Businesses rally to support firefighters' fundraiser

* Firefighters battle the blaze on the Horseshoe Pass in August of 2019.

A host of local businesses are backing a major fundraising event being run by Llangollen firefighters.

This coming Saturday, September 25, the fire station on the A5 is hosting a carwash in aid of two good causes - Melanoma Focus, which is applying cutting edge treatment for the condition, and their own firefighters' charity.

Alongside the event they are also holding a raffle which is being arranged for them by Cat Meade, who set up and ran the local Covid support group during the pandemic raising cash to keep it going by staging a series of highly successful raffles of her own.

On her Llangollen Raffles Facebook page Cat recently asked for donations of prizes for the firefighters' raffle and says she is delighted with the response.

Businesses that have donated so far include Riverbanc, Llangollen - White Water Rafting, Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods, Gwalia Classics, Dylan Armon Enterprises Bicycle Shop, Wingetts Ltd of Wrexham and Llangollen, Cambrian House Llangollen, @llangollen brownie queen, Llangollen barber shop, Jade's beauty bay, Kelly's Chippy, Plas Newydd and Dee Valley Produce.

When announcing her support for the firefighters' fundraiser Cat reminded people of the good work they do for the community.

She said: "I cast your mind back to August 2019 when Llantysilio Mountain went ablaze up on the Horseshoe Pass.

"I, with many locals, set up a donation bank while our local guys and girls were amongst the heat and smoke for 10-plus hours a day, fighting it day and night for a solid three weeks!

"They assist daily, in Llangollen and further afield, a great team and a great addition to the town."

Cat has been asking businesses for donations/vouchers and she added: "A bottle donation or money donation can be gifted at Wingetts office Wednesday to Friday, 10am-2pm.

"The raffle will run at the end of the month, all monies raised will be split between the two charities. It will be live on Llangollen Raffles page."

Mazda's premium load lugger gets some neat tweaks

Mazda CX-5 drive by Steve Rogers

Mazda's top selling CX-5 is to get a big facelift in the new year which tells us why this year's updates were fairly modest.

One theory was that the company was focussing on its hybrid/electric programme which is in full swing, but there will be 'significant' changes to the big SUV which will benefit from the new Skyactiv platform so we can expect improvements to ride comfort and handling, along with small styling changes, more models and, most significantly, drive mode selection.

Mazda clearly has its eyes set on the premium end of the market and has been knocking on the door for a while with regular upgrades to trim quality and technology but has never offered the option to switch drive modes, a given on Audi, Jaguar/Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes SUVs.

In the meantime the current CX-5 is still the company's global best seller and in the UK second to my favourite, the CX-30. Unlike some of its Japanese rivals Mazda is sticking with a diesel variant which should see it through to E day in 2030 and that is good news for those with trailers and caravans.

CX-5 can haul just over two tonne with ease with the most powerful version pumping out a healthy 181hp and with its taught sporty suspension is an ideal tow car, stable and with strong pulling power. I towed my caravan more than 300 miles and returned 26.3mpg which is nothing special but about average for a four wheel drive with a lot of power.

Driven solo the Mazda is more impressive than some diesel rivals returning 51mpg on a leisurely 100 mile Sunday afternoon drive so a daily average in the low forties should be achievable.

The numbers and standard of SUVs has grown and grown in the last 10 years and CX-5 comfortably makes it into the top 10. As a driver's car it gets high marks for handling with little of the body roll associated with these high siders although the Seat Tarraco featured here a few weeks ago just has the edge on that front.

The ride is generally smooth but there is too much road noise of rougher surfaces, a problem we are told, is being addressed on the new model.

The story is good inside as well with room for five adults and a flat boot floor than swallows plenty of luggage or a couple of adult bicycles without having to remove the front wheels. Levers in the boot side walls drop the seat backs which are split 40-20-40 and if you are high enough up the model range the tailgate is powered.

