Latest news with #Welshpool
BBC News
6 days ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Plan to build 32-house estate on 450-space car park in Welshpool
A 450-space car park could be turned into an affordable housing under county council homes would be built on the Berriew Street car park in Welshpool, Powys, leaving 56 parking spaces, if the development goes Dorrance, deputy leader of Powys County Council and the cabinet member for housing, said the local authority had set a target of 350 social homes for rent by 2031 but land for development was in "short supply".When questioned about legality of transferring the land between council departments, head of housing services Andy Thompson said the move met legal requirements. Dorrance, of Labour, told the economy, residents and community scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday there was a high demand for social housing in Welshpool.A report found 414 households on the housing register placed Welshpool as their first are 33 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in the town, with an average of 370 days before they are cost of transferring the car park from the council's highways, transport and recycling department to housing was £280,000 while the market value would be £525, Democrat councillor Corinna Kenyon-Wade queried how the figures were reply, Mr Thompson explained they were based on how much developing houses to be sold at market value would be worth, and the difference in building homes for social councillor Peter Lewington said he wanted a more "balanced picture" to be reported so that the loss of car parking spaces on town centre businesses could be analysed.A meeting of the cabinet will consider the plan on Tuesday. This article was written by a trusted journalist and then edited for length and style with the help of AI, before being checked again by a BBC Journalist. It's part of a pilot.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Welsh bobsleigh duo target Winter Olympics history
Welsh bobsleigh hopefuls Adele Nicoll and Kya Placide have their sights firmly set on the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be staged in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from 6 to 22 February. Nicoll, 28, from Welshpool, and Placide, 20, from Cardiff, are relative newcomers to the sport but have already made an impression on the Team GB setup. Advertisement Placide's bobsleigh journey began by chance in May 2023 while training on an athletics track. "An athlete who was already involved suggested I'd be good at it because I looked powerful and fast," she says. "I only really knew about bobsleigh from Cool Runnings, I didn't even realise Great Britain had a team. After attending testing days in Bath, before I knew it, I was on the ice for my first season." The pair recently attended a Team GB media day in Edinburgh as part of their preparations. "We're here at the Team GB Winter Olympics summit event," says Nicoll. "It's really helping us get into the spirit and mindset for the Games." Advertisement Both athletes have transitioned from other sports and credit their diverse sporting backgrounds for giving them an edge on the ice. "I'm the biggest advocate for athletics as a foundation for any sport," said Nicoll, who also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the shot put. "It's an individual sport, so you learn the discipline to turn up every day even when you're training alone. You also learn to deal with losses, which is huge." Placide, who has a background in both gymnastics and athletics, added: "The demands of gymnastics and athletics have really helped me excel in bobsleigh." Kya Placide and Adele Nicoll won gold in the women's bobsleigh at the Europa Cup in Switzerland in January 2024 [British Bobsleigh & Skeleton/Viesturs Lacis] Eyes on qualification To secure their spot in the two-person bobsleigh event in Italy, Nicoll and Placide must meet strict performance standards, compete on multiple tracks, and earn enough points to stay high in the world rankings. Advertisement With a crucial season ahead, Nicoll knows exactly what is at stake. "The World Cup this year will be huge for us, we're giving ourselves a fighting chance of being on the podium in every single race," she said. "I've improved massively with my driving over the last couple of years. I feel like I've really developed the ability to give myself feedback and make those fine adjustments that make the difference at this level." She insists the pair will do everything they can to achieve their Olympic dream. "We're leaving no stone unturned to put ourselves in that position," she added. "It's going to take a lot of hard work and 100% focus from everyone involved, but we believe in what we're doing." Advertisement Making history for Wales Both athletes have made no secret of their ambition to make history by achieving Britain's best-ever finish by a female bobsleigh team. For Nicoll, the pride in her roots is clear. "I