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Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Pengwern's wrecked Christmas tree lights could be replaced

* The Christmas tree left minus the lights.

Just a day after being officially switched on during a special event last Friday a set of lights on the community Christmas tree at Pengwern were ripped down by vandals.

But already there are signs they could soon be replaced by well-wishers.

One of those who helped set up the lights posted on Facebook on Sunday: "Thanks to everyone who came to the turning on of Pengwern lights on Friday. It was a lovely evening with the Silver Band playing and folks singing carols. Great community spirit.

"Unfortunately, it was also the last night of the lights as the community spirit was not shared when the tree was vandalised around 5pm yesterday.

"It was particularly dispiriting as I had spent most of Friday putting the tree up, rewiring the electrics and putting the lights on, only for it to be wrecked the following evening. 

"We’re hoping to replace them before Christmas."

Someone else posted on Monday: "Pengwern Community Centre organised a very successful Christmas Tree Light Up and activities last Friday. By Saturday night the tree lights had been vandalised and were no longer working. 

"It's so disappointing for the community to have their tree ruined, and it would be right for those involved to replace the lights they broke." 

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “We have been made aware of the damage to the tree and are saddened by it. We would encourage anyone to report incidents of anti-social behaviour at the site to North Wales Police."

It is understood that the community has received a number of offers to replace the broken lights from local business and other organisations.

Ken Skates shows support for football club's new HQ

* With Ken Skates, centre, are youth development officer Ian Evans, left, and chairman Martin Lyons. 

Member of the Senedd Ken Skates has shown his support for a local football club looking to build the foundations for its new long-term home. 

Corwen FC has been playing and training at Dee Park under a provisional agreement – with a view to further, ongoing development of facilities – as well as continuing to play at Corwen War Memorial Park, their home ground for over 40 years.  

But after agreeing a 20-year lease at Dee Park with landowner the Rhug Estate, the club is now applying for grants to develop the ground. 

Mr Skates, MS for Clwyd South, was invited to Dee Park to discuss the club’s future plans by chairman Martin Lyons after writing a letter of support for the club’s funding bids. 

He said: “Corwen FC has a reputation locally for being a well-run and ambitious club, and what Martin outlined is really exciting for the area. 

“The club has always been deeply rooted in Corwen, and the community is at the heart of the football club’s strategic objectives. It has excellent relationships with local businesses and the wider community, as well as a thriving junior section and women’s team. 

Mr Skates added: “The site is a perfect blank canvas for the club to build from going forwards, and Martin and the other volunteers who run the club are extremely grateful for the generosity of Lord Newborough and the Rhug Estate.I was pleased to be able to help with their funding applications and hope it helps Corwen FC write a successful new chapter in its proud history.” 

Martin said he and Youth Development Officer Ian Evans were delighted to welcome Ken to Dee Park and expressed their gratitude for the support from the club’s key stakeholders and volunteers.

Council offers advice on problem internet connections

Denbighshire County Council is offering advice to residents who may be having difficulties with their internet connection.

They say the move supports the council’s objective to encourage the wider use of digital technology and work with communities to improve digital connectivity and broadband infrastructure in Denbighshire.

With more residents using technology to work from home, the council is offering advice on how to improve connection speeds.

These improvements can often be made with just slight tweaks and adjustments whilst others are solved by partnering with Openreach and the UK Government to bring Fibre to your area.

There are many ways to obtain a reasonable internet speed and Denbighshire’s Digital Officer would be happy to discuss options with you.

* For more information or to discuss how to increase your internet speed, please contact communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk

Monday, December 5, 2022

Alfie Boe kicks off Eisteddfod's 2023 evening concerts


* Alfie Boe will headline the first evening concert of the 2023 Eisteddfod. 

Singing star Alfie Boe will head Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod's 2023 evening concert line-up. 

He will feature at the Pavilion on Tuesday July 4 in a piece created just for Llangollen when he joins forces with musical theatre super-group, Welsh of the West End.

Priority booking opens 10am Tuesday 6 December - join from £12 for students

Public booking opens 10am Tuesday 13 December all details www.llangollen.net 

#Llangollen2023 #AlfieBoe #MusicalTheatre #LlangollenEisteddfod

* Further concerts announcements will be made by the Eistedfodd in due course.



Tractor parade lights up the town


* The tractor cavalcade makes its way down a packed Castle Street.

Hundreds braved the cold and rain to watch Llangollen's first ever illuminated tractor run rumble through the town centre yesterday (Sunday) evening.

Around 20 mighty agricultural machines from the local farming community made their way from the Pavilion field to St Martins and back again to raise money for two good causes in an event jointly organised by Llangollen Young Farmers and the new Vale of Llangollen Rotary Club.

On the field the best-decorated tractor was judged by a group including the Town Mayor, Cllr Paul Keddie, who then waved off the convoy which made its way down Abbey Road and along Castle Street and Regent Street towards Chirk and the Shropshire border.

Hundreds of cheering people lined the route through the town to see the tractors pass by, each sounding their horns in acknowledgment.

There were similar numbers lining the streets in Fron, Chirk, St Martins, Overton, and Ruabon, with smaller groups outside even the tiniest hamlets along the route.

Volunteers from both organisations were out collecting donations in buckets.

All cash raised will go to Wales Air Ambulance and the DPJ Foundation, a Welsh charity which supports those in agriculture and rural communities with mental health problems.

