Peugeot travels to luxury end of people carrier market

* The Peugeot Traveller.

* The Traveller's interior.

Peugeot Traveller road test by Steve Rogers

Not so long ago no family was complete without a people carrier.

They were born in the eighties, the brainchild of Renault whose innovative Espace brought a whole new meaning to big family motoring. With seven comfy individual seats it was a bit like taking a trip in a miniature luxury coach.

The French company caught its rivals napping but habits change, the people carriers were a bit too big, not to mention expensive, and were pushed out by the smaller MPVs – Peugeot 5008, Ford S-Max, Vauxhall Zafira, Citroen Picasso etc.

All we are left with are the diehard Volkswagen Sharan, Seat Alhambra and Ford Galaxy.

Yet Peugeot has come up with a new people carrier. Well, sort of. The Traveller is not bespoke, it's based on the Expert van, a very good one as it happens, brim full of cutting edge technology, and just the job for throwing in such luxuries as heated and massaging leather front seats, tinted windows, thick pile carpets and few more homely touches.

The PSA group - that's Peugeot and Citroen - has joined forces with Toyota so if you think the Japanese company's Proace, Citroen Space Tourer and Pug Traveller look like triplets you would be right because only the front grille and badge setting them apart, oh and Peugeot would say its Traveller is far more luxurious, and it would be right. More expensive as well.

Does it work as a people carrier? Surely the firm suspension needed for commercial work compromises ride comfort for passengers.

It might, except this is not a heavy duty van, so the starting point offers the best of both worlds. My first journey was solo along B roads and the van DNA was obvious. Road rumbles came up through the suspension and it became obvious that Traveller does not have the composure of a big car.

On decent A roads and motorways the ride is fine and it got better with six people and luggage to settle it down, in fact Traveller got universal praise for comfort from the four back seat passengers.

The seat configuration is two-three-three with the second and third rows each having a 70/30 split, all on runners so there are a multitude of combinations. Legroom is ample for all adults but be aware boot space is limited on the shortest of the three versions when all the seats are in play.

To maximise capacity for our trip one two-seater was taken out so there was extra luggage space which was just as well given the boxes of wine that materialised. Versatility is the key here and movement between the rows is fairly easy. For carrying big items, and I mean big, all the seats can be lifted out but the doubles are heavy beggars so get a mate to give a hand.

Whether it is being used as a van or people carrier Traveller has car like driving habits. Driving position is good with adjustable steering column, nicely weighted steering, and dashboard mounted stick for the six speed gearbox.

My test car was the six speed automatic with a manual option operated from steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The change is smooth enough but throttle response from start is a tad slow and can catch you out at busy roundabouts.

The features found on high spec cars are all here, electric windows, air conditioning, navigation, automatic wipers and headlights with auto dipping function along with a 360 degree rear camera which, incidentally, has brilliant definition.

Rear passengers get roof mounted heating controls, although it wasn't that effective, but the wide opening powered sliding doors went down particularly well along with the glass roof panels which pour light into a dark area.

Another useful feature not found on many cars is cabin storage space. There are loads of cubbies on the Traveller.

Safety isn't forgotten either with the excellent blind spot alert, a huge help on motorways picking up an overtaking car that can be out of site for a split second. Adaptive cruise control is another good safety feature on busy motorways as well as keeping the driver on the right side of average speed cameras. And should it snow the Traveller has Peugeot's highly praised grip control system which does exactly what it says on the tin, providing extra grip in slippery conditions.

Top prize goes to the windscreen head up display, perfectly positioned in the driver's eyeline for speed and navigation instructions. It's a brilliant aid and the sooner it is standard on all cars the better.

There is performance aplenty from the most powerful engine option, a 2-litre turbo diesel, which averaged between 39 and 41mpg over 1400 miles.

Just a couple of irritations: Lighting is needed for the temperature switches on the dashboard and the cruise/speed limiter stalk is hidden behind the steering wheel and difficult to use.

I don't see a lot of family's heading for the Traveller. It might be well equipped but £39k will buy a very decent big SUV. But it is perfect for VIP travel and taxi work.

