X-Trail comes fourth in gladiatorial SUV contest

* The facelifted Nissan X-Trail.

Nissan X-Trail road test by Steve Rogers

First thought when I looked at the front of the Nissan X-Trail was the film Gladiator.

Yes, strange one that but the facelifted X-Trail has got that aggressive, ready for combat look about it. It was the thick, gleaming chrome draped across its nose which brought to mind Russell Crowe kitted out in his shiny battle armour before leading his Roman legion against the barbarians.

Probably best to move on, this is getting a bit too deep.

X-Trail is a proper, rugged SUV and has been around longer than the majority of its rivals. Nissan has done its best to keep pace with the hordes of newcomers and it is the changes to the front that have made the most impact. The dominant V grille and spikey new headlights make this a mean machine.

All of which has turned X-Trail into a longer Qashqai but able to offer seven seats and that is no bad thing.

To be honest my expectations were not that high having driven three of its closest competitors in as many months. They are all new so bang up to date on design and everything else that goes in making a top SUV. Kia Sorento is the most practical seven seater, Skoda Kodiaq the best to drive, and the Peugeot 5008 is just brilliant at everything. Could the Nissan get close?

It is a big ask, too big actually, but that doesn't put X-Trail out of the running. As I have said before margins are fine when choosing a car and a lot of people are happy with the Nissan. It is damn good value against those mentioned and the one I would choose for serious off roading.

It is set up for a comfortable ride which means the suspension will protect occupants against our many poor road surfaces. The downside is body control becomes a tad ragged when pushed through bends, but if that is your bag buy a sports car.

X-Trail is a big SUV and that means lots of space for legs and luggage. Mine was the five seater so the boot is sizeable and very practical with out of site storage in a section used for a third row of seats, and reversible rubber/fabric floor mat.

The facelift brought some interior upgrades but a full makeover is needed to bring it up to the standard of the front runners. Compared to Kodiaq and 5008 the X-Trail's cabin is looking dated but the fittings are solid and there were no rattles or creaks.

There is a choice of petrol and diesel engines and my guess is the majority would favour the 173bhp 2-litre turbo diesel. Good choice if refinement and extra grunt is needed but for me the 1.6 diesel does the job admirably. There is nothing to fear here when it comes to performance and its economy will raise eyebrows.

Okay, the power band is narrow and it sounds harsh as the revs mount, but I never felt short changed when overtaking and noise levels are perfectly acceptable when cruising. The best bit is a smidgen over 50mpg after a week and 470 miles. That is a terrific return for such a big four wheel drive car.

My N Connecta is near the top of the range and is well equipped with substantial safety and comfort packages. My favourite: the 360deg camera, great for parking in tight spots. And I liked the double USB socket for the second row. A small detail may be but very useful these days.

All in all X-Trail was much better than I expected and is good value. But I am afraid it still comes fourth behind the three mentioned at the start.

Fast facts

Nissan X-Trail N Connecta 4WD

£32,445 (starts £25,590)

1.6 litre dCi 130

0-62mph 11secs; 115mph

52.3mpg combined

143g/km. 1st year road tax £515

Insurance group 16

Hundreds say farewell to Colin Loughlin

* The late Colin Loughlin whose funeral was held at Pentrebychan crematorium.

Hundreds of people turned out to pay their last respects to the saviour of Llangollen Food Festival – and heard it had just been named as one of the best eight events of its type in the UK.

There was standing room only at the Pentrebychan crematorium near Wrexham for the funeral of Colin Loughlin who died aged 76 from a suspected heart attack.

The service was conducted by the Rev Andrew Sully who served as the Vicar of Llangollen, Trevor and Llantysilio for more than a decade until moving to Llandudno last summer.

Appropriately, donations in lieu of flowers were accepted to pay for a defibrillator for a new boat being launched by the Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust which Colin supported for many years.

In 2011 Colin came to rescue when the previous organisers of the festival pulled the plug and he was elected chairman of a committee of volunteers who revived the event which has gone from strength.

After being named as one of the top 10 food festivals in the UK by the Independent and Daily Telegraph newspapers, it’s now been hailed as one of the best eight in the UK by the Redonline website.

Colin’s contribution as the chair of the festival committee has been celebrated with a painting of him in a mural on the side of the Llangollen pavilion where the event is held every October.

A native of Wrexham, Colin ran a wine distribution company called Whitehouse Wines in Coedpoeth before going into business with Lorraine Hughes.

They bought an existing company called Megan’s Kitchen which makes Welsh Cakes.
Lorraine continued to run the business after Colin retired five years ago, before stepping down as festival committee chair in 2016.

She said: “Colin was a force of nature and an irreplaceable character but his legacy will live on in the form of Llangollen Food Festival which he was instrumental in saving and ensuring that it thrived and prospered.

