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Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Work to Llangollen bridge finishes on time
* The water-filled barriers in place on the corner near the bridge.
Urgent repair works to Llangollen bridge undertaken today by the county council were finished at lunchtime today (Tuesday) well in time for tomorrow's Eisteddfod parade.
Work commenced just after 9am and was finished by 1. 20pm with traffic being managed by a three-way stop and go system.
The council said that due to the damage caused to the bell bollards they would be placing water filled barriers as a temporary measure whilst theur Traffic Team investigated a more long term solution.
Sardinian choir to sing at international mass in Holy Cross Church
As part of the Eisteddfod week, an international mass will be held at the Holy Cross Church in Oak Street, Llangollen this Thursday, July 10, at 5.30pm.
A visiting Sardinian choir will sing with the congregation and everyone is welcome to attend, say organisers.
Two roads in Llangollen are in road maintenance programme
* A section of Abbey Road is due for attention under the programme.
Two schemes in Llangollen feature in a list of roads to benefit from a £4.7 million road maintenance programme for Denbighshire funded by the Welsh Government.
Work at 57 locations across the county will be spread over two years paid for with money from the Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI).
The programme identified schemes for both 2025/26 and 2026/27 based on the total allocation of £4,780,699.
Denbighshire County Council says it will be targeting this funding at improving the surface condition of carriageways.
* Oak Street is also included.
This work will see significant investment planned at A525 Nany Y Garth pass, A547 Abergele Road near Rhuddlan and Ty Newydd road in Rhyl to improve road surfaces.
The full list of road areas for work which will include resurfacing of the carriageways and associated works such as sweeping and drainage includes in Llangollen the A542 Abbey Road (Oakleigh to Llangollen bridge junction) and Oak Street.
Also in the programme are:
- Betws Gwerfil Goch – Minfordd junction to Tyddyn Bach
- Betws Gwerfil Goch – Tyddyn Bach to village
- Bodfari – A541 junction to Glascoed Junction
- Bontuchel – Bontuchel to Ysgeibion junction
- Bryneglwys - A5104 (A494 junction to Tan y Bidwal)
- Carrog - B5437 Railway Line to A5t junction
- Clawddnewydd - B5105 Pool Park to Bryn Moel
- Denbigh - Townsend lights to Love Lane junction
- Denbigh – A543 Ruthin Road (Clwyd Avenue junction to Myddleton Park roundabout)
- Denbigh – Lon Llewelyn (A543 junction to B5382 junction)
- Derwen - Park Lodge junction to Sarnat Gwyn junction
- Dyserth - Dincolyn junction to Mia Hall County Boundary
- Dyserth – Thomas Avenue
- Eryrys - B5430 junction to Pant y Gwylanod
- Hendrerwydd – Plas Coch Bach junction to Plas Isaf
- Henllan – Dolben Hall to county boundary
- Henllan - Gypsy Lane, Henllan Road
- Llandegla - A542 junction to Crown crossroads
- Llandegla - A542 Dafarn Dywyrch to Ponderosa
- Llandrillo - B4401 Llandrillo Road
- Llandyrnog - B5429 roundabout to Groes Efa crossroads
- Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd - A525 Wrexham Road (village to The Nook)
- Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd – Lane from Pentre Coch to Cae Gwyn
- Llanrhaeadr – Talyrnau Cottage to A525 junction
- Melin y Wig - Haffotty Newydd to Pen y Bryniau
- Nantglyn - School Road from Frongoed to County Boundary
- Peniel - Tan Y Garth to Rhewl Valley
- Pentrecelyn – A525 Nant y Garth
- Pentrecelyn - Derwen Llanerch junction to Llidiart Fawr junction
- Pentredwr - Pentredwr from A542 to The White Hart
- Prestatyn – Bishopswood Road
- Prestatyn – Ffordd Isa (Junction with Ffordd Penrhwylfa)
- Prestatyn – Ffordd Las
- Prestatyn – Gronant Road (Rural section to housing development)
- Prestatyn – Gronant Road (Urban)
- Prion – B4501 junction to Tan y Garth
- Prion – Pen y Groes to Llewesog Lodge
- Prion – Prion Isaf to village
- Prion – Ty Cerrig to Rhewl Valley junction
- Rhuallt – Llys y Delyn to Bryn Mawr
- Rhuddlan – Abergele Straights (KFC roundabout to Borth roundabout)
- Rhyl – Derwen Drive
- Rhyl – Gamlin Street
- Rhyl – H bridge
- Rhyl – Tynewydd Road (Coast Road including Railway bridge)
- Ruthin – Church Walks
- Ruthin – Mwrog Street (A494 roundabout to the Church)
- Ruthin – Wynnstay Road
- St Asaph - Ashley Court
- St Asaph – Sarn Lane
- St Asaph – The Roe (opposite the Talardy)
- St Asaph – Upper Denbigh Road (HM Stanley to Bryn Asaph Cottages)
- St Asaph – Wigfair Road
- Tremeirchion - Glyn Ganol to Cefn Du
Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice
Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:
Q: I got a text asking me to click on a link to reschedule a parcel delivery I’d missed. I was waiting for a parcel from Royal Mail at the time, so I clicked on the link and was asked to make a payment. Luckily, my daughter told me the text is a scam and to ignore it, but I almost gave away my personal details. How can I spot the signs of this type of scam myself in the future?
