13 July 2022

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.”  

Find out about activities in your area visit – https://en.powys.gov.uk/holidayactivities

13 July 2022

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.”

11 July 2022

Powys County Council looks forward to welcoming visitors at its building at the 2022 Royal Welsh Show.

The Council has a wide variety of information and stalls across the four-day event (18-21 July) in Llanelwedd.

Visitors can find out more about becoming a foster carer, support the climate agenda with advice and information about recycling, pick up tourist information, and hear more about exciting plans for the area with Growing Mid Wales.

The Council will also be showing it’s support to the White Ribbon Campaign. As well as information about supporting vulnerable children in the county.

In addition, partner organisation will be in attendance including Ceredigion County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Canal and Rivers Trust, Severn Valley Wye Energy and PACE.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Leader of Powys County Council, said: “We are delighted to see the return of the event in our county and we extend a warm welcome to all those attending.”

Powys County Council will be located in Tŵr Brycheiniog on Avenue E, next to the main ring.

11 July 2022

Cartons, often referred to as TetraPaks, can now be recycled through your weekly recycling collections by adding them to your red recycling box.

“Although it has been possible to recycle food and drink cartons at the Household Waste Recycling Centres for a while, we know it isn’t always practical for everyone to use the facilities for these every-day items.” Explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys.

“Following your requests and feedback, we have been working hard behind the scenes to find a feasible way to include these cartons within the weekly recycling collections and are now delighted to be able to add them to the list of items which can now be recycled in your red box.”

The types of cartons we can now accept in the kerbside red recycling boxes are drink cartons such as juices, smoothies and milk, and food cartons, such as soup, tomatoes and pulses. Just give them a quick rinse, squash, and add to your red recycling box.

After your recycling has been collected and delivered to the county’s waste transfer station, the cartons are separated from the plastics and cans and baled together. These bales are then collected by the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK, who process them at their dedicated reprocessing facility.

Commenting on the council’s decision, Richard Hands, Chief Executive of ACE UK said. “It is great news that Powys County Council has decided to send the cartons they collect to our dedicated recycling facility. As well as having a low carbon footprint, the high-quality wood fibres found in food and drink cartons can be recycled up to six times, making them a valuable raw material for new paper products.”

Cllr Charlton added: “Powys households have already proven to be dedicated recyclers, and we know you are keen for us to develop ways to help increase recycling opportunities wherever possible. The introduction of cartons to the red box will help us keep up the county’s recycling momentum to meet the next Welsh Government target to recycle, reuse or compost 70% of our waste by 2025.”

As a reminder, in the red boxes we can now collect:

• Clean and empty plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays
• Clean and empty tins, cans, kitchen and bathroom aerosols, foil and metal lids
• Clean and empty food and drink cartons

8 July 2022

A Head of Service at Powys County Council is set to leave the authority for a new post in West-Wales, the council has confirmed.

Jan Coles, Head of Children’s Services will leave the council to take up a similar role at Carmarthenshire County Council later this summer.

Jan joined Powys County Council in October in 2018 and led the improvement journey for the service following the Care Inspectorate Wales report the previous year. Improvements focused on Early Help services for families, a strengths-based approach and children’s rights.

Jan drew on her previous role as operational Manager for Cardiff Council, where she was responsible for developing Child Sexual Exploitation prevention services.

Chief Executive, Dr Caroline Turner said: “We wish Jan well for the future, she has a wealth of experience having worked as a Children’s Services Social Worker for the last 20 years and will be missed by colleagues.”

8 July 2022

Three key visitor locations in Powys are set for boost after the county council secured Welsh Government funding to carry out improvement works.

Powys County Council has been successful in securing £210,400 from the Welsh Government’s Brilliant Basic scheme for its Powys Visitor Experience Project, which will see a total of £268,000 spent improving the visitor welcome in Powys.

The project focuses on key visitor locations in Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Lake Vyrnwy. The council has recently completed visitor experience development plans to assess the impact of existing infrastructure on the current visitor offer and wider experience.

The improvements will enable visitors to orientate themselves more effectively when they arrive at location and locate and access key visitor assets more easily. The project will enable improved visitor management and increased enjoyment and visitor satisfaction at these key visitor locations.

The council has worked close with key partners in developing the project including Brecon Buzz, Brecon Town Council, Hafren Dyfrdwy and RSPB Lake Vyrnwy.

Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “I’m delighted that we have received this important funding from the Welsh Government.

“We understand that local tourism amenities are vital to someone’s overall experience whether on a day trip or on holiday.  They are an important element of our local economy and vital both for visitors and residents.

“Improving the infrastructure at these locations will further enhance visitor’s experience and enjoyment and this could see them return to Powys for future day trips or holidays.

“I would also like to thank our partners whose support and match funding will help deliver the Powys Visitor Experience Project.”

Brecon Town Centre Visitor Experience Scheme – £48,000

This scheme will see new town maps, pedestrian finger posts, heritage plaques, updated signage, welcome banners, QR codes for circular walks around town and from the town centre into surrounding countryside.

Llandrindod Wells Visitor Experience Scheme – £125,000

This scheme will focus on the visitor experience around the Lake and Boathouse and will include opening up a slipway access point near the boathouse for water activity access, a new oak shelter/seating area, resurfacing the area around the boathouse to improve disabled access, and create a beachside area and wildlife viewpoint.

A new disabled access footbridge will also be installed in the nearby Rock Park.

Lake Vyrnwy Visitor Experience Scheme – £95,000

This scheme will see car park improvements at Old Village and Rhiwagor, installation of picnic benches and cycle racks, Lakeside bird hide access improvement and interpretation, walking route improvements to two trails to enhance access, upgrading of Llechwedd-du picnic area as well as the restoration of iconic metal railings around the lake.

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “We’re very aware of the important part that local tourism amenities have on someone’s overall experience when on a day trip or on holiday. These facilities often go unnoticed, but they are an important part of people’s experiences when they visit Wales, while also benefit those who live in the area.

“The £2.9 million in new funding will go to projects which will help us make our destinations more accessible and more sustainable, and to grow tourism for the good of Wales.”