17 October 2022

Once again, Powys County Council is backing the annual national Recycle Week, taking place between 17 – 23 October 2022.

This year’s Recycle Week is a great chance for us all to double our efforts to recycle more and get the answers to those questions which may be holding us back from doing all we can.

With 95% of Welsh citizens regularly recycling, it is no wonder that at a nation we are third best in the recycling world rankings. Over the past decade or so, recycling in Powys has soared. We’re now recycling over 66% of our waste, up from just 36.5% in 2010. But if we’re to help Wales reach the coveted top slot we need to do even more, as Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, explains:

“Thanks to the people of Powys, we are already one of the top performing recycling counties in Wales, but as ever our dedicated recyclers often have questions about what can and can’t be recycled. Many of us are guilty of wish-recycling – putting something in the recycling bin and hoping it will be recycled, even if we are unsure if it should be there or not.

“But can the addition of one wrong item in our recycling boxes really be that bad?  Sadly, yes, non-recyclable items (even if they are similar to those being collected) can cause contamination of all the good recycling. This can result in needing extra resource to remove the offending items or, in extreme cases, end up with the collected lorry load of recycling being rejected by the recycling processors. None of us want that to happen”.

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A full list of what can and can’t be recycled from home in our recycling boxes can be found online, but put simply, this is what we want in your weekly recycling collections:

Food caddy
Meat and fish, including small bones
Cheese
Vegetables and fruit
Egg shells
Stale bread, cakes and pastries
Cereals, rice, pasta and beans
Tea bags and coffee grounds

Red box
Clean food and drink cans
Aluminium foil
Clean plastic bottles (rinsed, squashed and lids removed)
Plastic bottle tops and lids
Metal bottle tops and jar lids
Kitchen and bathroom aerosols cans
Clean plastic food trays
Clean pots and tubs
Clean cartons (Tetrapaks)

Blue box
Newspapers and magazines
Catalogues and directories
Junk mail
Paper
White envelopes
Shredded paper (in envelope or wrapped in paper)
Brown card (as long as it fits in the container)

Aqua box
Clean glass bottles and jars (lids removed)

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We understand that some people worry about what happens to items collected in the kerbside collections, but your efforts are not in vain. Every correctly recycled item is processed and recycled. Even the non-recyclable rubbish collected in the black wheeled bins is sent to an energy from waste facility which produces electricity. You can check the most up to date arrangements for kerbside materials on our website here: What happens to my recycling and residual waste once collected from the kerbside? 

“Recycling is now the norm in Powys and most of us recycle every week.” Continued Cllr Charlton. “By working hard to find contracts which ensure the county’s waste is recycled, here in the UK, and with the support of the Powys people we on the right path for helping to do our bit to combat climate change.

“We should all be proud of our recycling efforts, but we must keep up our good work. Let’s continue to recycle the correct items from all around the home and help Powys remain a clean, green and environmentally friendly place to live for generations to come.”

12 October 2022

A new scheme to help tackle fuel poverty in Powys has been approved by Cabinet, the county council has said.

ECO4 Flex will be relaunched by Powys County Council after the grant scheme was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, 11 October.

The scheme will enable home energy improvements to be delivered to Powys residents in fuel poverty.

Delivery of the new and improved scheme will again be delivered on behalf of the council by Warm Wales, a community interest company specialising in delivery of programmes designed to address fuel poverty in Wales.

Warm Wales will provide a fully managed scheme, field enquiries, undertake assessment of client eligibility and work directly with energy providers and agents obligated to deliver measures under the scheme.

The adopted Statement of Intent, which was also approved by Cabinet, allows Powys households at risk of fuel poverty access to funding under the Energy Company Obligation if they meet the scheme’s criteria.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “I’m delighted that Cabinet has approved this scheme.

“ECO4 Flex is considered a key driver in assisting the council in their aim of reducing fuel poverty, whilst simultaneously contributing towards reducing carbon emissions from domestic homes, owned or occupied by those unable to pay for improvements themselves.”

6 September 2022

A framework to assess potential development sites has been prepared as part of work on a strategy that will guide the scale and location of new development in the county.

Powys County Council has started a three-and-a-half-year process to prepare a new development plan which will cover all of Powys, excluding the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The Replacement Local Development Plan (2022-2037) will be drawn up to take effect from March 2026 when the current Local Development Plan ends.

The council is now seeking views on the framework, called the Candidate Sites Assessment Methodology, which will be used to help determine which sites are most suitable for development.

Later this year (November), the council will call for potential development sites as well as sites which can be utilised for other needs such as green infrastructure, which will be collectively known as Candidate Sites, to be submitted for consideration.