Winning tractor was chosen as a 175 horsepower Valta, one of three entered by Llysfasi Coleg and driven by Gareth Williams, which was adorned with two lifelike model sheep on the front.   

* The tractor run has its own dedicated Justgiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sharon-jones-186?utm_term=nzvZ6g5Q8 

Or the two organisations can be contacted through their respective Facebook pages:

Llangollen Young Famers: https://www.facebook.com/LlangollenIlluminatedTractorRun

Vale of Llangollen Rotary: https://www.facebook.com/ValeofLlangollenRotary


* Crowds cheer as the tractors rumble by.


* Above and below: Tractors ablaze with light turn into Castle Street.



* People inspect the tractors lined up on the Pavilion field.


* The prize for best-decorated tractor goes to Gareth Williams of Coleg Llayfasi.

Fourth gen Fabia is up there with best - and no joke



Skoda Fabia drive by Steve Rogers

A lot has happened to the Skoda Fabia since I drove the first model 22 years ago. For starters we stopped making jokes about the brand.

Not that the Czech company was too bothered, in the early years it encouraged them with some brilliantly funny mickey taking TV advertisements. It was all good publicity and got people into the showrooms.

That’s history, now Skoda sits on the top table and the car that has done most to grow the brand is Fabia. This year saw the launch of the fourth generation model and with it comes a new look. The old model was a fine car but the tall, boxy styling was a bit dull alongside the pretty Peugeot 208 or Ford Fiesta.

We have seen the smart new face of Skoda with the Kamiq and Karoq crossovers and that sleeker design can be seen in Fabia which along with a stack of top tech will appeal to a younger audience.

Skoda has gone to town with a slick infotainment system that features access to online data and wireless connections. If that doesn’t attract the young pack, nothing will.

There is a choice of five models, five petrol engines, ranging from 65 to 150bhp, five trims and a tempting starting price of just under £16k for the S. I have not been behind the wheel of   the S with a 65bhp engine but looking at the figures this is for people who don’t care about performance because it takes around 16 seconds to get to sixty.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. The new model is the first Fabia to be built on Volkswagen’s modular platform which covers lots of models in the group, including the VW Polo, Audi A1 and Seat Ibiza. The ride comes in the firm to soft category, a bit like Honda Jazz, so not as comfortable as a Citroen C3 or Peugeot 208, and not as sporty as its Seat Ibiza cousin or the peerless Ford Fiesta.

If that was too much to take in be assured Fabia is pretty comfortable and handles well enough if pushed.

My test car was the Colour Edition which is near the top of the range. This gets the one-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine and pumps out a healthy 108bhp so it is pleasantly zippy but lacking any wow factor. For a bit of extra performance look to the range topping 150bhp Monte Carlo.

Should you want to fork out for the DSG gearbox you will enjoy lightening quick changes although it does suffer a small amount of lag from a standing start and when calling for full beans for overtaking. Using the manual change option does get things moving a little quicker should the need arise otherwise it is smooth and efficient.

Skoda figures suggest an average of around 50mpg which is achievable but there is more to be had on a long run because I averaged 60mpg on a 150 mile round trip.

As a family supermini Fabia is now hard to beat. This is a top to bottom makeover and the cabin is as stylish as the new shape. The top models get the all singing and dancing digital dashboard with a configurable 10.2in driver’s binnacle and eight or nine inch central display.

On board navigation is an expensive extra even at the top of the range but with smart phone connectivity it is more sensible to sync a mapping ap to the screen.

For a car this size cabin space is one of its strongest features although a chunky transmission tunnel will hinder an adult sitting in the middle of the back seat, but there is bags of room for three children.

The boot is brilliant, a small suitcase bigger than a Polo, and much bigger than a Fiesta. It has two levels and there is still space for a full size spare wheel.

Equipment level is on par with LED lights, rear parking sensors and a reasonable suite of safety features, and there is the umbrella that slots into the driver’s door panel and the ice scraper in the fuel cap flap. Nice touches.

Fabia has been a good car from the get go but this fourth generation is up there with the best and has to be a contender for anyone looking to buy at a family hatchback.

Fast facts

Fabia Colour Edition 7sp DSG

£20,400

1.0 litre TSI 108bhp

0-62mph 9.9secs; 127mph

136g/km. 1st tax £230

Boot 380-1190 litres

Insurance group 13

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Police seek witnesses to serious collision near Chirk

West Mercia Police are seeking witnesses to a serious collision on the A5 near Chirk on Friday evening.

The say that around 7pm on Friday December 2  their officers received reports of a multi-vehicle collision near the Gledrid roundabout.

They add: "A black Nissan Qashqai collided head on with a white Nissan Juke on the bridge over the Ceiriog river. The Nissan Qashqai was travelling southbound on the A5, heading in the direction of Oswestry.

"The driver of the Nissan Juke, a 49-year-old man, sadly died at the scene. The driver of the Qashqai was taken to Royal Stoke University Hospital with serious injuries.

"A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder."

Detective Chief Inspector John Weaver said: “We’d like to hear from anyone who saw the incident or witnessed anything of concern on the A5 shortly before 7pm on Friday.”

“If you have any information, or dash cam footage, that could help please email alexander.sullivan@westmercia.police.uk quoting reference 554 of 2 December.”