Reader captures wind turbines going through Glyndyfrdwy.

llanblogger reader George Jones was travelling on the 11am T3 bus from Wrexham to Corwen on Tuesday when the regular abnormal load of wind turbines was encountered on the A5 west of the tollgate on the section through Glyndyfrdwy.

He took these pictures and said: "Following in the resultant tailback at Llidiart y Parc the load was seen to be two blades as the lorries were held by the police to allow traffic west and east bound to pass via the layby.

"Blog readers might be interested that the pictures, taken from the top deck of the bus, show the remarkable size of the windmill blades which arrive by sea at Ellesmere Port as the nearest port to reduce the road transport journey to the windmill farm site."

Corwen railway extension another step closer

* Work proceeds on bridging the Gap on the line to Corwen.

As of yesterday (Tuesday) morning the infamous Gap along the Llangollen Railway line to Corwen has disappeared with a final session of dumping, layering and rolling in front of the gate.

Work has continued with infilling of the space between the platform walls now making progress and perhaps 80% complete.

The eastern end needs finalisation of the platform wall with blocks and overhang to achieve completion.

Meeting this challenge has been possible because of the many donations received towards the Tenner for a Tonne and the Infill the Gap appeals which, combined, have raised £23,000.

Railway spokesman George Jones said: "Thanks are due to all those who responded to the appeals for help from the project's fundraiser which has boosted the efforts of the volunteers engaged in the task and helped finance the assistance of a local contractor with his equipment and expertise.

"If you didn't quite get round to it, you can still make a donation as there are on going expenses to meet before the platform is complete and the track installed.

"Donations by CCRD can be made c/o Paul Bailey, 'Dolwen', Bryn Eglwys, Corwen LL21 9LY and will be gratefully received towards the work needed to finalise the station project.

"We are getting there and continued support will see the train arrive in Corwen - maybe within a few months time."

Three Eagles renovation shortlisted for award

* The Three Eagles following the renovation.

The Property Developments division of Wrexham-based Knights Construction Group has been shortlisted for this year’s Insider Wales Property Awards. 

Their entry project for award category Workplace Design of the Year is the full renovation of Llangollen’s grade-listed Three Eagles Restaurant & Bar which was completed at the end of last year.

An early 18^th century coaching inn, the building was in a derelict state and had stood unused for over a year when it was taken over by new owners. 

Knights Construction were soon enlisted to undertake a full renovation of the building, enabling it to be used as the new luxury restaurant. The renovation included a re-design of some of the building’s main layout and the construction of a brand new, state-of-the-art kitchen.

Following the renovation and the subsequent opening of the restaurant, the end product has garnered many plaudits from guests for the quality and attention to detail in the overall renovation.

The awards event, hosted at Cardiff City Hall, celebrates Wales’ best commercial and residential property developments as well as associated funders/developers from throughout the past year.

Knights Property Developments manager Joel Smith said that to make the shortlist for this particular award is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire project team.

“The Three Eagles renovation was a really special project for us to take on and to be shortlisted for the Insider Wales Property Awards is an exciting moment for the entire team”, he said.

“There are many unique challenges that come with working on listed buildings such as satisfying the relevant heritage governing body with a thorough and well-planned design concept and of course the sensitive approach needed to repair ancient existing structures. 

"Many traditional trades were utilised in the Three Eagles renovation to ensure that the original building was restored in a way that is respectful to its heritage. With the addition of the new extension to the rear of the building, the old now seamlessly meets the new and the result is absolutely stunning."

According to the firm, one particular challenge that arose during the construction works was the surprising discovery of an ancient seven-metre-deep well under the building. 

The well was situated under a section of the original building that was demolished to make way for the new kitchen and this threw up the opportunity for an unexpected alteration to the design. In the end, the well was built-up with matching stone, sealed with a glass panel and illuminated and now stands as an extremely popular feature in the entrance of the new venue.

Mr Smith said: “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved with the Three Eagles building because the project has taken a venue that was very old, disused and neglected and turned it into a thriving, luxury social hub for the town of Llangollen. The building now stands proud again as it most likely once did many years ago”.

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 13.

* To find out more about the renovation go to: https://www.knightsconstructiongroup.co.uk/grade-listed-restaurant-renovation/

Shape My Llangollen to meet the public again

* SML team members Phil Robinson and Issy Richards outside the Co-op last week.

The latest in a series of public consultation exercises by the team of volunteers putting together Llangollen’s contribution to the county council’s next Local Development Plan will be held tomorrow (Thursday).

Shape My Llangollen (SML) was formed last year at the behest of the Town Council to produce a 'place plan' for Llangollen.

The idea is that this plan, when approved and endorsed by the Town Council, will feed into the new emerging Local Development Plan being produced by Denbighshire County Council.

The plan will cover topics such as the natural environment, built environment, economy, and community and is a genuine opportunity for some grassroots democracy.

SML is therefore engaged upon a far-ranging consultation exercise contacting groups and individuals to seek their views on any issues which affect or concern them so that they can have an input into the plan.

Over the summer the team is hosting a series of consultation events to introduce themselves to the public and to get their views.

The first of these was held on May 7 at Llangollen Health Centre when throughout the day team members spoke to scores of people to gain their feedback.

The second successful session was held outside the Co-op store in Regent Street on May 13 when, again, SML gained lots of useful feedback from shoppers.

The third question-and-answer session will be held outside the Home Bargains store, next to Aldi, tomorrow, May 23, from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm.

And for those people who haven’t been able to attend the week-day sessions SML will be holding a major meet-the-public event in Centenary Square on Saturday June 1, starting at 10am and continuing until at least lunchtime or possibly longer.

