News
Welsh Government unveils mortgage support scheme
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced a new funding package for Welsh homeowners having difficulty paying their mortgage.
Julie James, Wales’s Minister for Housing, unveiled the Help to Stay Wales Mortgage Support Scheme on Tuesday, November 7.
TARGETED SUPPORT
With rising interest rates, energy costs and cost-of-living expenses, many homeowners cannot meet mortgage repayments.
As part of the Co-operation Agreement, the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru considered introducing Local Authority Mortgages. However, that idea is a non-starter.
Instead, the Help to Stay Wales Scheme formed part of discussions about the mortgage market and how the Welsh Government can provide targeted support.
PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE
With increased investment, the Welsh Government aims to prevent many individuals and families from entering possession proceedings and becoming homeless, adding to the already stressed waiting lists and high temporary accommodation costs for Local Authorities.
During 2022-23 and 2023-24, the Welsh Government provided more than £3.3 billion of support to help people struggling with the cost of living through targeted programmes which put money back into people’s pockets.
As part of the budget agreement with Plaid Cymru for 2023-24, £40m repayable capital funding has been made available over this year and next year to bring forward schemes to provide flexible financial support.
WORKING ALONGSIDE EXISTING SCHEMES
Help to Stay Wales will work alongside support offered by mortgage providers through the UK Mortgage Charter for customers struggling to afford their mortgage payments.
The Scheme will provide an option for homeowners who are at serious risk of losing their home by offering a partial repayment of an existing mortgage balance via a low-cost equity loan, secured by a second charge (behind first charge lender), reducing revised mortgage repayments to a level the applicant can afford.
The Development Bank of Wales will operate the Scheme and be interest-free for the first five years.
The purpose of the Scheme is to reduce the number of homeowners at risk of repossession and homelessness by offering them time to resolve their underlying financial issues.
UK FINANCE AND LENDERS SUPPORT SCHEME
Julie James MS said: “The current economic climate presents many challenges for homeowners as they face the significant rise in fuel costs, high inflation, escalating rent and house prices with incomes often not keeping pace.
“The aim of the Help to Stay Wales Scheme is to help homeowners to continue living in their precious homes.
“By widening our current mortgage rescue offer, we can help more people at an earlier stage before they face the awful threat of repossession.
“I would like to thank UK Finance and mortgage lenders already supporting the Scheme. I hope more lenders will provide their support over the coming weeks.
“We will continue to do all we can with our powers to protect vulnerable households through this cost-of-living crisis.”
Designated Member Siân Gwenllian said: “The detailed work undertaken through the Co-operation Agreement on the mortgage market has led to the creation of Help to Stay Wales to support people affected by soaring interest rates.
“By utilising the financial institutions and the powers we currently have in Wales, we have created a Made in Wales solution which will provide direct support to those facing the greatest difficulties.
“Despite having limited powers and resources in this area, our hope is that the direct support being provided in Wales will provide an additional safety net.”
AVOIDING THE STRESS OF REPOSSESSION
Chief Executive for Shelter Cymru, Ruth Power, said: “We’ve been campaigning for more support for homeowners struggling with their mortgage repayments.
“We welcome any initiatives that get upstream to prevent homelessness and widen the safety net for households facing a cost of housing and cost-of-living crisis.
“This Scheme will offer eligible households assistance from the early point of arrears accruing rather than waiting until they face the incredible stress of repossession.
“We must now ensure that as many households as possible have the option to use it to stay in their homes, learning from people at risk of homelessness how best such a scheme can help them.
“Anyone at immediate risk of losing their home can contact Shelter Cymru’s helpline on 08000 495 495 for independent advice.”
Mortgage Rescue, which has operated in Wales since 2008, is still available and remains a valuable last resort, but requires people to already be in possession proceedings to qualify for support.
Help to Stay Wales will extend this to include those facing possession proceedings and financial hardship.
