County asks people to complete online transport survey

The county council is urging Llangollen residents to take part in its latest online fact-finding exercise.

The Denbighshire Transport Survey, developed in partnership with Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), aims to gauge the interest and feasibility of the development of an integrated community transport hub in the county, and how to most effectively provide a range of transport options across the region.

People can complete the survey online over the next month. 

Here’s the link for the English - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XWKYQX3

... and for the Welsh - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/D37JTN8

Kia ProCeed: Silly name but a real looker

* The new Kia ProCeed - from the side and (below) rear. 

Kia ProCeed launch report by Steve Rogers

KIA has opened its 2019 campaign with a real bobby dazzler.

Meet the new ProCeed, the range topper that has taken Ceed in a whole new direction with a bold shooting brake design.

Until now ProCeed - yes it still has the silly name - has been a three-door hatch. That market is virtually dead but rather than scrap the hatch it has been reinvented and the result is stunning.

This is essentially an estate car, a rival even to the Ceed Sportwagon, but it is lower and longer than its sibling with a swooping coupe style roof and steeply raked tailgate.

No-one in the sector which is bossed by Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra and VW Golf has anything like it so watching how Proceed develops is going to be interesting.

Only the bonnet and front wings have been carried over from Ceed while improved dynamics have spiced up the handling which becomes evident when driving the GT model with its 201bhp 1.6 litre petrol engine, but more on that later.

There are three trim levels GT Line, GT Line S and GT powered either by a 1.4 litre turbo charged petrol or a 1.6 diesel for all but the GT which gets the 1.6 litre petrol.

Inside it's standard Ceed fair with the range topping 8-inch touchscreen controlling the majority of the functions although Kia prefers switches for the radio and heating controls which are ranged clearly across the central console which is just the way I like it.

Although Proceed has a definite sporting edge it is no flaming hot hatch so there is a good compromise between ride comfort and out and out handling.

Make no mistake the car will fly around bends faster than will ever be needed on public roads but at the same time bumps are well cushioned so this is very much a car the family can enjoy.

Cabin space is good and a six footer sat comfortably behind my driver's seat, and in spite of the dipping roofline the 594 litres of boot space is not far behind the 625 litres for the Sportwagon.

Kias have always been generously equipped and that is the case here. Even the 6-speed manual GT Line which opens the range at £23,835 has navigation, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, auto dipping headlights, electronic parking brake and that is just a snapshot. Add an S and there is even more with heated outer rear seats, power adjustment and memory setting for the driver's seat and a powered tailgate.

If the bank balance allows it is worth splashing out £1,100 for the seven speed automatic which is smooth and slick and can be used as a manual either via the gear lever or steering wheel paddles.

Safety features have become the norm and there is no shortage here with crash avoidance braking that includes pedestrians, steering the car within the lane, blind spot collision warning ... I could go on.

In spite of the lack of interest in diesel power Kia is offering the 1.6 litre with its fairly modest 134bhp.

The ProCeed deserves more and you will get it from the more punchy 138bhp 1.4 turbo charged petrol which is nearly a second quicker to sixty (9.1secs) but you will lose out heavily on economy - 42.8mpg versus 56.5mpg for the diesel.

Which brings us to the jewel in the ProCeed crown, the 1.6 T-GDi. For me this is the engine for this car. There is a spiky rawness to it, growling under acceleration and eager to respond at low revs. It is the only model where the performance matches the car's matcho looks. A sprint to sixty takes 7.2 seconds, not as quick as the hottest Golf or Focus.

The folk at Kia say, they are unlikely to go for anything bigger on the engine front so they will not be asking parent company Hyundai for the dazzling 2-litre powering the i30N let alone the i30N Performance.

At least the 1.6 T-GDi has given an added buzz to the Ceed hatch which has identical performance to ProCeed GT and handling to match the hike in power. The new Ceed GT model has hit the showrooms and costs £25,535.

My guess is all eyes will be on its pretty new sister. Aside from Stinger this is the best looking Kia ever. It has a feel good factor and looks the business particularly in profile or from the back. I don't see how it can fail.

* Prices: £23,835 (GT Line petrol manual) to £28,138 (GT auto). GT Line S £28,685.

County approves 6.35% council tax rise

Councillors in Denbighshire have agreed the budget for the next financial year.

At a meeting in County Hall, Ruthin, members were asked to formalise the budget and agreed that council tax levels should increase by 6.35% in the next financial year.  This will address current financial pressures in Children’s and Education Services, social care, highways and environment.

The 6.35% equates to an additional £72.24 a year for a Band D property, or £1.52 a week.

Savings of £5.6 million were identified by services directly and these have been found through a wide range of cuts and efficiencies in functions that support the Council, with the services offered directly to the public being protected as much as possible.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: “It is our duty as councillors to make sure that the budget balances at the end of the financial year and the uncertainty over the levels of settlements in recent years has made our jobs a lot harder.

“Significant real terms funding reductions to local councils in Wales have continued whilst costs continue to grow. Schools and social care represent the most significant elements of the Council’s budget and the costs of these is growing beyond the resources available.

