Meeting highlights development plan consultation

* Tuesday evening's meeting in progress.

Llangollen Friends of the Earth member Warren Davies has sent llanblogger this report of the group's meeting in St Collen's Church Hall on Tuesday evening to discuss the implications of the 11 "candidate" sites submitted for possible inclusion in Denbighshire's next Local Development Plan and local response to the consultation process, the deadline for which is August 31.

We had just over 40 local residents attend. 

Local county councillor Graham Timms, myself and a number of Friends of the Earth members also attended to help people respond to the consultation.

Our aim was to help people find relevant information, and find the best way to respond, whether on paper or online. 

Generally people found the Denbighshire County Council (DCC) documentation difficult to pick apart to find the relevant information. With help from ourselves, Graham and knowledgeable residents, we helped boost response numbers, helping people to have their say.

Regarding the candidate sites, there was dismay and confusion at the inclusion of the Youth Club and Youth Club field. Graham Timms was absolutely resolute in his determination to have this site removed from the list.

Strong concerns were also raised about all three of the sites near Maesmawr Road. Development scale, loss of agricultural land and traffic issues were frequently mentioned.

The Berwyn Works brownfield site was generally considered suitable for development so long as it was sympathetic.

Traffic and services were common concerns about the potential growth of the town.

Llangollen Friends of the Earth are concerned that the LDP should use the state of climate emergency to inform the LDP, and that currently it is hardly mentioned. 

Given the declaration of a climate and ecological emergency by the council, and the urgency of action required, the plan should take climate change concerns as a central pillar in any development plan.

Talk at Llangollen Museum tonight

Government to ask Queen to suspend Parliament

In breaking news this morning, the BBC has the following major development in the Brexit story ...

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49493632

Response from Clwyd South Labour MP Susan Elan Jones ...

In response to this morning’s news... In a parliamentary democracy (as we are supposed to be), a Prime Minister would propose a general election not use procedural devices to get their way. This is very serious and unprecedented. (Please see the link for the text of the declaration that I and a very large number of MPs signed this week).

https://twitter.com/susanelanjones/status/1166395155844349952?s=21

Mewn ymateb i newyddion y bore ‘ma. Mewn democratiaeth seneddol (fel yr ydym i fod), byddai Prif Weinidog yn cynnig etholiad cyffredinol, nid defnyddio dyfeisiau gweithdrefnol i gael ei ffordd. Mae hyn yn ddifrifol iawn ac yn ddigynsail.
(Gweler y ddolen uchod ar gyfer testun y datganiad a lofnodais i a nifer fawr iawn o ASau yr wythnos hon).

Operatic to stage Chicago next spring

Chicago The Musical is roaring its way into Llangollen next spring.

Full of iconic songs and music such as All that Jazz, Razzle Dazzle, Mr Cellophane and Cell Block Tango, this fabulous show full of love, murder, courtroom drama and true showbiz has been chosen by Llangollen Operatic Society for its next production.

On stage at the Town Hall from April 22-25, Chicago couldn’t be more different from their last show, the smash-hit production of Fiddler on the Roof earlier this year.

Artistic Director Alison Ravenscroft said: "I’m really excited about putting on this show and, judging by the great feedback we’ve already had following the announcement, so is everyone else!"

Producer Helen Belton (My Fair Lady 2018 and Fiddler on the Roof 2019) has the strong team of Alison Ravenscroft as Director, Leigh Mason as Musical Director, Chrissie Ashworth as Assistant Director and Dan May as Assistant Producer and is herself hoping to be on stage. 

She said: "Producing shows for Llangollen Operatic is almost a full-time job and it’s a wonderful feeling seeing everything come together but my first love will always be performing on the stage." 

The society is having a meet and greet evening on September 17 at the Studio in Castle Street to welcome members both old and new to introduce their new season of rehearsals. 

Helen said: "Come and meet us, we’re a very friendly bunch and there will be drinks and snacks available. There will be an introduction to the show and information about auditions will be available.

"If you are a dancer, singer or actor wanting to be in the show come along and find out more, we’d love to meet you.

"New members are always very welcome, and there is lots of opportunity to help with a production, even if you don’t actually want to be on the stage itself. Costumes, scenery, stage crew, front of house – there’s a role for everyone.

"Join our Facebook pages to learn more and get the latest information about rehearsals:

·  Llangollen Operatic Society public page

·  Operatic News and Info group 

·  ‘Chicago’ rehearsal group."

Octavia might be bossy but it's solid and safe

* The Skoda Octavia. 

* The Octavia's rather spartan cockpit.

Skoda Octavia road test by Steve Rogers

This will sound comical but I have just got out of a car where it seemed Big Brother was watching me!

The fictional character in George Orwell's novel 1984 kept a sinister eye on everyone and that was how it seemed in the Skoda Octavia. 

As soon as I turned the ignition a message came up telling the driver not to press the accelerator when starting. Oh, sorry but I always do that.

Then I slipped it into neutral while following a stream of slow moving cars downhill. Another message telling me not to do that either. Later I dared to open the window while driving and was ticked off for doing that as well.

Of course there was nothing sinister going on, the messages that come up in the driver's binnacle are all tips to improve economy, so good for Skoda. The company has always tried to show consideration for its clients and the telescopic umbrella stored under the passenger seat is another example of its caring nature.

Skoda has grown in stature over the last two decades and is doing particularly well at the moment. Being part of the Volkswagen-Audi empire helps but it has worked damned hard to build a solid reputation from the days when its cars were considered nothing more than a joke.

