Volunteers are wanted to help with the Tour de France stage in Powys next year (4 July 2027). They are also needed for the five other stages of the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift which will make up the Grand Départs in the UK.

You can apply now to be a JOY Maker for any of the six stages of the 2027 Grand Départs via www.letourgb.com/volunteer with registration open from today (Wednesday 27 May) until Tuesday 1 September 2026.

To stay up to date with the 2027 Grand Départs and find out more about all six stages, visit letourgb.com

Powys County Council adopts Charter for the Rights of the River Wye

Powys County Council has approved the adoption of the Charter for the Rights of the River Wye, marking a significant step in protecting and restoring one of the UK’s most iconic rivers.

First refurbished buses welcomed to Powys in major step for public transport

Powys County Council has welcomed the first of 15 newly refurbished buses, marking an important step in improving public transport across the county.

Funded by Welsh Government in partnership with Transport for Wales through the Bridge to Franchising collaboration, the upgraded buses will offer more accessible, comfortable and lower-emission journeys, with features including improved seating, audio-visual announcements and USB charging.

The wider programme aims to deliver a more integrated and passenger-focused network across Mid Wales, with further vehicles due to roll out in phases over the coming months. Read more on the Powys website.

Regional partnership takes seat at national roundtable on nature and economic growth

Representatives of the Marches Forward Partnership have taken part in a national policy roundtable exploring how nature and economic growth can be delivered together.

The Roundtable on Collaborative Private Sector Investment in Resilience and Nature was led by the Environment Agency, Natural England and consultants 3Keel, who selected the Partnership’s initiative to position the region as the Capital of Rural Britain to help shape discussion, reflecting growing national interest in the Partnership’s work across the England/ Wales border.

The Partnership, led by Powys County Council and Shropshire Council, is already developing new approaches to green growth, water resilience and long-term infrastructure planning.

Participation at the roundtable highlights the increasing national recognition of this work and the role rural areas can play in delivering sustainable economic growth.

Funding and business support to help Mid Wales businesses adopt smart LoRaWAN technology

Businesses across Mid Wales are being invited to access new funding and expert support to help them adopt innovative LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technologies to boost productivity, as part of the Growing Mid Wales LoRaWAN project.

Eligible businesses located in Ceredigion and Powys can apply for grants of up to £4,999 to support the purchase and installation of LoRaWAN enabled devices, sensors and gateways. The funding is designed to help businesses integrate smart, low-power digital technologies into their day-to-day operations, improving efficiency, reducing costs and supporting better-informed decision-making.

Businesses interested in applying are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest via the Growing Mid Wales website: www.growingmid.wales/LoRaWAN

Leader announces refreshed Cabinet responsibilities to strengthen service delivery

The Leader of Powys County Council has announced an update to cabinet portfolio holder responsibilities to further strengthen the delivery of key frontline services and support continued improvement.

With immediate effect, responsibility for the council’s waste and recycling service will transfer to Cllr Richard Church, aligning the service with his existing regulatory services portfolio and creating new opportunities to enhance performance and integration.

Council awards new long‑term contract to Shaw Healthcare

A strengthened long‑term partnership between Powys County Council and Shaw Healthcare has been confirmed through a new 15‑year contract covering 12 older people’s care homes and one reablement facility.

Powys towns to receive equal share of £1.5m ‘Pride in Place’ funding

All 18 of Powys’ towns are to benefit from an equal share of a £1.5 million investment aimed at improving local spaces, revitalising high streets and strengthening communities.

Powys County Council has received the funding through the UK Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund, which supports short-term projects to improve public and community spaces. As part of the agreed approach, each town council will receive £83,000 to deliver locally-led improvements.

The funding will help deliver a range of projects across three key themes:

Community spaces – improving or refurbishing facilities and helping community organisations make better use of valued local assets
Public spaces – enhancing the physical environment through green spaces, play areas, public art, and improved amenities
High streets and town centres – making them more attractive and vibrant, including shopfront improvements, bringing empty premises back into use, and supporting markets

The allocation, which must be spent by the end of March 2027, is entirely capital funding and will support projects that deliver visible, lasting improvements.

The town councils receiving the funding are Brecon, Builth Wells, Crickhowell, Hay, Knighton, Llandrindod Wells, Llanfair Caereinion, Llanfyllin, Llanidloes, Llanwrtyd Wells, Machynlleth, Montgomery, Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn, Presteigne and Norton, Rhayader, Talgarth, Welshpool, and Ystradgynlais.

Queries about the delivery of the Pride in Place Impact Fund in Powys can be sent to: economicdevelopment@powys.gov.uk

Council responds to cyber incident affecting school systems

Powys County Council is responding to a cyber security incident affecting some school systems, which has resulted in unauthorised access to some personal data.

The incident was initially identified in April 2026 and was contained quickly. Immediate and robust action was taken to secure systems and limit further impact. Specialist experts and partners are supporting a detailed and ongoing investigation.

Early findings confirm that some personal data relating to pupils, staff and others connected to the school has been accessed from one school. Work is ongoing to fully understand the scope of the incident and identify all those affected.

Schools remain open and operational, and there is no evidence of disruption to education provision.