“While the council will always endeavour to be more efficient to save money, given savings of over £35m have been made in the last six years, it is no longer possible to address the funding gap through efficiency savings alone and a careful balance between service savings and local taxation has to be struck.

“The Council also expects to need to find £7 million in savings in 2020 and £4.5 million the following year.  That means that tough decisions are needing to be made and further cuts are predicted over the coming years. However, we are making a commitment to continue to provide the best services possible for the residents of Denbighshire.

Information about council tax, how the money is allocated and the benefits available to Denbighshire residents will be included in the Your Money booklet, which will be available on the Council’s website 

Brewery and builders to sponsor Llanfest 2019

Picture by Mike Jones.

Two Wrexham businesses will sponsor this year’s Llanfest which will wind up this year's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on Sunday July 7.

Wrexham-based housing developer SG Estates and Wrexham Lager have been named joint backers of the event which will this year star The Fratellis, The Coral, The Pigeon Detectives and nineties power pop rock trio Dodgy.

It is the first year SG Estates has sponsored the festival and the company says it is committed to preserving its Welsh heritage and supporting the eisteddfod.

Managing director Steve Griffin said: “It is at the heart of our local community in Llangollen. As a company dedicated to sustaining and developing the area, we are keen to support this local event and we see this year’s sponsorship as the start of a long-term partnership.”

Wrexham Lager’s involvement in the event goes back over 70 years, shown by the fact that festival organisers have found an advert for the brewery in the first official International Eisteddfod programme from 1947 (pictured below).

Mark Roberts from Wrexham Lager said: “The festival is without doubt one of the highlights of our calendar and we are proud to be one of its longest standing sponsors.

“We have been supporting the ethos of the festival from its inception all those years ago, bringing diverse communities together to enjoy and celebrate as one.”

Llanfest was launched in 2011 as the eisteddfod’s finale party to introduce the event to new, younger audiences and attract festival-goers from across the country.

The announcement of The Fratellis and The Coral’s appearance follows the success of Indie pop legends Kaiser Chiefs in 2018 and legendary Welsh band Manic Street Preachers in 2017.

Tickets start at just £39 and go on general sale today (February 1).

 

Organisers have introduced a new layout for 2019, freeing up extra space in the Pavilion, with additional premium standing available at the front of the stage.

This will see capacity increase to more than 5,200. As well as this, a tiered seating area will also be available in the middle of the arena.

There will be live performances from a range of local artists from 2pm on the outside stages and the support acts Dodgy and The Pigeon Detectives will run from 6.15pm in the Pavilion, before The Fratellis and The Coral take to the stage.

* For more information and to buy tickets go to www.llangollen.net or contact the Box Office on 01978 862001.

Chamber to host special session on business rates

Representatives from the Welsh Government will be attending a special meeting to unravel the complexities of business rates and how Llangollen traders could benefit to the tune of up to £2.5k.

The meeting will held at the Hand Hotel, Llangollen next Tuesday, February 5 at 6pm and has been arranged between Minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates and  Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism.

The aims to give retailers in Llangollen the opportunity to find out more about business rate relief and how it could help them.

Last month, Wales's then Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford announced that retailers  with a rateable value of up to £50,000 will receive a £2,500 cut to their business rates for 2019/2020. Some could see a zero rates bill for properties with a rateable value of up to £9,100.

At the meeting chamber members will have the chance to hear more about the benefits of business rates relief and question Welsh Government representatives Adam Evans, Business Wales Senior Manager, and Julie Questa, Senior Policy Manager: Local Taxation.

Chamber chair David Davies said: “We are grateful to the Minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates for making this meeting happen.

"Our high streets are having a tough time at the moment  and Llangollen is no exception.

"It is therefore important that our members maximise every opportunity to boost their businesses and take advantage of any economic development assistance that come their way.

"We would encourage as many business people as possible to come and hear what the Welsh Government has to say on the matter on how it can benefit their business.”

If you have a retail business in Llangollen and want to know more about the implications of the new business rate relief then join the Chamber of Trade and Tourism for networking at 5.30pm. The meeting, which starts promptly at 6pm, is free to members and first-time visitors. 

March for Business returns for 2019

An annual month-long series of events to support businesses returns this March.

Denbighshire County Council’s March for Business month returns with 25 events offering more than 100 hours of business support at venues across the county.

The business month, held throughout March, includes social media and retail skills training, networking events with the Federation of Small Businesses and the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce as well as events with Superfast Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales.

A chance for food buyers to sample local food and drink produce to secure more contracts for local businesses will also be held.

Blas Lleol - Meet the Producer is being organised in conjunction with the Clwydian Range Food & Drink Group and the Llangollen and Dee Valley Good Grub Club.

Other events include a session for businesses to make the most of the Urdd Eisteddford when it is held in Denbigh in 2020 as well as an event to help businesses who export.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire, said: “Our March for Business programme has been designed to meet the needs of businesses in the county.

