Life-saving machine is dedicated to parkrun volunteer David Bird

A life-saving machine dedicated to the man who was a key volunteer with Llangollen's parkrun has been set up in his memory at a local nature reserve.

Earlier this year the team at Old Railway Trail parkrun were devastated to lose one of its regular volunteers, the larger-than-life Scouser David Bird who was a former licensee of the Sun Trevor pub. 

He collapsed early one Saturday morning in mid-January doing the course set-up for the run at Wenffrwd Nature Reserve.

Parkrun Co-Event Director Mike Edwards said: "His family have told me the parkrun had become his happy place over recent years since it was established in June 2003.

"Ironically in very early January we had been able to source a Winter Wellbeing Grant from Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board because of concerns that we needed an additional defibrillator at the far end of our course. 

* The defibrillator dedicated to the memory of David Bird.

"We already have a mobile AED located in the Start/Finish area of our run. Therefore after this tragic loss we decided to dedicate the new defibrillator to Dave’s memory.

 * Parkrun's Mike Edwards (second from left, back row) meets David Bird's family at Wenffrwd Nature Reserve.

"This essential emergency equipment has been sourced with the help of the Welsh Ambulance Service and this week I met with David’s family, his wife Ann, his daughter Karen and his son Simon, who fixed an appropriate sign over the cabinet."

Mike added: "I wish to thank Tomos Hughes of the Welsh Ambulance Service, Lisa Williams at DVSC, Stephen Johnson of Llandyn Holiday Park and John Palmer and Laurence O’Donnell of the Friends of Llangollen Health Centre for their help and support in making this facility available.

"The defibrillator is a public facility available to all 24/7 visiting the area around the Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, whether they are walkers, runners or visitors to the Nature Reserve with its nearby trails and paths, the Bearded Mens’ complex or Llandyn Holiday Park."

Use of street lights could help boost mobile network coverage

Innovative plans are in motion to enhance mobile network coverage across Denbighshire.

Denbighshire County Council’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) team are working on a project to utilise local authority assets to help boost mobile network reach around the county.

The Open Access Agreement work will allow the council to make selected assets, mostly street lighting columns, available for the installation of small-cell mobile technology to enhance coverage.

ICT officers recently presented this work to the council’s Democratic Services Committee.

The small cells assist with increasing capacity without major infrastructure needed. Once installed they have the capacity to improve digital connectivity for residents and businesses, offering more reliable access to the internet.

Following signing of an agreement, a mobile network operator will determine if locating their small cells on council assets would support boosting their network.

The council would retain full control over which of its assets may be used for small‑cell deployment to make sure installation meets all technical, safety and operational standards.

Any development of the small cell technology is cost neutral to the council, mobile network operators will pay an agreed annual fee for the location of the small cells on assets.

Each Open Access Agreement will operate for a 15‑year initial term, providing stability for operators considering investment while offering long‑term clarity for the council. Operators would be responsible for all costs associated with surveys, power supply, installation, maintenance and the eventual removal of equipment.

They will be also required to hold appropriate insurance, including public and employer liability cover, and to indemnify the council against any damage or loss arising from their equipment or activities.

Helen Vaughan-Evans, Head of Corporate Support Service: Performance, Digital & Assets, said: “This innovative work really has the potential to support our residents and businesses across Denbighshire. By allowing this technology onto our assets we can help boost digital connectivity for all which is so critical to the way we now live.

“Installing small cell technology into our towns has the benefits of helping existing businesses connect better and also encouraging more business investment in the area. 

"Where operators choose to deploy equipment on rural assets, this infrastructure can also help improve connectivity for residents who have historically experienced more limited access helping to progress a minimum digital living standard across our county.”

Country market open today at Memorial Hall

 

* Food glorious home-made food on offer at the country market.

Llangollen Country Market is open for business again at the Memorial Hall in Market Street today (Friday).

One again there will be colourful, well-stocked stalls including home-made food, including everything from jams to cakes and chutneys, plants, a cards and picture collection plus a wide range of craft items.

