MP questions RAF pilot shortage

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones (pictured) has called on the Government to take urgent steps to tackle the RAF's pilot shortage.

Speaking in the House of Commons Chamber she questioned Defence Ministers on a National Audit Office Report citing RAF concerns that it would be 20 years on current rates until the force has enough pilots.

After her exchange, Ms Jones said: "Everyone agrees the current system needs to be reviewed, but I don't think the Government is taking the sort of urgent steps we need. 

"I've spoken about defence cuts and shortages in our armed personnel before and I will do so again. We cannot be running down our armed forces at this time of global change and insecurity, and we must take on board the very real concerns of the RAF and our other armed services."     

Moves to improve valley's mobile signal unveiled

* Ken Skates, right, with local resident Mike Rutt, left, and Cllr Trevor Bates.

Plans to improve mobile phone coverage in the Ceiriog Valley have been welcomed by the area’s Assembly Member and MP.

Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones have made repeated representations to mobile operators and the UK Government over the years in a bid to boost reception in the area, culminating in a petition signed by more than 1,000 people.

Mr Skates met with local councillor Trevor Bates and resident Mike Rutt, who organised the petition, in November, with the AM saying: “It is essential that residents and visitors to the Ceiriog Valley have mobile reception. I applaud the way Mike has gathered such a strong petition to urge UK Government to ensure there is better mobile connectivity.”

An email sent to Cllr Bates by BT last week said: “In order to deliver the coverage needed for the emergency services, EE is deploying hundreds of additional sites across rural Wales, England and Scotland.  The coverage provided by these sites will also be available to our commercial customers.

“In addition to these sites, the Home Office is also building nearly 300 further masts, many in Wales, to provide ‘Extended Area Services’ (EAS) coverage. It is currently planned that the Llanarmon Dyffrn Ceiriog area will be served by an EAS site. EE will put its equipment on these sites and will deliver commercial coverage as well as a blue lights service, subject to the site providing the necessary capacity to provide a good quality experience to our customers.”

Mr Skates said: “I have made numerous representations to the UK Government on this issue on behalf of my constituents in the Ceiriog Valley, which – like many parts of Clwyd South – continues to suffer from weak, intermittent and, in some cases, completely non-existent mobile phone coverage.

“I am extremely keen to ensure these plans materialise and have written to the Home Office to ask for more detail and timescales. People have waited far too long already and we need a firm commitment that action will be taken.”

Ms Jones said: “In addition to the problems poor mobile coverage causes on a daily basis for residents and visitors to the area, as well as local businesses, my constituents feel the issue could have far more serious consequences should there be another incident like there was recently when a local man suffered a serious fall, breaking several ribs.

“Rescuers had to drive some distance before a mobile signal was available to phone 999 and residents rallied to get two-way radio sets to relay the patient's condition to the emergency services while he passed in and out of consciousness. The incident happened around a mile from Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog and police had to run to the Hand Hotel in the village to call the Air Ambulance. Fortunately, the gentleman is now recovering.”

The incident spurred Mr Rutt and Cllr Bates into action and they subsequently collected a petition of 1,039 names urging the UK Government to act.

Bang-up-to-date Beemer ... at a price

* The new BMW X3 on the road.

* The cabin of the new Beemer.

BMW X3 road test by Steve Rogers

My BMW loving friend has got himself into a fix.

David has been driving his 420d for nearly a year and although he loves it he struggles to get in and out.

I should say David is nudging 80 and has had a new hip - 60 years prancing around a badminton court has taken its toll on his joints - so having to drop into and climb out of a low slung 420 is becoming a painful stretch. And he is taking stick from his wife who would have preferred an SUV this time round but you know what boys and their toys are like.

David always thought SUVs, even BMWs, had shabby handling, made for people who just want to get from A to B and couldn't care less about a car with street cred.

Then he and his good wife Margaret had their heads turned by my X3 test car. We went through the usual 'what's this, what do you think of it' questions and things got more serious when I took them for spin. They slid effortlessly and painlessly into the seats, were impressed with the quality finish, noting the dashboard looked virtually the same as their 420.

Even before we drove off Margaret was convinced they had made a mistake and should have had an X3, and David was veering to the same conclusion when he experienced the none too shabby performance and surprisingly good body control when I negotiated a roundabout a little quicker than normal.

They are not alone of course. The shift to crossovers-cum-SUVs, call them what you will, has been like a runaway train in the last few years. You may remember it all started in 2007 when Nissan came up with a new take on the family hatchback. Qashqai captured the imagination and raised the bar so high it started a trend that just keeps on rising.

