Here's my contender for Car of the Year

Steve Rogers drives the new MG3

Six months into the year and I already have a hot contender for car of the year.

MG might not be a fashionable choice but its new supermini has everything it needs to wear the crown. The MG3 is a giant leap over the outgoing model and is teaching the rest of the pack a thing or two when it comes to affordable driving, economy, performance and safety, along with a string of equipment that will embarrass many rivals.

Let’s look at the SE starting price of £18,495. Given everything on offer that is more than competitive, you would be lucky to find another supermini with navigation, parking sensors and rear camera on an entry model.

Another two grand gets the Trophy where the highlights are keyless entry, leather trim, heated front seats and steering wheel, all round camera and LED headlights.

This second generation model is a smidge bigger with sharper front and rear end styling. It does not have the ooh la la looks of a Peugeot 208 but is sleeker than before and all the better for it.

Likewise the interior. No, it does not have the wow factor of the 208 but important improvements have been made. The previous model was a bit budget with a sea of black plastic. This time we have some pleasing textures with slightly better quality trim and bang up to date digital screens. You cannot expect a premium finish for this price but it is hardly worth complaining about.

Ahead of the driver is a seven-inch screen where you can toggle through a variety of information and a couple of steering wheel buttons for quick entry into the heating and central screen.

There is a bank of quick keys along the centre console including one for heating controls but you still have to dab the screen to make selections. I prefer physical switches but we have to accept that this is the new normal so get used to it.

My main irritational is having to scroll through the driver aids in MG Pilot to switch off the lane departure function which defaults to ‘on’ every time the engine is turned off. A simple button would be very welcome.

At 4113mm the MG is longer than most rivals and interior space is good enough for a family. On that basis you would expect the boot to be class leading but is anything but. We are talking small margins compared to Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 but it is way off the whopping 380 litres available in the Skoda Fabia, although that car’s boot is exceptional.

Still, not enough to turn you away from the showroom.

While still in the cabin there are a couple of cost cutting features we could do without. There is no reach adjustment on the steering wheel, just up and down, but the one that really needs to be addressed is the single piece rear seat back. In a car this size a split rear seat is essential.

No doubt about the biggest leap forward. The new engine has eliminated the one reason for turning your back on the MG3. From below par performance and lousy economy we have gone to sparkling and outstanding.

The petrol hybrid has 100bhp backed up by a 134bhp electric motor boosted by a bigger than average 1.83kWh battery. The car jumps between all electric, hybrid and engine power, not that you would notice any change as the transitions are completely smooth. That bigger battery allows the car to spend a bit more time in electric driving around town speeds while the self charging hybrid system performs most of the open road duties.

Plant the accelerator and the engine joins the fray, it gets a bit harsh at higher revs but again, nothing to complain about.

The step change, and it is a big step, is the economy. My average over a week’s driving was 58.9mpg and there were a number of trips where the MG returned high sixties. Most of the time I was in economy mode, which did little to dent performance, although there is also the option of middle of the road ‘normal’ or all in sport mode.

As with most hybrids suspension has to be tuned to cater for the extra weight of the battery and the MG’s ride is a tad hard, though not uncomfortable while the handling is pretty tidy. Another hybrid trait is overly sharp braking because of the sensitive pedal but this is something a driver should be able to adjust to pretty quickly.

Given the high levels of value for money, performance, economy, you name it, I would buy this car tomorrow.

Fast facts

MG3 Trophy

£20,495

1.5 litre petrol; 100bhp

Electric motor; 134bhp

0-62mph 8secs; 106mph

64mpg combined

100g/km. 1st tax £175

Boot: 293-983 litres

Insurance group 24

Town Council warns of reduced services over next few months

Llangollen Town Council says it wishes to inform residents that the Town Council offices on Parade Street will be operating with reduced services over the next few months. 

A statement says: "This is due to the recent resignation of the Facilities Officer and the upcoming major surgery that the Town Clerk must undergo, which will result in an extended period of absence.

"In light of these unforeseen circumstances, the Town Council has taken steps to ensure that essential services continue. Members have arranged for minimal cover by securing the part-time services of the current Acton Community Council Clerk. Despite this arrangement, there will be an impact on the office's public opening times and general service provision."

The Town Mayor, Cllr Aled Morris, said: “The Town Council deeply regrets any inconvenience this may cause to residents. We want to assure the community that a comprehensive management plan is in place to maintain core services during this period of uncertainty. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate these temporary adjustments.

"For any urgent matters, please continue to contact the Town Council via the email townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk

"Thank you for your support."

Two royal harpists head for Llangollen in summer of string

* Alis Huws and Catrin Finch will be playing in Llangollen within six days of each other.

Two royal harpists will be heading to Llangollen to play in two festivals within days of each other.   

Alis Huws will be playing at the Llangollen Eisteddfod and Catrin Finch at the Llangollen Fringe. 

