Police boss sends warning to those flouting lockdown rules

 

* North Wales PCC Arfon Jones.

A police boss has warned of a clampdown on house parties and pub revellers who flout social distancing rules after four North Wales counties went into local lockdown.

The region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones said it was vitally important that everybody complied with the new restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government in order to curb and suppress the rising rate of Covid-19 infections in Denbighshire, Wrexham, Flintshire, and Conwy.

Mr Jones warned that “irresponsible” people caught breaking the rules and spreading the virus would be liable to be fined.

The coronavirus regulations include provisions for a fixed penalty notice to be issued for most types of breaches of the regulations, carrying a fine of £60.

This is increased to £120 for a second offence and continues to double for repeated offences, up to a maximum of £1,920. If prosecuted, however, a court can impose any fine (it is not limited).

Mr Jones also hit out at the “crazy anomaly” after the Prime Minister ruled out preventing people currently in lockdown in England from travelling to Wales while restrictions are in place.

The request from Meirionnydd Dwyfor MP Liz Saville Roberts for Boris Johnson to act followed concerns about residents in areas with high levels of Covid-19 transmission travelling to parts of Wales with much lower rates, potentially spreading the virus.

Queues of walkers were pictured on Snowdonia, while there were also reports of traffic jams at tourist destinations in the country.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, agreed with the Welsh Government’s logic in imposing the new sanctions in the four counties in North Wales.

He said: “We feel for those businesses that are affected but I think if we want to control this virus, our hands are very much tied in what we must do.

“Like most people I was horrified to see pictures of people flouting social distancing rules whether they’re holding illegal raves, house parties or in pubs and clubs.

"I've seen clips of people coming out of pubs at 10pm in the cities and having a street party. It's completely irresponsible.

“The people in Caerphilly and Newport have shown the way. They went into local lockdown two to three weeks ago, and the numbers are coming down.

“It shows that what the Welsh Government are trying to do actually works, as long as local people abide by the rules.

“I hope that our residents in these four North Wales counties will comply with the local lockdown, and the sooner we get the numbers back down and get back to some state of normality, the better.

“At the start in March, traditional crime went down, but demand for enforcing coronavirus regulations filled that gap.

“Now we're back to normal with traditional crime, plus we've still got to enforce coronavirus regulations.

“I would like to commend most people for behaving responsibly at this difficult time but those who choose not to an expect to be held to account.

“Our focus initially will be to educate, engage and encourage people to comply with the rules but if that doesn’t work North Wales Police will enforce the rules.

“There are clearly capacity issues and we can only do what our resources permit us to do. We'll do our best with what we've got and continue working in partnership with other agencies in North Wales in terms of enforcement.

“The county councils take the lead in terms of the regulations around the night time economy and in fairness some have really stepped up to the plate.

“Both the councils and the police can issue fixed penalty ticket and the role of the police is to support council enforcement officers in relation to the night-time economy.

“The important thing from my point of view is to target irresponsible behaviour that is shown to spread the virus.”

Old Vicarage residents use lockdown to tell their stories

* Back: Owner Bethan Mascarenhas, Town Crier Austin 'Chem' Cheminais and storyteller Fiona Collins. Front: Joan Fell, 96, Jill Lidgit, 85, Ena Strange, 99, and Yola Roberts, 87.

* Ena Strange, 99 ,enjoying reading a copy of the book.

* Pat Preston, 89, with her invitation to the launch party.

* Bill Gosson, 90, with the book and the book illustration.

A Llangollen care home has created a lasting legacy from the coronavirus lockdown by drawing together the life stories of its residents in a new book.

The Old Vicarage hired professional storyteller Fiona Collins as a care worker and activities assistant at the onset of the pandemic to help keep residents’ spirits up when they were missing their families.

During the early months of lockdown, Fiona encouraged the residents to share their life-stories with each other in the garden and unearthed a treasure trove of post-war adventures – some of which raised eyebrows! 

Now those experiences – which include a resident learning to drive at the age of nine in a hearse from her grandfather’s funeral business and another resident hitchhiking her way around Europe after the war – will become a part of history in a new book called Lockdown Legends.

The book, which has been professionally illustrated by renowned local artist and illustrator Peter Stevenson and includes a foreword from Heléna Herklots CBE, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, has been unveiled to the world with a little help from Llangollen Town Crier Austin Cheminais. 

