Wales slashes Covid-19 self-isolation period

The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting this afternoon (Thursday) that the Welsh Government has announced that people who have tested positive for coronavirus will only have to self-isolate for seven days.

The self-isolation period will be reduced from 10 to seven days, on the basis of two negative lateral flow tests taken on days six and seven, from tomorrow (Friday, December 31).

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the coronavirus situation has deteriorated in the last week as the omicron wave has arrived.

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19816289.coronavirus-self-isolation-period-reduced-seven-days-wales/

Sharper Suzuki S-Class comes out from the shadows

Suzuki S-Cross first drive by Steve Rogers

Living in the shadow of a sibling isn’t easy so spare a thought for the Suzuki S-Cross.

It burst on to the scene when the Japanese company had a model shake up in 2014 and was meant to take over from Vitara as top dog.

Trouble was it didn’t bark loud enough and was the sort of car you walked past to get to the Vitara. It was not an ugly car, not even a bad car, it just lacked pulling power.

Seven long years later Suzuki has put it right with a new model that will put a smile on faces. Let’s not get carried away, S-Cross does not have the catwalk appeal of a Peugeot 3008 or a Hyundai Tucson but bolder, sharper lines and bang up to date LED headlight design means it is worthy of a kerbside glance.

It has been a tough old year for Suzuki, not that they are alone, with a dip in market share, some of it down to something as small as a semi conductor chip. There weren’t enough to go round and cars will not go anywhere without them.

That has been resolved and there will be plenty of S-Cross models in the showrooms when they go on sale next week.

Can S-Cross do better this time round? Sharper styling will make a difference but the biggest selling point is value for money. Suzuki has made S-Cross difficult to ignore by packing the Motion model with more kit than its key rivals. Auto dipping LED headlamps, keyless entry, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, smartphone connectivity and a heap of safety technology are the stand out trimmings.

Move up to Ultra and you gain all wheel drive, panoramic sunroof, nine inch touchscreen with navigation, 360 degree view camera and leather seats.

S-Cross is no bigger than before but Suzuki say better packing has freed up more cabin space and while it is no class leader legroom is ample with a full complement of adults.

Engine choice is limited to the 1.4 litre Boosterjet which is Suzuki’s description for a turbo charger, but don’t be put off because it loves big revs and has plenty of punch helped by a 48V mild hybrid unit that masks turbo lag, improves economy and lowers emissions.

Economy is another big plus for the lightweight S-Cross with monthly fuel bill savings for the front wheel drive manual ranging from £12 to £33 against nine competitors according to Suzuki stats. It also wins on lowest engine emissions.

There has to be a disappointment and with S-Cross it is the cabin trim. There is too much hard plastic which brings down the tone but realistically costs have to be cut somewhere and may be this is the least offensive area. Better that than giving up heated seats?

Suzuki is on a mission with S-Cross and has been boosted at being named top car brand for trust by the Institute of Customer Services. The company was third out of 260 organisations with Dacia the next closest car manufacturer at 28.

It helps the cause but it will be no easy ride given the level of competition. This is a fresh start for S-Cross and with ruthless pricing is tremendous value for money. The new Nissan Qashqai, featured earlier this month, is a nicer car to drive and to be in, but it cost a whopping £38 grand and you would not get anywhere near the same level of kit in a Qashqai costing the same as the 25k S-Cross Motion.

My choice on S-Cross would be the Motion because it has just about all that is needed although I could be tempted by the excellent 360 degree camera in the Ultra. Tough decisions all round.

Fast facts

S-Cross Ultra All Grip

6-speed auto

£31,149 (£29,999 manual)

0-62mph 10.2secs; 121mph

46.3mpg combined

139g/km. 1^st VED £210

Insurance group 22

Boot 430 litres

More help available to protect vulnerable women

* North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Wayne Jones at the North Wales Women’s Centre in Rhyl with, from left, Abby Lewis, office co-ordinator; Gemma Fox, Managing Director; and Yvonne Wild, Project Manager. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

A vital service protecting vulnerable women across North Wales is opening two new contact centres in Wrexham and Bangor to reach out to those in need..

