Town says final farewell to Wyn Hughes - legend of Llangollen

 * The scene inside the church just before Wyn's funeral service began.

* The scene inside the church just before the funeral.

Crowds lining Castle Street applauded as the funeral cortege of Wyn "Paraffin" Hughes - Legend of Llangollen - passed by on its way to Pentrebychan Crematorium this lunchtime (Thursday).

Earlier a well-attended service was held at St Collen's Church for Wyn who passed away at the age of 87 on November 11.

The Vicar of Llangollen, Father Lee Taylor, said that although the word 'legend' was used a lot these days it was a description "well deserved" by Wyn.

"He was someone who was admired by a lot of people, someone who was original and someone who was amazing - a local treasure. And it is an honorific title well deserved by Wyn," he said.

Hymns "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" and "O God Our Help in Ages Past" were interspersed with eulogies by Wyn's family member Paul Hughes and Gareth Lloyd from Llangollen Football Club both of which contained some humorous anecdotes about Wyn.

Mr Hughes recalled the time Wyn had visited a local primary school and one of the young pupils, when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, answered, "I want to be Wyn Hughes", and when asked why replied, "because everyone loved him."

Mr Lloyd, sharing similar stories, said Wyn's voluntary contribution to the club over many years would "never be forgotten."

Donations from the funeral will go to Hope House Hospice and to Llangollen Football Club for a trophy or plaque in memory of Wyn.

Wyn's flowered-topped coffin was proceeded both into and out of church by a standard bearer from the Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion, showing his support over many years as a collector during the annual Poppy Appeal.

As the funeral cortege was driven down Castle Street towards Wrexham a number of people were on the street to see Wyn go by on his final journey from Llangollen and many applauded as a mark of respect for his unique standing in the town. 

Yaris Cross is a whole new ball game

Toyota Yaris Cross drive by Steve Rogers

What could be better than two Japanese giants going head to head in a car battle?

Last week we looked at the Honda Jazz Crosstar and now it's the new Toyota Yaris Cross, both late comers to the compact crossover league, make that very late, but both highly regarded superminis.

Don't like starting with a moan but I have to get this off my chest. My second trip in Yaris Cross was at night and needed light in the back of the car. I fumbled around but found no switch, needless to say there is no light and with a black roof lining it is a black place to be, so for goodness sake Toyota, let's have some light! After all this is a car costing £26k.

Hope they get the message, now back to the business in hand.

As the name suggests the Cross is a pumped up Yaris, 90mm taller, 20mm wider and 240mm longer. That extra length, all but 10 inches to us old 'uns, is music to the ears of owners who think the Yaris is a tad small, which it is against most rivals.

Interestingly Honda did not feel the need to increase the length of Crosstar because Jazz is already a masterpiece of packaging and the roomiest supermini on the market.

So Yaris Cross is a whole new ball game. Forget about handling and performance, although I will mention it later, space is the number one priority in a small car.

For instance, a Toyota C-HR driver is unlikely to downsize to a Yaris but the Cross would fit the bill.

The higher seating position serves two purposes, it's easier to get in and out, and the driver has a commanding view. If this suggests the Cross is an old person's car think again. Turn the clock back 40 years and I would have been happy to show this off to my mates.

Toyota got rid of its boring tag with the cracking looking C-HR and Yaris Cross shares some of those sharp design cues, just the sort of shape to attract younger eyes, and particularly a young family.

For the driver the dashboard is pretty much a copy of the Yaris with a conventional speedo and information box which is interchangeable by toggling a switch on the steering wheel.

Lots of information options but I couldn't find a digital speedometer so something else that needs to be addressed.

Otherwise the layout will please most owners, a central nine inch touchscreen for radio, Bluetooth and smart phone connections but separate, easy to use switches for the heating.

Turning Yaris into a compact SUV has done wonders for the cabin making it a viable family car. The big winner is boot space which has grown to almost 400 litres, bigger than the Jazz Crosstar although the Honda still beats the Cross on rear legroom.

No one does hybrid better than Toyota so expect super efficiency from the Cross. It picks and chooses when to run on electric and that can be anything up to 82mph.

The three-cylinder engine is reasonably perky but comes into its own on economy returning an easy 60mpg over a week's mixed driving. There is also a four wheel drive option.

The improvement to the Yaris's handling has filtered down to the Cross which is a sharper

drive than its Honda rival.

Yaris is the reigning European Car of the Year and could easily go for the double with Cross for the 2022 title. I like the driving position which is a bit higher than the Honda and is a more rewarding drive than Crosstar. But what does the wife think?

Jean says: "This is a tight call and I would be happy with Cross or Crosstar but my vote is going to the Honda because I preferred the driver's display with its big digital speedo and I found the tailgate difficult to open on the Toyota. I didn't notice any difference in the handling, that's just a bloke thing!

