Former councillor keeps pictures of Boris's early fight

* Boris Johnson canvasses in Castle Street during the 1997 General Election.

* The rosettes worn by Conservative supporters in '97.

* The first letter on Daily Telegraph notepaper.

... and side two.

* The letter from the office of the Mayor of London.

... and the letter's flipside.

* Boris Johnson's supporters wait anxiously for the result of the 1997 Clwyd South election.

Former Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has displayed various treasured items he keeps as mementos of the time 22 years when Boris Johnson fought the local Parliamentary seat.

The poll battle came in May 1997 when the man who became Prime Minister yesterday unsuccessfully contested the Clwyd South Seat during the General Election in which Labour won a landslide victory across the country.

He picked up 9,091 votes compared to his Labour opponent Martyn Jones who received a winning total of 22,901.

Stuart Davies acted as Johnson’s press officer and has since kept a number of pictures and souvenirs of the occasion.

These include a couple of Tory blue rosettes worn by supporters during the campaign and two letters sent to him from the candidate.

The first is dated just after the 1997 election and is written on the notepaper of the Daily Telegraph where Johnson was working at the time as a journalist.

In it he says - in at least foreign languages - that the “struggle continues” and the second came in October 2015 after Johnson had won the London Mayoralty for the first time. In it he tells Mr Davies that he fondly recalls visiting Brymo steelworks during the Clwyd South campaign.

There are also two pictures in the collection, one of which shows party supporters gathering round during the count and the other featuring the candidate back in 1997 canvassing from the doorway of a people carrier in Castle Street, Llangollen.

Mr Davies said: “I remember him from the campaign as being something of a man of the people who liked to meet and was able to talk easily to everyone right across society.

“I think that if he’s not able to push through Brexit we’ll see him call an early election and then I reckon he’ll win hands down.

“By the way, there are lots of jokes these days about his modern-day vehicle being messy all the time. Well, it was the same was back in 1997.”

Volvo S60 is a neat piece of Scandi chic

* The Volvo S60 saloon.

* The S60's interior.

Volvo S60 road test by Steve Rogers

THIS is a tail of amazing good fortune or, as my wife said, absolute stupidity.

It all started while loading golf clubs into the boot of the Volvo S60. I needed somewhere to rest my mobile and laid it on the edge of the roof mentally telling myself not to forget it before driving away.

You will have guessed what’s coming. I nipped to the gents and the distraction was enough for me to drive away with said mobile sitting on the roof.

The 15 mile drive home is mainly B roads, uphill, down dale, lots of twists, poor surfaces and the occasional pothole.

At home the mobile is nowhere to be found and then that moment when the head sinks into the hands. I left it on the roof of the car so that is the end of that... but low and behold it is still there.

After the stinging rebuke from my wife I suggested we look at the bigger picture and what it said about the quality of the S60s suspension and its ability to soak up everything thrown at it. My phone really should have ended up in a ditch.

The S60 saloon is Volvo's newest model following on from the V60 estate and shares the Swedish company's current design DNA so models morph into a set shape but who cares if they look great. It has won them loads of awards, not to mention sales which are at an all time high.

The new model is in the early stages with one engine, a four cylinder 2-litre petrol. Note the absence of a diesel, a brave move when rivals like Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz are hanging in there with clean, economical diesels but sales show Volvo buyers are migrating to petrol.

As for the 2-litre it musters 250bhp and in all honesty is plenty quick enough with a decent amount of mid range pick up which is what's really important for stress free overtaking, and all this comes through a smooth eight speed automatic with steering wheel shifter paddles to spice up the drive.

If economy is important in the buying process then S60 is on the back foot against its diesel rivals. Mid thirties to the gallon is the best I could get which is reasonable for a car of this size with this sort of performance but way short of what a similarly powered diesel will return.

Once that hurdle is cleared the rest is an easy sprint to the finish line. S60 is in the zone right across the board but the stand out feature has to be the interior. The minimalist Swedish styling is Scandi chic at its best and along with the quality of materials makes it the pick of the class.

Volvo has taken the bull by the horns and virtually eliminated switches with the main functions selected from a nine-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. It works on the same principal as a mobile phone or tablet and is able to store masses of information.

I have got used to it driving Volvos over the last few years but still find swiping the screen for everyday tasks a distraction. That said there is the simplest of solutions for a driver who wants to keep his eyes on the road.