Dashboard layout is conservative compared to the futuristic designs in some rivals but it is neat, tidy, and user friendly with a new 10.2in central touchscreen which, heavens be praised, still has the rotary controller to scroll through the menus.

Mazda has always been ahead of the game with a driver head-up display and this one is spot on with speed, speed limit, navigation directions and a brilliant blind spot alert beamed on to the windscreen rather than the old fashioned flip up plastic panel which is still being used by some manufacturers.

The  display's blind spot markers change colour when a vehicle is overtaking and work in tandem with the audible warning and orange alert on the door mirrors and deserves an A star.

Equipment level is generous from the base model and there are plenty of bells and whistles at Sport grade with a powerful 10 speaker Bose sound system, powered front seats with memory for the driver, heated front seats and steering wheel and power tailgate on a long spec sheet.

Something that hasn't changed since CX-5 first appeared in 2012 are the compliments for its elegant lines, not easy to achieve in a bulky SUV but Mazda designers pull it off with every model these days and there were plenty of admiring comments for my test car. Wisely styling changes next year are subtle so expect more of the same but better.

Fast facts

CX-5 Sport Auto AWD

£36,385

2.2 litre turbo diesel; 181bhp

0-62mph 9.6secs; 129mph

42.8mpg combined

173g/km. 1st VED £870

Insurance group 23

Boot 494-1608 litres

What happens now planters are going - councillors explain

 

* Town councillor John Palmer watering the begonias in Castle Street for the last time.

Llangollen's two county councillors, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, have issued a statement to coincide with today's removal of the social-distancing planters from Castle Street and Abbey Road:

"Thanks to John Palmer from Graham and Mel

The process of removing the covid 19 changes in Castle Street will begin today (Wednesday). 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to John Palmer who has for the last few months been caring for and watering the begonias every morning.

The flowers have really brightened up Castle Street and made it one of the most attractive covid schemes in Wales. 

We’d also like to thank Wayne and David from Dee Valley Fruit and Veg who helped John and provided the water and a hose! 

Thanks also to the businesses on Castle Street and the short street by Stan’s who helped out. 

The planters are not being thrown away, but will be reused in the future at other locations nearby.

Free Parking in Market Street Car Park

To compensate for the eventual loss of parking on Castle Street there are now 14 designated bays for free parking in Market Street Car Park. 

Four are disabled parking spaces (free for 2 hours) and 10 general spaces (maximum 1 hour) free for one hour. 

They are along the back wall between Capel Sion going towards Dee Valley Vets and are clearly marked. The intention is to encourage free short stay parking for those wishing to 'pop and shop' locally in the town.

October start for construction for Llangollen 2020 Scheme

Construction will begin in earnest in early October, starting at the Abbey Road/Castle Street junction and gradually moving southwards up Castle Street over the winter. Improvements will include:

·     * Widening of pavements,

·     * Making raised bed crossing points to make it safer to cross the road and slow down the traffic,

·     * Widen the road slightly to allow for extra room for vehicles to pass,

·     * New traffic lights at the A5 junction to be more reactive to real-time traffic conditions,

·     * Adding  decent sized tree to stand alongside the existing tree by the town hall,

·     * Using high quality materials including York Stone pavers and Berwyn Slate from the Horseshoe Pass,

·     * Adding uncontrolled crossing points around the town,

·     * Reconfiguration of the area outside the Old Lock-Up to make the junction less confusing and create extra space for pedestrians.

·     * Retaining the one-way section of Market Street.

The scheme is designed with pedestrians in mind to ensure that the town centre is an even more attractive place to spend time. Major consultations have taken place over the last three years and the final scheme has been modified to respond to your opinions.

There will be disruption during the construction, but the aim is to ensure that the town can continue to be vibrant with all businesses able to trade during construction. 

The work will be completed by the end of March 2022 at a cost of £1.75million, mostly paid through grant funding from the Welsh Government and by Denbighshire County Council."

