Powys County Council’s cabinet is committed to open and transparent democracy and is looking for technological solutions to broadcasting more of its meetings live.
Council Leader, Councillor James Gibson-Watt said the cabinet wanted to be as accessible as possible but needed to find solutions that could support bilingual discussion as well as all democratic processes at a sustainable cost.
“Working in a digital way has brought new challenges that could not have been imagined in the past. Some of the new technology gives us the ability to have bilingual debate but cannot accommodate voting while others have less flexibility, which is not acceptable,” said Councillor Gibson-Watt.
“Although we are currently exceeding Welsh Government’s requirements on live broadcasting of council meetings, with coverage of full council and the cabinet we feel strongly that we should extend this to all scrutiny and planning meetings, but it will come at a cost.
“The previous cabinet took the decision to fund the Zoom system which has limited the live broadcasts available to us. The current Cabinet will look at what can be done to allow live broadcasting, including for hybrid meetings which add a new level of complexity, as widely as possible, as soon as possible. However, it is clear that there is no complete solution for all the requirements.
“Public accessibility is a cornerstone of the Progressive Partnership that the council should operate in as open and transparent manner as possible,” he added.
Representatives from Powys County Council will be taking part in the first ever Powys Pride parade in Llandrindod Wells this weekend.
The parade, which being held on Saturday, 16, July, is a landmark event for the LGBTQ+ community in Powys.
It will also be a landmark event for the council as they will be taking part as a Proud Council member.
Proud Councils is a voluntary partnership of Welsh local authorities who are proactive in the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people. It was formed in 2015 to ensure that local government across Wales is a visible leader in the field of LGBTQ+ rights and actively championing LGBTQ+ inclusion in communities across Wales.
The partnership aims to create a unified and collaborative approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion across Wales, supporting member local authorities with their commitment towards creating equal, diverse, and inclusive workplaces and communities, where the LGBTQ+ community can be free from discrimination or prejudice.
Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “I’m delighted that Powys County Council is taking part in the first ever Powys Pride parade this weekend as a Proud Council.
“We want to show people that the council is a welcoming and inclusive employer that supports and promotes diversity across our workforce while supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Powys. It is important that the council participates in events like Powys Pride LGBTQ+ people in our communities know that they have the full support of the council.”
Continued abuse of the counties community recycling sites not only contaminates tonnes of recycling but has also resulted in one careless Talgarth resident receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice.
The £300 fine was issued after black bin bags full of general rubbish and clothing were found in and around the local card recycling bank. During interview, the owner of the waste claimed to have paid someone to take their waste away. As a result, the fine was issued under the Household Waste Duty of Care Regulations 2019, for failing to take reasonable measures to secure the safe transport and disposal of your household waste.
“Paying someone to take away your rubbish, and then finding out that they have dumped it illegally must be devastating” says Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys. “But unfortunately, the buck stops with each of us.
“Everyone of us is responsible for our own waste and we have a waste duty of care to ensure it is disposed of responsibly. This means that if we pay someone to take our rubbish way for us, we must check that they are a registered waste carrier. Simply ask the person or business to show you proof that they are registered with Natural Resources Wales/Environment Agency to carry or accept waste.
“By making sure our waste is handled safely and only passed to people authorised to receive it we can protect the environment and ensure it is disposed of correctly and safely. This not only keeps our beautiful county free from litter and rubbish, but it will also mean you won’t end up with a fine!”
There are mixed feelings across Wales concerning the new 20MPH speed limits which will be introduced after Senedd members have voted 39 in favour and 15 against. The Welsh government has claimed that reducing the speed limit to 20 MPH will have several benefits, including:
reducing road collisions
more opportunities to walk and cycle in our communities
helping to improve our health and wellbeing
making our streets safer; and
safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Information video from the Welsh government
Across Wales is a mixed reaction that can be seen in different social medias. A petition has been shared around different social medias, gaining support from mainly far-right groups or the gammons. The gammons are becoming roasted gammon, going into meltdown not because of the heatwave but because the Welsh government are daring to impose road safety measures. As per usual, they have no valid reason as to why they do not support this and rely on falsehoods.
Of course, the far-right are using this to attack the Welsh government and are pedalling mistruths (as is the norm in such circles). An example of such misinformation can be seen from the recent petition circulating (below).