Voice control. Change the heating temperature or fan speed, select a radio station, or say a post code for navigation and it happens. Job done, I'm happy. The 12.3in digital display in the driver's binnacle is another bonus especially when using navigation.

It's a great car to drive too, lashings of style and substance, and superbly comfortable seats. R-Design models err towards a sporty drive with stiffer spring settings and selectable drive modes yet passengers are still cushioned against our many poor road surfaces.

As you would expect Volvo provides an abundance of safety features and that includes keeping the car in its lane and emergency braking if the driver's eyes are not focussed on the road or you are too slow to react to an obstacle whether it be a person or vehicle.

There are more S60 model variants on the way including the imminent arrival of the monstrous T8 twin engine with 400bhp. That is going to spice things up a bit!

That said Volvo does not hold the monopoly on the medium saloon sector which is jam packed with excellent models but while the Swede is amongst the best it is not enough to persuade me away from my favourite, the rear wheel drive Alfa Romeo Giulia. In fact if I was going down the Volvo road my pick would be its sister, the V60 estate, same car with more flexibility.

Key facts

S60 R-Design Edition 8sp auto

£37,920

2-litre T5 petrol 250bhp

0-60mph 6.3secs; 145mph

35.3-39.8mpg combined

155g/km. 1st year road tax £530

Boot capacity 442 litres

Insurance group 34

Final decision due on leisure delivery plan

A final decision will be made on the budget for transferring leisure facilities and functions provided by Denbighshire County Council to an alternative delivery model.

The cost and net savings for a ‘Council-owned not-for-profit trading company’ is to be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet on July 30th.

The business plan has previously been approved by Full Council.

The Council-owned trading company would enable the leisure service to trade more commercially to help sustain the facilities, as well as making substantial savings for the Council in the first year of operation.

The facilities proposed to be included are the county’s seven leisure centres as well as the Prestatyn Nova, SC2, Rhyl Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl Events Arena and events function, North Wales Bowls Centre, Rhyl Town Hall, Ruthin Craft Centre, Llangollen Pavilion, 1891, Café R (Ruthin) and Strategic Leisure.

Whilst the consideration of an alternative delivery model (ADM) is new to the Council, many other councils across the UK are already using similar ADMs to deliver a range of services, and the Council has engaged extensively with these other Councils as the Denbighshire model has been developed through the various stages.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, lead member for Well-being and Independence, said: “We are very proud of our leisure services in Denbighshire which have a positive impact on residents’ health and well-being.

“Investment by the Council over the past ten years has seen visitor numbers increase and ensured facilities are first class and up-to-date.

“Moving to an ADM will ensure the company continues to deliver a high-quality leisure provision long into the future, but as the company would be solely owned by the Council it will be the Council that sets the priorities for the company and the level of service expected.

“Therefore the public should see very little difference in terms of the quality of the services provided or the ‘look and feel’ of the facilities.”

Cllr Julian Thompson-Hill, lead member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “We have recognised the need for on-going investment at times of significant financial challenge. We have also listened to the public as the demand for leisure sessions grew and continues to grow across the Council.

“This model will allow for the continued innovative and entrepreneurial approach to commercial leisure long into the future.”

If the plan is supported by Cabinet the ADM implementation process will be started by the Council with the company expected to be operational April next year.

Give prescribed heroin to addicts, says police boss

* North Wales PCC Arfon Jones.

A police boss is calling for a pilot scheme to be set up in North Wales to give prescribed heroin to drug addicts as part of a pioneering treatment programme.

According to the region’s police and crime commissioner, Arfon Jones, the introduction of Heroin Assisted Treatment would save lives, reduce crime, cut costs and reduce the scale of the illicit drug market.

A similar scheme is being launched in Cleveland in the Autumn by the police and health authorities in Cleveland with the blessing of Home Secretary Sajid Javid who is allowing it to go ahead under licence.

It will see people with problematic drug use being given medical-grade heroin – diamorphine – at special centres where they can inject themselves twice a day, seven days a week.

The aim is to cure the most drug-dependent addicts by giving them access to medical and other specialist staff.

It has been estimated the scheme will cost about £12,000 a year for each addict, which is a fraction of the cost of the crime they commit.

