Ken Skates MS appointed permanent Welsh Labour leader

* Ken Skates is confirmed as Labour's new leader in Wales.

Ken Skates MS, who used to represent Llangollen, has been confirmed as Leader of Welsh Labour, after receiving unanimous backing from the the party's Senedd group.

Skates became interim leader in May after the resignation of Eluned Morgan. 

Welsh Labour opened nominations for a permanent replacement last Thursday, starting with nominations from the Senedd Labour Group. All nine members of the group nominated Skates, confirming his appointment as Leader.

Ken Skates MS said: “I am deeply honoured to have the unanimous backing of my colleagues in the Senedd in seeking the leadership of Welsh Labour.

“I joined the party as a 14-year-old, and my belief still stands that no child’s future should be determined by their background. That no young person should be judged on anything other than the efforts they make and the decency they show to others.

“The Labour movement for me is a movement for fairness, justice, security and liberty. It is a movement that seeks to empower people and communities, to fight against injustice, intolerance, nepotism and cruelty.”

Skates, who was first elected for Clwyd South in 2011, held several Welsh Government roles including Transport Secretary and Economy and Infrastructure Secretary. He was re-elected to the Senedd for the new constituency of Fflint Wrecsam in May.

Deputy leader of Welsh Labour, Carolyn Harris MP, said: “I offer my warm congratulations to Ken. He has my full backing as he undertakes the big task ahead of him - listening, learning, rebuilding and doing that crucial job of holding Plaid Cymru, and Reform UK, to account in the Senedd. I have no doubt he has the energy, thoughtfulness and optimism to take us forward and I look forward to working alongside him.”

Denbighshire Citizens Advice column for July

Denbighshire Citizens Advice column for July is how to stop your home overheating in hot weather:

Q: I love the summer, but when the weather heats up there are times when the temperature in our home can become unbearable. What can I do to try and keep it cool?

A: An overheating home can make life very uncomfortable and could even have a negative impact on your health. Here are some simple steps you can take to help make your surroundings more bearable when the temperature rises:

Let cool air in

Open windows on opposite sides of your home to encourage air flow by letting warm air out and cooler air in. It’s best to do this overnight or early in the morning when the temperature outside tends to be cooler than it is inside. If you have a loft - opening the hatch can be a good way of letting heat escape.

If you live in a property where you can only open one window (such as a converted building or a single room) - open internal doors to help the air circulate.

Keep the sunshine out

One of the most effective (and low cost) ways of keeping your home cool is to close your curtains or blinds on the side of the house where the sun is shining. Keep windows on all sides closed when it's warmer outside than it is inside - typically late morning to early evening. Use fans instead.

Use a fan

Fans help circulate the air and create a breeze making your surroundings feel more pleasant. They are cheap to use - generally costing less than 2p an hour to run. Putting a fan by an open window can help draw fresh air into your home - as long as the temperature outside is cooler.

Placing a bowl of ice cubes or ice packs in front of - but a safe distance from - a fan can help lower the temperature of the air circulating around the room.

Escape the heat altogether

If things get really unbearable, you might want to consider heading to the nearest air conditioned building if possible - such as a leisure centre or local library to escape the heat.

Insulation can help

Energy efficient homes are easier to keep comfortable year-round. A well-insulated property can help prevent unwanted heat from entering during the summer, while retaining warmth during the winter. So, if your home tends to overheat - consider:

• Improving your property’s wall and roof insulation

• Replacing windows - especially with 'low-emissivity' glass which has a coating that reflects UV and ultraviolet, helping prevent too much heat from the sun entering the home and helping keep heat inside the home in winter

• Ensuring the property is well ventilated via extractor fans and trickle vents

• Installing window shutters to provide external shading

• Adding solar panels which can be helpful if you tend to use more electricity for cooling fans and/or air conditioning

* You may be entitled to help with paying for improvements to make your property more energy efficient. Check Citizen’s Advice website for information about the schemes and grants that are available.