Fast facts

Peugeot Traveller Allure

£39,239 (starts £31,850)

2-litre turbo diesel 180bhp auto

48.7mpg combined

151g/km. First year road tax £830

Insurance group 24

Scheme aims to deter offenders from life of crime

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A pioneering scheme to divert low level offenders away from a life of crime is being launched in North Wales.

The idea has been championed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones who says it will cut reoffending rates as well as reducing police and court time.

It’s anticipated part of the Checkpoint programme will be piloted in a selected area of North Wales in the New Year with the aim of rolling it out across the region over the next 12 months.

The scheme, which has been developed by Cambridge University, has been successfully trialled in Durham.

Offenders are offered  the chance to avoid prosecution by seeking help from rehabilitation services in the community after signing a contract to say they will comply.

Each offender will be supervised by a skilled 'navigator' – many of whom have successfully completed rehabilitation programmes - the four-month period and they face prosecution if the contract is broken.

Durham’s Checkpoint programme has already won a national award from the Howard League for Penal Reform and has achieved impressive results in reducing reoffending.

Statistics from Durham showed only four per cent of those referred for support were re-convicted compared with 19 per cent who went down criminal justice routes.

It is argued that the Checkpoint approach improves life chances because people avoid getting a criminal record, which can affect employment and education opportunities.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, says it may even save lives because criminalisation deters people from seeking help and encourages high risk behaviours.

With the estimated cost of imprisoning someone now at £65,000 and £40,000 for every year after that, Mr Jones also argues that public savings could be substantial.

Following a recent fact-finding visit to Durham, Mr Jones Jones said: “Checkpoint is aimed at people who have committed a lower level of offences and rather than taking them to court we can intervene and use skilled navigators to direct them to the appropriate services.

“This will address the underlying causes of their offending and aim to reduce the risk of them re-offending.

“People are often motivated to commit crime due to underlying issues in their lives – these could include drug or alcohol misuse, mental and physical health issues, housing or homelessness, or problems to do with money or relationships.

“Checkpoint offers eligible offenders a four-month long contract to engage as an alternative to prosecution.

“The contract offers interventions to address the underlying reasons why they committed the crime to prevent them from doing it again to somebody else.

“Serious offences such as rape, robbery or murder will not be eligible for Checkpoint. Neither will driving offences, cases of serious domestic abuse or serious hate crime.

“Checkpoint is not a soft option – and it will be harder to complete than all of the current out of court disposals currently available , for example, a caution, or a fixed penalty notice.

“If the subject successfully completes the contract and does not reoffend, no further action will be taken against them.

“If they reoffend or fail to complete the contract they will be prosecuted and we will inform the courts of the circumstances of their failure to complete the contract.”

In Durham they have 12 navigators who currently deal with 300 offenders who have given an undertaken to seek help from services for four months and in return they will avoid prosecution but if they breach that condition then they will go to court.

Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner Ron Hogg, who invited Arfon Jones to come and see how the programme is working, said “Checkpoint demonstrates that traditional criminal justice sanctions are less effective in reducing reoffending than diversion schemes.

“Traditional criminal justice sanctions such as a caution or a fine do nothing to address the reasons why people offend and reduce reoffending.

“It’s also important to adopt this kind of strategy as we face financial cutbacks and have to look at different ways of operating – this will help us to cope.

“There’s scope for savings with regard to police, court, probation and prison time – any cost will be outweighed by the savings.

"Serious offenders who commit serious crimes will not be offered this and will still go to prison.

“Checkpoint is a massive step forward for policing and for this force in general.”

Oneplanet Adventure gets early Christmas present

Oneplanet Adventure has announced the purchase of the Visitor Centre at Coed Llandegla Forest from the Church Commissioners for England (CCE).

A statement from Oneplanet says: "The purchase and signing of a new lease for recreational use of the forest will ensure the future of the site as the ‘Gateway for adventure in North Wales’ for years to come.

"The team at Oneplanet Adventure would like to thank CCE and Tilhill for their assistance over the years and we very much look forward to continuing the partnership long into the future.

"We would also very much like to thank HSBC and Development Bank of Wales with assistance from Hillyer Mckeown and the Welsh Governments Accelerated Growth Program who have all played an important part in enabling us to make this happen.

