Radio Maldwyn update

December 22, 2010

Yesterday spoke with Insolvency firm Irwin and Company and Powys County Council officials.

Irwin and Company have confirmed that they do have a potential buyer for the assets of Radio Maldwyn, this is subject to contract and agreement as there are a number of different parties involved. Irwin and Company are therefore still in control of the stations assets at the present time.

There are still issues that Irwin and Company has to resolve with OFCOM in regards to the licence, I have spoken with MP Glyn Davies who has been  involved in discussions with OFCOM and with Irwin and Company to bring a resolution.

Powys County Council owns the studios, transmitter and some equipment. The lease with the former owners lapsed some time ago.

The council must of course have assurances that the potential buyer will make a suitable tenant. The Council may also be in a position to facilitate some grant funding, but they would need to have assurances of the potential buyer’s intentions and commitment etc. The council has also got to be ready to act quickly depending on advice received from OFCOM, Irwin and Company and others.

I have been involved in the discussions from the Powys County Council side and I am pleased with the approach to date; the relevant people are taking the regeneration and commitment to retaining a local radio station seriously.

There are still a number of hurdles that need to be overcome. Form my point of view, our local BBC radio station (Radio Wales) does not offer an adequate service to us in Mid Wales and I believe we must retain a local radio station that continues to operate from a local base with good local content.

I should also say that several staff have lost there jobs, in the lead up to Christmas this is obviously a particular difficult time and the opportunity should be taken to thank them for their work.

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Posted by russellgeorge

Assembly fails Powys in latest freeze

December 19, 2010

There was ten inches of snow outside my front door yesterday morning! I like snow, but would prefer it next week. As a local Councillor, I’ve had plenty of calls with people reporting empty salt bins etc. The County Council has responded quickly and all praise to the local staff.

Earlier this month the Local Government Minister Carl Sargeant announced he would make £7 million available for local authorities across Wales to spend on repairing potholes and buying road salt for gritting this winter. Good job I thought!

Last week I asked the question – how the £7 million would be distributed throughout Wales and was shocked that Powys County Council would only receive £500,000! Powys covers 25% of the surface of Wales, so the amount we are receiving is not in proportion.

A bit more digging and then I understand that the Assembly Government has simply ‘sought prices’  for further salt supplies, while two ‘strategic salt barns’ in Wales will not be filled until next year!

I do feel we have been let us down, I would have hoped that the Assembly Government would have learnt the lessons of last winter’s salt shortages which put lives at risk on Powys’ roads. We’ve known for months that winter is coming so there no no reason for not being prepared.

Although forgotten about when it comes to the Assembly government, we should be grateful for Powys County Council staff that go out on the salt lorries in cold, unsociable hours, and for all the staff who plan and answer the phones. I think they have done and are doing a great job!

Leave a Comment » | powys county council, Uncategorized, weather, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

The case for change in Powys schools

December 8, 2010

Powys County Councils Ruling Board, of which I am a member, voted in favour by 10 – 3 to approve that the Secondary and Post-16 Modernisation Strategic Outline Case now goes out to public consultation with a preferred way forward. I was one of the 3 who voted against the recommendation as the preferred way forward would lead to a number of sixth forms being removed from secondary schools – The closure of sixth forms.

The publication of the latest results of the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment was also released this week which shows Wales has fallen down the league table of OECD nations. These figures are very disappointing and show how far behind Wales has fallen in basic skills. Wales is the worst performing nation in the UK for educational standards.

However, in Powys schools are achieving some of the best results in Wales with excellent results at GCSE and A levels largely down to good teachers, so I think it is imperative we do nothing that harms the present provision. If we are to make change to our school structure, there has to be a clear and overwhelming case.

The review of secondary education has come about as the council has had to deal with more subject choice and improving quality now being required, against a backdrop of falling pupil numbers and budget pressures. However, the potential savings in the Secondary and Post-16 Modernisation Strategic Outline Case document are marginal. I do not  think the case for change has been made and the savings identified certainly do not justify the risk of changing our school structure.