It includes the stories of 17 residents – two of whom have sadly passed away since the book has been published – all of which were shared during lockdown with additional detail provided by family members.

The home now hopes to be able to attract some celebrity endorsement to give the book the attention it deserves and is inviting reviews from the world of stage and screen.

“We’ve harassed royalty already and I’ve written to Prince Charles, who is the Patron of Age Cymru, and Prince William,” said Bethan Mascarenhas, who owns the home alongside her brother Richard.

“We’d love for some authors to review it, may be Michael Morpurgo or even a legend of the likes of Sir David Attenborough!”

One of those to contribute was Ena Strange, 99, who grew up in Liverpool and said the experience of telling life stories had really helped during lockdown.

“We were fortunate, you might say, to be here as we still had people to talk to with the other residents and staff. For someone living alone it must’ve been terrible. I felt lucky,” she said.

“It was just everybody talking and sharing what had happened in the past. I didn’t think I had an exciting life, I thought I had a dull life.

“I worked in a gown shop when I was younger. I actually wanted to work in an office but my mother said I’d never sit still and she wouldn’t let me. I wanted to join a tennis club and my father wouldn’t let me. But when the war came I was called up and went into the National Fire Service and was stationed on Salford Docks. That was an education! Eventually, I got promoted to assistant group officer and became deputy when the group officer was off.  I really enjoyed it.”

Fellow resident and retired teacher Jill Lidgett, 87, originally from London, said: “It’s been lovely, talking about things that we wouldn’t normally have raised. It was great to hear everybody’s secrets! It’s a lovely home and everyone’s so friendly. Some of the stories were surprising.”

Former Trevor town councillor and retired special needs teacher Iola Roberts, 87, surprised her fellow residents with her tales of childhood. 

“I was born and bred in Llangollen. My grandfather had a business as an undertaker and I learned to drive when I was nine – a hearse! It was brilliant,” said the grandmother-of-six.

“It’s very important to remember our backgrounds and remember what we have achieved and not be ashamed about where we have come from. I’ve always talked a lot and have told a lot of stories. I suppose it has been my job as a teacher. I think it’s very important for people to listen to others.”

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of social care champions Care Forum Wales, could not agree more. 

“Lockdown was a deeply worrying time for care homes, particularly for residents and their families, and I am so grateful to The Old Vicarage for transforming the experience in such a positive and poignant way. The experience of opening up and sharing life stories has brought much comfort and joy to these residents.

“These stories are now part of history and will continue to inspire generations for many years to come. It reminds us all how important it is to listen and learn from the past.”

For Bethan, who also manages the home, the story-telling was a way of encouraging the residents to keep socialising and engaging despite being unable to have family visits.

“Our idea was to keep everybody socially involved because our biggest worry was that people would become isolated and as soon as somebody becomes isolated they become disengaged and we see less mobility and depression setting in,” she said.

“It was all about keeping a hive of activity in the home. Fiona would sit with them and they would just talk about their life stories. We found the stories were living around the home for a while and it was the subject of gossip!

“One of our ladies used to go hitchhiking around Europe after the war when she was just 17. Another lady was this incredible consultant who worked for Coca Cola. We’ve been shocked and amazed with the stories they’ve told.

“Fiona and I discussed it and I thought it needed to be put into a book to share with their families and it all spiralled from there. It just made sense. Lockdown was an extraordinary time to live through and it’s something to remind us of this time in an incredibly positive way.

“It’s also people’s legacies. Two people have passed away since the book was created. It’s so touching to be able to sit and read and remember these individuals. It’s a lovely resource for the families.”

The book has been printed by Inky Little Fingers Ltd and already the home has had family members, GPs and other supporters requesting copies.

Storyteller Fiona, from Carrog, said the book was a lasting symbol for the residents’ fortitude during the pandemic. 

“We tried to capture a sense of everybody’s voice on the page,” she said.

“It really brought it home to me that you should never make assumptions about people, particularly if you meet people later on in their lives. All the amazing things they have done with their lives you wouldn’t know if you didn’t take the chance to get to know them and talk to them. It has been a real honour to hear their stories and find out about their adventures.

“It wasn’t so easy back then but despite that they have all really flourished and I’m really proud of them all.”

Feedback on the project has been so positive that the home is now considering other opportunities to share the remarkable tales with other audiences.

“We would like to go into primary schools when it’s safe to do so to run our own story-telling sessions with local children and pass on that knowledge,” explained Bethan.

