Latest news with #Baynham
Powys County Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Powys County Times
Powys County Council car park review still awaiting decision
A SENIOR Powys county councillor has asked for an update on the long running saga of the car parking review. Over six months have passed since by the cabinet member responsible for car parks Liberal Democrat Cllr Jackie Charlton agreed to take another look at the proposals for car parks that came from a cross-party working group of councillors last year. Car parking fees were increased as part of the 2023/2024 budget by the Liberal Democrat/Labour/Green administration which came into force in April 2023. But the move has been sternly opposed ever since which led to the working group being set up in the autumn of 2023 to review the fees as well as other car parking arrangements. Opposition councillors have wanted to reduce the fees in a bid to get people to start using car parks again so that they visit business and shop in the town centres and boost the local economy. Last September the review group and council staff brought forward two sets of options for car parks – and a report put before a scrutiny committee recommended that cabinet approve the recommendations from staff as it would 'generate income' for the council. The argument from the council's financial chiefs is that money from the higher car parking fees is needed to offset budget deficits that occur within the Highways, Transport and Recycling department. But before a decision was taken in November last year the cabinet said that it would reconsider the findings from the cross-party group. They said a 'focus group' meeting would to be organised to 'help clearly define' a way forward for the review. Beverley Baynham Powys Independent group co-leader Cllr Beverley Baynham said: 'On February 25, I along with a small group of councillors, cabinet members and senior officers took part in a car park review workshop facilitated by Aberystwyth University. 'The idea of this workshop was to find an agreeable solution to car parking issues throughout the county. 'Despite leaving the meeting thinking we had reached some conclusions, we are now almost three months on and there has been nothing forthcoming from the portfolio holder.' Cllr Baynham added that she had recently visited Scotland and due to her parking experiences, there had come up with an idea for the cabinet to consider. Cllr Baynham said: 'I parked in a car park run by The Highland Council where they allowed 30 minutes free of charge, if you required further time you paid for it. 'It would be a very sensible and popular decision if we too could implement the same scheme. 'There is absolutely no point in having car parks that are virtually empty because no one wants to pay £2.50 to pop to the shop for 20 minutes.' Under the question at any time rules, Cllr Charlton has 10 days to respond to the question. A council spokeswoman said: 'The cabinet member will formally reply to Cllr Baynham's question within the 10 working days timeframe. 'In the meantime, we can confirm that the cabinet paper has been drafted and is going the various approvals needed and will soon be discussed at by the scrutiny committee prior to cabinet making their decision.'
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Snakes in the Hoed educates, thrills online
LIMPOPO – A new YouTube channel, Snakes in the Hoed, is turning the often fear-filled world of snake encounters into a thrilling and educational experience for viewers worldwide. The channel is a dynamic collaboration between local wildlife expert Tim Baynham and Taaibos Bush Lodge owner Pepijn Werkman, aimed at promoting snake conservation while keeping both people and reptiles safe. 'I have been doing snake rescues since I was a young boy. I have had my favourite pair of snake tongs for over thirty years,' said Baynham, who runs Wildlife Safety Solutions in Hoedspruit. Baynham is no stranger to the adrenaline of snake callouts. He mentioned that during peak snake season, he receives up to six calls daily to remove anything from venomous Black Mambas to harmless house snakes. Each callout is a potential adventure and a learning opportunity. 'Every snake removal is unique. Sometimes I am up in a tree, other times I'm crawling into a roof or digging through storerooms,' he said. 'Filming these rescues lets us promote snake conservation in a fun and engaging way,' Baynham added. He stated that the idea for Snakes in the Hoed was sparked when Pepijn Werkman called him to relocate a Black Mamba from his lodge property. That encounter led to a shared interest and eventually a new digital venture. 'Werkman asked if he could join me on a few callouts to film a video for his YouTube channel titled Pep in the Bush. The video was a great success, so we decided to start a completely new channel. The channel is titled 'Snakes in the Hoed' and will feature weekly episodes showcasing my snake rescue and relocation efforts in and around the Hoedspruit area,' Baynham explained. Werkman now films and edits the content, using four cameras to capture every angle of the daring rescues. Together, the duo releases weekly episodes that give viewers an up-close look at both the beauty and the danger of snakes in the Lowveld. Baynham stated that the most frequently featured snakes include Boomslangs, Puff Adders, Snouted Cobras, Mozambique Spitting Cobras, Southern Vine Snakes, and the infamous Black Mamba. He also rescues mildly venomous and non-venomous species when necessary, especially if they pose a risk to pets or enter human dwellings. However, it is not just about the thrill. Education is at the heart of the channel's mission. 'Snakes are shy and retiring animals. They do not want to bite people. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. Every callout is a chance to educate. I show the client the snake, talk about its behaviour, and give tips on how to live safely with them,' said Baynham. Contact Baynham at Wildlife Safety Solutions: 073 934 6156, or email info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