“So much so, that the festival has now received another accolade from the Redonline website and been hailed as one of the best eight food festivals in the UK.”

The eulogy at the funeral was delivered by long-time friend Bob Jaques who is also the treasurer of the food festival committee.

Bob said: “After Colin moved to Llangollen he quickly became a well-loved member of the community and, when the organiser of the Llangollen Festival withdrew, Colin formed a committee of friends to continue the event.

“He became Chairman and the committee successfully took over the running of this annual event for many years, which very soon became one of the top ten Food Festivals in the UK.

“He eventually resigned as Chair but very soon was persuaded to return to the committee in order that his vast knowledge and experience should not be lost.

“Away from work Colin enjoyed all types of sport including rugby, motor racing and sailing.  He was a member and played for Wrexham Rugby Club and made many lifelong friends. 

“Colin was an enthusiastic member of Llangollen Round Table and willingly took part in fund raising events, Father Christmas float, raft races, jazz evenings, barbeques, trips on the river and French wine runs.

“He joined some colleagues from Table who had started a project to build a canal boat specially adapted for people with disabilities which became the Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust.

“This first boat, Myfanwy, was built by apprentices at Camel Lairds shipyard and provided memorable days out for thousands.

“Many years and three boats later the Trust is currently building a new boat which will be launched in the Summer and today, donations in memory of Colin will go towards buying a defibrillator for this new boat.

“We will all, I know, have many memories of Col, his love of wine, his love of cars, particularly his Triumph Vitesse which is parked outside this afternoon thanks to its proud new owner Brian Owen.

After the service, fellow committee member Pip Gale, of Gales Wine Bar and Hotel, added: “Colin was hugely popular and so well respected so his passing came as a huge shock to us all.

“Quite simply, the food festival would not exist today were it not for the enthusiasm and leadership shown by Colin.

“He is a massive loss to the town of Llangollen in general and the food festival in particular but he will always be remembered with great fondness.”

Wind turbine deliveries progessing well, says contractor

* One of the massive wind turbine components is driven along Regent Street.

The delivery of 27 wind turbines to a renewable energy development in Denbighshire, through Llangollen, is progressing well and on schedule, says the contractor.

For the full story see Business News Wales at: https://businessnewswales.com/27-wind-turbines-set-for-renewable-development-in-denbighshire/

Llan gets overnight dusting of snow

* Snow on the hillside leading up to the castle. 

People in Llangollen woke up this morning (Sunday) to find it had snowed on the hills surrounding the town.

A yellow warning of the snowfall across North Wales was given by forecasters yesterday.

Later this morning the snow turned again to rain.

County increases annual garden waste charge

From April 1 Denbighshire County Council is increasing the standard garden waste service charge from £24 to £27.

New customers can opt for the standard service consisting of one 140 litre wheelie bin or three re-usable sacks, or an enhanced service using two wheelie bins or six sacks. The cost of the enhanced service will increase from £36 to £39.

For online customers, and those who pay for their service by Direct Debit, the standard service charge will increase from £22 to £24 and the enhanced service will increase from £34 to £36.

The increase in costs is the first increase of its kind since the Council started charging for the garden waste collections five years ago.

The price increase will take effect on all transactions completed after midnight on March 31.

Existing Denbighshire garden waste customers with subscriptions due to expire in the spring should bear in mind that they are able to renew their subscriptions up to 12 weeks before they expire.

Over 17,000 Denbighshire residents subscribe to the fortnightly garden waste collection service. The service is provided for 52 weeks a year and residents can sign-up at any time of the year and receive a full 12 months of service.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, said: “In the current climate, there are difficult decisions that need to be made and every service has been asked to find cuts and new ways of working as we look at re-shaping the Council.

“We have great feedback about our garden waste collections and  we want to keep this valuable service going. To do so, we are in the position where we are needing to increase the cost marginally.   We understand this is not ideal, however we hope people understand our reasoning behind the increase in charges and continue to use this valuable service.”

* For further information about garden waste collections, please visit: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling

Local produce on menu at culinary event

Food producers are being given the chance to show off their delicious produce at a special event.

As part of Denbighshire County Council’s March for Business month, food producers from across Denbighshire are inviting hoteliers, chefs, food stores and those in the hospitality industry to find out about all the local produce on their doorsteps.

Taste Local - Meet the Producer 2019 is being organised by Llangollen and Dee Valley Good Grub Club and the Clwydian Range Food & Drink group, in collaboration with Denbighshire and Flintshire county councils.

The event on Tuesday, March 12 at Ruthin Castle will offer food buyers the chance to sample food and drink products from across the region.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “This event offers food businesses such as hotels, B&Bs, cafes and shops a fantastic opportunity to meet local suppliers and source new products for their menus and shelves.

“We have amazing food producers in Denbighshire and we want to help them promote themselves and expand their businesses.

