Llangollen Ramblers kicked off the new year with a rather damp walk in the Ceiriog Valley.
But despite the conditions, they managed to smile for the camera.
If you could be interested in joining them, e-mail Judy on smithdinbren@gmail.com for details and a programme. She says: "You would be very welcome."
Latest local roadworks updates from one.network and the county council are:
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The views of Llangollen residents and businesses are being invited on a scheme to improve links between the four famous ‘highways’ that run through the heart of the town.
And a local county
councillor is urging as many people as possible to get involved.
Following a
successful application to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Denbighshire
County Council wants to enhance the public spaces that connect Llangollen
Canal, the old Ruabon to Barmouth Railway line, the River Dee and A5 Holyhead
Road.
Some key priorities of the Four Great Highways project, as it is known, are improved accessibility, signage and better materials with the aim of improving the visitor experience and increasing the amount of time they spend here.
Proposals include:
* Better access between the Llangollen Canal, River Dee and town centre
* Inclusive and safe access for a range of users
* Opportunities to incorporate play and exercise
* Strengthened biodiversity and climate resistance
* Enhanced views and rest points
As part of the consultation process three separate online engagement sessions are planned for next week when the contracted designers, Burroughs & The Urbanists, will invite residents, businesses and visitors of Llangollen to discuss the project.
The county council says views and comments shared during the event will inform the design now being worked on.
The meetings, being held via Microsoft Teams, are all on Thursday January 12 - for Llangollen businesses between 6 and 6.30pm, for residents between 6.30 and 7pm and for everyone else between 7 and 7.30pm.
* To arrange to attend one of the sessions, or for further information, e-mail: levellingup@denbighshire.gov.uk
Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards said: “This is part of the South Clwyd Levelling Up Fund project. Wrexham are the leading authority and the Four Great Highways project is Llangollen's share of the pot.
“County Councillor Paul Keddie and myself are due to have a Teams meeting next week with the designers, so we will have a comprehensive discussion with them.”
She added: “This is the start of the wider consultation process, so let's hope that the residents and businesses are interested because it's their voices that matter and certainly from my perspective it's important that there's thorough engagement with everyone who has a vested interest and that they have an opportunity to input into the scheme in order to have an acceptable outcome.”
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A lifelike recreation of the King of Rock 'n' Roll starred as one of the Three Kings of nativity fame in the Christmas tableau at the gateway of Tan Y Ddol and attracted a huge following of fans.
It's creators, who come up with a similar ingenious display each festive season, have just taken down Elvis, along with a band of realistic-looking shepherds who had been been watching their flock by night, at the end of their smash-hit run.
But they're now hoping find the immaculately-attired Mr Presley and the six sheep - named EweAnn, Mary, Shaun, Ramsay, Baabara and EweJean - some appreciative new homes in exchange for a contribution to a good cause.
A spokesperson for the Tan Y Dol team said: "We're stripping down the tableaux, and it occurred to me that we might be missing a trick.
"I thought it might be worth offering people the opportunity to have one of the figures in exchange for a donation to Tenovus.
"Unfortunately we'd already stripped down all the others before the idea dawned on me - only Elvis and the sheep are left - but fortunately they're the ones I think people would be more likely to be interested in."
* If you're interested in adopting Elvis or the sheep just pop into the Tenovus charity shop in Castle Street, Llangollen and make a donation.
New Dot
cinema will return to Llangollen Town Hall next month, after taking a brief break at the end of 2022.
First up on screen, on Friday January 13, is
Brian and Charles, a comedy shot in North Wales with some locations very close
to home that the audience are sure to recognize.
Brian is a lonely inventor in rural Wales who spends his days building quirky, unconventional contraptions that seldom work.
Undeterred by his lack of
success, he soon attempts his biggest project yet. Using a washing machine and
various spare parts, he invents Charles, an artificial intelligence robot that
learns English from a dictionary and has an obsession with cabbages.
Tickets are
£6 online in advance, or £8 on the door. You can buy yours here.
Doors and bar open at 6.30pm and the film begins at 7pm.
On Friday February 24, music fans will be thrilled to learn that Moonage Daydream will be hitting the town’s local screen.
The film features never-before-seen
footage and performances exploring David Bowie's creative, spiritual and
musical journey. Look out for more details and tickets soon.
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Keep us in mind when you're thinking about a fresh challenge for the year ahead.
That's the message from the hospice community at Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith.
From wing walking and sky diving to
running, walking and cycling, baking and glamorous balls there is a wide range
of events and activities already available for people to sign up for and
support seriously ill local children and their families, they say.