The two festivals are working together to promote the Denbighshire Town.

Alis Huws, current Royal Harpist to King Charles III, will be joining folk superstars Calan and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists Johns’ Boys Chorus at the glittering Wales Welcomes the World concert on Wednesday July 3 as part of the 2024 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.  

Six days later, on Tuesday July 9, celebrated former Royal Harpist Catrin Finch will also be heading to the Welsh town to perform at Llangollen Town Hall as part of the Llangollen Fringe Festival along with the Irish violinist Aoife Ní Bhriain.

Alis Huws is a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician. Alongside her royal role she regularly gives recitals across the UK and internationally, having toured Japan, Europe, the US, Hong Kong and the Middle East.  

Last year Alis performed at His Majesty King Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey, and has just signed a record deal with Decca Classics.

Alis Huws said: "I’m so looking forward to performing at Llangollen in July, especially getting to join Calan and Johns’ Boys on the stage. It should be a fun evening."

Catrin Finch, the celebrated Welsh harpist, arranger and composer, performs in Llangollen six days after Alis.  

Catrin is an internationally acclaimed musician and composer, and like Alis is one of the most accomplished harpists of her generation. She was official harpist to the Prince of Wales from 2000 to 2004, and has been delighting audiences for over two decades.

Catrin has a reputation for collaborating with musicians from outside of the classical genre, such as the Dublin-born Aoife Ní Bhriain, who’s one of Ireland's foremost traditional fiddle players and a classical violinist of international repute. Their debut album, Double You, hit number one in the iTunes Classical Charts, and also topped the World Music Charts Europe in December 2023.   

Their show has been described as “spell-binding” and the duo say they can't wait to bring it to Llangollen Town Hall in July.

This year the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the Llangollen Fringe Festival are presenting their biggest festivals ever. 

Artistic director of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, Dave Danford, said: "To have one royal harpist in Llangollen is fantastic, but to have two in less than a week is amazing. Alis Huws has an amazing reputation, and is central to our ‘Wales Welcomes the World’ concert with folk superstars Calan and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists Johns’ Boys Chorus on Wedneday July 3."

Llangollen Fringe chair Paul Keddie said: "Catrin Finch has been one of our most requested artists, and we're delighted to be bringing her to Llangollen this summer.   “Catrin is a Welsh icon and her album with Aoife Ní Bhriain is simply spellbinding. 

"This year, the Fringe is really pleased to be working in tandem with the Eisteddfod to bring a month of tremendous artists to the town, including two royal harpists."

Roadworks alert for Berwyn Street

Latest local roadworks alert from Causeway one.network is:

 

Berwyn Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire

13 June - 13 June

 

Roadworks, Delays likely

 

Traffic management: Traffic control (multi-way signals)

 

Description: Overnight patching works - Hogans. TM Amberon.

 

Works location: A5 Berwyn Street, Llangollen

 

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 NMWTRA/SWTRA.

 

Responsibility for works: NMWTRA/SWTRA

 

Current status: Planned work about to start

 

Works reference: PD50124163112851992

More stars added to Eisteddfod's Classical Gala Concert

* Côr CF1.

Two previous winners of flagship competitions at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod have been added to the line-up for the festival’s Classical Gala Concert on Sunday July 7.

Tenor Emyr Lloyd Jones and Côr CF1 will be sharing the stage with Katherine Jenkins, providing an evening of song to close the 2024 Core Eisteddfod Week.

Emyr Lloyd Jones won the Eisteddfod’s Pendine International Voice of the Future competition in July 2022 at the age of 25, and was dubbed “the new Bryn Terfel”.

Originally from North Wales, his performance at the Eisteddfod comes during the same month he performs the role of Don Riccardo in a run of Verdi’s Ernani at Buxton International Festival featuring the Orchestra of Opera North.

* Emyr Lloyd Jones.

Also returning to the Pavilion stage will be Côr CF1, who won the Eisteddfod’s Choir of the World competition in July 2022, one of a number of prizes they have won in recent years, including BBC Choir of the Year. 

The choir has performed in numerous high-profile events, ranging from the opening of Wales Millennium Centre in 2004, to performing with Take That and Lulu at the Principality Stadium in 2019.

Côr CF1’s conductor Eilir Owen Griffiths is no stranger to Llangollen, having served as the Eisteddfod’s Music Director from 2011 to 2017, a successful period for the festival which culminated in its 70th anniversary celebrations.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: “With Emyr Lloyd Jones and Côr CF1 added to the classical gala line-up, and with Johns’ Boys Male Chorus appearing on the Wednesday, we have three previous winners of our major competitions returning as evening concert artists. This speaks volumes of the high standard of our competitions, and demonstrates the future opportunities there are for the winners.”

