He currently lives and works in Orkney, leading a trust that is developing and promoting three remote islands. In addition, he also remains a stakeholder in County Marquees, a company he co-founded back in the 1990s and was managing director of until 2017.
Stuart said he is thrilled to return to Wales to take up the position at the Brecon Mountain Railway. “My work in Orkney has proven instrumental in gaining experience in effective collaboration with funders, community development and the essential transition to Net Zero skills that will undoubtedly contribute to the success of my new role,” he added. “The Brecon Mountain Railway boasts immense potential and I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the existing staff, as well as partnering with Llŷr and his team at the Vale of Rheidol Railway.” The first day of the season on both railways is March 23.
0 Comments
Completion of the last highway blockage on the Montgomery Canal in Shropshire was marked by a procession of historic vehicles crossing the new Schoolhouse Bridge days before the road was formally opened to traffic. Councillor Vince Hunt, chairman of Shropshire Council, formally cut the tape to allow the vehicles to cross. He noted that the old bridge had been levelled by the highway authority around 60 years ago. He congratulated the volunteer team who had spent years on the construction and the contractors Beaver Bridges of Shrewsbury, whose work was tested by a traction engine crossing the bridge. The event was attended by a 1931 Sentinel Steam waggon, 1910 Burrell Traction engine, 1954 Citroen, 2008 Morgan 4/4 Sport and 1979 Lomax three-wheel kit car. Michael Limbrey, Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal chairman, explained that Schoolhouse Bridge was the biggest obstruction in the Shropshire Gap, the remaining dry section of the canal in Shropshire. “The bridge was always going to be a challenge to the restoration and it was difficult to see how the Canal & River Trust or the council would rebuild it for many years,” he said. “So, the local canal charities got together to raise the funds for what, in the end, turned out to be a £1 million project funded entirely from private sources.” The appeal was supported by TV canal personalities Timothy West and Prunella Scales and donations were received from far and wide, including from charitable trusts like the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund, Inland Waterways Association and the Walker Trust. Mr Limbrey thanked them all. The canal’s volunteer team arranged the engineering design and legal documentation and the project was supported by Shropshire Council and the Canal & River Trust. “Other volunteers have helped on site, some coming many miles to do so and they will be back in the coming weeks and months to clear and landscape the site,” added Nr Limbrey. “First, they will finish a few last-minute modifications required by regulators so the highway can be reopened to traffic. “Our canal groups are very proud of Schoolhouse Bridge, the biggest volunteer-led project in the years of restoration and a vital step in opening up the canal to the Shropshire border. “Government funding is helping to revitalise the canal in Powys and our challenge is now to reopen the canal through Schoolhouse Bridge to the border at Llanymynech. “After the success of the appeal for the bridge, our Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal is now raising funds so that volunteers can continue restoring the canal channel from Crickheath where it was reopened last year.” Donations are welcomed at https://www.localgiving.org/appeal/montgomerycanal . “The restored Montgomery Canal will be a great asset for the borderland area,” Mr Limbrey continued. “It is already part of popular towpath routes joining market towns and historic locations and has a remarkable collection of canal-age locks bridges and other structures. “At the same time, as a byway of the national canal network, it has a valuable ecology with rare and protected species which are safeguarded as part of the restoration strategy. “Many revived canals across the country provide recreation and amenity, visitor attractions, protected wildlife and built heritage. The restored Montgomery Canal will bring these social, economic and environmental benefits to the Mid Wales borders.” Business leaders and economic experts are being sought to support the development and delivery of the Mid Wales Growth Deal.
