Latest news with #BridgendCouncil
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New £17 million school was meant to open in September but work won't even start for months
Bridgend County Borough Council's cabinet has approved plans to go out to tender for a major new school development. The long-term plans are set to provide a replacement for Mynydd Cynffig Primary School in the village of Kenfig Hill. If given the go-ahead, they would see the demolition of the current school, as well as the neighbouring Air Training Corps facility, and Pwllygath allotment gardens. Developers say these would be cleared to make way for a new school which includes 420 primary and 75 nursery places. It would also include all-weather sports pitches, floodlighting and solar panels, with play areas and open space. READ MORE: 'I forgot my daughter's birthday – it led to the worst news I could have imagined' READ MORE: Hope, pride and then despair in a seaside town rocked by trauma and tragedy The latest discussions came at a council cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, May 13, where members heard a planning application for the proposals had already been handed in to the authority in November 2024. The original date for completion was expected to be this September, though this was described as no longer being achievable due to the scheme being "challenging". Members later agreed to approve a new target date of September 2027 for the school to open. Subject to permission, the new school will eventually be delivered in stages due to the relocation of the Pwllygath allotments and in order to keep the existing junior school open. An important part of the project would see the relocation of the allotments to a new site near the building, after a public backlash was seen when members were moved from their plots in 2023. Councillors also agreed to invite tender submissions for the construction of the replacement school with the outcome of the process to be reported back to cabinet in the coming months. Speaking at the meeting, officers said the plans could potentially go before the planning committee for a decision as soon as July, adding they were reasonably confident the new date could be achieved. The plan is just one of a number of school modernisation projects scheduled to take place in schools across Bridgend county borough which were pushed back to the 2025-26 financial year. These include plans to move Heronsbridge School from its location on Ewenny Road to a new £22m site about a mile away on Island Farm, as well as a potential £9.7m replacement school at Ysgol Bro Ogwr. There could also be other new sites built at Afon y Felin and Ysgol y Ferch o'r Sgêr. For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here.
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
'It's hard to find the right words' says business owner forced to give up 'dream' after fresh blow
'It's hard to find the right words' says business owner forced to give up 'dream' after fresh blow The independent street food business has closed its doors after trading for over a decade, blaming the economy and one final straw Lilo's closed over the Easter bank holiday after roadworks disrupted its trade (Image: Lilo's ) An independent pasta takeaway business running for over a decade has been forced to close permanently with the business owner citing the economy and its impact on small business as the reason. Chloe Evans, who owns Lilo's, said the economy was "so bad" at the moment for small businesses that she feared she was just one of "many that will start closing its doors." On top of already rising costs, Chloe said a road closure for non-emergency gas works that forced her to shut her business over the Easter bank holiday, one of her "busiest times of the year", was the final straw. Lilo's was based on The Square in Pencoed, Bridgend, and Chloe claimed a road closure by Wales & West Utilities over the Easter bank holiday, from Friday, April 18, to Monday, April 21, meant she had to close her business. Chloe said she lost around £4,000 as a result of the road closure. She felt the decision to do the non-emergency works during a busy trading period showed a "lack of consideration" for smaller businesses. Wales & West Utilities said it worked closely with Bridgend Council to ensure the works were happening at a suitable time and apologised for any inconvenience caused. Article continues below She claimed: " It was just annoying. It was planned works so it didn't make sense why they would disrupt a business's trade over the busiest bank holiday that I have." She felt they had no consideration for her and it didn't seem fair what they were doing. Chloe added that it was frustrating not to be contacted by Wales & West Utilities directly ahead of the closure. Instead, she claimed she found out via a note stuck on a lamppost. Stay informed on Bridgend news by signing up to our newsletter here On Friday, April 18, Chloe opened the shop as usual but due to the road being completely shut to all traffic meaning there was little passing trade, she made the decision to shut at midday. "By that time, we'd taken such little money, we made the decision to close. If the day had continued like that, I wasn't going to be able to cover the staff wages, let alone the rent or food bills." Chloe set up Lilo's in her final year of university (Image: Lilo's ) "Delivery drivers