Mr Jones believes a pilot in North Wales should be funded by the Area Planning Board, which together with the Health Board, has an annual budget of £10 million a year to spend on schemes aimed at combating substance abuse, including alcohol.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, was speaking at a conference organised by the Welsh Association of Community Safety Officers in Newport.

He said: “Reducing criminal exploitation of vulnerable people is the overarching priority of my Police and Crime Plan so I am delighted to be here.

“In my view, the current method of tackling organised crime through the Criminal Justice System has not been effective.

“Once one group has been removed, another replaces it within days, or even hours which inevitably leads to further violence and exploitation.

“Trying to arrest our way out of responding for the demand for drugs is not working and quite frankly hasn’t been working for a long, long time.

“In 1971 when the Misuse of Drugs Act was introduced, we had less than 2,000 problematic opioid users now we have 300,000.

“Heroin Assisted Treatment is proven to reduce crime, cut costs and reduce the scale of the illicit drug market.

“From a Public Health perspective, the benefit of Heroin Assisted Treatment are endless because it reduces the likelihood of overdose, reduce the risk of HIV and other blood borne viruses and provides individuals with access to services.

“There are also clear benefits to the Criminal Justice System. Heroin Assisted Treatment has been proven to reduce acquisitive crime considerably.

“In Switzerland Heroin Assisted Treatment was introduced in 1994, and subsequent academic evaluation showed that prescribing medicinal heroin to 10 per cent of the heaviest users and whom committed much crime resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in the  illicit heroin market and reduced burglaries by up to 50 per cent

“Secondly I believe that diversion away from the Criminal Justice System is essential in ensuring that the most vulnerable within our societies are protected and helped to address their underlying issues.

“The majority of low level offenders offend due to their inability to deal with various issues and situations. These can include substance misuse, housing, debt or mental health to name but a few. 

“By addressing these underlying issues individuals are less likely to offend as they are no longer in crisis.

In 2013, Durham Constabulary introduced the Checkpoint Diversion Scheme which provided low level offenders with an alternative to the Criminal Justice System.

“Nine navigators were employed to work with low level offenders to address their underlying issues and work with them to prevent re-offending.

“This scheme has been extremely successful and has seen the reoffending rate reduce to around four per cent.

“Due to the success of the Durham model, I will be introducing Checkpoint Cymru into North Wales on October 1. 

“I am currently in the process of recruiting nine navigators and I have been absolutely delighted by the high level of interest in these roles, with over 60 applications being received. 

“The navigators will be based in all three of the custody suites across North Wales and will work with individuals during what will typically be a 16 week programme, but can be tailored to individual needs – for example, those caught in possession of a small amount of drugs will be given the opportunity to attend a four-hour drug awareness programme.

“We already know from the work done by our criminal justice system partners in North Wales that many of the offences committed by female offenders given short term sentences are those that will qualify for the Checkpoint Cymru  programme.

“Children with a parent in prison are twice as likely as other children to experience conduct and mental health problems, less likely to do well at school and more likely to be excluded.

“They are also more likely to be arrested and imprisoned as young adults and three times more likely to be involved in offending activity themselves.

“Therefore, the cost to local authorities, policing and our other partners of not effectively supporting children of imprisoned parents could be substantial.

“It makes absolute sense for partners across North Wales to pool resources, best practice and learning to ensure that these children are able to reach their full potential.

“Despite the strength of the business case and the widely accepted evidence, some local authorities in North Wales remain unconvinced and will not make a funding contribution towards the costs of a small regional team established to tackle this very issue of supporting families affected by parental imprisonment.

“This is a perfect example I believe where pooled budgets could make a significant difference to partnership working and where the Welsh Government can play such a crucial role in putting together a funding package. 

“Working together in effective partnership will help us all to meet the financial challenges we face whilst providing more effective support to people ensnared by problematic drug abuse and striking a blow against the illicit drugs trade.”

North Wales joins firearms surrender scheme

North Wales Police along with forces across the country are appealing for people to hand in unwanted guns with a two week surrender of firearms and ammunition, which started on Saturday.

Many firearms are held in innocence and ignorance of their illegality or are overlooked and forgotten in people’s homes. Others are acquired and distributed by criminal networks to harm, threaten and intimidate their local communities.