But X3 was around in the days when it was easy for the premium set. Back in 2003 there was very little choice and the then newcomer was able to ride on the back of the impressive X5, not that it was in the same league.

Fifteen years on and we are living in a different world - SUV world. One in three cars leaving the BMW production line is an SUV and with so much quality opposition the German marque has really turned up the wick for the third generation X3.

It has become a big family car - the same size as the original X5 - and those who can afford to shell out nearly 40 grand are in for a real treat. You know what to expect from BMW, quality, precision and attention to detail is here in spades. The cabin is beautifully appointed putting X3 right up there as a contender for best in class.

I'm a huge fan of the new Volvos with their switch free minimalist cabin designs yet I was more comfortable tackling everyday tasks in the Beemer. It is bang up to date with a digital binnacle display, which includes the excellent head up display for speed and navigation directions, but the centre console has a more familiar look and is backed up by an infotainment centre that no longer needs a brain like Einstein to fathom.

Functions like radio, mobile phone, and navigation are behind a 10in screen with selections made via a rotary controller in a panel between the front seats. It is one of the easiest systems to work in any car.

The biggest difference over the previous X3 is how it drives. It sits on a new chassis and with modern construction technologies is lighter than the old car. Don't be thinking this drives like  a 3 or 4 Series BMW because it doesn't. It is still a fairly heavy all wheel drive car yet is surprisingly agile through twists and turns.

Granted my test car was the 8-speed M sport but I was quite happy driving in comfort mode which coped well with poor road surfaces.

You get a choice of two and three litre diesels and a new 2-litre petrol although the smaller diesel would be my pick because of its generous spread of torque, strong performance and economy.

So a big step up for X3, a technical tour de force with its driving dynamics and safety systems, but no longer having the luxury of very little opposition. It is now a case of circling the wagons with Audi, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz  even Alfa Romeo presenting formidable challenges.

To come up with the perfect SUV would need elements from all of these but for now my money would still go on the Jaguar F-Pace... if only it could have the BMW 2-litre diesel!

Fast Facts

X3 xDrive M Sport

£41,990 (Tested £48,745 with options)

2-litre TD; 190bhp

0-62mph 8secs; 132mph

56.5 mpg combined

This test: 39mpg

144g/km. 1st road tax £515

Insurance group 29

Sun shines on railway's new season

* The Class 104 heritage diesel railcar at Carrog Station. Picture by George Jones. 

Llangollen Railway started the new season with the sun is shining.

The first train left Llangollen at 10.40am with the Class 104 heritage diesel railcar carrying families enjoying half-term for a ride through the lovely Dee Valley to Carrog.

The railcar offers best views of the line at this time of the year with its front and rear window positions so passengers can see where they are going - or where they have been.

The late winter sunshine enhanced the views of the valley with some trees and bushes showing the first signs of spring.

After some winter management of the lineside vegetation improved views of the valley and its remoter areas have been opened up for passengers to enjoy the area of outstanding natural beauty.

At Carrog a 40-minute stop over allowed time for a hot drink in the station tearooms or a walk down the lane to Carrog bridge over the River Dee before joining the train back.

Others stayed until a later train taking the opportunity to walk a section of the Dee Valley Way.

A railway spokesman said: "The passenger numbers on the first train were encouraging with several families travelling to take advantage of the half-term offer when first child goes free and second half fare when with a full fare paying adult.

"Trains in the second part of the week and at weekends will be with a steam engine."

Food bank gets £250 boost from Christmas Festival

* Austin Cheminais, left, hands over the £250 cheque to Pastor Brian Smith in the food bank storeroom. Flanking them are Pat Smith and Christmas Festival Committee members Ian Parry and John Palmer.

Members of the committee which organises the annual Llangollen Christmas Festival went along to Matt’s Food Bank in the town to hand over a cheque for £250.

The money was part of the proceeds from last year’s festival the remainder of which - £1,000 – was recently donated to the Welsh Air Ambulance Service.

The food bank has been operating in Llangollen for the past eight years and currently distributes basic supplies to around 400 people a year.

Vouchers for the bank are available from a variety of places in the town, such as the One Stop Shop in Llangollen Library, the Citizens' Advice Bureau, the health centre and all three schools.

Donations of food are always welcome at drop-off points including the Co-op in Regent Street and a typical shopping list includes everything from breakfast cereal and biscuits to tinned meat and fish to sugar and dried pasta and rice.

Handing over the cheque to Pastor Brian Smith and his wife Pam, who run the food bank, Christmas Festival chair and town councillor Austin Cheminais said: “We’re delighted to be able to support this very worthwhile local cause which does so much good in the community.