assigned themselves to our order and then obviously saw the roadworks and declined it, so we were left with orders that couldn't go out too." Adding to her frustration was the fact that her decision to close was made partly on reassurances she claimed to have received from the Wales and West Utilities workers that she would be able to claim back some of the money she'd lost after closing. Instead, most of her weekend was spent trying to speak to someone from Wales & West Utilities before she re-opened. She said: "It was so disappointing as it's one of our busiest bank holidays because a lot of people are off so we're usually flat out. The last couple of months have been the busiest we've ever been. We recently had a video go viral on TikTok so a lot of people were planning to come that weekend and were obviously disappointed, so we lost that opportunity for new people to try us." Chloe was also frustrated that there appeared to her to be no signs to advertise that businesses were still open, although Wales and West Utilities disputed this, saying there were signs present. Eventually, after the road fully re-opened on Tuesday, April 22, Chloe spoke to someone from Wales & West and was told that there was a form she could fill out to receive compensation. After filling out the form, Wales & West wanted financial breakdowns of the business for the last three years. Chloe was happy to provide this, but wanted to check she was eligible for any compensation before sending hours filling the form out. When speaking to a manager, she was told that she wasn't eligible for any compensation as she hadn't been closed for 28 days. "I did get quite angry and was a bit upset because I think it's ridiculous," Chloe said. " My staff lost work that weekend as well so they're out of pocket too - it's not just me as the owner of an independent and small business. It seems that unless you're somebody like McDonald's or have a chain and can be a bit of a bully in the business world, you're treated about like small fry - they don't care about you, they don't worry about you. "Their last year of accounts showed they (Wales and West Utilities) made £263m in profits, the £4,000 it cost me to close is small fry to them." This forced closure was one final factor which led Chloe to decide to shut Lilo's doors for good on May 3. Announcing the news on her social media she said: "It's hard to find the right words for this post. After 11 wonderful, challenging, and unforgettable years I've made the incredibly difficult decision to close the doors on Lilo's. "What started as a dream in a little street food camper van grew into something I could never have imagined—thanks to you. Your loyalty, smiles, and support has kept me going through highs and lows, and I am endlessly grateful. "This business has been built on passion and hard work. I've poured everything into every dish and every detail. But after 11 years, it's time for a new chapter. "Closing wasn't an easy decision, but it feels like the right time. I'm incredibly proud of what I've created and beyond grateful for everyone who supported me—whether you came in once or a hundred times, shared one of our posts or gave us a follow. "Thank you for being part of my journey. Thank you for loving what I've made. And thank you for supporting Lilo's." Chloe set up Lilo's 11 years ago when she was in her final year of university. The business started in a little street food camper van and grew to have two physical premises - one in Pencoed and another in Cardiff, which shut in November, again due to rising costs. " The challenges at the moment with rising NI and staff wages, as well as food costs, are really hard. "I looked at the figures and I realised that I'd have to charge at least a pound more per meal to actually cover these costs. It's just not fair to pass that on to the customer all the time. I've absorbed the costs myself over the last couple of years, but I can't anymore, and by increasing your cost you're pricing yourself out of the market as the big chains can afford to absorb most of the costs themselves. "The economy at the moment is really bad. And I do fear that, you know, I'm just the first of many to start closing my doors." Wales & West Utilities manager for Pencoed, Ian Humphries said: "We have been working in the Hendre Road area of Pencoed to connect new properties to the gas network. "We worked closely with Network Rail and Bridgend County Borough Council when planning this complex work. Due to the close proximity of a rail crossing and in order to keep the public, road users and our colleagues safe while we worked, a small road closure along Hendre Road was necessary. With the road being a busy bus and commuter route, we agreed with the council to carry out the work during the Easter holidays as the best possible option to minimise disruption. Article continues below "We are sorry for the disruption our work may have caused. We took account of the impact the works would have locally and during the work, a short diversion route was clearly signposted. All footpaths remained open while we worked and signs were put in place informing local people that businesses were open as usual. "We worked as quickly and safely as possible and our planning allowed for the work to be successfully completed between Sunday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, when the road was re-opened."
