24 February 2023

A mid Powys museum is currently holding a free exhibition to celebrate the popular tradition of sampler-making and embroidery, the county council has said.

Using pieces from the museum’s reserve collections, Radnorshire Museum has created an exhibition based around a set of works made by three generations of the same local family, the Vaughan-Whitalls, and embellished with a selection of colourful and finely worked textiles.

Samplers and Embroidery is a temporary exhibition and will be running at Radnorshire Museum until Saturday 15 April. The museum is open from 10am – 4pm on Wednesday to Friday, and 10am – 1pm on Saturdays. In April, the museum will be open from 10am – 4pm on Saturdays.

Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “It’s fantastic to have exhibitions such as this in our museum in Llandrindod, showing the history of work by a local family.

“Powys residents and visitors to the county are very welcome to take a look and see what the exhibition has to offer.”

For more information, please visit, Radnorshire Museum, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5DL or contact,

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01597 824513

You can also, visit the Radnorshire Museum Facebook page: Radnorshire Museum

23 February 2023

The new Corporate and Strategic Equality Plan 2023-2027 has been approved by full council today (23 February).

The document sets out the well-being priorities for Powys County Council for the next five years and what action is needed to deliver them.

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Leader of the Council and Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “We are pleased to announce the publication of the most important plan for the county council for the next five years.

“It is the first corporate plan to be published in support of our new ambition to build a ‘Stronger, Fairer, Greener Powys’.

“People are the heart of Powys, and we would like to thank everyone that took part in the public consultation and helped to develop our plan.

“Our new objectives, detailed in the plan, focus on areas that we can improve or develop to make people’s lives better, both as individuals and as communities.”

The Corporate and Strategic Equality Plan 2023-2027 will be published on the council’s website on Wednesday 1 April.

23 February 2023

A balanced budget which will see investment for key services, including schools, has been approved.

Despite unprecedented economic conditions, the Full Council of Powys County Council has today (Thursday, February 23) approved spending plans of more than £326million for 2023-2024.

The spending plans will be financed by a combination of funding from the Welsh Government and a below inflation increase in Council Tax.

The 5% increase in Council Tax, which is split between 1.2% for the Fire Authority Levy and 3.8% for the county council, will cost the average band D Council Tax payer an extra £1.40 a week. Band D properties will now be charged £1524.45 Council Tax.

The figure does not include town and community council and police precepts which will be included when the Council Tax has final approval next month (March).

Cllr David Thomas, Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation, said: “A better than anticipated local government settlement has allowed the council to keep the Council Tax increase to a minimum despite unprecedent financial pressures.

“Despite the increased funding, this has been the most difficult budget-setting process the county council has ever experienced. The combination of high inflation, increased demand for social care, staff pay and funding post-Covid-19 recovery, has created an extremely difficult position.

“Our priority throughout the budget-setting process was to protect services, particularly those that support people at the most difficult of times.  This has been achieved by working together, enabling the council to set a balanced budget.

“Today’s budget approval will ensure our schools receive all the additional funding provided by the settlement, resulting in an additional £5.5m in investment in education. We will also provide an extra £500,000 to provide energy support to schools.

“Every budget includes a mix of essential growth to fund services and reductions. Despite an overall increase in this year’s budget, we have identified more than £16m in reductions by delivering services more efficiently or at reduced cost.

“We are continuing work to convert streetlights to more efficient LED lights and reducing staff travelling through digital ways of working, reducing costs and cutting the council’s carbon footprint.

“However, the Council Tax increase was needed to balance our budget and put us on a sound footing for the coming financial year. We have tried to limit the impact on the people of Powys by keeping the increase below inflation as everyone is feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis.”

22 February 2023

Exciting plans for a new school that will transform education for vulnerable learners in Powys have been unveiled, the county council has said.

Powys County Council is to build a new £9.1m school for Brynllywarch Hall School as part of its Transforming Education programme. The school, located in Kerry near Newtown, provides education for pupils from 8 to 19-year-olds, with a wide range of complex emotional, behavioural and social difficulties.

A pre-application consultation for the proposed development has started, which allows interested parties to comment on the plans before a planning application is submitted.

The pre-application consultation will close on Tuesday, 14 March, 2023.

The council and its construction partner ISG Construction will also be showcase the exciting plans at two drop-in events that will take place at the school on the following days:

• Tuesday 28 February between 3.30pm and 7pm
• Tuesday 7 March between 3.30pm and 7pm

The drop-in events will be open to the whole school community as well as members of the public.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “The new building for Brynllywarch Hall School is a vital step to ensuring we deliver education in a safe and stimulating environment for all our pupils. This project will provide modern facilities for our pupils and teaching staff and help them to deliver an enjoyable and fulfilling education experience for everyone.

“These drop-in events provide a great opportunity for everyone in the school community and members of the public to view these exciting plans, which will transform education for vulnerable learners in Powys.”

To view the pre-application consultation documents online visit https://www.asbriplanning.co.uk/statutory-pre-application-consultation/ which also gives details on how you can make representations on the proposed plans.

22 February 2023

Looking after someone else’s child? That could be a private fostering arrangement and you need to let us know so we can support you.

