Old-style load lugger probably deserves an ASBO

Mazda6 Tourer road test by Steve Rogers

This is a rare event, a car with a big petrol engine and not a hybrid motor or electric cable to recharge the battery pack in sight, and it's an estate.

Remember those, the  cars we turned to for carrying the big loads before becoming obsessed with SUVs. 

Volvo built some belters, renowned as load luggers, and as styling got sharper they got trendy names like sportwagon or sport tourer.

And you need look no further than this beauty for top notch styling. Mazda is going through a purple patch with the pen, or more likely a computer, and its 6 Tourer is the perfect example of how to fashion an estate car that turns heads.

The current model has been around for a few years yet still looks fresh, but the estate, sorry Tourer, is not all about looks. 

Okay, it is not top of the league when it comes to litres of space but will suit most families carrying needs. If space is that important buy a Skoda Superb estate.

With the seat backs dropped I managed to stow two adult bikes without removing the front wheels so that should give a good indication of the length of the boot floor.

Inside is a bit like stepping back in time.... the good times. 

You know where you are as soon as you take charge of the wheel. Comfortable. Confident. The dashboard is a traditional layout with a modern take, three large clear dials ahead of the driver for speedo, rev counter and fuel and temperature gauges with a neat info display in the middle.

There is no faffing around trying to master the touchscreen just to get the heating working, physical switches are clearly laid out across the centre console. Daft as it sounds this is just a friendly easy going car.

There is a 7 inch screen atop the dashboard (small by today's standards where 10in is the norm) for navigation, radio selections and Bluetooth etc, but that is controlled from a rotary switch between the seats. Mazda has used this same system for donkeys years and is still the easiest I have come across.

My car was the flagship with the 2.5 litre four cylinder petrol so it was a flyer, diesel has been dropped from this model, and I suppose this is where things are not so friendly. In an age where economy and low emissions are the buzz words this car would probably get an ASBO.

The delivery driver got 39mpg which is good going, my best was 37mpg, and over 450 or so miles the average was 35 which isn't great compared to the 58mpg from the hybrid BMW 3 Series featured a few weeks ago. 

Emissions are erm... 172g/km, probably best not to dwell on that.

The get out of jail card is a brace of 2-litre petrols, not quite as fast but cleaner and easier on the pocket at the fuel station. But if you want plenty of grunt from the fast pedal then it is here in spades and there is the benefit of Mazda's fine chassis for sharp handling.

With a £33k price tag the GT Sport comes packed with kit packaged in a plush cabin. Front seats are powered, heated and ventilated, outer back seats heated, auto dipping adaptive headlights and a camera with a 360 degree view are the highlights on a long spec sheet. All that is missing is a powered tailgate.

If the Touring proves anything it is that there is still life in the good old estate car.

Fast Facts

GT Sport Nav+ 6sp auto

£33,685

2.5 litre petrol; 190bhp

0-62mph 8.1secs; 139mph

37.2mpg combined

172g/km. First VED £870

Insurance group 29

Boot 522-1664 litres

 

 

Motor home pulled to safety after Panorama plunge

* Above and below: the motor home is pulled

 back onto the road by the heavy lifting vehicle.

* The motor home in the ravine where it landed.

Llanblogger reader Mike Edwards took these pictures on Friday after a motorhome went off the Panorama Road and landed in the ravine below.

It was recovered by a large military-style lifting vehicle believed to be from Richards in Fron.

It's understood there was no-one in the motorhome when it took the plunge.

Wales to benefit from extra UK government funding, says MP

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes says Wales will benefit from £400 million of additional UK Government funding for health and social care services in Wales.

As a result of last week’s announcement by Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, a further £7 billion will be made available for NHS and social care services. 

This means that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit from an additional £1.3 billion. 

This funding for devolved governments is determined by the Barnett formula and it is therefore ultimately the decision of the Welsh Government of how to spend the money in Wales.

Additionally, the UK Government has set out its vision for the future of clinical research, developed by all four nations of the United Kingdom. 

The vision is designed to improve the speed and efficiency with which the UK Government sets up studies, uses digital platforms to deliver clinical research, and makes research more diverse and relevant to the whole UK. 

