WHAT is going on at Welsh universities these days?
Yesterday it reached our ears at County Times Towers that students at the University of Glamorgan are the most sexually active in the UK, according to a recent survey, with the University of Wales, Cardiff (UWIC) a close second and Aberystwyth coming in fifth on the list.
The survey, carried out by the student service ‘studentbeans’, questioned 2,284 students from more than 60 universities across the UK, and found that the University of Glamorgan students topped their list admitting to having the most sexual partners, averaging at 10.
Having said that, Bangor and Swansea universities were way down the list, averaging three.
All I can say is, there must be something in the water because it was never like that in my day!
Bah! students.
***
COULD pylons ever be pretty? That’s the idea of some bright spark at the National Grid.
I’m sure that would seem like a daft question to most of us living in Mid Wales at the moment with the threat of hundreds more of them sprawling across our beautiful landscape.
Well, here’s a picture of pylons in Iceland.
Now the National Grid has asked the public to come up with quirky designs for electricity pylons, as it powers up for a £19 billion four-year investment programme.
The energy firm issued its rallying cry as it surged past expectations to deliver annual pre-tax earnings up 25 per cent from £1.97 billion last year to £2.47 billion, helped by improved profit margins in its US business.
The UK is estimated to need more than £200 billion of investment to update the country’s ageing energy network and National Grid said it would spend around £19 billion itself by the end of March 2015.
But it says it could save a fortune on paying design consultants if its call for innovative pylon designs pays off.
The firm launched its hunt for the pylon of the future in partnership with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
Read more at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1388883/Wanted-creative-sparks-redesign-electricity-pylons.html#ixzz1NAGOjKDp
‘Quirkily’ designed or not, I don’t think people are really going to buy into the idea that this is the way ahead!
***
IT seems I maligned a police officer last week. Now I don’t want trouble in the Nelson household, so I am happy to put the record straight.
Last week I printed a picture of a police car outside a kebab shop in Welshpool, sent by a reader who said it was parked on double yellow lines while the officer ‘queued for a kebab in the takeaway’.
However, it seems the police officer in question was there on legitimate business.
“In reality, the officer was responding to two emergency calls at the premises and was going about his job by obtaining key evidence which would help with the investigation.
“I have investigated this matter and I am entirely satisfied the officer was going about his duty,” said Inspector Diane Davies. “A duty officer had stopped his vehicle in the location while responding to two emergency calls to that location. The reported incident resulted in one person being arrested.
“The image and accompanying article presents a false image of the local police.
“I expect the highest standard of conduct from staff, who are held to account for any behaviour which falls short of what is acceptable. On this occasion, however, I can’t help but feel the professionalism of staff has been unfairly undermined.”
Point taken. I’ve no wish to upset the boys in blue, and I’m happy to give readers the true picture.
***
WHAT a fantastic show of passion from Mid Wales at the Assembly this week. It’s just a shame that no Welsh Government Minister came out to face the music.