Mazda's MX30 is a car full of suprises

Mazda MX 30 launch report by Steve Rogers

It would be easy to write off Mazda's new electric car before hitting the starter button.

Why? Because Mazda has pegged the range for MX-30 to just 124 miles. Deliberately.

That sounds nonsensical, even suicidal, when rivals are busting a gut to extend the range of electric cars yet Mazda has a plan and two good reasons for the decision.

The carbon footprint of an electric car is not as low as we might imagine when disposal of the battery packs comes into play - the bigger the battery pack the more harm to the environment - so Mazda has gone for a smaller 35.5kWh pack, hence the reduced range, but fewer nasties floating around when the time comes to get rid of them.

Secondly a lighter battery pack doesn't take so much away from the car's handling and that is important to sporty minded Mazda which has bestowed the MX badge to its family crossover. This is no MX-5 but by EV standards MX-30 is super to drive, agile, nimble and genuine fun.

So a car full of surprises, but here is the biggest. Remember the rear-hinged door on the 2003 RX-8 sports coupe? That same pillarless design has been incorporated into MX-30 and helps give the car such a clean profile. Vauxhall did it with the Meriva and there is the Rolls-Royce Phantom although that has a centre pillar.

It is novel and worked well on the RX-8 because the back seats were rarely used but that won't be the case here. Getting in is a bit tight unless the front seat is tilted forward although once in there is enough leg and wiggle room although a bit claustrophobic because of the small amount of glass.

There is a vegan feel to the cabin with recycled materials. You will spot a lot of cork lining the centre console and around the door handles, a nod to Mazda's beginnings in 1920 as a cork manufacturer, while some of the door trim is made from the fibres of plastic bottles. Even the leather is fake.

Yet there is a distinctly premium feel to the cabin considering this is one of the cheaper electric cars starting at £25,545 after taking off the £3k government grant. The dashboard is devoid of switches with everything channelled through a top mounted screen operated from a rotary controller behind the gearstick and is easy to use.

A 7 inch touchscreen at the base of the centre console takes care of the permanently displayed heating and ventilation controls. That works well too.

The driver's display is a mix of traditional and modern with three large dials, the central speedometer computer generated and calibrated to just 100mph (top speed is 87mph) with the speed limit clearly shown in red, and there's a head up display option all helping to keep you on the right side of the law.

With 271Nm of torque coming on the moment pedal hits the metal the MX-30 is a tearaway off the line, that's the beauty of an electric car, you can even spin the front wheels for an adrenalin rush!

But EV driving is all about getting the maximum range and that is where regenerative braking helps by putting miles back into the battery on the move. Mazda uses steering wheel mounted paddles for the four levels of engine braking and with practice the brake pedal is only needed to come to a dead stop. It makes you a more considerate and careful driver, is excellent for slowing at junctions, and prolongs the life of the brake discs and pads.

There is a three model line up, well equipped from the starting SE-L Lux with the range topping Sport Tech (£29,845) fully loaded with Bose 12 speaker sound system, 360 degree camera view, heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats among the highlights.

The 350 run 1st Edition model at £27,495 might be worth a punt with its generous spec and if you order any of the models by the end of March you get a free home charging wall box which I think is essential.

Mazda accepts some people will turn their noses up at MX-30s low mileage range but in reality will only hinder those making longer journeys, it certainly makes sense as a second car.

With a caravan on the drive an electric car is a no-no for me but if I had to buy one tomorrow the MX-30 would be top of the list. I loved it.

Fast facts

MX-30 GT Sport Tech

£29,845

Electric motor 143bhp

0-62mph 9.7secs; 87mph

Battery: 35.5kWh

Range 124 miles

Battery warranty 8 years

Emissions/ road tax: Zero

Insurance group 19

Boot: 341 litres

 

Politicians check out feasibility of hydro-power projects on the Dee

* Simon Baynes MP by the River Dee in Llangollen. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes is backing calls from a Llangollen town councillor to examine the possibility of setting up local hydroelectric projects to generate energy from the River Dee in Llangollen.

Following the recent decision of Llangollen Town Council to declare a climate emergency, Town Councillor Stuart Davies says he is keen to investigate the feasibility of local electricity generation schemes harnessing the power of the River Dee at Mile End Mill and other possible locations. 

To this end he has held preliminary meetings with Simon Baynes MP and other interested parties in Llangollen. 