Latest Citizens Advice column

Q: I’m going back to university and moving into a shared house with friends for the first time. Although I’m excited, I’m also a bit nervous as I’ve never rented from a private landlord before. The house looked fine when we viewed it, but that was months ago now and I’ve heard horror stories about dodgy landlords for student houses. What should I look out for when I move in?

A: Renting a house with friends is usually an exciting time. Most landlords are reasonable people who look after their properties and tenants well, but it’s always a good idea to know your rights as a tenant. 

Here’s a checklist of things to do when you first move in: 

●     Make sure you have your landlord’s contact details. Your landlord is responsible for keeping your home in good condition and doing repairs when they’re needed. They should be your first point of contact if anything goes wrong.

●     Make sure your deposit is protected. Check that your landlord has given you information about the scheme used to protect your deposit.

●     Take photos on the day you move in. It’s also worth asking your landlord or letting agent for an inventory, to check everything is in order. Use this to note down any problems and the condition of the furniture, kitchen, carpets, bathroom etc.

●     Check if you’re in a ‘house in multiple occupation’. If you’re living with two or more people who aren’t part of your family, and share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen with you, this is considered an HMO. This means your landlord must make sure your home meets certain safety standards. This includes making sure smoke alarms are installed and there’s a safe fire exit. The landlord must also ensure shared areas such as staircases and corridors are clean and in good repair.

●     Check your landlord is registered. In Wales, all private landlords must be registered with Rent Smart Wales

●     Make sure your landlord gives you: a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate, an Energy Performance Certificate and a How to Rent leaflet.

●     Understand your tenancy agreement. It’s important to know who’s responsible for paying bills and what to do if there are any changes, like if someone wants to move out. The Citizens Advice website explains the different ways shared accommodation can be organised. 

If you encounter a problem with the property, contact your landlord. They might not already be aware, as they shouldn’t come in without your permission. If it relates to disrepair, for example if your heating system fails or there’s damp in the property, it’s best to put this in writing so that you have evidence if you need it later. 

If your landlord is unresponsive or refuses to help, contact your student services or local Citizens Advice service for support. In serious cases, for example if your health or safety is at risk, you may be advised to contact the council or Rent Smart Wales

Ambulance service highlights Falls Awareness Week

ALMOST 35,000 calls have been made to the Welsh Ambulance Service since January for people who have fallen.

It is the number one reason people in Wales have called for an ambulance this year so far, with chest pain (32,000), breathing problems (25,000) and Covid-19 (23,000) calls second, third and fourth in the list respectively.

This Falls Awareness Week (20-26 September), the service has issued advice about not only how to prevent a fall but about what to do if you have fallen.

Charlotte Walker, the Trust’s Older People Improvement Lead, said: “Anyone can have a fall, but the natural ageing process means that older people are more likely to fall, especially if they have a long-term condition like heart disease, dementia or low blood pressure.

“Most falls do not result in serious injury, but there's always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, which can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn and feel as if they have lost their independence.

“It’s important for people to take preventative steps to avoid having a fall, but it’s also important to know what to do when a fall occurs.”

Preventing a fall

1. Have a sight test if you're having problems with your vision, even if you already wear glasses
2. Request a home hazard assessment, where a healthcare professional visits your home to identify potential hazards and give advice
3. Do exercises to improve your strength and balance
4. Use non-slip mats in the bathroom
5. Mop up any spills to prevent wet, slippery floors
6. Ensure all rooms, passages and staircases are well lit
7. Remove clutter
8. Get help lifting or moving items that are heavy or difficult to lift

How to safely get up off the floor if you’re not injured

9. Lying on your back, bend one knee up towards you so your foot rests on the floor
10. Roll over onto your side, reaching your arms out in front
11. Pushing on your arms, try and sit up onto your side
12. Make sure you sit there for a few moments to allow any dizziness or light-headedness to pass
13. Spread your hands apart and try and roll over onto all fours
14. Look for the nearest sturdy piece of furniture and crawl towards it so you’re close enough to place two hands on it
15. Lift your stronger leg forwards to achieve a lunge position then push down through the arms and the legs to stand
16. Slowly turn around and sit down