"As passionate mountain bikers, everyone at Oneplanet Adventure very much look forward to sharing our exciting plans for the future with you all early in the new year."

County advises on your festive shopping rights

On the last Saturday for present buying before Christmas Denbighshire’s Trading Standards team is reminding shoppers of their rights.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Lead Member for Housing, Regulation & Environment, said: “Knowing your rights can take some of the stress out of shopping.  Shoppers who know their rights shop with confidence, saving time and money, which is good for all concerned.

“Nobody wants to give or receive a defective product but it is important to know how to resolve any issues, should they arise.”

If you have bought goods after 1 October 2015, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies and it is now easier to understand and enforce your consumer rights.

Here is a summary of the main changes to the law and tips for a happy Christmas shopping experience:

Refunds for poor quality goods – If you bought goods after 1 October you have the right to a full refund within 30 days of purchase if the goods you have bought are faulty, not fit for purpose or don’t match their description.  If goods have a fault within six months and they can’t be repaired or replaced, in most cases you are entitled to a refund.

Returning unwanted goods – your rights are different depending upon whether you bought from a shop or through distance selling (online, over the phone or mail order) - If you have bought goods from a shop and there is nothing wrong with them and you’ve simply changed your mind, you do not have any rights to a refund although some shops do have a refund policy, so always check the terms of the refund policy before buying.

If you’ve bought online, over the phone or by mail order - The new law states that if you change your mind you now have 14 days from the date you received the goods to tell the seller you have changed your mind and obtain a refund.  Once you have told the seller you have another 14 days to return the goods.

There are a few exceptions, such as personalised items or goods that will deteriorate quickly.  Make sure you know what your cancellation rights are and how much it’s going to cost you to send goods back before you buy.  If the goods are faulty the seller must refund the return postal costs.

Extra costs - If you are buying online, over the phone or by mail order check any additional costs, such as delivery and any other charges. This information must be made clear and you will not be responsible for costs you were not made aware of before you entered into the contract.

Finally, don’t get scammed and watch out for fake goods; always buy from a genuine and reputable retailer. If the price sounds too good to be true – it probably is!  If you are buying online, ensure you check the seller and the website out. Check that the contact details and address is real, do a price check and read online reviews and see whether the trader is part of a recognised association, such as Buy With Confidence (www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk). Check to see if the website is a legitimate stockist by visiting www.brand-i.org.

* For advice on your consumer rights call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh Language or online via www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales .  Reporting a fraud can also be done through Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the website at www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud

Meet Llangollen's Youth Parliament member

* Youth Parliament member Talulah Thomas.

A student from Llangollen has been elected as a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament.

The parliament, which will meet frequently over the next two years, includes 60 young people aged 11-18 from diverse backgrounds across Wales.  

Representing Clwyd South will be Talulah Thomas, a year 13 student at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd who is hoping to go on to study history and politics at university.

Parliament members will choose the issues they wish to debate and raise awareness of them at national level.

They will also gather views from other young people across the country and work with those with the power to make change.

Talulah said: “During my time as YPM, I hope to work closely with our local AM Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones over these next two years.  

“My key issues are mental health education in schools, promoting culture and the Welsh language and Welsh youth participation in politics.

“I wish to be a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament because the political future of Wales rests with our youth, and our nation's young people must be engaged to ensure progression.”

She added: “I would encourage discussions within schools by starting an all-inclusive committee that will highlight the issues that are important to young voters, as their views are most important to me.

“I hope that this will reflect politics as an essential element of everyday life and create a bridge between the voices of young people and the Senedd in order to negate the rhetoric that it is inaccessible and elitist.

“I would like to create a Welsh language podcast with young people that will discuss and debate issues such as mental health, Welsh independence and the voting age. By using a modern form, I hope to raise political issues in a relaxed and accessible way.

“By being a member of the Syr IfanC Board and acting as the ambassador of my area, I have confidently developed group discussion and debate skills about issues, as well as contributing to the community.

“I have no fear of voicing my opinion and I would be very excited to have the opportunity to act on behalf of young people to ensure that we have the representation that we deserve as the youth of Wales.” 

New waste and recycling scheme gets green light

Plans to change waste and recycling collections in Denbighshire have been given the go-ahead. 

