Tuesday 10 August 2010

Half of councils in Wales miss recycling targets

Almost half of local authorities in Wales have missed recycling targets set by the Welsh Assembly Government. Councils were told to recycle and compost 40% of household waste in 2009/10, but 10 fell short, preliminary figures obtained by BBC Wales show.

Ministers say they believe the target would have been hit were it not for the impact of winter weather.

Read the full story here.

Sunday 4 April 2010

Powys County Council pay London consultancy £30,000-£32,000 for spending cuts PR opportunity

Cash-strapped Powys County Council are to pay London-based consultancy 'Research for Today £30,000-£32,000' to provide workshops, where council tax payers get a say on where Powys County Council should make cuts in it's spending.

Cllr Stephen Hayes, portfolio holder for Corporate Governance and Corporate Property, said: “It’s not just about finding out what the public think we should do with the council tax but the level of service they want and the level at which we should stop spending on that particular service and start spending on other services.”

Though any final decisions on spending would still be taken by councillors in conjunction with the council’s corporate plan and Welsh Assembly Government guidelines.

Cllr Hayes explained that bringing in an outside consultation company had been favoured over the cheaper options of a web-only consultation and an in-house consultation due to the 'wider range of residents they will be able to reach' and the 'expertise that Research for Today will be able to bring to the process'.

I guess some tax payers may question why such large sums of money are being frittered away on expensive London based consultancies when there are in-house and local options available at a fraction of the cost. Bearing in mind final decisions would actually be taken by councillors anyway some might even question why we're spending this money in the first place.

Cllr Russell George said: “I know members within my ward will say ‘Why are you spending £30,000 on this? Isn’t this your job, we elected you to represent us and listen to our views’.”

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Llandrindod Wells lakeside skate park

Llandrindod Wells lakeside skate park


Nice view here of the local skate park, situated in the lakeside gardens.

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Rules breached by Bridgend MP

A BBC investigation reveals that over 20 MPs, including Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend, have breached the rules relating to registering and declaring overseas trips paid for by foreign governments.

Full details can be read on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8576327.stm

Other MPs who have breached the rules:

David Amess
Norman Baker
Crispin Blunt
Graham Brady
Colin Breed
David Burrowes
Andrew Dismore
Jim Dobbin
Alan Duncan
Liam Fox
Mike Hancock
Lindsay Hoyle
Paul Keetch
Bob Laxton
David Lepper
Andrew Love
Mike Penning
Andrew Rosindell
Richard Spring
Theresa Villiers
Rudi Vis

Friday 19 March 2010

School closure action group to lobby councillors over closures

Concerned parents and governors are lobbying Powys councillors as they meet to discuss the gloomy future for several high schools. Members of Powys Against Cuts in Education (PACE), will lobby councillors before they meet in Llandrindod Wells.

A spokesperson for PACE said: "All of Powys's high schools are vital to their local communities and provide by any measure a high standard of education as well as a uniquely caring environment for the young people of Powys.

Their sixth forms are both successful and essential to the life of the 13 schools."

PACE is launching it's website www.savepowysschools.com to publicise developments.

In other news there has been a £2.2m boost to be spent improving five Gypsy and traveller sites in Wales. More here.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Llandrindod tower thing




Strange brick tower 'thing' on the main road into Llandrindod Wells, just behind the bus stop. Is it art?





Public sector told 'change working or run out of money'

Friday 12 March 2010

The Bridge of Death - Llandrindod Wells Rock Park

The Bridge of Death - Llandrindod Wells Rock Park


One of the more worrying aspects of a walk around the Rock Park in Llandrindod Wells is a trip across the deep gorge via the Bridge of Death. As you can see from the photo above it's pretty rotten in places, and hasn't been maintained for years. If the 60ft drop onto rocks doesn't get you then the spiked railings will.

Call me unimaginative if you will, but I think ratepayers money should have been spent repairing the rotten boards and making the bridge safe, before shelling out on wooden gargoyles, a website for wooden gargoyles, and outdoor gym equipment.

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Llandrindod lakeside: two paths are better than one

Llandrindod lakeside: two paths are better than one


More strange spending decisions from Powys County Council. Despite having no money for street lighting, minibus services for the disabled, etc they instead decided to spend tax payers money on clearing an area of woodland and creating an expensive new pathway, running alongside an existing path less than two feet away.