How to stay safe while waiting for help after a fall

17. If you have fallen, try to remain calm
18. If you are unable to get up off the floor, it’s important to get help
19. If you have a ‘Lifeline’, press the button
20. Keep yourself warm while you wait for help – use nearby blankets or clothing to pull over yourself
21. Stay hydrated – try and leave water bottles dotted around your home if you fall regularly

The Trust has introduced a number of initiatives as part of a holistic approach to help fallers, from prevention to avoiding further harm caused by prolonged periods of time spent on the floor.

It includes a paramedic-physiotherapist collaboration to attend more complex falls, as well as partnerships with local health board and local council colleagues to develop ‘pathways’ which improve the patient’s care and experience.

The Trust has also worked with St John Ambulance Cymru to introduce Falls Assistants across Wales, whose role it is to help patients who have had a fall, but who are not injured or who only have a minor injury.

Community First Responders use lifting aids to help people who have fallen but are uninjured, and an education package is also being delivered to student paramedics to help them better understand why falls occur and how to seek assistance from wider health and social care teams to support people to remain at home.

In addition, colleagues in the Trust’s non-emergency patient transport service, which takes patients to and from their routine hospital appointments, have been trained to look out for potential falls hazards in a patient’s home and make referrals to the appropriate agencies, like Care and Repair.

Claire Roche, the Trust’s Executive Director of Quality and Nursing, said: “When someone has experienced a fall, it is really important that we are able to provide a suitable, timely response.

“This will ensure we can provide people with the appropriate assistance to safely get up from the floor.

“Improving our response to people who have fallen is one of our top priorities as an ambulance service, and we continue to work hard with our partners to achieve this.”

Police boss pledges to put more bobbies on the beat

 

A police boss has pledged to put more bobbies on the beat in North Wales.

The region’s newly-elected police and crime commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin (pictured), says he will increase the number of officers and staff during his three-year term of office.

He also promised to improve the technology at their disposal so police officers could spend more time out and about in communities across North Wales, rather than having to return to their police stations to complete form filling or search for information.

Mr Dunbobbin gave the assurance in his first Police and Crime Plan which sets out the overall strategy for policing North Wales that Chief Constable Carl Foulkes will have to implement.

The plan will be presented to a meeting of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel next Monday (September 20).

The  priorities contained in the commissioner’s new blueprint include:

1. Delivering safer neighbourhoods
2. Supporting victims and communities
3. Fair and effective criminal justice system

In drawing up the plan, the commissioner says he has consulted widely and listened to what the public want.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, one frequent complaint made to him during his election campaign was that residents didn’t see any police officers in their communities any more.

He said: “I will work hard to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of police officers and staff.

“The number one priority for communities is to improve visible policing - providing reassurance, gathering intelligence and disrupting criminal activity. 

“Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) provide the visibility and reassurance but are also widely regarded as being an invaluable source of intelligence to tackle the most serious and organised criminality. 

“The work of our Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) relies heavily on the local intelligence NPTs provide.  Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of this Plan.

“In order to tackle issues ranging from drug dealing in our towns to rural crime on our farms, it’s imperative that all our North Wales communities have positive relationships and experiences with their local police, helping break down existing barriers and empowering residents to have their say on where we as a service should be focusing our efforts.

“In addition to increasing the number of officers in our communities, I am also committed to working with the Chief Constable in improving the digital support available to our current officers and staff thereby increasing the amount of time they spend in the community.”

Improving road safety was a key area for Mr Dunbobbin who wants to reduce the number of people killed or being seriously injured.

He says there will be a tough approach towards dangerous or careless driving which would not be tolerated.