The changes will include:

·         a new weekly collection for recyclables such as paper, glass, cans, and plastic

·         a new weekly collection for nappies and incontinence wear

·         a weekly collection for food waste

·         a new fortnightly collection for clothes and small electrical items

The aim is to encourage more recycling on top of the council’s current rates (64%) to meet the Welsh Government’s 70% target by 2025, with an expectancy that the target will rise to 80% in future.

The council says if residents use the recycling service correctly, it should only result in a minimal amount of residual waste being created. 

As a result, the council will be changing the collection of non-recyclable waste to every four weeks for the majority of households.

Residents will be issued with a  bigger black bin if they need one, but overall, households would have more capacity each week for managing their waste than they have with our current service. 

The new weekly recycling service (using a Trollibloc system) would provide more capacity for recycling when compared to the current fortnightly collection with the blue wheelie bin.  

Residents will be able to free up even more space in their black bin by using new kerbside recycling services for textiles, small electrical goods, batteries and where needed, nappies and incontinence waste.   

The Welsh Government has already committed £7.9 million towards the service. This funding would be used to develop the infrastructure necessary to enable the council to change the service. 

Welsh Government are supporting the changes as the proposed changes mean that the carbon footprint of the new service would be much less. We would be using less fuel, recycling more waste and producing higher quality recycling suitable for use in the UK manufacturing industry, avoiding, where possible, the use of virgin materials sourced from the Earth’s diminishing resources.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, said:  “This has been a big decision for the council and these proposals have been explored and considered at great length.

“Whilst we are delighted that the change has been approved, the hard work of preparing for the changes and working with communities begins today. We have taken on board the comments received as part of a consultation we arranged and we want to make the transition to the new service as seamless as possible.

“This proposed new way of working will certainly make the county more environmentally friendly, it will make residents consider what and how they recycle and will also save money through implementing a more efficient and effective service."

Over the coming months, the council will be launching an information campaign to keep residents informed of the changes and any impacts on them and their community. The new facilities that are needed to support the service should be in place early 2021, with the aim of the whole county being moved across to the new service by July 2021.

Further information will be included on www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling

* A llanblogger reader submitted a Freedom of Information request to the county council regarding its garden waste scheme, and says this showed it has derived the following income from the scheme:

2015/16 £408k

2016/17 £390k

2017/18. £434k

2018/19 £390k (year to date)

llanblogger takes a short break

llanblogger is taking a short pre-Christmas break but will be back before the big day.

Large audience enjoys town carol service

* The audience sings a carol during the service.

* Llangollen Silver Band provide accompaniment to the carols.

The Rev Phil Poole, to the right of the stage, led worship.

* Cor Canu Hardd take the Town Hall stage.

* Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, delivers a reading.

A large audience took part in the annual Llangollen Town Carol Service at the Town Hall yesterday (Sunday) evening.

Musical accompaniment, sung in English and Welsh, was provided by Llangollen Silver Band, which also performed a selection of numbers on their own including Winter from Vivaldi's the Four Seasons and Oh Holy Night.

The audience also appreciated the seasonal numbers provided by boys and girls of the local young people's choir, Cor Canu Hardd, conducted by Elen Mair Roberts. Immediately after leaving the stage to warm applause the choir had to dash off to its second appointment of the night, signing at the Eisteddfod Christmas Concert at the Pavilion.

Various readings from the Bible were delivered between the music by people including Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy.

The service, which was organised by the Llangollen Churches Together organisation Cytun, was led by the Rev Phil Poole of Llangollen Methodist Church.

During a break in the service the winning exhibitors in the annual Christmas Tree Festival staged at the Methodist Church were announced. They were Best White Christmas: the Holy Cross Church; Best Traditional: Ysgol Bryn Collen.

Afternoon tea, prepared by volunteers, was served during the first hour of the event.

Inclusive dance competition to open near Llangollen

* Helen from Dolywern takes part in last year's Strictly Cymru final.

Wales’ first fully inclusive dance event, Strictly Cymru, is back for the second year running, with the first regional heats taking place near Llangollen this week.

Organised by the disability charity Leonard Cheshire, Strictly Cymru invites disabled dancers from across the country to take part and show off their talent.