Fast facts

Yaris Cross Dynamic

£26,465 (starts £22,515)

1.5 litre petrol + electric motor 114bhp

0-62mph 11.2secs; 106mph

64.2mpg combined

117g/km. 1st road tax £170

Insurance group 12

Boot 397-1097 litres

Volunteers begin collecting comments on People's Plan

* Shape My Llangollen deputy chair Issy Richards outside the Town Hall. In the background is Town Clerk Gareth Thomas.

A team of volunteers has begun the process of logging public reaction to Llangollen's People's Plan.

Between today (Thursday) and Saturday the team from Shape My Llangollen will be on hand outside the Town Hall to receive your comments on the draft plan, Caru Llangollen, which sets out the vision for how our town should develop up until 2026. 

The plan is based on what the group was told by the people of Llangollen in a series of public consultation sessions when they were asked about what they liked or didn't like about the town and how they reckon it could be improved.

These face-to-face sessions, held at the health centre, outside local superstores as well as in the town square, generated hundreds of replies.

And, based on what they were told, the volunteers have produced the final draft plan which contains 90 suggestions for improving Llangollen and its quality of life and work over the next four years. 

Shape My Llangollen is now putting the People's Plan back to the people for the last time before producing the final version of it.

This will then go before the Town Council, which set them the original task in 2018, for approval and adoption.

The final public consultation sessions, the first of which was held yesterday, are taking place outside the town hall and continue until Saturday.

On Friday the group will be there to meet the public between 10am and 4pm. 

Today (Thursday) because many people will be attending the funeral of Wyn 'Paraffin' Hughes - the opening hours are a little later from 2 until 4pm and on Saturday the group will be on hand from 10am-1pm.  

Following this exercise and armed with the public’s latest impressions on the draft, SML will then produce the final Action Plan ready for publication early in 2022. 

Phil Robinson, who chairs SML, said: “This final round of public consultation is extremely important as it will be the last chance for people to have their say on this vital and far-reaching vision of the town’s future development.

"This is truly the People's Plan and is something which has never been done before in Llangollen.

"Please come along to Centenary Square, take a look at the plan and tell us what you think of its recommendations."

* To look through the action plan - and turn it over page by page - go to: https://pubhtml5.com/gaql/ahfd

Comments on the plan can be emailed to: townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk

 

Changes to GP appointments process announced

Health Minister Eluned Morgan today announced new changes to the GP contract to help improve access to appointments.

The changes, which are backed by £12m of extra investment, will end the morning scramble to book an appointment. The revised contract will make it clear the practice of releasing appointments daily at 8am is no longer acceptable.

Instead, the new GP access commitment will help ensure people are triaged appropriately and if an appointment is needed, people receive one, which is right for their clinical needs.

Where appropriate, people may be signposted to another service – or healthcare professional – who can help or support them.

The new General Medical Services (GMS) contract deal will also include an uplift to pay for GPs and practice staff and extra funding to increase capacity and staffing to help to respond to winter pressures.

Eluned Morgan said: "We know GPs and their staff are under significant pressure at the moment. They have played a really important role during the pandemic.

"I am very pleased we have been able to agree a new contract which rewards all staff working in general practice with a pay rise.

"We have also agreed a way forward to improve the appointment system. I want to see an end to the 8am bottleneck where patients have to telephone their practice numerous times, day after day to get an appointment.

"The extra funding announced today will support GP practices to build capacity and  implement more efficient booking systems to better manage patient need. I have also announced an extra £2m to help meet the immediate pressures our GPs will face this winter.

"The £4m extra funding will be made available to GPs for the next three financial years to ensure the retention of the additional capacity and in support of the commitment made around access to services."

Dr Phil White, chair of GPC Wales said: "We are pleased that our collaborative working relationship with Welsh Government and NHS Wales has resulted in a contractual agreement which we hope will go some way to support practices under great duress.

"We believe that the Welsh Government understand the existential challenge GP practices face, and we are committed to continuing to work together to ensure that patients can access a better resourced general practice service in the future."

Last chance to have your say on Llangollen's future

If you want to have your say about how Llangollen develops over the next four years then the town hall is the place to be this week.

Between today (Wednesday) and Saturday volunteers from Shape My Llangollen will be on hand to receive your comments on the draft plan, Caru Llangollen, which sets out the vision for how our town should develop up until 2026.   

The plan is based on what the group was told by the people of Llangollen in a series of public consultation sessions when they were asked about what they liked or didn't like about the town and how they reckon it could be improved.

These face-to-face sessions, held at the health centre, outside local superstores as well as in the town square, generated hundreds of replies.

And, based on what they were told, the volunteers have produced the final draft plan which contains 90 suggestions for improving Llangollen and its quality of life and work over the next four years. 

Shape My Llangollen is now putting the "People's Plan" back to the people for the last time before producing the final version of it.

This will then go before the Town Council, which set them the original task in 2018, for approval and adoption.

The final public consultation sessions will take place outside the town hall today (Wednesday), Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Today and Friday the group will be there to meet the public between 10am and 4pm. On Thursday - because many people will be attending the funeral of Wyn 'Paraffin' Hughes - the opening hours will be a little later from 2 until 4pm and on Saturday the group will be on hand from 10am-1pm.  

