Tag Archives: political

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Green light for 5 brand new primary schools in Powys

The money has been made available as part of the £1.4bn 21st Century Schools and Education Programme, a unique collaboration between the Welsh Government and Local Authorities with the aim of creating a generation of 21st Century Schools in Wales.

Powys County Council have been awarded £11.8 million against a total project cost of £23.8 million. This will now enable the construction phase to begin on the following projects:

  • Hay-on-Wye Community Primary School
    A new 210 place community primary school will replace the existing school which currently has 161 pupils in reception to year 6.The  school will include facilities for early years provision, as well as youth /community facilities and a public library.  This will address growing pupil numbers resulting from several new future housing developments proposed for Hay-on-Wye.
  • Clyro Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School
    The 120 place Church-in-Wales school in Clyro will replace the existing school which currently has 85 pupils.  This school will also include facilities for early years provision. The new school will meet the projected demand for Church in Wales school places in the North of the catchment area.
  • Bronllys/Talgarth Community Primary School
    The 150 place community primary school built on a greenfield site in Talgarth will replace two existing schools – Talgarth community primary school which has 56 pupils and Bronllys community primary school which has 32 pupils. It too will have early years, youth and community facilities.  It will address growing pupil numbers in the wider Talgarth area which will see a number of new housing developments over the coming years.
  • Llangors Church in Wales Voluntary Controlled School.
     A new 150 place Church-in-Wales school in Llangors will replace the existing school which currently has capacity for 146 pupils. The new school will include accommodation for early years’ pupils and will meet the need for Church in Wales school places in the south of the catchment area.
  • Archdeacon Griffiths Church in Wales Voluntary Aided School, Llyswen
     A new 150 place Church-in-Wales school will replace the current school which holds 129 pupils. It will meet the need for Church in Wales school places in the West of the catchment area.  This school will also have early years facilities.

Minister for Lifelong Learning Alun Davies said:

“Securing capital investment in these difficult economic times is essential not only for better education outcomes but for the continued support of our construction industry and the growth of our economy.

“This is great news for local people and for the future of education on the area.”

Powys’ Cabinet Member for Schools, Councillor Arwel Jones said:

“We are delighted that our ambitious plans for five new primary schools in the Gwernyfed catchment area have received final approval from the Welsh Government and that construction work can get underway as soon as possible.

“Between them the schools will provide state-of the-art teaching accommodation for young learners demonstrating the council’s commitment to education in Powys.”

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Welsh Government • •

Press release: 5 illegal anglers ordered to pay over £4,000 in Nottinghamshire

5 Nottinghamshire anglers have been found guilty of fishing without a licence, resulting in penalties totalling £4,265 and criminal records.

Jake Munns and Jai Makanji of Nottingham, Keegan Lambert and Kieran Buxton of Mansfield, and Phillip Galley of Sutton-in-Ashfield were all found guilty of fishing illegally. They were caught at the Woodend Lakes in Huthwaite during a routine patrol carried out by Environment Agency bailiffs.

The Environment Agency carries out these routine patrols to ensure that the future of angling is protected for the vast majority of anglers who fish legally. With an annual rod licence valid from 1 April only costing £30, the offending anglers have been left several hundred pounds out of pocket by their actions.

The 5 offenders were tried on 2 March 2017 at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court. Fines totalled £3,300, but with £635 in costs as well as £330 in victim surcharges the total penalties amounted to £4,265.

Environment Agency enforcement officer Peter Haslock said:

This is an excellent result for the Environment Agency as well as for the hundreds of thousands of anglers who follow the rules.

These offenders could have saved themselves a substantial sum of money as well as a criminal record if they had bought the required licences. An annual rod licence that is valid from 1 April is available from just £30, so there really is no excuse.

The Environment Agency recently launched “Get a Fishing Licence” on GOV.UK to simplify the process of buying a fishing licence. This new webpage is part of a series of changes that have been made to improve the service. The improvements include:

  • Free licences for junior anglers, up to the age of 17
  • The fishing licence will now last for 12 months from the day it is bought rather than expire at the end of March every year. A standard year-long licence is available from £30.
  • Anglers now need only one licence to use three rods, rather than the two licences that were needed previously.

All money raised through rod licence sales is used to support fish, fisheries and the angling sport. The Environment Agency’s activities to protect and improve fish and fisheries include protecting stocks from illegal fishing, pollution and disease, eradicating invasive species and improving fish habitats.

The Environment Agency urges people who suspect they may have been witness to, or have information of, illegal fishing to report illegal activity by calling its incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

Notes for editors

  • All five individuals in this case were prosecuted under Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, for fishing for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed rod and line in a place where fishing is regulated.

  • Jake Munns, of Worrall Avenue in Nottingham, who was proved guilty in absence, was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £127 as well as a victim surcharge of £66, making the total penalty £853.

  • Jai Makanji, of Leivers Avenue in Nottingham, who was proved guilty in absence, was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £127 as well as a victim surcharge of £66, making the total penalty £853.

  • Kieran Buxon, of Milton Street in Mansfield, who was proved guilty in absence, was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £127 as well as a victim surcharge of £66, making the total penalty £853.

  • Keegan Lambert, of Stuart Avenue in Mansfield, who was proved guilty in absence, was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £127 as well as a victim surcharge of £66, making the total penalty £853.

  • Phillip Galley, of John Street in Sutton-in-Ashfield, who was proved guilty in absence, was fined £660 and ordered to pay costs of £127 as well as a victim surcharge of £66, making the total penalty £853.

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HM Government • • •