The event is pan disability and aims to improve health, wellbeing and access to sport for disabled people across Wales.

First of the regional heats will be at Leonard Cheshire in Dolywern on Thursday and Friday, December 20 and 21.

This follows the success of last year’s competition, where participants reported significant improvements in their well-being as a result of taking part.

Helen from Dolywern, who had experienced extreme short-term memory loss and limited speech, now engages in conversation, has improved memory and an extended range of vocabulary. She came joint third in Strictly Cymru Grand Final last year.

Helen said ahead of the final last year: "It was a fun event to take part in. I’m amazed was in the final!"

Leonard Cheshire is inviting disabled people across the country to take part in the competition — from keen dancers to complete beginners.

Glyn Meredith, Leonard Cheshire’s Director of Operations in Wales, said: "Dancing improves people’s health, happiness and well-being, opening up opportunities that too often are not accessible for disabled people.

"Following enormous success last year, we can’t wait to see what this year’s Strictly Cymru has to offer.

"We know there is a huge wealth of talent among the community in Wales and this event is the perfect opportunity to bring people everyone together to show what they can do."

The event has been organised in partnership with Para Dance UK.

Patrick McGeough, Para Dance UK CEO, said: "We welcome the opportunity to partner with Leonard Cheshire on this amazing event, enabling the community of Wales to take part in dance, but also developing a legacy that can show and enable the community that everyone can be involved in dance whether that is for fun, creative or competitive reasons.

"We wish all the participants good luck and we look forward to meeting and inspiring everyone to get involved have fun and show that no matter what the ability that all of the community of Wales can dance!”

* For further details and to find out how to take part, please visit: www.leonardcheshire.org/strictlycymru

Mazie designs AM and MP's Christmas card

* Susan Elan Jones MP with Mazie Pemberton, holding her

winning card design, and Ken Skates AM.

A six-year-old schoolgirl has been chosen as the winner of a competition to design this year's Christmas card for the area's AM and MP.

Mazie Pemberton’s entry featuring a colourful tree was Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones’s favourite out of hundreds submitted.

Her design has been made into the Labour pair’s official Clwyd South Christmas card and will be sent to hundreds of homes, businesses and organisations across the constituency.

Mazie, who is in Year 2 at Rhosymedre Community Primary School, was presented with her framed original, a winner’s certificate and prizes by the politicians on Friday morning.

Susan said: “We would like to thank all the children who took part, as well as their teachers. There were so many wonderful entries it was incredibly difficult to make a decision, so we have included the runners-up designs inside the card as well. The finished article looks fantastic, we’re delighted with it.”

Ken added: “It was brilliant to meet Mazie and present her with her prizes. We could’ve chosen any number of entries because there were so many excellent ones, but Mazie is a deserved winner. I’d like to wish all the children and staff a merry Christmas and a very happy new year. I hope they all enjoy their well-earned break.”

The runners-up were eight-year-old Evie Davies and six-year-old Isobel Paddock, both from Ysgol Acrefair, who will also receive certificates.

Freezing weather closes Ponderosa for the day

The Ponderosa Cafe on the Horseshoe Pass has closed due to bad weather today.

A post on Facebook this morning says ...

Morning everyone,

Due to freezing conditions on the car parks I have taken the decision to close the Cafe today.

The roads are treacherous with black ice in lots of places please only travel over if necessary.

Apologies for any inconvenience

Kind regards Simon Clemence

Llangollen Museum stages its Christmas Carol Concert

* People gather to sing carols during the concert.

Llangollen Museum hosted a Christmas Carol Concert at Valle Crucis Abbey last night (Friday).

By special permission from CADW a large number of people packed inside the ancient chloisters to brave the cold and sing a variety of seasonal songs accompanied by Llangollen Silver Band and Cor Meibion Bro Glyndwr.

The choir and the band also performed a number of solo carols and there were Christmas-themed readings by museum volunteers. 

Local supermarkets donated mince pies and mulled wine.

* Members of Cor Meibion Bro Glndwr perform.

* Llangollen Silver Band provides musical accompaniment to the carols.