Chance to become a heritage railway engineers of the future

 

* Tim Hines and Matthew Carty qualified as steam locomotive drivers aged just 27.

Young people with a passion for engineering, construction and traditional craftsmanship are being offered a unique opportunity to help preserve one of Britain's most iconic heritage railways through a new apprenticeship programme at the award-winning Llangollen and Corwen Railway.

Prospective apprentices, along with their families, teachers and careers advisers, are being invited to an Open Day on Tuesday July 29, where they can meet the railway's engineering team, tour the workshops and discover first-hand what it takes to keep history on track.

The apprenticeship programme is being delivered in partnership with Coleg Cambria and is aimed at students studying, or intending to study, Level 2 or Level 3 Engineering, Fabrication & Welding, Construction or related qualifications, which is far more than a traditional apprenticeship. 

Successful applicants will gain hands-on experience working alongside experienced engineers and skilled craftspeople on everything from steam locomotives and historic railway carriages to bridges, tunnels, track and infrastructure across the railway's 11-mile route through the spectacular Dee Valley National Landscape.

Today, more than 400 volunteers and a highly skilled engineering team work together to preserve Britain's railway heritage while welcoming thousands of visitors every year, making a significant contribution to the local economy and community.

Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: "This is a genuinely unique opportunity for young people who want to build practical engineering skills while working on something truly special. The Open Day on 29 July will give prospective apprentices the chance to meet our team, tour the workshops, ask questions and experience the Railway first hand before applying.

"The engineers here at the Llangollen and Corwen Railway are recognised for their expertise around the world. People come here to learn specialist engineering skills and traditional techniques that are becoming increasingly rare, and we are determined to make our Railway a place of learning where those skills are preserved and passed on.

"We are equally determined to create the heritage railway engineers of the future. By investing in apprentices today, we're investing in the long-term future of our Railway and helping ensure these remarkable engineering skills continue for generations to come."

Apprentices will have the opportunity to work across a wide range of engineering disciplines, including:

• Steam locomotive maintenance and overhaul
• Steam boiler repairs and restoration
• General fitting and machining
• Repair and maintenance of plant and machinery
• Mechanical overhaul of historic railway carriages
• Restoration of carriage bodies and interiors
• Railway track renewal and maintenance
• Civil engineering works, including bridges, tunnels, embankments and culverts
• Vegetation management and fencing

The railway is keen to stress that this is not an office-based role and that the work is physically demanding, often dirty and regularly takes place outdoors in all weathers. 

However, they say that for enthusiastic people with an interest in engineering, construction or industrial heritage, it offers an unrivalled opportunity to develop practical skills that are increasingly difficult to find elsewhere while helping to preserve an important part of Britain's engineering history.

* Anyone interested in attending the open day on July 29 or learning more about the apprenticeship programme is encouraged to contact Tim Pulford, Heritage Engineering Manager, by emailing engineering@llangollen-railway.co.uk.

* Steam locomotive driver Dave Owen presents Matthew Carty with his certificate for passing as a driver.

New 'wasteland to wonderland' garden opens at Pengwern Hub

* Garden volunteer Mike Pelling cuts a green ribbon to officially open the community garden watched by local children.

A group of dedicated volunteers who spent months turning an overgrown wilderness area at the side of Pengwern Community Hub into an attractive garden saw their efforts rewarded when it was formally opened yesterday (Tuesday).

It all began 10 months ago when a grant was secured from Keep Wales Tidy to develop the land at the side of the hub into a garden featuring natural plants and shrubs along with vegetable plots.

The transformation from wasteland to green wonderland was undertaken by a hard-working band of five volunteers from Llangollen.

The plan is for the vegetables to be picked by members of the community then, if they wish, actually cooked by them using the facilities at the hub.

* A group of of local people look around the newly-opened garden at the side of the hub.

Gwion Tomos-Jones, senior community development officer for the Dee Valley, South Denbighshire Community Partnership,said: "There is the potential for some of the vegetables to eventually be sold off or donated to the local foods share. 