Private fostering is when a child under 16 (or under 18 if disabled) is looked after in the home of someone who is not a close relative or guardian, for more than 28 days.

The arrangement is made between the child’s birth parents and the proposed carer, and often comes about as a positive response to a family’s difficult circumstances; but the child’s welfare must always come first. So, we need to be satisfied that the welfare of the child who is, or will be, privately fostered is being satisfactorily safeguarded and promoted.

Cllr Sandra Davies, Cabinet Member for Future Generations, said: “If you’re a private foster carer, then please let us know. This isn’t about ‘checking up’ on you. It’s about making sure that the right support is in place, and the child is being well looked after, and that the carers can access any resources they may need.”

If you are aware of an arrangement taking place, we ask that you please get in touch so we can provide help and support to those families.

Please contact Children’s Services Front Door via, 

Email – [email protected]

Telephone 01597 827 666 (office hours) 0845 054 4847 (out of hours)

For more information on private fostering, please visit https://en.powys.gov.ukhttps://en.powys.gov.uk/privatefostering

21 February 2023

Residents and businesses in Powys are being warned by the county council that a team of rogue traders are in the county offering to tarmac people’s driveways.

The warning has been issued by Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service to ensure residents and businesses are not conned out money by the rogue traders.

The service has received reports that rogue traders are claiming to have surplus tarmac left over from work they are carrying out for the county council.

The council’s Trading Standards Service also has examples of some cold callers that are unqualified people, who charge extortionate amounts of money for little or no work with prices also being very misleading.  They usually demand immediate payment while practice methods are aimed for not being traced.

Cllr Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “In these cases the work conducted is usually extremely poor.  Our advice is never to accept work from cold callers and remember the old saying that if it is too good to be true, it usually is.

“The best advice we can give householders or businesses is not to employ any unknown trader who cold-calls offering to carry out repairs or improvements to their property.”

If potential customers do decide to employ an unknown tradesperson, the council’s Trading Standards Service advice is:

• Check the traders’ credentials, particularly any phone number given
• Ask friends or neighbours if they have heard of the firm, and if local, check to ensure their premises are where they say they are
• Ask the trader for references, and if possible view an example of their work
• It is advisable to use a trader who is a member of a trade association, but check the claim with the trade body before employing them
• Ask for a written quotation before going ahead. Make sure the trader’s name and address is on it and that the price for the work is clear
• Keep a note of any vehicle details including the registration number
• ·         Never part with money until the work is completed to your satisfaction. Always try to pay by cheque or credit card – never be persuaded into going to the bank or building society to withdraw cash.

Legislation requires cold callers to give consumers a ‘cancellation notice’, giving them 14 days to cancel the contract made for any work over £42. Failure to issue a cancellation notice in the correct manner is a criminal offence.

Anyone who thinks they may be a victim or thinks someone they know may have been, should get in touch with Citizens Advice consumer helpline free on 0808 223 1133 or to contact a Welsh-speaking adviser call 0808 223 1144.

21 February 2023

Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT) is helping families and children discover their wild sides while boosting their wellbeing this February half-term with a brand new ‘Nature Play’ area at Llyn Coed y Dinas Nature Reserve in Welshpool.

It has been created thanks to a Welsh Government-funded partnership project called Canals, Communities and Wellbeing, which aims to improve opportunities for access, recreation and nature-connectedness within the Montgomery Canal corridor, where the nature reserve lies. The outdoor play area incorporates natural materials – including logs from nearby MWT nature reserve, Dolforwyn Woods, where ancient woodland is being restored – and timber equipment designed to complement the wild surroundings while facilitating engagement with nature and the great outdoors.

With log benches, a ring of rustic log stools, a sensory ‘rainbow room’ and a mud kitchen, the outdoor area provides the perfect place for children and their families to enjoy imaginative and explorative play against the inspiring backdrop of a nature reserve. Here, young minds can explore, create and discover, while bug-hunting, bird-watching, leaf-collecting and wildlife-spotting – not to mention getting muddy, messy and having fun! This special space will be open to members of the public visiting Llyn Coed y Dinas, and will also host family-friendly events, educational visits from local schools and youth outreach sessions delivered by Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

“We know that children learn best through play, and there’s no better place for young people to learn about the natural world than outside,” says Ceri Jones, Head of Living Landscapes at Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. “What’s more, research shows that feeling connected to nature leads to reduced stress, improved concentration and better sleep – it also results in more sustainable attitudes to the environment.”

Llyn Coed y Dinas is a wonderful home for all kinds of wildlife, and there’s always something to see whatever the season. The Nature Play area will complement existing facilities at the reserve, which include a large bird hide with seating overlooking the lake, a picnic area and a small car park.

This play area is one of many infrastructure and biodiversity improvements being carried out in the Montgomery and Monmouthshire and Brecon canals corridor in Powys, as part of the Canals, Communities and Wellbeing project, which will run until May 2023. A partnership between Powys County Council’s Countryside Access and Recreation Team, who are leading the project, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, Glandŵr Cymru, Canal & River Trust in Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, it includes towpath improvements, enhancements to nature reserves, new visitor interpretation signage, promotional aerial films of the canals, guided wildlife walks and a free, bilingual wildlife-spotting smartphone app called Canal Safari.

The Canals, Communities and Wellbeing project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.