“Research shows that in Wales more than 80 per cent of consumers want more Welsh food and drink available in shops while more than 44 per cent would be prepared to pay more for Welsh produce.

“We are pleased to be working with Llangollen and Dee Valley Good Grub Club and Clwydian Range Food & Drink on this event to support the great work both groups do promoting their members.”

There will also be business support stands at the event.

Blas Lleol - Meet the Producer is part of March for Business, Denbighshire County Council’s annual business month with 25 varied events offering almost 100 hours of content at venues across the county.

* Food buyers and users such as cafés, shops, pubs, B&Bs and restaurants can register to attend by booking via www.denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness

Llan man's cancer battle debated by AMs

* Stuart Davies spearheaded the prostate cancer campaign. 

A campaign by a Llangollen man for equal prostate cancer treatment to be available across the country has been debated in the Welsh Assembly.

Former county councillor Stuart Davies paid Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) nearly £900 for a multi-parametric MRI (mpMRI) scan when a cancer that he'd beaten several years ago returned 18 months ago.

The mpMRI is a specific type of MRI scan that can give more detailed images of the prostate than a regular MRI scan.

The scan was recommended to Mr Davies by the health board as a way of specifically deciding upon the correct treatment for his cancer. After receiving the scan in 2017 he was shocked to learn that it is offered for free by other health boards in Wales.

Mr Davies started a petition to have the free scans rolled out across all of Wales and received over 6,345 signatures, warranting its discussion in the Senedd in Cardiff and last month Mr Davies marched on the capital, joined by fellow campaigners.

Before the petition was launched, just three of the seven health boards in Wales, offered mpMRI before biopsy and only one board provided to a standard high enough to safely rule men out of biopsy. This meant men in four health boards did not have access to mpMRI as a diagnostic test, unless they paid to have it done privately.
Yesterday Assembly Members debated the petition and North Wales AM  Mark Isherwood urged the Welsh Government to act on the campaigners' calls.

Wrexham Maelor Hospital's urology unit is one of 11 units across England and Wales that took part in the prostate MRI imaging study ‘PROMIS’ trial to discover improved ways of diagnosing prostate cancer.

Although the results showed that 93 per cent of aggressive cancers were detected by using the mpMRI scan to guide the biopsy compared with just 48 per cent where only a Transrectal ultrasound guided (TRUS) biopsy was carried out, men in North Wales have had to fund the scans themselves because they were not provided or funded by the health board in North Wales. 

Speaking in the debate, Mr Isherwood said that last March's announcement by NHS England that it was launching a one-stop service using MRI techniques to revolutionise prostate cancer treatment and slash the time taken for a diagnosis there was a game changer, that men’s lives here are being put at risk and that patients across Wales should not be left behind.

He said: ”Last December, NICE issued new draft guidance recommending pre-biopsy mpMRI for suspected Prostate Cancer, with final guidance expected next month.

“In January, the Health Minister wrote to members stating that he had asked all Health Boards to work with the Welsh Urology Board to ensure that they have full implementation plans within one month of this.

“In the same letter he stated that “Health Boards have confirmed that at present they deliver care in line with current NICE Guidance”.

“North Wales patients subsequently reiterated that care was not delivered in line with current NICE Guidance in their cases.

“North Wales Community Health Council stated that the Health Board have consistently declined to produce proof that they did any scans for men with rising PSA following a negative biopsy – and that they are co-ordinating refunds to all of their clients who did not receive scans in line with the 2014 guidance.

“They also state that their correspondence with the Health Minister gives them no comfort that he will intervene if they make the same decision on the pre-biopsy mpMRI guidance."

Mr Isherwood added: “This petition’s sponsor, Stuart Davies, states that interim arrangements should be put in place now so that men do not put their lives at risk, that although patients pay approximately £900, the cost to the NHS at Wrexham’s Spire Hospital is only £365 – and that men contacting the campaign say that they are either waiting for it to become free or are taking out loans to pay for their scan. 

“Last December, I attended a meeting with Mr Davies, the Health Board and Community Health Council, at which the Health Board apologised and offered to refund the money men had paid for scans.

“However, only this week, a constituent received a letter from the Health Board stating that “although current clinical advice suggests that the use of full diagnostic mpMRI may be beneficial … this has not yet been supported by NICE.

“Noting, however, that NICE has now backed mpMRI scans as a cost effective first-line investigation, Tenovus Cancer Care have called on the Welsh Government to ensure that mpMRI is available across Wales, stating that it is not available at Betsi Cadwaladr, Hywel Dda or Swansea Bay, and not available at PROMIS standards in Cardiff and Vale.

“As Prostate Cancer UK states, mpMRI revolutionises Prostate Cancer diagnosis, so let's listen to the experts with lived experience. These men have been telling the truth from the very beginning."