Superb Skoda saloon could be best in its class

* Superb's smart front end.

* New high-tech dash.

* Acres of room in the back.

Skoda Superb road test by Steve Rogers

Bentley one week, Skoda the next. Such is the varied life of your car tester.

Turn the clock back 25 years and you could fairly say this was the sublime to the ridiculous but while the brands are poles apart times have changed for the underdog. 

Volkswagen buying the Czech company opened up a whole new world. I've been a fan since my first drive in the Octavia in 1997 and have been banging the Skoda drum ever since.

The cars are still built in the home country but the parts come from Wolfsburg so it is no surprise to see matching gear in Volkswagen, Audi or Seat models, in fact there is a small connection with Bentley.

The blind spot warning strip in the Superb's door mirrors is identical to those in the Bentley Continental, another VW company.

The Superb has been the flagship model since 2001 building a reputation on a ginormous cabin. Never mind six footers, there is space for seven footers in the back of a Superb and no one in its class can match the size of the boot either.

Not that Superb has been having an easy ride. Its market has been in decline for years with customers turning to big SUVs for space and versatility and Skoda is well placed there as well with the excellent Kodiaq.

Yet Superb's unique selling point of class leading space and value for money has given it a strong fan base in the fleet and company car markets where it has been a regular pain in the backside for main rivals Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia and even its Wolfsburg cousin, the VW Passat. What a genius move on Skoda's part to distance itself from Passat by making it roomier.

The hatchback's 625 litre boot capacity is streets ahead of the opposition and gets even better with the seats down - 1760 litres and if that's not enough then go for the estate where there is nearly 2000 litres of space. You will find just how big the boot is when you try to retrieve something that has spilled into a far corner. It requires long arms or a very big stretch.

To give it a bit of context the hatchback's boot easily swallowed two full sets of golf clubs and trolleys with the seats up.

Dwelling on space is an injustice to Superb which is a fine all rounder. The new dashboard layout is practical rather than stylish with a central eight inch touchscreen for infotainment - that's navigation, radio and smartlink technology for Android, CarPlay and Mirror Link along with other car related features.

This comes in at SE L level which is the start of the premium trim and there is the option to spend £475 on the virtual cockpit. It offers five different views, easily selected from a button on the steering wheel. The show's highlight is a full width 10.2in Google map gifted, eventually, by its masters at VW-Audi. Skoda always has to wait its turn for the top tech.

Equipment level is generally good with leather heated seats, powered for the driver, LED headlights, keyless entry, and a host of electronic safety features yet there is one inexplicable omission - a reversing camera.

It is a £385 option unless you buy the 39 grand top of the range Laurin & Klement model and with the saloon's high rear window it's needed. Parking sensors with rear proximity lines on screen don't cut it on a car at this price.

A couple of weeks ago I was lauding the 1.5 litre petrol engine in the new Golf but raised an eyebrow when I saw it was powering the much bigger Superb. Again it was another revelation and would be my choice over a diesel easily topping 50mpg. 

With the extra weight and size the economy and performance was even more spectacular than the Golf, so sharp and refined, and working beautifully with the seven-speed DSG auto gearbox. It too has cylinder deactivation right up to 70mph to help save fuel.

Handling is safe and predictable and airs on the side of comfort. For performance seekers this is no BMW 3-Series or Audi A4, not even a Peugeot 508 or Mazda6, but if you want to stick with Skoda and have some fun then go for Octavia.

Superb is what it is, a comfortable, very competent large family saloon or estate and arguably the best car in its class.

Need to know

Superb SE L 7sp DSG auto

£29,545 - £31,570 tested

1.5litre TSI; 147bhp

0-62mph 9.2secs; 135mph

42.2mpg combined

153g/km. 1st year tax £540 then £145

Boot: 625 litres

Insurance group 19

 

 

 

 

Local roadworks alert

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is: 

Butlers Hill, Llangollen, Denbighshire

10 September — 10 September

 

Delays likely - Road closure

 

Works location: FROM OUTSIDE MIN Y NANT TO OUTSIDE PEN Y MAES...

 

Works description: REPLACEMENT OF CABLES . OVERHEAD WORKS ONLY...

 

Responsibility for works: MANWEB

 

Current status: Advanced planning

 

Works reference: GY0302100388892G

 

 

Denbighshire libraries re-open for appointment visits

 

* Llangollen Library in Castle Street.

