Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Here is the latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I am a single parent with two kids and I’m really worried about how I’ll afford to pay my energy bills when I have to start putting the heating and lights on more now winter is here. 

At the moment I just about have enough money to cover my bills but there is nothing left over. The thought of getting into debt keeps me awake at night but the idea of my children being cold and possibly unwell as a result is just unbearable. What can I do? 

A: You are not alone - a record number of people came to Citizens Advice with energy debt in the first four months of 2023 (32,400) - a 112% increase on the same period in 2020 (15,200). 

There are things you can do to feel in control when it comes to your energy bills. 

There are some simple tips to help save money on your energy bills. They won’t cover all the extra costs, but they can make a difference:

• Check your thermostat: A room temperature between 18°C and 21°C is ideal for most people. Try turning your thermostat down by one degree within this range – it could save you around £115 a year. If a medical condition means you need a warmer home, ask your GP what room temperature you should aim for.
• Keep the heat in: Check your home for any gaps in the doors, windows and floors. Blocking any holes where you could get a draught could save you around £30 a year. It is important to allow for some ventilation as without it mould and damp can form.
• Turn off anything you’re not using: Turning your appliances, like TVs and washing machines, off instead of leaving them on standby could save around £60 a year. Turning off lights when you’re not using them – even if it’s just off for a few seconds - could save around £25 a year.
• Consider using LED lightbulbs, which cost less to run.
• Watch your water usage: Cutting your shower time by just one minute can make a difference. If everyone in a four-person household with a water meter did this, they could save around £75 a year.

If you’re struggling to afford your energy bills, you might be able to get support from the government or your energy supplier. The first step is to contact your supplier to find out what they can offer. You may be eligible for benefits including the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments or the Household Support Fund, find out more about these on our website. 

* For more information visit the Citizens Advice website at www.citizensadvice.org.uk 

Denbighshire Leisure takes silver at public relations awards

* The DLL ream at the CiPR Pride Awards in Cardiff. 

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) are celebrating after being awarded silver at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CiPR) Pride Awards in Cardiff. 

The company was shortlist for five awards and came away with a silver for the ‘Best Use of Content’, awarded for the "creativity, teamwork and hard work" that went into the promotion of their seasonal fitness campaign. 

The categories DLL were shortlisted in include Low Budget Campaign, Best Use of Content, Best Event, Best Long-term Campaign, and In-House PR Team of the Year. 

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: “We are beyond thrilled to have been shortlisted throughout Wales for five prestigious CIPR Awards.

"This is a remarkable achievement, and one that we are immensely proud of. To win Silver in a national award is an amazing achievement, It is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and creativity of our DLL team, and we are deeply honoured to be acknowledged for our efforts. 

"It’s always a pleasure to see our team receive the recognition they deserve for their hard work and dedication. The continued success of our teams proves that the DLL Culture and approach is lighting up the industry in all areas of the business; following the recent commendation for best Finance team and the National award for contributions to the Leisure industry.”

This silver award follows the success of the DLL finance team who also received a highly commended award at the Wales Finance Awards ceremony earlier this year; and the recent National UK Active awards for significant contributions to the industry. 

* For more information, visit www.denbighshireleisure.co.uk.

New Honda CR-V is bigger, better but dearer

Honda CR-V e-PHEV first drive by Steve Rogers

Here it is then, the new CR-V. Bigger, better, we hope, and a lot more expensive.

Honda has its sights set on the premier league with the sixth generation model and has packed it with new technology, a raft of driver safety aids and, for the first time, a plug-in hybrid model.

A quarter of a century ago CR-V was something of a trailblazer, an SUV designed for families, not farmers. A bit of a gamble but it paid off becoming its best seller in the UK and a firm favourite with caravaners because it was a great tow car with a sizeable flat floored boot.

Times have changed and Honda is facing up to the challenges of a totally different motoring world. It ditched diesel some time ago so this model is powered by a 2-litre petrol hybrid engine with a plug-in model to stretch economy and drastically lower the car’s exhaust emissions.

It is the plug-in we are looking at here  and it is fair to say it is long overdue given Honda’s expertise in electric power trains that stretches back to the Insight of 1999.

