Mayor sends out a Christmas message to the town

* The Mayor, Cllr Austin Cheminais.

Town Mayor, Councillor Austin Cheminais, sends this special seasonal message to the people of Llangollen:

At this special time of the year I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the trials of 2021 and wish you and your loved ones a very special Christmas and happy 2022. 

We are still living in extraordinary times but we’re in a much better place than this time last year.  Hopefully we’re on the journey back to “how things used to be” and 2022 will see us at journeys end.

 

We are lucky to live where we do. Llangollen is a beautiful town in a beautiful place and I believe our community throughout the pandemic has demonstrated an inner beauty. 

Llangollen has some amazing volunteer organisations and individuals and they continue to offer help and support to others. Over the last, nearly, two years it has been so heart-warming to see people working together and helping each other, going the extra mile to ensure that those most in need are helped and supported and cared for.  These thousands of group and individual acts of kindness make me proud to be part of the Llangollen Community.

 

On behalf of Llangollen thank you to everyone who has worked hard to help others overcome the multiple hurdles that have come our way over recent times. We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the essential workers who have been there for us throughout the pandemic. We thank you for your dedication, help and support.

 

Tourism is the life blood of our community and plays a major role in boosting our local economy. It’s been great to see visitors returning during the second part of 2021. The resilience of our local businesses during what have been difficult times is to be applauded.  I wish them every success going forward.

 

We live in one of the best places you could possibly live, so naturally there are lots of people who want to visit, enjoy and share what Llangollen has to offer; and recently we’ve had to re-adjust to seeing our roads and town being busier than ever. I’m sure that the completion of the works currently taking in place in and around Castle Street will help make our Town Centre even better.

 

After nearly two years of not being able to host events it was wonderful to see Llangollen emerging from lockdown in recent months with Dot Cinema, The Fringe Festival, Twenty Club, Llangollen Food Festival and The Collen Players leading the way. 

It’s been great to see Llangollen’s Silver Band out and about again, as well as local bands and entertainers. Thank you to all the volunteers that work hard to promote Llangollen’s reputation as a cultural hub and festival town. Hopefully they pave the way for a return to full programme of events in 2022.

 

It’s likely that 2022 will continue to bring further challenges but, as Llangollen’s community has demonstrated, if we work together, support each other and show compassion and kindness towards others we can overcome anything.

 

Take care and stay safe!

Have a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

 

Cllr Austin Cheminais

Mayor of Llangollen  

Car that's the Genesis of an interesting idea

* The flagship Genesis GV80 SUV.

* The cockpit.

* The Genesis GV70 estate.

Genesis first drive by Steve Rogers

It’s the first book of the Bible and my favourite rock band, and now a spanking new car brand.

New to the UK that is, Genesis has been around the Far East and North America for five years and is the product of Hyundai which wants to break into the European premium car market.

So this is a posh Hyundai? Wrong. The Korean outfit, which also runs Kia, is bank rolling the operation and although the H word is rarely used the cars will use some common under the skin parts and the Kia Stinger platform.

The question you are asking is where are the grand motor mile showrooms? There aren’t any. Instead city centre Genesis studios will be set up but the buying operation will be online with the customer getting a virtual tour of the models, buys one and gets a personal assistant who looks after them in a cradle to grave operation.

The car is delivered on a covered transporter, has five years of warranty, roadside assist and servicing. Any problems call the buddy who will have the car collected and leaving a courtesy car while yours is sorted.

This sort of operation is gaining popularity in the second hand market and, perversely, could benefit from the effects of the pandemic with people reluctant to have too much face to face contact.

Since the beginning of the year the Genesis line-up has grown to five models, G70 saloon and shooting brake, GV70 SUV and the flagship G80 saloon and GV80 SUV.

If you need convincing that Genesis is a premium brand step inside the all wheel drive GV80. Apart from looking good it has lashings of luxury, with bang up to date technology, the 14.5 inch centre screen is particularly impressive, and the car will park itself remotely from the key fob outside the vehicle.

Engine choice is 2.5 litre petrol or three litre diesel mated to an eight speed automatic gearbox, with prices starting at £56,715 and £56,815 respectively.

This is a big car with a big road presence and enough room for an optional third row of seating. As expected it glides along motorways and smooth A roads but is too twitchy on twisting B roads. Select sport mode and the ride is more settled.

Safety features right across the range are about as good as it gets and the one that impressed most is the cameras in the speedometer and rev counter dials. It reacts when indicating changing either the left or right hand dial to a camera giving a clear view for overtaking and returning to a lane.

There is also a head up display for speed, speed limit and navigation directions.

Genesis 70 models are more mainstream competing with Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar XE and BMW 3 Series. Saloon and shooting brake have elegant lines and will be offered with a 197bhp 2.2 litre turbo diesel, again with a lot of standard equipment. The shooting brake is just over 46 grand.

The new brand is clearly designed to scare the pants off the opposition with high levels of trim, equipment and ground breaking technology. Will it succeed? It is going to be a slow burn but at least its masters have not set unattainable targets for the UK operation.