Recent petition circulating:
A petition has been circulating online (predominantly in groups considered to be the far-right) hence the unfounded and baseless attacks against the Welsh government. As is the norm with the majority of the far-right, they rely on fallacies and misinformation, examples of which can be seen in the petition below.
The text of the petition is in black, comments taken from our social network are in red text below.
Many of these roads aren’t suitable for a 20mph speed limit. They are busy access roads on steep hills. The lorries are struggling to get up the hills in such a low gear lorries struggle uphill at 20mph, yet are perfectly fine at 30mph and sticking to such a low speed downhill is hard on the brakes brakes should not be used to control downhill speed. This is doing nothing to reduce emissions this is incorrect as science, scientific data showing otherwise, instead there will be more pollution from more cars struggling in a lower gear for a longer time incorrect again as it’sdisregarding scientific research and fact and claiming otherwise to suit petition
Despite the Welsh Government having spent nearly £30,000 on signage alone, these signs have not been thought through, there are completely unnecessary signs at the start of 50m long, single track, unadopted and untarmaced roads that you physically couldn’t drive down over 10mph, and yet there is completely inadequate signage at the start and finish point on the previously 30mph main roads – people are confused and are spending so much time looking at their speedometers that it is actually a cause of dangerous driving! This is a baseless opinion not substantiated with any fact.
It has caused bus delays; making environmental commuting more inefficient than it was before. It is also going to affect property values on specific routes and traffic to be diverted into more residential areas to bypass this limit. Seriously, can the petitioner really predict the future?
There have not been high occurrence rates of road traffic accidents, deaths or injuries on roads in and around Buckley that require a change to our regular 30mph limit on these roads. So how many deaths are needed? Point being the petition ststes there is not enough deaths to warrant a lower speed limit!!!! It’s entirely unjustified and was not supported by the community making it a non-democratic change. Incorrect, some people support this, other people do not support this. Implying nobody supports it for the sake of the petition calls into question the integrity of the petition (as does the total disregard of factual scientific research) The community already support the 20mph zones outside schools and other significant areas and would fully support keeping these in place.
Flintshire residents were not part of the closed Welsh Government survey, and we feel the questions asked were completely misleading. We all agree slower driving is appropriate in specific areas (schools, hospitals, around shops) but nobody supports a blanket 20mph zone across all our roads. Does the petitioner really believe that they are the voice of all the people? Stating “we all agree” implies the petitioner believes they are the voice of all.
It doesn’t make any sense again, disregarding scientific research and data and is leading to significant inconvenience, distress, and dangerous road conditions if you are really distressed at driving 10mph less in order to save lives, then numerous suggestions were made that you should go seek advice from a GP. We ask that more research is conducted why, when you have already ignored scientific research and attempted to present opposite non scientific views and pass them off as fact in petition? and a wider survey completed with more appropriate questions prior to this pilot taking place in Buckley. No research indicates that a 20mph limit will reduce accidents in Wales. Apart from the fact that there is a plethora of research showing that a 20mph limit across Wales will reduce accidents and deaths.
As you’ll know, setting speed limits should be “evidence-led and self-explaining”, according to the Department for Transport. 20MPH limit is both evidence-led and self explaining Speed limits “should also be seen by drivers as the maximum speed rather than as a target speed at which to drive irrespective of conditions”. The evidence used in the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group Final Report appears to be based mostly on dangerously out of date research and statistics. Using a reference from 1991 to back up this statement “Child pedestrian deaths in deprived neighbourhoods are over four times those in affluent neighbourhoods.” is appallingly bad practice. If the information is older than 5 years it’s no longer current or relevant and new research studies should have been completed prior to the scheme being considered. Basic laws of physics do not change. Both research and common sense would dictate that a 20MPH speed limit is a lot safer than 30MPH.
The petitioner states that new research studies should be completed but has ignored all research studies, ignored all scientific data and presented an opposite opinion in an attempt to pass the opposite opinion off as being factual.
According to national statistics, there is one death per 20,000 cars on the road, making the UK’s road safety rating one of the highest in the world. Therefore, it is shocking that the Welsh Government would be so out of date that it would bring in a limit that was last seen in Law in 1903 (Motor Car Act). Assuming the petitioner is one of the minority of Welsh conservative supporters who nitpick and target the Welsh government with falsehoods (such as the falsehoods presented in the petition)
This law was scrapped when cars were made more safely with the current 30mph limit taking effect in 1934. Buckley is not alone in not wanting the 20mph limit. Motoring organisations the RAC and the AA have expressed support for 20mph limits outside schools, but completely oppose a blanket change from 30 to 20 based on their own research. Improved road engineering, better cars and better brakes have brought about a significant decrease in deaths since 1934. These improvements have decreased accidents, not speed limits. The speed limit change in Buckley has caused more accidents in the 3 days it has been live than we would usually see in a year, including a child being hit on Bryn Road, now a 20mph.
