28 December 2022

Following extensive engagement with communities and stakeholders, the county’s Active Travel Network Maps (ATNM) have now been officially approved by Welsh Government.

The maps, which show current active travel routes and details of aspirational future routes within the county’s 11 designated active travel localities (as defined by Welsh Government), can be viewed on the Welsh Government hosted DataMapWales site here: https://datamap.gov.wales/maps/active-travel-network-maps  

“The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 aims to make Wales a walking and cycling nation.” explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys.

“Essentially, this means that we are endeavouring to make it possible for us to all make short journeys such as our commute to work, school or local shops, by physically active means, like walking or cycling.

“Not only does active travel have huge health and wellbeing advantages to us all, but by prioritising walking and cycling, rather than using the car, for short, local journeys we are also helping combat the current climate emergency. Less reliance on our cars will go a long way in helping us achieve our ambition to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

“Welsh Government have made it clear that walking and cycling must be the natural mode of choice for short everyday journeys, or as part of a longer journey in combination with other sustainable modes, and the continued investment into practical active travel routes within Powys will help us achieve this vision.

“Developed with the help of local communities, these newly published ATNM show areas across Powys which could be improved to enable more people to walk or cycle for short journeys. These improvements could be as simple as providing a safe place leave your bike while you pop to the shops, adding a road crossing to allow pupils to safely walk to school, or widening and improving pavements to make walking to town with the children and a pushchair easer.

“Whether big ideas or small suggestions, we are grateful for everyone’s feedback and input into creating these maps, all of which been vitally important in creating the community’s vision of future active travel networks throughout the county.”

21 December 2022

Consultation on plans to introduce a Welsh-medium stream at a south Powys primary school have begun, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is proposing to move Ysgol y Cribarth in Abercraf along the language continuum by establishing a Welsh-medium stream at the school.

The school is currently an English-medium school providing education for pupils aged 4 to 11.

The proposed change would see a Welsh-medium stream introduced at Ysgol y Cribarth from September 2023, operating alongside the school’s English-medium stream.

Last week (December 13), Cabinet gave the go-ahead to start formal consultation on the plans.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “Since September 2021, Ysgol y Cribarth has operated a Welsh-medium Foundation Phase class on a pilot basis as part of a scheme that has been supported by the council.

“The class has continued to operate in the current academic year and there are currently 20 pupils in the Welsh-medium class.

“To provide continuity of provision for pupils attending the pilot provision and to provide clarity for the school going forward, the council has explored options for the school’s future language category with the aim of ensuring that Welsh-medium provision can continue to be offered at the school.

“This would ensure that all pupils in the area would have the opportunity to choose this provision, which would give them the opportunity to become fluent in Welsh and English and therefore contributing to the Welsh Government’s aspiration to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

“It would also support the council’s aims and aspirations as outlined in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) for 2022-32 and the Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys.

“However, it is important that the school community of Ysgol y Cribarth and those living in the wider area have their say on these proposals. I would urge them to send their views so that they can be considered.”

To respond to the consultation, visit Ysgol y Cribarth..

Alternatively, you can respond to us in writing by emailing [email protected] or via post at Transforming Education Team, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG.

The consultation will close on Monday, 6 February, 2023.

To find out more about Welsh-medium education in Powys, visit Destination bilingual

21 December 2022

Several Powys volunteers who have made a huge difference in their communities have had their efforts recognised by the county council.

Powys County Council hosted a Volunteering in Powys Reception at this year’s Winter Fair at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

As part of the reception, a community group and two individuals received Silver Kite awards from the Chair of Powys County Council, Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe, for their volunteer work in supporting others in their communities.  The recipients that received Silver Kite awards were:

• Fuelled by Cake
• Steph Burton
• Jen Craven

Dignitaries and invited guests at the reception heard from the Leader of Powys County Council, Cllr James Gibson-Watt, who spoke about how volunteering is key to Powys communities and how the council has worked with its partner PAVO, the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, to establish its Warm Spaces network as well as the Cost of Living Hub.

The reception also heard from guest speaker Clair Swales, Interim Chief Executive Officer at PAVO.

Leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt, said: “Volunteering plays a key role in our communities so I was delighted to jointly host this reception and pay tribute to all those volunteers that make a real difference to so many people in Powys.”

Chair Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe, said: “It was a pleasure to award these Silver Kite awards at the Volunteering in Powys reception.  All of them were worthy recipients who have made a real impact in the communities they volunteer in.  Congratulations to them all.”

21 December 2022

An education setting based in Brecon has demonstrated its commitment to providing high-quality remote education, keeping children and young people safe online and supporting pupil wellbeing, having completed a comprehensive remote education training programme.

