my petrol cap flap that opens via a lever will not close properly as if the wire connecting the flap is loose or broken. Is it an easy fix or something that a garage will have to do?

It's quite common and an easy fix, more difficult if your car is an estate. There are quite a few threads about it already. This one should tell you what you need to know:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/fuel-cap-prob/48965/