Libraries in Denbighshire are now open for customers to choose books, use a computer and print, use a photocopier and access One Stop Shop services via appointments.

The appointment system will help ensure social distancing measures are adhered to and appointments can be made by phoning your local library.

Visits to browse and choose books are limited to 20 minutes, and computer sessions are currently limited to 45 minutes, and one per week.

You will need your library card number to book a computer session.

If you require help at the One Stop Shop with a Council query or to make a payment, please call the library and ensure you have all the relevant details, so that we can deal with your query, and arrange an appointment if you need to come in.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “I’m pleased we are able to offer further services to residents wishing to use the library service.

“Customers will now be able to book appointments to use a range of services in their local libraries. Our popular order and collect service will continue for those who prefer staff to choose books for you to collect or have delivered to you.

“Our home library service is making deliveries of books to anyone who is unable to visit their local library – please get in touch to find out more about this service.”

All books currently on loan are being automatically renewed and no fines will be issued, but customers who have finished with books are asked to drop them off at the library to ensure stock levels are maintained.

Cat Meade explains what happens to help group as lockdown eases

* Cat Meade and her young son Connor.

The woman who spearheaded Llangollen's fightback against coronavirus has spoken of what happens to the support organisation she founded as lockdown gradually eases.

Immediately the Covid-19 crisis began back in March Cat Meade, whose day job is at Wingett's estate agents in Castle Street, launched the Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group.

Since then she and a team of dedicated volunteers have devoted many unpaid hours to ensuring people isolated in their homes have been supplied with everything from food to daily newspapers.

The group also supplied many items of PPE to the vulnerable and organised deliveries of vital medication to those self-isolating in their homes across town.

To finance the work and support hard-hit local businesses she started a series of highly popular daily raffles offering a host of valuable prizes.

There have also been regular updates about the group's work on a dedicated Facebook page.

* The Coronavirus Help Group page on Facebook launched by Cat Meade in the early says of the pandemic. 

Now, as the pandemic crisis winds down and life gradually returns to normal, Cat has taken to Facebook to explain what happens to the help group.

Yesterday she posted: “It’s been a while since I’ve posted, which is good on one hand, on the other I hope you are all keeping well ... keeping safe, responsible and mindful.

“I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to every volunteer and resident that has assisted and kept this group going during lockdown, the fundraising, gifting, hours and hours of volunteering to our wonderful community. 

“I have had to put my role to one side as work life is taking over, most volunteers are back to their daily routine, kids back at school and a little normality forming. 

“The page will stay here (hoping we do not need it again). 

“In months to come we may be able to turn it into a different page of support for the community, for now, we will leave it open and our mainstream originators will be here, IF and WHEN, hopefully not needed again. 

“Big thank you Llangollen.”

Funding boost for railway welcomed by MP

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed news that Llangollen Railway has received £161,000 of National Lottery support to help address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As revealed by llanblogger recently, the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded the money through their Heritage Emergency Fund which provides assistance to organisations within the heritage sector struggling during the pandemic.

Mr Baynes previously highlighted the importance of Clwyd South tourism and hospitality businesses in Questions to the Prime Minister on Wednesday May 13, and asked him to congratulate the Llangollen Steam Railway team for their hard work fundraising during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Mr Baynes said: “Everyone in the area knows how tremendously important Llangollen Railway is to us as a community. So I’m delighted to see it benefitting from vital National Lottery Heritage Emergency Funding.

“The whole railway team work incredibly hard to ensure visitors to Llangollen receive a warm welcome and a great experience so I’m very happy to see them secure this much needed help.”

Former chamber chair says businesses oppose Castle Street parking ban

* The county council plans to remove parking bays along Castle Street.

The former chair of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism claims banning parking in Castle Street is a waste of money and will have a “negative, deadening effect” on the town centre.

Removing the parking bays along the main street is part of the county council’s plan to provide social distancing measures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But David Davies said: “Castle Street businesses are angered to see that the county council is proceed with the traffic order banning all parking and deliveries in the street on the pretence of Covid-19 social distancing and active travel reasons.

“Twenty eight businesses - 80% of all operating businesses in the street - individually signed letters of objection to DCC.  

“It is understood they were deemed unacceptable and irrelevant and unfortunately our two local county council representatives, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, failed to support the businesses objections fuelling the view that the traffic order is being used to further the plans of the 2020 Group to permanently ban all parking, 24 hours a day, in Castle Street.”