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Proposals for large-scale development with 800 new homes in Bridgend take a step closer
Proposals for large-scale development with 800 new homes in Bridgend take a step closer The site is set aside as part of Bridgend Council's Local Development Plan Land near the existing Bridgend College campus in Pencoed could be built on (Image: Google ) Plans for a large-scale housing development and primary school have been submitted to Bridgend County Borough Council's planning department. They could eventually see 804 houses built at a site east of Pencoed, on land adjoining the existing Bridgend College's Pencoed campus if given the go-ahead. It is the latest step forward for the plans after an outline planning application was handed in to the council in April 2025. This followed an environmental scoping report to set out what environmental impacts would first need to be looked at with the plans, as well as a public consultation which took place in 2024. The report read: "The layout provides 804 homes in a mix of 1, 2, 3, and 4-bed homes with a mix of apartments, terraces, semi-detached, and detached properties. The site of the current Bridgend college campus in Pencoed near to where new housing could be built (Image: Google Maps ) "This number is lower than the policy allocation for the site due to the incorporation of significant areas for sustainable drainage systems and the preservation of mature vegetation, which are essential elements of the development's sustainability and character." It adds that alongside the housing, of which up to 20% could be set aside for use as affordable housing, there could also be the creation of a new primary school as well as commercial and community facilities. Article continues below The site is currently set aside as part of Bridgend Council's Local Development Plan as a "strategic site for housing". Bridgend County Borough Council civic offices It comes after approved plans in 2023 for the creation of a new £70 million campus for Bridgend College, based in Bridgend town centre on the site of a former police station and car park at Cheapside. The campus is expected to be completed in 2026, and will be set out across two buildings. It will look to provide "exceptional" teaching and learning facilities for the area, as well as a 250-seat theatre, IT suites, hair and beauty salons, recording and dance studios. You can read more about the latest plans for the new college facility here. Article continues below A number of works to prepare for this major project, including the demolition of the former police station and a multi-storey car park are underway. For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here
Pembrokeshire Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Are you eligible for help with further education costs?
Bridgend Council says pupils were never taught it was okay to choke during sex THE WELSH CONSERVATIVE have intensified pressure on Bridgend County Borough Council over reports that pupils were taught about 'sexual choking' during PSHE lessons—despite the council's insistence that the claims are based on outdated and inaccurate materials. Shadow Education Cabinet Secretary Natasha Asghar MS has now written to the leader of the council requesting copies of both the original and updated versions of a PowerPoint presentation developed by domestic abuse charity ASSIA, which was used during a single session in one Bridgend school in 2024. Ms Asghar said: 'I remain appalled that anyone involved in educating our children would consider including references to such a dangerous and risky act in educational materials. 'There appears to have been no attempt to explain the risks associated with choking, but merely a focus on ensuring the act is consensual. The leadership of Bridgend Council claims they requested that this presentation be altered before being shown to pupils. However, this does not disguise the fact that those responsible for creating the content initially deemed it appropriate. 'I am requesting both versions of the presentation be made available to me, and I am calling on Bridgend Council to reconsider their relationship with ASSIA. It is clear that by even considering the inclusion of such shocking content, their values do not align with what most decent people would reasonably expect to be taught in our schools.' Council: Claims based on misinformation Bridgend County Borough Council has pushed back strongly against what it calls 'a classic example of how misinformation can generate headlines.' It insists that pupils were not taught to accept dangerous or illegal sexual behaviour. The council says the slide that referenced choking with consent was part of a draft presentation that was never shown in schools. That content, they say, was deleted or corrected prior to delivery, and the final version made it clear that non-fatal strangulation is a criminal offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Developed in response to real questions from older pupils, the presentation was intended to support teachers navigating complex topics around consent and harmful behaviour. The final version was vetted before being offered to schools as part of a pastoral programme. Only one school accepted the offer, and the material was delivered to an audience of 15–17 year olds in October 2024. Councillor Martyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services, said: 'The suggestion that older pupils have been taught to consent to damaging sexual behaviour is simply not true. All pastoral advice used by local schools is carefully designed to be age-appropriate, and to encourage teenagers who are maturing into young adults to develop healthy, respectful relationships where there is no abuse of any kind.' Cllr Jones added that the original draft may have been shared with the media by someone acting in good faith but who misunderstood the situation. 'It appears that inaccurate information from a draft version of a presentation was shared with the media by individuals who had the best of intentions as they thought it had already been used in classrooms. However, the truth of the matter is that the slides in question had been deleted and updated long before the final version of the presentation was ever delivered,' he said. The council reiterated its commitment to safeguarding and said it monitors all educational materials used with children and young people to ensure they remain appropriate and compliant with legislation. Next steps Ms Asghar has also written to the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education, calling for a broader review into how topics such as pornography and violent sexual behaviours are addressed in schools across Wales. Bridgend Council has yet to confirm whether it will release the full versions of the presentation as requested.