Cllr Davies will now bring forward ideas for consideration by the Town Council in order that further investigations into such studies can be carried out in the community.

He said: “Given that Llangollen has a history as a mill town going back to the 13th century, it would be very exciting if the Town Council and national politicians could work together to bring some Green Dee Power back to Llangollen. And I’m very pleased that our MP Simon Baynes is backing me in looking into the feasibility of these projects.”

Mr Baynes said: “Recently, I have met with Cllr Stuart Davies and others in Llangollen to look at practical ways to harness the hydro power of the River Dee in the town.

“The environment was one of my top three priorities when elected as the MP for Clwyd South. 

"Since then, I have spoken in Parliament in support of local hydroelectric projects, such as the Corwen community hydro scheme, and also about the cross-party Local Electricity Bill. 

"The possibility of generating hydroelectric power once more on the River Dee is very exciting and I’m sure will attract a great deal of support in the community in Llangollen.”

Magazine article highlights plight of Llangollen Railway

* The article in the latest edition of The Railway Magazine.

The dire financial plight of Llangollen Railway features in a short article in the latest edition of The Railway Magazine.

As the public limited company which ran it plunges into liquidation, the piece tells how the assets of the world-famous heritage line have gone up for sale to the highest bidder.

As one railway insider puts it: "The results of 40 years of endeavours to build up a railway are in the shopping basket."

The magazine article says: "Following the shocking March 1 statement from Llangollen Railway PLC regarding the heritage railway’s recent insolvency, the directors have had to take the “reluctant step” of inviting the bank to appoint a receiver/administrator.

"The company’s losses were said to stem from the contract engineering side of the business, where problems predated lockdown, and had seen owners remove their locomotives from the Llangollen workshops, including the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s LNER D49 4-4-0 No. 246 Morayshire.

"The Llangollen Railway Trust immediately launched a dedicated fund – initial target £50,000 – to buy the PLC’s rolling stock from the administrator/receiver in due course, to prevent coaches being moved elsewhere and services being unable to resume.

"The proposed administrators of Llangollen Railway PLC are currently offering a unique and rare opportunity to purchase the operating and engineering assets, together with the business potential of this prestigious heritage railway.

"Interested parties should make contact without delay to confirm their expression of interest. Final and/or indicative offers will be required by 5.00 pm on Monday 22nd March 2021. Further information will be provided on receipt of a signed NDA.

"Visit www.lsh.co.uk/assetadvisory/private-treaty/llangollen-railway-plc—pt

"Donations are also welcome online at llangollenrailway.enthuse.com. Just visit the site and click the Donate button. For taxpayers, the railway can apply for 25% Gift Aid.

"You can also make a transfer to Llangollen Railway Charitable Trust: sort code: 53.81.03 account number: 23423455. Alternatively, supporters are invited to send cheques payable to Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd to The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen LL20 8SN."

Work begins to restore fire-damaged Llantysilio Mountain

* The fire-damaged Llantysilio Mountain.

Natural Resources Wales has begun work to restore the fire-damaged Llantysilio Mountain.

Around 400 bags of heather have been cut ready to be airlifted later in March by helicopter to some of the worst fire damaged areas of the mountain on Moel y Gamelin and Moel y Faen. 

* The heather bags will be lifted into place by helicopter. 

Just over one hectare of heather cuttings will be spread as a mulch, stabilising the soil and creating conditions for moorland plants like heather and bilberry to recolonise. 

A further 68ha of the mountain will also be sown with an upland grass seed mix to create a nursery crop for moorland plants to recolonise.

This year’s restoration work will only cover half of the worst damaged area of the mountain and further work is planned in the future.

This approach has been successful on fire damaged moorlands in other areas and it is hoped that over time the vegetation will re-establish to benefit wildlife, farming and local communities alike.

For health and safety reasons, members of the public are requested not to venture out on to the Llantysilio mountain when the helicopter is airlifting the bags of heather.

New art project showcases Dee Valley

* The scenery of the Dee Valley.

North East Wales' beautiful and historic landscape is the subject of a new art project aimed at connecting the local community with its rich natural heritage.

The Our Picturesque Landscape project is a partnership scheme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund that centres on the Dee Valley, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Canal World Heritage Site. 

The picturesque beauty of the Dee Valley has been a source of inspiration to artists, poets and writers for centuries.  

