St Collen's consults public on its blueprint for the future

* Father Lee Taylor leads a service in St Collen's before lockdown.

St Collen’s has a series of public meetings planned for next month where people can discuss plans for the church’s future.

Last October vicar, Father Lee Taylor, unveiled an ambitious scheme to upgrade the centuries-old place of worship with the aim of making it a hub for a wider range of religious and social use.

During a Zoom meeting he gave full details of the Community Vision proposals, which includes:

* The removal of pews at the front of the nave to allow a raised platform stage to be built for worship and performance events    

* The provision of a folding kitchen to provide refreshments at cafe-style social gatherings

* Repositioning of the font to a more practical location      

* The installation of modern LED lights in the roof to highlight its historic beauty

* Fitting glass doors at entrances to allow the heavy oak front door to be left open to make the building feel more welcoming

* A new chapel for private worship where the current vestry is sited

* Replacing the traditional pipe organ with a digital version

* Part of the church's Community Vision plan.

This week, on social media, he quoted Dr John Inge, Bishop of Worcester, who said:  “Church buildings should never be silent mausoleums, but always vibrant centres of service at the heart of their local communities.”

And Father Lee added: “St Collen’s has for almost fifteen centuries been a place of worship for the people of Llangollen and beyond. The church has been cared for by succeeding generations who have seen fit to make some significant alterations to the building as its purpose has developed in a changing culture. 

“The challenge of re-ordering the church is to ensure that the church is able to reinforce its role as a focal point in the community. This means providing a building which is sufficiently flexible which the wider community can utilise for community gatherings, concerts, school performances and the like. 

“Our re-ordering project began with a community consultation process last year with an online presentation on zoom and with the distribution of questionnaires. This process is ongoing.

“We are holding further community consultations in church on the following days.

Wednesday 14th July at 6.30pm

Sunday 18th July at 12.15pm

Refreshments provided.

“This event is open to all. Refreshments will be provided. If you intend to come along please RSVP: 01978 861768, or email: stcollens@gmail.com” 

In his October public consultation Father Lee said the call to change was more urgent than it had ever been, in the face of dwindling Sunday morning congregations across the whole of the Church in Wales, the lack of younger people joining and fewer priests being available to serve communities.

And he stressed: “The fact is that we must adapt or die. In 10 or 20 years if we don’t do something there will be no parish church. It will close.”

Booking now open for pop up waste service at Pavilion

Denbighshire County Council says on social media this afternoon that bookings are now open for the Llangollen green waste pop up service to run on the first and third Saturday mornings each month at the Pavilion.

The service will initially run until the end September, subject to Covid-19 restrictions announcements from Welsh Government, after which time it will be reviewed. 

This green waste service will run alongside the main recycling pop service on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. 

Booking slots will be available between 9am and 11am and you can book via www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling

Llan man wades into canal to rescue drowning fox

* Nico Decourt with the fox he rescued from the canal. Llanblogger, who was one of those Nico met as he walked along the towpath, took this picture.

A quick-thinking Llangollen man jumped into the canal to rescue a fox he saw drowning in the canal earlier today. 

Nico Decourt was on his early morning run along the towpath when the drama developed close to the bridge near the Sun Trevor. 

As he was passing past a moored boat a woman stopped him and asked if he could help with a fox struggling in the water. 

Without a second thought Nico, clad in his running gear, waded in and helped the floundering female fox to the side and stayed with her for almost an hour as she fought to recover from her ordeal. 

Nico, who works in the education world, said: “I ran past their boat and the lady was on the side of the canal with her spaniel. 

“She stopped me and asked if I could help. To start with I thought she had a pup that was stuck in the water but then realised it was a small fox. 

“I had to go in the water as the fox wouldn’t trust us to pick her up and she started drowning. 

“I found a stick to guide her to the side then lifted her up. 

“She stayed on the side in shock for a good 45 minutes while we tried to warm her up with a small blanket and dry her. 

“I decided to walk back with her along the canal as I didn’t want to leave her on the side of the path on her own. 

“I met some very nice people along the way who enquired about what had happened.” 

Nico added: “I wasn’t too sure about what to do to be honest but the lady’s concern gave me that little bit of energy to rescue the poor animal. 

“I made it to near the pavilion with the fox in my arms when someone else spoke to me. The fox got a bit scared and jumped out of my arms and disappeared into the grounds of the pavilion. 

