GOODWICK Sea Scout Group has praised its young members, leaders and volunteers after they helped brighten up the area outside the group’s headquarters.

The team rolled up their sleeves ahead of the town’s recent Wales in Bloom judging, clearing overgrown vegetation and transforming an old boat into an eye-catching flower bed filled with colourful plants.

The group said the work had made a real difference to the front of the hall and thanked everyone who gave their time to help.

A spokesperson said: “Our Scout group worked hard to tidy up the front of our hall in time for the town’s Wales in Bloom judging.

“Well done to all the young people, leaders and volunteers who helped.”

The group is now hoping to build on the improvements and would like to hear from anyone with gardening experience who could volunteer to help care for the land surrounding the hall.

Anyone interested in lending a hand is encouraged to contact Goodwick Sea Scout Group directly.

Rhun ap Iorwerth says he will press the new Prime Minister for powers over policing, railways and Wales’ natural resources when the two leaders meet.

FIRST MINISTER Rhun ap Iorwerth has said he believes Andy Burnham is more willing to listen to Wales’ demands for further devolution than his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.

The Plaid Cymru leader is expected to hold an introductory meeting with the new Prime Minister on Thursday, following a telephone conversation between the pair earlier this week.

Mr ap Iorwerth said he hoped the change in leadership at Westminster would provide an opportunity to take Welsh devolution to the “next level”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday, he said: “I had a conversation with Andy Burnham yesterday, congratulated him on becoming Prime Minister, and we both made it clear to each other that we wanted to have a positive relationship, a constructive relationship.

“I know that he understands devolution for Manchester. I want to help him understand what devolution means in Wales and what tools we need to make it work better.”

The First Minister said his government had been elected with a mandate to seek greater control over policing and justice, rail services and funding, as well as Wales’ natural resources.

He said: “There is a list, if you like, of things that we need to devolve now in order to move the story of Wales, the story of devolution, on to the next level.

“It’s clear that we now have a Prime Minister who is open to listening, perhaps in a way that Keir Starmer wasn’t, and I’m eager to do everything that I can to make the case for Wales.”

A planned meeting between Mr ap Iorwerth and Sir Keir failed to take place before the former Prime Minister left office, with the First Minister previously blaming “chaos in Westminster”.

Plaid Cymru formed the Welsh Government in May after ending more than two decades of Welsh Labour rule at the Senedd election.

Mr Burnham has extensive experience of devolved government after serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he repeatedly called for greater powers and funding to be transferred away from Westminster.

However, the new Prime Minister has sought to play down the prospect of major constitutional reform.

During conversations with the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, Mr Burnham said his immediate focus would be on “practical measures” rather than constitutional changes or further independence referendums.

Mr ap Iorwerth supports Welsh independence but has said his government will not seek to hold an independence referendum during its first term.

Thursday’s meeting is expected to focus on the working relationship between the Welsh and UK governments, as well as funding, transport and the future balance of devolved powers.

New bursary schemes will support up to 19 qualified planners, with a particular focus on tackling workforce shortages in mid and west Wales

COMMUNITIES across Wales are set to benefit from stronger local planning services following the announcement of almost £450,000 to train and retain the next generation of planners.

The Welsh Government has confirmed £447,400 for two bursary programmes which could support up to 19 people to gain professional planning qualifications.

The existing Pathways to Planning bursary scheme will receive £126,000, enabling up to seven junior planners to complete fully funded postgraduate study.

A further £321,400 will be invested over three years in a new Mid and West Wales Rural Planners bursary scheme, designed to address recruitment and retention difficulties in rural authorities.

The programme will support up to 12 graduates and existing local authority staff to study for Royal Town Planning Institute-accredited postgraduate qualifications while continuing to live and work in their local communities.

It will operate across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Eryri National Park.

The scheme will also place a strong emphasis on supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and developing locally based professionals with an understanding of the communities they serve.

Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning Siân Gwenllian said effective planning departments were vital to the future of communities across Wales.

She said: “Good planning services are the backbone of thriving communities. They shape where homes are built, where businesses grow and how we protect our natural environment, but too many rural areas in Wales are struggling to recruit and retain the planners they need.

“That is why I joined a roundtable at the Royal Welsh Show this week with rural council leaders, including the leaders of Ceredigion and Powys, to hear directly about the pressures they face.

“These bursary schemes are a direct response to what we heard, investing in local talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and growing the planning workforce from within the communities it serves.”

Ceredigion County Council will lead the delivery of the rural programme in partnership with the other participating authorities.

Council leader Cllr Bryan Davies said the initiative demonstrated what rural authorities could achieve by working together to tackle shared workforce challenges.

He said: “Ceredigion has been proud to lead the development of this regional initiative, working with our partners to create new opportunities for local people to build professional careers in planning while remaining in rural Wales.

“By investing in home-grown talent, supporting Welsh-speaking graduates and strengthening the skills we need for the future, we are helping to ensure that mid and west Wales has the capacity, expertise and local knowledge required to shape thriving, sustainable communities for generations to come.

“We thank the Welsh Government for the opportunity to develop this ‘grow your own’ planners approach.”