Mr Davies added: “No parking in the street will lead to loss of significant business to a number of shops including Spar and Chatwins, with no pop and shop and trades people unable to park to purchase break and lunch foods.  

“The Bull will need to unload barrels of beer in Market Street and roll them along the road into Castle Street posing a safety issue to pedestrians. 

“People delivering to the charity shops will have to carry all their contributions from the nearest car park and parking in the street to use Barclays Bank or the cash machine or access the Town Hall will not be possible.

“The idea is a waste of money and will have a negative, deadening effect on the atmosphere of our town centre.

“During the past 12 years, six professional consultants have reviewed the town’s traffic and parking and none have recommended banning all parking,  24 hours a day, along Castle Street. 

“Traders are continuing their objections to the plan.”

In a joint response, Llangollen county councillors Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile said: "These works are Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council’s response to the very real threat of the C-19 pandemic to Llangollen. 

"We have visitors from far and wide being jammed together on our narrow pavements. A perfect scenario for the spread of C-19. How would the businesses react to another lockdown?

"The safety measures will be in place for a limited time and it’s just a coincidence that Llangollen 2020 objectives are similar.

"These measures are designed to help people move about the town in a safer manner than the chaos that we experienced in July and August, when some residents stayed away from Castle Street, literally in fear of their lives.

"They would also have been introduced much earlier if David Davies and others hadn’t gone about the traders organising their objection. 

"Those 28 objections were not ignored but were taken into consideration, as were the 146 letters of support from residents and visitors and the 95% support from those who completed the official consultation.

"We make no apologies for trying to make Llangollen a safer place for its residents, visitors, shop workers and traders."

Local roadworks update

 

Latest roadwork alert from one.network is:

Vicarage Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire 04 September — 10 September   Delays unlikely - No carriageway incursion   Works location: Front of Castle Buildings Vicarage Road...   Works description: Due to main being Shallow this needs diverting...   Responsibility for works: Dee Valley Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU003H6W/00038013A

Visitors urged to have Plan B should beauty spot car parks be full

* The Horseshoe Falls where the car park has filled up rapidly.

Visitors to the Denbighshire countryside are urged to have a Plan B in place if they find car parks at some of the county’s scenic locations busy. 

Since the easing of restrictions, car parks at some popular countryside sites such as the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen, Loggerheads and Moel Famau have filled very quickly, especially at weekends and the car parks have needed to close.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We have seen significant number of visitors coming to our beautiful countryside sites and we are delighted to welcome people here.

“Inevitably, with the number of visitors being experienced, the car parks become full very quickly, especially at the more popular sites.Please park in designated parking areas only – parking on road verges very quickly causes serious congestion. 

“We are asking visitors to consider having a Plan B during busy periods and potentially making alternative plans to visit other locations or paths in the county, to help ease the pressure on the busier sites."

MP welcomes £2bn scheme to help create young people's jobs

 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes MP (pictured) has welcomed the UK Government’s new Kickstart Scheme, designed to create thousands of new jobs for young people across the UK.

The £2bn scheme has been developed to enhance job opportunities for 16-24 year olds as part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Plan for Jobs.

The idea is a way for young people on Universal Credit to take part in a six-month placement to acquire skills and experience to take into full time employment within the future. 

Businesses across the UK are now able to sign up, with Tesco and The Prince’s Trust already pledging their support.

Employers are able to top up the wage of workers and the Government has promised to pay employers an additional £1,500 to assist with support and training, alongside paying 100% of the age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and Pension contributions.

Simon Baynes said: “I’m delighted to see the UK Government supporting young people here in Clwyd South and across the whole of the UK in developing their skills and opportunities ready for future employment.”

“There have been an additional 250,000 young people claiming employment benefits since March, with Covid-19 having a significant impact on employment opportunities for those looking for work. However, I’m very optimistic that this scheme will help those who are only just starting out in the world of work.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "This isn’t just about kickstarting our country’s economy – it is an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who could otherwise be left behind as a result of the pandemic.”

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said: “We have taken unprecedented action to secure Wales’s economic recovery from the pandemic. More than 500,000 Welsh jobs have been protected through the Job Retention and Self Employed schemes while over 40,000 businesses in Wales have received more than £1.4 billion in loans.”

Police boss warns of possible surge in post-Covid sex attacks

* With the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones is Sarah Staveley, who manages SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre) which has received a grant through the PCC to employ a new Independent Sexual Assault Advisor to help cope with the Covid Crisis.   

