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Monday, January 24, 2022

Work on the 2020 project for the week ahead


Work planned on the Llangollen 2020 project for the coming week is:

  • Complete the paving on Castle Street east
  • Finish the excavation on Market Street south
  • Pave Market Street south
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Electric SUV with famous name that ticks all the boxes



MG5 EV LR drive by Steve Rogers

There were raised eyebrows and a few gasps at the price of the Volkswagen ID.3 electric car reviewed last week but like it not this is generally the going rate.

Electric cars are expensive because production is still small compared to petrol and diesel models.

Cast the net wider and there are cheaper electric cars, VW has a £30,000 ID.3 but it loses spec and range as does the lightweight Mazda MX-30 (£28,490 ) with a modest 124 mile range but the best electric car I have driven.

So where can we find something less salty with a reasonable range, plenty of kit and big enough for a family? Lift the curtain on the MG5 EV estate, a car with a famous British name that ticks all those boxes.

MG died decades ago but has been resurrected by the state owned Chinese company SAIC which is gradually building a range of keenly priced cars that are built abroad but assembled in Britain. The brand reminds me of Kia 20 odd years ago which started small and then burst into our lives with good looking cars and a ground breaking seven year warranty. MG offers that same warranty.

The company is still feeling its way but has already built two electric models. MG5 is the largest, a family estate around the size of a Ford Focus, VW Golf or Vauxhall Astra, with an electric range of 250 miles and a starting price of £27,945 making it one of the cheapest electric cars on the market.

It is certainly the best equipped for the money with the entry Excite toting all round electric windows, reversing camera, navigation, auto dipping headlights, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, adaptive cruise control and emergency braking.

It hardly seems worth paying an extra £2,500 for the top Exclusive model that adds keyless entry, leather style trim, heated front seats, rain sensing wipers and a couple of USB ports in the back.

But how does it fair on the electric front? Compared to the ID.3 the range is similar, the battery output a little higher at 61.1kWh, the power and torque lower, and it is slightly less frugal although the two cars were identical in our hands at 3.6m/kW, and the MG matches the VW in off the line acceleration.

The MG5 reached 228 miles from my wall charger, short of its maximum which is not uncommon with the majority of electric cars, and only lost 11 miles with the heating running a lot better than the ID.3 which dropped 24 miles.

Getting the car up to temperature takes a while so we were thankful for the Exclusive’s heated front seats which looked as if they had only one setting but are thermostatically controlled. Clever.

Staying with the front seats they are set too high. The powered driver’s seat doesn’t go low enough while the passenger seat has no height adjustment even on the Exclusive, a corner that should not have been cut.

But if low price suggests low quality think again. There is hard plastic atop the dashboard and door cappings but it doesn’t look cheap and there are plenty of soft touch coverings and smart trim finishes to compensate. The MG cabin quality is a lot better than expected.

Dashboard layout is a bit dated. Most new cars have switched to iPad style central screens but the MG’s 7in screen is flush within the centre console and suffers badly from glare. It is not that quick switching between applications either.

MG5 is a family estate and drives accordingly – keeping the family comfortable. It is a true five seater with a reasonably sized boot although an unfortunate ramp is created when the back seats are dropped and needs to be addressed.

These are just rough edges and can be pushed aside when considering the price and impressive spec list.

Let’s give the last word to the wife.

‘If the MG5 and ID.3 were the same price then the Volkswagen with its modern cabin and slick technology wins hands down. But the VW is silly money and by comparison the MG is more affordable for an electric car.

I wasn’t a fan of the layout, some fonts in the driver’s display are too small and the central screen hard to read when adjusting the heating even when the sun isn’t shining. But, and it is a big but, these niggles pale into insignificance compared to the MG’s value for money’.

She has spoken...sounds like MG5 is a hit then.

Fast facts

MG5 EV LR Exclusive

£30,445

Electric motor 153bhp

Battery output 61.1kWh

Range 250 miles

3.6 miles/kWh

Zero emissions

0-62mph 7.3secs; 115mph

100kW rapid charge 40mins to 80 per cent

7.2kW wall charger 9h 30m

Boot: 576-1456 litres

Insurance groups 27-32

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Sunday, January 23, 2022

Call for more funding to help Covid-hit businesses


* Sam Rowlands MS, far left, on a recent visit to Llangollen Railway. 

Sam Rowlands, Welsh Conservative Senedd Member for North Wales, is calling for more funding to help the struggling hospitality industry in the region. 

Speaking in virtual plenary the Shadow Minister for Local Government said he wanted to see more done to help this sector.

He said he welcomed the announcement of further financial support from the Economic Resilience Fund following more restrictions put in place over Christmas and the New Year but didn’t feel that this went far enough.

“However, because of the level and lengths of these most recent restrictions, for many it is simply not enough," he said.

“For example, the Night-time Industries Association, have estimated that, on average, their members have lost around £45,000 over the festive period and into the New Year.”

Mr Rowlands asked the Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, whether businesses were lying when they said that support that they are likely to receive from the Welsh Government was not enough to cover their losses.

The Minister said the Welsh Government was doing everything it could within the resources available to support businesses.

Mr Rowlands said in response: “Hospitality all over Wales suffered when Wales moved to Alert Level 2 with Covid-19 restrictions and my region, of North Wales,  was particularly hard hit. 