CONSERVATIVES PROPOSE
AMBITIOUS ALTERNATIVE
Welsh Conservative Shadow Housing Minister Janet Finch-Saunders MS said: “It is not the role of the Welsh Government to hand out loans to pay off people’s mortgages.
“The UK Government has already secured a wide range of support directly from mortgage providers to support people.
“The Scheme raises several questions, including whether it is being targeted correctly and why social landlords are not being supported to invest in homes threatened with repossession.”
Speaking to The Herald, Janet Finch-Saunders explained: “A social landlord mortgage rescue scheme can work in two ways.
“The first is through a shared equity loan. If a homeowner qualifies, they will be given an equity loan from a housing association, enabling them to keep up with their mortgage payments. The loan is repayable to the housing association but is interest-free.
“The second option is mortgage to rent. If an individual cannot afford to continue owning a share of their property, the housing association could buy the property and rent it back to the individual.
“Whilst the second option would mean that the individual no longer owns their own home, they would still be able to live there, but by renting from a social landlord.
“Individuals would reach out to the relevant local authority/social landlord, so there would be no preying on struggling homeowners”.
Business
Ascona Group announces rebranding of two west Wales sites
PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED Ascona Group has announced the rebranding of two of its Pembrokeshire service stations to the Valero brand. The rebranding process is set to commence next week, starting on 20 May 2024.
The two sites undergoing transformation are the Ascona – Pelcomb Service Station located at Pelcomb Cross and the Ascona – Ivy Service Station in St Clears. The company has assured that the rebranding work will be completed by the end of the week.
Ascona Group expressed their excitement about the upcoming changes and look forward to unveiling the newly branded sites to their loyal customers. In a statement, the company said, “We can’t wait to share these rebranded sites with our loyal customers. Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for your continued support.”
Customers with queries regarding the continued use of loyalty cards or fuel cards under the new Valero banner are encouraged to visit the respective stores, where options will be available to ensure a seamless transition.
News
Puffin protection laws at centre of post Brexit row
The puffin, a beloved seabird and symbol of Pembrokeshire, is caught in a heated dispute over the UK’s post-Brexit fishing rules. Recently, the UK banned fishing for sandeels in the North Sea, the puffin’s main food source. But the European Union (EU) wants this ban lifted, saying it breaks the terms of the UK’s post-Brexit agreement.
Both the UK and EU need to find a solution by Thursday to avoid further problems, like potential sanctions against Britain. Conservationists argue that this is about the UK’s right to decide how to protect wildlife in its own waters.
This is the first time the EU has used its dispute resolution process in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement since Brexit. Wildlife groups across Europe strongly oppose the EU’s demand. Thirty-eight conservation organisations, including the RSPB, ClientEarth, Oceana UK, Birdlife International, and the Marine Conservation Society, support the UK’s ban.
Brexit supporters also back the ban, saying it would have been hard to achieve while the UK was in the EU due to bureaucracy and opposition from other EU countries. David Davis, a former UK Brexit minister, told the BBC that the policy serves both national and global interests, and Brexit allows the UK to make these decisions independently.
Sandeels are small, silvery fish found in large numbers in the North Sea. They are crucial for endangered seabirds, as well as seals, whales, and dolphins. Danish fishing boats are most affected by the ban, catching around 250,000 tonnes of sandeels in UK waters each year for fish oil and animal feed, especially for pigs and farmed salmon.
The RSPB has been calling for a ban on sandeel fishing for over 25 years, warning that sandeels are under pressure due to climate change. Kirsten Carter, RSPB’s head of marine policy, expressed shock at the EU’s challenge, stressing the importance of sandeels for seabird survival.
On the other side, the EU argues that the UK’s ban doesn’t consider the needs of fishing communities or marine ecosystems enough. They say the ban prevents EU fishing vessels from accessing important fishing grounds and goes against the UK’s commitments under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
A spokesperson for the European fishing industry defended their practices, mentioning existing quotas and protected areas. Espen Sverdrup-Jensen, president of the EU Association of Fish Producers, disputed the UK’s ban, saying there’s no scientific evidence linking it to seabird breeding success.