can't describe how proud I am to come from such a small Welsh town," said the Welshpool native. "I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth but I had parents who were unwavering in their support. We didn't have the best of everything, but they made sure we did the best with what we had. "To go to the Olympic Games and represent Great Britain is amazing, but I'll also be representing Welshpool, my family, and everyone who's helped me along the way." Advertisement Placide has dreamed of the Olympics since she was a child even if bobsleigh was never on the radar back then. "I remember telling my mum, 'I'm going to the Olympics in gymnastics', she laughed. "Then that didn't happen, so when I moved to athletics, I said it again, 'I'm going to the Olympics in athletics'. And now here I am in bobsleigh, with a real chance of going to the Games. It's just mental when I think about it." With their determination and belief, the Welsh pair hope their journey will inspire others to chase their own dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Welsh bobsleigh duo target Winter Olympics history
Welsh bobsleigh hopefuls Adele Nicoll and Kya Placide have their sights firmly set on the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be staged in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from 6 to 22 28, from Welshpool, and Placide, 20, from Cardiff, are relative newcomers to the sport but have already made an impression on the Team GB bobsleigh journey began by chance in May 2023 while training on an athletics track. "An athlete who was already involved suggested I'd be good at it because I looked powerful and fast," she says. "I only really knew about bobsleigh from Cool Runnings, I didn't even realise Great Britain had a team. After attending testing days in Bath, before I knew it, I was on the ice for my first season." The pair recently attended a Team GB media day in Edinburgh as part of their preparations. "We're here at the Team GB Winter Olympics summit event," says Nicoll. "It's really helping us get into the spirit and mindset for the Games."Both athletes have transitioned from other sports and credit their diverse sporting backgrounds for giving them an edge on the ice."I'm the biggest advocate for athletics as a foundation for any sport," said Nicoll, who also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the shot put."It's an individual sport, so you learn the discipline to turn up every day even when you're training alone. You also learn to deal with losses, which is huge."Placide, who has a background in both gymnastics and athletics, added: "The demands of gymnastics and athletics have really helped me excel in bobsleigh." Eyes on qualification To secure their spot in the two-person bobsleigh event in Italy, Nicoll and Placide must meet strict performance standards, compete on multiple tracks, and earn enough points to stay high in the world a crucial season ahead, Nicoll knows exactly what is at stake. "The World Cup this year will be huge for us, we're giving ourselves a fighting chance of being on the podium in every single race," she said."I've improved massively with my driving over the last couple of years. I feel like I've really developed the ability to give myself feedback and make those fine adjustments that make the difference at this level."She insists the pair will do everything they can to achieve their Olympic dream. "We're leaving no stone unturned to put ourselves in that position," she added. "It's going to take a lot of hard work and 100% focus from everyone involved, but we believe in what we're doing." Making history for Wales Both athletes have made no secret of their ambition to make history by achieving Britain's best-ever finish by a female bobsleigh Nicoll, the pride in her roots is clear."I can't describe how proud I am to come from such a small Welsh town," said the Welshpool native. "I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth but I had parents who were unwavering in their support. We didn't have the best of everything, but they made sure we did the best with what we had."To go to the Olympic Games and represent Great Britain is amazing, but I'll also be representing Welshpool, my family, and everyone who's helped me along the way."Placide has dreamed of the Olympics since she was a child even if bobsleigh was never on the radar back then. "I remember telling my mum, 'I'm going to the Olympics in gymnastics', she laughed. "Then that didn't happen, so when I moved to athletics, I said it again, 'I'm going to the Olympics in athletics'. And now here I am in bobsleigh, with a real chance of going to the Games. It's just mental when I think about it."With their determination and belief, the Welsh pair hope their journey will inspire others to chase their own dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Teacher who 'swigged from alcohol-smelling drink as she swore at pupils and tried to get them to dance the Macarena' is struck off