As a result, demonstrating a continued shared commitment to work collaboratively, ensuring the UK remains a world-leader in innovative research for the benefit of all four nations.    

Simon Baynes said: “I very much welcome the news that Wales is set to receive more funding from the UK Government, which will be vital for our NHS services and social care services here in Wales. This is once again a clear example of how the UK Government is committed to ensuring all four nations are able to benefit, with no one left behind. And I would urge the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff to use this money for the benefit of our Welsh NHS and its staff.”

Work to ensure beauty spots' safety as stay local guidance lifted

* Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB have put plans in place to ensure countryside sites remain safe as travel restrictions ease.

The Welsh Government is removing the stay local guidance from today (Saturday) and work has taken place at sites across Denbighshire, including Moel Famau and Loggerheads country parks, to ensure measures are in place to keep visitors safe.

These include improvements to the car parks at Moel Famau and the upgrading of paths at Loggerheads and works at Horseshoe Falls to improve access.  

Huw Rees, Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside and Heritage Services Manager, said: “We know it has been a difficult period for residents not being able to enjoy the countryside here in Denbighshire and I would like to thank all those who have been following the exercise from home rules.

“The council and Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB have been preparing for the change in restrictions. However, it is vital visitors play their part when returning to our countryside sites.

“It is important visitors know what restrictions and guidelines are in place before travelling and to keep themselves and others safe they should avoid busy times, check ahead to see if facilities are open and where possible access quieter sites and walks during the initial period of re-opening. This will help avoid busy periods and parking issues.

“It is also important visitors respect the countryside and act responsibly during their visit and this means keeping dogs on leads and not to litter.

“We would like to reassure residents we will continue to work with North Wales Police and with partners to spread the message that cross-border travel is still restricted.”

* A list of alternative walks in the county can be found at www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/projects/community-miles/

"Great shame" not all hospitality will open, says industry leader

 

* Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism.

A tourism leader in North Wales says it’s a “great shame” that attractions and most of the hospitality industry won’t be open for Easter.

Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said that their was a real sense of frustration in businesses that had been battered as a result of the pandemic.

He accused the Welsh Government of failing to listen to the sector’s pleas for a proper roadmap to navigate the return to something near normality.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has revealed the “stay-local" rules will lift in Wales from tomorrow (Saturday) and unrestricted travel within its borders will be allowed.

It means Wales will be the first UK nation to scrap travel restrictions within country boundaries since lockdowns were re-imposed in winter.

Self-contained tourist accommodation - including many hotels and cottages - will also be able to open then.

But non-essential travel to and from other UK nations will be banned for at least two weeks.

Mr Jones said: “It’s excellent news that slowly we are on the right track as we slowly start to open up the sector across Wales but it's a great shame that many of our attractions and hospitality won't be open for Easter. 

“There is still a real and palpable sense of frustration in the sector, as it feels that the Welsh Government haven't been listening to the mood on the ground. If they had, then we would have a plan to take us forward post April. 

“It is very difficult to understand why they won't map this out, especially as the other three home nations have now done so. 

“Maybe it's a matter of pride on the First Minister’s behalf that he wants to stick to his agenda of not budging on his opinion, even though the evidence and feedback tell him otherwise.  I really don't know.

“But he needs to realise that when running a business, people need time to plan. They now have very little resource, which makes things a lot harder. 

“We at North Wales Tourism, on behalf of the sector, have consistently offered advice and guidance to Welsh Government throughout this whole pandemic. But it appears to be of no avail. 

“However, we know dates will eventually be forthcoming, based on the success of the vaccine roll out and reduction in cases.

“In the meantime, more targeted financial support is still needed for the sector to help with recovery. Be under no illusion, this is still going to be a very tough and bumpy ride for many businesses going forward.”

Subscription service launched to end period poverty

The county council, through the Welsh Government 2020/21 Period Deprivation Grant, has secured a subscription service for young people in Denbighshire where period poverty could be a barrier to their education. 

The free service, in conjunction with social enterprise Hey Girls, will run until March 2022 providing either a package of re-usable period products or a monthly delivery of eco-friendly disposable products directly to subscribers’ homes.

