Roadworks planned for Bridge Street

Latest local roadworks update from one.network is:

Bridge Street, Denbighshire 21 November - 22 November   Roadworks, Delays likely   Traffic management: Road closure   Description: Laying duct across FW and CW...   Works location: 2 CHAPEL STREET LLANGOLLEN LL20 8NW...   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 Openreach.   Responsibility for works: Openreach   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: BC005OP1W00000WD9WLL5HRC

Sion Corn spotted on his way to Christmas Festival

* Horseshoe Falls: How much further to Llan?

* Kayak: Not sure how he can get into this.

* Drosi Bikes: I can get quite a lot in here.

Sion Corn has been spotted by local photographers trying out different ways of getting to Llangollen in time for the big Christmas Festival on Saturday November 26. 

Bronwen and Mayuri have caught sight of him at the Horseshoe Falls, attempting to board a kayak on the river and trying for size a Drosi delivery bike. 

We’re not sure which one he settled on in the end but he guarantees he’ll be there to help people enjoy all the festival fun in just over a week’s time.

The popular festival makes a welcome return the Saturday after next after a three-year break due to the pandemic.

A spokesperson said: "We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible to mark the start of the town’s seasonal preparations. 

"There will be a Grand Parade starting from the Pavilion ground at 1pm and proceeding to the Town Hall for the official opening where Sion Corn - the Welsh Father Christmas - will stay for the afternoon to meet and greet as many of his friends as wish to do so at the start of his busiest part of the year.

"There will be lots to do for children old and young and a wide range of seasonal treats and activities.

"At the end of the afternoon there will be the usual firework display at which time the town's Christmas lights will also be switched on.

"Sion Corn will once again be dressed in his traditional green as he makes his preparations and is already planning his visit. 

"After three years he has lots to do as he decides how to make the journey as rapidly as possible."

Hospice service to be held at St Collen's on December 1

Nightingale House Hospice will hold a community service for its annual Light Up a Life campaign in St Collen's Church at 6pm on Thursday, December 1.

A hospice spokesperson said: "Join us to pay tribute to those who hold a special place in our hearts, remember how they lit up our lives, and give thanks for the memories we carry with us.

"If you cannot attend this service, you can still participate by donating to dedicate a light in memory of your loved one at Christmas. Please click here: https://bit.ly/LightUpALifeNGH"

MS speaks of tensions over local holiday accommodation

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates has said his constituency, which includes Llangollen, has too many residential homes being used “inappropriately” for holiday accommodation.

His remarks came during a debate in the Senedd during a debate on a new licensing scheme of holiday lets in Wales.

* The full story can be seen in the Daily Post at: 'Tensions' rising in North Wales holiday hotspots as visitors 'crammed' into Airbnbs - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)

Police warn over Facebook Marketplace fraud

North Wales Police have sent out a warning about online fraud amounting to thousands of pounds on social media in the run-up to Christmas.

On their own page they have posted: "With Christmas fast approaching we are warning about a sharp increase in Facebook Marketplace fraud.

"Over the weekend residents have reported losses of £4,270 over a two-day period.

"The reports include victims paying large deposits or making full payment direct into the suspects bank account, for goods that are never received.

"In one instance a large deposit was made for an item and, when the victim attended the address provided to make collection, the elderly occupants were unaware of the sale and the victim was left out of pocket.

"People selling items have also been targeted by criminals. Fraudsters posing as buyers arrived at the victim’s house to collect an item and claimed they had made payment using an online banking app. The suspects were handed the item and left, but the funds were never received by the victim as the banking app was fake."

The police post adds: "We would urge people to be cautious when using Facebook Marketplace as there is little chance of being reimbursed if the worst happens.

"When buying items, we would advise to carry out transactions face to face where possible, using cash or payment services, such as Paypal, where a level of protection is offered.

"If you need to report any fraudulent activity, contact Facebook to report the account, the Action Fraud website, via the north Wales Police website or by calling 101."

Twenty Club makes heavenly job of Vicar of Dibley

* A scene from The Vicar of Dibley by Llangollen Twenty Club.

* The vicar meets Elvis in the church hall.

... then Mary and Joseph.

* An angelic nativity scene.

llanblogger preview

Llangollen Twenty Club has made a divinely good job of bringing the Vicar of Dibley, one of the small screen’s greatest comedy hits, to the live stage.

From tomorrow (Wednesday) until Saturday at the Town Hall the talented drama group will be performing two back-to-back episodes of the iconic show which centres on how the Rev Geraldine Granger copes with life in a small rural parish and the crazy antics of a bunch of eccentric villagers written into sitcom legend back in the 90s by Richard Curtis.

The original cast, all with their own highly identifiable quirks, are a tough act to follow but the Twenty bunch handles it in style.

Club regular Helen Belton takes on the ecclesiastical role and has even had her hair styled in the manner of Dawn French, who memorably played the vicar on TV, to ensure a high level of authenticity. And she also effortlessly manages to wring out just as many laughs from the action as her famous counterpart.