“We bought a tepee which we use as a decontamination area for staff at the moment and in the future we will use that as a story-telling venue.”

Help honour those unsung charity volunteers

The Welsh Charity Awards recognise and celebrate the fantastic contribution charities, community groups, not-for-profits and volunteers make to Wales. 

Organised by WCVA, a national membership body for voluntary organisations, the awards took place for the first time in 2019 and were kindly sponsored by Class Networks.
 
WCVA has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s awards with the safety of all involved in mind.
 
The #NotTheWelshCharityAwards campaign will take place throughout October and will share personal stories of how voluntary organisations or volunteers have made a big impact over the last year.
 
If you have a personal story to share about a charity or volunteer that has made a big difference to people's lives, give them a well-deserved shout out by getting involved in the campaign.
 
WCVA wants to hear about the community groups, social enterprises, not-for-profit groups
of all kinds (and volunteers!) that you would nominate for the #NotTheWelshCharityAwards. 

The organisation says it may not be able to give out trophies or invite them up on stage, but can certainly recognise and give a big heartfelt thanks to would-be-winners and nominees.
 
You can get involved by submitting a short video nomination, or sharing your story on social media. Find out more about how to take part here.
 
The stories will be shared using the hashtag #NotTheWelshCharityAwards throughout October, but you can submit your nomination today.

County calls for public's help in Covid fight

Denbighshire County Council is calling on communities across Denbighshire to adhere to new local restrictions coming into place in the county from 6pm tonight (Thursday), to help fight coronavirus in the county.

Extra restrictions will also be introduced in neighbouring Conwy, Flintshire and Wrexham. The restrictions will mean that residents will not be able to travel out of the county in which they live without a reasonable excuse, such as travel for work or education.

People will only be able to meet people they do not live with outdoors for the time being. They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households (sometimes called a “bubble”).

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said:  “The restrictions due to be imposed on us here in Denbighshire are completely necessary in the fight to halt the increase in the number of cases in our county.

“By taking early action, we hope we can slow the upward trend in cases over the past week or so – helping to protect local people from the virus, as well as businesses from more radical lockdown measures further down the line.

“This decision has not been taken lightly, but following discussions with Public Health Wales, Welsh Government and other local authorities, introducing further restrictions is the only option available to us. It’s only Denbighshire residents that can make the sacrifices to protect Denbighshire communities.

“We fully recognise and understand that this will prove difficult for some residents  but compliance is essential and we really need to do this to try and protect our most vulnerable in our communities.

“On top of the new restrictions, we must also continue to adhere to the social distancing measures, as well as wearing face masks to visit shops and following stringent hygiene measures.

“The Council and its partners are monitoring the situation hour by hour and we will continue to remind people of the restrictions being introduced through local media, websites and social media feeds.”

Residents are also asked to remember to stick to existing guidance, which includes:

• Staying at home if you have Coronavirus symptoms and request a test immediately.
• Working from home wherever you can.
• Avoiding car-sharing.
• Those over 11 must wear a face-mask in indoor public spaces and on public transport.
• Covering your mouth whenever you sneeze or cough.
• Keeping your hands clean.
• Hospitality businesses in Wales have to close by 10pm, with table service only, and off-licences and supermarkets having to stop selling alcohol from 10pm.

Eisteddfod withdraws new homes planning application

* An aerial view of the proposed development site off Abbey Road.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has withdrawn its planning application for a small residential development on land it owns off Abbey Road.

In August llanblogger reported that the eisteddfod was seeking permission from Denbighshire to build seven houses on the overspill car park close to its main site in a bid to raise cash for the festival.

A decision by county planners was pending.

But in a statement issued this afternoon the eisteddfod says the plan has now been withdrawn.

The statement says: "In July, the Trustees of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (LIME) submitted a planning application to Denbighshire Council for a modest residential development on a parcel of land adjoining Abbey Road, Llangollen.  

"The application was part of a pre-COVID scheme to raise much needed funds for the Eisteddfod and enable organisers to plan for the future with confidence. 

"However, at a Board meeting last week, LIME Trustees voted to withdraw the planning application at this time and instead retain the piece of land as an asset for the organisation.

"In April, following the postponement of this year’s Llangollen International Eisteddfod due to COVID-19, Welsh Government recognised it as a Welsh flagship cultural event and in doing so pledged financial support to help with business continuity through 2020."