A teacher who 'swigged' from a bottle containing an 'alcoholic-smelling drink' before swearing at pupils as she tried to get them to dance the Macarena has been struck off. Alice Ashton was 'smiley and happy' as she was 'swigging' from a bottle but then became 'agitated', swore, and made rude hand gestures, one teenager claimed. It was today found proven that she appeared under the influence and/or smelt of alcohol whilst at work. She was struck off the teaching register indefinitely but may reapply in two years. Giving evidence in person on the second day of a professional standards hearing the 16-year-old said Ashton drank orange liquid which smelled of alcohol throughout a personal and social education lesson. The normally quiet teacher at Ysgol Bro Caereinion in Welshpool played music from her laptop and was behaving out of character during the 'rave-like' lesson, the Education Workforce Council (EWC) Wales panel heard on Tuesday July 1. When the class became unsettled, Ashton shouted and swore at at least two pupils as well as telling the whole class they were 'little s***s', the remote hearing was told. The 16-year-old pupil, referred to only as Pupil H to protect her identity, told the panel how pupils discussed afterwards how odd the teacher's behaviour had been. She was later interviewed as part of an investigation by the school into the matter. The teenager said Ashton had taught her PSE numerous times before the lesson in January 2024 when she had behaved differently from usual. The pupil said Ashton's 'boring' PSE lessons followed content she was familiar with and included alcohol and drug awareness but not on that day. Sitting in the front row of the class Pupil H said she was near enough to smell alcohol, mixed with what appeared to be orange squash, contained in an Evian water bottle. The bottle was full at the start of the lesson and almost empty by the end, the pupil added. 'She was very, very close to us. There was a slight alcoholic smell,' they said. 'She was very, very lively and quite animated and speaking with her hands. In other lessons she was more reserved and quiet.' Pupil H continued: 'Alice Ashton had an Evian bottle with orange juice. I noticed she was regularly taking swigs from the bottle. Ashton faced the following allegations at the EWC hearing 1. On September 19, 2023, at Telford Magistrates' Court, was convicted of driving with an alcohol over the limit on August 19, 2023, and as a consequence was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 28 months. 2. On or around January 17, 2024, appeared under the influence and/or smelt of alcohol whilst at work. 3. On one or more dates in or around January 2024 acted in an inappropriate and/or unprofessional manner towards and/or in front of pupil(s), in that she: a) said 'f***' and/or 's***', or words to that effect; and/or b) told pupil(s) to 'suck it' and/or 'f*** off', or words to that effect; and/or c) called pupil(s) 'divvys' and/or 'little s***s', and/or 'little bitch', or words to that effect; and/or d) did not allow Pupil G and/or Pupil J to leave the classroom; and/or e) in response to Pupil G saying he would 'snitch', you said 'be my guest, while you go we will slag you off', and/or 'don't snitch', or words to that effect; and/or; f) put her middle finger up and/or made a 'V' sign with your fingers at Pupil G. 'I recall Alice Ashton asked the class to make the Macarena. She played music and we were not doing work.' The teenager described how Ashton 'kept jumping up from her desk' but became 'irritated' as the lesson went on. One pupil, referred to as Pupil J, wanted to put a certain song on but the teacher didn't want him to and when he played it on her laptop, the teacher 'swore and yelled at him'. Another pupil, Pupil G, was walking around the classroom 'annoying' people before Ashton told him to go out of the room but warned him 'not to snitch'. 'She began to swear at him. She put her middle finger two to three inches from his face and continued to swear at him,' Pupil H told the committee. The teacher then turned her annoyance on the class, she claimed. 'Alice Ashton swore at the whole class because we became rowdy.' Ashton was not present and not represented at the hearing and did not make any responses to the raft of allegations she faces, which means the allegations would usually be taken as denied. But she did email the EWC last summer saying she was no longer working as a teacher, was no longer in Wales, and had moved to England. Some of the responses Ashton had given to the school's inquiry were also detailed by EWC presenting officer Lewis Harrison. He said that Ashton had denied swearing or singing to the class when interviewed by the inquiry. CCTV footage of the class was also shown to the committee in private. Describing what the footage showed, Mr Harrison said it was totally at odds with Ashton's denials to the school's investigation. He said Ashton had claimed she played music at the end of the lesson only and may have sung along to it quietly but 'I would not have been singing to the class'. Mr Harrison said this was 'untenable' given the CCTV footage. 