The piece includes the episodes Dibley on Air, in which the gang try out their own local radio station with predictably hilarious results, and the Second Coming, in which their nativity play with a difference goes haywire. 

Handling the pivotal character of the sex-starved Jim Trott – famous catchphrase “no no no no” – with total competence is Kevin Williams, while Matt Oswald-Haggett is equally adept at recreating Owen Newitt, the blunt-mannered local farmer.

Excellent as usual in his role as pedantic yet surprisingly interesting parish council clerk Frank Pickle is Twenty regular Arwel Jarvis and Heather Wolfson does a neat line in bringing to life Mrs Cropley, whose repulsive culinary creations nobody would want to touch.  

An impressive dopey double-act has been put together by Bev Maier as church verger Alice Horton – Tinker as was – and Dan Pedley as her equally hopeless husband Hugo.

Steve Hughes turns in an admirable portrayal of Hugo’s tetchy old dad, local squire David Horton, who is the closest we ever get to a villain of the piece.

There are a couple of nifty cameos by John Clifford as the vet and Jayne Dickson who shows up right at the end playing an accordion, the reason for which cannot be disclosed without spoiling things.

Director Chrissie Ashworth, the whole cast and a very competent backstage team have done a heavenly job with A Vicar of Dibley Christmas.

Stage play is by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter adapted from the original TV series by Richard Curtiss and Paul Mayhew-Archer with kind permission of Tiger Aspect Productions.         

The show will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday November 16th to Saturday November 19 at 7.30pm with a matinee on the Saturday at 2.30 pm.

* Tickets  - £12 and £10 concessions - are available online at: ticketsource.co.uk/llangollentwentyclub or from Courtyard Books, Llangollen Oggie Shop or Jenni in Market Street. Tickets also available from cast and crew members, and at the door, subject to availability. 

Toyota in the van of bringing back car-style commercial

Toyota Corolla Commercial drive by Steve Rogers

It looks like a Toyota Corolla, drives like a Corolla, but open the passenger doors and it is a very different story.

No rear bench seat, just a sturdy steel mesh frame behind the front seats and a solid flat floor. This Corolla Touring Sports is a van.

It is the brainchild of the Professional Commercial team at the company’s Burnaston plant at Derby where Corolla is built and has been such a success in the UK that it is likely to filter into other markets.

Why is it so significant? Since the Vauxhall Astra van was dropped nearly a decade ago there has been nothing to replace it, Ford and Vauxhall preferring to covert the smaller Fiesta and Corsa. Corolla Touring Sports (estate to most people) does not just fill the void it goes a whole lot further because this is the first van with a full self charging hybrid electric power train.

For small traders and delivery drivers this is a godsend. Switching to electric is not always feasible when long journeys have to be interrupted by recharging but Corolla should be good for well over 500 miles on a full tank thanks to its near 60mpg average, plus some electric only driving around town, while low emissions reduce the carbon footprint.

The story behind Corolla Commercial is this. It runs along the normal Touring Sports production line, same body, suspension, engine, CVT gearbox, but comes off before the rear is trimmed with seating and seat belts. In goes a steel bulkhead, plywood floor and thick rubber mat.

The side rear windows are opaque, covered in a thick black film, and the electric window switches are just for show. UK regulations do not allow for the car to be converted back its original use. The only tell-tale sign that this is a van are the steel wheels.

If you are thinking the van is devoid of creature comforts fear not. It is based on the entry Touring Sports and comes with electric windows, climate control, reversing camera, auto dipping LED lights, and heated seats, along with Toyota’s Safety Sense active safety and driver assistance features.

Sat nav is not fitted but the majority of delivery drivers are happy to sync their mobile phone ap to the touchscreen via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, an operation that takes a few seconds.

Performance from the 1.8 litre petrol is adequate and as nothing has been done to beef up the suspension for commercial use drivers enjoy the same comfort as the Touring Sport. A small drawback is extra noise from the empty load area.

That load area is quite generous with a capacity of 1326 litres and a front to back length of around 170cm so not far off six feet. The ply floor is hinged halfway for access to a large spare wheel shaped well which would take quite a few additional packages. It would be wise to cover the bumper when loading because over time it will get scratched.

If there is a downside to this car conversion it is the modest payload of 425kg while the 750kg towing capacity is no more than a small trailer.

The car comes with a three year warranty but this can be extended free to 10 years or 100,000 miles provided the car is serviced on time at a Toyota dealership.

Toyota tested the water with established customers who gave it enthusiastic support and this is the result.

Commercial has transformed the Touring Sport into a lightweight, comfortable, well equipped workhorse and is a good choice for the small trader/delivery driver who wants low running costs without switching to full electric.

Fast facts

Corolla Commercial CVT hybrid

£22,590

1.8 litre hybrid;120bhp

0-62mph 11.1secs; 112mph

55.6-61.4mpg combined

105g/km. 1st tax £160

Load space: 1326 litres

Payload 425kg

Insurance group 27