Alison Marsh, head of fundraising,
said: "We have been blown away by the support we received from our
supporters throughout 2022. From our amazing events such as Eat Cake Week, our
Cycle Challenge, the Llangollen Canal Walk and our three Dark Runs to our
raffles and Final Moments Matter campaign, the support we have had over the
last year has been nothing short of incredible.
"However come January 1st we
start again from zero and we need our wonderful community to support as they
have done in the past to help us raise the money we need to make sure can be
here for those that need us the most."
The hospices currently need £7.5
million every year to maintain the level of care they provide.
"We have lots planned for 2023
and to kick start the year we have made some brilliant events online live for
people to sign up to," said Alison.
"Whether you are a daredevil who
could take to the skies and wing walk or skydive, a runner looking for their
next big challenge, a baker who could raise some money Eat Cake or if you’d
like to take on our incredible Llangollen Canal Walk, there really is something
for everyone to take part in and bookings are now open on our website.”
If people are not in a position to
sign up for an event but would still like to support the hospices, then they
could consider making a regular monthly gift donation, or sign up to play the
Hope House Lottery for as little as £1 a week, and they could win prizes of up
to £1,000 a week.
* Visit www.hopehouse.org.uk/events to see all fundraising events and ways to support the hospices or alternatively call the fundraising office on 01691 671671 or email fundraising@hopehouse.org.uk to ask about how you can be part of something amazing.
Suzuki Vitara drive by Steve Rogers
If you were to put your last quid on buying a reliable
car what would you go for?
To be fair there are no longer any bad cars, the days
of Lada, FSO and Yugo a distant memory, so may be look to the premium brands,
they are bound to be a safe bet. Generally they are but they do not always fair
well in customer satisfaction surveys.
My money would be on Korean or Japanese brands, in
particular Suzuki. I know, not the most glamourous and a bit of a left field
choice, but the company is always near the top of the satisfaction and
reliability surveys and here’s one of the reasons why.
Vitara has been Suzuki’s best seller for what seems
like an age although it has been nudged off poll position by Swift (another gem
of a car) but I would put money on Vitara bouncing back soon.
It’s not even the company’s halo car any more, a
restructuring has seen the mantle passed to S Cross, very similar, yet
customers still prefer Vitara.
So what makes Vitara so special? Basically it is a bit
of an enigma. It has had plenty of updates so is technically sound; it is a
full hybrid and a competent off roader for bargain money. But sit it next to a
new Kia Sportage for instance and it is starting to look dated.
The last facelift brought in full hybrid with a 140V
supply mated to a 1.5 litre petrol engine. The result is lower emissions and
remarkably good economy, all but 48mpg over 560 miles and 51mpg on a hilly 300
mile round trip to Pembrokeshire. Impressive for an all wheel drive SUV.
Suzuki has built an enviable reputation as a 4x4
specialist and Vitara proves it with a four mode selection. A limited slip
differential is unusual for a £29k off roader but can help you get out of some
tricky situations like snow, braking a spinning wheel and sending torque to
those with grip.
A bit of performance has been lost to the mild hybrid
model and the six speed automatic gearbox suffers a slight lull between changes
which is irritating when overtaking.
Inside Vitara looks to have a neat and tidy layout but
again is a bit dated. While rivals have computer generated displays the driver
is faced with old fashioned dials.
Silver numbers on a silver background with 20mph increments are not easy
to read. Fortunately you will find a digital speedometer by scrolling through a
central multi function display.
Vitara is not a big car, the longer Grand model
dropped a while ago, but the cabin proportions are generous enough and can cope
with a family of five. Build quality is up to standard but hard plastic trim
does little for the car’s image.
The ride is firm but not uncomfortable although you
feel suspension thump over potholes and there is quite a bit of road noise
On the plus side there is bags of equipment even on
entry SZ-T with navigation, rear camera, keyless entry, digital air
conditioning, smartphone connection and LED headlights. SZ5 gets a panoramic
sunroof and front and rear parking sensors along with the option of all wheel
drive.
The safety package includes my favourite cross traffic
alert, blind spot monitor and adaptive cruise control.
In spite of its flaws Vitara is still a cracking
family SUV with an inexpensive, impressive four wheel drive system. I could
happily live with this car and was sad to see it go.
Fast Facts
Vitara SZ5 Allgrip 6sp auto
£29,299 (range starts £23,749)
1.5 litre petrol; 115bhp
0-62mph 12.7secs; 111mph
53mpg combined
132g/km. 1st tax £165
Insurance group 16
Boot: 289 litres
