11 January 2023

A brand-new 3G pitch at a north Powys sports centre is now open, Powys County Council and Freedom Leisure has announced.

Bookings are now being taken for the new 3G pitch that has been installed at Llanfyllin Sports Centre.

Work to install the new pitch, including an improved floodlighting scheme, drainage works and perimeter fencing, finished last month (December).  The installation was carried out by Pave Aways Ltd.

The 3G pitch will be suitable for football, hockey and a wide variety of other outdoor sports for the communities and visitors in and around the Llanfyllin area to use.

The improved facility is an ideal surface during the winter months when grass fields and pitches become muddy and unusable.

This project is part of the capital programme to improve facilities across the county to provide positive benefit to the health and well-being to the communities of Powys.

Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: I’m delighted that the 3G pitch is now open and I’m sure that the sporting communities in north Powys are looking forward to using this new facility.

“This development demonstrates our continued commitment to provide high-quality, inclusive and fully accessible leisure facilities for communities in Powys.  It is also another great example of partnership working between the council and Freedom Leisure.”

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “One of the aims in the recently updated Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys is to improve the learner entitlement and experience.

“The new pitch, which will enhance the facilities at the centre, will help the council meet this aim. Not only will members of the community benefit from this new pitch, but it will also provide an all-weather surface to help learners improve and enhance their sporting prowess and their wellbeing.”

Richard Milne, Freedom Leisure’s Area Manager (North Wales), said: “We’re delighted to be operating this new 3G pitch in partnership with Powys County Council. It’s a fantastic addition for the local community, allowing access to state-of-the-art facilities.”      

Dewi Owen, Headteacher of Ysgol Llanfyllin, said: “The new pitch looks incredible and is going to be a huge boost to both the school and local community.

“The increase in participation in sport is going to be very significant and this will have a hugely positive effect on pupils’ physical and mental health, which is vital in these post pandemic years. This is a very important development for our community here in north Montgomeryshire.

“Our pupils have been fascinated by the construction work and I’d like to thank Pave Aways for the way they have included the school and our pupils in every step of the process with site tours and information sessions.”

Pave Aways’ construction director Jamie Evans said: “We have very much enjoyed being part of the partnership bringing this valuable new facility to the community.

“We have been able to teach children more about construction and the process of creating this pitch so we hope we may have inspired some builders of the future. It’s also been an important investment in the Powys economy with the use of local sub contractors and materials including stone coming from Cefn Coch near Llanfair Caereinion.”

Pave Aways has also donated £500 of sports equipment to the school and sponsored a 15-strong team kit that the school will receive this month (January).

For clubs and organisations wishing to enquire further about the pitch or make a booking please contact [email protected] or call Llanfyllin Sport Centre on 01691 648814.

Photo courtesy of Pave Aways

4 January 2023

Work progresses on Powys County Council’s Levelling Up funded project to rejuvenate the local canal network in Montgomeryshire by opening up previously un-navigable sections of the canal to increase its appeal and attract more tourists to the region. 

Announced by the Chancellor in the 2021 Autumn Budget, the £4.8billion Levelling Up Fund invests in infrastructure to improve everyday life across the UK including regenerating town centre and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets. Of this fund Powys secured almost £14million for this project.

The enhancement of the Y Lanfa building, its wharf and the associated listed Canal side cottages forms part of the overall project. The authority currently delivers Welshpool’s Library Service from the building together with Powysland Museum.

The scheme drawings are currently being worked on and further details will follow as the project unfolds.  An application for planning permission for the new scheme will be made in the New Year.

The aim of this part of the project is to improve the multi-functional use of Y Lanfa and try and create adaptable floor space which will ultimately improve the community and cultural services being offered from it.

The surrounding wharf area will be remodelled to improve the canal side setting creating a sense of place and to encourage increased use, whilst the canal side cottages will be restored and offered for commercial/community use.

Councillor David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity to not only safeguard the future of an important landmark building but to improve the service for both the local community and tourists alike.”

As part of this project, Miller Research are gathering information through an online survey focused on understanding the needs of different users of the canal and surrounding area, and of visitors to the canal. To access the user survey of the Y Lanfa building, cottages and adjoining space please click on the following link: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/YLanfaEng/

28 December 2022

Following extensive engagement with communities and stakeholders, the county’s Active Travel Network Maps (ATNM) have now been officially approved by Welsh Government.

The maps, which show current active travel routes and details of aspirational future routes within the county’s 11 designated active travel localities (as defined by Welsh Government), can be viewed on the Welsh Government hosted DataMapWales site here: https://datamap.gov.wales/maps/active-travel-network-maps  

“The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 aims to make Wales a walking and cycling nation.” explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys.

“Essentially, this means that we are endeavouring to make it possible for us to all make short journeys such as our commute to work, school or local shops, by physically active means, like walking or cycling.

“Not only does active travel have huge health and wellbeing advantages to us all, but by prioritising walking and cycling, rather than using the car, for short, local journeys we are also helping combat the current climate emergency. Less reliance on our cars will go a long way in helping us achieve our ambition to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.