That said with the switch to electric put back to 2035 the plug-in hybrid will very likely become the preferred choice. They are a stopgap for those not ready to commit to full electric and although pricey will become more affordable as used cars feed into the system.

The plug-in gives an electric only range of up to 50 mikes, more than some rivals. I managed around 43 before the gauge said empty and switched to engine power, not that I noticed because the transition was seamless. Using my Podpoint wall charger the CR-Vs 17.7kWh battery was topped up in just over two hours which is also faster than some rivals. Using a domestic socket will take just under eight hours.

Once the battery is spent petrol power only should be good for mid forties to the gallon on a light foot but some electric power can be recovered using regenerative braking.

The complete overhaul of CR-V is obvious from the styling. It has lost that distinctive profile although the more mainstream design is still appealing and bolder, particularly the in-your face grille and slimline headlight signature.

Honda has always been ahead of the game on safety and has gone even further with driver aids. It is protected like a fortress with all round camera and sensors. Emergency braking to help avoid a front end shunt is standard across the range while the new ‘traffic jam assist’ keeps the car in its lane at low speeds, switching to the basic lane assist when the road clears.

Passengers are protected by 11 airbags but what about this for a useful addition. A front centre airbag to prevent a coming together of driver and passenger in a collision.

There is a now familiar look to the dashboard with a digital driver’s binnacle backed up by a large head-up display and central touchscreen for the everyday functions, but at least Honda has given us buttons for the heating and radio volume which is pleasing.

Generous space has always been a given on CR-V and there is even more now with the increase in length. Legroom is excellent front and back and the reclining back seats were a big hit with my adult nieces. This is also a useful way of increasing headroom for overly tall passengers who will find it tight with the seats in the upright position.

I often wonder why car testers, me included, sometimes dwell on the way SUVs handle when no one expects them to drive them like a sports car. Of the CR-V I will just say it is commendably comfortable, no matter what rubbish surfaces it has to cope with, and has more than adequate handling abilities.

A bone of contention that has been resolved is the  CVT gearbox. Until now it has been annoyingly noisy hanging on to the revs but  that has been overcome by introducing a second gear and has done the trick so no more screaming under hard acceleration.

Sadly CR-V will never be the tow car it once was with a 1500 kg limit, provided you have the plug-in hybrid which is only available with front wheel drive. But here is the anomaly. You can only get all wheel drive with the hybrid which has a towing capacity of just 750kg. That seems to be the wrong way round?

The new model is without doubt a big step forward in quality, comfort and safety. The SUV net is huge and as well as traditional rivals like Toyota Rav4 and Mazda CX-5 the CR-V has put itself up against the likes of BMW, Audi and Lexus.

The biggest question is will buyers be put off by the higher price. Time will tell.

Fast facts

CR-V e:PHEV Advance Tech

£54,670 (£45,895 e:Hybrid)

2-litre petrol; 326bhp

0-62mph 9.4secs; 121 mph

50.3mpg (353mpg full charge)

17.7kWh battery; 6.8kW on board charge

19g/km. First tax zero

Insurance group 37

Boot: 617-1710 litres

Llangollen Railway's success celebrated at Downing Street reception

* From left, Simon Baynes MP, Michael Gove MP and Phil Coles of Llangollen Railway at 10 Downing Street.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes welcomed Phil Coles, chairman of the Llangollen Steam Railway, to a reception at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, to celebrate the work of Levelling Up Champions across the UK.   

Mr Baynes has had a close relationship with the railway since he was elected as the MP four years ago.

During that time, the heritage attraction has completed the line to and reopened the station at Corwen.

The £13.3 millionClwyd South Levelling Up Fund, which Mr Baynes secured from the UK government in 2021, has contributed £191,000 to construct and place a canopy over Corwen Station which was reopened in June of this year.   

The UK government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by Denbighshire County Council, has donated £375,000 to the railway to develop a ‘package to strengthe the organisation’ enabling them to continue their restructuring process following several years of organisational change, particularly in the areas of volunteering, training, interpretation, and conservation.  

 

During the reception, Mr Baynes introduced Phil Coles to Michael Gove and they discussed the way in which Llangollen Railway has benefitted from Levelling Up Funding.