Following this exercise and armed with the public’s latest impressions on the draft, SML will then produce the final Action Plan ready for publication early in 2022. 

Phil Robinson, who chairs SML, said: “This final round of public consultation is extremely important as it will be the last chance for people to have their say on this vital and far-reaching vision of the town’s future development.

"This is truly the People's Plan and is something which has never been done before in Llangollen.

"Please come along to Centenary Square, take a look at the plan and tell us what you think of its recommendations."

* To look through the action plan - and turn it over page by page - go to: https://pubhtml5.com/gaql/ahfd

Have your say on Llan's "people's plan" from tomorrow

This week the whole town has the chance to have a say on the “people’s plan” for the immediate future of Llangollen.

Shape My Llangollen (SML), the group of volunteers tasked with producing a Place Plan for the area on behalf of the Town Council, recently published its draft blueprint containing 90 suggestions for improving Llangollen and its quality of life and work over the next four years.

And this week, starting from tomorrow (Wednesday), members of the team will be showcasing their plan, entitled Caru (Love) Llangollen, and explaining what it means during the final phase of public consultation outside the Town Hall.

Everyone will have the chance to see it and – most importantly – be able to give their feedback on its proposals before it goes back to the Town Council for final approval and adoption.

SML has been working for the past three years to produce a Place Plan for the town covering the years 2022-2026.

The group was given the task by the Town Council back in the summer of 2018 and, as part of what is thought to be the largest exercise of its type ever undertaken, has since carried out a series of public consultations  asking the people of Llangollen – residents, businesses and organisations – a number of key questions about their hopes and aspirations for the future development of their area. 

Questions including what they liked or disliked about the town and features they would like to see kept or changed were posed in face-to-face interviews at locations such as the health centre, local superstores and Centenary Square.

This exhaustive testing of grassroots opinion brought in over 1,700 replies and was reinforced by online consultations with major stakeholders in the town, ranging from the International Eisteddfod to the county council and from the Canal & River Authority to representatives of Castle Street shops.

Although the pandemic slowed up the project it never came to halt and in the latter stages, to make up for any lost time and with the aid of a small National Lottery grant, a firm of expert consultants was brought in to help bring the results of the consultation together in Caru Llangollen, the Draft Action Plan.

The views and opinions of the people of Llangollen form the core of the plan, which includes almost 90 separate action points in six sections of aims with headings including “A Community That Works Together Stays Together”, Our Younger Generation Will Be Able to Stay or Return to Live and Work in our Community”, “A Community That Supports a Vibrant Town Centre With Its Own Unique Identity” and “A Community That Provides Essential Services for Its Residents.”

The plan also lists those organisations, such as the town and county councils, responsible for taking the action points forward and gives a time scale for achievement.

The plan in draft form was recently unanimously approved by the Town Council.

The final round of public consultation will take place outside the Town Hall tomorrow (Wednesday), Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 1, 2, 3 and 4.

On Wednesday and Friday the group will be there to meet the public between 10am and 2pm. On Thursday - as many people will be attending the funeral of Wyn 'Paraffin' Hughes - the opening will be a little later from 2 until 4pm and on Saturday the group will be on hand from 10am-1pm.  

Following this exercise and armed with the public’s latest impressions on the draft, SML will then produce the final Action Plan ready for publication early in 2022. 

Phil Robinson, who chairs SML, said: “This final round of public consultation is extremely important as it will be the last chance for people to have their say on this vital and far-reaching vision of the town’s future development.

“As we have stressed all along, this is the people’s own plan, echoing the things they have told us about how they would like to see our town shaping up through the years ahead, so we are hoping as many people as possible can join us for the consultation process in December.

“I would once again like to thank all those who have assisted our work so far and taken part in our earlier rounds of consultation.

“Without you we could never have completed this rather daunting task the like of which has never before been seen in Llangollen.”      

* To look through the action plan, go to: https://pubhtml5.com/gaql/ahfd

Council gets £175,000 to progress repair work on Newbridge Road

* Storm damage caused by Storm Christoph earlier this year.

Funding of £175,000 from Welsh Government has been confirmed to progress the work needed to repair the extensive damage caused to the B5605 at Newbridge earlier this year during Storm Christoph.

In a statement Wrexham Council says: "As reported previously we have continued to work on the ground and with Welsh Government to provide the technical and assessment reports and establish costs to ensure this road is brought back into use as soon as possible

"The funding will cover our preliminary, assessment and design costs. The ground investigations have just completed and we await the options report."

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member Environment and Transport, said: “I am pleased we have secured funding from Welsh Government of £175k for the next stage of this process to develop a business case for all the options available to repair the road.

“We are currently carrying out geotechnical work and hopefully this will be complete by the end of December. We then need to consider options and design for work and will be submitting them to Welsh Government as soon as possible.

“We are aware of the extensive inconvenience and impacts this is having on local communities and businesses and hope to be in a position early in the new year to progress with options for repair work. We hope this will be fully funded following storm Christoph.”