Llan wakes to a sprinkling of snow

In line with forecasts, Llangollen woke up to a thin scattering of snow on the hills around town this morning (Wednesday). This is the view towards the castle.

Government encourages more factory-made homes

The Welsh Government wants councils to build far more council homes at scale and at pace, however, they face the well-documented capacity constraints faced by traditional house builders.

To deliver more homes quickly, councils will be encouraged to use modern methods of construction (MMC), which will help them build better quality homes faster than traditional methods allow, in order to meet the growing need for affordable housing across the country.

MMC includes various construction methods from new materials and technologies, to off-site manufacturing, which either replace or complement traditional methods of construction.

MMC opportunities will also bring significant new benefits to the Welsh economy.

To back Welsh business, Ministers plan to help this next generation of homes to be built utilising national assets such as Welsh steel and Welsh timber. 

There will also be a focus on using the emerging MMC industry in Wales to pursue Welsh social and ethical ambitions, including developing skills and market-leading technical expertise in communities hardest hit by the decline of traditional industries. Investment will also help firms invest in locally sourced labour.

According to the government, other benefits include:

• creating new jobs and developing the new skills required to accommodate greater use of MMC, which will represent a sea-change in the construction industry
• upskilling the existing construction workforce
• attracting new and diverse entrants from marginalised groups such as offenders and those who wouldn’t necessarily consider careers in traditional construction such as women

As part of the Welsh Government’s new Modern Methods of Construction strategy ‘Reimagining social house building in Wales’ Ministers are making a major £45 million investment in the modular housing industry in Wales, to ensure it can deliver the next generation of social housing that people need.

£20 million is being made available for MMC businesses, who in partnership with Welsh social landlords, want to build the next generation of social housing. 

This investment is designed to help and encourage the market, especially SMEs, to develop off-site manufacture (OSM) solutions such as supply chains, factories, skills development centres, that meet the needs of the next generation of social housing in Wales.

A further £25 million is being made available for round four of the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Programme, which will focus on innovative housing delivered through MMC.

The strategy supports the Welsh Government’s ambitions to reduce carbon emissions from the housing sector. It also supports move to a circular economy, as building with MMC could reduce construction waste by as much as 70-90%.

Housing Minister, Julie James said: "Building more social and affordable homes is a key priority for the Welsh Government. Over the last four years, this Welsh Government has invested £2 billion in new housing across Wales, as part of our ambition to deliver 20,000 affordable homes by 2021.

"But we want to build more. And we want to build better. The significant investment we’re making in the modular housing industry will enable us to do that.

"Gone are the days of MMC’s association with poor quality, temporary, pre-fabricated housing; MMC now produces high quality, desirable and energy efficient affordable homes that tenants can be proud of. We have certainly moved from Pre-Fab to Ab-Fab!

"Developing the MMC industry in Wales presents us with a great opportunity to not only build beautiful new social housing, but also kick-start a new industry that will become increasingly important for our economy.

"The publication of the strategy is in response to a recommendation made by the Welsh Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Review, which identified Modern Methods of Construction as a way of more quickly increasing housing supply."

Care boss warns over new immigration rules

A social care leader has warned that care homes and home care agencies in Wales will be put out of business as a result of the new immigration rules announced by the Government.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, (pictured) has called on Home Secretary Priti Patel not to “close the door” on overseas workers at a time when the sector was already suffering because of a major recruitment crisis.

The new system - set to come into force in January 2021 - will aim to end visas for low-skilled workers and cut the overall number of migrants coming to the UK.

It will award points to applicants based on specific skills, qualifications, salaries, English speaking ability and professions, with overseas workers - including those from the EU - required to have the offer of a skilled job with an “approved sponsor” to come here.

The Government is also backing a recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to lower the salary threshold for skilled workers wanting to come to the UK from £30,000 to £25,600.

But Priti Patel is facing calls to grant special exemptions for those working in the social care sector in a bid to stave off staff shortages.

According to Mr Kreft, care homes, nursing homes and home care agencies in North Wales are facing a massive crisis with an estimated shortfall of 7,000 staff by the year 2026.

The new immigration rules would, he said, exacerbate the  severe shortage of nurses and carers.

It would lead to loss of nursing home beds and the closure of care homes at a time when the number of over-85s in Wales is expected to more than double in the next 20 years.

Mr Kreft said: “This is something we have been warning about for a long time because it is clear that these proposals will have dire consequences for the social care sector and, more importantly, for the vulnerable people we look after.

“In recent years we have seen homes closing across Wales because their fragile finances just did not stack up because social care remains chronically underfunded despite it being such an important service.

“On top of that we are having to contend with a debilitating recruitment crisis which will be even worse unless the Government have a change of heart in relation to social care.