A police boss is warning people to be on their guard amid fears of a surge in sex attacks as the coronavirus restrictions are eased.

The region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones, revealed the number of reported cases had dropped during lockdown as a result of people having to stay at home.

But Mr Jones fears the number of assaults will start to rise as the night time economy opens up once more.

The commissioner is also concerned that victims are suffering more mental health problems as a result of being isolated and courts falling behind in dealing with cases.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, has now secured extra funding to provide more support to survivors.

He has been successful in gaining almost £77,000 from the Ministry of Justice’s Rape Support Fund to fund a full-time Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) for the next two years.

The post will be based at the Amethyst Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Old Colwyn and will support victims from the six counties across North Wales.

It will enable the centre  to work on clearing existing caseloads which have increased due to demands with courts closing and a number of clients suffering severe mental health issues due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The centre receives between 500 and 550 referrals a years with the victims ranging in age from one to pensioners in their 70s.

SARC manager Sarah Staveley said: “The length of time lockdown has gone on has had a detrimental effect on the mental health of some of our service users.

“These are people that already had mental health issues as a direct result of their traumatic experiences.

“The delay in getting investigations underway and court cases through the criminal justice system has just made matters worse.

"We have also had the problem of not being able to conduct face to face interviews or hold meetings with clients. We have maintained a telephone service and have always been there if needed but it isn't the same and adds to the stress experienced by victims.

"It is highly likely we will see a rise in referrals as lockdown measures are eased. There will be more opportunities for people to meet and as a result for sexual assaults to occur.

“We are also likely to see a rise in referrals once people are able to seek help and advice.

“The £76,824 grant secured by the Police and Crime Commissioner will allow us to appoint an ISVA who will have a big role to play in supporting victims of rape and sexual violence and their families.

“The role will mean the ISVA will see a case through the criminal justice system from beginning to end. Some victims need more support than others but it’s important that we are there for every victim that needs support.

“It’s wonderful that Mr Jones recognises the need for our service. He and his office have always given SARC a great deal of support and help.

“It’s clear Mr Jones really understands the needs of victims and the positive impact our services can have on the well-being of those affected by rape and serious sexual assault.”

Tackling sexual violence and providing support for victims is a key priority in the commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan which provides the blueprint followed by North Wales Police.

Mr Jones said: “I am acutely aware of the backlog of cases being investigated or going through the criminal justice system and understand the impact delays due to the Coronavirus pandemic could have on victims.

“The work that takes place at SARC is absolutely vital and should never been underestimated. It’s so important that a victim of rape or serious sexual assault has somewhere to go knowing they will be taken seriously and get the help and advice they need.

“Covid-19 and lockdown has been a very difficult time for everyone but for someone that is waiting for a case to go to court or who has had a court case postponed due to the pandemic it can have a devastating impact and they need further support.

“This additional money from the Rape Support Fund will help us ensure that North Wales victims of rape and sexual assault get the help and support they need and that really is vital.

“While the number of referrals has dropped in recent months, I am concerned there will be an increase in the number of offences as the restrictions are eased and I would urge victims to seek help.

Sarah Staveley added: “Victims are able to seek the advice and the support they need whether the crime took place recently or in the past. We will, if the victim chooses, support them in making a formal complaint to the police.

“We have an amazing facility where we can undertake forensic medical examinations as well as follow up health checks. We also have video interview and counselling rooms and a live link to the courts so victims can give their evidence to the courts from the SARC.

“Victims are often traumatised when they come here so it’s our role to help them understand their choices. We will support them and empower them in making decisions and how to move on from their experiences.”

* Anyone who has any concerns over sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation  should call North Wales Police on 101. The North Wales Sexual Assault Referral Centre can be contacted by calling  0808 156 3658 or emailing: BCU.Amethyst@wales.nhs.uk and for further information visit the website at www.amethystnorthwales.org.uk

New Bentley Continental is a mighty performer

* The Bentley Continental.

Bentley Continental GTC V8 road test by Steve Rogers

The week of Storm Francis wasn't the best time to be spending a few days in the Continental convertible but it certainly proved the insulation qualities of the multi-layered fabric roof.

As I drove away from Bentley's headquarters at Crewe the rain was pounding down but the sound deadening was so effective I forgot I was driving a convertible. Bentley says today's convertible is just as quiet as the previous Continental coupe and I am not going to argue with that.

Continental first appeared in 2003 and we are now into the third generation which has a significant twist in the story. 