Chair of the Trustees for the International Eisteddfod, Dr Rhys Davies said: “The support from Welsh Government helped cover losses this year arising from the coronavirus pandemic, however further funds are still needed to maintain the event in the future.  

"In our recent discussions, the Trustees recognised that the continuing situation of COVID-19 and the unpredictable future meant that we need to adapt and review all our fundraising options. The Trustees also felt that, at present, retaining the land as an asset was the most sensible way forward.”

Dr Davies continued: “LIME’s commitment to being a good neighbour in Abbey Road was core to and continues to be at the heart of our deliberations.  

"Whilst we felt the scheme had been designed to respect and compliment the area, and to take account of the sensitivity of the site being within the World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we also listened to the concerns raised by our neighbours and community who have made our International Eisteddfod the much-loved event it is today.”

If it had gone ahead and been approved the proposed development of three-bedroom homes would have occupied a small triangular paddock off the A542 which is currently listed as brownfield for development purposes.

A design statement issued by the applicant’s agents, Fisher German of Chester, admitted the proposed scheme was outside the development boundary and therefore contrary to Denbighshire’s current Local Development Plan (LDP).

Concerns raised over state of park's picnic benches

* Above and below: the wooden benches.

* Mole-hills near the benches.

A Llangollen resident has complained about the "shocking" state of picnic benches in Riverside Park.

Emailing the county's customer services department with three pictures of the wooden benches she says: "Karen Edwards I would like to draw your attention to the shocking state of the picnic benches in the Riverside park in Llangollen.

"These benches are in a dangerous condition and need urgent repair or better still replacement. 

"When were these benches last inspected? 

"To add insult to injury the moles are having a field day on the grassed area, this also needs to be addressed." 

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “The picnic benches at the park are exposed to the elements all year round and recently have been subjected to vandalism. Repairs to the benches are scheduled to take place in the near future with the help of Llangollen Tidy Town Team.

“A visit will be conducted to the park to look at possible solutions to the mole hills.”

Fresh lockdown forces railway to close for a second time

Llangollen Railway has had to close for a second time due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It shut down regular services for the first time during the early days of the nationwide lockdown last spring.

But now the heritage line, which operates as a charity, has announced it is to close for a second time following yesterday's announcement by the Welsh Government of a local lockdown starting tomorrow (Thursday) at 6pm.

In a statement issued late this afternoon general manager Liz McGuinness said: "After a meeting with the interim board it has been agreed that we will close after the last service tomorrow until 14th October. 

"This will be under constant review. We don't have an option and I do hope this will be short lived."

During the first lockdown the railway ran into a major financial  crisis due to a massive shortfall of income from passengers.

But help came in the form of £161,000 of National Lottery support aimed at addressing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The cash, from the Heritage Fund, was intended to support the attraction through the coming difficult winter months and help with the implementation of its recent governance review.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began the railway has been working hard to raise funds to ensure its survival. 

It has also been implementing many changes to help safeguard its future.

Council cancels remembrance service due to Covid-19 threat

* A scene from last year's Remembrance service in Centenary Square.

Llangollen Town Council has announced that this year's traditional Remembrance Day service in November has been cancelled due to the coronavirus situation.

In a statement released to llanblogger late yesterday evening it said: "It is with deep regret that the Town Council have made the decision that there will be no Civic Service on Remembrance Sunday this year."

The Town Mayor explained: “All Town Councillors acknowledge that the Remembrance weekend is a vitally important time to reflect and honour the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community.  

"Unfortunately, given the current limitations in place on gatherings outside and recent local developments, it is impossible to see how the services which involves over 40 organisations as well as the Town Council, Llantysilio Community Council, the Royal British Legion, substantial numbers of veterans and members of the public, can be held safely in line with the regulations."

The Town Clerk, Gareth Thomas, confirmed that the Llangollen Branch of the Royal British Legion will launch this year’s Poppy Appeal on the 29th October and funds raised locally will go to support of the costs of the legion's welfare work.

He commented: “The restrictions will not prevent the laying of wreaths or poppy crosses, on both War Memorials and this is encouraged from the date of the local launch until Armistice Day, Wednesday 11th November 2020, as long as social distancing guidelines are met.  

"Indeed the Town Council is looking at a way to capture these moments and are asking any group or individual that lays a wreath, or a poppy cross, to take a pictures on their mobile phone or camera and then send them to townclerk@langollentowncouncil.gov.uk.  

"The Town Council will then create an archive of these photographs with a view to producing a photomontage or slideshow to post on the Llangollen Remembers Facebook page as a record of what happened this year."

