Griffin is safe with its new handlers

* The iconic Vauxhall Via GT.

* The new Vauxhall Corsa Griffin.

Motoring with Steve Rogers

The Vauxhall brand is safe in the hands of its new French owners.

That was the upbeat message from Vauxhall's Customer Experience Director Peter Hope to motoring journalists gathered at Vauxhall's Luton base to drive some of the company's newest and oldest cars.

Hope said PSA boss Carlos Tavares wants to develop Vauxhall's 'Britishness' and make it matter more. The goal is a "mainstream domestic brand that develops a stronger bond with its British customers."

The marriage with Peugeot-Citroen will be no stroll in the park and job losses have already been announced at the Ellesmere Port plant but on the plus side there will be the opportunity to share platforms, engines and technology in an industry that is going through some of the biggest changes in its history.

Electric and hybrid vehicles will be coming thick and fast as the pressure grows to cut pollution, but back at the showrooms it is business as usual for Vauxhall building for the arrival of the new Corsa supermini.

We won't see it until much later this year but it will be new from the ground up sharing Peugeot technology. In the meantime Vauxhall is doing its level best to maintain interest in its top selling car.

To kick off Corsa's last hurrah a special Griffin edition offers fantastic value. And in this case fantastic is no exaggeration because it is stacked with kit.

For £11,695 the spec list includes 7in colour touchscreen with navigation, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, cruise control, air conditioning, auto headlights and wipers, heated front seats and heated steering wheel. The only useful feature missing is parking sensors which you could probably get as a £465 option.

This could be the perfect Corsa... except for the engine. It is the 1.4 litre petrol with a meagre 74bhp which is slow off the mark, doesn't offer much mid range, and wheezes when faced with a climb.

The plus side are its price and low running costs - insurance group four, 40-45mpg real time economy, and emissions just low enough to qualify for £140 road tax after the first year's £205.

Should you prefer a Corsa with a more grunt look to the GSI, yes the GSI is back while the hotshot VXR models take a break, and it sounds like it will be a long one. Meeting emissions standards are causing quite a few difficulties among the car makers.

The GSI won't get close to a hot Ford Fiesta or Renault Clio and would come second to the Suzuki Swift Sport in a race to sixty but I liked the quality and design of the interior. Its price tag of £19,440, and that is without £650 worth of navigation, shows the Griffin Corsa is a real bargain.

Vauxhall has a wonderful heritage collection dating back to the magnificent Prince Henry (1911-1914) and moving through to the ground breaking H-Type of 1937, the first production car with monocoque body and synchromesh gears. Ten thousand were sold in the first five months at £159 a time.

I ran out of time before I could get my hands on something a little more up to date, the outrageously fast Lotus Carlton, all 177mph of it, so I had to be content with a bright red 1970 Viva GT.

It is believed to have been registered by Vauxhall as one of its company cars and was bought back from its owner in 2014 and beautifully restored at the Heritage Centre.

The GT would have been up against hot Ford Escorts and had pretty reasonable performance from its 2-litre with sixty coming up in 10 seconds and a top end of 100mph.

Back in 1972 I had a Vauxhall Viva estate, light green, and remember it as a pretty reasonable car, but driving this near 50 year old model brings home how things have moved on. The braking system would have been perfectly acceptable then but now it's downright scary - I nearly put the GT through the exit barrier at the Heritage Centre thinking it would pull up.... and it nearly didn't. My fault, of course.

The steering is not what you could call precise, movements have to be made a little earlier, and the engine, although feisty through a four speed gearbox, is noisy. Just goes to show how sound deadening has come on.

Yet driving a classic gives you a good feeling, and plenty of onlookers no doubt all thinking 'I wish I could have a drive in that'.

Dazzing panto even features the Red Arrows

* The cast of Aladdin at the Pavilion. Picture by Barrie Potter.

Llangollen Pantomime Group’s latest production has the lot – dazzling costumes and settings, great acting and singing, plenty of laughs and even a fly-past by the Red Arrows.