The framework will then be used to consider whether these Candidate Sites are in an appropriate location, are likely to come forward within the next 15 years and are likely to be viable.

The council is now seeking views on the framework and all comments must be submitted by Monday, 10 October, 2022 by going to Planning Policy and clicking Replacement Local Development Plan (2022-2037).

Cllr Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys, said: “To people unfamiliar with the process of putting together a new Local Development Plan this may all seem to be very complicated, but in very simple terms we are consulting on what we think is a fair and robust methodology to test possible sites which landowners may seek to have specifically included in the new plan.

“For anyone who wishes to more generally follow the progress of the plan I would like to remind them that a link to register their interest can be found on the council’s website.  Visit Planning Policy and click Replacement Local Development Plan (2022 – 2037).”

The council has also published initial information on two assessments – the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal and the Habitats Regulations Assessment – that will be undertaken alongside the Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP).

These assessments are legal requirements to ensure that the Replacement LDP delivers sustainable development, promotes well-being, and meets equality, health, Welsh language and environmental needs.

Introductions to these assessments, which can also be viewed and commented on at Planning Policy, set out how the council plans to structure the two assessments.

To view paper copies of all the documents and to obtain comment forms for postal return please visit one of the following 12 libraries:

Brecon, Builth Wells, Llandrindod Wells, Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, Llanwrtyd Wells, Machynlleth, Newtown, Presteigne, Rhayader, Welshpool and Ystradgynlais.

5 September 2022

A new all age school has opened its doors to learners for the first time today, ushering in a new era of education in a part of north Powys.

Ysgol Bro Caereinion in Llanfair Caereinion is the latest school to be established by Powys County Council.

It becomes the county’s third all age (4-18) school and has been established following the merger of Llanfair Caereinion C.P. School and Caereinion High School. The school will provide Welsh-medium and English-medium education on the current sites of the of the primary and high school.

Ysgol Bro Caereinion has also named is senior leadership team ready for its first day of education.  The new team is:

• Huw Lloyd Jones – Headteacher
• Edward Baldwin – Deputy Headteacher
• Laura Jones – Assistant Headteacher
• Michael Humphreys – Assistant Headteacher
• Rhian Mills – Assistant Headteacher
• Ceri Harris – Additional Learning Needa Co-ordinator

The new school will help the council deliver its Strategy for Transforming Education, which sets out to improve learner entitlement and experience. The strategy was updated in July 2022.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “This is an exciting time for pupils, staff, governors and parents at Ysgol Bro Caereinion and I wish them all the best as they start this new era.

“The council is committed to improving the education provision and entitlement for all the young people in Powys by delivering its Strategy for Transforming Education. The establishment of Ysgol Bro Caereinion is a key step in the first phase of delivering this strategy.

“I look forward to working with the senior leaders at Ysgol Bro Caereinion as we work together to improve outcomes for our learners as well as develop and enhance the Welsh-medium provision in Llanfair Caereinion.  I wish everyone associated with the school the very best.”

Cllr Gareth Jones, Chair of Temporary Governing Body of Ysgol Bro Caereinion, said: “The opening of Ysgol Bro Caereinion today signifies an important milestone on our journey to transform education in Llanfair Caereinion and the surrounding catchment area.

“We have made significant progress to get to this stage and I want to thank everyone involved including the senior management team and all staff at the new school, together with Cabinet Members and officials from Powys County Council.

“I also want to thank members of the Temporary Governing body for their commitment and hard work over very many months and to parents/guardians and the wider community for their on-going support. 

“I wish the new school and its learners every success as we take forward this exciting and important plan to help realise our ambitions for the future of learning at the school.”

For more information about Transforming Education in Powys, visit Transforming Education

18 August 2022

Consultations to look at ways to improve the public spaces within Brecon and Crickhowell town centres will begin this week.

Working together with Amey Consulting and LDA Design, Powys County Council are looking at ways to improve the public spaces within Brecon and Crickhowell town centres and are keen to hear the thoughts, experiences and concerns of local people, businesses and visitors on how they use the town centres and how they could be improved.

In Brecon the focus is on improving pedestrian priority and experience, improving connections and biodiversity and creating a safe, accessible public areas that enhances the unique qualities of the town along the length of the High Street; including the Struet, High Street Superior, High Street Inferior and the Bulwark.

In Crickhowell, the focus is on improving pedestrian priority and experience, considering drainage issues, and enhancing identity along the length of the High Street.

