Wales' Flying Start programme exceeds expansion targets
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Leader Live
22 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Ruabon: 'Characterful' Wynnstay Hall estate home up for sale
The five-bed property in Ruabon has been listed at a guide price of £900,000 by estate agents Savills. The home overlooks its own mature and enchanting gardens designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, a famous English gardener and landscape architect. In all, more than 140 estates were designed by him across the UK, and Wynnstay Hall Estate was his last. 'Temple Dairy', as it is known, has been occupied by its current owners for the past 23 years. It is described by Savills as a 'charming country house situated within the grounds of Wynnstay Hall Estate, occupying an unrivalled position within the Capability Brown Grade 1 listed pleasure garden'. Believed to date from 1783, the house is listed and was designed as an ornamental dairy, which has been extended over time. Of note, is the 19th century front section addition and kitchen extension. The front door opens into a welcoming entrance hall that is currently utilised as a dining room. The feature drawing room has an original stone fireplace, a groined ceiling that is 14ft high, and double doors that open onto the doric temple terrace area with original porticoe, overlooking the enchanting garden. There is an additional good sized sitting room and the kitchen/dining room was added in 2001. The principal bedroom suite enjoys a dressing area, bathroom and fine views of the garden. There are two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, as well as two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Read more Wynnstay Hall enjoys a delightful tree-lined approach over a long private driveway with parkland to either side. The property is set in approximately 4.5 acres, the gardens being beautifully designed and include a selection of mature trees, woodland and a pond extending to approximately 0.4 acre, all of which attracts a variety of wildlife. The garage, having a barrelled ceiling, was the original subway that the cattle came through. The Estate includes a tennis court for use of the residents. Wynnstay Hall was once the principal seat to one of the most powerful families in Welsh History, the Watkin Williams Wynns. The family were major landowners and had great political and social influence in Wales. The first recorded property on the estate known as Watsay and was built in 1616. Over the coming centuries, Wynnstay Hall was enlarged and developed by the family. In 1944, the hall and 150 acres were sold to Lindisfarne College, a public school. For further information, call Savills on 01244 988117.
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Scottish Government accused of trying to 'railroad through' Flamingo Land resort
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said SNP minister Ivan McKee was treating local opponents to the controversial £43.5million bid with 'disdain'. The Scottish Government has been accused of trying to 'railroad through' Flamingo Land's Loch Lomond resort. Labour MSP for Dumbarton Jackie Baillie said SNP minister Ivan McKee was treating local opponents to the controversial £43.5million bid with 'disdain' and added he should not be allowed to decide the case. It comes after the proposed Lomond Banks resort in Balloch by Yorkshire theme park firm Flamingo Land was rejected by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park last year. The SNP sparked an outcry when in May its Reporter David Buylla overruled them and green-lit the resort – a decision initially backed by public finance minister McKee. Last month McKee was forced into a U-turn amid local opposition and the threat of a parliamentary defeat led by Baillie and has 'called in' the appeal, meaning it must be directly considered by ministers. Baillie has warned Holyrood chiefs against trying to rush through a decision while MSPs are on holiday – as the Sunday Mail can reveal officials set out a speeded-up six-week timeline. The Scottish Labour deputy leader said: 'David Buylla, the original Reporter, already made a decision and Ivan McKee has already taken a view in Parliament. In the interests of fairness neither should have anything further to do with this application." The planned holiday resort in Balloch - long opposed by local and green campaigners - would see a waterpark, a monorail, hotels, a brewery, 104 woodland chalets and more built along the iconic loch. Developers insist it will bring jobs and investment to the area. We told last week of Buylla's continued involvement in the appeal despite previously backing the bid, with activists branding the process a 'sham'. Further questions have been raised after new correspondence from Buylla set out a new six-week timeline for developers, with input from the National Park, to produce a key planning agreement needed if the bid goes ahead. After his initial decision, Buylla had set out a six-month timeline, with no explanation provided about why this has been so drastically shortened. It's raised fears the government could dodge parliamentary scrutiny on the issue given MSPs don't return from summer recess until August 31. Buylla has set a 'target date' of September 11 to produce his final report for ministers. Baillie added: 'The SNP Government must not rush this through without public hearings on key concerns. 'This lack of accountability is a democratic outrage. "The SNP must stop railroading this application through and respond to the public concerns in an open and transparent manner or leave themselves open to judicial review." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Green MSP Ross Greer said: 'The future of the gateway to Loch Lomond cannot be decided behind closed doors. "The National Park's board held a full public hearing before unanimously rejecting Flamingo Land's destructive plans. The Scottish Government must do the same. 'The Reporter made a huge mistake at the appeal stage by refusing to speak to groups like the National Park's planning experts or community representatives. Ministers cannot repeat that mistake as they try to rush this to a conclusion." The Scottish Government said: 'Ministers have not reached or expressed a view on this proposed development, and any claim to the contrary is false. As this is a live planning appeal it would not be appropriate to comment further.'