Just why and how the famous RAF display team makes an appearance I won’t divulge for fear of spoiling things for those yet to see Aladdin at the Pavilion.

But even without them, the rest of the enormous and talented cast are flying high.

And that’s especially notable as a high percentage of them are panto debutantes.

Taking the title role is Sophie Preston as the lad who soars from humble beginnings working in his mum Widow Twankey’s laundry to marry the beautiful princess.

Despite there being loads for her to do across the two acts Sophie shines in both acting and singing departments.

Another key role held down by a promising first-timer is Aladdin’s love interest Princess Jasmine. Riah Andrews takes flight in the part and can really belt out those songs.

At various points you’re left wondering if Peter Kay has nipped over to Llangollen to sneak inside the outrageous costumes of Widow Twankey.

But no, it’s actually David Lyne infusing the dame with a similar Lancashire accent and world-weary comedic touch which can’t fail to have the audience in tucks.

Another crowd pleaser par excellence is Llan panto regular Neil Barrett who makes a brilliantly snarling and nasty Abanazer, the villain who plots to do down Aladdin and his family at every turn attracting the required amount of hisses and boos along the way.   

Daniel May brings his stature marvellously to bear as the Sultan, again with a rather good Lancashire accent and understated line-delivery. It’s his first panto outing but, judging by this performance, it won’t be his last.

Llan stalwart Simon Orton-Jones, who also produces and directs the show,  has shown true dedication by apparently having his head shaved for the part of the Genie of the Lamp. But his tonsorial torture is worth every lost hair because the audience loves him every time he makes his entrance amidst an enormous cloud of smoke.

Once again it’s a family affair for the Orton-Joneses as Simon’s wife Tessa appears as Doner, one half of the mandatory comedy duo with Louise Lyne as Shish - both doing very passable scouse accents – and daughter Celyn is a winsome Soapy Sadie.

There are also some outstanding youngsters, especially Beatrice Lermite as the Genie of the Ring and Marybeth Hughes as Wishee Washee.

They’re backed up well by the experienced Karen Campbell as the Sultana, Mark Roberts as the wonderfully animated Officer Tai Chi and Justine Bradey as the narrator Scheherazade.

The costumes are truly eye-popping and the settings superb, not least the movie backdrops which illuminate quite a few scenes.

Also taking things up a notch are the six-piece live band headed once again by Helen Belton.

If you can’t wait to find out what the Red Arrows have to do with it all there are a couple more evening performances until Saturday and matinees on Saturday and Sunday. But I'd hurry as last night's opening show was almost a sell-out.

* Tickets are available online atwww.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpantoor in person from Gwyn Davies Butchers, Jade Hair & Beauty or by calling 01978 860297.     

Businesses in county remain optimistic about 2019

Businesses in Denbighshire have given their verdict on the county’s economy.

Despite a difficult trading environment affecting town centres across the UK and uncertainty over Brexit, the county’s traders are remaining positive according to Denbighshire County Council’s 2018 Business Survey.

More than 430 respondents took part in the annual survey, conducted by the Economic and Business Development Team, which helps inform the council’s March for Business month.

It found almost three quarters of businesses (73 per cent) expected to increase customer numbers next year while 65 per cent expect to increase sales in 2019.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We know it is a difficult time for high streets across the UK. That is why we have been supporting local traders with our #LoveLiveLocal campaign this Christmas, with free 1-2-1 sessions with business experts, as well as administering business rate relief in the county.

“The survey shows that despite uncertainty, Denbighshire businesses are working hard and planning for the future.

“It is also encouraging to see businesses talk about the positive interaction they have had with our planning and public protection team which supports businesses in a variety of ways as part of our Better Business for All scheme.

“Businesses have also told us about their training needs and we will make sure March for Business 2019 is tailored to meet those needs. During these difficult times we will continue to talk and listen to businesses and provide them with the support they need.”

Respondents also gave positive feedback on the improvements to mobile coverage, something Denbighshire County Council has been working with the Welsh Government and mobile providers on, while fewer businesses said they had issues collecting payment from debtors but more had issues securing loans.