The market, which has been staged in various places in the town since the late 1970s, now has two sessions a month at its permanent home in the Memorial Hall, running from 11am-2pm.

Refreshments are available at every session.

* Next Country Market dates in are: May 8 and 29.

Game of Thrones star to guest at second Pavilion Wales Comic Con of 2026

 

A 6ft 9ins Game of Thrones star has been announced for Wales Comic Con's second date of the year in Llangollen this summer.

* For the full story in the Leader, go to: https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/26040813.game-thrones-haf-r-bj-rnsson-set-wales-comic-con/

Bill Kong combines business with pleasure while in Hong Kong

* Bill sings in the open mic night at the Hong Kong restaurant accompanied by wife Selana on the keyboard.

A well-known Llangollen resident is entertaining the public on the other side of the world just as he does back home.

Bill Kong so loved volunteering every year at the town's world-famous Musical Eisteddfod that he moved here from Hong Kong a few years back with his family.

He is currently staying in the former British colony due to family commitments.

While over there he is combining his other great passion - fine wine - with singing, which he did regularly at the popular open mic nights in Gales Wine Bar for a number of years.

Out in Hong Kong Bill has just started a new job as the resident sommelier at a French bistro where he has launched regular wine and food nights which include open mic performances. 

And already proving a star turn at the microphone are Bill himself accompanied on piano by his wife Selana, who became another well-known figure in Llangollen. 

Sending back a message to their many friends in Llangollen via llanblogger, Bill said: "I've sent some pictures of my first successful wine and open mic night last month.

"Can you let my friends in our town know that I miss them all but tell them that we need to be here for the forseeable future."

* Bill in his new role as resident sommelier. 

Plan to set aside area for motorhomes at Mill Street car park

* Mill Street car park in Llangollen.

Llangollen's Mill Street car park features in plans by Denbighshire County Council to provide suitable facilities for motorhome owners in various locations across the county. 

With its Denbighshire Motorhome Aire project the council aims to address the issues of unauthorised overnight stays by motorhome owners at locations where there is no legal right to sleep overnight in a vehicle.

The scheme sets out to prevent the environmental and social problems caused by illegal camping and provide better facilities for overnight motorhome and campervan stays across the county. The proposals will also support local tourism.

Mill Street in Llangollen is one of six locations where areas to support motorhomes and campervans are being developed.

Planning applications will be submitted for each site to facilitate the installation of the relevant infrastructure to support the project. 

The proposed work will be funded from Welsh Government Brilliant Basics Funding which is aimed at improving essential visitor infrastructure and the UK Government Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF)

The proposed sites include:

• Quay Street, Rhyl (Corner section of currently closed car park, with remaining area allocated to coach parking)
• Marine Drive (East Parade), Rhyl (Small area to be allocated close to Pavilion)
• Barkby Beach, Prestatyn (Lower car park adjacent to Public Convenience)
• Park Street, Ruthin (Small section of current car park)
• Green Lane, Corwen (A small number of bays along current car park exit road)
• Mill Street, Llangollen (Small section of lower car park along retaining wall to upper car park)

The project has focused on areas that are known hot-spots for unauthorised overnight stays, that are popular with tourists, and have nearby local businesses that would benefit from visitors to the Aires sites. 

This project aims to provide short stay (2 nights maximum) overnight parking for motorhomes on public car parks / areas which are located adjacent to towns and existing facilities. 

The focus of the project at all sites will be to provide a safe and secure, overnight parking facility along with the ability to empty wastewater/foulwater and to refill a motorhome with fresh water. No BBQ’s will be allowed, no fires will be allowed, no awnings will be allowed and no tents will be allowed. The motorhome bays will be basic, hardstanding areas purely for short stay use only.  

It is proposed that motorhome users coming to the Denbighshire County Council land owned sites will be able to pay for their stay via a new tariff on the current carparking mobile phone app or onsite meters.

Any work at the sites should planning be granted will include measures to prevent unauthorised parking at these sites.

Paul Jackson, Head of Highways & Environmental Services, said: "We know that the use of motorhomes has increased, especially since the Covid pandemic where everybody took on staycations in the UK. The project’s innovative proposals will help provide great facilities for those wishing to travel across Denbighshire and provide a fantastic boost for tourism and businesses where these sites are located once they come online."