“March for Business offers firms the chance to network and get expert advice around issues that matter to them.

“They can then take this knowledge forward and help grow their business, making a real difference to the county’s economy.

“There is also a focus on helping young people with the transition from education into business, something the Council believes will help the county’s young people develop the skills they need.

“The focus of March for Business was devised following feedback from our annual business survey and shows the Council is listening to businesses and offering them support to suit their needs.”

March for Business is part of the Council’s work on developing the local economy to make sure the county’s communities are resilient and residents have access to good and services.

For more information or to book visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness

Police boss cracks down on drugs gangs and child abuse

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A police boss has vowed to crack down on drugs gangs and child sexual exploitation after his proposed 38p a week rise in the cost of policing was approved.

Among the other priorities revealed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones are tackling domestic abuse, cybercrime and modern day slavery.

Mr Jones was speaking after the 7.7 per cent increase, one of the lowest in England and Wales, was given the green light by the North Wales Police and Crime Panel.

According to the commissioner, it will enable him to invest in front line policing by recruiting an extra 34 officers and six staff on top of the 90 additional officers and staff taken on since he was elected in 2016.

The UK Government gave special dispensation to forces to charge an extra £24-a-year for Band D properties and most forces are expected to accept the opportunity to take the maximum after years of austerity, allied to the necessity of pumping more cash into police pensions because of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

But at £19.98 former police inspector Mr Jones’s increase is well below the £24 ceiling.

He said: “North Wales is still one of the safest places in the UK but that doesn’t mean we don’t face challenges and many of these are in new forms and we have to be ready to adapt to them.

“The fact is that a great deal of crime committed today happens online and we are very aware now in North Wales that our frontline is now online.

“But we are also seeing the use of county lines by city drug gangs to infiltrate areas like North Wales by coercing and exploiting children and young adults to build up their drug supply networks.

“I believe police resources should be concentrated on targeting the organised criminals who are responsible for peddling drugs and not their helpless victims."

Since his election in 2016 Mr Jones has presided over increases in staffing by North Wales Police while the Force has faced real terms cuts in its budget and he added: “It’s vitally important that we set the precept at the right level to provide an effective and efficient police service that delivers value for money.

“I have worked closely with the new Chief Constable and his team to decide on the level of budget needed to deliver the priorities in my Police and Crime Plan which aims to reduce threat, risk and harm by identifying the most vulnerable people in society. I will do everything in my power to protect them. 

"Crime is evolving and as a police force we have to change to deal with new threats like modern slavery, human trafficking and child sexual exploitation, with the threat posed by online paedophiles.”

As part of his commitment to consultation, Mr Jones has again carried out an online survey of council tax-payers in North Wales with nearly 2,000 people responding, an increase of over 50 per cent on the previous year.

More than 1,000 of them backed an increased in precept of 37p or more with a third in favour of a much higher increase of 50p a week.

It also showed “overwhelming support” for the priorities in Mr Jones’s Police and Crime Plan which sets out the strategy for policing North Wales.

It all comes against the backdrop of £31 million in savings forced on North Wales Police since 2011 and a real-terms cut of £2 million in the annual grant from the Home Office for the coming year.

In total the North Wales Police budget for the coming year is £154 million and has been allocated so as to deliver the priorities of the commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan.

Mr Jones added: “I have been encouraged by the public’s overwhelming support for my vision for improving the way the region is policed.

“The survey has shown that 90 per cent of those who responded are in favour of prioritising tackling organised crime and keeping neighbourhoods safe.

“It is important to consult with the public to find out what kind of a police force they want and what their priorities are.

“As well as consulting the public, I have had detailed discussions with the Chief Constable and his senior team who confirmed that a council tax increase of 7.74 per cent will enable much needed investment back into the front line following a decade of financial cuts and will support the best possible operational delivery of policing in North Wales.

“It strikes a proper balance between affordability for council tax payers and ensuring the Force can continue to be an efficient and effective force.

“Four and a half per cent of the increase was needed just for a standstill budget which would have meant that the force was unable to cope with the growing demand generated by new and emerging crime.

“We are facing new and increasing challenges so the force must evolve and adapt and despite the swingeing cuts of recent years, we continue to invest in our frontline, making us fit for the future.”

Chief Constable Carl Foulkes said: “We have aligned our efforts as a force to deliver on the priorities set out in the Police and Crime Plan in order that we can ensure that North Wales continues to be one of the safest places in the UK to live, work and visit.

“As a result, we are focusing our approach on strengthening front line policing, increasing our proactive capacity and protecting vulnerable people through our Operational Improvement Programme.

“In addition to the extra personnel we have recruited since 2016, we will  have an additional 30 investigators who will be a major asset as we tackle the new and emerging crimes we need to concentrate on.

“Over the past decade North Wales Police has absorbed £31 million in austerity cuts and we are now having to be even smarter in the way we operate.

“As well as making the most of the diminishing budget at our disposal, we are working more closely with partners so we are making the best use of our joint resources.”