“The way fees are calculated means that it is possible to earn more stacking shelves in a supermarket than it is to provide social care for our loved ones.

“We need to explode the myth that social care staff are low skilled – that’s not true. They are just lower paid and that’s not fair.

“The new rules just do not make sense when you apply them to social care.

“One unintended consequence will be that it will place even more pressure on an already creaking NHS.

“Our social care providers currently underpin the provision in our hospitals but if more care homes, nursing homes and home care companies are forced out of business, alternative provision will have to be made for them.

“In that case it’s s highly likely that these vulnerable people will end up in hospital when that is probably the worst possible place for them to be, leading to even more bed blocking.

“This change in immigration policy means that the social care sector will have to improve pay levels significantly to attract the home-grown staff needed.

“That would require more money to be injected into social care as a matter of urgency. Nobody has said where that extra money would come from.

“Putting responsibility on the providers to sort out a mess of the Government’s making is irresponsible. This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Your wish is this new Volvo SUV's command

* The Volvo XC40's stylish profile.

* ... and a minimalist dash layout. 

Volvo XC40 road test by Steve Rogers

My irritation with voice control in cars has, apparently, become legendary and even sparked a discussion in a pub.

The trouble is two-fold. You have to go through hoops to get the right function and once there it does not always do what you ask. I even lost my temper with a Lexus (how stupid is that) because it went to radio when I wanted to put in a postcode for navigation.

Well, I have finally come across a car with no quibble voice control. Tell a Volvo what you want and 'your wish is my command'. In this case it was the XC40 compact SUV, the latest and smallest in the line, but equipped with the same Sensus connectivity as all other Volvos.

This means just about every function is stored away in a tablet style computer sitting smack in the centre of the dashboard. It is a big vertical screen and yes, the system is intimidating, some might find it baffling.

The majority of cars have touchsceen infotainment centres but for me the Volvo is the most complex. To be fair it is a masterpiece of technology and people used to doing everything on smart phones will get their heads around it in no time just as new Volvo owners will get used to it....eventually.

But I didn't need to worry because the voice control is brilliant. Tell it to tune to a radio station, put in a post code, change the heating temperature or the fan speed and it does it. And they are the functions we use most when driving. Result.

There is, of course, a lot more to XC40. In many ways it is an exceptional car with eye catching styling, a stunning minimalist interior (very Swedish), plenty of room and oodles of high end safety features. Would we expect anything less from Volvo when it comes to keeping us safe?

You would not want to temp fete but about the only way you will have an accident is if someone else causes it. Pilot assist will keep you in your lane and control braking and speed, you will be warned not to pull out if a car is overtaking, or if a vehicle is approaching when reversing out of a parking slot. Very handy in supermarket car parks where some people drive ridiculously quickly.

For all that the XC40's outstanding feature is comfort. My test car was the R-Design which has sporty suspension so you might expect ride to be a bit raw. It turned out to be the total opposite with the most settled ride of any compact SUV I have driven and able to keep its composure when pushed through twists and turns.

The seats, particularly the front, are very comfortable and with generous rear legroom XC40 is a good family car. There is a decent sized boot (R-Design has a powered tailgate) with a wide opening and flat loading area with the back seats folded.

Volvo has switched emphasis to smaller petrol engines and hybrid and electric power, you don't get anything over two litres, and has developed a turbocharged 1.5 litre petrol as its entry point for XC40.

This three-cylinder engine musters a formidable 163bhp and is quick off the mark but it does lack refinement and is noisy once the needle passes 4000rpm. Economy is not brilliant either, I never managed to reach 40mpg on the trip computer which is in line with the official figures but I would hope for better. Volkswagen does a better job with its 1.5litre petrol.

For those wanting more economy take a look at the D3 diesel.

This is another fine car from Volvo which is almost mirroring Audi in the way it has risen up the premium ranks. It has both style and substance, is reasonably priced, and although it is not quite the best at everything, it still does everything very well.

Key facts

XC40 R-Design 8sp auto

£31,500

1.5litre T3 turbo 163bhp

0-62mph 9.6secs; 124mph

35.8-39.2mpg combined

148g/km. 1st year tax £210

Insurance group 22

Boot: 586 litres

St David's Day concert this Friday

Llangollen Welsh Society are hosting a St David's Day Concert at St Collen's Community Hall on Friday, February 28th at 7pm.

The concert features Lleisiau Ceiriog/Ceiriog Choir.

Tickets are £7 including a light buffet or £5 for members and are available from Elizabeth Benjamin or Eirwen Jones before February 26.