“We had the strictest regulations in the UK  which was a clear overreaction to the situation. Many businesses in this sector are still struggling and I want to see more support for them from the Welsh Government.”

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Saturday, January 22, 2022

Local roadworks notified by one.network

The following local roadworks have been notified by one.network:


Market Street, Llangollen


24 January - 24 January

 

Delays unlikely - Some carriageway incursion

 

Description: Disconnect and Remove Kiosk...

 

Works location: OPPOSITE NUMBER 4, MARKET STREET, LL20 8PT...

 

Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by BT.

 

Responsibility for works: BT

 

Current status: Advanced planning

 

Works reference: BC005PP25W00001978861982

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Grants available for businesses hit by Covid

 


Businesses in Wales impacted by the rapid spread of the Omicron virus can now apply for emergency financial support from the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF).

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething (pictured) previously said £120 million would be available for retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism business and their supply chains affected by the move to alert level 2 announced by the First Minister on Wednesday 22 December.

Eligible businesses can apply for grants of between £2,500 to £25,000, with grants dependent on their size and number of employees.

The application window will be open for two weeks, with payments starting to reach businesses within days.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “This Welsh Government has pulled every lever possible to support businesses across Wales since the pandemic hit, and we continue to act to ensure needs are met.

“Following positive engagement with businesses, trades unions and other partners, we recently changed the eligibility criteria for the ERF support. The ERF grant is a Wales-only top up payment that currently supports eligible businesses who have seen a 60% drop in their income between December and February compared with the same period two years ago. The new criteria means that businesses in these sectors who have seen a 50% reduction in their turnover will now also be able to access the ERF.

“This means more businesses will receive more support from the Welsh Government.”

Non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses in Wales can also receive support from the Non Domestic Rates (NDR) linked grant which is being administered by local authorities. Businesses will be entitled to a payment of £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000 depending on their rateable value.

Local authorities are also administrating a discretionary fund for sole traders, freelancers and taxi drivers and businesses that employ people but do not pay business rates. Last week this was doubled to £1,000.

The Welsh Government has provided in excess of £2.5bn funding to Welsh businesses since the start of the pandemic. Focused particularly on backing small businesses and Welsh communities, it’s targeted approach has helped protect in excess of 160,000 Welsh jobs which might otherwise have been lost.

* Apply for Economic Resilience Fund support here: COVID-19 Support for Business | Business Wales (gov.wales)
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Friday, January 21, 2022

Wales back to level zero by next Friday, says First Minister

Wales will complete the move to alert level zero on January 28, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed today, unless the public health situation changes for the worse. 

He said the phased plan to gradually relax the alert level two measures and move back to alert level zero will continue. 

The latest public health data suggests Wales has passed the peak of the omicron wave and coronavirus cases are falling back to levels similar to those seen earlier in the autumn. There have also been reductions in the number of Covid-19 patients in hospital. 

From today (Friday January 21) Wales will move to alert level zero for all outdoor activities. 

This means: 

  • Crowds will be able to return to outdoor sporting events.
  • There will be no limits on the number of people who can take part in outdoor activities and events.
  • Outdoor hospitality will be able to operate without the additional measures required introduced in December, such as the rule of six and 2m social distancing
  • The Covid Pass will continue to be required for entry to larger outdoor events attended by more than 4,000 people, if unseated, or 10,000 people when seated.
  • The Covid Pass is required in all cinemas, theatres and concert halls which are currently open.

Mr Drakeford said: "The latest figures show we have passed the omicron peak and we can continue to lift the alert level two protections as part of our careful and phased plan. 

“We will lift the limits on the number of people who can gather for outdoor events. We remain cautiously confident the public health situation is heading in the right direction and next week we will be able to complete the move to alert level zero, unless the situation changes for the worse. 

“We are in this position thanks to the efforts of everyone in Wales and our fantastic vaccination programme. It is important that everyone continues to follow the rules and the guidance to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe, including taking up the offer of a booster vaccine if they haven’t already done so.” 

On Friday January 28, Wales will complete the move to alert level zero. 

This means: 

  • Nightclubs will re-open.
  • Businesses, employers and other organisations must continue to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise the spread of coronavirus.
  • The general requirement of 2m social distancing in all premises open to the public and workplaces will be removed.
  • The rule of six will no longer apply to gatherings in regulated premises, such as hospitality, cinemas and theatres.
  • Licensed premises will no longer need to only provide table service and collect contact details.
  • Working from home will remain part of advice from the Welsh Government but it will no longer be a legal requirement. 

The Covid Pass will continue to be required to enter larger indoor events, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls. 

The self-isolation rules for everyone who tests positive for Covid and the face-covering rules, which apply in most public indoor places will remain in force after January 28.

The next three-weekly review of the coronavirus regulations will be carried out by 10 February, when the Welsh Government will review all the measures at alert level zero.

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Latest Covid news from Welsh Government

Latest Covid-19 updates from the Welsh Government, dated yesterday, are:

Coronavirus in numbers

  • The latest figures published by Public Health Wales show there were 2,768 newly-reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 751,473 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
  • The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
    • The latest figures show 2,503,547 people have received their first dose.

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

  • The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
  • If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for up to 10 days from when your symptoms started.
  • Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation

Where to find the latest information


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