Nissan Qashqai features unique power solution

Nissan Qashqai e-Power drive by Steve Rogers

Here’s a good quiz question. Which electric car gets its power from petrol?

I can hear you saying ‘there’s got to be a catch’ which is the reply I got when I threw it in at a party. No one came up with the answer and there is no catch.

The Nissan Qashqai e-Power.

Qashqai is unique in that the petrol engine generates power for the battery that feeds an electric motor that drives the car. A clever stop-gap solution until we have to go all electric. Here you have the ease of a quick refuel rather than hooking up to a charging post.

That is not going to happen too often either with the e-Power capable of more than 600 miles from its 55 litre tank. I know because I covered all but 500 miles and still had 134 miles left averaging 56mpg and on longer runs topping 70mpg. On one slowish 15 mile drive my return was an astonishing 80mpg. This is a massive increase on the previous e-Power when my week’s average was 43mpg.

The Sunderland built Qashqai e-Power debuted in 2024 and has just had an upgrade to keep pace with the stream of new plug-in hybrids. Body styling stays the same, there was no need to tinker it looks fine as it is. The upgrades have increased power, lowered emissions and improved fuel efficiency by 15 per cent and my figures can vouch for that.

The extra power comes from a new 1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol engine fitted with a bigger turbocharger to deliver more torque. A sprint to sixty takes just over seven seconds which is quicker than before. In sport setting it feels feisty although not quite as free flowing as the plug-in hybrid Geely Starray reviewed last week.

An area that needs improvement is the ride. It is not awful and is happy enough on well tarred surfaces but the story changes on pitted B roads. Here you really feel the thuds coming through the chassis, something also noted by my passengers.

Qashqai has always been a roomy family SUV crossover, wide enough for three adults across the back with enough legroom for six footers. The wide hump in the middle of the floor cuts into leg space and there is no sliding or reclining seat found on some rivals.

Boot space is not the best but plenty big enough although you do lose 49 litres in this top Tekna+ model because of the big sub-woofer under the boot floor. A useful feature is a raised split board that can be slotted into the floor creating a small compartment. Good for keeping shopping bags in place.

The cabin generally gets a big plus for two reasons. First it feels quality with warm alcantara fabric breaking up the plastic surfaces along the dashboard and door cappings.

The layout is excellent with a touchscreen supported by a bank of switches for heating and other key features. Even the steering wheel controls are logically linked to the info strip in the driver’s display and although I would have liked a simple switch for lane assist I memorised turning it on or off from the steering wheel.

As for technology it has been revamped with Google mapping taking over the air upgrades and security that allows the car to be monitored, sending a warning if the car has been tampered with or towed. Voice control is efficient, just ask Google and it will change the radio station, set a destination or adjust the heating.

Tekna+ has a long spec sheet but the driver safety aids stand out with adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, including for pedestrians, and rear cross traffic alert making this a safe space.

Nissan was the first company to introduce a surround camera and that has developed to cover just about every eventuality. It is up there with the best.

The e-Power is another milestone in Qashqai’s remarkable story which now spans 20 years. Honda will argue it invented the SUV crossover a decade earlier with the CR-V but no one took any notice, yet everyone latched on to the Qashqai formula so much so that they are the most popular cars on our roads.

The biggest threat to e-Power is the flood of Chinese plug-in hybrids and given the choice I would go for the cheaper, roomier and well equipped Geely Starray, but it is a very close call.

What the wife says: My pick is the Qashqai. It is good to drive, has all the features I want, and you don’t have to do everything through a touchscreen which I find a dangerous distraction.

Favourite feature: The massive panoramic roof.

Fast facts

Qashqai e-Power Tekna+

£43,210 ( range starts £34,860)

1.5 litre petrol; 201bhp

0-62mph 7.6secs; 105mph

61.4mpg combined

105g/km. 1st VED £405

Boot: 504 - 1447 litres

Insurance groups: 16-30