If the UK and EU don’t settle the issue by Thursday, it will go to an arbitration panel. If the panel rules against the UK and the government refuses to comply, Brussels could respond with tariffs or other actions
News
Tributes pour in for West Wales DJ legend Kai Liu
FRIENDS of a popular nightclub owner and ‘legend’ of Swansea’s DJ scene have described him as a “one in a million” person who would go out of his way to help others. Father-of-four Kai Liu passed away on Wednesday, May 8, at the age of 45.
Mr Liu first immersed himself in the city’s music scene after purchasing a set of DJ decks, which were kept at his friend Greg Pickin’s flat in Morriston. Their passion for music quickly grew from playing vinyl at parties to DJing at iconic Swansea city centre venues such as Quids Inn, The Palace, Escape, and Bar Seven.
He eventually took over the running of PlanB nightclub in Northampton Lane, Swansea, which had previously been known as Crobar and Club Oxygen. Over the years, Mr Liu, who was from Skewen but brought up in Bonymaen, gave opportunities to generations of young and upcoming DJs and was instrumental in bringing some of the biggest names in dance music to the city.
Mr Pickin, 42, who now runs Heaven in Wind Street, Swansea, shared heartfelt memories of his late friend. “We were the best of mates; he was my daughter’s godfather, and we’d speak every other day. We were so close all the way through. We would talk about everything – business, family, holidays, Ibiza. Kai loved Ibiza. We had so much in common. There has been quite a lot of change in the music scene over the last 25 years, and we’d often discuss where we think it’s going. It ran a lot deeper than just being turntable brothers; we were close, but Kai was best friends to everybody.
“The amount of people who would class Kai as one of their best friends – he was just that kind of person, always happy, always smiling, always had time for people. He was very driven, very motivated, very passionate. He was a great dad, a great husband – just a great man. Kai was always there if I needed him. For the last 25 years, we’ve been through everything together, high times, amazing times, low times, just basically what a friendship is. Friends like that mean everything to you. He was a legend within the scene, and I don’t think anyone could deny him that status. If anyone deserved it, it would have been Kai.
“Kai brought through so many people over the years. A lot of DJs around owe their careers to Kai. He was an all-round good guy who was one in a million. He has probably brought through about two or three generations of DJs through the years. He was constantly evolving his team, and the team that he has left now in PlanB are a good bunch of lads, all in their twenties. His role within the Swansea scene has been pivotal. He has consistently been delivering the biggest acts to Swansea for ten to 12 years. He has pretty much held it together over time. There’s a lot Swansea needs to thank Kai for.”
Another of Mr Liu’s friends, CN Williams, described his talent as a DJ as “unparalleled”. He said, “I’ve been struggling to find the words. Kai was more than a friend; he was a true gentleman, an exemplary husband and father, and a pillar of strength for his family. His passion for music was infectious, and his talent as a DJ was unparalleled. Yet, amidst his professional success, he remained grounded, always ready to embrace life’s joys and celebrate with those around him.
“Together, we shared countless memories of late nights at Escape Nightclub, Bar 7, Eden, Moloko, and his own ventures like Warehouse, Oxygen, PlanB, and many more. I’ll forever cherish the memories we created, especially our last meeting at my stag do in Swansea, where Kai insisted on keeping the drinks flowing, as he always did.”
James ‘Slim’ Davies, former resident DJ at the old Rasputins, Wales’ first vodka bar and Swansea’s ‘smallest nightclub’, added, “I have many fond memories of Kai, starting from the days when he used to DJ in Quids Inn. His love of music, his infectious smile. Kai always had a lot of time for everyone. He will be greatly missed in the clubbing scene and beyond.”
Kai Liu’s legacy in the Swansea music scene will be remembered by the many lives he touched and the vibrant musical community he helped build.
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