"And from July 21 and every then Tuesday between 11am and 3pm we are running a Garden to Table group where people can do just that.

"We are delighted to be reopening the community garden and welcoming people back into the space. 

"The improvements made through funding from Keep Wales Tidy and extensive support from Denbighshire County Council have significantly enhanced the garden, creating new opportunities for the community to come together, learn new skills and enjoy the benefits of spending time outdoors. We are now looking forward to seeing the space being utilised and enjoyed by Llangollen residents."

Performing the official opening of the garden was Mike Pelling who was one of the volunteers who worked on its creation from the very start. 

Also in session yesterday at the hub was the Men:Minded group, which provides support to local men through a wide range of skill sharing.

They are at Pengwern each Tuesday from 1.30 to 3.30pm and at Pentredŵr Community Centre (Hwb Pentredŵr) on Wednesdays between 6.30 and 8.30pm.

Yesterday members were learning knife skills on wooden try-sticks but, according to Joe Hackney who runs the Men:Minded CIC not-for-profit company behind it, themes for the sessions can be almost anything from brick laying to landscape drawing, all depending on what the men coming along want to try out.

He said: "I set up the group 18 months ago. It's a place where men can come to learn new skills and not necessarily about their mental health, although it can be.

"We do our own fundraising and also rely on donations to keep going."

* Joe Hackney of Men:Minded CIC (standing) leads the Tuesday group in learning knife skills.

* For more information or to get involved in Men:Minded scan the code below:

Police investigate damage near Ponderosa Café

Police have launched a probe into damage caused next to the Ponderosa Café, near Llangollen.

* For the full story in the Denbighshire Free Press, go to: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/26275029.police-probe-damage-near-ponderosa-caf-llangollen/

Hard-to-ignore MGS9 could be bargain of year

MGS9 drive by Steve Rogers

Meet the seven seat MGS9, my hot contender for bargain of the year.

This is MGs most significant model since the electric MG4 and offers big family space, a shed load of equipment, decent quality, plug-in hybrid technology with a useful electric range, and a £34k price tag that undercuts just about every competitor.

I could stop here and just say go out and buy one but you deserve a little more meat on the bone.

MG was one of the first Chinese brands to reach our shores having bought the name of a famous British marque. It started slowly attracting buyers with bargain prices but the MG4 with its eye popping styling got people talking and buying.

The earliest MGs suffered reliability problems, mainly software glitches, but the company has got its act together and although it has a bit of a way to go before enjoying the reputation of the likes of Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen or Kia the order books show it is a serious player in the UK market. The HS model was the sixth best selling car in June.

Where to start? It has to be space. At almost five metres long, S9 is one of the few large SUVs capable of carrying a couple of adults in the third row. I am average height and found it roomy enough with the seat in front pushed forward a few centimetres. That still leaves enough legroom for middle row passengers.

MG has made it relatively easy to get into the back with a motor to push the middle seat forward. Sliding the seat back is easy as well. The seats fold flat for an enormous luggage or even a sleeping area, and you can configure the seats to meet your needs.

Even with five seats in place there is a whopping 1026 litres which can turn into a maximum 2093 litres. As a seven seater boot space matches most superminis.

The big selling point for Chinese brands is to load their cars with equipment, a trend pretty much started by MG. The entry Comfort highlights are heated, powered front seats, panoramic roof, 360 degree surround camera, auto dipping LED headlights, powered tailgate, wireless AppleCarplay and Android Auto, along with a substantial list of driver safety aids.

I should say the camera picture quality is not the best and if there is some way of improving the definition I could not find it. Premium grade adds leather, ventilated and massaging front seats, wireless charging and a Bose sound system.

MG has gone for a widescreen layout along the dashboard with two 12.3in screens and makes for a striking display. The driver’s binnacle offers plenty of relevant information and is easy to navigate via steering wheel buttons.

The central infotainment screen is a bit of a mixed bag. It is not difficult to find your way around but the response is not all that it should be. Too much finger dabbing just to get a result. It is the same with voice control, functions you expect to work don’t, the ‘lady’ has clearly never heard of the BBC radio stations.