The North Wales Women’s Centre, in Rhyl, was forced to close its doors during lockdown, preventing women using its drop-in service.

Now the centre has re-opened and is launching its new Pathfinder offices in Wrexham and Bangor.

The Pathfinder programme, which aims to help women at risk of offending, has been commissioned and paid for by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin.

It provides early intervention and support to vulnerable women, often with issues such as alcohol and substance misuse, mental health problems and family relationships, to reduce the number in the criminal justice system while helping them live safer, healthier lives.

Centre managing director Gemma Fox said: “These are places which are welcoming, warm, friendly places where women who have been through trauma can be reassured and have confidential conversations in a safe environment.

“We know these centres can encourage women to rebuild their lives and without the help of the Commissioner we just wouldn’t have been able to go ahead with the plans

“The return to face to face work will encourage women to seek out support again as during the pandemic that personal contact couldn’t be there.

“We are beginning to see an increase in demand and are expecting this to grow with the developing economic fallout of the pandemic and drops in benefits.”

North Wales Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Wayne Jones said: “We are very keen to support the ongoing work of the Centre to divert women out of the criminal justice system whenever possible.

“We know the impact a sentence can have on a family and that’s why we want to continue our support and we welcome the fact that the Centre is opening new bases in Wrexham and Bangor to make its services more accessible to women across North Wales.

“I know from my own experience how very, very helpful these services are to women at risk including those who come to the Centre and want to change their lives.

“They have an excellent record of supporting women who are in difficult situations and in diverting them away from prison.

“Covid has brought extra challenges with the reduction in face to face meetings but they have continued to do excellent work and it’s great that they can now develop services across North Wales.”

Yvonne Wild, Project Manager at the Centre, said: “Women come to us through different routes, not just referrals from police or those who have committed offences, but those also at risk of offending.

“They’re often those who are homeless or with alcohol or drug problems, victims of domestic abuse and those in financial difficulty, particularly with the reduction in Universal Credit.

“There are also people who have lost jobs, especially in an area like Rhyl which is one of the most deprived in Wales, but also in Bangor and in Wrexham where we get the most referrals.

“There has been an increase in the numbers seeking support with domestic abuse and housing problems that we are dealing with and it hasn’t helped that women have not been able to call in during lockdown.

“However we were delighted to restart our Wednesday drop in service in Rhyl in September where women can call by without an appointment.”

* To contact the North Wales Women’s Centre and for support go to https://northwaleswomenscentre.com/ or call 01745-339331.

People urged to protect themselves from Covid as case rates 'soar'

Wales' leading doctor has urged everyone to take steps to protect themselves from Covid-19 as case rates are surging to their highest levels in the pandemic.

Dr Chris Jones, Wales’ deputy chief medical officer, encouraged people across Wales to get their booster vaccine and follow measures to curb the spread of the virus.

The latest figures (dated up to yesterday, Tuesday) show case rates have risen sharply to more than 910 cases per 100,000 people – the highest levels since the start of the pandemic.

Some 6,000 new infections are being confirmed daily, the majority of which will be caused by the new omicron variant.

More than 54% of adults in Wales have had their booster vaccine.

Dr Jones said: "We are seeing a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases caused by omicron all over Wales. The majority of these are in younger people and we believe they would have been contracted before Christmas.

"This new variant is very transmissible – it spreads very quickly wherever people come together.

"Please take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. This means wearing a face covering in indoor public places; keeping your distance from other people wherever possible and, if you can, reducing the number of people you meet regularly.

"If you have symptoms, self-isolate and arrange to get a PCR test.

"Please also get your booster vaccine – it’s the best way of protecting ourselves.