The New Start Centre, Powys County Council’s Pupil Referral Unit in Brecon, has been awarded National Online Safety’s Safe Remote Education Accreditation for its successful approach towards safeguarding children and supporting pupil wellbeing during remote teaching and learning.

National Online Safety is a multi-award-winning digital training provider with extensive resources in online safety.

Its Continuing Professional Development accredited courses and educational resources support UK schools in educating the whole school community in online safety- including all senior leaders, teachers, all school staff and parents – on how to make the internet a safer place for children.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “Safeguarding pupils and supporting their wellbeing during phases of remote teaching and learning is a vital to a pupil’s continued development so I’m delighted that the New Start Centre has received this award.

“The online environment offers a wealth of potential information which learners can draw on. However, they need to know how to navigate this safely.  This award exemplifies the partnership approach to ensuring the internet is a safer place for our learners.”

James Southworth, co-founder of National Online Safety, said: “By completing our training programme, New Start Centre has shown its strong commitment to implementing the most effective approach to delivering remote education.

“It can be increasingly difficult for schools to keep up with expectations surrounding remote education to ensure both children and staff follow the necessary safeguarding protocols and know how to spot any potential wellbeing issues. We’ve armed schools with the knowledge they need to understand their responsibilities and how to react in the best way possible to any problems.”

20 December 2022

Attending a hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court, a Llandrindod Wells resident has been found guilty of a Section 4 Public Order offence and given a substantial fine, after assaulting a Powys County Council Civil Enforcement Officer.

On being issued with a penalty charge notice for a parking violation on Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells on the 30 June, the offender violently pushed the notice into the Civil Enforcement officer’s chest.

The incident was captured on the officer’s body worn camera, the video from which was handed over to police who took the case to court last week (14 December).

Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys said: “Violence or offensive behaviour towards council staff will never be tolerated. We appreciate that getting a parking ticket can be frustrating, but it is absolutely no excuse for the physical and verbal abuse of others.

“Our Civic Enforcement Officers have a thankless job, but it is essential to ensure that parking, especially in our busy town centres, is monitored to ensure a good footfall of people can visit our high streets.

“We are grateful to the police for taking this case to court and hope that it serves as a reminder to others that violence, of any kind, is not acceptable and will be dealt with appropriately.”

19 December 2022

Members of the public who visit a north Powys canal have an opportunity to give their views on the canal before a major restoration project begins.

As part of the Montgomery Canal Restoration Project, three surveys have been launched to find out the current views of people who visit Montgomery Canal.

The surveys are being carried out by Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal & River Trust in Wales) and Powys County Council, who are delivering the ambitious project to restore and revitalise parts of the Montgomery Canal. The two organisations were successful in securing almost £14m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund for the project.

The three baseline surveys are being held before restoration works begin. The surveys are:

The survey results will help the Trust and Council understand what people currently think of Montgomery Canal and Y Lanfa, how often they visit and the purpose of their visits. The Trust and Council will carry out other surveys as the project progresses and at the end of the project.

Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “The Montgomery Canal Restoration Project will make a substantial contribution towards the wider, phased restoration of the Montgomery Canal, that when fully completed, will provide long-term economic, cultural, wellbeing and recreational benefits for local communities.

“However, it is important that we seek the views of the local community and visitors to Montgomery Canal and Y Lanfa to understand their current thoughts, how often they visit and the purpose of their visit.  I would urge visitors to the Montgomery Canal and local residents to use this opportunity to make their opinions known by completing this survey.”

Jason Leach, Head of External Programme Delivery at Glandŵr Cymru (the Canal & River Trust in Wales), said: “The next phase of the restoration of the Montgomery Canal will bring many benefits to the community but it’s important we understand how local people use the canal and why they come to visit.

“We know that being by water is good for our mental and physical health so it’s wonderful that this next step of this restoration project is going ahead. Our canals have been reinvented as a place for people to spend their leisure time, get fit, enjoy the outdoors, and feel healthier so come for a visit.”

The surveys will close on 31 January 2023.

For more information on the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund in Powys, including the Montgomery Canal Restoration Project, visit UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

For general enquiries regarding the Levelling Up Fund in Powys, please email [email protected]

19 December 2022

The Mid Wales Education Partnership has appointed a strategic lead officer, it has been announced.

Anwen Orrells has been appointed to the role and will lead and manage the Mid Wales Education Partnership.

The Mid Wales Education Partnership consists of Ceredigion and Powys councils, who have formed a collective approach towards some aspects school improvement services to supports schools across the region.

