Jistcourt troubles spark Powys council house project fears

The future of Powys's first council house development in 40 years is in doubt amid troubles at the building firm hired for the project.

Port Talbot-based Jistcourt said on Friday it was going into administration with 47 of its 66 jobs being lost.

Powys council officers say they will move "very swiftly" to secure a site in Newtown where 26 flats are to be built.

Administrators say the firm's directors are working with clients to bring "live projects" to a "workable conclusion".

On Monday, councillors heard that £695,000 had been spent so far on the £3.5m scheme.

However, a source told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that none of this money had gone to Jistcourt.

Nina Davies, head of housing and community development, told members that the council had not yet been officially notified that Jistcourt had gone into administration.

But she confirmed that her team was preparing for the worst.

"Officers are putting together options," Ms Davies said. "If and when we receive notification we will be moving very swiftly."

Powys County Council aims to build 250 new homes by 2023.

A report to Monday's meeting said the Newtown project on a former bowling green was supposed to be completed by September 2020.

Councillor Elwyn Vaughan, leader of the Plaid Cymru group, called for a full report, asking if due diligence had been carried out on the company.

He said he was concerned that the day after a turf-cutting ceremony in May, Jistcourt told the council its bank could not provide a "performance bond" guaranteeing the project would be completed if the contractor failed, due to the company "exceeding their limit".

"Surely such confirmation should have provided sufficient warning that all was not well at the company," Councillor Vaughan said.

Three school building projects in Powys were already in limbo following the collapse in March of construction firm Dawnus.

Jane Dodds - Aberpergwm Coal Mine Expansion Must be Stopped

he Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to the expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine in Neath Port Talbot Council. Addressing a protest in front of the Senedd Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that if we are to stand any hope of tackling climate change before it’s too late, the coal must be left in the ground. The protest in front of the Senedd in Cardiff saw multiple Welsh climate groups attend. The expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine has been at the centre of a row between the UK and Welsh Governments, with the Welsh Government claiming it does not have the legal authority to block the mine’s expansion, while the UK Coal Authority has insisted that the Welsh Government could in fact stop the development. The new license, which was approved by the Coal Authority in January will allow Aberpergwm Mine to extract another forty million tonnes of coal. The development could release up to 1.17 million tonnes of very strong greenhouse gases, in

New Zealand Trade Deal Will Damage Rural Communities

Responding to the news that the UK Government has concluded the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said the deal will cause damage to rural communities and the Welsh agricultural industry. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said: "The UK Government has negotiated a trade agreement that will actively damage Welsh farming communities and will bring next to no tangible benefits to our local economies. "The Conservatives have proven that they are utterly unable to negotiate trade deals that boost the UK economy and unfortunately this agreement is no exception. The economic benefits are a drop in the ocean, and they will do nothing to mitigate the damage from the red tape and paperwork caused by Boris Johnson's shambolic EU trade deal. "Instead of delivering Global Britain, this Government is selling Welsh farmers

,Lib Dems demand Cardiff Council removes Russian investments

Lib Dems demand Cardiff Council removes Russian investments Following the horrific news of Russia invading Ukraine, Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Rhys Taylor has written to Cardiff Council to ask that it’s pension fund sell any shares it may hold in companies that have invested in Russia. “Like so many other local people, I am sickened by what is happening on the streets of Ukraine and our own pension fund should make its feelings clear by divesting any assets it holds in companies with Russian investments. “I believe our council’s pension fund should also take a stand, and if it does hold any shares in Russian companies – or those who have invested in Russia - to divest without delay. “Others have taken action – the Church of England is divesting its £20 million in shareholdings in Russian companies and BP is selling its 19.75% stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft, and Shell is divesting from Gazprom. I encourage local government pension schemes to divest any shares they hol

Welsh Liberal blogs

Search This Blog