"Wales is at alert level two and new protections are in place. This is a worrying time but if we all work together and look out for each other, we can keep Wales safe.

"New alert level 2 measures for businesses and updated and strengthened guidance to help people stay safe at home came into effect on Boxing Day in Wales in response to the predicted omicron wave.

"The key things everyone can do to lower their risk of contracting coronavirus:

• Get fully vaccinated, including having your booster – the vaccine offers significant protections for you and for people you care about.
• Self-isolate and get a PCR if you have Covid-19 symptoms. Avoid others when ill.
• Take lateral flow tests twice a week if you don’t have any symptoms and flow before you go out or meet people. If it’s positive don’t go and arrange to have a PCR test.
• Keep your distance from others wherever possible.
• Limit the number of people you meet with, especially if you’re meeting different people in quick succession.
• Meet outdoors if you can or in well-ventilated places.
• Avoid crowded places where possible.
• Wash your hands; sneeze into tissues and keep surfaces lots of people touch clean.
• Wear a face covering, especially in crowded spaces.
• Use the NHS COVID Pass or show a negative lateral flow test result to attend large events, venues, cinemas, theatres and concert halls."

Update on campaign to set up Llangollen park run

* The new pocket park at Wenfrwdd, start point for the proposed park run.

Llangollen running enthusiast Mike Edwards has given an update on the ongoing campaign to set up a new route for a regular run linking the area's new pocket park at Wenfrwdd with the town centre.  

The park run is now a worldwide concept and there are 1,089 events around the UK.

There are currently nearly 50 park runs in Wales with established local events at Erddig in Wrexham, Bala and Dolgellau. 

The runs take place every Saturday at 9am and are free to enter. 

Mike Edwards said: "In 2019, working with the GP practice from Llangollen Health Centre represented by Dr Michael Clarke, we set up a core group to establish a park run for Llangollen. 

* Llangollen Health Centre where the regular park run would end.

"The GP practice have already registered as a Park Run Practice, which enables them to encourage their patients to become active at weekly runs to improve their health and wellbeing by volunteering, walking, jogging or running.  

"Those wishing to take part merely have to register on the Park Run UK website where they get a barcode they can print out which they produce at the end of an event and they then get a text or email giving them a time for the 5k event."

Mike added: "Locally, although matters have obviously been held back by the pandemic we have identified a route and had meetings with representatives from the Countryside Service of Denbighshire CC with a view to using the trackbed of the former railway line which runs from the health centre to the new pocket ark at Wenffrwd. 

"The funding recently made available will enable Denbighshire Countryside Services to convert the trackbed to a two-metre-wide, multi-use path and work on this will start shortly we understand.  

"The proposed route of our park run will circulate around the paths at Wenffrwd and then return to the health centre to give us a measured 5k course. Park Run Cymru have appointed a Park Run Ambassador to mentor and assist us establishing and launching our event. 

"We have a core group of some dozen individuals, some who are experienced at marshalling at local running events, but we would welcome all newcomers who wish to assist with setting up and operating the event once launched. 

"We do not have a definite date for launching the event at this time, but this is likely to be in the new year possibly in the spring."

Mike went on: "I have recently had discussions with Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes who is fully supportive of us setting up a park run for Llangollen and we are meeting with him in the new year to show him our route.

"I know from being involved with Erddig Park Run and Henley Wood, Oswestry, where I volunteer and run, that a park run once established rapidly develops a community of supportive individuals who help each other and enhance their physical and mental wellbeing. 

"Another feature of park runs is park run tourists, that is people who visit park runs aground the country to tick-off events that they have attended. This brings economic benefits to an area because people visit and often stay in the area using local hotels, B&Bs and cafes. 

"We are certain that a park run set in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty attract many such visitors."

* People can find out more by following the link: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Police boss warns parents about online perverts

* North Wales Police and Crime Andy Dunbbobin with Carl Taraborelli and Jon Russell. 