People are now spending more time looking at their speedometers than they are on the road ahead. Clearly an opinion to suit petitioners agenda.
This scheme is entirely counterproductive. Apart from the fact that it will save lives, cause less accidents, cause less pollution and particle pollution as shown by scientific research.
The only road in Buckley to have a RTA resulting in a fatality in the last 10 years is one of only 3 roads to have had the speed limit left at 30mph.
We also feel this change is unlawful. Section 82(1)(a) (of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA 1984)) defines a restricted road in England and Wales as a road which is provided with “a system of street lighting furnished by means of lamps placed not more than 200 yards apart”. Section 81 specifically makes it an offence for a person to drive a motor vehicle at a speed of more than 30 mph on a restricted road. Therefore, whilst Wales are now able to set speed limits, what law change has taken place to make this 20mph zone legally enforceable in courts? Legislation makes this legally enforceable in courts.
The signage is also not clear and given this is a brand new change, we would expect forbearance for a period of 6-12 months for residents to get used to a whole new way of driving. Arguably, if people need 6 months to a year to learn how to drive 10MPH less than normal then should they be on the road in the first place?
Especially as we live on the border of England where more sensible road speed limits currently apply meaning residents may be even more confused. Hardly confusing, there are different speed limits everywhere. Furthermore, England is also adopting the 20MPH approach with more and more roads being destined for the new lower limit.
One of the biggest issues we have had with the scheme in Buckley is that Phase 2 was also not consulted on. Flintshire County Council pushed it through, opening the consultation period on the 17th December and closing it on the 7th January WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE. Again, incorrect. Consultation for the public was provided.
The county councillors didn’t know. The town councillors didn’t know. Because no one knew, no one could object. Again, incorrect. The consultations were public and invited comments from the public.
Therefore the main access roads, through roads and main commuter routes were all lowered to 20mph AGAINST the wishes of the town council. People were also voting in favour of improved links between the primary schools and cycle paths to allow more children to be able to walk and cycle to school safely, thus also reducing congestion and emissions – this has not happened at all. Yet the Welsh Government are hell bent on “inviting the community into the roadspace” a line which no one has been able to give an explanation to as yet. The community has the pavements. The road users should have the roadspace! Absolute nonsense. Here, the petitioner states that another reason to not lower the speed limit is because people have pavements and road users have roads.
We are also looking to seek legal support on the enforceability of this limit given it’s not UK Law but Devolved law. For a town on the Wales/England border, this is very confusing and dangerous. Point being it is in WALES so therefore devolved legislation. If as the petitioner states that a Welsh town on the border of England is confusing and dangerous because of a lower speed limit, then such people how find a change in speed limit confusing and dangerous should ideally not be allowed on the road!
Finally, the people of Buckley are absolutely disgusted with their MS, Jack Sargeant’s, repeated attempts to abdicate from responsibility of this scheme. This is a Welsh Government scheme, Jack is our elected Member of the Senedd, elected to represent the people of Buckley and to be their voice to feed back to the Welsh Government on issues that affect them. His copy-pasted responses denying any responsibility and offering no help or support to his electorate have been brief and disappointing. The people of Buckley already feel deeply let down by the Welsh Government in all it’s guises, we have seen no financial investment to the town centre, no youth services and despite all the lip service and fanfare, still no mobile bank. So the petitioner is “disgusted” that their MS does not pander to their falsehoods as presented in this petition. Perhaps the reason why Jack Sargeant offers no help in this regard is that the MAJORITY of people in Wales welcome the 20MPH limit due to its associated benefits. An independent survey was also completed for the entire UK which saw approx 80% of people in favour of 20MPH limits replacing 30MPH.