Another strange glitch concerned the passenger side door mirror which tilts up rather than down when reverse is selected.

I did like the line of keys under the touchscreen for quick heating commands.

Plug-in hybrids have grown in popularity in the last year or so because of the potential to drive on purely electric. Ranges have improved across the board, shooting up from mid forties to mid eighties. The smaller MG HS can manage 75 miles and even this seven seater can return 62 miles in the right conditions, more than enough for the average daily commute.

The S9 mates a 1.6 litre petrol with a 24.7kWh battery powering an electric motor so combine the two and it has a range closing in on 700 miles. Once the battery is spent expect around 43mpg. Power delivery is good and the transition to petrol seamless.

There shouldn’t be any complaints about the ride as the suspension copes well with speed humps and potholes. This is a big car so expect some body roll but it is not excessive and anyway no one is going to be playing rally driver down back roads.

Most of the competition comes from its home country, Jaecoo and Chery pushing hard, along with the accomplished Kia Sorento. It delivers exactly what large families want and for value, low running costs and practicality S9 is difficult to ignore.

Fast facts

S9 Premium plug-in hybrid

£36,950 (starts £34,210)

1.5 litre turbo petrol + electric motor 224bhp

0-62mph 9.6secs; 124mph

42.2mpg combined

Electric range: 62 miles

18g/km. First VED £115

Boot: 332-2093 litres

Insurance group 44

Towing: 2000kg

Former Eisteddfod competitor returns as Minister for Culture

* Culture and Sport Minister Heledd Fychan chats with Eisteddfod Friends chair Paul Spencer about his group's valuable fundraising for the festival over many years.

* The Minister meets volunteers in the floral tent.

A former competitor at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod returned to the this year’s festival but this time as the Welsh Minister for Culture and Sport.

 

On her visit, during which she was given a guided tour of the busy Eisteddfod field by its chairman John Gambles, Heledd Fychan MS stressed how important the annual festival is in providing cultural activities which help overcome division in society.

 

She also praised the Eisteddfod for the strong emphasis it places on multilingualism and the promotion of the Welsh language through its signage, publications and advertising. 

 

The Minister, originally from Ynys Môn, revealed that over 20 years ago she competed with her choir, Côr Glanaethwy, quite a few times, winning on a number of occasions. Her young son has been following in her footsteps competing with his own cluster choir from the Bangor area.

 

She said: “I remember my choir had some successes here over the years and actually, a few years ago, when my son was here with the school choir he loved it, so it’s great to be back.

 

“This is my first time visiting the Eisteddfod as a government minister and I have really enjoyed meeting the volunteers working around the field.”

 

She added: “Obviously, the history of the Eisteddfod is a really interesting one as it’s about peace and bringing cultures together and celebrating them.

 

“I think it's really pertinent today when we so much division in our society that the Eisteddfod actually serves to remind us all of what unites and the part culture can play in this.

“It’s also important to be reminded that we have two national languages and that people coming to the Eisteddfod can experience the Welsh language as well and see the similarities between some languages.”

 

During her tour the Minister met people in their various work areas, including artistic director Dave Danford, backstage volunteers Mark Jones (stage manager) and John Gibbens then Michelle Davies of the floral team on their stall where she received a welcome spray of cold water on her neck to help keep her cool in the day's blazing sun.

 

Ms Fychan looked in on the heritage tent to receive a full briefing from Chris Adams on how the Eisteddfod’s records right back to its 1947 origins are being carefully preserved.

 

It was then over the official gift shop and the adjacent visitor centre where she chatted to Ian Lebbon, chair of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee and also chair of Denbighshire Destination Forum Partnership.

 

Later, she visited the competitors’ reception centre to be greeted by Alison Da Silva and then the Friends of the Eisteddfod tent where she spoke to the group’s chair Paul Spencer about the valuable financial contribution it has made to the festival over many years.