A police boss has issued a warning to mums and dads to put parental controls on their children’s smart phones and other devices to protect them from online perverts.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin spoke out after hearing that two nine year old girls from the region were filmed dancing naked in a “sexually provocative way” on a live streaming app.

During a visit to meet North Wales Police’s crack team of cybercrime experts, the tech savvy commissioner was also told that sexting by school children was on the increase.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, tackling the growing menace of cyber dangers was one of the key priorities in his new Police and Crime Plan which sets out the blueprint for policing North Wales.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners is already tapping into the commissioner’s expertise.

They have elected him as their deputy lead for police technology and digital and deputy lead for economic and cybercrime, including fraud.

Fellow commissioners decided he was the perfect person for the job because of his background working in the technology industry.

Back in 2012 he helped ensure the London Olympics was successfully beamed across the world to an audience measured in billions.

Mr Dunbobbin said: “Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in policing so this is a hugely important area.

“The increase in online crime is a massive challenge for the police, here in North Wales and across the UK.

“The criminal fraternity and online paedophiles are becoming ever more sophisticated in the way they operate and we need to respond accordingly so we can stay one step ahead.

“It is therefore imperative that we invest to ensure we have the most up-to-date technology at our disposal so we can crack down on these online dangers.

“At the same time, educating children incredibly important. It’s important to show all youngsters how to stay safe online and not to give out personal information-  and I’m glad to say that North Wales Police are very proactive in this regard.

“But parents also have a vitally important role to play in protecting their own children from the dangers lurking online and the risks of paedophiles targeting youngsters that they can groom.

“Mums and Dads can and should set parental controls that will prevent their children accessing sites with inappropriate sexual material.

“There is a lot of advice and information available one of the most useful sites parents can tap into is the website of the National Cybersecurity Centre, www.ncsc.gov.uk

It was a message echoed by Detective Sergeant Carl Taraborelli who said: “The chances are that many parents are blissfully unaware of what their children are using their phones and iPads for whilst they are connected to the internet.

“The sending of inappropriate pictures is a growing trend amongst children, compounded by the use of technology and social media.

“It’s mainly teenagers who do this but in some cases, it can be a lot younger as well.

“Parents need to ask and check what their children are doing online and if they were to visit the National Cybersecurity Centre’s website there is a lot of advice aimed towards parents/guardians to help them, help their children keep safe from online harm.

The police do not routinely criminalise children for this behaviour and our priority is to educate and steer those children from harm.

“I know from my previous role as a detective sergeant in Child Protection however, that we used to receive regular queries from partner agencies and other officers with mobile phones belonging to children who were sending images to one another, so it is sadly an area of concern.

“The children don’t always appreciate the dangers that presents to them and the subsequent loss of control of those images once that image is out. It can often result in elements of cyber bullying and public embarrassment.

“In the most serious of cases, it can really affect those children and there have been examples where children have really struggled to cope following the effects and outcome of this type of behavior - you have to treat that extremely seriously and make sure that all the relevant support is in place in those types of situations.

“We’ve got a strong cohort of school liaison officers and cyber safety is an important part of their remit. The ideal solution is to stop this problem at source.”

* For more information parents can go to the National Cybersecurity Centre’s website, www.ncsc.gov.uk

Community Christmas lunch serves up festive cheer

* A group who had registered in advance enjoy their socially-distanced Christmas lunch in the community hall.

A team of volunteers led by Mike Connolly brought a real taste of the festive season to Llangollen by once again running the annual community Christmas lunch yesterday.

Closely observing all anti-Covid rules, they cooked from scratch and served up around 50 three-course meals plus tea, coffee or a little wine to anyone who had registered in advance.

About 20 of the meals was delivered to socially-distanced tables in St Collen's Community Hall yesterday lunchtime while the rest were taken out to people's homes by a volunteer driver starting on Christmas Eve.

Much of the food and wine, including turkey with all the trimmings, was donated by local companies.