Latest news with #ValeofGlamorgan
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Aqua Park Penarth: Opening date for new water park at Cosmeston
A new water park is set to open this summer, despite concerns being raised for wildlife in the attraction will open at Cosmeston Country Park on 5 July, Vale of Glamorgan Council has announced, after it entered into an agreement with Aqua Park Group to trial a water park during the summer and councillors raised concerns about the plans, but council officials insisted conditions would be in place to protect wildlife and the attraction would be restricted to the eastern side of the water park will be similar to the Aqua Park attraction which used to be at Cardiff Bay, featuring an assault course with inflatable equipment, slides and climbing frames. The attraction was moved because water quality concerns left it "unable to operate" at the council's director of place, Marcus Goldsworthy, said the decision to move the attraction presented an opportunity for the council to generate income for improving park facilities at Cosmeston, according to the Local Democracy Reporting concerns about the impact it could have are ongoing, with a petition opposing the plans gaining 3,965 signatures so a scrutiny committee meeting in March, Conservative councillor Anthony Ernest said the more he heard about plans for the water park, the more concerned he grew about its potential Elliot Penn, a Labour councillor, asked about water quality monitoring on site. Mr Goldsworthy said the water at Cosmeston is tested twice a year to ensure quality is maintained and added the lake has been used for water-based activities in the of Glamorgan Council's cabinet member for sustainable places, Bronwen Brooks, said the water park would be a "great addition to the already fantastic offer at Cosmeston Country Park"."Consultation with residents through the council's placemaking work has shown there is appetite locally - particularly among young people - for more varied leisure activities, and the re-introduction of water-based activities at Cosmeston will help us to ensure that our country parks are for everyone," she the end of September, the council will carry out an evaluation of the water park pilot and decide if it will go out to tender for someone to operate an attraction on the site next year.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Is your employer on this list of Welsh companies that failed to pay minimum wage?
Is your employer on this list of Welsh companies that failed to pay minimum wage? 518 UK employers have been named and shamed for leaving staff members out of pocket Nearly 60,000 UK workers have been underpaid (Image: PA ) More than 20 Welsh companies have been included on a list of more than 500 UK employers which have failed to pay some of their staff minimum living wage. The Government published the list, which included big names such as Pizza Express, Lidl, British Airways, Prezzo, Halfords and TUI, this afternoon The Department for Business and Trade discovered almost 60,000 workers were left out of pocket by companies which had underpaid staff for several years, racking up a huge £7.4m. All the businesses named have since paid their staff back and faced financial penalties of up to 200% of their underpayment. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . On the top of the list is one of the government's largest suppliers, Capita, which owed £1.15m to 5,543 workers. Alongside it, dining out giant Pizza Express was outed for failing to pay £760,702 to 8,470 workers. Full list of Welsh companies on the list Shuko Monmouthshire Buck House Hotel Wrexham A.P.C. Panels Ltd Vale of Glamorgan Lakeside Day Nursery Limited Swansea Maner Hotel P.B Services Limited Rhondda Cynon Taf Sage Hair Care Filco Supermarkets Limited Vale of Glamorgan AFH Ltd Cardiff S&S Care Limited Flintshire Andrew Milward Joinery Pembrokeshire M&C Jones Building Contractors Limited Denbighshire MRB Cleaning Limited Swansea Mini Me Private Day Nursery Limited Newport The Wild Pheasant Denbighshire Barry Tyre Centre Limited Vale of Glamorgan Holton Road Stores Vale of Glamorgan Soughton Shoot Limited Flintshire Playworks Childcare Limited Caerphilly Classic Decorators (UK) Limited Vale of Glamorgan Article continues below The Government has encouraged anyone who thinks they may be being underpaid, to check on their website. Minister for Employment Rights, Justin Madders, warned: "There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don't pay their employees what they are owed."