Catrin Finch joins eisteddfod line-up for 2019

To celebrate tickets going on sale to the general public Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has announced royal harpist Catrin Finch as the next addition to its evening concert line-up for 2019.

Harpist and composer to the Prince of Wales and vice president of the eisteddfod, Catrin Finch is one of the most accomplished and versatile harpists of her generation.

She joins a line up that already features jazz and bluesman Jools Holland, French-Mexican star tenor Rolando Villazón, salsa, pop and flamenco outfit Gipsy Kings and award-winning Celtic music band, Jamie Smith’s MABON.

Music Director of the festival, Edward-Rhys Harry, said: “We are very proud to announce Catrin as our next addition to the already star-studded line-up, which spans genres and generations, crossing the boundaries of age, culture and creed.

"There really is something for everyone and we’ll be adding even more early in the New Year, with the announcement of our Llanfest headliners for 2019.”

* Tickets are on sale to the general public and can be purchased online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office.

New Audi A6 comes out from the shadows

* The Audi A6.

* Audi A6 cabin.

Audi A6 road test by Steve Rogers

WHO'D be a car salesman trying to shift a big saloon?

Everyone is buying SUVs, aren't they?

Well yes, but there must be a decent market for premium wheels because Audi has spent a bucket full of money developing the new A6.

Trendy SUVs have been flying out of the showrooms all year but top end saloons are still filling executive spaces in company car parks. That is where A6 comes in although the competition is hellishly tough with BMW 5 Series, Jaguar XF, Mercedes E Class and the new Volvo S90 all wanting a slice of the cake.

A6 has always struggled against the highly rated 5 Series and more recently the much improved E Class which is why Audi has gone for broke with the new model.... and it shows.

There has been a big leap forward in technology, refinement, and comfort while the styling mirrors the new design theme seen in A4 and A8 and for me it is now the best looking of the trio.

The car is longer and wider and looks great in S Line trim sitting that little bit lower on the road. Of course the big winner is cabin space where a six foot back seat passenger can sit behind a six foot driver and not feel short changed on leg room. The extra legroom has not compromised boot space which is substantial and can be extended with the seat backs dropped.

No one in the premium sector can trim a cabin like Audi yet they have managed to make A6 look even plusher. The materials are top notch, the finish superb and it looks all the more special with the new twin screen layout first seen in new A8.

In S Line models you get a 10 inch top screen for navigation, radio, mobile phone connections etc with an 8.6 inch screen below for heating controls and the brilliant 12.3 inch virtual cockpit which fills the driver's binnacle with a Google map and dials which are interchangeable for size. Clever stuff.

Everything is digital and selected by touch and I particularly liked the soft click letting you know the selection has been successful. Another neat touch is the increase in backlighting when a hand hovers over switches to the side of the steering wheel.

The amount of information stored in Audi's MMI interface is incredible, pretty much what you get on a home computer. Trouble is it takes a lot of homework to find it and then remembering how you got there.

Both my wife and I remarked that the rear camera could do with a washer but it was five days before we found it had the very function, and in this case easy to find. It's just there is so much going on and some functions will never be used because they will never be found.

Driving new A6 really is something to look forward to. I used to steer friends away from S Line models because the ride wasn't up to scratch but the new suspension, which transformed A4, has done the same here. Even in sport mode the car is settled over poor surfaces while silky smooth is the order of the day on motorways which is where A6 will ply most of its trade.

Audi has developed a new four cylinder two-litre diesel which is so refined it could pass for a V6. With 400Nm of torque pick up is brisk and can catch you out. I put my foot down on a motorway slip road and was surprised to see I was doing 80mph in a flash. Sorry officer but I wanted to get safely ahead of the traffic.

But performance is not the big story here. It is economy. I had to do a double take when I noticed I got 53mpg on a 170 mile mainly motorway journey. We must have had a tail wind on the way home because it went up to 55mpg! That is astonishing considering I was nearly always hovering around 70mph and probably helped by the mild hybrid system which kills the engine when coasting between 34 and 99mph.

The engine is so quiet the driver is unlikely to notice anything has changed. I certainly didn't.

Perhaps for the first time in a long time A6 can offer itself as the best executive car. It no longer lives in the shadow of the BMW 5 Series, that's for sure. All four rivals mentioned earlier have their own special qualities and the final decision may come down to brand loyalty.

