A patient was taken by air ambulance to Stoke for treatment following a large emergency services incident on the River Dee in Froncysyllte this morning, the Denbighshire Free Press has reported.
North Wales Police shut Gate Road, near the country park, for a short period, the story says.
* For the full story, see: Froncysyllte: Reports of emergency services at River Dee | Denbighshire Free Press
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Suzuki S-Cross drive by Steve Rogers
How can something be big and small at the same time?
Bit of a conundrum but not necessarily in the case of
the Suzuki S-Cross hybrid. It is one of those cars that sits in a league of its
own, classed as a small SUV but big compared to its rivals. Puzzle solved.
If we
discount Swace and Across, both rebadged Toyotas, S-Cross is now the halo model
although if asked to name a Suzuki most would likely say Vitara, Swift or Ignis
before S-Cross.
Yet this
is a car not without its merits and in many ways is the unsung hero of the
range. Suzuki is not a big player in the UK market so has to rely on its
enviable reliability record and value for money, even base models are packed
with standard kit and S-Cross is no exception but I would probably avoid the
flagship Ultra, tested here, and save money by going lower down the range.
The
Ultra name sums up the car because it has a long spec sheet that includes an
automatic gearbox and the highly efficient all wheel drive system. I could not
help comparing S-Cross with the MG HS. This is a £24,000 SUV that could take a £30k price tag while the Ultra does not
feel like a car nudging £33,000.
The
cabin is bland with a lot of hard black plastic finishes, yet everything is
solidly put together; you will find no trim creak or rattles here.
The tech
has been updated with new graphics for the nine inch touch screen, along with a
surround camera which is exclusive to S-Cross. Navigation is also standard on
Ultra but all models come with Smartphone mirroring so mobile direction apps
can be displayed on the screen.
I was
also glad to see a digital speedometer in the driver's binnacle something badly
needed given the European style 20mph increments
in the main dial which are not that clear on the silver background.
S-Cross
does well on space front and back although headroom could be a tad tight for
six footers as the rear bench sits higher than the front seats. All the seats
are firm but supportive.
That
firmness carries through to the ride which smothers bumps and thuds as well as
controlling body roll, but you could not describe the car as super comfortable,
probably a bi-product of the all wheel drive system and the need for stiffer
suspension.
Although
it pushes up the cost Suzuki's Allgrip is an exceptional four wheel drive
option compared with big money alternatives. Let's not kid ourselves that this
is a full blown off roader but it has settings for three surfaces and I know
from experience that it will get you out of gluey mud and give peace of mind in
snow and slush, and it comes with hill hold control.
A six
speed auto box is standard on the Ultra and helps give S-Cross terrific
economy. Using the economy setting I coasted past the official combined figure
easily topping 50mpg, and that is a big selling point particularly for four
wheel drive. The only drawback in economy is a slowish response pulling away
and I found myself slipping into manual for a faster getaway.
Safety
is well catered for with adaptive cruise control, lane assist and cross traffic
alert which is so useful when reversing out of supermarket parking bays. I
would like to see that on all cars. The 360 degree camera is a worthwhile
addition and there are front and rear parking sensors.
Interestingly
the better performing S-Cross has the smaller 1.4 litre engine but I would
stick with the hybrid because of the economy benefits even though it is not
that quick and a bit coarse when pushed.
Fast
facts
S-Cross
Ultra Allgrip
£32,649 (starts £26,099)
1.5
litre hybrid 113bhp
0-62mph
13.5secs; 108mph
48.7mpg
combed (54mpg tested)
132g/km.
First tax £245
Insurance group 16
Safe and Sound Outdoors, established in 2007, has been given the task of providing activities for youngsters at the Youth Hostel Association's sites in Wales and Chester.
* For the full story, see: Youth Hostel Association contact for Llangollen company | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk)
* Care staff with the electric vehicles.
Denbighshire County Council have been working to support the social care sector and reduce its carbon footprint by facilitating the use of electric vehicles, as well as access to driving lessons for staff who will be providing care in people’s homes.