Nissan’s premium Infinity brand failed here and DS, part of the new Stellantis empire, is only ticking along, but considering how Hyundai and Kia have become dominant forces in a relatively short time you would not bet against Genesis succeeding.

Fast facts

GV80 Luxury Line

AWD 7 seat

59,600 71,300 tested

2.5 litre turbo petrol 300bhp

8-speed automatic

0-62mph 7.7secs; 147mph

31.4mpg combined

Boot 727-2144 litres

SG Estates helps Old Vicarage residents enjoy advent calendar

SG Estates recently made a donation to the Old Vicarage nursing home for an advent calendar which gives the residents a personalised gift on their day.  

The residents made the boxes with a picture of them on. 

Here, SG's sales and marketing manager Cate Jones hands over one of the boxes to one of the residents.

Santa picks winners of Christmas scarecrow competition

* Above and below: the six winners. 

Six winners have been chosen in this year's scarecrow competition run by the Llangollen Christmas Festival Committee. 

Santa was out on his rounds to do the final judging and to drop off £20 cash prizes to each of the winning creations.

He said: "Once again people have made some fantastic scarecrows which made judging as difficult as ever but I think we had some really worthy winners.

"I'd like to thank all those who put in the effort to take part."   

Tougher anti-Covid measures force railway to cancel Mince Pie Specials

Latest tougher measures to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 announced yesterday by the Welsh Government have forced Llangollen Railway to cancel its popular Mince Pie Specials train services.

In a post on its Facebook page the heritage attraction currently fighting to get back on track from its financial crisis says: "Following the Welsh Government update advising of further restrictions in Wales from the 26th December 2021, we are unfortunately no longer in a position to be able to run the Mince Pie Specials.

"For customers who have pre booked tickets we would ask you to please bear with us.

"The timing of the Government announcement means we will be unable to issue any refunds before the New Year as the office will be closed from the 24th December until the 4th January.

"More information regarding refunds will be issued in due course."

The Mince Pie Specials were featured only yesterday on the BBC TV evening news.

First Minister reveals new Covid measures

 

The BBC is reporting this lunchtime that groups of no more than six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, cinemas and restaurants in Wales from 26 December,  according to the First Minister (pictured).

And two metre social distancing rules are to return in public places, Mark Drakeford said in his latest update screened at 12.15pm.

Licensed premises will have to offer table service only, face masks will have to be worn and contact tracing details collected.

Outdoor events will be limited to 50, with 30 indoors.

Advice has been given to limit household mixing and use lateral flow tests beforehand, with a specific offence for having gatherings of more than 30 people.

Spectators at community sports matches will also be limited to 50 people.

Mr Drakeford announced the return to some Alert Level Two restrictions at a Welsh government press briefing.

The number of identified Omicron cases in Wales grew by 204 on Tuesday to 640.

Mr Drakeford also urged people to get vaccinated, saying this is "the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves".

"We are facing a very serious situation in Wales. A wave of infections caused by the new, fast-moving and very-infectious Omicron variant is headed our way," Mr Drakeford said.

"This new form of coronavirus could infect large numbers of people in Wales, disrupting daily lives and businesses and could cause an increase in the number of people who need hospital care in the coming weeks."

Close contacts of people who have Covid will no-longer have to self-isolate provided they have been fully-vaccinated.

They will now have to take a lateral-flow test instead.

Mr Drakeford has not gone as far as England, where people with Covid will now have to self-isolate for seven days instead of 10, providing they have a negative test result.

He said early action was needed to try and control the spread of the Omicron variant.

"As we enter our second winter of the pandemic, we have high vaccination coverage and tens of thousands of extra boosters are being given every day," he added.

"We also have access to the rapid lateral flow tests to help us all identify signs of infection without symptoms.

"Both of these, together with everything we have learned over the last two years will help to keep us safe at home without the need for new rules and regulations about mixing at home."

Seren wins MP's Christmas card competition

* The winning entry for the Christmas Card Competition from Seren Brierley of Ysgol y Gwernant.

Clwyd South MP Simon Bayne, has congratulated the 2021 winner and runners-up of his Christmas Card Competition and thanked everyone who took part.

Mr Baynes launched the competition on November 3 to design his official card and received a large number of pictures from primary school pupils in his constituency who were excited to showcase their artistic talents. 

Mr Baynes said judging the competition was a difficult process due to the high standard of entries, however has congratulated the winner, Seren Brierley of Ysgol y Gwernant, and the two runners-up, Romany Roberts from Rhosymedre Community Primary School, and Rhys Jones from Ysgol y Gwernant. 

Seren received a £20 book token and Romany and Rhys received £10 tokens as prizes. 

The winning design has been sent to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other public figures in Government and beyond, with the designs from the runners-up featured on the back of the card. 

Mr Baynes said: “I was delighted to hold the Christmas Card Competition and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took part and congratulate the winning entries. 

"The standard of entries was extremely high and it was very difficult to decide on a winner. However, I would like to congratulate Seren Brierley on her excellent design and also Romany Roberts and Rhys Jones on being runners-up.

“I was extremely proud to present the Prime Minister with the winning Christmas card design and to showcase the wonderful talent we have here in Clwyd South.”