A: Parcel delivery scams are becoming increasingly common. Ones involving texts and emails are known as phishing scams, and aim to trick you into giving away your personal information and financial details, so your bank account and money can be accessed.
One way scammers do this is by enticing people to click on links, which can lead to fake websites, in the hope that this information will be entered.
While scammers can pretend to be from any parcel delivery company, many of them choose Royal Mail because it’s the largest delivery company in the UK. This means the chances of scammers contacting someone who receives parcels from Royal Mail, is higher.
These scams can be in the form of a text, like yours was, or an email or phone call. There are also reports of fake ‘Something for You’ cards, which Royal Mail leave when a delivery is attempted, but no-one is home.
Here are some tips on how you can stay vigilant and spot the signs of a parcel delivery scam, and other scam messages:
If you’re waiting for a parcel, and get a message that asks you to pay to get it, or reschedule the delivery, it’s usually a scam.
Don’t click any links or attachments in the text or email. Delivery companies won’t ask you to pay them through a link in an email or text.
Parcel delivery scammers often pretend to be from an organisation like Royal Mail, and can try to make you click on a fake version of the company’s genuine website, which asks for personal information or login details - these can appear real.
To check if a link is genuine, hover your mouse over the link without clicking on it, or press and hold on the link on a mobile device. You should be able to see the address the link goes to, and check it’s the same as the company’s official website address.
Make sure you check the address carefully - fake link addresses can look similar to the genuine address.
Other signs of a message that is a scam include bad spelling and grammar, and when it starts with a general greeting instead of your name. But, scam messages can sometimes be sophisticated - so don’t rely on obvious mistakes only.
If you get an email, check if the email address matches the sender’s name or organisation - you might have to click on their name to see the email address.
If there’s something you’re unsure about, don’t feel pressured to act. You can find the official details for the company the person who has contacted you says they’re from, and ask the company if they’ve contacted you.
Royal Mail has a helpful page on its website of examples of delivery scams, including text messages and emails people have received.
You can check if you think something you’ve seen online, or in a text or email you’ve received, might be a scam, using an online tool on the Citizens Advice website. If you have been scammed, you can report it on the Citizens Advice website, and check what else you need to do - including protecting yourself from further risks.
Being targeted by a scammer or falling victim to a scam can make people feel anxious or embarrassed, but it’s important to remember scammers are clever and scams can happen to anyone. Reporting them helps track down and stop scammers, and prevent other people from ending up in the same situation.
Monday, July 7, 2025
Impressive petrol Audi that thinks it's electric
Audi A3 Sportback TFSIe drive by Steve Rogers
If ever
there was a car that’s confused this Audi A3 fits the bill.
It is
definitely a petrol - there is a 1.5 litre under the bonnet - but it thinks
it’s electric because it has a whopping 88 mile range.
There
are plenty of plug-in hybrids around but no one outside the Audi group can
match this range. They have simply blown the opposition out of the water, the
perfect car for those uncertain about going down the all electric road.
Think
about it. One extra charge midweek will yield nearly 180 miles on purely
electric power and that covers a lot of families weekly needs.
How has
Audi done it? Simple really. They have doubled the size of the battery to
25.7kWh, it can even take a 50kW rapid charge so if you are on a longish trip
the A3 can be charged to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, about the time it takes for
coffee and a pastry at a motorway service station.
Any
downsides? The only one I could come up with is a bit less boot space. There is
no underfloor storage for the bulky cable bags although you only need to carry
one for the majority of trips, if at all. There is a perfectly good engine to
do the job without counting on electric drive.
