Locations for car charging points sought

POSSIBLE sites for electric vehicle charging points are being looked at in Bridgend county.

As part of the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) strategy, a number of potential locations have been identified at publicly-accessible and workplace sites.

This year work is due to begin on a taxi charging point at Hillsboro Place Car Park in Porthcawl and funding is being sought for charging points at Brynmenyn Industrial Estate, Bridgend Life Centre, Porthcawl, Maesteg Car Park, Bridgend town centre, Bryncethin Depot and the Civic Offices car park.

The Welsh Government has set a target of zero emissions from buses and taxis by 2028 and the CCR was awarded £1.3m in May 2020 to help deliver initiatives to meet this goal.

Across the region, 112 sites have been identified for electric charging points for public use, as well as 15 sites for bus charging points.

In future, hydrogen, renewable energy and digital technology will also be explored to help achieve emissions targets.

NEARLY two in five parents are not confident that schools will remain open for the rest of the academic year, a survey suggests.

The majority (56%) of parents are worried about their child’s mental well-being and 31% are worried their child has fallen behind during closures, according to a poll by Save the Children.

More than two in five (41%) children said they are happy about going back to class after months of remote learning, the report shows.

But many parents said they have struggled to stay positive (55%) and to cope emotionally (43%) over the past year.

The survey, of more than 1,000 parents of school-age children, also suggests that mothers are worrying about their child’s wellbeing more than fathers.

It found 46% of mothers are concerned that their child’s confidence/anxiety levels will not go back to normal over the next few months, compared to 34% of fathers who are worried.

The poll, which also surveyed more than 1,000 children aged six to 18, found 69% of pupils believe they will be able to catch up on their education when back in school. But anxieties are higher for low-income families, where 39% of children reported they feel they have fallen behind with their schoolwork and a fifth said they did not have the right equipment to learn from home.

If you were involved in any of the events described here, we would love to hear your memories. Contact David Prince on 029 2024 3620 or email david.prince@walesonline.co.uk