“So all was fine. She was running and well alive. 

“I believe she milked it from the wharf, enjoying the warmth of my arms and being carried around.”

All the latest action at reviving Llangollen railway

* The little tank engine sets off from Llangollen for its period on hire in Somerset. 

* The insignia of the Austin Motor Company on the engine.

The little tank engine set off from Llangollen Railway for a summer hire period at the Midsomer Norton railway in Somerset today.

Paul Reynolds photographed the engine loaded up ready to leave the yard.

It has been repainted by railway volunteers and given new lining-out with the addition of an insignia for the Austin Motor Company which acknowledges the engine's 40-year career as the shunter at Longbridge car plant in Birmingham.

The hiring out of the engine comes as a useful earner for the railway which is battling to re-open later this summer after emerging from its financial crisis.

* Engine No.3802 completes its steam test at Llangollen station.

* Engine owner Nick Gilbert.

Earlier this week the Heavy Freight GWR engine No.3802 completed a steam test in the yard and came down into the station to take water.

It then ran through the station and posed for photos whilst further checks were carried out. 

Owner Nick Gilbert said he was delighted with the chance to operate the locomotive over the tracks within the limits off Llangollen station, pending a longer run when the Dee Bridge work is complete and trains can cross over.

No 3802 will likely be a mainstay of train operations this season when services resume at Llangollen.

Woman schooled in Llangollen awarded the OBE

* Sara Pierson received the OBE in the Queen's birthday honours.

A woman who went to school in Llangollen has been awarded the OBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Sara Pierson, the elder daughter of David and Judy Pierson, was honoured for services to UK education and the promotion of the English language overseas.

Born and brought up in Glyndyfrdwy where her parents still live and she loves to visit them, Sara attended Llangollen Primary School, Ysgol Dinas Bran and Ellesmere College. 

She obtained an honours degree at Warwick University then worked at the Open University in Milton Keynes before moving on to work for the British Council, where she is currently employed as Director of Examinations.  

In her present role since August 2015, Sara has overall accountability for strategic relationships with over 150 UK examination boards and awarding bodies, ensuring delivery of university, school, professional and English language exams in line with their exacting standards and quality frameworks.

She has previously worked in senior partnerships positions at OUW Ltd, a subsidiary of the Open University. 

Her proud parents said: "Sara has many friends in and around Llangollen who we know will be delighted to hear of her success."  

Suzuki gets well Across e-power with its new hybrid

Suzuki Across road test by Steve Rogers

What's this? A Suzuki that looks suspiciously like a Toyota Rav4.

Nothing suspicious about it, this is a Rav4 with a Suzuki badge.

So what's this all about? It is quite simple, Toyota, one time world's biggest car company, has taken fellow Japanese, but smaller car company Suzuki, under its wing and is sharing its huge nous in hybrid technology along with handing over a couple of its models.

It is not all one way, Toyota gets into the Indian market where Suzuki is king - it has almost half the market with a showroom every 15 miles - and will sell Toyota badged Suzuki models there and on the African continent.

In Europe Suzuki has called its SUV the Across, a plug-in hybrid with an electric only range of up to 46 miles which is about as good as it gets at the moment. The set up is a 2.5 litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor that together produces a whopping 306bhp so if you want quick you can have quick, or you can take your time, watch the fuel gauge needle drop ever so slowly and enjoy free road tax and, for business users, next to nothing in income tax.

My 41 miles on electric only is the best from a plug in hybrid and only five short of the maximum so a good result. On engine power, and using economy mode, Across hit 45mpg on a couple of trips because the electric motor recharges under braking and kicks in when coasting.

There are two other drive modes selected from a switch in front of the auto gear lever, normal and sport should you feel the need for some rocket power. It can be driven on electric up to 84mph but fast motorway runs will gobble up the electric reserve in no time.

You have to take your hat off to Toyota for really getting this hybrid business sorted. Charging from my Podpoint wall charger took just over two hours. Plugging into the mains takes longer but can be sorted overnight and you don't have to worry about seeking out a charge station on a long journey.

By Suzuki standards Across is a big car with a big price but is great news for those followers mourning the loss of Grand Vitara. It fills the void, and handsomely as well because this is Toyota's best Rav4 by a country mile.

It also bucks the trend by being just partially digital. The driver's binnacle is computer generated but not multi layered like many rivals although you can scroll through a mound of information. There is a central touchscreen for navigation, phone, audio and driver information, but the heating controls are good old fashioned switches and a joy to use.