I am pleased that all 13 sites will now remain, our secondary schools are at the heart of our communities and are important factors in the regeneration of our towns, they are also significant employers and the largest employers in some towns. I am supportive of the principle of multiple site schools, but before I can put my support behind any change, I would need assurance that under this structure, one school site would not become the poor relation. Otherwise, my concern would be that further down the road the weaker site could close. (This would then be the closure of a site rather than a school!)

The overwhelming reason for voting against was that the hub and spoke model that is the preferred option for post 16 education would mean that sixth forms would be removed from some of our schools. I believe not having a full and working sixth form in communities such as Llanidloes, Caereinion, Llanfyllin and Ysgol Bro Ddyfi would have a hugely detrimental impact on the school and community. Some argue the case that in other areas secondary schools do not have sixth forms, but I believe you can not impose an urban model on a rural area.

The Councils board is made up of 15 County Councillors. All the Lib Dem Councillors along with Independent Councillors voted to support the preferred option. The Conservative Councillors (me being one of them) voted against. The public consultation will run from January to May 2011 and I urge you to take up the opportunity to have your say on these proposals. Myself, I could not support a recommendation that would lead to the destruction of some of our excellent community sixth forms.

2 Comments | Education, powys county council | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Caersws CP school and the Home to School Transport Policy

September 23, 2010
Caersws CP School

Me aged 8 at Caersws CP School, 1982, with class and Mr Fleming

I called by Caersws County Primary School this week. I think it’s the first time I have been back there since I left as a pupil myself in 1985. After my visit, by complete coincidence Ceri Bromwell Gwilt posted a school year picture of me in class 3 aged 8 on Facebook today!

I had called by to visit the head teacher Mr Gardner to discuss the home to school transport policy and how it will affect the school. I was pleased to accept his offer of a tour. Since I attended, the only major difference to the building was a couple of extensions with an extra classroom. Other than that everything was the same except that all the classrooms looked smaller than I remember and 1 PC had turned into a suite of PCs. I also bumped into Mrs Gentle (who was Miss Thomas when she first taught me in Clatter Primary school) and Mr Williams who taught me in my last year at Caersws

Back to my original issue, the home to school transport policy:

The Welsh Assembly Government passed a measure (this is like an Act of Parliament) known as the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. Because of the requirements contained in the Measure, if the Council chose to remain with its current policy, where transport is provided other than to the nearest school, it would put the Council at risk of incurring additional costs.

The policy is a lengthy document, but I would sum it up as this. The Council will only pay for transport to the nearest school from the child’s home address. There is an exception for Welsh medium education. There is also a transitional arrangement, which allows for children that are already attending a school to continue receiving free transport. If you want the full details click here and then click on the Agenda in the middle of the screen and go down to item 6

The policy was discussed and voted on at the Councils Board last week. I am one of the 15 Board Members, and the only member who voted against the proposal.

I have to reluctantly agree with the principle of the policy, but I disagree with the detail and there were areas that I was unhappy with.

One area was that infant and junior schools located on one site were not treated as one school. So a child may not receive free transport to the junior school after leaving the infant school. However, after I made this point, it was agreed that this would not be the case.

The other issue was that there was no flexibility built into the plan for communities that sit in-between two high schools. Caersws is an example.

Parents whose children attended Caersws school have always had the choice of which school to send their children. The vast majority have sent their children to Llanidloes for over a generation. Under the policy to be implemented next September residents in Caersws will only receive free transport to Newtown, as it’s slightly nearer.

My view is that one policy does not fit all. Under the proposals you could have a family with children in different high schools 15 miles apart, which is going to be deeply disruptive to family life, and all for a saving which has yet to be identified. The reality is that people in Caersws would just pay for and put their own bus on to Llanidloes with a near empty bus going to Newtown! Also an issue here with families that can’t afford to pay for transport.

Under the proposal it was agreed that Council officers will commence local consultation with parents in the areas affected. However, I was not convinced that this will address the issues such as in Caersws. All too often consultation just means informing. I hope I am wrong.

1 Comment | Caersws, Education, powys county council | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Letter to Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM regarding Newtown traffic chaos

February 26, 2010

26 February 2010

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA

Dear Deputy First Minister,

Traffic chaos

As I am sure you are aware, Newtown has experienced huge traffic problems for many years and, with the opening of Newtown’s Tesco Store on Monday, the problems have become significantly worse. I have been inundated with comments from people talking about their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown. Police have also received numerous complaints.