Octavia has played a big part winning over the Brits and is still Skoda's best seller in the UK. At first Octavia carved a niche of its own sitting between VW's Golf and Passat so it was the price of a Golf but nearly as big as a Passat. Now it is more into Passat territory, still offering good value for money and a huge amount of space.

Open Octavia's tailgate and it is like looking into a cave. To give you an idea about what this car can take I travelled three up loaded with three sets of golf clubs and three power trolleys. Impressive or what?

Come to think of it Octavia's boot capacity has always been the main talking point but this time it has been eclipsed by its engine. On the face of it the idea of a one litre petrol, with just three-cylinders, providing the power for a car of this size is barmy, isn't it? I thought so.

One litre three-cylinder petrols are nothing new. They have been popping up faster than weeds offering an alternative to the small diesel, punching well above their weight on performance, economy and, more significantly, puffing out lower emissions. But they are generally used to power smaller city cars or superminis with a few family hatchbacks thrown in like Ford Focus and Honda Civic.

Surely a one litre can't work in a five seater Octavia, a car than transport three hefty adults and all their golf gear? The build up has hardly been subtle so you can guess the answer.

The first thing I did when the car was delivered was check the journey's economy stat. Just over 50mpg at the end of 156 miles so an encouraging start. What I really couldn't wait to find out was whether a one litre could haul this cavernous five seater.

I got the answer within a few hundred yards. Octavia's first job was to pull up a gradient from my cul-de-sac and that is when I knew this engine was something special. Three-cylinder engines are good for picking up at low revs and this was effortless and smooth with none of the putt-putt clatter from engines of the past.

For the next week a day didn't go by when I marvelled at how such a small engine could provide such impressive performance in such a big car. Even Mrs Rogers, who normally finds things to complain about in test cars, could not hold back on her praise for Octavia's sprightly performance.

And the 120 mile round trip to Bull Bay golf course on Anglesey yielded 52.4mpg. I think that just about covers all that's good about this engine.

You do not hear many complaints about Octavia, yes the interior is a bit funereal but that's the way it is when you are part of the Volkswagen quartet. Nothing flash, no creeks or rattles, and everything laid out with typical Germanic precision. 

The inset eight inch touchscreen for navigation, radio etc is quickly mastered and the heating controls are separate. Just how I like it.

Octavia is a solid, safe buy, I would even go so far as to say it is one of the great family cars. And guess what, I stopped pressing the accelerator to start the engine. Well, I didn't want to get ticked off again.

Key facts

Octavia SE Drive

£20,440

1-litre TSI 6sp manual 115bhp

0-62mph 10secs; 127mph

48.7mpg combined

110g/km. 1st year road tax £150

Boot space 1580 litres max

Insurance group 14   

Denbighshire gets positive social services report

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed the positive report from Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) on the provision of social care services for older people in the county.  

They say officers have discussed the report in detail with the lead inspector and are working to ensure that the areas for improvement are fully understood by both the council and the Inspectorate and that agreed areas are targeted for improvement through an action plan agreed with elected members.

Cllr Bobby Feeley, Lead Member for Wellbeing and Independence, said: “I am pleased the positive elements of CIWs report recognise the creative and professional approach that we have taken in implementing the Social Services and Well-being Act and evidences that our focus is clearly sighted on supporting people to maintain and recover their independence wherever possible, avoiding unnecessary intervention by both social care and health services. 

“The areas for improvement identified show that Denbighshire, like all Welsh Local Authorities, are working to fully implement the Act in a sensible and flexible way that reflects the spirit of its principles.

 “This report is a recognition of the hard work and professionalism of our staff across all of social care for older people and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued support for our most vulnerable citizens.”

Medic's powerful safety message to speeding bikers

* The Horseshoe  bikers congregate.

A medic based in the south of England has issued a powerful warning to bikers visiting Llangollen about the dangers of speeding.

Joel Whitaker put out his heartfelt plea on Facebook yesterday as scores of motorcyclists were making bank holiday visits to the area.

He says: “A little bit of a rant, but for good reason.

“I know that the few give the many a bad name, so this is aimed solely at the bad.

“If you ride your motorcycle recklessly up the Horseshoe, or anywhere for that matter, then you are nothing but a selfish moron.

“The road is purely that, a road. It is not a racetrack. Today I saw at least 5 motorcyclists nearly have head on collisions with people lawfully going about their business. These collisions, had they not been narrowly avoided, would have been fatal.

“I make no apologies for this rant but I say it because I, as a medic, am fed up of having to scrape motorcyclists off the road and tell family members that turn up on scene that their loved ones are dead. I particularly hate that moment when I have to give this news to the families of innocent people. Why should they have to be subjected to this, the result of your decision to ride dangerously?

“Please ride sensibly. I know that you seek that thrill of speed but to put your thrill seeking before other motorists, or even your own families, is ridiculous. Think of your families, especially your children. Your one mistake, a moment of madness, gives them a lifetime of pain. Is it really worth it? 

“Take care all.”

In agreeing to allow llangogger to publish his statement, Joel said: “I am based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire but moving to Llan shortly and have family up here (historically from the area: I’m a descendant of Billy Meredith).

“There have been incidents where I have had to stop and assist locally, as I have to.

“I thought I’d write the post as, no matter where I’m based, the point is the same. Motorcyclists that ride dangerously put others at risk and Llan gets more than its share of poor riders visiting.”

A number of people have voiced their agreement with what Joel has said on Facebook.