North Wales Live
2 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Best holiday park in Wales named — it scores higher than Bluestone and Haven
A survey conducted by Which? to determine the best and worst UK holiday parks has seen three Welsh parks topping the charts. The survey was filled out by 1,700 Which? members who were asked to evaluate their experiences at UK holiday parks and resorts. Participants were asked to rate aspects ranging from park cleanliness to accommodation quality, the range of complimentary activities available, and the overall value for money of their holiday. Forest Holidays, which operates 13 locations in total including two in Wales, secured second place with an 80% score, outperforming major brands like Haven and Butlins. Known for its countryside lodges and unique accommodations such as treehouses, Forest Holidays has parks in Beddgelert, nestled in Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri, and Garwnant in Bannau Brycheiniog. Customers praised the quality of the accommodation and cleanliness, although it only received a three-star rating for value for money. Another Welsh winner was Bluestone Wales, located in scenic Pembrokeshire. Bluestone, known for its luxury lodges and cottages, also scored highly for the quality of accommodation provided. While Bluestone earned high marks for the variety of children's activities and entertainment on offer, it also managed to secure a three-star rating for value for money, resulting in an overall score of 77%. Potters Resorts, offering all-inclusive holidays with locations in Essex and Norfolk, has topped the UK chart. Although it's an adults-only resort for most of the year, children are welcomed during the summer holidays in Norfolk. Potters achieved a remarkable 87% score, earning five-stars for the quality of facilities and accommodation, and a perfect score for the range of complimentary activities available. Despite being the priciest among the parks surveyed by Which?, the cost at Potters includes all food and drink, a variety of activities from pickleball to archery, and evening entertainment touted as 'West End' quality. This earned the resorts a four-star rating for value for money. Pontins, on the other hand, finds itself at the bottom of the chart once again, having also ranked last in 2024. The brand currently operates only one holiday park open to guests, the adults-only Sand Bay Holiday Village in Weston-Super-Mare. Their other two parks in Burnham on Sea, Somerset and Pakefield, Suffolk are temporarily shut to accommodate construction workers. With a mere 56% customer satisfaction score, Pontins managed just two-stars in most categories. Despite being the least expensive option, customers still felt they received poor value for money. One disgruntled Tripadvisor user didn't mince words about their Pakefield park experience, stating: "Worst place I have ever visited, chalet was old unkempt and dirty, holes in sheets beds pushed together with terrible matress and pillows, to shower you had to keep pushing a button in, it leaked all over the floor". Another visitor voiced their dissatisfaction, remarking: "Rooms are shabby and quite dirty. Dirt on the baseboards, cobwebs in the corners and behind doors, our shower curtain had pink mold growing along the bottom seam, clearly not laundered between guests." Yet, amid the negative feedback, some holidaymakers shared positive sentiments about Pontins. A satisfied guest commented: "We went beginning of October had a brilliant week! Food was great swimming pool was really good and for the price you really can't get any better!" Entertainment at the parks was also praised, with one reviewer enthusing: "The Bluecoats show Vegas was amazing! They are all so talented and are always doing some activity or joining in on the dance floor and having a laugh or chatting with people." Away Resorts, sharing the same score, operates 25 parks across the UK, including sought-after destinations in the South West and the Isle of Wight. Away Resorts received just two stars for value for money, despite providing a broad spectrum of accommodation options from caravans and glamping to luxury lodges. They also performed poorly for customer service, though managed three stars for cleanliness and accommodation quality. They have two parks in North Wales; Golden Sands and Barmouth Bay. Center Parcs emerged as the most popular holiday park provider in the survey, managing to score 69% meaning it was tied with Haven. While it performed well for its facilitoes and accommodation quality, it received disappointing marks for the range of complimentary activities available and overall value for money. It ranked as the third most costly option, trailing behind Potters and Warner Leisure Villages, which caters exclusively to adults. One Which? member commented: "Very expensive for what it is. Accomodation excellent, apart from the oasis pool, everything was extra. Staff were very helpful and the children enjoyed their stay. I will not be going back." Haven, operating 38 parks throughout the UK, matched Center Parcs' percentage score, though they managed three stars for value for money. Which? readers awarded them two-star ratings for food and drink offerings and the selection of complimentary activities available. Best and worst holiday parks in the UK - ranked Provider Customer Score Potters Resorts 87% Forest Holidays 80% Bluestone Wales 77% John Fowler Holiday Parks 77% Hoburne Holidays 75% Hoseasons 74% Waterside Holiday Group 74% Warner Leisure Villages 71% Centerparcs 69% Haven Holiday Parks 69% Parkdean Resorts 68% Butlins 67% Park Holidays UK 66% Away Resorts 64% Largo Leisure Parks 64%