It has always been powered by the mighty W12 six litre petrol... but what is the new badge that has appeared on the front wing? V8. Can this be true? A humble 4-litre V8 in a Bentley.

Too right, and before anyone thinks this is Bentley dumming down the Conti with a cheaper entry level model then think again. 

True it is £12,500 less than the W12, £167,000 plays £179,500 but there is nothing as common as an entry level Bentley. Most of this is the difference in the price of the engine, the rest of the car is the same bespoke handcrafted opulence found in any other Bentley.

Yes but it won't be as quick as the W12. Yeah right, we lose three tenths in a sprint to sixty and top speed is down 9mph so we have to make do with the V8's four seconds to 60mph and a top end of 198mph. No too shabby then.

Now I have enjoyed the W12 in a couple of Bentleys, it is indeed a mighty performer, but I am going to put my head on the block and say the Continental is better suited to the V8. On the one hand we have unparalleled luxury and on the other an out and out sports drop top or coupe that will happily take on a McLaren, Ferrari or Porsche.

I recall feeling mildly intimidated by the McLaren 720S, which, granted, generates more power from its 4-litre V8, but felt quite comfortable and secure behind the wheel of the Conti even when I did feel the full force of the twin turbos and whopping 770 Newton metres of torque.

In truth this sort of power is not for our roads, the car is too quick and you could find yourself in a lot of trouble with the law if you exploit the performance. A ton takes a mere 8.4 seconds, and that is Bentley's figure by the way.

The best place to get maximum fun is on a track where you would no doubt feel the full benefit of Bentley's brilliant dynamic ride system, I should say that is an extra £4,000 and not really worth the expense unless you enjoy flat out track days. 

Basically a 48 volt powered anti roll system makes suspension changes in milliseconds which makes the car feel as if it is stuck to the road in the same way as a roller coaster terror ride.

Performance through the eight speed automatic is immense with the V8 emitting a satisfying growl as opposed to the gentle burble of the W12. 

Surprisingly it was not the performance or the utter luxury of the Conti's cabin that left the biggest impression, it was the economy. 

Had this been the W12 I would have been lucky to break the 20mpg barrier yet I averaged 30mpg and some of that was down to cylinder deactivation which knocks off four cylinders on light throttle loads which covers 70mph motorway drives.

One small downside is the noticeable jerk as the other four cylinders engage when the throttle is floored at low speed but I can live with that.

Having said how impressed I was with economy sitting in the Continental' s cabin is pretty special, you can tell this has been put together with lots of tender loving care, much of this opulence coming from the special Mulliner specification which adds even greater detailing to the surfaces and stitching, and adds £12,535 to the price but as the Bentley PR people say no one buys a basic car and there are lots of packages and individual items that can be added. 

My test car had 14 totalling £53,880 of which I would have gone for the front seat comfort spec with neck warmer, heated or ventilated and massage functions (£4,005) central 12 inch rotating touchscreen display (£4,770) touring specification (£6,290) and the Bang & Olufsen bespoke sound system (£5,075).

That came in handy when the roof was down. There is hardly any buffeting but the wind swirls around the cabin once passed 60mph and communication becomes a shouting match so a good sound system is essential if you like your music.

The bottom line is that Continental is a world class sports car especially with V8 power which is there on merit. Here we have performance, luxury and style in one fabulous package.

A little aside: Bespoke it might be but Volkswagen-owned Bentley does share some of the group's parts. 

The headlight touch pad can be found in the new Golf 8 and the amber blind spot warning light on the door mirrors are also fitted to my Skoda Superb test car. 

There are a few others but we will keep them to ourselves...

Need to know

Continental GTC

£167,000 (tested £224,800)

8sp auto all wheel drive

4-litre V8; 542bhp

0-60mph 4secs; 198mph

Torque: 770Nm

23.3mpg combined

260g/km

1st year tax £2135 then £145pa

Boot 235 litres

Roof down: 19 seconds

Applications sought for government's Cultural Recovery Fund

From today, organisations in the culture and heritage sector can find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from the Welsh Government’s £53m Cultural Recovery Fund.

The new fund will see music venues, recording and rehearsal studios, heritage organisations and historic attractions, accredited museums and archive services, libraries, events and their technical support suppliers, independent cinemas and the publishing sector being able to bid for a share of £18.5m. 

A number of organisations in Llangollen could qualify for help.
The latest funding is part of the Welsh Government’s £53m package to support the culture and arts sectors which are coping with a dramatic loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.