Tackling and preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence was also a major priority and Mr Dunbobbin pledged to make North Wales a “hostile environment” for perpetrators.

At the same time, far too many women were being sent to prison with devastating consequences for their families, particularly their children, so Mr Dunbobbin will be spearheading the development of a new female offender strategy.

Among the innovations Mr Dunbobbin wants to introduce is a victims’ panel so that people who have suffered crimes against them can be heard and given the support they need.

Reducing reoffending meant there would be fewer victims so Mr Dunbobbin is keen on addressing the root cause of offending and strengthening rehabilitation measures.

With that in mind, he will continue to fund the pioneering Checkpoint Cymru programme to divert low-level offenders away from committing crimes as well as supporting other innovative crime prevention and rehabilitation project in North Wales.

Coming from a background in the technology sector, the commissioner was acutely aware that scams and online attacks now account for almost half of all offences.

As well masterminding the fight against cybercrime in North Wales, Mr Dunbobbin will be playing a leading UK role after the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners elected him as their deputy lead for police technology and digital and deputy lead for economic and cybercrime, including fraud.

He said: “It is vital that the police services’ approach to cybercrime is well co-ordinated and effective in providing a quality service for the people of North Wales.

“Cybercrime offences are still hugely under-reported nationally and we will work to build the confidence of people and businesses within North Wales to report these crimes.” 

Call for meeting over "perfect storm" of roadworks

* A sign warning of the A5 roadworks ahead. 

A town councillor has called for a high-level meeting of the main agencies involved to address what he has branded the "perfect storm of roadworks" facing Llangollen.

On Friday llanblogger reported how Stuart Davies was asking national roads bosses to "get their act together" to manage major traffic congestion in the town.

Earlier that day roadworks on the A5 just out of town, which are being carried out to strengthen the retaining wall and are due to last for 33 weeks, caused gridlock along Regent Street as heavy Friday afternoon traffic queued in both directions to negotiate the temporary lights just after the Birch Hill junction.

It is believed the jams were the result of a temporary fault with the lights.

At one stage around 3.30pm vehicles lining up in Castle Street to turn left onto the A5 missed numerous changes of the lights as they were unable to move freely out into the flow on the trunk road.

In a fresh statement sent to county and town council officials, along with the area's MP and MS and copied to llanblogger, Cllr Davies says: "It's coming to pass, the perfect storm of gridlock in Llangollen and area. 

"I wrote to you all a few weeks ago predicting this would happen and now it is. 

"The North and Mid-Wales Traffic Agent (NMWTRA) works on the A5 leading to tailbacks with police having to get involved to attempt to solve it, the gridlock on the A5 impacting on Castle Street with up to eight traffic light cycles to allow traffic on to the A5. 

"Now we get a statutory order, a TTO (Temporary Traffic Order) basically banning parking throughout Llangollen town centre for six months to allow the 2020 works, this stopping residents from parking outside their houses. 

"Also a TTO has surfaced from NMWTRA about traffic light replacement on the junction with Castle Street. Then the night closure of the A483 plus minor works on the A539 plus the closure of the minor Bont Road near Froncysyllte plus the landslip at Newbridge.

"Then we have the issue of the inset near the town hall with officers charging ahead without any feedback to the concerned public."

He added: "No statutory consultation regarding the TRO to allow the 2020 works to go ahead has been seen either.

"What on earth is going on? 

"I am calling on Denbighshire County Council (DCC) to repeat their consultation exercise to ensure the statutory TRO consultation is a meaningful one and to ensure the public fully understands and agrees the actions you are taking.

"Plus I am calling for all stake-holders to get a high level meeting with DCC, Wrexham County Borough Council, the Welsh Government and North Wales Police to make sure that they are all aware of the consequences and impact of their isolated planning.

"At the moment there is no joined up thinking with each agency doing their own thing and residents of Llangollen and the surrounding area being impacted."