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain play proud parents as they hug Infanta Sofía, 18, on her graduation day from 'hippie Hogwarts' school
Infanta Sofía of Spain has celebrated her graduation from Wales's 'hippie Hogwarts' school with her proud parents, Queen Letizia and King Felipe. The 18-year-old royal picked up her graduation certificate from UWC Atlantic College in Llantwit Major this weekend and was joined by her royal mother and father in joyful family scenes - while her sister Leonor, 19, sent a sweet video message from her naval . While King Felipe, 57, and Queen Letizia, 52, made the journey to the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan, her older sister Crown Princess Leonor, 19, was not at the celebration. At the 'Leaver's Celebration' Sofía posed for family pictures in a smart and stylish bright red, one shoulder jumpsuit while her mother wore a pillarbox red suit over a plain black top. Felipe wore a grey double breasted suit over a white shirt which he paired with an eye-catching pink spotted tie. In sweet photos posted on Instagram by the Royal Household, Sofía held up her diploma certificate and was embraced tightly by her proud parents. Felipe was also spotted taking photos on his phone of Queen Letizia with her arms around their youngest daughter as the family celebrated the happy occasion. Elsewhere, Sofía was pictured standing with her classmates as she waited to pick up her certificate, before shaking hands with her tutor to accept it. During the ceremony to mark the completion of her International Baccalaureate studies, the graduate was showered with praise by her tutor who highlighted her personal and educational achievements, The Times reports. He said: 'Sofía's journey has been marked by her perseverance and remarkable personal growth; she has gone from being an empathetic and affectionate listener by nature to being an accredited "supportive companion". A true friend in difficult times… we will miss Sofía's warmth and vibrant spirit very much.' Sofía's older sister Leonor also attended so-called 'Hippie Hogwarts', dubbed so thanks to its alternative approach to education. Future queen Leonor graduated in 2023 and is now in the second year of her three years of military training before she attends university. The older princess is currently aboard Juan Sebastián de Elcano engaged in naval training so was unable to attend Sofía's celebration in person, although the sisters were no doubt in touch on the special day. Leonor sent her younger sibling a sweet video message from the high seas to congratulate her sister on graduating - while also wishing her a belated happy birthday after she turned 18 on April 29. Leonor's touching video was shared on Instagram by the Royal Household and began with her and her fellow trainees singing happy birthday to Sofía, which was on 29 April but they were unable to share the clip nearer to the date due to technical issues. After the birthday song a montage of clips and pictures of the sisters from their childhood up until the present day were shown. The adorable snaps showed the two sisters as young royals accompanying their parents at official engagements and also included more candid at home videos of them as toddlers. The most recent images showed the close sisters enjoying sporting events and posing for casual mirror selfies. At the end of the video Leonor addressed her younger sister directly on the deck of the naval boat while dressed in her uniform. Sofía received high praise from one of her tutors as she accepted her certificate during the formal part of the ceremony Who is UWC's founder Kurt Hahn? Kurt Matthias Robert Martin Hahn CBE was a German educator. He founded several schools in Germany and the UK, including Prince Charles' former boarding school Gordonstoun, and the United World Colleges. Hahn's educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents, whom he believed to possess an innate decency and moral sense, but who were, he believed, corrupted by society as they aged. He believed that education could prevent this corruption, if students were given opportunities for personal leadership and to see the results of their own actions. This is one reason for the focus on outdoor adventure in his philosophy. Hahn founded the institutions as a practical response to the search for new and peaceful solutions in a post-war world riven by political, racial and economic divisions. Hahn had been invited to address the NATO Defence College, where he saw former enemies from several nations working together towards a common goal. With a number of colleagues Hahn realised how much more could be done to overcome the hostility of the Cold War if young people from different nations could be brought together in a similar way. He envisaged a college for students who were already grounded in their own cultures but impressionable enough to learn from others. Drawn from all nations, the students would be selected purely on merit and potential, regardless of race, religion, nationality and background. In Spanish, Leonor said: 'Hi Sofía, I couldn't be there in Wales today to be with you on your graduation day, but I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate you. 