“I’m also looking forward to welcoming Eilir Owen Griffiths back to Llangollen, as Côr CF1’s conductor. He offered me the opportunity to work on two concerts here for the first time in 2012, and we collaborated on a number of successful events during his tenure here. 

* Katherine Jenkins.

"He’s left a lasting legacy, having introduced competitions such as International Voice of the Future and International Voice of Musical Theatre, as well as producing some of the Eisteddfod’s most memorable concerts of the last decade.”

The classical gala concert on Sunday July 7 will be headlined by Katherine Jenkins, officially the world’s most successful classical singer, after she was crowned ‘The Biggest Selling Classical Artist of the Century’ by Classic FM. 

This concert is just one of a series of high-profile events in Llangollen this year, with Tom Jones, Calan, Alis Huws, Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, Kerry Ellis, John Owen-Jones, and Gregory Porter also performing during the Core Eisteddfod Week (which runs from July 2 – 7) and a host of other artists performing in the weeks either side, including Bryan Adams, Simple Minds, Paloma Faith, Manic Street Preachers, Kaiser Chiefs, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Jess Glynne, and Madness.

* Tickets for all these are available to buy online from LLANGOLLEN.NET. The venue is just an hour from Liverpool, and 90 minutes from Manchester.

Latest county council roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks bulletin from Denbighshore Counyty Council is:

Wrth / Nr 10 BRIDGE STREET 04/06/2024 10/06/2024 Gwaith Trydanol / Electrical Works OCU GROUP LLANGOLLEN

A539 Castle Street, Llangollen CASTLE STREET 11/06/2024 13/06/2024 Overnight patching works - Hogans. TM Amberon. CORE HIGHWAYS CONWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN

Full extent TOWER ROAD 18/06/2024 14/07/2024 System Unffordd ar gyfer Eisteddfod Gerddorol Ryngwladol Llangollen / One-way System to support Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod LIVE NATION (MUSIC) UK LT LLANGOLLEN

From St. John's Church to Castle Street ABBEY ROAD 03/07/2024 03/07/2024 Parêd Rhyngwladol y Cenhedloedd Llangollen / Llangollen International Parade of Nations LLANGOLLEN INTERNATIONAL LLANGOLLEN

A542 A539 - Ponsonby Arms, Mill Street, Llangollen MILL STREET 09/07/2024 10/07/2024 I reoli traffig ar llwybr amgen / To control traffic on an alternative route NMWTRA (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

A539 A539, Ponsonby Arms, Mill Street, Llangollen MILL STREET 30/09/2024 01/10/2024 Manned TTL to assist with Trunk Road traffic flow whilst A483 is closed between J1 Ruabon and Halton Roundabout - Overnight from 20:00hrs and 06:00hrs LISA BILTON (DCC) LLANGOLLEN

A539 Hill Street, Pengwern, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8EU HILL STREET 07/07/2024 07/07/2024 Gwaith ar Dwll Archwilio/ Man Hole Works ALUN GRIFFITHS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Special town hall auction planned to support Eisteddfod

* A guitar signed by the Manic Street Preachers at their last Llangollen Eisteddfod show in July 2017. They return on Friday June 28 with Indie Legends Suede.

A signed Manic Street Preachers guitar, a Leeds United shirt signed by four Wales international footballers, and tickets to see Tom Jones and Bryan Adams are just some of the 20-plus items up for grabs at a special charity auction to raise money for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.  

The auction, to be held at Llangollen Town Hall next Friday, June 14, comes just days before international superstar Bryan Adams takes to the stage at the world-famous festival. 

The night also features Côr DAW, a Welsh Choir with a difference. The singers entertain audiences with medleys featuring artists such as Queen, ABBA, Elton John, Michael Jackson, and Jersey Boys - all in Welsh!

Côr DAW stands for Dysgwyr Ardal Wrecsam - Wrexham area learners of Welsh - and was formed by Pam Evans-Hughes in 2011 to compete in the National Eisteddfod. 

Since then it has wowed audiences at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Chester Cathedral, Wales Millenium Centre, Focus Wales, and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The evening which starts at 7.30pm, and alongside the auction and live entertainment there will also be a tombola. The evening will raise money for the Eisteddfod’s charity, which helps to bring people from around the world to the festival.

Ian Lebbon, Chair of the Eisteddfod’s Marketing Committee and auctioneer for the evening, said: “This is our second ever auction and we have some amazing lots, including a guitar signed by Manic Street Preachers when they last appeared in Llangollen in 2017, kindly donated by our former Chair Dr Rhys Davies, tickets to some of this summer’s biggest concerts, including Tom Jones and Bryan Adams, and much more.  

"All money raised will go towards our charity. We’re also looking forward to hearing the ladies from Côr DAW, who have made a huge name for themselves singing rock classics in Welsh. It’ll be a great night, and will a brilliant start to our biggest ever summer.”

* Tickets for the evening, priced at £5, are now on sale at Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.