There are two issues here: Firstly, the unacceptable design of the new traffic lights system that replaced the Pool Road roundabout. The second issue concerns the failure to synchronise the new system with other traffic lights through the town as was proposed.

To most motorists a green light means ‘go’ and the current layout is causing confusion on priority. There has already been a number of minor bumps and this must now be considered as a major accident waiting to happen. I’ve never before seen a four-way junction without filter lanes. I am now calling on you to undertake an urgent independent road safety audit.

Your Department is responsible for this trunk road. It’s your Department that approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic lights.

I was told today that the Assembly’s experiences elsewhere indicates that traffic flows will improve as drivers become familiar with the new layout and that Welsh Assembly Government does not intend therefore to make any fundamental changes immediately. I accept that flow will improve a little as drivers get used to the layout, but do not accept that the people of Newtown will have to wait to see if the problems fix themselves; we need action now. Your department does not seem in touch with what is happening here in Newtown.

I also understand that the software that will synchronise the signals through Newtown will be installed at the beginning of next week, and your department is anticipating that flows will be further improved as signal operation is optimised during the week. Unfortunately, I don’t have the same degree of confidence.

The current chaos is causing huge damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most. Newtown is a central point in Wales but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth may be affected by this mess. Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already. The last thing we need is a new traffic layout which makes things a whole lot worse. It’s just not good enough to say that the problems may be fixed in two or three weeks, it should be fixed now. Your Department is responsible and accountable for this completely unacceptable situation.

I would therefore request an urgent reply from you, setting out your plans to resolve the unacceptable layout at the new set of traffic lights and your assurances that the new synchronised signals system through Newtown will be an improvement on traffic flow from 12 months ago.

At the Newtown Traffic Study exhibition last September, which revealed three options for a Newtown By-Pass, your department informed me that you would be revealing the preferred route in January. This has not happened. I have submitted my response to the consultation in which I gave my support for the Orange Route Variant 1.

I should be further grateful if you could now confirm which option is the preferred route and set out the timetable for works to begin on the By-Pass through to completion of the project.

Yours faithfully,

Russell George
Cynghorydd Sir / County Councillor – Newtown Central
Office: 01686 626500
Mobile: 07867782727

5 Comments | councillors, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, retail, shopping, transport | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown traffic chaos

February 25, 2010

As you can imagine I’ve been inundated with comments from people talking about their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown. Police have also received numerous complaints.

There are two issues here, the first is the unacceptable design of the new traffic lights system that replaced the Pool Road roundabout, and the second is the failure to date to synchronise the new system with other traffic lights thought the town as was proposed.

To most motorists a green light means go and the current layout is causing confusion on priority. There has already been a number of minor bumps and this must now be considered as a major accident waiting to happen. I’ve never before seen a four way junction without filter lanes. Along with other Newtown Councillors I demanded that an independent road safety audit be carried out urgently.

The County Times has reported that the Council are blaming Tesco.  Planning conditions required that before the store can open, all the traffic works must be completed and tested to the Planning Authority’s satisfaction.

Personally, although I think a degree of blame should be placed with Tesco, I believe the major part  should to directed towards WAG, after all, they are responsible for the trunk road, the Assembly department approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic lights.

I was told today that the Assembly’s experiences elsewhere  indicates that traffic flows will improve as drivers become familiar with the new layout and that WAG does not intend therefore to make any fundamental changes immediately. I accept that flow will improve a little as drivers get used to the layout, but WAG are just not in touch with what is happening here in Newtown and are making excuses.

I also understand that the software that will synchronise the signals through Newtown will be installed at the beginning of next week, the WAG are anticipating that flows will be further improved as signal operation is optimised during the week, unfortunately, I don’t have the same degree of confidence .

The current chaos is causing huge damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most.  Newtown is a central point in Wales but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth may be effected by this mess.  Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already.  The last thing we need is a new traffic layout which makes things a whole lot worse. Its just not good enough to say that the problems may be fixed in two or three weeks, It should be fixed now. WAG must be held accountable for this completely unacceptable situation. Tesco consultants and the WAG will have to come up with better solutions and fast.