'I'm so proud of you, and I'll see you back home soon to celebrate. Enjoy yourselves and lots of kisses.' Sofía's celebration comes after two years of studying at the prestigious school which is based in the medieval St Donat's Castle, surrounded by 122 acres of woodlands and within walking distance from the ocean. When the Spanish royal family announced that Sofía would be attending the Welsh boarding school it was noted that she would be enrolling in courses that covered 'both science and arts,' as wells taking part in more creative opportunities such as theatre, music, and sports. In the announcement the family also confirmed that they would be covering the £68,000 fee for Sofía's two year course with their personal finaces. The statement read: 'The cost of the international baccalaureate that the Infanta Sofía will take will also be paid in full personally by Their Majesties the King and Queen with their annual allowance.' UWC Atlantic College was founded by German educationalist Kurt Hahn in 1962 and has been dubbed Hippie Hogwarts for it's progressive approach to education. The school is one of 18 which make up the The United World College Movement, which according to it's website 'is a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.' At the school's helm as co-presidents are The Queen and Queen Noor of Jordan so it comes as no surprise that the student cohort and it's alumni includes several other royals. King Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands, studied at the College from 1983 to 1985. His daughter Princess Alexia of the Netherlands followed in his footsteps and graduated in 2023, the same year as Leonor. Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, the daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, enrolled at the school in 2018 but had her time at the castle cut short due to Covid-19 and was forced to continue her studies online at home. Meanwhile Princess Raiyah of Jordan, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Noor also attended the institution before going on to study Japanese at The University of Edinburgh. Students at the school are housed in eight purpose-built boarding houses which accommodate roughly 48 students each. St Donat's Castle is the main building of the College and houses the Tudor Great Hall, the Gothic Dining Hall, the Bradenstoke Hall used for assemblies and performances and an extensive 25,000-book Library. While some teaching does take part in the castle many classes are held in modern academic blocks which were built in the 1960s-80s. Unlike most students those at UWC only have lessons for half the day. The first class begins at 8am and teaching wraps up by lunchtime. The school covers all the usual core subjects such as Economics, English Literature, Mathematics, History, and the Sciences but also boasts a wide range of optional courses including Design Tech, Visual Arts, Film studies, Music and Global Politics. Alongside their studies students at Hippie Hogwarts must also undertake a minimum of two hours of community service, two hours of physical activity and a further two hours of creative activity each week. The schools website says it seeks to 'inspire changemakers' and looks for students who 'can navigate the complexity of life and (reach) beyond easy answers.' According to The Times Spanish media has reported that Sofía is likely to go on to attend university rather than begin military training like her sister did after completing her studies at UWC.
The Independent
24-05-2025
- The Independent
Teen arrested after 16-year-old dies at amusement park
Police today confirmed that a 15-year-old has been arrested after a teenage boy died at an amusement park in Wales. At around 5pm on Friday Taha Soomro, 16, had a 'medical episode' at Barry Island Pleasure Park in the Vale of Glamorgan. Taha, of Grangetown, Cardiff, was pronounced dead at the scene. South Wales Police (SWP) said its inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the teen's death and said it is encouraging people to avoid speculation on social media. On Saturday, police confirmed a 15-year-old boy from Grangetown, Cardiff, had been arrested on suspicion of assault and was being held in custody. Taha's family have been informed and are being kept updated by officers, SWP said. Police have asked anyone who was in Barry Island Pleasure Park around the time of the incident that may have information to contact them. Detectives said they are particularly keen to receive any mobile phone footage. On Friday, police said: 'A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "We are continuing to investigate the death of a teenage boy at Barry Island Pleasure Park. "He has been named at Taha Soomro, 16, of Grangetown, Cardiff. "Police were called just before 5pm yesterday evening (Friday May 23) to a report of a 16-year-old teenage boy suffering a medical episode. "Despite efforts of emergency services, Taha died at the scene. 'Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the cause and circumstances of Taha's death and we would encourage people to avoid speculation on social media. "Taha's family are being kept updated by officers.' Anyone with information which could assist officers is asked to contact police by 101 or online, quoting reference 2500163611.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police investigate after teen's death at funfair
Police are investigating the death of a 16-year-old boy who suffered a "medical episode" at Barry Island Pleasure Park. South Wales Police said officers were trying to "ascertain the full circumstances" of the boy's death. The force was called to the park in the Vale of Glamorgan on Friday at about 17:00 BST. It said: "Anyone who was in Barry Island Pleasure Park around the time of the incident that may have information that could assist our investigation is asked to contact us."