And
here is another big plus. For decades I have lauded Audi diesel engines for
their economy, well the emphasis has switched to petrol and the combination of
this 1.5 litre turbo and electric motor is stunning. There is a 200bhp on tap,
not so long ago you would not think it possible for such a small engine, and
the 350Nm of torque matches the punchy pick up of a diesel but without the
clatter.
Performance
is in the realms of the best hot hatchbacks of old but the economy is even more
impressive averaging 54.5mpg at the end of a week covering just over 400 miles.
On short trips I regularly topped 60mpg.
A3 has
always had a reputation for top notch handling but surely it must fall off
given the extra weight of the battery pack? Fear not, the difference is so
negligible to bear thinking about. Mated to the 6-speed S Tronic paddle
shifting gearbox the A3 is still a real fun car, nicely balanced through
twisting roads and tight turns.
As a
fully paid up member of the premium set A3, along with every other Audi, is
beautifully trimmed. Just tracing a finger around the air vents gives a hint to
the quality along with the attention to detail running through the car even
down to the thick pile footwell mats.
The
dashboard layout is crisp and clear with an integrated central touchscreen,
quite unusual with so many using a standalone TV style display, but as expected
it has sharp graphics and fast response. And here is another company hanging on
to physical switches for the heating controls, neatly laid out with a
satisfying tactile touch. Long may it continue.
A3 has
never been a car to win high praise for cabin space so it is still only
average, even a little tight in the back seats for tall passengers, and the
same can be said for the boot although I found the 40-20-40 split for the seat
back sensible.
Audi
does not pile spec into models, preferring to offer option packs which can be
expensive, but there is no skimping on driver safety aids.
The
model tested is the Black edition which comes with flashy black alloys, colour
matched Audi bonnet rings, LED lights, heated front seats, and a few other
niceties.
I rated
the car on 10 points and put crosses against only three: No hold button for the
parking brake, very poorly sited cruise control and speed limiter switches, and
no keyless entry which was a pain in the neck and a penny pinching omission for
a car of this price.
But
having got over my mini tantrum there is one word that comes to mind.
Electrifying!
Fast
Facts
A3
Sportback 40 Black edition
£42,880
(starts £39,150)
1.5
turbo; 200bhp
0-62mph
7.4secs; 140mph
712.2mpg
with electric drive
9g/km.
1st road tax £110
Boot:
280-1100 litres
Insurance group 25
Map of new-look Eisteddfod site unveiled
As excitement builds ahead of this year’s Llangollen International Eisteddfod (July 8–13), organisers have today revealed the official map of the Eisteddfod field – giving visitors a first look at how the vibrant site will come alive with music, dance, arts, crafts and much more.
With a bustling Pavilion at its heart and surrounded by outdoor stages, workshops, food stalls, and family zones, the 2025 layout confirms what everybody knows – daytime at Llangollen Eisteddfod is set to be a joyful explosion of creativity and community.
Programmes are available from the Llangollen Tourist Information office and from the Eisteddfod from Tuesday helping visitors make the most of the incredible events packed into every day.
This year’s festival promises the most inclusive and family-friendly programme ever, with over 4,000 performers from around the globe, 50+ UK groups, and a spectacular mix of daytime events across the field, town centre, and surrounding venues. From 9am daily, visitors will be treated to a whirlwind of concerts, workshops, parades, and pop-up performances.
Key areas featured on the newly published map include:
🎤 Three Outdoor Stages – including the Globe Stage and Amphitheatre
🎪 Kids Zone – offering crafts, circus skills, music and storytelling
🍕 Food & Drink Stalls – delicious options from around the world
🎨 Craft Stalls & Workshops – get hands-on with cultural experiences
🧘♂️ Sensory Den & Inclusive Play – a space for relaxation and sensory fun
🌍 Competitor & Rehearsal Zones – where performers from every continent prepare to take the stage
🎶 Pavilion Performances – home to headline concerts and competitions
From Chinese and Manx dance workshops, to the Parade of Nations, and a Family Fun Day with Andy Day & The Odd Socks, the 2025 daytime programme celebrates global harmony through the universal language of the arts.
For a full programme of daytime highlights, including “Community Roots and Rhythms Wales”, a curated afternoon by BBC Radio Cymru’s Rhys Mwyn, and guest appearances by international stars and Welsh-language trailblazers, visit:
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