Names are required by today for catering figures. Contact: 01978 860516, or email gwbenji@gmail.com

A483 traffic warning

Tweet by North Wales Police just before 8am:

Please be aware that traffic is backing up on the A483 between junction 7 and 6 southbound due to a road traffic collision. Delays are likely.

Chamber urges businesses to back the BID

Llangollen’s business community is currently being asked to vote on whether or not they wish to be part of a local Business Improvement District.

The Chamber of Trade and Tourism Executive has issued a statement, which llanblogger has been asked to publish, explaining why, as a body, it is voting “yes” to the BID proposal, and suggesting the area’s businesses should do the same.  The statement says:

“As a business with a rateable value over £2500 in the proposed Llangollen BID area you will have received a copy of the Business Plan and will get a voting form via the council and the Electoral Reform Society.

“Several successful and pro-active businesses in the area have supported the consultancy process with lots of their time and some also financially.

“A Business Improvement District is where a group of businesses pay into a not-for-profit company which delivers the objectives set out in the business plan.

“If the majority of businesses in the area vote in favour of the BID plan (both by number and rateable value) then the included business will pay a levy to fund the business plan.

“If businesses don’t vote either way then their votes aren’t included in the numbers and will have no sway either for or against.

“The BID is not a tax, it is a Business Plan, created by and administered by the businesses of the town to improve the town as a place to do business and live and as an investment to benefit those businesses and help them make more money and/or remain in business.

“The BID lasts 5 years but can be cancelled if the businesses don’t believe that it is working.

“The BID is formed as a company (limited by guarantee) and has the running costs associated with any business such as admin and accounts, these are forecast to be about 11% of the collected levy, not 34% as stated on a vote no leaflet.

“To make it work the company will have to employ someone locally to deliver the business plan under the supervision of the board, this is budgeted at £20k to employ a person with the right skill set and experience.

“The council will collect the money and pass it on to the bid company without charging for the privilege, but they will pass on the extra costs from their software licensing for the collection.

“All the marketing money spend is directed by the businesses involved, legally it cannot duplicate existing council spends.

“If  the BID spends money on marketing the town it will come from all businesses with a rateable value over £2500, unlike historical projects like the Christmas lights where just a few of the businesses supported the work.

“The BID will likely choose to support Llangollen 2020, thereby helping them raise more funds towards the project through avenues that are unavailable to the project without business support.

“Businesses have complained for decades that parking maps and signage need improving. The Chamber has never had any money to move on this bar printing some maps.

“With a £100k over 5 years the Llangollen BID Company can get these improved in addition to the existing council budgets.

“All BID levy payers are eligible to be members of the BID company and stand for the election to the board.

“The benefits of BIDS are clear with many BID areas voting to repeat the process over 5 years and have money to spend to improve local business, directed and spent by local business.

“Part of the business plan is to join a national buying group to reduce costs for business including telecoms, utilities, waste collection and potentially rates. For many businesses this will likely recoup all or most of the levy they pay.

“A BID for Llangollen gives you new services, support, marketing and a town competing with other well marketed towns in the area. Llangollen has a lot to shout about, but we don’t. Customers need reasons to come to Llangollen and reasons to return.

“Those reasons are here in abundance, but we don’t promote them to our customers as well as we can. With a BID for Llangollen we can do our town and area justice with better destination marketing.

“Government Support comes to those who support themselves, the more proactive we are as a business community the more we will attract government support. This is one of the primary criteria for government support.

“So by just having a bid we can get more funding for business in the town and have a paid member of staff to apply for it.

“Here are five good reasons to vote yes:

1. Over £400,000 of investment for the town centre over 5 years

2. The BID will be run and controlled by Llangollen businesses

3. Projects to be carried out are set out in the Business Plan including an exciting annual Marketing, Promotion & Events Programme, Wayfinding and Access Improvements and Reducing Your Business Costs by centrally organising services such as Trade Waste Management, Recycling & Insurance. Over 70% of businesses will pay less than £1 a day for all this and will get more back than they put in (based on other BID towns experience (Google Keighly BID cost savings)

4.There are over 300 BIDs operating successfully in the UK and 12 across Wales including nearby competitors, and Llangollen will need to compete effectively with them

5. The Llangollen BID will act as a powerful business lobbying and advocacy body to ensure your voice is heard on issues like business rates, car parking and delivering investment. Much of the £90m

Transforming Towns Programme that was announced last week by the Welsh Government will be channelled through BIDs and Llangollen does not want to miss out

6. Includes membership of a national buying group such as Meercat Associates, reducing gas, electric, telecoms and waste bills by negotiating on behalf of 10,000 businesses.

“Please send in your vote, whether YES or NO. We’ll be voting YES, because we invest in our businesses.”