The surrender gives people the chance to dispose of firearms or ammunition by simply taking them to a designated local police station and handing them over.

The surrender will run until August 4. Surrendering unwanted, unlicensed weapons avoids the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.

During this period, those surrendering firearms will not face prosecution for the illegal possession upon surrender and can remain anonymous. However, the history of each live weapon will be checked for evidence of its use in crimes.

Detective Superintendent Steve Williams of North Wales Police said: “Given the large rural setting of our area, it may be that some people hold unlicensed firearms that have been handed down to them and may have concerns as to what to do with these weapons. There may also be people who, because of the change in legislation have a weapon they cannot legally hold. This surrender period allows them to dispose of these weapons in a manner that can allay such fears.

“Fortunately we do not have a significant gun crime problem in North Wales. However, we are not complacent about gun crime and we want as many guns surrendered as possible so I would encourage the public to come forward.”

This summer’s national campaign has a particular focus on firearms, stun gun type devices and pepper sprays. Police want to highlight the danger of these items and remind people they are illegal in this country and could lead to a prison sentence for anyone caught in possession.   

Assistant Chief Constable Helen McMillan, National Police Chief’s Council lead for Criminal Use of Firearms, said; “The last national firearms surrender in 2017 was a success and potentially helped save lives. With the Government’s Serious Violence Strategy underway, we feel it is the right time to ask police forces to run another two week campaign to collect unwanted guns and ammunition. Each firearm we retrieve has the potential to save a life, so do the right thing and surrender your weapon. 

“We also want to highlight that stun guns and similar devices are illegal in the UK and may not be brought in from abroad. They may be legal in some other countries, but if you are caught with one here you could be prosecuted with possession of a firearm and be put behind bars. This summer’s surrender is a good opportunity to hand in these types of devices.”

The surrender initiative is being co-ordinated by the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS). 

Detective Chief Superintendent Jo Clews, Head of NABIS, added: “This is an important national campaign co-ordinated by NABIS. During the last decade our experts have provided police forces with ground breaking ballistic forensic services and intelligence packages to prevent and detect gun crime. Even though UK firearm offences remain at relatively low levels compared to other countries, we cannot be complacent and this surrender will help remove further potential harm from our communities.”         

Weapons and ammunition can be surrendered at police stations including Wrexham.

If people are unable to visit any of these stations they are advised to contact North Wales Police on 101 to make alternative arrangements. For advice on how best to transport the weapon responsibly from home to their police station they are advised to phone 101 before travelling.

Wrexham Police Station, at the former Oriel Gallery, Rhosddu Road LL11 1AU, (01978) 834321. is open 8.30am/7pm – Monday to Saturday & 9am/6pm – Sundays.

MP demands review of disabled welfare system

* Susan Elan Jones MP at the launch in Parliament of the Disability Benefits Consortium report Has Welfare Become Unfair?

Clwyd South Labour MP Susan Elan Jones has called for a compete review of how the welfare system treats disabled people.

Her demand came after she attended the parliamentary launch of the Disability Benefits Consortium report Has Welfare Become Unfair?

Ms Jones said: "Every year my staff team and I help around 800-1,000 constituents. Some of these will be local people with disabilities who are led down badly by an unfair system. 

"The Disability Benefits Consortium is a national group of more than 80 different charities and organisations.  

"I am pleased to support their excellent report and really hope the Government listens."

She added: "We urgently need a thorough review of the Personal Independence Payments assessment criteria and the inclusion of a disability element to Universal Credit."

The Disability Benefits Consortium report calls for the Government to act upon a series of 22 recommendations. 

These include suggestions that the Department for Work & Pensions produces simplified claim forms, increased resources so that charities and other advice agencies can better assist people in completing forms and a commitment to review of Personal Independence Payments assessments.

Valley Girls hang their Bra-skets in the town

* Sandra Smith of the Coppafeel campaign, left, with Gail Ellson

of Valley Girls WI with the Bra-skets display outside the Town Hall.

* Valley Girls WI members are briefed on the Coppafeel
 campaign by Sandra Smith at their meeting.

Llangollen’s Valley Girls WI are showing how well they keep abreast of vital themes in health care with their latest project.

On Thursday evening a team of of members were out putting up hanging baskets outside the Town Hall in time for the annual Fringe Festival.