Government's new £140m boost for businesses

* Llangollen businesses could benefit from Welsh Government cash support. 

Tourism and hospitality businesses  in Llangollen could benefit from an additional £140 million being made available by the Welsh Government.

The new cash for businesses is aimed at helping them deal with the challenges of coronavirus and the UK’s exit from EU, Economy Minister Ken Skates has announced.

The funding from the third phase of the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) will see wider support being provided to secure jobs and help businesses develop, as well as additional help for firms affected by local lockdowns.

To date, the ERF has delivered almost £300 million of support to more than 13,000 companies in Wales. This has helped to protect in excess of 100,000 jobs which might otherwise have been lost.

This new phase of the ERF will see £80 million being made available to support businesses with projects that can help them transition to the economy of tomorrow.

It will require co-investment from companies and a clear plan about how they will adjust to the post-covid economy.

Of this, £20 million will be ring fenced to support tourism and hospitality businesses who are facing particular challenges as they enter the winter months.

Meanwhile, an additional £60 million will be allocated to support businesses impacted by local lockdown restrictions.

The rest of the funding will be used flexibly to provide additional support, for example to increase lending to Welsh businesses through Development Bank of Wales initiatives and to help companies deal with the impacts of the UK leaving the European Union.

The ERF has been designed to complement and build on the support offered by the UK Government.

Ken Skates said: “Our Economic Resilience Fund has been absolutely crucial in supporting businesses throughout Wales in dealing with the economic challenges of the coronavirus and helping protect the livelihoods of more than 100,000 people.

“The next phase of the fund, worth £140 million, builds on that success, helping us to secure jobs and enabling businesses to continue to develop and grow in these challenging times. There is also a specific part of the fund earmarked to support businesses affected by local lockdowns.

“This additional help has been designed to complement and build on the support announced by the Chancellor last week, again demonstrating the Welsh Government’s proactive approach to go above and beyond in providing extra financial assistance that we know our businesses and workers need.

“The £80 million worth of business development grants will be open to micro businesses, SMEs and large businesses.”

* Micro businesses (employing between 1 and 9 people) will be able to apply for up to £10,000 on the condition they match this with their own investment of at least 10%.

* SMEs (employing between 10 and 249 people) will be able to apply for up to £150,000 on the condition they match this with their own investment of at least 10% for small business (1 to 49 staff) and 20% for medium sized (50 to 249) business.

* Large businesses (employing 250+ people) will be able to apply for up to £200,000 on the condition they match this with their own investment of at least 50%.

Companies that received grant funding through phases one and two of the ERF, or Non-Domestic Rate linked support, could also be eligible for phase three of the ERF.

The Minister added: “We are going through a time like no other. Coronavirus and the increasing risk of the UK reaching the end of the European Union transition period without a deal have placed incredible challenges on our businesses.

“As a Welsh Government, we continue to do all we can to back our businesses, our workers and our communities.”

Oak Street Gallery hosts work by artist Carys Haf Roberts

* Above and below: Work on display by artists 

Carys Haf Roberts at Oak Street Gallery.

Oak Street Galley is currently exhibiting the work of Carys Haf Roberts. 

A gallery spokesperson said: "Her beautiful colours and deep sense and love of the local landscape comes through in all her work. Her work is full of joy and gratitude and a perfect antidote for our times. 

"So please stop by to see her paintings, prints, greeting cards, bookmarks."

The gallery will be open Thursday through Sunday (11am-5pm) and viewable anytime through the windows. 

The current exhibition is on until October 18.

 

MP praises railway's Covid fightback

* Simon Baynes MP and Liz McGuinness at Llangollen Railway.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes met with the chair of Llangollen Railway, Liz McGuiness, to learn more about their very successful re-opening following the Covid-19 pandemic.

On the visit, Mr Baynes and Liz McGuiness discussed the changes that have been made since re-opening, such as enhanced cleaning regimes, an advanced booking system and hand sanitising stations.

They travelled in the steam train to Carrog, where the tea-room was very busy, then back to Llangollen.

Mr Baynes praised Liz McGuiness and all the staff  and volunteers at Llangollen Railway for their efforts in ensuring that all visitors, staff  and volunteers can enjoy their experience at Llangollen Railway safely. 

He also learnt more about how they have weathered the Coronavirus crisis through fundraising and a grant of £161,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

They continue to invest in the railway infrastructure, particularly in Corwen where the Corwen Group is making big strides in restoring the station, and also see a steady income stream from their engineering department.