'It is totally untenable to suggest the music is being played as background music. The evidence is very clear that Miss Ashton did not remain at the front of the class. She invited pupils to dance,' he told the hearing. Mr Harrison also described in more detail how other pupils had described what happened during the class during the school's investigation. One child, Pupil A, said: 'She (Ashton) was slipping with swear words, talking a lot less formally, and having been so irresponsible it felt like a mini rave with loud music, shouting, and dancing.' Pupil A added that Ashton was 'acting crazy', her walking was wobbly, and she was 'not acting like a teacher'. Another said: 'She got us to dance the Macarena and she did not care about the lesson anymore... she got some students dancing to the laptop and speakers and it spiralled out of control.' Another pupil described how Ashton had told Pupil G to 'sit the f*** down'. At the start of the hearing the panel was told by the school investigator that the orange liquid Ashton had was tested for alcohol by the school. But she had not taken that into consideration because the school did not have an alcohol testing policy. Mr Harrison said evidence from pupils was clear that the liquid Ashton was drinking during the lesson that day smelled of alcohol and that she was presenting as being under the influence and acting out of character. The panel must decide whether any or all the allegations are proved and, if so, whether individually or collectively they amount to unacceptable profession. Ysgol Bro Caereinion, a bilingual, all age school, has more than 500 pupils aged four to 16. The school opened in September 2021 following the merger of Ysgol Gynradd Llanfair Caereinion and Ysgol Uwchradd Caereinion.
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Drunk teacher gave ‘rave-like lesson' and called children ‘little ‘s---s'
A teacher has been struck off for drinking alcohol from a water bottle during a 'rave-like lesson'. Alice Ashton, 31, allegedly called her class 'little s---s' and asked pupils to 'dance the Macarena' during a class in January last year. A fitness to practice hearing was told the 'out-of-control' lesson at Ysgol Bro Caereinion school in Welshpool, Wales, turned to a 'mini rave with loud music, shouting, and dancing'. Pupils raised concerns about her behaviour after they said they could smell alcohol from an Evian bottle she was drinking from. The Education Workforce Council (EWC) panel heard the lesson took place just four months after Ms Ashton had been convicted of drink driving. Ms Ashton was described as 'smiley and happy' before she started to become 'agitated'. Drinking on the job Giving evidence in person, a 16-year-old schoolgirl said Ms Ashton drank orange liquid which smelled of alcohol while playing music from her laptop. The student, referred to as Pupil H, said fellow classmates discussed afterwards how odd the teacher's behaviour had been. She said Ms Ashton had taught her 'boring' Personal and Social Education numerous times before and the lessons were usually about alcohol and drug awareness, but not on that day. The pupil said she had been sitting in the front row of the class and could smell alcohol from the Evian water bottle filled with orange liquid. She told the hearing the bottle was full at the start of the lesson and almost empty by the end. Pupil H said: 'She was very, very close to us. There was a slight alcoholic smell. She was very, very lively and quite animated and speaking with her hands. In other lessons she was more reserved and quiet. 'Alice Ashton had an Evian bottle with orange juice. I noticed she was regularly taking swigs from the bottle. 'I recall Alice Ashton asked the class to make the Macarena. She played music and we were not doing work.' The teenager said Ms Ashton 'kept jumping up from her desk' but became 'irritated' as the lesson went on. The hearing was told one schoolboy was walking around the classroom 'annoying' people when Ms Ashton told him to leave but 'not to snitch'. Pupil H said: 'She began to swear at him. She put her middle finger two to three inches from his face and continued to swear at him.' Another student said: 'She got us to dance the Macarena and she did not care about the lesson any more. She got some students dancing to the laptop and speakers and it spiralled out of control.' No remorse Ms Ashton, who was not present at the hearing, did not respond to the allegations. The hearing was told she had previously emailed the EWC to say she was no longer working as a teacher and had moved to England. The disciplinary panel said Ashton had shown no remorse or apology. It was proven that she appeared under the influence and/or smelled of alcohol whilst at work. She was struck off the teaching register indefinitely but may reapply in two years.