“These projects originated from the installation of the temporary Covid interventions for social distancing in 2020 which created additional spill out space for pedestrians and reduced the number of parking spaces” explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a Greener Powys.

“The temporary measures highlighted how our town centres can evolve and make use of space differently. The pandemic gave rise to an element of café culture being experienced within our towns and an enthusiasm for embracing our outside areas, which is something that many thought they would like to see retained into the future.

“Following an initial informal engagement exercise with the local communities back in June 2021, we have considered peoples view and taken the opportunity to look at how and if the temporary interventions may become permanent and what other opportunities and benefits could be achieved at the same time.

“It is important to balance the views of all users of the town centres; visitors, residents and businesses. These place specific consultations will provide valuable feedback which will be used to shape how the town centres look, work, and feel in the future.”

To view and have your say on the proposals for improving the public spaces within both Brecon and Crickhowell town centres, please visit: https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/transforming-towns

18 August 2022

A safety warning for the use of gas grills on certain gas range cookers has been issued, Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service has said.

The safety warning relates to certain Belling Stoves and New World gas range cookers manufactured by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA).

The safety warning has been issued by the Office of Product Safety (OPSS).

The warning reminds consumers that if the gas grill is used with the door closed, then there is a risk that dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can build up, posing a risk of serious injury or death to those within the immediate environment.

OPSS has issued safety requirements to GDHA, who are writing to all consumers reminding them to only use their gas grill with the grill door fully open.

Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “I urge consumers who have these appliances to ensure the door is always kept fully open when the grill is in operation and remind all consumers of the importance of following the safety instructions for their gas cookers.”

For further information, consumers should contact GDHA on 0800 110 5728 or via their website:

17 August 2022

Motorcyclists are invited to sign up to a free enhanced riders training course to help improve their riding skills and the safety of Powys roads.

Powys County Council’s Road Safety team are providing these courses free of charge to any motorcyclists who live in Powys or use Powys’ roads, with funding from the Welsh Government.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Enhanced Rider Scheme is suitable for full motorbike licence holders who want to improve their riding skills, for those returning to riding after a break, riders who have just passed their test, people upgrading to a more powerful motorcycle and/or those who want to check their riding standard.

The course consists of a short online theory session and a half-day practical on-road session (on a weekend) with an experienced trainer. There is no test, but riding will be assessed, and appropriate training given to each participant who, all being well, will receive a DVSA certificate of competence on completion of the scheme.

Dates for up-coming courses are:

South-Powys
Online theory: 1 September, On-road rides: 3 and 4 September
Online theory: 29 September, On-road rides: 1 and 2 October

Mid-Powys
Online theory: 15 September, On-road rides: 17 and 18 September
Online theory: 13 October, On-road rides: 15 and 16 October

Spaces for these free courses are limited and fill up quickly. Please get in touch to reserve your places as soon as possible: 01597 826924 or [email protected]

Please see this video for more information on the DVSA Enhanced Rider Scheme: https://youtu.be/9OjLHO-ASmk

15 August 2022

Work to construct a storm water pumping station to alleviate flooding on the A44 in Penybont, mid Powys, is finished ahead of schedule.

Completed with a grant from the Welsh Government Resilient Roads Fund, the main purpose of the works was to prevent major routes, such as the A44, from flooding so often during storms. The existing highways drainage system will continue to work in normal weather conditions. However, in storm conditions and when the river is high an automatic sensor will close the valve to the river and direct the water into the newly constructed pumping station which is 6m deep. This water will continue to be pumped over the flood bund and into the river until levels allow the system to outfall as normal by gravity.

Not only will the pumping station help keep the A44 open during storms, but it also has the added benefit of alleviating the risk of flooding to four residential properties on Ithon Terrace during the worst of the weather conditions.

“The scheme in Penybont is the first in a programme of planned highway flood relief projects due to take place across Powys.” Explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a Greener Powys.

“We have worked closely with Atkins (Principal Designer), NRW, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and the local residents in order to come up with the best solution to the flooding of the road running though the village. This scheme will help ensure the A44 will remain open during storms as well as mitigating potential flooding to the adjacent properties from storm water run-off.

“Local contractor, P J Martin and Son have done a fantastic job in constructing the pumping station. Working in a very tight space, health and safety and environmental considerations needed to be at the fore front due to the deep excavation and proximity to the watercourse, but the works have been completed a month ahead of its scheduled date of September.

“Although a great asset for the community, this scheme will address the flooding issues on the main road and for the houses immediately adjacent to the new storm water pumping station, it may not, unfortunately, solve all the flooding problems within Penybont.”