13 October 2022

Powys Health and Care Academy’s first campus, at Bronllys Community Hospital, has been officially opened today (Thursday 13 October) by Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Morgan.

The new £1.6 million facility will help improve access to health and social care training in the county and encourage more people to take up a career in the sector.

The Bronllys Campus includes a training centre in the refurbished Basil Webb Hall, a new outdoor learning space, and an adaptive living space in the refurbished Magpies bungalow, which will be used to provide simulated learning in a community setting. This is just the start of plans for a state-of-the-art, county-wide academy, with spoke sites due to be developed over the next five years.

The work has been completed with the support of £1.1 million in capital grants from the Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fund (ICF) and around £500,000 in further funding provided by members of the Powys Regional Partnership Board.

Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Morgan MS said: “I was pleased to see some of the innovative work that is taking place in Powys to improve the skills of the county’s health and social care workforce, thanks to our support through the integrated care fund.

“I am looking forward to seeing how the learners I met today progress in careers which will see them looking after people with great dedication, in their times of need, for many years to come.

“Regional partnership boards were established to make sure our public bodies work together to improve health and wellbeing, and it is good to see this working well in Powys.”

During her visit, the Minister saw first-hand some of the work that is already being done to help prepare the next generation of the county’s health and social care workforce – post 16 learners from Powys high schools – to play a key role in the sector. She also met some of the area’s unpaid carers who are benefiting from learning techniques to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

Powys Health and Care Academy has been established by Powys Regional Partnership Board (RPB) which is made up of a range of public bodies and other agencies, including Powys County Council, Powys Teaching Health Board and Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO), who are working together to improve the health and wellbeing of the county’s residents.

Carl Cooper Chair of Powys RPB and Chief Executive of PAVO, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to our new campus today, as it gave us the opportunity to showcase some of the excellent training which is already taking place and to thank her for the Welsh Government’s support for this project.

“Our ambition is for the academy to support the health and social care sector to become one of the top choices for those entering or returning to employment in the county, and for it to become an exemplar provider of rural professional and clinical education through both face-to-face simulated learning and virtual lessons.

“The academy will also support the development of our leaders and the workforce, including volunteers and unpaid carers, to deliver top class and innovative models of care to our citizens in a timely and effective way.”

The campus at Bronllys Community Hospital is the first of several sites that Powys RPB plans to develop as part of its Workforce Futures programme, including another main site, or hub site, on the planned North Powys Wellbeing Campus, in the centre of Newtown. Digital technology will also be used to link multiple sites and to enable remote learning.

The Welsh Government funding was approved by the Minister for Climate Change Julie James in 2020 and 2022.

For more information on the academy and its four schools, visit the Powys RPB website: https://www.powysrpb.org/powyshealthandcareacademy

13 October 2022

A review of education in a south Powys catchment area has begun, the county council has announced.

Powys County Council is carrying out an area review of education in the Crickhowell catchment to identify how education will be delivered in the catchment in the future.

To help with the review, the council has produced an initial questionnaire and wants parents, school staff, headteachers and governors to contribute their ideas.

Cllr Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys said: “Earlier this year, Cabinet agreed to delay the proposed closure of Llanbedr Church in Wales School by 12 months to August 2023 to allow a full area review of the Crickhowell catchment to identify how education will be delivered in the catchment in the future.

“As part of the review, we have produced this questionnaire which will enable the council to consider community-based ideas for how to improve education provision in the catchment in the future alongside those suggested by officers before engaging on preferred ways forward.

“I would urge all those who have an interest in education in the Crickhowell catchment to complete this questionnaire.

“The council will then prepare a report outlining the responses to the questionnaire and will develop a paper on the preferred way forward for the Crickhowell catchment, which will be considered by Cabinet early in 2023.”

To fill in the questionnaire visit https://www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/crickhowell-area-review

Responses must be submitted by Thursday, November 10.

Further information about the questionnaire is available by emailing [email protected]

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.”

12 October 2022

Work on a new social housing development in north Powys has been completed, the county council has said.

Powys County Council’s Affordable Housing Team has developed 22 new homes on the former livestock market in Llanidloes.  The development, which has been named Clos-Yr-Hen-Ysgol, was built by contractors J Harper and Sons (Leominster) Ltd.

As part of the development, two four-bed houses, four two-bed houses, six three-bed houses, eight two-bed bungalows and two three/four-bed dormer bungalows have been built at the Gorn Road site

The £3.9m development, which will be owned and managed by the council, will provide much-needed accommodation that will be available at an affordable rent and has been allocated to applicants on Powys Common Housing Register.

A £2m Welsh Government Town Centre Loan and £1.37m Welsh Government Social Housing Grant, secured by the council’s Affordable Housing and Regeneration Teams, were used to fund the development.