Liz McGuinness said: “We are really grateful for the support received by Simon during the past months. The volunteers and staff have worked extremely hard and we are looking forward to our Santa season and to a great 2021.”

Simon Baynes MP said: “Following their fundraising events earlier in the year, it is great to see that the Llangollen Railway has re-opened with the appropriate social distancing guidelines. 

"The railway is a terrific tourist attraction and I look forward to seeing it continue to bounce back following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

"I fully agree with the Prime Minister’s comments about the Llangollen Railway in May in Parliament when he said it had a “fabulous future.”

Hundreds turn up for their jabs at the Pavilion drive-through flu clinic

* The long but orderly queue of cars waiting for their flu jabs at the Pavilion this morning.

At least 800 people had turned up by lunchtime for today's drive-through flu vaccination day at the Pavilion.
And with the session, run by staff from Llangollen Health Centre, due to last until 5pm this evening many more are likely to take advantage of the special clinic aimed solely at patients born before April 1 1956.
Volunteers from the Tidy Town Team helped with the arrangements which saw scores of vehicles pulling into the car park to be formed into a long queue winding its way through the eisteddfod field to the front of the Pavilion where medical staff were carrying out the vaccinations through their wound-down windows.
After their "jabs" the vehicles, all travelling in one direction, were directed out again through the other car park exit.  
Only people arriving by car were allowed to take part. 
The health centre's Tessa Orton-Jones said later that a total of 1,547 patients enventually received immunisation during the day.

* Part of the queue waiting on the Pavilion car park for their turn.

Mike calls halt to his Tai Chi classes at Plas Newydd

Mike Gleed, who has been running his popular weekly Tai Chi exercise sessions in the grounds of Plas Newydd for the past few months, has decided to call a halt to them.

In a message to llanblogger he says: "I have decided that the last meeting of our Tai Chi/Chi Kung group will be next Thursday, October 1. 

"It has been a pleasure and such a nice group of people/friends. 

"It has been beneficial health-wise and also socially with us respecting social distancing during exercise and afterwards with the cafe. 

"I'd like to thanks the Plas Newydd management for allowing us to use such a fabulous venue. 

"I hope that those who attended will continue the exercises at home and stay safe and well. 

"Thank you to those who attended and contributed to the experience." 

The "forgotten" Mazda that's not at all bad

Mazda2 road test by Steve Rogers

A friend admiring the Mazda2 asked the usual question: Did I like it?

I hesitated and then said it was an okay car but I would sooner have a Volkswagen Polo which pleased her because she drives a VW Up. I could also have said Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta or Peugeot 208.

Which is why I found myself feeling a bit sorry for this well-made, well-equipped supermini because it is the one model in Mazda's outstanding range that has been left behind. A bit like a naughty child left doing lines while his classmates are out playing football.

Mazda has put lashings of time and effort into making the 3,6 MX-5 and the CX range superb cars while the 2 trails behind struggling to keep up.

It has had a few tweaks since the current shape hit our showrooms in 2007 and an update this year gave it a new grille, rear bumper, cabin trim improvements and extra sound deadening but most of this will go unnoticed.

For all that the little Mazda has many good points even if they are often followed by a negative. 

The cabin materials have more of a premium feel than many of its rivals with quality trim along the door cards and dashboard but it is still starting to look dated. The three-dial binnacle needs updating if only to give the central speedometer clear 30 and 70mpg markings. An easy solution is a digital speedo already in the binnacle on the range-topping GT Sport Nav.

Something worth shouting about is the infotainment centre operated by touching the 7in central screen or, better still, by twirling the rotary controller between the front seats. Other manufacturers could learn from its simplicity and ease of use, particularly on the move, and the response time is excellent as well.

Heating controls are separate, thankfully, operated via three nice big dials. Perfect.

Cabin space is nowhere near class leading but good for front seat people and adequate for two and a half adults in the back. The back seats split and drop to increase carrying space - here's another but - boot space is not its best feature.

The hatchback opening at the base is on the narrow side and there is a 25cm (10in for us old 'uns) drop into the boot well which makes lifting heavy shopping bags a strenuous exercise.

Sharp handling is a given with all Mazdas and the 2 is no exception but the downside is a ride that is on the hard side of firm, and in spite of the extra sound deadening there is a fair bit of road noise while the suspension needs to do better at smothering jarring from potholes and poor surfaces.