And what the girls have dubbed “Bra-skets” aim to remind people of the importance of self-examination when it comes to the crucial early detection of breast cancer.

Valley Girls spokeswoman Gail Ellson said: “It's mainly intended as a bit of fun to cheer up the town as we did with the Yarn Bomb back in 2016 when we hung knitted items around the town centre. It also ties in with the artistic nature of the Fringe Festival.

“We thought we should also use it for the good of the community and visitors to the town by linking with a Breast Cancer charity Coppafeel https://coppafeel.org/

She added: “There are several health care professionals amongst the Valley Girls whose job involves a lot of health promotion and health education.

“A few of us have links with the Coppafeel charity through one of our colleagues Sandra Smith, who volunteers for Coppafeel.

“Sandra spoke to the Valley Girls back in May and we were all inspired to support the charity.

“The Braskets will have health education leaflets attached to them which onlookers are welcome to take away.

“The leaflets provide user friendly information on breast self examination, which is essential in aiding the early detection and subsequent treatment of breast cancer.”

Guide launched to support Denbighshire carers

A guide to all the information and support available to carers in Denbighshire has been launched.

North East Wales Carers Information Service (NEWCIS) was commissioned to develop the guide with local carers and partner organisations on behalf of Denbighshire County Council.

It helps carers find out how to get help with money and benefits, legal rights, time away from caring, practical support, training, learning and employment as well as NHS services.

Ian Whitehead, aged 53, from Rhyl, is a carer for his wife and also volunteers with NEWCIS supporting carers and helping with fundraising.

He said: “It is really important carers are aware of the support that is out there for them. They play a vital role, without them the person they care for would be more isolated and wouldn’t be able to get out as much.

“This guide collects everything in one place and helps make it clearer to carers. I would encourage them to pick up a copy.”

Supporting carers and creating resilient communities is a priority for the Council under its Corporate Plan and support includes helping carers access leisure services, providing financial support for short breaks, offering training to maintain caring roles as well as promoting life-long learning and support to continue working or re-enter the workforce.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, Denbighshire’s lead member for Well-being and Independence, said: “It is important carers know where and how to access support for themselves as well as the person they care for.  

“Carers look after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. 

“Being a carer for another person covers a whole range of activities including personal care, emotional support, practical assistance, transport and social support. We have worked with carers and partner organisations on this guide which is full of helpful information about caring and the support available.”

* You can pick up the guide at One Stop Shops, libraries and doctors surgeries across Denbighshire.

Claire Sullivan of NEWCIS said: “We hope this leaflet can act as a fantastic resource for carers across Denbighshire. It illustrates the continued close working between the local authority and their third sector partners to ensure carers are supported well.”

Twenty Club's cunning plan to stage Blackadder

* Miranda Richardson and Rowan Atkinson in TV's Blackadder.

Fresh from their success with the gripping Dinner with Otto, Llangollen Twenty Club are lightening the mood by staging three episodes of smash TV comedy Blackadder.

Written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton, Blackadder was an iconic TV series which reached cult status. 

There were four periods in history covered on TV and Twenty Club have chosen to depict the Elizabethan era in their production which runs at Llangollen Town Hall from November 7-9 this year, each performance starting at 7.30pm.

Auditions for the piece are to be held in the council chamber at the Town Hall on Sunday July 28 at 2pm, and Tuesday July 30 at 7pm.

Director Chrissie Ashworth said: “We have chosen three episodes which we considered to be the best mix and most suited to perform at our home at the Town Hall.

“I’m looking for a close ‘copy’ of the original TV characters, as that is what people remember and the humour that goes with it. 

“Don’t think you have to be perfect, but I need to see a similarity.

“The three episodes that we will perform are all iconic, and hilarious, and should be a huge amount of fun both at rehearsal, and to perform.

“They are entitled respectively Head, Beer and Bells and they are all readily available on iPlayer at the moment and also to buy on Amazon.

“Blackadder is hilarious. It is farce, quick witted and when staged well is a gem. I want that gem.

“Let’s see a super turnout. Auditions will be open, so that everyone else are able to see each other and therefore eliminate any doubt as to allocation of roles. Plenty to do, this is a big show and we need you all!”

People get an early look at county's new masterplan

* The 11 candidate development sites in Llangollen 

shown on a map on display at the drop-in session. 