Suzuki offers one model but is packed with just about everything needed apart from a digital speedo display which is becoming an absolute must if you are not to be caught out by the multitude of cameras.

There is a wide range of safety features along with all the things we like, heated seats, powered driver's seat, auto dipping lights, keyless entry, powered tailgate with 'kick' opening when your hands are full of shopping bags.

And there is plenty of room for families with leggy grown up children supported by generous boot space. A minor point may be but for this money the boot walls need to be lined although the plastic trim is easier to keep clean... I suppose.

You would hardly describe Across a sporty SUV, there is a little more body movement than some of the German brethren, but nothing to be concerned about. Throw stonking performance into the mix though and it does present a lively performance challenge.

Why buy Across over a Rav4? A grand cheaper might help and the Suzuki front grille, the only visual difference, looks better, so over to you...

Watch this space for a report on the next Suzuki badged Toyota model.

Fast facts

Across Plug-in Hybrid

£45,599

2.5litre petrol+electric motor; 306bhp

0-62mph 6secs; 112mph

42.9mpg combined

22g/km. VED £0

BIK tax 6 per cent

Insurance group 43

Boot 490 litres

Covid cases in county identified as Delta variant

Cases linked to an increase of Covid-19 infections in Denbighshire have been identified as the Delta variant, says the county council in its latest update. 

An Incident Management Team (IMT) is currently in operation to manage the situation and comprises of Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The linked cases are connected to a number of gatherings and cases are being identified in a number of settings and venues, including schools.

So far there have been a total of 25 confirmed linked cases, although not all have been confirmed as the Delta variant, while a total of 428 pupils are self-isolating from Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Denbigh High School and St Brigid’s.

Those displaying symptoms of Covid-19 are asked to book a PCR test immediately.

An additional mobile testing unit is operating at Caledfryn, Denbigh, while testing centres are also operating in Rhyl, Quay Street Car Park and Llangollen, Market Street Car Park. Booking is required at these sites.

HWB Dinbych is operating a Covid Support Hub offering collection of free lateral flow tests from today (Tuesday, June 15).

Chair of the IMT, Nicola Stubbins, said: “Enquiries are still being made and further test results are still pending and we would like to reassure residents we are working to reduce any further spread.  This includes offering an additional testing site in the county as well as an enhanced Test, Trace and Protect process and 14 day self-isolation for any contacts.

“Not all cases have been confirmed as the Delta variant, but the strain is becoming the dominant variant in the UK and we are treating these connected positive tests as the Delta variant. The Delta variant is more transmittable and sticking to the guidelines is the best way of slowing its spread within our communities. The emergence of these new cases is a reminder we should not become complacent, even as rates of the virus across Wales remain low.

“It is vital residents do not attend any gatherings which contravene Welsh Government Covid-19 guidelines and remain vigilant by following the rules, including wearing masks in indoor spaces and maintaining social distancing.

“You can now go for a free Covid-19 test if you have a wider range of symptoms which include flu-like symptoms, not caused by a known condition, muscle ache or pain, excessive tiredness, persistent headache, runny nose or blocked nose, persistent sneezing, sore throat and/or hoarseness, shortness of breath or wheezing and generally feeling unwell.

“Anyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms should book a PCR test at a test centre immediately and following a positive result, must self-isolate and share all relevant information with TTP tracers and advisors.

“We are also reminding those eligible and not showing symptoms to undertake regular lateral flow tests at home, which are free and can be ordered online for home delivery.

“I would also urge anyone eligible to get a vaccine to do so as soon as possible and for those who have had their first dose to take up the offer of the second dose.

“On behalf of the IMT, I would like to thank Denbighshire residents for their co-operation and their efforts to follow the guidelines and keep our communities safe.”

Book a PCR test at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test order a lateral flow test at www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

You can book a test by telephone on 119 between 7am and 11pm (calls are free).

You can pick up free lateral flow tests from HWB Dinbych, Smithfield Road, Denbigh, LL16 3RG from June 15 on Tuesday 8.30am - 1pm; Wednesday 4pm - 6pm; Thursday 8.30am - 1pm and Friday 8.30am - 1pm.

You can also pick up free lateral flow tests from Rhyl, Quay Street Carpark LL18 1NS, between 8am and 1pm, seven days a week.