St Collen's stages its annual Christmas fair

St Collen's held its annual Christmas fair inside the church this morning.

There was a range of stalls filled with seasonal goodies, raffles and turkey burgers were on sale along with mulled wine in the nearby community hall.

Family of Wynn "Paraffin" Hughes thank people of Llangollen

The family of Wynn "Paraffin" Hughes have asked llanblogger to pass on their thanks to everyone who attended his funeral service at St Collen's Church yesterday.

Wynn passed away at the age of 87 on November 11.

During the well-attended service 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 Wynn.

"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 Wynn," he said.

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

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

Wynn'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 lined the street to see Wynn go by on his final journey from Llangollen and many applauded as a mark of respect for his unique standing in the town. 

MS urges people to support their local shops

* Clwyd South MS Ken Skates with Clare Rhodes, owner of SFTW barber's. 

* Ken Skates and David Pinel, managing director of IT-Pro Support. 

* Lesley and Peter Carroll welcome

Ken Skates to ProAdventure outdoor shop.

People are being encouraged to shop local ahead of this week's Small Business Saturday. 

Local Member of the Senedd Ken Skates is backing the grassroots campaign, which urges consumers to help high street shops and independent businesses in their communities.  

Saturday marks this year’s campaign, and the Clwyd South MS wants to see the small local firms who ‘have gone above and beyond’ during the pandemic supported in the run-up to Christmas and into 2022.  

Mr Skates said: “The campaign aims to make a positive lasting impact on small businesses. It’s more important than ever this year that we shop locally and support those businesses that have supported us throughout these incredibly difficult times. 

“Our small businesses have gone above and beyond throughout the coronavirus pandemic. 

“As I have said many times before, they are the lifeblood of our towns and villages here in Clwyd South. Research has shown that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business around 63p stays in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger company. 

“Shopping local creates more local jobs, it’s better for the environment and it helps to make sure our local shops and services continue to be the backbone of our high streets.” 

To highlight the campaign, Mr Skates visited small businesses in Llangollen this week. 

He added: “Small local businesses are often competing with the big guns – multinational chains and major franchises backed by huge advertising and marketing budgets. 

“A lot of small businesses like IT-Pro, ProAdventure and SFTW have built their excellent reputations up through sheer hard work and word of mouth, and they’re just three of the dozens of fantastic examples in Llangollen and the hundreds across Clwyd South.” 

The Welsh Government has targeted much of its £1.7bn+ support package – the most comprehensive anywhere in the UK – towards small businesses throughout the pandemic. 

In June, Welsh Ministers extended the 100% discount for all businesses and charities in the leisure and hospitality sectors until April 2022. Retailers in properties with a rateable value of up to £500,000 will also continue to receive full discounts for the remainder of the year.

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

 

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