Fast facts

Audi A6 40 TDI S Line

£41,110

2-litre turbo diesel; 200bhp

0-62mph 8.1secs; 152mph

62.8mpg combined

117g/km. 1st year road tax £205

Insurance group 36

New Dot's special Christmas screenings

* A scene from It's a Wonderful Life.

New Dot Cinema are holding two free screenings of the well-loved vintage classic, It's a Wonderful Life tomorrow (Friday) and everyone is invited.

Doors open for a Relaxed Matinee at 2:30pm, and for the evening show at 7:30pm.


Both shows will be preceded by some toe-tapping swing music and extra special festive fare such as mince pies, hot drinks and a licensed bar.

Mulled wine and hot chocolate will also be available at the evening screening. Mainfloor or wheelchair spaces can be reserved by emailing hello@newdotcinema.org


In lieu of a ticket, people are invited to bring a Christmas gift, to be distributed by either Welsh Women's Aid, Wrexham or Mike & Val Connolly's Llangollen Community Christmas Lunch.

Welsh Women's Aid has suggested unwrapped gifts for women aged 18 and over such as toiletry gift sets and nightwear.

Mike and Val have suggested wrapped Christmas gifts such as festive treats, chocolates or other stocking fillers. New Dot will be supplying a gift wrapping table for anyone to make use of.

There will also be a collection bucket for those who would prefer to make a cash donation to Welsh Women's Aid.

New Dot's Spring 2019 programme is also set to be released on the night.

The volunteer-run community cinema is starting the new year with an exciting change, offering twice as many films a month. More details will soon be available at www.newdotcinema.org, on Twitter or Facebook.

Tidy Town Team celebrates another successful year

Members of Llangollen Tidy Town Team celebrated another successful year - the 13th - with their annual Christmas dinner held this time at the Wild Pheasant last night (Wednesday).

County advises on Christmas taxi safety

Denbighshire County Council is urging residents to stay safe this Christmas and book taxis in advance of their evening out.

Unlicensed taxis are a common problem across the country and with the Christmas party season in full swing it's important to know how to tell an unlicensed taxi from a licensed one, says the council.

 

All vehicles will be identified by individually numbered plates front and back with hackney carriage vehicles also having a roof sign, while all drivers will carry ID badges.

Cllr Tony Thomas, the council’s lead member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: "Unlicensed taxis may seem to offer a better deal but it's not worth risking your safety to save a few pounds. These vehicles are not insured as taxis and the drivers have not gone through the rigorous checking involved in the licensing process.

“Licensing officers will be carrying out checks to ensure no unlicensed taxis are operating in the area. Never get in a taxi without first checking that it's the one you have booked or that it's a legitimate Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle.”

When the party is over and you need to get home, remember these guidelines about council licensed taxis:

•             Hackney Carriage Vehicles have a plate attached to the front and rear of the vehicle displaying the vehicle details and licence number.

•             Hackney Carriages can ply for hire from designated taxi ranks and can pick up passengers who flag them down.

•             Private Hire Vehicles have a blue sign attached to the rear doors of the vehicle showing the licence and a plate at the rear of the vehicle displaying the vehicle details and licence number.

•             Private Hire Vehicles can only be booked in advance through an operator.

Never get in to a vehicle that does not display an appropriate plate at the rear. It is not insured and may not be licensed. Ensure that the driver is displaying a council approved driver's badge. For your own safety, always take a council licensed vehicle - the driver and vehicle have both been vetted.

Cllr Hugh Irving, chair of Denbighshire’s licensing committee, said: “Don't let a good night out be ruined by an unlicensed taxi. Always book in advance or make sure you have the number of several local taxi firms stored in your mobile phone before going out.

“Before getting in a taxi ensure the driver knows the destination and always sit in the back. Make sure that you're picked up and dropped off somewhere familiar and well lit, however if you feel uneasy with the driver ask him to stop at a busy, familiar place and get out.”

New Three Eagles opens for business next week

* The Three Eagles team line up ahead of the opening.

The Three Eagles is set to throw open its doors for business next week.

Its management team says reservations are already flooding in from people eager to sample its food and drinks.