Mazda has bucked the trend to go for small turbo charged petrol engines so the choice is the normally aspirated 1.5 litre SkyActiv G with 74 or 89bhp. My test car was the latter and is nippy enough although be prepared for plenty of gear changing to extract the best performance. Pick-up low down the rev range is pedestrian without flicking down the box and the ratios are long with second is good for a lofty 60mph.

Economy is excellent and I beat the official figure by a country mile averaging 58mpg over 350 miles. One 30-mile stroll returned 60mpg according to the on board computer.

Exhaust emissions are commendably low, due in part to the mild hybrid system which also sharpens the response time of the stop/start so pulling away from junctions and traffic lights is seamless as the engine fires up.

Mazda2 isn't the cheapest supermini out there but part of that is down to a generous list of kit from the base model up. The Sport Nav model has climate control, cruise control city brake and lane keep assist, keyless entry LED lights and rear parking sensors among the highlights.

So a real mixed bag for the Mazda2 which needs a little more TLC from its makers. If I was a cartoon artist drawing the Mazda2 I would give it a sad face with a big tear dropping from its headlight eyes!

Need to know

Mazda2 Sport Nav

£17,540 (starts £15,840)

1.5 litre; 89bhp

0-62mph 9.7secs' 114mph

53.3mpg combined

120g/km. 1st road tax £175

Insurance group 15

Boot: 280 litres

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here is the latest advice column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice.

Q: I’ve worked at the same company for many years but I’ve been told I’m being made redundant. What redundancy pay am I entitled to? 

A: If you’re being made redundant, there are two types of redundancy pay you could get. ‘Statutory’ redundancy pay is the minimum that the law says you’re entitled to, or ‘contractual’ redundancy pay, which is extra money your contract says you can get on top of the statutory amount.

You’re usually only entitled to statutory redundancy pay if you’ve been an employee for at least two years. It’s worth asking your employer or checking your contract to see if you’re entitled to more than the statutory redundancy rules allow.

Statutory redundancy pay is based on age, weekly pay and number of years in the job, up to a max of £538 a week. The Citizens Advice and Gov.uk websites have calculators to help work out how much you’ll get. For example if you’re aged 41 and over, you’ll get 1.5 week’s statutory redundancy pay for each full year you’ve worked, up to a maximum of 20 years’ service.

If your employer offers a suitable alternative job, but you refuse to take it without good reasons, they can refuse to pay your redundancy.

You won’t get statutory redundancy pay if you’ve been employed for less than two years, are self-employed or are in certain jobs like the armed forces or police (though you may be entitled to contractual pay).

If you’ve been furloughed, the law now says that your redundancy pay should be worked out using your usual wages, even if you were paid 80% while you were furloughed. However, statutory redundancy pay still limits a weeks’ pay to £538.  

If your employer has told you that your redundancy pay will be based on your furlough rate of pay, you could explain to the employer that isn’t what the Gov.uk website says about redundancy pay, or contact your nearest Citizens Advice.

Plas Newydd needs your help with restoration project

* Restoration work is to be carried out in the Dell 

to the bog garden and ram pump building.

The home of the Ladies of Llangollen is inviting people to help with research into an exciting restoration project it is undertaking in the coming months.

Plas Newydd, which can trace its roots back to the 18th century, is continuing to enhance its visitor experience. 

The scheme will include carrying out a programme of restoration work in the Dell to reinstate the bog garden and ram pump building.

Site manager Paul Evans explained how Plas Newydd is working with the Our Picturesque Landscape team who have been funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver on a five-year restoration and interpretation project across the Dee valley. 

And he says the involvement of the public can play a key part in the success of an important part of the project.

“So many people in Llangollen, and further afield, have stories to tell about our beautiful house and its grounds from different periods in history. We would love to hear from them,” said Paul.

“It would be wonderful to know what details are out there in the community about Plas. The contribution provided by the public could make a major input to the research needed for the project.”

Plas Newydd is a popular destination for tourists from across Britain and attracts visitors from all across the world.

But Paul stressed the house and its grounds also take great pride in providing an oasis of calm and beauty for residents in Llangollen who have enjoyed its tranquil setting for generations.

 “Unfortunately due to Covid-19 we haven’t been able to open up the house to the public this year,” said Paul.

