Latest news with #Section106
Business News Wales
5 hours ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Deadline Approaching For Mission Green Funding In Prestatyn
Pictured (centre) Heather Glen of Castle Green Homes with young volunteer Alfie and Paul Marshall (3) Good causes in Prestatyn and the surrounding area are being urged to apply for a share of a £5,000 fund before it's too late. Projects with an emphasis on sustainability, the environment, health and wellbeing are invited to make a funding request under Mission Green Prestatyn. It's a voluntary scheme offered by Castle Green Homes linked to its Sŵn y Môr development on Gronant Road. Sales director Sian Pitt explained: 'The concept of Mission Green is simple – we want to celebrate and support those people and organisations in and around Prestatyn who are working hard to look after the environment or residents' wellbeing. We've already received applications from both existing projects and those looking to start something new, but as we want to share the funding as widely as practical, we're open to more suggestions as to how the funding would be used. It could be new tools for a community garden, help setting up a forest school project or training for counsellors amongst many other things. The application process is simple, with a short form to complete online before midnight on July 8. We'll then review the entries and decide how to share the £5,000.' The Mission Green funding is in addition to the community investment Castle Green will make under a Section 106 agreement signed during the planning process. Applications forms are available via here and should be completed online. Under Mission Green, Castle Green wants to help a variety of projects and so will make a series of grants rather than allocating the full fund to one cause.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Plan to turn bathroom showroom into new homes turned down
Plan to turn bathroom showroom into new homes turned down Hugh Davies sought to convert office space at Cardigan Bathroom Centre, Riverside Showrooms, in Cardigan, to residential accommodation with a ground floor office space extension Ceredigion Council offices in Aberaeron (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A bid to turn disused office space in a Welsh town into homes has been turned down, with flood risk a key concern. Hugh Davies made the proposal to Ceredigion County Council via agent Bell Designs for repurposing the surplus office area at Cardigan Bathroom Centre on The Strand into residential space and to add an office extension on the ground floor. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . In his statement, Mr Davies explained: "We moved into Cardigan Bathrooms Centre back in 2008 and originally the area above the main showroom was to be used for light storage. "This proved completely impractical as due to the fact that it was on a first floor and that carrying stock up and down the stairs was a health and safety nightmare." He continued: "Since that time we have built and are now using a large storeroom adjacent to the showroom and we have the small items stocked on the ground floor of the main building." Additionally, he revealed attempts to lease out the space: "We have tried unsuccessfully to rent out as office space, but we have been unsuccessful, we surmise due to the large availability within Cardigan town. Article continues below "For that reason we feel that it is far better to convert the area to residential use." However, the proposal was rejected according to a council officer's report which acknowledged the reasoning behind the change of use but highlighted several failure points in the plan. The report highlighted that the affordable housing policy requires a 10 per cent open market value commuted sum through a Section 106 legal agreement, noting: "The applicant has not agreed to enter into a Section 106 agreement to contribute towards affordable housing and the proposal does not comply [with policy]." Furthermore, it mentioned that while Natural Resources Wales had no objections to the residential unit being on the first floor, the development is still considered highly vulnerable in a flood zone. "Consequently, while NRW has raised no objection specifically relating to the first-floor residential unit, the Local Authority must consider the wider flood risk implications for the entire building. "This assessment is made in accordance with TAN 15 and local flood risk policies, with particular regard to the acceptability of highly vulnerable development within Flood Zone 3. Article continues below "Therefore, the LPA does not deem this highly vulnerable development acceptable given the flooding risks." The refusal of the application was based on several grounds, including its classification as a highly vulnerable development in a Flood Zone, the lack of a contribution to affordable housing, and the absence of essential ecological information such as a Pollution Prevention Plan and a Lighting Plan.