* Part of the display in the Town Hall foyer. 

A drop-in session was held at the Town Hall yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon to allow people to comment on the county council’s approach to creating a new Local Development Plan.

The current Local Development Plan (LDP) provides local policy on development in the county and expires in December 2021 and  the council is working to have a new adopted LDP in place by this date. 

Over the past 12 months detailed work has taken place on developing a range of growth options which set out how much land would be required for different types of development and where that development should broadly be located.

Councillors have agreed a draft Preferred Strategy for consultation. This recommends the provision of land for 3,775 homes and 68 hectares of employment land. It is also proposed to focus new development in settlements with access to services, including a strategic ite at Bodelwyddan.

The consultation runs until the August 30, 2019. 

A series of drop-in sessions have been arranged for people to talk to officers, including the one on Wednesday in Llangollen, which was well attended.

People who went along were able to see displays about the LDP and a map pinpointing the 11 “candidate” sites which have been suggested in Llangollen.

They were also informed about how to make their views known about the plan.

Sites so far suggested locally are:

1. Mile End Mill (0.57 hectares) currentl use: watersport centre and vacant mill building. Proposed use: mixed use, residential and commercial.

2. Land adjacent to The Chestnuts, Berwyn Street (0.64 hectares) current use: vacant land. Porposed use: residential development.

3. Tyn Y Wern off the A5 (0.525 hectares) current use: hotel/tourism. Proposed use: residential development.

4. Maesmawr Road adjacent to Tyn Y Wern (1.1 hectares) current use: agricutural. Proposed use: residential development.

5. Land adjcaent Erw Las, Fron Bache (0.033 hecatares) current use: garden/amenity. Proposed use: residential or tourism accommodation.

6. Climedw, Corwen Road (1.6 hectares) current use: overgrown field. Proposed use: housing and/or leisure.

7. Climedw, Corwen Road, Site 2 (3.72 hectares) current use: greenfield land. Proposed use: housing and/or leisure.

8. Land off Maesmawr Road - Option 1 (2.05 hectares) current use: agricultural. Proposed use: residential.

9. Land off Maesmawr Road - Option 2 (5.4 hectares) current use: agricultural. Proposed use: residential.

10. Berwyn Works (0.49 hectares) current use: former employment use. Proposed use: residential development.

11. Llangollen Youth Club site (1.0 hectare) current use: youth club and pitches. Proposed use: residential development.

The above details can be found online at: 

https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/local-development-plan/replacement-ldp/candidate-site-maps/Llangollen.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0XIzJYlX9gwipAT-8GRZt6AIWLn0DyvT-sLlGleTvDiIefJjv1FZbmq40

The suggestion of residential development for the youth club site has already prompted critical comments on social media.

It was pointed out to people who attended the drop-in session that the council would like to hear their views on the draft strategy between now and August 30, which is the closing date for submissions.

All consultation documents are available on the council’s website at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/ldp and copies are available for inspection during normal opening hours at Denbighshire council offices, libraries and one-stop shops.

Once completed, comments forms should be returned to: Strategic Planning & Housing Team, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ.

Email: planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk

The council says all comments received will be made publicly available and reported to the cabinet and council as part of the report back on the consultation.

Councillor Mark Young, Cabinet Lead Member for Planning, Public Protection and Sustainable Communities, said: “Agreeing and adopting a Local Development Plan is a lengthy process and we have now agreed to consult on our broad approach. The public are now being given a chance to have their say. 

"The responses to this consultation will be reported back to Members and the final Preferred Strategy will need to bediscussed by council in the autumn. This will allow the council to progress to the next stage of the LDP process, which is around creating detailed policies, proposals and specific land use allocations. This more detailed work will also be subject to further public consultation."

Kids challenge businesses to get greener

* Ken Skates AM with children at Ysgol Acrefair.

Schoolchildren and their Assembly Member are challenging local businesses to be more environmentally friendly.

Ken Skates visited Ysgol Acrefair recently after receiving letters from pupils saying what they’d like to see done to reduce littering and single-use plastic locally.

The Welsh Government recently declared a climate emergency and outlined its plans for a greener Wales for future generations, and Mr Skates said he was inspired to see so many young people who shared his passion for protecting the environment.

