Latest news with #PowysCouncil
Business News Wales
4 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Funding Confirmed for Welsh Transport Schemes
Transport schemes in Wales are among those set to benefit from a share of £301 million in UK Government funding. The announcement confirms funding for Neath Port Talbot Council and Powys Council, including £12 million to reopen Newbridge Bridge and build shared pedestrian and cycle track alongside the carriageway. The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves allocated the cash during last month's Spending Review. She said: 'We are investing in Britain's renewal, in what matters to you in the places that you live. This latest confirmation will further unlock economic power by delivering the infrastructure needed to grow the economy. 'This £301 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about – economic growth which connects people to opportunity, creating construction jobs and making it easier to get about.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'This investment is a step toward building a transport system that serves every corner of England and Wales, especially in areas that have been overlooked for far too long. 'This isn't just about faster journeys – it's about unlocking growth, creating new jobs, and laying the groundwork for a more connected country.'
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Powys parking charges will 'kill the town' says councillor
Welshpool Town Council has criticised new car parking charges being introduced to Powys, with one member saying it will 'kill the town'. At a full council meeting on July 23, Welshpool councillors raised issues they had with planned car parking charges being introduced to the town as part of changes following Powys Council's car parking review. Cllr Sally Fitzgerald said: 'This has upset an awful lot of people. It's going to kill the town. Local business owners are really worried about charges going up. 'There's not enough footfall in town as it is and this would be detrimental to the town as residents would rather go somewhere like Oswestry other than Welshpool. I really don't understand why Powys are doing this because it's not good." Welshpool mayor Cllr Phil Owen added: 'How in the name of all that's reasonable can Powys apply blanket parking charges to an area the size of this with a sparsely populated area with a lot of rural inhabitants coming into town without adequate transport. 'We're diverse in terms of people's income, their daily usage of the car park and their basic transport facilities. How are we the same as someone in an area with an entirely different economy to ours. It's insane.' Councillors also considered the issue a problem in tackling illegal parking, driving footfall to the town and inconveniencing people who work and volunteer in Welshpool on a regular basis. 'Powys Council are out for every penny they can get with car parks' said Cllr Alison Davies. 'Look at the 10k event. Last year it was a real problem as they couldn't get everyone to pay because the machines were so slow. 'It's a real problem on the town and on everyone who's employed but also look at volunteers in charity shops, which we have plenty of. Consider the cost for transport and cost of parking for someone doing that.' Cllr David France also criticised the charges in addition to changes to parking for Blue Badge holders, who will also need to purchase a pay and display ticket in council car parks. He said: 'We'd all like car parks to be free, while we know money has to come from somewhere, another part that bothers me is the council now asking for disabled people to pay for parking. 'I understand that money will have to come from somewhere but don't make it off the backs of disabled and vulnerable people.'
Powys County Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Schools 'deeply concerned' with Powys sixth form plans
Two major schools in Powys have said they are 'deeply concerned' with council plans to close English medium sixth forms in the county. The governing bodies of Ysgol Llanfyllin and Welshpool High School have released a joint statement saying both schools 'neither the interests of our learners or our communities' will benefit from one of the proposed plans regarding the future of Powys sixth forms. Powys Council is undertaking a review of post-16 education in Powys under which one option would be to close all English-medium sixth forms in the county and replace them with two new large-scale colleges in Newtown and Brecon. Governors of the Welshpool and Llanfyllin schools, which make up 29 percent of Powys sixth form pupils, have requested that stakeholders challenge 'both the methodology and outcomes' of the review. The joint statement said: 'Both governing bodies are aware and fully support the review of post-16 education in Powys; however, for the review to have such a considered outcome and openly declared preferred option, before directly considering the needs of learners and communities in North Powys, is very much placing the cart before the horse. 'Both governing bodies feel unable to support the preferred option and encourage other north Powys stakeholders to consider a similar approach. 'Beyond simply leaving Welsh Medium provision to one of the smallest providers, there is no coherent plan to address the key reasons for the lack of a broad Welsh Medium, post-16 curriculum in north Powys. 'The plan makes no consideration of the ease of access and close proximity of several well established and stable post-16 providers, which are available to northern Powys pupils a short distance across the border. 'No consideration has been given to the risk of an increased migration of north Powys pupils across the border, which could reduce the size of Powys 6th Form by as much as a third. 'No consideration has been given to how a decline in pupil numbers—caused by post-16 students choosing to attend provision in Newtown or across the border—might affect the viability of existing schools in north Powys.' The statement also called for better engagement with the schools before any decision is made, asking the Council to engage 'in a meaningful way' with schools, their senior leaders and governing bodies. Ysgol Llanfyllin's Chair of Governers added: 'A 'town hall meeting', arranged after declaring a preferred option, is neither a credible nor meaningful consultation with key stakeholders.'