A separate element of the Cultural Recovery Fund, worth £27.5m, is being delivered through the Arts Council of Wales to support theatres and galleries. This fund was launched 17 August with details available on the Arts Council’s website. 

The online eligibility checker opens today (Tuesday, 1 September) from 10am and organisations will be able to make applications for support from the fund from 14 September. The closing date for applications is 30 September.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said:“We have listened to, and worked with our partners across the cultural and creative sectors to put this second package of support together. We recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges the pandemic is having on the very fabric of Welsh life and we applaud the resilience and creativity on show.

“We are today opening our eligibility checker for the funding. This will allow companies to find out if they will be eligible to apply and then give them time to prepare their applications, ahead of the fund opening for applications later this month.”

A non-repayable grant of up to £150,000 (up to 100% of eligible costs) per organisation will be available via two application entry points:

• Under £10k: quick process for smaller organisations based on eligible costs
• Between £10k - £150k: more detailed process based on eligible costs.

The triage system will indicate the appropriate route for organisations to follow.

The Eligibility Checker for the  Cultural Recovery Fund will be live on Tuesday 1 September from 10am - - https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/culture

There will also be a £7m fund for freelancers to support individuals in the sector who have been impacted by the pandemic. Please visit the eligibility checker to find more detail for this fund.

MP welcomes government cash aid to local businesses

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed the announcement that the UK Government-owned British Business Bank has issued its 75,000^th loan through its Start Up Loans programme, marking more than £623 million invested in small businesses across the UK since its launch in 2012.

Across Wales, 3,443 loans have been made so far to small businesses and entrepreneurs, totalling £32,226,155 with the average loan being £9,360. 

Self-employed people in Clwyd South have accessed £7,500,000 worth of Government grants, which do not need to be paid back, to cover lost earnings. 

And £20,514,589 has been paid out to local businesses in the form of Bounce Back Loans, which provides loans of up to £50,000 within days of an application.

Mr Baynes said: “Small businesses in Clwyd South are the backbone of our local economy, and this Conservative UK Government has long been committed to giving them all the support they need to flourish and thrive.

“Our Start Up Loans scheme has now provided £32,226,155 worth of investment and support to thousands of small businesses and entrepreneurs across Wales, including for those who may otherwise have struggled to access it, helping to drive investment here and boost our local economy.

“As we build Clwyd South, Wales and Britain back in the months ahead, I will continue to work to give our local entrepreneurs and innovators all the support they need to keep them in business so they can create and protect jobs.”

Local roadworks alert

Latest roadworks alert from one.network is:

Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 31 August — 04 September Delays likely - Road closure Works location: 7 Works description: EXCAVATE IN FOOTWAY FOR REMOVAL OF FAULTY LINK BOX AND REPLACEMENT WITH NEW.... Responsibility for works: MANWEB Current status: Advanced planning Works reference: GY03011181356

St Collen's welcomes its congregation for the first time in 22 weeks

* Father Lee gives the blessing to parishioners outside the church.

* The socially-distanced congregation.

* Father Lee leads worship inside the church for the first time in 22 weeks. 

After 22 weeks in lockdown St Collen's Church finally opened for worship with a congregation this morning (Sunday).

Vicar, Father Lee Taylor, began with a blessing ceremony outside the building before over 50 worshippers, who were requested to wear masks, filed inside the church which had been specially prepared with extra space between the pews to allow proper distancing and hand sanitization.    

Before going inside people had their temperature taken. 

No hymns were allowed but there was a full service including the celebration of Holy Communion.

Later everyone was invited to a barbecue in the car park  prepared by Fabiano Silva. 

In his address, Father Lee spoke of how challenging lockdown had been including the cancellation of 21 weddings due to have been held in church.

It was revealed that during the period from June when only private worship had been allowed 773 people had visited St Collen's.  

Life returns to normal along the railway line

* Foxcote Manor steaming through Berwyn station. 

Llangollen Railway photographer George Jones was out and about along the line yesterday to capture a couple of stunning images of life gradually returning to normal following lockdown.

First he shot the railway's flagship engine Foxcote Manor - complete with its "Thunderbirds are Go" slogan on its headboard - passing Berwyn hauling the first passenger train of the day.  

Near the Chain Bridge later he snapped people watching the progress of a group of whitewater rafters through the River Dee gorge.

 * Rafters testing their skill near the Chain Bridge.