The Clwyd South AM said ‘we all have a role to play’ – including local businesses.

“The children would like to see local shops and businesses stop selling and using plastic which can’t be recycled,” said Mr Skates. 

“They are very clued-up on this issue, which is fantastic to see, and are only too aware of the problems it causes for wildlife.

“It was amazing to meet so many children of such a young age who want to make a difference and I would like to sincerely thank the school for inviting me in – it was a genuinely inspiring morning and made me feel very proud.”

Headteacher Rebecca Turner said: “At Ysgol Acrefair, we have been very busy exploring and developing the four core purposes of the new curriculum for Wales. As part of the work on developing as ‘ethical, informed citizens’, the children have been finding out about sustainability. They were worried to see how much of our waste isn't recyclable, including the single-use plastic straws that come with their milk each day.

“The children were really inspired by Ken's visit. They thoroughly enjoyed finding out about Ken's job and how he himself tries to be sustainable. They can't wait to see Ken again to see if he has found the answers to some of their tricky questions!”

Mr Skates also talked about what is being done at a national level to protect the planet.

The Welsh Government has committed to achieving a carbon neutral public sector by 2030 and earlier this year published Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Wales, which sets out 100 policies and proposals to meet the 2020 carbon emissions targets.

Mr Skates added: “The Welsh Government’s decision to declare a climate emergency sends a clear message that we are determined to address climate change, which threatens our health, economy and infrastructure as well as our environment.

“It is important we all do what we can. We need collective action and government has a big role in making that happen, so we want to lead by example.”

CX-5 is 'one of the best' big SUVs on the market

* Mazda CX-5.

Mazda CX-5 road test by Steve Rogers

FINDING the right sized car can be tricky. Those you really like are either too small or too big.

This was the dilemma facing the young lady who approached me in a supermarket car park to ask if I liked my Mazda CX-5. 

She was switching from her Renault Captur to a bigger SUV and had been humming and harring over several models and was just a finger nail away from settling for the Mazda.

She had trawled the showrooms, read everything she could find about SUVs online but needed that last bit of reassurance from someone who owned a CX-5. Little did she know I only 'owned' my car for a week but we were able to have a meaningful conversation.

Having got the boring bit about what I did out of the way I had to throw a couple of options into the ring, I particularly like the Peugeot 3008 and Seat Ateca. 

She liked the look of the Pug but did not like the i-Cockpit layout, it's not everyone's cup of tea, and besides it was too small as was the Ateca.

After we skirted round a few more models it was clear she really wanted a CX-5. She particularly liked the front end styling and I wouldn't disagree there, so at the end of the conversation I was happy to say this is now one of the best big SUVs on the market and that she would not be disappointed.

So what makes CX-5 one of the best? The big three pluses are styling, quality and specification. Get those right and rivals are on the back foot, although just about everyone is on their game these days.

We can tick the styling box, it is arguably the best looking SUV along with the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and quality has come on leaps and bounds. 

Mazda has made a big effort, not just with CX-5, but with all its new models. Sit yourself down and there is a good feel about the cabin whether it be the materials for the door cappings (often a letdown) the dashboard or the head lining. 

My GT Sport was clad in leather and looked a cut above the norm.

In this dog eat dog sales world customers demand everything and Mazda has not skimped on kit even on entry level so by the time you reach the top of the range there is nothing much left to add although heated rear seats would top it off nicely.

There is a full suite of safety features, adaptive cruise control etc, but it is the everyday aids that stand out like the head up display for speed, traffic sign recognition and navigation instructions and blind side alert, a big help when about to overtake on motorways.

The command screen in the centre of the dash is the easiest to navigate in any car I have driven. It's a touchscreen, which I don't like using on the move, but Mazda get round this with a rotary dial behind the gear lever which is far safer and less of a distraction when driving.

Space was important for my young lady in the car park and I was able to reassure her on this score.

CX-5 can't claim to be the roomiest but should suit most families. At 4.550mm it is longer than 3008 and the Renault Kadjar but not quite as long as Skoda Kodiaq or Peugeot 5008 both of which offer a third row of seats which would be too much of a squeeze in the CX-5. But it is a comfortable five seater with a decent sized boot.

I liked the 40-20-40 split for the back seats, most are 60-40, and these can be easily dropped from levers in the side wall of the boot. The load area is wide and generous, and long enough to take an adult sized bike without dropping the font wheel.