To continue with this tradition, the Our Picturesque Landscape project is hosting four literary themed Artist Residencies in 2021. These are:

Hywel Griffiths is a poet and geographer in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University. 

He has won the chair and crown competitions in the National Eisteddfod and his most recent collection - LlifCochAwst - won the Wales Book of the Year Poetry category. His academic interests include the relationships between people and landscape, flooding and river processes and art-science collaborations. 

Jessica and Philip Hatcher-Moore are a husband and wife team based in the Dee Valley. Jessica is an award-winning journalist, author and travel writer who worked for the Guardian in East Africa for five years before making a home in North Wales. 

Her storytelling is characterised by unheard voices and improbable things. Jessica's first book, After Birth, about postnatal recovery, will be published by Profile in May 2021.  

Philip is a photographer living on a hillside in North Wales. His work, which has been recognised by several international awards and exhibitions, explores society's relationship with the landscape and environment, and spans more than a decade of reportage from across the globe.

James Hudson is a visual artist working on semi-fictional projects that combine original photography, text and collage. His projects are usually commissions or residencies for cultural organisations and brands.

Sian Northey is a poet, author, translator and workshop leader. She writes for children and adults. 

Her latest volume is Circles (Y Bwthyn Press, 2020), a collection of short stories with pictures by photographer Iestyn Hughes.

The residencies will explore the connections between people and place, past and present. 

Throughout the year the artists will be spending time in the landscapes of the Dee Valley and meeting the people that live and work within it. 

Their work - including poetry, writing, spoken word and visual art - will be created in response to these experiences and shared with local residents and visitors to the area through exhibition, performance, in print and digitally. 

Updates on the residencies will be posted throughout the year, so follow the #OurPicturesqueLandscape project on social media (@Clwyd_Dee_AONB) to keep up to date with any events and activities that are happening.

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales, said: “The Dee Valley – with its stunning scenery, rich industrial architecture and history, is not only an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Site, it is also a national treasure.

“For the last two years, we have supported the Our Picturesque Landscape project to connect people with this inspiring landscape and improve access to it. This latest stage of the project which has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players, is continuing this important work."

Town council agrees motion on bridge weight restriction

Llangollen Town Council last night passed a notice of motion from new councillor Stuart Davies seeking support for his plan for an environmental weight restriction on the town bridge.

In his speech he claimed residents of the town were supportive of the measure and had been asking the question about it for many years.

He said: "From a structural perspective, in 2017 a report was presented to the local members by the Denbighshire County Council bridges engineer identifying issues to a varying degree with the Llangollen Town Bridge and the Kings Bridge at Berwyn. 

"Subsequently in 2018, a weight limit of 18 Tonnes was imposed on Kings Bridge whilst Llangollen Railway were requested to cease using the Town Bridge for movement and handling of heavy rolling stock.

"Politically the landscape is changing. In written and verbal communications, I raised the possibility of an EWR on the Town Bridge with Ken Skates on February 18 this year. 

"In our discussions it was agreed there was an issue that could be investigated locally at county level and at the Welsh Government level. Simon Baynes, the MP for Clwyd South, has publicly offered his support to the initiative."

He added: "These weight limits prevent large vehicles from using inappropriate roads, routes, and areas to prevent damage to buildings, roads, and bridges; preserve the character, amenity, and environment of an area; reduce and manage congestion on the roads; and reduce danger to pedestrians and other road users.

"Viable technology now exists for an Environmental Weight Restriction EWR to be policed/managed through Automatic Number Plate Recognition Technology (ANPR). There is documented evidence of  existing schemes in operation on bridges with EWR’s in force in several counties in the UK." 

He gave examples of other areas where weight restrictions were being enforced by cameras including Oxfordshire and Maidenhead and Windsor. 

After the meeting Cllr Davies said he would now be looking further into the technicalities of implementing an environmental weight restriction in Llangollen. 

Police commissioner's advice to help keep women safe

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A police boss and two abuse charities are urging men in North Wales to do more to help women feel safe in the wake of the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, the Domestic Abuse Safety Unit North Wales and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (RASASC) North Wales were frustrated the onus appeared to be on women to keep themselves safe rather than men changing their behaviour.

The  disappearance of 33-year-old Sarah while walking home in London became national news followed by millions and it highlighted the dangers women can face when they are out alone.

Sarah’s body was found in a Kent woodland and serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with her murder.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, said women had posted helpful tips on social media, most of which were small gestures that could make a big difference to how safe women feel walking alone at night.