 “But even throughout lockdown our gardens remained available for visitors and in July we re-opened our tea rooms utilising our courtyard and outdoor space. We have had many comments from people over the last few months saying how much they enjoy coming here to exercise or meet friends, and how much Plas means to them.”

* If anyone has information about Plas Newydd’s history and specifically the ram building that they would like to share with the museum, they can get in contact by telephoning 01978 862834 or email plasnewydd@denbighshire.gov.uk 

Llangollen Town Council back to full strength

* New councillor Peter Carol.

* New councillor John Palmer.

With the co-option of Peter Carol at the last night’s meeting and John Palmer at the meeting in August, all casual vacancies on the Town Council have now been filled.

Cllr Palmer replaces the seat vacated by former Cllr Beech and Cllr Carol that of former Deputy Mayor, Cllr Richards.

Commenting on the appointments Town Clerk Gareth Thomas said: "The process of co-option is governed and controlled by a number of regulations and the pandemic did not change the requirements for clerks to follow  defined procedures. 

"The initial notices of vacancy were displayed for a period of 14 days in which time 10 constituents could have requested a by-election.

"With both applications the necessary requisite numbers were not met and therefore the appointments were made by co-option, a process again governed by a further set of regulations.”

He added: "Following advice from the county council's Returning Officer there were concerns that any appointments to a contest seat, which was the case with the resignation of Cllr Richards, should not be made until the Town Council could meet face to face again without restrictions. 

"However, more recent guidance allowed the Town Council to proceed with the second appointment this month.

"This recent advice also means that the annual meeting of the Town Council, which is normally held in May, will now take place in November and at that meeting councillors will consider the appointment of the Town Mayor and Deputy Town Mayor."

130-plus affordable homes built across county in the past year

More than 130 new affordable homes have been created in Denbighshire during the last year.

A total of 139 affordable homes were created between April 2019 and March 2020 and included 104 new builds as well as an additional 28 leased homes for people affected by homelessness and supported units for tenants affected with learning difficulties.

Affordable housing is provided for local people to meet the needs of those who cannot afford open market housing to buy or rent

The homes have been built by private developers and registered social landlords (RSLs) including Cartrefi Conwy, Grŵp Cynefin, Clwyd Alyn and Wales & West and are spread across the county with properties in Rhyl, Llanbedr DC, Denbigh, Rhuddlan, Prestatyn, Cynwyd, Henllan, Corwen, Prestatyn, Dyserth and Ruthin.

The Council works with RSLs and private developers to ensure sites chosen will meet the open market and affordable housing needs of residents as well as managing the Social Housing Grant provided by Welsh Government to enable affordable house building by RSLs.

Councillor Tony Thomas, the council’s Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Ensuring there is enough housing to meet the needs of Denbighshire residents is a priority for the Council.

“The council set a target of ensuring 260 affordable homes were built in the county between 2017 and 2022 and so far 210 have been created.

“The council is pleased to be working in partnership with private developers and RSLs to ensure the number of affordable properties in the county is increasing.”

* Information on affordable housing options and availability can be found on the Tai Teg website www.taiteg.org.uk or contact 03456 015 605.

County council's new website goes live

* The county council's new look website.

Denbighshire County Council has completely revamped its website to make it more accessible to the public – and it’s now gone live.

Each public service organisation needs to ensure that its website meets the requirements of the Equalities Act and have accessible websites by September 2020.   

Making a website accessible means that it can be used by people with impaired vision, motor difficulties, learning disabilities, deafness or impaired hearing.

Councillor Richard Mainon, Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Services and Strategic Direction, said: “We hope people like out new look website and find the new look site a lot easier to navigate and find the information they need.

“We are always looking at ways of improving our online services and this latest change in law has given us a great opportunity to revamp our website, making sure it fully complies with accessibility guidelines.

“We have been testing the site with the Disability Access Centre and have passed their accessibility tests. We have also introduced some minor changes in response to feedback from the public and we would like to thank people for taking the time to get in touch.

“It has a very different look and feel from the existing website.  It has a clear and simple design; it should be easier to read in terms of font, colours and contrast and the language should be easy to understand.  It has also been designed so that it can be used on as many digital devices as possible.

“Our website is one of the key platforms for the council to provide advice and information to the public and is available twenty four hours a day, 365 days a year. 

“The council is focussing on providing more services online and allowing customers to access a wide range of information about council services, as well as registering requests, making payments and getting involved in consultations.  

* The new-look website is available by visiting: www.denbighshire.gov.uk.