SML chair Phil Robinson said: “The two sessions we’ve held so far have each been a big success and we spoke to as many people as possible about a wide range of issues which interest them, which was anything from the state of local roads and pavements to the provision of social care and youth facilities.

“Perhaps not unexpectedly there were lots of concerns voiced about traffic congestion and the availability of parking. But lots of other issues were raised such as the spending priorities of the county council, public transport and the lack of local affordable housing.

“The information we gathered will be invaluable in compiling out final report which we are aiming to publish before the end of this year.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has so far been able to spare a few minutes to answer our five quick questions.

“I’d urge as many people as possible to come along and speak to our team members during our next two sessions, outside Home Bargains and in Centenary Square, because this is your big chance to have your say about Llangollen’s future.”

The questions SML is asking are:

1. What makes you happy about Llangollen?

2. What makes you sad about Llangollen?

3. What makes you mad about Llangollen?

4. How would you make Llangollen better?

5. How would you spend £10,000 for Llangollen’s future?

People unable to make it to SML’s meet-the-public sessions can fill in one of the question sheets which are available in the Town Hall office.

They can also jot down the answers in a reply to the posting about the health centre session on the Shape My Llangollen Facebook page.

Horseshoe Pass closed after collision

Police have said the Horseshoe Pass is closed, according to Wrexham.com

A collision has taken place on the Llangollen side, and the road is closed both ways.

North Wales Police have said the road ‘will be closed until further notice’.

Land based ambulances and the air ambulance have attended the incident.

Update: 8pm the air ambulance left the scene and has returned to base.

http://www.wrexham.com/news/horseshoe-pass-closed-after-collision-168349.html

Community meeting for Pengwern tonight

Friends of Pengwern are to host a community meeting and green mapping session at the area's community centre tonight (Tuesday) from 5.30-7.30pm.

The group says: "This is your opportunity to come and talk to us about what you would like to see happening in the community and to get involved with volunteering.

"We will also be hosting a green mapping event with DCC and Countryside Services to discuss what the community would like to see happen with the green spaces around the estate. This is a drop in event so you can call in anytime between 5.30 and 7pm."

Mercedes' new pick-up with the X factor

* The new Mercedes with X Class.

Mercedes X-Class V6 road test by Steve Rogers

Meet the Mercedes X-Class, the poshest pick-up on the planet.

The planet? Okay, that's pushing it a bit but posh, pick-up and planet trip nicely off the tongue.

There are lots of custom pick-ups layered in gleaming chrome with outrageous paint jobs strutting their stuff at the classic car shows but as far as a working pick-up goes this is the best you will find in Europe.

Mercedes launched the X-Class early last year but with just a four-cylinder diesel which is a tad agricultural. Bring on the mighty 3-litre V6, an engine to help this pick-up stand out from the rest.

On the back of the surge in SUV popularity double cab pick-ups are almost the new fashion statement, and there are plenty to choose from. As well as the updated versions from diehards like Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Ford, Izuzu and SsangYong we have seen unlikely entries from Fiat and Mercedes-Benz.

But when it comes to a juicy V6 the choice is limited to Volkswagen Amorak or X-Class, and here the Merc streaks away with the dash to sixty taking just over seven seconds, a top speed approaching 130mph and a whopping lump of torque.

Does anyone really want to spend 40 grand on a pick-up? According to| Mercedes this is what their customers have been waiting for. No point in having the three-pointed star on the front grille if it can't beat the rest.

Is it really practical? Of course it is. This is a workhorse like any other pick up, able to haul three and a half tons, while getting muddy off road is just another day at the office. Like its four-cylinder sibling X-Class sits on a Nissan Navara chassis and shares the multi-link rear suspension.

This is key to the way X-Class behaves, particularly on public roads, and sets it apart from rivals that do not use this car like technology.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves and say this drives with the same comfort as a sports utility let alone a car but how X-Class manages poorer road surfaces is a couple of levels ahead of most rivals. Of course there are times when you are bobbling in the seat but the suspension makes a good fist of cushioning occupants against pot holes and such like.

This feeling of riding in something up market extends into the cabin where the layout and materials are pure Mercedes and move up a level from the four-cylinder X-Class.

The familiar high definition seven inch screen operated via a rotary controller and touch pad between the seats takes care of the majority of functions, apart from the heating which is good old fashioned switches. There are most of the creature comforts to be found in a top end SUV, the all round camera is brilliant, but one area X-Class is lacking is space for oddments. The cabin has been designed to look pretty but in reality it is pretty poor when looking for somewhere to store a mobile phone and such like. I put mine in the glasses holder in the roof lining.

Like a Mercedes car, the ride can be adjusted electronically and that extends to the full on four wheel drive and hill descent systems.

Enough. Let's get to the meaty end of our posh pick-up. The V6 has been round long enough to be honed and refined and delivers what is expected... performance. Best part is the mid range torque which is huge and gives a nice feeling of security when overtaking. Floor the accelerator and you are away.

Steering wheel paddle shifters for the eight speed auto can be handy for downshifts into bends if cracking along in the sport setting but it is as well to be aware of the slight delay in throttle response, particularly at roundabouts, when using the economy setting.

Expect anything between 25-30mpg but exploit that performance too often and you will be into the teens.

Whatever your take on a plush pick up there are points that need to be clear. It is not the answer to a big SUV but there are certainly tax benefits if chosen as a company car. The level of comfort is way above expectation as is the premium feel to the cabin but this is still a working pick up so don't expect miracles.

For this sort of money you could buy a seven seater SUV with all the bells and whistles and better economy but using this for family transport is not out of the question.

Key facts

X-Class 350d V6

3-litre; 258bhp

550Nm torque

Max payload 1067kg

0-62mph 7.6secs

31.4mpg combined

£39,510