“Welsh Government have made it clear that walking and cycling must be the natural mode of choice for short everyday journeys, or as part of a longer journey in combination with other sustainable modes, and the continued investment into practical active travel routes within Powys will help us achieve this vision.

“Developed with the help of local communities, these newly published ATNM show areas across Powys which could be improved to enable more people to walk or cycle for short journeys. These improvements could be as simple as providing a safe place leave your bike while you pop to the shops, adding a road crossing to allow pupils to safely walk to school, or widening and improving pavements to make walking to town with the children and a pushchair easer.

“Whether big ideas or small suggestions, we are grateful for everyone’s feedback and input into creating these maps, all of which been vitally important in creating the community’s vision of future active travel networks throughout the county.”

21 December 2022

Consultation on plans to introduce a Welsh-medium stream at a south Powys primary school have begun, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is proposing to move Ysgol y Cribarth in Abercraf along the language continuum by establishing a Welsh-medium stream at the school.

The school is currently an English-medium school providing education for pupils aged 4 to 11.

The proposed change would see a Welsh-medium stream introduced at Ysgol y Cribarth from September 2023, operating alongside the school’s English-medium stream.

Last week (December 13), Cabinet gave the go-ahead to start formal consultation on the plans.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “Since September 2021, Ysgol y Cribarth has operated a Welsh-medium Foundation Phase class on a pilot basis as part of a scheme that has been supported by the council.

“The class has continued to operate in the current academic year and there are currently 20 pupils in the Welsh-medium class.

“To provide continuity of provision for pupils attending the pilot provision and to provide clarity for the school going forward, the council has explored options for the school’s future language category with the aim of ensuring that Welsh-medium provision can continue to be offered at the school.

“This would ensure that all pupils in the area would have the opportunity to choose this provision, which would give them the opportunity to become fluent in Welsh and English and therefore contributing to the Welsh Government’s aspiration to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

“It would also support the council’s aims and aspirations as outlined in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) for 2022-32 and the Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys.

“However, it is important that the school community of Ysgol y Cribarth and those living in the wider area have their say on these proposals. I would urge them to send their views so that they can be considered.”

To respond to the consultation, visit Ysgol y Cribarth..

Alternatively, you can respond to us in writing by emailing [email protected] or via post at Transforming Education Team, Powys County Council, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG.

The consultation will close on Monday, 6 February, 2023.

To find out more about Welsh-medium education in Powys, visit Destination bilingual

21 December 2022

Several Powys volunteers who have made a huge difference in their communities have had their efforts recognised by the county council.

Powys County Council hosted a Volunteering in Powys Reception at this year’s Winter Fair at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd.

As part of the reception, a community group and two individuals received Silver Kite awards from the Chair of Powys County Council, Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe, for their volunteer work in supporting others in their communities.  The recipients that received Silver Kite awards were:

• Fuelled by Cake
• Steph Burton
• Jen Craven

Dignitaries and invited guests at the reception heard from the Leader of Powys County Council, Cllr James Gibson-Watt, who spoke about how volunteering is key to Powys communities and how the council has worked with its partner PAVO, the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, to establish its Warm Spaces network as well as the Cost of Living Hub.

The reception also heard from guest speaker Clair Swales, Interim Chief Executive Officer at PAVO.

Leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt, said: “Volunteering plays a key role in our communities so I was delighted to jointly host this reception and pay tribute to all those volunteers that make a real difference to so many people in Powys.”

Chair Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe, said: “It was a pleasure to award these Silver Kite awards at the Volunteering in Powys reception.  All of them were worthy recipients who have made a real impact in the communities they volunteer in.  Congratulations to them all.”

21 December 2022

An education setting based in Brecon has demonstrated its commitment to providing high-quality remote education, keeping children and young people safe online and supporting pupil wellbeing, having completed a comprehensive remote education training programme.

The New Start Centre, Powys County Council’s Pupil Referral Unit in Brecon, has been awarded National Online Safety’s Safe Remote Education Accreditation for its successful approach towards safeguarding children and supporting pupil wellbeing during remote teaching and learning.

National Online Safety is a multi-award-winning digital training provider with extensive resources in online safety.

Its Continuing Professional Development accredited courses and educational resources support UK schools in educating the whole school community in online safety- including all senior leaders, teachers, all school staff and parents – on how to make the internet a safer place for children.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “Safeguarding pupils and supporting their wellbeing during phases of remote teaching and learning is a vital to a pupil’s continued development so I’m delighted that the New Start Centre has received this award.

“The online environment offers a wealth of potential information which learners can draw on. However, they need to know how to navigate this safely.  This award exemplifies the partnership approach to ensuring the internet is a safer place for our learners.”

James Southworth, co-founder of National Online Safety, said: “By completing our training programme, New Start Centre has shown its strong commitment to implementing the most effective approach to delivering remote education.

“It can be increasingly difficult for schools to keep up with expectations surrounding remote education to ensure both children and staff follow the necessary safeguarding protocols and know how to spot any potential wellbeing issues. We’ve armed schools with the knowledge they need to understand their responsibilities and how to react in the best way possible to any problems.”