South Wales Argus
22-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire Council greenlights new building projects
Among the recently approved applications are plans to convert a milking parlour and Nissen barn into a home and the extension of an annexe. Milking parlour into home Plans to turn a former milking parlour and Nissen barn into a home at Upper Cae Garw Farm in Trellech were approved on June 9. Annexe extension The extension of an annexe at Rhewl Cottage, Shirenewton will also go ahead after approval given on June 10. Refurbishment and creation of sports changing facilities A project to refurbish and create new sports changing facilities at Rogiet Hub has also been approved on June 11. Removal of modern stud wall Graig House in Cross Ash has received the go-ahead for the reinstatement of a doorway and the removal of a modern stud wall on June 9. Roof extension In Llanellen, the rear extension roof at 16 Ashgrove will be raised following approval on June 6. Garden room A garden room will be built at Crick Farm in Penallt with approval given on June 9. Replacement garage and utility room A replacement garage and utility room, as well as a new oak frame garage, will be constructed at The Knoll in Usk after approval on June 6. Tree felling A tree felling project at Castle Vale in Usk and works to cherry trees and hawthorn at The Vicarage in Raglan have both been approved on June 9. Single dwelling A plan for a single dwelling at St Christopher's House in Chepstow has been given the nod, subject to a Section 106 agreement, on June 11. Detached four bed dwelling Similarly, an outline plan for a detached four-bed dwelling at Kamdoh in Raglan has been approved, also subject to a Section 106 agreement, on June 11. Specsavers signage Other approvals include a timber fascia and projecting sign for Specsavers in Abergavenny, on June 11. Demolition and construction of a garage The demolition and construction of a garage at Mount Pleasant House in Magor was approved on June 5. Signage However, one application for a fascia sign and window lettering at 7 High Street in Chepstow was withdrawn on June 5. All these projects were determined in early June 2025. Each will bring about changes in their respective locations, contributing to the continuous development of the county.
South Wales Argus
22-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Future of Penhow village shop and café hangs in the balance
Penhow Community Council, which held a meeting on June 4 to discuss a variety of local matters, heard how residents are raising concerns over the planned sale and potential change of use of the Market Road business. In the meeting, it was reported inboxes have been inundated with worried residents. City councillor Will Routley advised residents to contact him directly so he can present their concerns to the appropriate authorities, given their relevance to planning matters. In the meantime, it was announced that discussions are ongoing with the council regarding the future of the premises. Elsewhere during the meeting, a new councillor was welcomed to the parish. Lewis Morgan was formally co-opted as a councillor after expressing an interest in the position, as he signed his acceptance of office. Concerns regarding road conditions were also discussed, as city councillor Routley gave the results of a structural survey carried out on the roads. While the survey did not identify any urgent issues, it did highlight necessary hedge trimming and repainting of the white lines. While councillor Routley said he would be challenging these findings, the meeting also heard that the chairman was "pursuing works" via the Section 106 list. Preparations for the upcoming family fun day taking place on June 7 were finalised, as the council agreed on measures to reimburse some of the event-related expenses, as well as the purchase of new high-visibility vests branded with the council's name. The council has also confirmed plans for the Severn Silver Tunnel Band to be booked for carol singing taking place on December 11. A summary of the May 2025 bank reconciliation was given, which included payments ranging from event-related costs to insurance, training, and statutory payments. A £250 donation to Chepstow Town Band and a gift of flowers to a community volunteer were also authorised. The internal audit for the financial year ending March 31, 2025, was completed with no issues raised. The council also celebrated the success of its green initiatives, which have seen an 85 per cent uptake of hedge saplings and blooming wildflower turf through the Keep Wales Tidy grant. Moving forward, Councillor Pedder is drafting a dedicated green space policy, and the council has approved the purchase of a second dog-waste bag dispenser. Looking ahead, the next community council meeting is scheduled at St John's Hall for July 2 at 7.15pm.
