Latest news with #RhianHowells
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Eisteddfod yr Urdd is ‘huge opportunity' for Newport
Tredegar House will welcome thousands of people to the Welsh-language youth cultural festival for its 2027 edition. Newport City Council cabinet members agreed on Monday to provide an extra £100,000 of funding to support the event. The money, from the council's events reserve fund, will be ring-fenced for hire and venue charges, licensing matters, and any park and ride services. Cllr Emma Stowell-Corten, the cabinet member for culture, said the Urdd has 'a huge economic value to the areas that host it' worth millions of pounds. She said more than 15,000 children and young people participate in the festival, which will also attract thousands more visitors. Cllr Rhian Howells, whose ward includes Tredegar House, said she was 'absolutely thrilled' Newport would host the Urdd. 'Having seen the level of income it generates for the city… I would be very supportive of the extra funding,' she added. Other cabinet members also welcomed the possibilities the festival could bring to the city. Plaid Cymru pledges to free access to Urdd Eisteddfod for low-income families Newport is a 'city on the rise' with a bright future - and this is why Cllr Jason Hughes, reflecting on his own appearance on the Urdd stage as a youngster, said the experience could be 'life-changing' for young participants. The Urdd will be a 'huge opportunity', said Cllr Deb Davies – while Cllr James Clarke said the prospect of welcoming an estimated 60,000 visitors will be a 'massive boost' for Newport. 'What better way to say we are a proud Welsh city,' added Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, the city council leader. Preparing for the event will be no small feat, however, with around 90 acres of land required for the festival ground, car parking and campsites. Schools could be used as rehearsal spaces, while teachers and other support staff will likely need to be available to support children with their preparations. The 2027 Urdd will reportedly be the largest Welsh-language event in the city in two decades. The council describes the prospect as a 'huge event and opportunity for Newport' which will also align with Welsh Government ambitions to reach a target of one million Welsh speakers nationwide by the year 2050.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Newport: Street lights switched back on to keep shift workers safe
Half of a city's street lights will be switched back on after shift workers said they felt unsafe at of Newport's lights were switched off in 2023 to save money, but the city's council has changed its mind, saying safety was a priority. However, some councillors have expressed concerns about the cost and impact on the environment. The council added it could take up to 15 months to restore the lights, as new equipment needed to be installed. Newport council began reducing street light operating hours in 2012. As part of its 2023-24 budget, the council switched off 19,000 LED lights from midnight to 06:00, excluding the city centre and key highway safety areas. Before that, every other LED light across the city was turned off during those the new plan, the council will install light-sensitive cells on thousands of lampposts at an initial cost of £320,000, with annual energy costs projected at £139,000. Councillor and cabinet member for infrastructure, Rhian Howells, acknowledged that while turning the lights back on came with financial and environmental costs, she said residents feeling safe was the council's top priority. Council leader Dimitri Batrouni said the decision shows the local authority stood with its workers. He also noted that while smart lighting technology was still in its early stages, it represented a promising future the council is keen to explore. Another councillor, Laura Lacey added past financial pressures left the council with little choice but to switch off the lights, but she now fully supported the new policy as the funding was available. Cabinet member for climate change, Yvonne Forsey expressed concern that switching the streetlights back on could impact the city's environmental said she hoped the council could adopt new smart light technology, which responds to movement and switch on when pedestrians approach.