This has enabled them to improve the service they offer for residents and tourists on the railway in the Dee Valley and has complemented and expanded the railway’s own fundraising and hard work, and that of their volunteers, in ensuring their success for the years to come.  

 

Speaking after the reception, Phil Coles said:  "I would like to thank Simon Baynes for the help he has given the Llangollen Railway Trust securing firstly the funding to build the canopy and open the new station in Corwen, then with the Shared Prosperity Fund administered by Denbighshire County Council to help make the organisation robust for its future.

"I thanked Michael Gove for the grants the railway had received to help us rebuild the railways future for the benefit of Llangollen, Corwen and the Dee Valley.”  

 

Mr Baynes said:  “Phil Coles and the Llangollen Steam Railway have done excellent work running and expanding the railway. I am proud to have had the opportunity to recognise the success of the railway at No10 Downing Street with Michael Gove MP and I look forward to continuing to support the railway, their staff, and volunteers.

"The Llangollen Steam Railway is a beacon of excellence which, since the Downing Street reception, has been recognised by them winning the Attraction of the Year at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards.”

Waste collection Christmas dates given by county council

There will be date changes to waste collections due to how the festive dates fall this year, says the county council. 

Over the Christmas and New Year period, the following changes will be made:

Household waste collections 

1. Household waste collections for Monday 25 December 2023 will be collected on Saturday 23 December 2023.
2. Household waste collections for Monday 1 January 2024 will be collected on Saturday 30 December 2023.
3. All other household waste collections will take place as usual. Residents are asked to please make sure that bins are out by 7am on the day of collection.

Commercial waste and recycling collections 

4. Commercial waste and recycling collections will take place on the usual days over the Christmas and New Year period.

Garden waste collections 

The following changes will be made to garden waste collections that usually take place on a Monday: 

1. Garden waste collections for Monday 25 December 2023 will be collected on Saturday 23 December 2023.
2. Garden waste collections for Monday 1 January 2024 will be collected on Saturday 30 December 2023.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “The festive period can produce a lot of waste as it is a celebratory time for all. From wrapping paper to bottles, there are a lot of extra items that our brilliant waste teams collect over the holiday period. 

"We thank all residents for understanding these changes, and also thank them for their cooperation.”

Eisteddfod 'optimistic for the future' says new chair

 

* Eisteddfod chair Chris Adams speaks to volunteers and supporters.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod still isn’t “out of the woods” but is “very optimistic” about the future.

That was the positive message from Chris Adams, the festival’s new chair, when he opened yesterday (Monday) evening’s latest public briefing session – both in-person and online – at St Collen’s Community Hall.

It was also used to announce the starry line-up for evening converts during the Eisteddfod’s core week from July 2-7, which starts with Sir Tom Jones on the Tuesday and ends with Katherine Jenkins on the Sunday.

The chair said that many ideas and suggestions for how the Eisteddfod could not only survive its traumatic financial loss of last year but also thrive had come from a public meeting held at the Pavilion last August.

“We talked through our problems and were delighted with the response we got. Offers of help and support came from all over. Decisions had to made and we moved as quickly as we would.”

A number of special groups were set up to look at how various aspects of the festival could be improved, from the grounds and staging to marketing and publicity.

The group members – all volunteers – were tasked to examine other key areas such as fundraising and sponsorship.

Much work has also been done as part of an initial one-year partnership with show business agency Cuffe and Taylor which has led to a package of “bookend” concerts in the weeks leading to the Eisteddfod by stars including Paloma Faith and the Manic Street Preachers.

Two special Christmas concerts built around the theme of The Snowman and featuring a live orchestra were at that point down to just a few tickets, explained Mr Adams.

However, he stressed: “There are a lot of things still to do over the next six months to make next July a festival to be remembered for years to come.”

Mr Adams – the Eisteddfod’s 11^th chair since its foundation in 1946 – also revealed how just a few days earlier he had replaced Sarah Ecob in the role.

Because of heavy work commitments in her local authority job, she had found it necessary to relinquish the chair but had parted with the Eisteddfod on “really good terms”.