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “I’m delighted that work has been completed and I would like to thank our construction partners J Harper and Sons for helping us deliver this social housing development in Llanidloes.

“We cannot build the stronger, fairer, greener Powys we want without tackling the housing emergency in the county.  The only way we can achieve this is by building high-quality council housing.

“Not only does this development meet the needs of the local community but it is an important scheme that will help us tackle the housing emergency.”

Mike Harvey, Group Commercial Director, J. Harper and Sons Ltd said “We are delighted to have worked alongside Powys County Council to deliver much needed, high-quality housing to help tackle the local housing crisis.

“It is a credit to the Council Members, funders, housing team and the community that such an important development could be delivered during these unprecedented times.”

10 October 2022

A Welshpool company which has invested £5 million in state-of-the-art machinery to create 50 new jobs in the coming years has been named Powys Business of the Year.

Wipak UK Ltd, based at the town’s Buttington Cross Enterprise Park, collected the coveted overall award, sponsored by Powys County Council, at the Powys Business Awards 2022 held at Dering Lines, Brecon on Friday night.

The company, which makes sophisticated, high barrier packaging films for preserving and protecting food products, also won the People Development Award, sponsored by NPTC Group of Colleges.

Wipak UK Ltd, which has a turnover approaching £30 million and 107 employees, says its workforce is playing a key role in its mission to become the most sustainable flexible packaging supplier in the world and achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.

Following a comprehensive training programme for operators on the new machinery, several exciting new products have been developed, including an advanced, low carbon footprint, aluminium butter wrap for a new market.

Pledging to support employees to unlock their full potential, whilst also prioritising their safety and wellbeing, the company achieved Investors in People Silver Accreditation in 2019 and is going for Gold Accreditation later this year.

Responding to the award announcement, Wipak UK Ltd’s  managing director Andrew Newbold said: “Wow, what an amazing honour. What I like about this award is that it’s about all our employees, not just one person or one product.

“We have won it because of what they have achieved collectively. They have embraced the development plan and are an amazing group of people.”

The judges said: “Wipak has a strong leader, has invested in local people and put them at the heart of the company. They have established themselves as market leaders by continuing to invest in their manufacturing capability and in the development of new products.

“They are making a positive environmental contribution by taking decisive action and challenging traditional methods. We believe they will be an inspirational and worthy ambassador as a standard bearer for Powys.”

Showcasing the diverse range of successful enterprises in the county, Powys Business Awards are organised by Mid Wales Manufacturing Group (MWMG) with support from sponsors.

Richard Glover-Davies, a serial winner at the awards, added another brace to his collection. He won the Entrepreneurship Award, sponsored by Welsh Government, with his companies gloversure and Montgomeryshire Homes Ltd, Welshpool.

Montgomeryshire Homes then added the Small Business Award, sponsored by WR Partners.

There was more success for Welshpool as Morland UK won The Growth Award, sponsored by The County Times and Nomadic Washrooms, based in Forden, was announced as winners of the Start-up Business Award, sponsored by EvaBuild.

Businesses in Crickhowell also collected two awards. PM Training and Assessing Ltd won the Micro Business Award, sponsored by WPG and The Cellar Drinks Company won the Small Business Growth Award, sponsored by EDF Renewables.

One of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for The Game Change Project CIC,  who work with disengaged young people from a farm base in Aberhafesp, near Newtown. The company won the Social Enterprise/ Charity Award, sponsored by Myrick Training Services.

Newtown’s biggest employer, Nidec – Control Techniques, received the Technology & Innovation Award, sponsored by ForrestBrown, for the invention of a AC micro drive complete with a revolutionary app that is operated from a smart phone.

The Judges’ Special Award, sponsored this year by CellPath, to recognise an outstanding achievement by a business or person who were not category winners, went to Radnor Hills, Knighton.

The other finalists were: Start-up Business Award: Bryndu Caravan and Camping, Brecon and Mesh Telematics Limited, Machynlleth. Entrepreneurship Award: Trudy Davies, Woosnam and Davies News, Llani Barbers and Talerddig Bakery Store, Llanidloes and Adam Watkin, Trax JH, Tyre Protector and Gresolvent, Newtown. Micro Business Award (fewer than 10 employees): Celtic Company, Welshpool and SP Filling Systems Ltd, Llandrindod Wells. Growth Award: Dawson Shanahan, Welshpool; Makefast Ltd, Newtown and Radnor Hills, Knighton. Small Business Award (under 30 employees): CMD Ltd, Newtown and Severn Transport Services Ltd, Welshpool. Social Enterprise/ Charity Award: Calan DVS, Brecon and Open Newtown, Newtown. Small Business Growth Award: Severn Transport Services Ltd, Welshpool and Montgomeryshire Homes, Welshpool. Technology & Innovation Award: CMD Ltd, Newtown and Dawson Shanahan, Welshpool. People Development Award: EOM Electrical Contractors Ltd, Newtown and SWG Group, Welshpool.