Businesses also said training around social media, e-commerce, and improving the presentation of products were most important to them.

March for Business is four weeks of free workshops, networking events and advice sessions for businesses organised by Denbighshire County Council.

For full details of the 2018 Business Survey please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business-survey

Debut performances at Llangollen Pantomime

* The cast of Aladdin which opens tomorrow (Thursday) evening.

*  Sophie Preston in the title role. 

New faces will take to the stage in Llangollen as the town’s Pantomime Group prepares for Aladdin.

The production at Llangollen Pavilion from January 17-20 will feature a host of debut performances as Llangollen Pantomime Group offers a packed show full of traditional fun, well-known songs and West End-style technical effects.

Among the newcomers is Riah Andrews who plays Princess Jasmine opposite Sophie Preston in the title role. 

The director, Simon Orton-Jones, said: “We’re delighted to welcome new members to the Pantomime Group this year which is refreshing the feel of the show.  Everyone is working hard to make this show the best yet and we look forward to taking to the stage later this week.”

Llangollen Pantomime Group was started by St Collen’s Church more than 30 years ago.  Today it  draws cast and crew from across the town and beyond. 

Llangollen Pavilion opens on Thursday with evening performances until Saturday and matinees on Saturday and Sunday. 

* Tickets are available online atwww.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpantoor in person from Gwyn Davies Butchers, Jade Hair & Beauty or by calling 01978 860297. 

Hospice seeks walkers for big spring fundraiser

Nightingale House Hospice is looking for people to take part in a major fundraising effort close to Llangollen this spring.

The World Heritage Walk on Sunday April 7 is a 13-mile walk through beautiful scenery along the  tow paths and footpaths of Llangollen and Oswestry.

Walking with fellow Nightingale House supporters, breathtaking scenery awaits at every twist and turn, including the iconic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Chirk Aqueduct, Trevor Basin and the Chirk Tunnel.

As well as raising much-needed funds for the hospice, this is also a great opportunity to see in the summer with a walk through some of the region’s most picturesque countryside, an area awarded the status of World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

There is no registration fee to complete the World Heritage Walk but organisers are encouraging people to raise as much sponsorship as they can.

Both children and dogs are welcome and the route is suitable for pushchairs. However, all participants must be able to walk the full 13 miles.

Walkers will start their journey by meeting the Nightingale House team at the Lion Quays in Oswestry at 09:45am where free parking will be provided.

A free coach will transport them at approximately 10.30am to the Chainbridge Hotel in Llangollen where your walking adventure will begin at 11:30am.

The walk will last from four to five hours  - you can take as long as you wish but the Nightingale House team will leave the hotel at 4pm.

* For more information, contact the hospice's fundraising team on 01978 314 292, or email: info@nightingalehouse.co.uk

Singer entertains at Methodist lunch

At their annual post-Christmas lunch at the White Waters yesterday (Sunday) members and friends of Lllangollen Methodist Church were entertained by Megan-Hollie Robertson from Wrexham (pictured) who successfully competed in last year's Eisteddfod.

Megan, who  studied musical theatre in Guildford, sang a selection from musicals as diverse as Avenue Q and Les Miserables to delight her audience.

* Church members listen to their guest singer.

MP fumes over treatment of disabled claimants

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones (pictured) has slammed Government figures showing three-quarters of her constituents who appealed about their Personal Independence Payment status in 

2017/18 were successful in overturning the original decision.

“It’s outrageous”, she said.

“The Government is admitting that in one year, 90 out of 120 people with major disabilities and conditions like terminal cancer had the wrong decisions made about them. 

“They only got the funding and support they were entitled to because they had to go through the additional stress of a complex appeals process.

“Every year, my staff team and I help around 800-1,000 local people. A good number of these have this sort of issue.

"While I’m glad to see bad decisions overturned, the number of mistakes made shows the system really needs to change. It’s time the UK Government introduced a fairer way of assessing and supporting disabled and seriously ill people.”

* See Government Department for Work & Pensions stats (link below) for Clwyd South:

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-01-08/206293/