Otago Daily Times
21-06-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Nurse cons cash from colleagues, jets off to Taylor Swift
- By Belinda Feek, Open Justice multimedia journalist A nurse who took more than $100,000 from three sympathetic colleagues after claiming her mother had died and her dad was sick spent the money on gambling and trips overseas. She even attended a Taylor Swift concert in Sydney and a Yankees game and Justin Timberlake concert in New York. Angelina Nicole Therese Avisado Reyes, a nurse at Waikato District Health Board at the time, was so persistent with one victim that he ended up transferring $107,000 to her over six months. That victim cashed in investments, withdrew savings and handed over part of his inheritance from a dead grandparent, after Reyes claimed she had tried to commit suicide because she was so stressed. Reyes, who no longer works at the DHB, eventually confessed and told him she'd lost $18,000 of his money gambling. The 33-year-old appeared in the Hamilton District Court recently, where she pleaded guilty to three charges of obtaining by deception, one of which was representative, after taking $112,000 from her colleagues. Her counsel, Raewyn Sporle, asked Judge Noel Cocurullo not to enter convictions as she would be applying for a Section 106 discharge without conviction at her sentencing in October. 'Can't afford a burial plot' for purportedly dead mother Reyes, who is now on bail, unsuccessfully challenged a media request for a copy of court documents detailing her offending. A judge granted NZME permission to have them. According to those documents, the first victim was made aware by her manager in early December 2023 that Reyes' mother in the Philippines was sick and in hospital. In March 2024, she was told Reyes' mother had died. When she later saw Reyes and noticed she was crying they spoke. Later that morning, the victim got a message from Reyes saying her mother had died, she had no money, and couldn't afford a burial plot in the Philippines for her. After speaking to her husband, the victim agreed to transfer $2000 to Reyes. Around the end of the month, the second victim saw Reyes and noticed she seemed distracted, was always on her phone, and asked if she was all right. Reyes said her mother in the Philippines was sick. Over the next couple of weeks, Reyes said her mother had a heart attack, was hospitalised, then discharged, then later readmitted, and then died. Another time, she said her father had been hospitalised with a 'brain problem' and that it was 'very serious'. On April 11, the victim got a Facebook message from Reyes saying she was back home, her father was in hospital, and asking if she could borrow some money and that she would pay her back on payday. When asked how much she needed, Reyes said $3000. 'Tell your parents you've been scammed' In January 2024, Reyes told the third victim her mother was in hospital and needed $10,000 for the cost of heart surgery. She contacted him a week later saying her mother had a heart attack and she needed the money 'immediately', but it was now going to cost $90,000 for the surgery and hospital expenses. She asked for $35,000. At the time, the victim didn't have the money directly, so he cashed in some investments and withdrew some savings totalling $36,000. Reyes promised to pay him back by the end of the year. On February 11, she advised her boss that her mother had died during surgery and told several other colleagues over the following days. Immigration records revealed Reyes flew to Sydney overnight on February 23 to attend a Taylor Swift concert. During this time, she'd also falsely claimed two weeks of bereavement leave. On March 9, Reyes contacted the victim again, saying she needed $1000 that day to pay the funeral director to have her mother's body released, but said she needed it in e-vouchers, due to sending it to the Philippines. She was back in touch again on May 6, saying her father now needed surgery and required $6000. The victim was only able to transfer $1000. The victim inherited more than $60,000 from a deceased grandparent on May 10, and told Reyes he could loan her more money if required. She asked for $40,000, which they agreed to transfer. Three days later, Reyes asked for another $10,000 to travel home to see her sick father. In July, she contacted the victim again, saying she was in the Philippines and had been hospitalised after trying to commit suicide and had incurred a debt of $30,000. The victim didn't have that much and instead transferred her $600 and gave her a $400 pay safe card. He then cashed up more investments as he wanted to help her and put $18,000 in her account. However, Immigration records showed she was in New York between June 16 and July 14 last year, and attended a Yankees baseball game and a Justin Timberlake concert. On July 23, she called the victim and told him she owed lawyers $100,000 and if she didn't pay it, her father would go to jail. She also claimed to be suicidal again. The victim said he didn't have any money, but Reyes told him to tell his parents he had been scammed out of the money. However, he declined to do that. The next day, she video-called the victim and said she had flights booked back to New Zealand but couldn't leave the country until she paid the $100,000. She later told him she had lied about owing the $100,000, and had lost $18,000 gambling. 'Mum and Dad are alive and well' Reyes siphoned $107,200 from that victim alone due to the stories she had told him. When questioned by police, Reyes said she had a 'big gambling problem'. She also admitted lying about her mother's death, that her father was sick, and that she had attempted suicide so the victim would give her money. Reyes also confirmed that her mother and father were 'alive and well' in the Philippines.