“The Eisteddfod is unique is not unique in its idea of promoting peace – people have found other ways of doing this,” he told the audience but he added: “We are looking to be a major force in the cultural life of Wales into the 21^st century.”

* Dave Danford: Something for everyone. 

Lead programmer and production manager Dave Danford said: “Everything that happens at the Eisteddfod is because of our volunteers. It’s not down to individuals but is a team effort and I’m sure that next year is going to be a success.”

He assured that Cuffe and Taylor were “here to support us and not to interfere” with the way the festival is run.

“The concert programme we’ve got has something for everyone and we’ve had some incredible applications from all over the world for our competitions,” he added.

The floor was then thrown open to questions and answers. Issues included:

* Ways people can get various concessions on tickets - One of the main ways to avoid the inevitable queues for concerts tickets is to join the Friends of the Eisteddfod group, which had signed up 100 new members just that day, it was explained.

* Dance competitions - Chris Adams said lots of work was being done to see these were spread evenly across the five days of the festival.

* Volunteers - A plea was made from the floor for people to fill three key roles in music and staging.

* The Eisteddfod field - Chris Adams explained work was going on make this as attractive as possible to visitors.

* Higher than usual concert ticket prices - Dave Danford said this was down to the rising cost of signing artistes. He gave the example of one who could have been booked for £15,000 in 2020 now demanding £30,000 for an appearance.

* Accommodation for Eisteddfod visitors - Deputy chair John Gambles said most visitors went directly home so priority was given to competitors from around the world, with “wonderful co-operation” being given by hostels and hotels within a 30-mile radius.

* Coping with the number of visitors the additional concerts would bring - Trustee Dave Henningan said letters had been sent to residents of Abbey Road and Dinbren Road assuring that a robust traffic plan would be in place controlled by professionals arranged by Cuffe and Taylor and a strict curfew of 11pm would be enforced. People living nearby were given an email address to contact if they had any problems and a “frequent questions” section had also been incorporated in the Eisteddfod website.      

Successful #LoveLiveLocal campaign is back for 2023

* Sion Corn is welcomed to town during this year's Llangollen Christmas Festival. Residents are being urged to support events like this whenever possible. 

The county council is urging residents to support its local businesses and traders this winter by getting involved in the latest #LoveLiveLocal campaign.

The initiative aims to highlight and introduce the wealth of businesses, goods and services that the county has to offer.

A county council spokesperson said: "Shopping locally can benefit us all by reducing the amount of fuel we need to pump into our cars for longer journeys. 

"Not only can this save shoppers a few precious pounds, it is also more sustainable shopping, with local people shopping locally from local businesses. 

"Those opting to shop locally can also benefit from the Free After Three parking scheme that runs until December 31.

"The campaign aims to encourage people to spend their money in Denbighshire, whilst encouraging shoppers and businesses to use their social media channels to share their positive experiences using the #lovelivelocal hashtag.

"As part of the campaign, social media assets will be made available for traders to help promote their businesses online – the more people are out and about doing their shopping, and telling everyone about it, the better the atmosphere for everyone as Christmas approaches.

"Residents are also encouraged to visit other seasonal events in their local town centre, such as the switching on of Christmas lights, community carol services and artisan markets."

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, and Lead Member for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation, said: “The purpose of this campaign is to remind people of the wonderful businesses we have in Denbighshire, to shop and use local services wherever possible to keep the Denbighshire economy thriving and lower our carbon footprint.

“It has been a difficult few years for businesses and there are some challenging times ahead, but it’s important that we all play a part to support our local economy. 

“We think it’s more important than ever to push the #lovelivelocal message to our residents and remind everyone there are many shops in our towns and villages that offer a wide range of products, from food and drink to beauty and fashion, from arts and crafts to professional services.

“A walk into our towns and villages will reveal some hidden gems and you’ll often find some amazing gifts for your loved ones. We want to help businesses showcase their products, to encourage people to visit and to surprise and excite the consumer about what is on offer.

"And once Christmas and the sales have passed, how about a new year’s pledge to continue visiting the local high street in 2023 and beyond?"

* You can get involved by visiting the Love Live Local page on our website.