A poll was conducted in the Facebook group over the first 3 days after the scheme went live. The results were 70% of respondents were in favour of returning the 30mph speed limit to the main access roads in and out of Buckley and the surrounding areas, such as Mold Road, Liverpool Road, Church Road and Bannel Lane and keeping the 20mph limit only outside schools and in heavily built up residential estates such as St. Matthew’s Park. 10% of people want the 20mph to stay outside schools only and almost 20% of people wanted to scrap the scheme entirely. Just two people, in a town of 21,000, were in favour of the scheme as it stands. The facebook group is setup for people against the reduction of speed limits, therefore any poll setup there is by default invalid and non representative.
Calling it a “pilot scheme” is truly insulting when the government has said “20mph is a legislative change across the nation” coming into force 2023. A Pilot is done as an experiment or test, evaluating the results before making plans to implement more widely. Which is precisely what the Welsh government are doing in their pilot scheme!!!!
They made plans to implement it nationwide before the pilot was even in place. Petitioner states earlier they were not made aware of the pilot, now states otherwise?
UPDATE 16/07/2022
A new petition has been made, again flawed. Details highlighted in red below:
Hold a public poll on the reduction of the default speed limit BEFORE it comes in to force
I think that the Welsh Government must hold a public poll on this change as it will affect everyone! There is no proven evidence that it will save lives or reduce pollution. Incorrect, there is an abundance of scientific data and evidence WORLDWIDE showing that a 20MPH limit decreased the likelihood of fatal accidents and decreased pollution and particle emissions. There is evidence to support it increasing the amount of emissions being put into the air as cars are not designed to be driven at this speed! Again, there is scientific evidence worldwide showing this element of the petition (as other elements) are incorrect. Motorists are always being targeted and it’s about time pedestrians are hit with some accountability! People in Wales are living in a democracy, hold a public poll on this proposal
They have already surveyed a large group on this and the majority voted against it! Unsure what poll the petitioner refers to, however, other polls show that nearly 80% of people are in favour of the new lower limits.
Their only evidence is theory and hearsay. Again incorrect, there is an abundance of scientific studies and evidence worldwide. They have absolutely no proof to support their claims that 20mph will save lives. Again incorrect, the proof comes from basic physics and data sets. Research worldwide has shown that the lower limit saves lives. What it will do is force cars to stop start more and ultimately build up emissions in a concentrated area. Again incorrect, research has shown otherwise, 20 is steady whilst 30 causes more acceleration and braking. I can only imagine we are in agreement that you can only imagine, given the fact that you have ignored all facts and scientific research and just imagined some opinions to be fact! they based this false evidence on their motorway report on reducing to 50mph – IT DOES NOT WORK!!!!!
The Welsh Government should be doing more to educate pedestrians to cross only at designated crossings and put up barriers along the edge pavements to prevent them from walking out into the road anywhere they want!
Us motorists are getting more and more frustrated at being easy prey. As for cyclists, with this rule in place they will be riding faster than cars. I have seen this already in the trial areas.
Give us a say on this immediately!
So yet another petition that attempts to pass off fiction or flawed opinion as fact! Nothing in this or the earlier petition provides any valid reason to not be in favour of the new lower restriction.
TLDR: Petition against 20MPH speed limit in Wales has no facts, only opinions which are passed off as being facts. The petition also contains many inaccuracies as well as several inaccurate claims. TLDRDR: Petition against 20MPH speed limit has no valid reason as to why they are against a reduced speed limit. TLDRDRDR: Blanket 20MPH in Wales soon.
Learners, staff and dignitaries have celebrated the official opening of a Welsh-medium primary school in north Powys – almost two years after opening its doors for the first time.
The official opening of Ysgol Cwm Banwy was held earlier this month (Wednesday, 6 July), which saw learners perform their show ‘Deryn’ which they had written and prepared themselves. Dr Caroline Turner, Powys County Council’s Chief Executive, also spoke at the official opening on behalf of the council.
As part of the official opening, a new garden on the school site was also officially opened. The garden was created in memory of Richard Tudor, former Chair of Governors at Banw Community Primary School who died tragically in 2020.
The Welsh-medium Church in Wales school opened in September 2020 but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it was not possible to hold an opening event until recently.
The school was established following the Banw Community Primary School and Llanerfyl Church in Wales Foundation School and is located on the former Banw school site.
Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “I was delighted to be present at the official opening of Ysgol Cwm Banwy. It was a particular pleasure to watch the performance of ‘Deryn’, it was a fantastic show and the pupils and staff should be extremely proud with their efforts.
“The official opening is an important milestone for any new school, so it was important that Ysgol Cwm Banwy held their ceremony, which brought everyone in the school community together to celebrate.”