Located on Bridge Street in historic Grade II-listed former coaching-inn the Wynnstay, The Three Eagles has been a work in progress over recent months with the building having been subject to extensive renovation works.

As the project nears completion, a strong management team have been assembled.

The majority of them originate from the local area, with almost all having attended Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Until now many of them had spent years plying their trade away from the town – some internationally.

Heading up the  team is general manager Amy Cross. A local farmer’s daughter, she has worked in the hospitality industry since her university days in Liverpool.

Having worked her way around the mountains, lakes and coastline of Wales, she brings over 15 years of experience to the table. Amy spent the last three years in Ireland, leading an award-winning restaurant through its launch in Dublin.

She has a track-record of launching a number of new fine dining restaurants, achieving recognition in the Michelin Guide having fronted a restaurant by 2-Michelin-Star chef Michael Caines MBE.

“It’s such an exciting time not just for the Three Eagles but for Llangollen and North Wales tourism as a whole. The Three Eagles will provide Llangollen with such an important boost for the local economy and it is a real privilege to be part of this journey from the very beginning”, said Amy.

“With the venue’s inception, some excellent career opportunities have been created. It’s the vision and commitment to a better Wales that the Three Eagles represents that has drawn these high flyers home, resulting in the creation of a first-class team. What we’re hoping will be key to our future success is the continued development of our staff.”  

Amy joins experienced international chefs Adam Gaunt-Evans and Oliver Potter at the Three Eagles.

Assistant managers Nicole Farrell and Kim Watson also come with their own expertise.

Nicole has been a driving force behind the exclusive Llangollen wedding venue Tyn Dwr Hall whilst Kim has previously worked in a managerial position for a national gastro pub/restaurant chain.

Their fellow assistant manager Harry Hickson, from over the English border, compliments the team bringing years of managerial experience which meant travelling the globe as far as Australia building his wine knowledge.

Owners of The Three Eagles Matt and Vicky Jones say the concept of the venue has always been about showcasing the very best elements of Llangollen and the surrounding region.

Matt said: “When we set out in the beginning it was very important to us that we created opportunities here in Llangollen – first and foremost for Llangollen people. And that is exactly what The Three Eagles has done.

"The team have come home to take on this exciting project with us and I think that should give some indication as to just how impressive The Three Eagles is going to be.”

* To find out more about The Three Eagles, Llangollen go to www.thethreeeagles.co.uk

MP calls for vote of no confidence in government

Clwyd South's Susan Elan Jones is among several prominent Welsh Labour politicians who have urged the party's UK leader to table a vote of no confidence in Theresa May's government.

It follows the decision to defer a vote on Brexit on Monday.

Labour was granted an emergency debate on Tuesday on the issue after claiming MPs had been "disregarded".

But the party rejected calls to table a vote of no confidence in Mrs May, with Labour officials arguing it had more chance of success when the Brexit deal came back before MPs.

However, some Welsh Labour politicians have urged Mr Corbyn to act.

MPs Susan Elan Jones (pictured), Tonia Antoniazzi, Madeleine Moon, Geraint Davies, Chris Bryant and Owen Smith have all signed a letter to the Labour leadership from Ian Murray asking for a no confidence vote, followed by another referendum.

The Prime Minister is today meeting European leaders and EU officials for talks aimed at rescuing her Brexit deal.

Vote for your favourite Christmas Tree

The annual Christmas Tree Festival at Llangollen Methodist Church is now open to the public.

A total of 14 imaginative and colourfully decorated examples created by a range of local organisations and individuals can be seen - and voted on - at the church which is open specially for viewing next Saturday (December 15) from 10am-3pm and next Sunday (December 16) between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

* Trees, from left, by Ysgol Bryn Collen, Messy Church and New Dot Cinema. 

* The trees exhibited by, from left, Sheena and Andree, PTFA and Llangollen & District Gardening Club.

* From left, trees by Llangollen Day Nursery and the After-School Drop-in for High School Pupils.

* From left, the trees of Llangollen Eisteddfod, Holy Cross Church and Cefn Mawr Knit and Natter Group. 

* From left, exhibits from Just a Bit of Fun, Llangollen Tidy Town Team and City Church.