Brilliant.

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Llandrindod Wells Rock Park

Llandrindod Wells Rock Park


Another picturesque route into Llandrindod Wells Rock Park, under the Victorian rail bridge newly decorated in silver and blue by locals.

Monday 8 March 2010

Shopping in Llandrindod Wells - full size replica human skulls

Shopping in Llandrindod Wells - replica human skulls


There have been various campaigns by shopkeepers in Llandrindod Wells to try and stop the new Tesco supermarket being built. Powys County Council have also tried their best to scupper the development.

Save your local shops - after all, where else would you be able to browse a selection of replica human skulls?

Sunday 7 March 2010

Welsh public not satisfied police and councils are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime

Fewer than half of the people surveyed in Powys, Carmarthenshire, Pemnbrokeshire and Ceredigion have said that local council and police are not dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues in their area, according to a Dyfed Powys Police report.

A survey was conducted in these areas asking local people if: “The police and local council are dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in this area”, and the results were:

Powys - 44%
Pembrokeshire - 49%
Carmarthenshire - 46%
Ceredigion - 49%

The Government have set targets on the police service to increase these disappointing results to 60% by 2012.

Saturday 6 March 2010

Powys street light sign

Powys Street Lighting cuts


These signs have been a common sight on the streets of Powys for the last year or so. Despite the obvious safety and security issues that arise when you turn all the lights off Powys County Council still regard this as a responsible budgetary decision.

Interesting comment from a BBC forum on this issue:

Recently, we had the Powys Update magazine through our doors. How many street lights would the total cost for this non essential item re-light?

Friday 5 March 2010

Scenery on walk from Llandrindod town to Rock Park

Llandrindod town to the Rock Park


Leaving the high street there's a nice tree-lined walk to the Rock Park, enhanced by local youths and their spray cans.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Elderly and disabled minibus link in Brecon faces cuts




A Brecon minibus service in Powys used by 600 elderly and disabled members could be cut back. Dial-a-ride provides door-to-door transport. It claims Powys council could cut its £26,500 grant by more than 50%. Service spokeswoman Lisa Marsh said it would be "catastrophic" for the scheme's 600 members. More...

However, Powys County Council has allocated itself an extra £135,000 towards the spiralling costs of refurbishment for it's own offices at the Gwalia in Llandrindod Wells after "unforeseen issues that were discovered". More...

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Kirsty Williams - funding cuts will hit 'most vulnerable'

Welsh Liberal Democrats party leader Kirsty Williams has claimed £10.5m in education cuts will affect the "most vulnerable" students in Wales.

Kirsty Williams said: "Colleges and schools have already spent this money but are now being told that they will not receive the cash they expected from the government. The Welsh government has not made clear how colleges should deal with this unexpected funding cut. If the college has four learning support assistants, how do they decide which to let go? If a student's support is no longer being funded, should they leave their course?"

Councillor Michael Jones, Powys Council said "There is no doubt that the size of the reduction proposed will put the individual schools and central special needs service under huge pressure"

Read the full story here.

Llandrindod - Rock Park - 'Llandoddie'

Llandrindod Wells - Rock Park - 'Llandoddie'


Locals display their appreciation for one of the many Llandrindod 'Llandoddie' 'sculptures', this one is in the Rock Park.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Llandrindod Wells lakeside picnic

Llandrindod Wells lakeside picnic


Another shot taken while walking around the lake in Llandrindod Wells - fancy a picnic?

Llandrindod lake - 'no fishing' signpost

Llandrindod Wells lake


Took this photo of an old discarded signpost on one of the embankments surrounding Llandrindod Wells lake. When I took this there was a boat about 100 yards away with 4 people in it looking at reeds.

Monday 1 March 2010

A nice walk up to Llandrindod lake

Llandrindod lake


Just off the main road through town, towards the lake.

Sunday 28 February 2010

Llandrindod Wells lake improvement scheme

Llandrindod Wells lake improvement scheme


Powys County Council are spending around £600,000 on restoring the local lake after it became polluted again. For the past year or so fencing has been put up, and the surrounding banks cleared, as can be seen in the photo above. Some say the reason the lake became polluted was due to carp introduction and fishing, but new fishing areas have been created so it seems any improvements could be temporary.

Most of the streetlights surrounding the lake are switched off, as they are throughout Powys, due to 'lack of funds'.