Visitors to next week’s Royal Welsh Show are being advised to take care in the heat after the Met Office issued a weather warning.
An Amber Warning is in place for extreme heat covering part of Powys from Sunday 17 July through to at least to Tuesday 19 July where temperatures could reach 32C.
Now the Builth Wells Event Safety Group are urging visitors to the Royal Welsh Show to take care in the heat by following these tips:
Drink plenty of water and avoid excess alcohol
Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm
Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen regularly and wear a wide-brimmed hat
The safety group are also warning visitors not to try cooling off in nearby rivers as this could be dangerous and fatal.
The group, which was formed in 2017 and led by Powys County Council, is responsible for reducing public risk and improve the safety of those in and around Builth Wells during the period of Royal Welsh Show.
Cllr Richard Church, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “The main health risks posed by extreme heat are dehydration so it is important that visitors do everything that they can to take care in the heat.
“If visitors follow our tips, it will help the to take care in the sun but they will also be able to enjoy their time at the Royal Welsh Show safely.
“It’s also important that visitors avoid the temptation of cooling down in nearby rivers, this could endanger lives and could be fatal.”
Children across Powys can look forward to another ‘Summer of Fun’, thanks to Welsh Government funding.
The scheme provides a range of play, sporting and cultural activities for children and young people aged 0-25 over the summer holidays.
Activities, run by third-sector organisations will take place across the county from 7 July to 30 September 2022.
The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “Providing support for children and young people across Wales is a priority for this government. I am thrilled we are able to build on the success of last year’s Summer of Fun and the Winter of Wellbeing by providing a wider range of play, sporting and cultural activities. I want to make sure all children and young people in Wales have an opportunity to play freely, to have new experiences and to enjoy their summer.”
Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Generations, Cllr Susan McNicholas adds: “We are delighted that children and young people across Powys have the opportunity to benefit from summer activity sessions again this year.
We would really encourage parents to find out what’s on in their local area, as children and young people could benefit from fun activities such as arts and crafts, sports, outdoor pursuits, theatre and dance and much more.”
A new playground on Pendre Field next to Priory Church in Wales school in Brecon is now open and being enjoyed by local children and families. Welsh Government Flying Start and Brecon Town Council funding was secured to support the project.
The playground has an enclosed area for 0-4 year olds, with inclusive equipment to enable children to develop their physical skills and creativity. This area will also act as an extended outdoor space for the new Flying Start setting that is due to open later this year.
The new Flying Start setting will border Pendre Field on the Priory Church in Wales school site. The new modular building also funded by Welsh Government Flying Start will provide high quality, funded Flying Start childcare for two-year-olds and will also be used to run parenting groups and training. In addition, there will be space for 3 and 4 year olds to access Foundation Phase and Childcare Offer provision.
Construction of the new Flying Start modular building on the Priory Church in Wales School site has recently been delayed due to unforeseen issues regarding underground utility services. Excavation work has had to pause whilst utility service providers re-route the services. The new building is scheduled to open for children and families in the autumn term.
The new setting called Enfys Fach Nursery will also have a small multi agency office and a contact room where professionals such as Health Visitors and Speech and Language Therapists can meet families.
Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “I am thrilled Welsh Government funding has been able to provide such a fantastic outdoor space for children in Brecon. Being able to play is an essential part of growing up and helping young people socialise with friends, let off steam and be creative.
“We are committed to enhancing provision across Wales and this playground is an example of what we want to achieve. I look forward to seeing how this Flying Start setting progresses.”
Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Chair of Priory Pre-School Trustees, Cllr Matthew Dorrance says: “It’s great to see children playing and making the most of the new park – it’s been really busy and well used. The park is phase one of the new Flying Start setting project and will be a fantastic additional outdoor space for our future Flying Start and Foundation phase children.
“The new Flying Start centre is an exciting development and we are working to resolve the delay in groundworks so that children and families can get the full benefits of the significant investment.”
The new zip wire for children aged over five was funded by Brecon Town Council and has proved very popular with young and also the not so young!
Cllr David Meredith, Mayor of Brecon Town Council said: “Brecon Town Council is pleased to have been able to support the new Flying Start project by working with Powys County Council to provide an additional piece of equipment for this exciting new facility. A zip line has been included in the park development thanks to Brecon Town Council’s funding and we very much hope that this will provide an enjoyable and fun element for the park users.”
