Aberystwyth geographer wins award for scientific research and Welsh-medium teaching
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South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire barn extension refused over arrow slits
Emma Dymond had sought planning permission and listed building consent from Monmouthshire County Council to allow open access from her kitchen, in the barn that was converted to a home in either the late 1990s or early 2000s, to the proposed single storey extension. But that was rejected by the council's planning department in January and the decision has been upheld by an independent planning inspector after Ms Dymond appealed to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales. The inspector, identified only as JP Tudor, said they agreed covering the arrow slit vent would have an adverse effect on the significance of Ms Dymond's home, North Barn, which is an associated building of the grade II-listed Whitehouse Farmhouse at Llanvair Grange Road, Llanfair Kilgeddin. Whitehouse Farm was listed in 1991 for its architectural and historical importance as a substantial early 17th century house while the barn, now in separate ownership, is considered to retain 'significance as an example of a substantial former agricultural threshing barn, possibly dating from the 18th century'. The council had said a lean-to could be acceptable but the one proposed would involve the unacceptable removal of a large part of the rear external wall to create the opening from the kitchen. This photograph shows where it was proposed to build the lean-to extension and the arrow slit vents, and window, that would have been lost. Tudor's report stated: 'That would entail the loss of one of two arrow slit vents within that section of the wall.' Ms Dymond had said the timber frame extension would be sympathetic to the original building and a modern window added during the original conversion would also have been removed while she said the arrow slits had been rebuilt in a non-traditional square-sided manner. The inspector upheld the council's decisions and also noted Welsh historic buildings body Cadw had 'appeared' to object to the lean-to extension and ancillary works, as well as the proposed opening, but said those elements had been approved in a further application made in January with a smaller proposed opening to the extension.
Business News Wales
3 hours ago
- Business News Wales
New Guide Aims to Improve Accessibility of Welsh Digital Public Services
Access For All launch at National Eisteddfod, Wrexham (photo credit Aled Llywelyn) A new book offering insight into accessible digital design has been launched at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham by the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) and Cardiff University. Hosted on the Welsh Government stand, the launch event saw senior public service leaders, lived-experience voices and subject matter experts discuss why accessibility matters. The themes covered in the session included how plain language, inclusive design and assistive technologies can transform services for everyone, including Welsh-speakers. Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, has written the foreword to Access for All, a new book focused on improving digital accessibility. He writes: 'Public services that are neither accessible nor inclusive cannot be called 'public'. Public services need to be available to all of us. 'In Wales, our aim is always to deliver good quality public services that are available to everyone. The Well-being of Future Generations Act captures this ambition, particularly in our goal for a more equal Wales and in the behaviours it requires our public bodies to demonstrate. 'Unfortunately, we are not yet where we aspire to be. Too many people still find they cannot access the services they need. Those of us who need to access public services the most are often the most excluded.' Many disabled people shared their experiences trying to access digital services in the book. One of them lost his eyesight in 2009 and his new life revealed that public and digital services in Wales often fail people like him. He said: 'With impairments, you're investing double, sometimes triple, the time to do the same task as someone else. And that's if you can complete it at all. 'One such experience was while I was using the local council app, which was advertised as intuitive and accessible. It was not. I could register but could not complete tasks. I just kept hitting barriers. I couldn't fill in the form, which meant that I couldn't finish the process.' Eisteddfod Wrecsam 2025 Another contributor discusses navigating digital accessibility as a neurodivergent person. She said: 'People often assume that accessibility is just about physical impairments, but cognitive accessibility is just as critical. 'For me, a truly inclusive digital world would be one where I don't have to struggle to find clarity, where accessibility isn't an afterthought and where digital tools empower rather than exhaust.' CDPS recently ran a research project exploring the state of digital accessibility in Welsh public services. The research found some good practice but also highlighted major challenges – including unclear enforcement of standards, a lack of in-house skills, and poor accessibility in many third-party supplier products. Building on those findings, the Access for All book offers practical ways to address these issues. Written by Joanna Goodwin, Head of User Centred Design at CDPS, and Fernando Loizides, Director of the Data Science Academy at Cardiff University, the book shares real-life stories, global best practice, and actionable guidance to help public services design more accessible digital experiences. Joanna Goodwin, Head of User Centered Design at CDPS, said: 'Behind every product, every service, and every policy, there are real people affected by the decisions we make. The stories in our book challenge us to think differently, to listen more closely, and to design with empathy. 'When we do that, something remarkable happens. Take video captions. Originally designed for people with hearing impairments, they're now used by anyone watching videos in noisy places, quiet offices, or while learning a new language. Designing for people with access needs improves the experience for everyone. 'The Digital Service Standard for Wales demands that we make sure everyone can use our services. This isn't just policy, it's a moral imperative rooted in the Well-being of Future Generations Act. Our new book, launching today with Cardiff University, is more than guidance – it's a call to action.' Joanna said: 'We hope that this new guide will give people a fresh perspective on the importance of designing for accessibility, and a renewed focus on putting inclusivity at the heart of your product and service development.' Fernando added: 'Understanding accessibility is essential because it forms the basis for everything that follows. Without a shared understanding of what it means and why it matters, we can't hope to build a world that works for everyone.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
Rare upland landscapes on English-Welsh border protected with expanded reserve
More than a thousand hectares of rare uplands have been secured for wildlife, as a nature reserve on the English- Welsh border expands to triple its original size. The new Stiperstones Landscape national nature reserve will conserve 1,562 hectares (3,900 acres) of heathland, ancient woodland, bogs and acidic grasslands linked by unique geology, safeguarding an area more than three times the size of the original Stiperstones reserve. Government agency Natural England said the new reserve combined existing protected sites with more than 1,100 hectares of additional land managed by partner organisations to link up habitats and protect rare plants and threatened wildlife such as the bilberry bumblebee. It will capture carbon, manage flood risk and improve water quality, and preserve ancient quartzite tors, where Wild Edric and his fairy queen Godda of Saxon legend are said to still gallop whenever England faces peril, Natural England said. The new reserve forms part of the 'King's Series of National Nature Reserves', created to mark Charles's lifelong support for the natural environment, with 25 new protected areas planned by 2028. Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, said: 'Enhancing and expanding our nature-rich landscapes is one of the most critical actions we must take to achieve our stretching environmental targets; this landmark moment for nature recovery is the next step on that path. 'Collaboration across this landscape will protect the upland heath and ancient woodland conserving rare species while also creating more opportunities for local people to experience the joy of nature first hand.' Forestry England, The Linley Estate, Shropshire County Council, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Middle Marches Community Land Trust and Natural England have joined forces to deliver the new reserve. Dr Richard Keymer, Middle Marches Community Land Trust chairman, said: 'Middle Marches Community Land Trust is delighted that the Stiperstones National Nature Reserve is to be extended and will include two areas of land that we own, Minsterley Meadows and Norbury Hill. 'Larger areas of land managed for nature will make them more resilient in the face of a changing climate,' he said.