With funding secured from Welsh Government, the council now has 10 electric vehicles available for staff providing care and have also made grant awards to providers for driving lessons.
Following an application process, two independent domiciliary care providers, Co-options and Alexandra House, have been awarded five-year zero cost leases for two e-vehicles.
The council has also provided Co-options with an e-bike for non-driving care staff to use.
The remaining
vehicles are being used by Denbighshire County Council domiciliary care staff.
The E-vehicles, as well as the number of driving lessons that have been awarded to care staff, are supporting domiciliary care workers to provide much needed care to people across Denbighshire.
Council vehicles are replaced with E-vehicles as existing fleet vehicles come to the end of their life. They are then replaced with reduced carbon vehicles.
Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “These vehicles not only help our environment, but also the staff who are using them to provide important services and care to the people of Denbighshire.
"It is great that
independent domiciliary care providers have also been granted access to the
vehicles, as use of e-vehicles helps to reduce the amount of Carbon that is
produced.”
Councillor Elen Heaton Lead Member for Health and Social Care said: “We’re very grateful for this funding provided by the Welsh Government as reliable transportation for our social care teams is vitally important. They play a huge role in supporting and caring for the people within our county.
"Not only does this initiative support our mission to provide high quality care and support to our community, it also contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for our country which is vital.”
Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is:
OUTSIDE PROPERTY KNOWN AS 10 GER Y DDOL ABBEY ROAD 07/11/2023 09/11/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY LLANGOLLEN
Castle St, Oak St, Bridge St & Chapel St, Llangollen CASTLE STREET 12/11/2023 12/11/2023 Sul y Cofio / Remembrance Sunday LLANGOLLEN TOWN COUN LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
A539 From Castle Street to Greenfield MARKET STREET 25/11/2023 25/11/2023 Ffair Nadolig / Christmas Fair SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road
TREVOR HALL LODGE A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 21/11/2023 21/11/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN
Llangollen's Tidy Town Team took advantage of today's brighter weather to make Centenary Square look a little smarter ahead of next weekend's annual Service of Remembrance. They also gave some attention to the steps leading up to the library and Tourist Information Centre.
Tickets will now be available to buy in person from the Llangollen Tourist Information Centre for two Christmas peace concerts at the Llangollen Pavilion Hall on December 23.
Organisers of the events, at 12.30pm and 3.30pm, are being presented by a partnership of North Wales orchestra NEW Sinfonia and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
The concerts will raise money for a refugee charity based in Wrexham and the Eisteddfod charity.
Each show will end with a performance of the iconic festive film, The Snowman, with music performed live by NEW Sinfonia.
Robert Guy, of NEW Sinfonia said: “Tickets are selling fast but we had feedback that some people wanted to buy tickets in person.
"That’s why we are delighted that the Llangollen Tourist Information Centre has agreed to sell tickets for our Christmas event.
"These concerts are the talk of the town and there will be some fantastic surprises on Saturday, December 23.
"NEW Voices, our community choir, are already in full swing and loving rehearsals.
"The fact that refugees will be taking a lead role makes these concerts even more special just before Christmas.”
Tickets are priced from £13-£21. Llangollen Tourist Information Centre is based at Y Capel, Castle Street, Llangollen LL20 8NU.
It is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am - 5pm.
Tickets are also available online from www.newsinfonia.org.uk
David Hennigan, a Board Member at the Llangollen Eisteddfod. said: “Since we announced our Christmas Peace Concert with NEW Sinfonia and NEW Voices, with refugees taking the lead, the response has been incredible.
"People across Denbighshire told us they wanted the Llangollen Eisteddfod to bring back our Christmas Concerts and we are pleased that our partnership with NEW Sinfonia has allowed us to present these extra, special peace concerts. We are delighted to now be able to offer the chance to buy tickets in person thanks to our friends at the Llangollen Tourist Information Centre as well as online.”