Powys County Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Council has 'no current plans' to close Powys leisure centre
Powys Council has said it 'currently has no plans' to close leisure provision in Machynlleth in response to outcry from the town council and residents. A survey answered by over 600 local residents last week showed 'overwhelming' support to keep the centre open, and the county council has now said it has no plans to close it. Bro Dyfi Leisure Centre has been at the centre of local concerns since November 2024 when it was revealed that leisure centres in smaller towns could close or be transferred to the community or businesses. But Powys County Council has now said there are 'currently no plans' to close the centre in Machynlleth. A spokesperson said: 'The leisure review now forms part of the council's Sustainable Powys work and is closely aligned with our Transforming Education and Social Services Transformation programmes to ensure that we provide sustainable services across the county. 'We can confirm that there are currently no plans to close leisure provision in Machynlleth.' A petition launched in November 2024 demanding the leisure centre remain open was signed by over 1,800 people in a week. Last week Machynlleth Town Council shared the results of a survey inviting people to discuss the centre, with the council hailing an 'overwhelming response' which saw 'the vast majority' of people say the facility is essential to the town. A spokesperson for the council said: 'It's hard to express the depth of concern in the Machynlleth area about the risk that Powys will close our leisure centre. 'The vast majority of people feel that it is essential and contributes an enormous amount to the health and wellbeing of the community. Powys have said that there will be a consultation but we have not been given dates or details. 'Powys County Council now say that they want to work more on 'preventative health'. This is completely at odds with their current closure plans, as a well used leisure centre is a key element in preventative health.'
Powys County Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Powys building could become three flats as plans approved
An application to create a number of flats in a building on a street near the centre of Welshpool has been approved by Powys Council. Planning permission for a project regarding a building on Church Street, Welshpool, has been granted as the plans involve renovating two existing flats within the building as well as creating one new apartment. The plans would separate the first and second floors of the building, demolish a rear extension and make internal alterations to create the extra apartment, outlined in plans that were submitted to the council in November 2024 and were approved on July 1. A planning statement, prepared by Hughes Architects on behalf of client Glenn Rowles, said: 'The proposals aim to convert the existing first and second floors into 3 residential units, with small facilitating works to the ground floor in order to create a new access stair. 'The proposals aim to utilise all of the existing openings, and therefore the alterations to the elevations will be minimal and limited to minor repair work where required. 'The proposal aims to retain as much of the original fabric as possible and all the works will be contained within the existing footprint of the property. As mentioned above, alterations to the front will be minimal, to the rear, a small existing extension will be removed in order to facilitate the creation of a new access, however, this extension is a later addition and therefore the impact on significant fabric will be minimal. 'This will also allow for the new access to be created within the existing footprint of the building, rather than creating a 'bolt on' structure like has been done previously, which will not detract from the existing elevation. 'Although the property is overall in good condition, the layout will need partitioning to divide the space into 3no residential units, and the existing fabric will need to be upgraded in order to meet modern needs as well as achieve Building Regulation compliance.' The building is Grade II listed and located within the Welshpool Conservation Area, but Powys County Council's Built Heritage Officer commented on the proposal. In the delegated report the officer said: 'A site visit has been made. It is considered the property would benefit from the works proposed, the present layout being somewhat disjointed.'
