great shame that the Welsh Government are not prepared to provide the same level of support to our fantastic zoos here in Wales.”
Welsh Mountain Zoo, which secured around £85,000 from ERF, said: “It is extremely disappointing to hear that the Welsh Government are not supporting the emergency fund scheme that has been offered to zoos and aquariums in England.
“With running costs of £30,000 per week, and lost income of over £500,000 between April and May, this fund certainly would have provided some much needed assistance.
“Whilst we have just heard that our application for the Economic Resilience Fund has been successful and we are grateful to have received this support, these funds will not cover a month’s running costs. We are continuing to pursue all possible funding avenues at the moment to secure the future of the zoo, but the sad reality is that the longer we are closed, the more we lose.”
MP Mr Jones added: “You can’t mothball a zoo, and zoo workers and animals cannot be placed on furlough. With no prospect in the Welsh Government’s own roadmap that these sites will be able to open anytime soon they need structural support to ensure they survive.
“The Welsh Mountain Zoo is the national zoo for Wales and all the funding so far is doing is moving the cliff edge three weeks. A longer term plan is needed.”
He is also due to have an online meeting with UK chancellor Rishi Sunak next week in which he will raise if adjustments can be made to the furlough scheme to support these sites.
Frankie Hobro, from Anglesey Sea Zoo, said they had received funding from the ERF but it was not a “long term” solution.
She said: “While I don’t want to sound ungrateful for what I am receiving - this is is not a long term solution for me, it its just light at the end of the tunnel. I got half of what I asked for against my outgoing costs through the funding offer. So while it keeps the wolf from the door for now it is not a long-term solution.
“In a few weeks, whether or not we reopen with restricted numbers, I will be in the same emergency situation again if further funding is not available.”
She says they have received support from Ynys Mon MS Rhun ap Iorwerth
and MP Virginia Crosbie and they were now looking to get broader backing from across Wales.
She added: “Welsh Mountain Zoo, SeaQuarium(Rhyl) and myself are planning a collaboration to form a more united front as the main three North Wales zoos and aquariums affected in North Wales to get all the MPs, AMs and councillors that we can on board to fight our corner for the same funds as DEFRA have offered to zoos and aquariums in England.
“If we were relying on a decision driven by public support there is no doubt that it would be unanimous. If we combine forces we are hoping we will really get our voices heard.”
Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said Welsh Government had written to all zoos and aquariums to direct them towards the ERF and also to ascertain how they were coping in this crisis and what further support could be needed.
She said a second letter had gone out to them this week and while they were not committing to a fund at this time the situation would be kept under review.
■ Support the sea zoo at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/seazoo
■ Go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com to support the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
A leading law firm which has seen a surge in demand for wills and familyrelated enquiries during the Covid-19 lockdown is the first in Wales to pioneer a new remote service developed by a former computer games inventor.
Swayne Johnson, which has a base in Menai Bridge and offices across North Wales and Cheshire, saw a 60 per cent spike in enquiries about wills immediately after lockdown.
At the same time there has been a rise in enquiries relating to Powers of Attorney and family law issues around arrangements concerning children and finances.
Social distancing has seen the firm’s lawyers in gloves and armed with hand-sanitiser obtaining signatures in gardens and through open windows while family courts are operating remotely by video and telephone conferencing.
Director and Head of the Private Client department Lynette Viney-Passig puts much of that down to the pandemic and she said: “It has certainly concentrated minds where wills are concerned.
“Understandably, people are anxious and have sought reassurance that the firm remains open for business and they can still get a professionally prepared will and advice on getting their affairs in order.
“We had been looking for some time at online systems that would help us to improve the accessibility of our services and engage with clients at their convenience and we came across Settify.
“We’re delighted to be the first firm in Wales to introduce it.
“Clients can now visit our website and start the will making process in the comfort of their own home and at a time that suits them.
“They can use the online system to enter as much or as little information as they feel comfortable with. Settify then intelligently uses that information to guide the client through the will making process, explaining terminology and highlighting points for consideration along the way.
“Once a client has engaged with us using Settify, we allocate the new matter to a member of our excellent team of lawyers who then makes contact to discuss the best way to move forward.
“At the moment, we are meeting with clients over the telephone or via video conferencing.
“Once the will has been prepared and is ready to be signed we are happy to visit clients at home to complete the signing, taking gloves and hand sanitiser with us.
“But if necessary we can even do that remotely, watching and telling clients when and where they and their witnesses need to sign.
“With the cooperation of helpful neighbours acting as witnesses when necessary we have been able to do all that while observing social distancing.”
Head of Family Law and director in charge of IT Jon Moriarty recommended the Settify system after seeing it in action and he said: “I’m delighted that we are the first in Wales to embrace this technology as it fits with our investment in IT and our ethos of providing a 21st century service.
“With the current pandemic it’s really come into its own.”