Apart from the indicator stalk which only seemed to cancel on big turns of the wheel - odd one that - I am struggling for negatives. People may find the ride on the hard side but that is the norm for Mazda who make no excuse for providing a sporty, engaging drive. The big SUVs agility means it is drama free through twists and turns and nicely settled on good roads.

There was no lack of power from the 180bhp SkyActive diesel with its impressive 445Nm of torque so towing my four-berth caravan was a breeze. The extra weight of four wheel drive kept me down to just over 23mpg but the numbers would be better with the front wheel drive 150bhp diesel which would have been more than capable for my needs.

Key facts

CX-5 GT Sport+ AWD

£30,520 (range starts £21,112)

2.2 diesel; 180bhp; 6sp auto

0-62mph 9.6secs; 129mph

39.8mpg combined

145g/km. 1st yr road tax £530

Insurance group 23

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here's the latest column for the Citizens Advice Service ...

Q: About five years ago my father-in-law was the victim of a scam artist who fleeced him out of £5,000. Once he realised, he was devastated and we were able to work with his bank to get some of the money back. We thought it was all in the past but in the last six months he’s received numerous calls, letters and texts from what look like other scammers. We want to try and keep him safe as his memory isn’t the best, what can we do?

A: Unfortunately, falling victim to a scam once can increase exposure to further scams. Citizens Advice has found that, once someone has responded to a scam, their personal details can sometimes be sold onto other criminals. This then opens the door to more scam mail, emails, phone calls or home visits.

If you recognise a pattern of unsolicited calls, talk to your father-in-law’s telephone provider and see if you can get these numbers blocked or if you can get something called a ‘standalone call blocker.’ If not, register your father-in-law’s number with the Telephone Preference Service who can help you to handle unwanted marketing calls.

If your father-in-law is receiving texts it’s important that he never replies, as sometimes there can be costly hidden charges. He can report the texts to his mobile phone provider who will be able to block the number. If he’s already been stung and call cost information wasn’t given, he should report it to Phone-pay Plus.

Mail scammers can often impersonate banks, the local council, or other established and legitimate organisations. You should advise your father-in-law against responding unless he’s sure it’s legitimate and was expecting a letter. If in doubt he should contact the organisation directly to check the letter’s legitimacy. He should be careful to not just ring up the number on the letter as it could be a bogus call centre.

In addition, to safeguard your father-on-law from unwanted marketing material or junk mail, register his name and address for free with the Mailing Preference Service which will take his name off some mailing lists.

Doorstep scammers can often be intimidating, and unfortunately they commonly target older and more vulnerable people. Your father shouldn’t be embarrassed turning people away and shouldn’t let them in unless he’s expecting them. If someone comes to the door saying they are from one of his utility companies for example, he should ask to check their credentials. If in doubt, he should phone the company they represent or check online, but once again make sure to not just use the contact details they provide.

Empty properties brought back into use as homes

More than 180 empty properties have been turned into homes in Denbighshire in the past 12 months.

As part of the county council’s work on empty homes, 181 properties classed as long term empty were brought back into use for families and residents in the county in 2018/19.

The council has launched a plan to bring 500 empty homes back into use through raising awareness, taking a pro-active approach to target problematic sites and working closely with landlords.

Cllr Tony Thomas, lead member for Housing and Communities, said: “Bringing these private properties back into use helps provide homes for residents in the county, which is a priority for the Council under its corporate plan.

“Homes may lie empty for a variety of reasons including difficulty in tracing or establishing ownership, an inability to sell, family disputes and in other cases the property may need significant work or the owner has an unrealistic value.

“This is a positive move but we still have more work to do, the aim of this plan is to unlock the housing potential of long-term empty homes.

“We have a package of financial assistance which provides grants and loans and we also provide advice and support. However, there will be times when it is necessary to use enforcement measures, particularly in cases where owners are unwilling to engage with us.”

There are currently 636 empty properties in the county.

The council says it will raise awareness of the empty homes in the county and the role it can play in assisting to bring them forward for beneficial re-use and a range of enforcement powers could be used including compulsory purchasing properties which are causing the most harm to the area in which they sit.

The council has also issued information packs to more than 600 properties classed as long term empty.