Those eligible must be enrolled at either a primary or secondary school in Denbighshire and it is deemed a lack of period products could be a barrier to a young person accessing education. 

Geraint Davies, Denbighshire County Council’s Head of Education, said: “I welcome this collaboration with Hey Girls which will ensure period dignity isn’t a barrier to education in Denbighshire.

“This service will allow products to be delivered to young people’s homes or at an alternative location, if the learner wishes to receive them discreetly.

“Free menstrual products have always been available in schools and they continued to be provided for those attending during the lockdown.

“Schools themselves have been sending products home to those not in school during the lockdown and during the summer of 2020 there was an additional delivery service by the TRAC team.

“This new service continues and enhances the offer to leaners here in Denbighshire.”

Celia Hodson, CEO and founder of Hey Girls, said: "Hey Girls is delighted to be expanding our work within Wales to provide period dignity to students in Denbighshire. 

“The subscription service gives pupils the choice to find the correct period products to suit their individual needs, offering a range of products that they may not have tried before, including sustainable, reusable products.

“Hey Girls is supporting Denbighshire by providing educational resources for primary and secondary aged pupils, covering periods and menstrual health, and guides on how to use period products. By encouraging open conversations about menstruation in schools, pupils can address taboos, stigma and shame in a safe space and better understand how menstrual health affects themselves and others around them."

* To check if you are eligible for the service contact DCCHG@denbighshire.gov.uk

Tourism sector can start re-opening tomorrow, says First Minister

Wales' tourism sector will be able to start re-opening from tomorrow (Saturday) as the stay-local rule is lifted, First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) has announced.

The rules will also be changed to enable organised outdoor activities and sports for children and under-18s to take place and up to six people from two different households to meet and exercise outdoors.

The relaxations continue the Welsh Government’s planned, step-by-step approach to relaxing the coronavirus restrictions, taking account of the highly-infectious Kent variant, which is now the dominant form of the virus in Wales.

These are the final stages of the relaxations in this three-week review cycle and they follow the successful return of primary pupils and many older secondary school and college students to face-to-face learning and the start of the phased re-opening of non-essential retail, including the opening of hairdressers and barbers.

Wales is moving out of alert level four, and now starting to move into level three. Welsh Ministers will consider further alert level three measures in the next review of the regulations.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "These further relaxations are part of our careful and phased approach to unlocking the restrictions and enabling people and businesses to resume their activities in the safest possible way.

"We’re only able to do this because of the sacrifices everyone across Wales has made over the last few months – everything you are doing to keep your loved ones safe is also keeping Wales safe.

"The public health position remains stable; our incredible vaccination programme goes from strength to strength – we have headroom to make these changes.

"Self-contained holiday accommodation, including hotels with en-suite facilities and room service, will be able to reopen to people from the same household or support bubble.

"The stay local rule will be replaced by an interim all-Wales travel area, which will remain in place until April 12, subject to the public health situation. For the next two weeks, only those with a reasonable excuse, such as work, will be able to travel into or out of Wales." 

The current restrictions on international travel for holidays will remain in place.
Other changes include:

• Six people from two different households, excluding children under 11, will be able to meet and exercise outdoors and in private gardens;
• Organised outdoor activities and sports for children and under 18s will be able to resume;
• There will be a limited opening of outdoor areas of some historic places and gardens;
• Libraries and archives will be able to re-open.

The First Minister added: "We are taking a step-by step approach to relaxing restrictions and want to carry on being able to open up Wales.

"To do that we need everyone’s help. That means staying vigilant for signs of infection; isolating if we have symptoms and arranging to get tested.

"It also means following the basic steps to keep us all safe while we’re out and about – keeping our distance from others; not mixing indoors; avoiding crowds; washing our hands regularly and wearing face coverings."

The next review of the regulations will take place next week. Welsh Ministers will consider the following relaxations, which will come into effect from April 12, subject to the public health situation:  

• All pupils and students can return to schools, colleges and other education;
• All shops and close contact services can open;
• The interim all-Wales travel area can be lifted.