6 October 2022

Works to remove an old kissing gate and improve the access between the Berriew Street carpark and Oldford Lane in Welshpool, will begin shortly.

The new and improved access will be wider and fully accessible for everyone, allowing pedestrians, disabled users, and parents with pushchairs to be able to fully utilise the existing pathways. Staggered barriers will be installed to ensure that vehicle access is restricted and to deter children from running into, and out of the car park.

The upgrade to this entrance and path will vastly improve access to the old school which has been recently refurbished into a new ‘one stop shop’ centre providing services and support to children, young people and their families.

The new Welshpool Integrated Family Centre provides the community with activities such as parent and toddler groups, baby massage, youth clubs, health advice, family support and counselling, all of which will be far easier to get to once the inaccessible kissing gate is replaced with something more suitable.  

“Maintenance of all our sites is an ongoing task and, where possible, it is great to see that we are able to improve our car parks and public rights of way, ensuring everyone is able to access facilities and move around the area without obstacles.” explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys.

“In a county the size of Powys, making sure all our paths, gates and public areas are accessible for all is a challenge, but it is really important to get these things right in areas which have such a fantastic community resource close at hand.

Local councillor and Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, Cllr Richard Church added, “Removal of this old kissing gate between Berriew Street carpark and Oldford Lane will ensure that users of the new Welshpool Integrated Family Centre will be able to get there easily with a pushchair, scooter or kids bikes in tow. I know, as a local resident myself, that this improved access will make a real difference to the local area.”

6 October 2022

A cost-of-living advice day is to be held at a south Powys library next week, the county council has said.

Ystradgynlais Library will be hosting the advice day on Thursday 13 October where residents struggling with the rising cost of living can get advice and support.

The advice day will start at 11am and finish at 4pm.The event has been organised by Powys County Council’s Cultural Services and Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) and will provide an opportunity for people to connect with representatives from a wide range of organisations who can offer practical support during these difficult times.

Council staff and other agencies will be on hand to assist anyone who is concerned about soaring prices, and advice will be provided on budgeting, energy saving, accessing benefits and more.

Organisations that will be attending the day are:

• Community Pharmacies
• Department of Work and Pensions
• Dyfed Powys Police
• NEST (Energy Saving Trust)
• Pobl
• Powys Citizens Advice
• Powys County Council Housing
• Money Advice Team – Powys County Council
• Warm Wales
• Ystradgynlais Foodbank
• Ystradgynlais Community Dreams

Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “I am pleased that the library is able to host this important event. I would like to thank all the organisations that are taking part in this advice day. It’s incredibly useful to get everyone in one place to offer advice and guidance during the cost-of-living crisis and support the people of Powys.”

Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “I would urge everyone in the Ystradgynlais community who is struggling with the rising cost of living to attend this event at the library to get the  advice and guidance they may need.”

If you would like to get in touch with Ystradgynlais Library, all contact information can be found here: https://en.powys.gov.uk/ystradgynlaislibrary/

If you wish to become a partner and contribute to the event, please contact Nichola Farr: [email protected]

6 October 2022

A Pontadawe resident has been fined £400 for dumping rubbish on the highway outside the Household Waste Recycling Centre in Lower Cwmtwrch.

Having arrived at the centre in South Powys and realising it was closed that day, instead of retuning during normal opening hours, the offender decided to dump all the waste from the back of their van outside the locked gates of the site. Disposing of rubbish in a public place in this way is classed as fly-tipping and not only posed an environmental risk to road users, other members of the public and the local area but it is also incredibly unsightly.

Thankfully the CCTV at the entrance to the Household Waste Recycling Centre caught the perpetrator in the act and a Fixed Penalty Notice for £400 was quickly issued.

“All Household Waste and Recycling Centres are open five days a week, with details of the opening days and times clearly displayed at the entrances and online.” Explains Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys.

“There is no excuse for not knowing when the centres are open, and even less of an excuse for using your lack of forward planning as a reason for fly-tipping rubbish. These facilities are not a 24/7 drop off point, with strict licencing rules determining opening hours, and people can’t just leave stuff in the road outside when the centres are closed.

“Despite being on the doorstep, fly-tipping incidents such as these must still be investigated by our enforcement team and all rubbish cleared from the area and disposed of correctly, all of which cost the council in time and resources.

“The council has a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping and all incidents are thoroughly investigated by our enforcement team and fines issued to those responsible. Powys is a vast and beautiful county, and we will not allow the illegal behaviour of a few irresponsible people to blight our local environments.”