5 Comments | business, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, safety, transport, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Council tax increase – and I voted for it!

February 4, 2010

Well, what did happen on the council tax increase debate? The answer is that it is going to be an increase of 4.25% and what is surprising is that I voted for it!

One of my reasons for standing for election to the County Council two years ago was due to my frustrations in council and business tax going up each year, but the services we receive going down.

Last year, I voted against the 2.99% council tax increase, and supported the Conservatives proposals for just a 2% increase.

Taking into account that inflation is very low at present, the proposed increase of 4.25% seemed high in real terms. Under normal circumstances, I could never support such a high council tax increase, but at last weeks meeting I did support and vote for the 4.25%. I supported this with difficulty as I do find it hard to justify when people have either lost their jobs or are seeing a small increase in there wage packets.

When the 4.25% proposal was first brought forward a few weeks earlier at the council’s board, I didn’t support the increase.

This year’s council budget does seem to be designed to boost reserves, as the belt tightens on Council spending. To maintain much needed investment in our schools is my main reason for supporting this year’s increase.

Let’s not forget that following the forthcoming general election spending cuts will be inevitable whoever wins, and saving our secondary schools and other services, where we can, appears to me to be a valid cause.

Leave a Comment » | conservatives, council tax, councillors, powys county council, public services, taxes, welsh conservatives | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Market Hall saved

July 16, 2008

The council was yesterday considering a proposal to sell Newtown Market Hall. I had serious concerns over this, with 36 businesses operating within the market and at least 70 people employed.

The majority vote of the Council’s Board resoved to defer any decision until after the sale of the Newtown Smithfield site. This will enable the Council to re consider the investment needed in the market hall from the proceeds of the sale. To me it would seem reasonable for Newtown to benefit directly from the these funds.

The Traders and the people of Newtown will be pleased with this news, This was undoubtedly helped by a well supported petition and also the backing of all the Newtown County Councillors. The proposed sale of the building has been a real worry to the businesses within the market and many believe that Newtown, as a market town, should retain its indoor market.

It was good to see so many people working for the good of our area.

2 Comments | newtown, powys county council, retail | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown strikes it lucky

May 28, 2008

I would like to offer my congratulations to Devika and Muralee Tharan, who recently opened the area’s first ten-pin bowling alley, uStrike. I went along on Friday night with a few friends. I had seen it described as a ‘four-lane state-of-the-art bowling alley’ and I would say that’s what it is! Really well furnished, no expense spared and professional service.

A recurring comment I heard while campaigning was that our county council isn’t doing enough in the way of children and youth facilities in Newtown.

My answer to that was rather than the focusing on council providing further facilities, our council should be encouraging and supporting local entrepreneurs.

The council is pretty strapped for cash and unfortunately leisure and recreation facilities are always going to be pushed to the bottom of the list when money is short. It is great news that the town has now got this facility. I don’t know Devika and Muralee Tharan, but they have obviously taken a risk in this venture and I just hope that the all those who have called for more facilities will support this business.

I came last in our match so will definately be going back again to improve my technique!

For more information, visit www.ustrike.co.uk or call 01686 622688 for bookings.

1 Comment | leisure, powys county council, recreation | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

I think I’ve been done

May 18, 2008

I went to a Promise Auction last night in Montgomery town hall, as I’d never been to one before I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

I ended up bidding for a £20 voucher to use in the Shilam restaurant in Newtown. I was a little confused when the auctioneer announced that the biding would start at £20 - I ended up securing it for £25! I think I’ve been done. I must point out that in my new role in Powys County Council I’m not sitting on any finance committees!

There were 36 items up for auction. These included 216 award-winning sausages in a box (why 216?), a Hopi ear candle session (what’s that?), one pair of curtains (that sold for £8 which I later noticed had an RRP of £49.99, perhaps I should have bought that and stuck it on ebay and made some money instead!

There was also a tour of the national assembly and the senedd donated by Nick Bourne AM…I cant understand why I wasn’t approached to donate a prize of a tour around Powys County Council chambers in Llandod with a mug of tea served at the Powys canteen!

3 Comments | charity, powys county council, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

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