“When it came to deciding which local charity to help with proceeds from the festival the food bank was the overwhelming choice of the committee.”

Pat Smith said: “We’re very grateful to the committee for this very generous donation.

“Their support also helps to give us a higher profile in the area.

“Once people have their vouchers for the food bank they can either come along to collect their supplies or we can arrange to have them delivered to a local pick-up point if that’s better for them.” 

Two Operatic productions up for amateur stage Oscars

* A scene from last year's production of My Fair Lady.

* The cast of Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on stage.

Llangollen Operatic Society has been nominated for more amateur stage "Oscars".

In this year's Wales and Ireland Regional Annual NODA Awards the society's junior section, the Young 'Uns, is line for Best Youth Group Musical for Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was produced by Pamela Williams.

Shea Ferron gets a nod for Best Supporting Actor for his appearance in the same show. He played the Pharoah interpreted as a bequiffed, hip-swivelling Elvis.     

Young 'Uns is also nominated for Best Youth Performer 21 and Under - Cassius Hackforth and

Best Supporting Youth Performer 21 and Under - Celyn Orton-Jones and Erin Roberts.

The society itself is nominated in the Best Show category for its 2018 production of My Fair Lady.

Further nods for the My Fair Lady team are for Best Stage Management and Technical and Best Performers - Bill Hughes (Alfie Doolittle) and Alison Ravenscroft (Supporting Role as Mrs Pearce).

Jo Lloyd, who directed both Joseph and My Fair Lady, said: "It was an honour to cut my teeth in the director's chair for two productions last year.

"I am very proud to say that both productions have been nominated for the NODA awards.

"Congratulations to the production team, cast , crew and all involved - fingers crossed!"

Helen Belton, producer for My Fair Lady, said: "Having been on stage a number of times I decided to try my hand at producing, and what a show to choose for my first.

"There was so much to do, to oversee and to co-ordinate but I'm grateful to everyone for the way in which the volunteers and cast get involved with Llangollen Operatic Society with the utmost commitment and professionalism. A massive team effort.

"My Fair Lady will be very special to me for a long time to come. An award would be a wonderful bonus for everyone."

Shea Ferron, who has just finished appearing in the Young 'Uns' latest production, Grease, said: "I am very privileged to have been nominated for the NODA of Best Supporting Actor. It’s great news to find out after just finishing Grease."

Last year, after being nominated in a number of categories, Young 'Uns landed NODA's Best Musical award for its production of Bugsy Malone.

North Wales still safe place to live, says AM

An Assembly Member says North Wales still one of the safest places to live.

Speaking in a recent assembly debate on Wales’ Final Police Settlement for 2019/20, Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government Mark Isherwood (pictured) referred to the increase in funding for police forces in Wales - up by 5.3% in North Wales.

He said the 7% council tax police precept increase in North Wales - or 38p per week for the average household - would enable the recruitment of 34 additional officers and six staff.

Mr Isherwood also spoke of the issues highlighted at last month’s North Wales Police briefing.

He said: “We heard that North Wales is still one of the safest places to live, that they were focussed on prevention, but that crime is evolving to cyber, child sexual exploitation , modern slavery and domestic violence. 

“They told us that they were having to detain too many people under the Mental Health Act because other agencies were not there for the people concerned and that ambulance availability and response times were resulting in them being used as the first point of triage, despite not being efficient paramedics.

“There is also continuing concern about the Welsh  Government’s handling of the Apprenticeship Levy, with Welsh Police Forces denied access to £2 million they contribute annually for training. 

“Despite receiving more Treasury net funding than previously for this, an extra £600,000 Home Office funding for Police Training in 2018/19 – and £400,000 promised for Police training, the Welsh Government still has missing cash from previous years contributions which should be addressing this gap.”   

He added: “The UK Government has, since 2015, raised its contribution to overall police funding in line with inflation, including specific areas such as cybercrime, counter-terrorism and tackling child sexual exploitation. 

“Prior to then, it also had to contend with £545m worth of cuts to the police inherited from Labour’s final budget in 2010, to be made by 2014."

Mr Isherwood added: “The latest ONS release on Crime in England and Wales states that over recent decades we’ve seen continued falls in overall levels of crime but in the last year there has been no change.

“As this states, the Crime Survey is the most reliable indicator for long-term trends and police recorded crime statistics do not always provide a reliable measure of levels and trends. There has been no change in commonly occurring types of violent crime. Although assault admissions increased, they were still 33% lower than in 2008.”