Chief Education Officers of Ceredigion and Powys, Meinir Ebbsworth and Lynette Lovell, said: “The Mid Wales Education Partnership’s vision is to deliver the best possible outcomes for our learners, whatever their background, by supporting practitioners and schools to deliver the four enabling objectives of ‘Education in Wales: Our National Mission’.

“We are delighted to have appointed Anwen to this vital role. We believe that she has all the attributes to implement the strategic direction of the partnership and coordinate a bilingual integrated approach across the region and make a real difference for our learners.”

Anwen, who was educated at Trefeglwys CP School and Llanidloes High School, started her teaching career as a Geography teacher at Builth High School after gaining a degree in Geography then a Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education from Aberystwyth University.

Anwen later moved to Caereinion High School where she worked for 20 years and held the positions of Head of Geography and Assistant Headteacher before joining Powys County Council as a School Improvement Adviser in 2016.

Anwen, who is also an Estyn Inspector, will leave her current role as Powys County Council’s Service Manager for Education Support Services to join the partnership.

“This is an exciting opportunity and I’m delighted to have been appointed into this role,” Anwen said.

“I look forward to working with senior education professionals across the two counties as we look to support schools to continually improve the quality of teaching and learning so that it gives learners the best possible start they deserve.”

19 December 2022

A new Welsh-medium primary school being built in north Powys will now open after the Easter holidays, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is building a new 150-place school for Welshpool’s Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng. The new building will include early years and community facilities.

The innovative scheme for the new school combines the old and the new which will provide the pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng and the community of Welshpool with fantastic facilities whilst maintaining the presence of the iconic Ysgol Maesydre.

The old Grade II listed building will be refurbished to accommodate early years and community facilities and a new extension will be built to include a new school hall and classroom bases. The building will also be the first Passivhaus hybrid project in the UK.

Construction work began last November and was originally due to last 12 months.

However, the construction has slowed down due to supply chain issues which has delayed the project.

Following discussions with the senior leaders at Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng, it has been agreed that learners and staff will move into the new building after the Easter holidays.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “We’re naturally disappointed that the construction of the new school for Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng has been delayed due to supply chain issues, which are beyond the council’s control.

“However, this has meant that the construction programme has had to be revised and a couple more months of building works are required.

“Once the building has been completed and handed over to the council there will be a transitioning period to ensure that school staff are familiar with their new school and that they have the necessary time to prepare it for their learners ready for the school’s opening day.”

Angharad Davies, Headteacher of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng, said: “As a school, we are putting our children and staff first and decided to delay our move into the new building slightly to ensure that we have a smooth transition. Therefore, we will be moving into our new building after the Easter holidays.

“Although we are excited about our new school building, a new building does not mean an excellent education. Excellent education is the product of the people with it and around it. We have proven this at Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng not only in the last week but since we opened in 2017.

“Welsh-medium education in Welshpool is thriving and the new building will help us build on the excellent education we are already providing.”

19 December 2022

The findings of an Audit Wales review will be used to strengthen corporate safeguarding arrangements to ensure that residents are kept safe from harm and abuse, Powys County Council has pledged.

The report, published today (19 December), follows a review of the council between June and September this year and contains recommendations for improvement in key areas.

The latest review found that the council had met or partially met some of the recommendations Audit Wales identified in reports they published in 2014 and 2015.

However, Audit Wales found that the council still does not have proper control of its corporate safeguarding arrangements, which exposes both the council and its residents to risk.

Audit Wales have identified further recommendations to help the council urgently focus and strengthen its corporate safeguarding arrangements.

Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys and Lead Member for Safeguarding, said: “We accept the findings of this review and I would like to thank the auditors for their work.

“Before we received the review findings, the council had already identified a number of actions to improve our corporate safeguarding arrangements. In the summer, we put an action plan in place to drive improvement and we have started to implement this plan, including approving a Corporate Safeguarding Policy.

“We have reviewed and updated our action plan to ensure it fully addresses the recommendations outlined by Audit Wales to guarantee that we are on the right path to strengthening our corporate safeguarding arrangements.

“I want to reassure residents that Audit Wales had no concerns over the safeguarding arrangements that are in place in our education or social care settings.

“The recommendations focus on the whole council.  Every member of staff and every councillor has a responsibility to ensure that people they deal with through their work is safe from harm and abuse, and that they know how to identify people who may be at risk and to alert the right people as quickly as possible.

“We are committed to meeting all of the recommendations and securing the improvements to ensure that the arrangements we have in place keep our residents safe from harm and abuse.”

The Audit Wales report can be found by visiting https://www.audit.wales/