The Mid Wales Growth Deal is a capital funding programme investing in large-scale infrastructure projects to support the economic growth of the region. The Growing Mid Wales Board is expanding its independent body, the Economic Advisory Group, to help advise on the strengths or weaknesses of projects being developed as part of the Mid Wales Growth Deal portfolio as it enters an exciting stage of development with programmes and projects moving into the delivery. Whilst the final decisions relating to the programmes and projects rest with the Mid Wales Growth Deal Board, the Economic Advisory Group has a key role in providing a strategic and constructive challenge to strengthen proposals and advise on new opportunities for the Board to consider as appropriate. The EAG will be directly represented at the GMW Board as a non-voting and advisory member by the Chair of the EAG. Applicants for the advisory group will need to: • Be Industry Leaders, particularly from the sectors identified in the Portfolio Business Case • Be able to demonstrate strategic thinking • Have significant direct business leadership experience • Have an entrepreneurial background • Be able to work as part of a team • Have a strong interest and commitment to the interests of the region. Together, Leader of Powys County Council, Councillor James Gibson-Watt and Leader of Ceredigion County Council, Councillor Bryan Davies who are co-chairs of the Growing Mid Wales Partnership and the Growing Mid Wales Board, said: “At a recent meeting with the Economic Advisory Group, it was agreed that its membership needed to be expanded. This is a great opportunity for regional business leaders to provide a voice for their sector and share strategic and constructive responses for the Mid Wales Growth Deal. “The Growth Deal is entering an exciting stage of development which sees programmes and projects moving into the delivery phase, and we therefore need to ensure business representatives help us to strengthen and challenge the Portfolio to have maximum impact on the Mid Wales Economy.” For further information please contact: Carwyn Jones Evans, Joint Strategic Lead, Mid Wales Growth Deal Carwyn.Jones-Evans@ceredigion.gov.uk or Nicola Williams, Joint Strategic Lead, Mid Wales Growth Deal nicola.williams@powys.gov.uk, 01597 826024. www.growingmid.wales Residents of Powys and Ceredigion are being asked to share their views on energy and transport in the two counties as part of a transition to Net Zero by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
A public engagement energy survey has been commissioned by Growing Mid Wales, a partnership between Ceredigion and Powys County Councils, which is seeking views before the closing date of March 31. Take part in the survey online at https://bit.ly/MidWalesLAEP . Part of local area energy planning (LAEP) across Wales, the survey is seeking residents’ opinions on current energy and transport use, low-carbon energy technologies and heating systems and sustainable travel options. All the LAEPs in Wales, which must be completed by the end of March, will inform the creation of a National Energy Plan for Wales, mapping out future energy demand and supply for all parts of the country. Ceredigion County Councillor Keith Henson, cabinet member for highways and environmental services and carbon management and Powys County Councillor Jackie Charlton, cabinet member for a Greener Powys, issued a joint statement. “Local area energy planning identifies the change needed to the local energy system and sets out the detail needed to meet emission targets from now up until the net zero target by 2050,” they said. “This survey is an important piece of that planning. The more residents that take part means that there’s more data to better understand the opportunities and challenges that Mid Wales face to transition to net zero.” “Insights from the survey will highlight potential future actions for local councils, electricity and gas network providers and other local parties, aiding us to move to more environmentally friendly sources of energy.” The LAEP work is led by Energy Systems Catapult who are working closely with Ceredigion and Powys County Councils. Richard Leach, senior local energy transition advisor at Energy Systems Catapult, said: “To get to Net Zero, we need to urgently act. To meet our Net Zero targets we need local action, carried out in a strategic, cost-effective way, backed by significant investment. “That is why we pioneered Local Area Energy Planning. It is an integrated, data led planning approach designed to help local areas plan and help deliver their future Net Zero energy system. “LAEPs can co-ordinate, quantify and de-risk the investment needed but key to any good LAEP is local engagement and local buy in.” The Strata Florida Trust begins its programme of courses for 2024 on Friday and Saturday, February 9-10, with an introduction to night photography with Dafydd Wyn Morgan. The trust is restoring Mynachlog Fawr farmhouse and farm buildings which are located next door to Strata Florida, a famous 12th century Cistercian abbey near the village of Pontrhydfendigaid, between Devil’s Bridge and Tregaron, in the Cambrian Mountains. Whilst celebrating Strata Florida’s unique landscape and history, the trust aims to bring new economic, social and cultural life to the area. The trust’s courses programme for 2024 is packed with a range interesting topics and new skills to learn. “Whether you’re looking to try something completely new, or advance a skill, come along and join us,” said Carys Aldous-Hughes, trust director. “We are proud to be working with many local Ceredigion-based artists and experts, including Marian Haf, Dafydd Wyn Morgan, Nathan Goss and Professor Dafydd Johnston, who will be sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors. “We are really excited to be running so many new courses in 2024 and looking forward to welcoming more people to Strata Florida.” Mr Morgan will be repeating his introduction to night photography on March 8 and 9 and November 1 and 2, whilst also focusing on ‘Photographing the Milky Way on September 6 and 7. ‘Maintaining Historic Buildings’ is the topic for Mr Goss on March 7, while Marian returns to run another of her ‘Printing with Packaging’ workshops on April 18 and October 16. Brand new courses this year include ‘Spring foraging’ and ‘Autumn foraging’ with Lucas Harley-Edwards on April 27 and September 28 respectively, ‘Words from the Meadow: Creative writing’ and ‘Writing the Dark: Darkness as Inspiration’ with Jacqueline Yallop on May 18 and November 23 respectively and ‘Cistercians in Wales’ with Profession Jane Burton on June 9 and 10. An archaeology field school ranges from one day to one to four weeks, both residential and non-residential, from June 17 to July 14. Professor Johnston will turn the spotlight on ‘Barddoniaeth Ystrad Fflur’, which will be delivered in Welsh, on October 28. To register and find out more about courses, visit https://www.strataflorida.org.uk or contact the trust at info@strataflorida.org.uk . Nathan Goss leading a course for the Strata Florida Trust.
|
Categories |