Pembrokeshire Herald
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tenby school in need of £500,000 of urgent repairs
Bridgend Council says pupils were never taught it was okay to choke during sex THE WELSH CONSERVATIVE have intensified pressure on Bridgend County Borough Council over reports that pupils were taught about 'sexual choking' during PSHE lessons—despite the council's insistence that the claims are based on outdated and inaccurate materials. Shadow Education Cabinet Secretary Natasha Asghar MS has now written to the leader of the council requesting copies of both the original and updated versions of a PowerPoint presentation developed by domestic abuse charity ASSIA, which was used during a single session in one Bridgend school in 2024. Ms Asghar said: 'I remain appalled that anyone involved in educating our children would consider including references to such a dangerous and risky act in educational materials. 'There appears to have been no attempt to explain the risks associated with choking, but merely a focus on ensuring the act is consensual. The leadership of Bridgend Council claims they requested that this presentation be altered before being shown to pupils. However, this does not disguise the fact that those responsible for creating the content initially deemed it appropriate. 'I am requesting both versions of the presentation be made available to me, and I am calling on Bridgend Council to reconsider their relationship with ASSIA. It is clear that by even considering the inclusion of such shocking content, their values do not align with what most decent people would reasonably expect to be taught in our schools.' Council: Claims based on misinformation Bridgend County Borough Council has pushed back strongly against what it calls 'a classic example of how misinformation can generate headlines.' It insists that pupils were not taught to accept dangerous or illegal sexual behaviour. The council says the slide that referenced choking with consent was part of a draft presentation that was never shown in schools. That content, they say, was deleted or corrected prior to delivery, and the final version made it clear that non-fatal strangulation is a criminal offence under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Developed in response to real questions from older pupils, the presentation was intended to support teachers navigating complex topics around consent and harmful behaviour. The final version was vetted before being offered to schools as part of a pastoral programme. Only one school accepted the offer, and the material was delivered to an audience of 15–17 year olds in October 2024. Councillor Martyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Education and Youth Services, said: 'The suggestion that older pupils have been taught to consent to damaging sexual behaviour is simply not true. All pastoral advice used by local schools is carefully designed to be age-appropriate, and to encourage teenagers who are maturing into young adults to develop healthy, respectful relationships where there is no abuse of any kind.' Cllr Jones added that the original draft may have been shared with the media by someone acting in good faith but who misunderstood the situation. 'It appears that inaccurate information from a draft version of a presentation was shared with the media by individuals who had the best of intentions as they thought it had already been used in classrooms. However, the truth of the matter is that the slides in question had been deleted and updated long before the final version of the presentation was ever delivered,' he said. The council reiterated its commitment to safeguarding and said it monitors all educational materials used with children and young people to ensure they remain appropriate and compliant with legislation. Next steps Ms Asghar has also written to the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Education, calling for a broader review into how topics such as pornography and violent sexual behaviours are addressed in schools across Wales. Bridgend Council has yet to confirm whether it will release the full versions of the presentation as requested.