For more information, please visit www.powys.gov.uk/CyberIncident

Funding available to strengthen food support and tackle poverty in Powys

Powys County Council has launched its Food Aid Small Grant Fund, offering grants of up to £9,000 per project to eligible not-for-profit organisations delivering services to residents.

The fund aims to support a wide range of initiatives that make a real difference, including food banks, community meal schemes, food parcel services, and projects that build longer-term resilience such as food growing and distribution schemes.

Money is available for both revenue costs (up to £4,000) and capital costs (up to £5,000), helping organisations to expand their reach, purchase equipment, and deliver new or enhanced services.

Projects supported through the fund must benefit people living in Powys and demonstrate how they address local need, reduce inequalities and create sustainable, longer-term impact.

The council is particularly keen to hear from organisations that can reach vulnerable or hard-to-access communities, and those with ideas that promote long-term resilience and community-led solutions.

Applications will be considered in a series of assessment rounds, with the first closing date on 26 June 2026, followed by further rounds throughout the year. Funding must be spent by 28 February 2027.

Eligible applicants include constituted community and voluntary organisations, charities, community interest companies, social supermarkets, food banks and town or community councils.

Organisations interested in applying can submit their application form and find further guidance through the council’s website: https://en.powys.gov.uk/foodaidgrant

Queries about the Food Aid Small Grant Fund can be sent to: costofliving@powys.gov.uk

Proposed Future Powys Active Travel Routes – Open for consultation

During 2025, we carried out a comprehensive engagement exercise to understand how active travel facilities and routes, such as walking and cycling, could be improved across the county’s 11 designated active travel localities (as defined by Welsh Government Ministers). The aim was to support more people to choose active travel for short, everyday journeys.

Using feedback from residents, town and community councils, schools, and other stakeholders, we have developed a draft updated Active Travel Network Map (ATNM) for each locality.

These draft maps show existing active travel routes, include aspirational routes identified through community feedback and highlight proposed improvements to the wider active travel network.

While it has not been possible to include every suggestion – due to practical considerations and the minimum requirements set out in the Active Travel Design Guide – we have sought to incorporate as many routes and recommendations as possible.

It is important to note that all routes identified at this stage are aspirational. However, they will form the foundation for future active travel funding applications and help shape long-term improvements across Powys.

Have Your Say

The 11 draft ATNMs are now available to view here https://datamap.gov.wales/maps/powys-active-travel-network-map-draft/

They will be open for public consultation for 12 weeks, from: Monday 8 June to Monday 31 August

This is your opportunity to review the proposed routes and ensure we have accurately reflected the feedback gathered during the engagement exercise.

Building Better Culture: Have your say!

An ambitious new partnership between Powys, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire councils is inviting the public to help shape a shared cultural vision for the region.

Led by Powys County Council, the Mid and West Wales Strategic Culture Partnership brings the four authorities together for the first time to develop a long-term plan for culture across Mid and West Wales.

At the heart of the project is a commitment to listening. Residents, communities, creatives and organisations are being encouraged to share their views to ensure the vision reflects the needs and aspirations of local people across one of Wales’ most diverse and rural regions.

A regional Cultural Vision and four local Cultural Priority Plans are due to be completed by October 2026, supporting long-term collaboration and investment in culture across the region over the next five years.

Have your say

Residents are being invited to share their views on what culture means to them as part of a series of drop-in and online workshop sessions this June.

Delivered through the Cwlwm project (Golwg Creadigol), the sessions will bring people together to explore different interpretations of culture, from arts and theatre to local heritage, libraries and community events, to help shape a new vision for culture across mid and west Wales. All sessions are open to everyone, with Welsh and English language options available, at the following times and locations:

24 June:

Drop in Session (11am-5pm) Y Gaer, Brecon
Evening Workshop (7-8.30pm) Y Gaer, Brecon

All sessions are open to everyone, with Welsh and English language options available.

Alternatively, you can share your views via the online questionnaire: https://forms.gle/7UDWcmy8Hr6WWCdD6

The closing date for responses is: Tuesday 30th June 2026

Motorcycle Engagement Day to promote safer riding across Powys

Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit, in partnership with Blood Bikes Wales, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed-Powys Police, GoSafe and Mid Wales Advanced Motorists, will host the community safety event this weekend:

📍 Crossgates Service Station, near Llandrindod Wells
📅 Sunday 14 June 2026
🕘 9:00am – 3:00pm

All motorcyclists, as well as friends and family, are encouraged to attend. For more information about motorcycle safety and upcoming training opportunities, visit: https://en.powys.gov.uk/article/4037/Motorcycle-safety-and-training

Council sets out vision for future farm estate

Powys County Council is setting out a new long-term vision for its farm estate, with a focus on creating opportunities for future farmers and strengthening local food production.

The policy recognises the farm estate as a valuable public asset with a key role in supporting rural communities, the local economy and sustainable food production, helping deliver the council’s ambition for a Stronger, Fairer, Greener Powys.

A central aim of the policy is to help more people access farming and build sustainable businesses in Powys. This includes increasing opportunities across the estate and supporting new and innovative approaches such as smaller-scale and diversified farming.

The policy also places greater emphasis on local food production and food security, helping to build more resilient food networks and support the rural economy.

Powys County Councillor Update

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