 

According to the commissioner, there were several key points that recurred in the replies which he wanted to share with men in North Wales. 

Mr Jones said: “As the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, I work tirelessly to ensure that North Wales Police and its partners effectively tackles all violence against women and that perpetrators are brought to justice. We do not, and will not, tolerate such behaviour in North Wales.

“Women are not  attacked because they park in the wrong place, or because they aren’t paying attention to their surroundings when out in public.

“Women get attacked because men attack them.

“Sarah's disappearance has rightly prompted people to think how men can help women to feel safer on the streets, especially at night time.

“Many women have taken to social media to explain what men can do to make women feel safer when they’re out on their own.

 

“This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s based on the real experiences of multiple women.”

Keep your distance

When walking behind a girl or woman at night, remember that the closer you are, the more threatening you seem. So make sure to leave a good amount of distance between yourself and her.”

Alert women to their presence – but not by engaging in conversation

Approaching a woman in silence can provoke fear and panic. If you’re behind a woman and she cannot see you, try to make some noise to let them know you aren’t sneaking up behind them – call a friend, jingle keys – basically make any noise to draw attention to yourself

Offer to walk friends home

A stranger wouldn’t appreciate an offer from an unknown man to walk her home. But a friend might. Whilst you might think a route is safe or it’s only a short walk, having a male presence is sadly a valuable tool in warding off unwanted attention.

Talk to other men

Whilst staying away from women and being helpful to your female friends is all well and good, violence towards and harassment of women is a problem that is ingrained in our society. The true solution is changing the way that men treat women – and this means calling out your friends and other men when they’re crossing the line. If you want to make a true and meaningful change, bring up the fact that 97 per cent of young women have experience sexual harassment next time you’re with your male friends. The resulting conversation might surprise you.

Don’t run up from behind

Having someone run up behind you at night can give anyone a fright, but for a girl or woman it can be terrifying. Next time you’re out for an evening jog and see a woman walking ahead… cross the road or make sure to leave a good amount of space while passing.

Don’t stare

If you’re by yourself, being stared at is intimidating and unsettling. Taking out your phone and focusing on something else can go a long way to showing you’re not a threat. Look out the window to focus on something else, or call a friend to have a chat.

Keep comments to yourself

What you might see as just a bit of fun, or even flattering, is actually harassment and can be terrifying to lone women and girls.”

Keep your mates in line

You may not harass women, but if you stay quiet while your mates do then you’re part of the problem.

Be an active bystander

If you notice a woman is uncomfortable with someone’s behaviour, show your support by being an active bystander. It can be as simple as standing between a woman and her harasser to block their line of sight. Ask her if she is OK, and back up anyone else who is intervening

Gaynor Mckeown, chief executive of DASU North Wales, said:: “We work closely with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police to support and offer advice to women who may be subject of harassment or abuse.

“We welcome the commissioner’s  comments on the need to establish that it is every women's right to walk safely in our streets, at whatever time she chooses wearing exactly what she wishes.

“Women do not ask to be harassed, stalked or assaulted and we have a collective responsibility to hold perpetrators of such abuse to account. 

“It is not acceptable to make comments, follow either on foot or in a vehicle, beep at, call to or whistle at women or girls.

“As a mother of two teenage daughters who are regularly made uncomfortable and scared by this type of behaviour. We need to educate our sons, friends, colleagues and others who do this, explaining that it is not acceptable it is not appropriate, and it causes fear, and distress." 

RASASC operations manager Fflur Emlyn said: “Women have a right to not only feel safe but BE safe – in public, at home, at work – everywhere. 

“Sarah Everard was walking home, everyone of us can identify with this horrific incident, it could’ve been anyone of us: 97% of women in Britain have been sexually harassed at some point during their lives. 

“We welcome the Police and Crime Commissioners statement and advice, women are not to blame for being attacked and/or assaulted.  There is and should be no shame, blame or guilt for any women who has been attacked/assaulted, it is always the perpetrators fault. 

“Let’s talk about this, educate your male friends and family members and don’t be a bystander, all of us in society has a responsibility to hold such perpetrators to account.”

Mr Jones added: “If men follow these common sense guidelines it will make a real difference in making women feel safer when they are out on their own.

“Horrific crimes like this are rare and North Wales remains one of the safest places in the UK to live and work but these simple measures can do a great deal to address the fear of crime.”