Incidents of fly-tipping can be reported to the council online:Report fly tipping 

5 October 2022

During October parkrun organisers are inviting Powys residents who don’t wish to run the 5k distance, to walk it instead. 

The offer and message that you can “walk it” is being supported by the Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys programme – a Macmillan funded programme – which is supporting people during their cancer journey. 

Each week someone involved in the programme will join parkwalk and be on hand to chat to people living with cancer either during or after the walk in the local Strand café. 

Nina Davies, Director of Social Services and Housing was first to join the walk on Saturday 1st October along with Liz Towns from the Bracken Trust who runs the course each week but who will walk it through the month.  Also planning to join are Councillor Sian Cox, Cabinet Member for Caring Powys and PAVO’s local community connector Sharon Healey.

Councillor Sian Cox said:”I’ll be walking the Builth Wells parkrun route on 22nd October, with my dog, and anyone who’d like to walk with us.  My own lived experience showed me how walking, breathing fresh air and especially connecting with nature, increases wellbeing.  Doing it regularly leads to things that also make you feel better – fitness, healthiness, strength, connecting with other people – and also helps you avoid things that make you feel low – being unfit, boredom, loneliness.  I’m always up for a walk – anywhere, in any weather!

She added:”I’m looking forward to meeting other people who want to show their support for Improving the Cancer Journey, and in particular, anyone who wants to talk to me about living with cancer in our rural county. I hope that October being designated a “Walk It” month leads to more people trying walking, loving walking, and taking up more walking.  Every month can be ‘Walk It’ month – even in rainy Wales!”

Lee Jarvis, Builth Wells organiser said: “parkrun was never intended to be purely an invite to run the course. Lots of people enjoy and already walk the Groe route, but with our 18 year anniversary celebration we felt that October would be the perfect month to remind people that they are more than welcome to come along and walk the route.  Walking can help people manage their health conditions and in some cases prevent them as well as enhance our mood and boost our fitness levels.  We also have our infamous Stan in situ who walks the route, bringing up the rear every week and who chats to residents who prefer a more leisurely pace to their Saturday morning routine. Anyone who wishes to attend will need to register (one time only).  Registration is completely free and only needs to be done once, whether you intend to walk, jog, run, or volunteer or do a combination of all these things!”

Register at:  https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/

Find out more at  https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Dr Ruth Corbally, Lead Cancer GP for Powys said:

“A parkwalk promotion for October links perfectly with our Improving the Cancer Journey in Powys programme ethos, which is all about helping people living with cancer to access support, information and advice about what matters to them closer to home. For some people living with cancer, whether they are waiting for test results, about to go in for treatment or are at the end of their treatment pathway, a walk in the fresh air on a Saturday morning could be very positive and help improve their well-being.”

Residents living with cancer can find out more about the support which is offered by the programme by visiting their website: https://www.powysrpb.org/icjpowys

5 October 2022

Powys residents are being urged to be on their guard against energy rebate scammers.

Reports of scam emails and text messages are increasing, with fake communications often claiming to be about energy rebates from Ofgem, the independent energy regulator, or the UK Government.

The messages claim that the recipient is due an energy rebate payment or discounted energy bill as part of a government scheme and provide links for the recipient to follow to apply for the rebate. The links lead to malicious websites designed to steal personal and financial information.

“It’s really sad to see scammers trying to cash in on the cost-of-living crisis with these messages,” said Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Powys County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys. “They are being sent at a time when most people are expecting to receive something authentic about support with their energy bills, so are especially vulnerable to this type of deception.

“Please be on your guard for these con artists, who are always on the lookout for a change in circumstances to exploit. Always double-check before clicking on a link in an email or text message, or before handing over any personal or financial information.”

If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly. Don’t use the numbers or address in the message – use the details from their official website. 

Remember, your bank (or any other official source) will never ask you to supply personal information via email or a text message.

For more advice about how to keep safe online visit: www.cyberaware.gov.uk and report fraud attempts at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

The non-repayable £400 energy discount from the UK Government will be paid in six instalments, with households seeing £66 taken off their energy bills in October and November, and £67 a month from December to March 2023.

The money will be paid differently depending on how you pay your bill: 

• If you’ve set up a direct debit, or pay by card, the money will be automatically credited to your energy account, reducing what you need to pay. 
• Customers with ‘smart’ prepayment meters will have the money applied to their meter each month, so they’ll have to add less credit to their meter. 
• Those with ‘non-smart’ traditional prepayment devices will receive either ‘Special Action Messages’ or vouchers from their supplier in the first week of each month, by text, email or in the post.

The vouchers will be redeemable at top-up points, such as a local post office, and the discount will be credited to the meter key. It’s therefore important your supplier has your current, up-to-date contact details.

PICTURE: A screenshot of a scam text message received by a member of Powys County Council staff, showing how realistic they can be made to look by cyber-criminals.