Author: Rhys Gregory

In this year’s Autumn Statement, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced the steps the Government propose to take to protect lower earners and make pensions more productive for the UK economy. Pension ‘pot for life’ The Government announced plans to tackle the proliferation of small pension pots that can build up when people change jobs frequently.  Currently, every time someone starts a new job they are given a new pension pot, which they and their employer pay into.  The Government will consult on a system where instead people will be able to nominate an existing pension pot to be used.  This…

Plans for a £4bn renewable energy project that will place Swansea at the forefront of global green economy innovation have taken a major step forward. Land agreements have now been finalised between Swansea Council, DST Innovations and Batri Ltd. The agreements – subject to planning permission – will lead to: The expansion of the Fabian Way park and ride site to create a green energy transport hub to potentially include a hydrogen manufacturing station for hydrogen-powered transport, an abundance of electric vehicle charging points, and restaurants and flexible working areas for visitors to enjoy. A new manufacturing facility on the…

Animal abandonments incidents have soared to a shocking three year high as the RSPCA warns unwanted pets face a bleak winter – with incidents in Wales contributing to the crisis. The animal welfare charity has this week released shocking new stats that show abandonments have been spiraling amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. Already this year, up to the end of October, the animal welfare charity has received 17,838 reports of abandoned animals across England and Wales – which, if such trends continue, would equate to 21,417 reports over 2023. This compares with 16,118 reports during the whole of…

Port Talbot has received more than £27m in the latest round of UK Government Levelling Up funding. It has been announced £14,835,600 has been awarded to regenerate Port Talbot town centre, with improvements to the town’s Civic Square, the refurbishment of the Princess Royal Theatre and improvements to green space at Riverside. And a further £12,166,268 has been allocated to restore and reopen the Grade II listed Newbridge Road Bridge in the town to boost active travel locally and to improve local dock access and upgrade Newbridge Road and Riverside Road. The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve…

A SERIES of major school building and refurbishment projects could be under way in Neath Port Talbot including a new-build replacement for the evacuated Godre’rgraig Primary School and a new build special school to replace Ysgol Hendrefelin. On November 20th, 2023, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet agreed to seek permission – via council education officials – for ambitious new school project submissions to be included in the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning funding programme (formerly known as 21st Century Schools). The proposed new submissions are:  A new-build, English medium, £17m replacement for Godre’rgraig Primary School at Gnoll Road, Godre’rgraig,…

All Pembrokeshire County Council town car parks will once again be free to motorists on Saturday and Sundays this December. Parking will be free on December: 2nd and 3rd 9th and 10th 16th and 17th 23rd and 24th 30th and 31st Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide free parking in our Council car parks for weekends in December again this year. “We hope people will take advantage of this and support our local shops and businesses this Christmas.”

A crane will be installed at upper Taff Street in Pontypridd on Sunday, outside the Llys Cadwyn development, for scheduled work to the roof of 2 Llys Cadwyn. The crane will be located on the lane nearest the building – temporary arrangements will allow traffic to use the outside lane, with the taxi rank and loading bay suspended. The work will begin at 5am on Sunday, November 26, and could last until 10pm – however, it is likely that all site activity will be completed much sooner in the day. The work is subject to fair weather. Access will be…

A north Powys high school will move to online learning for the last four days of the autumn term so that urgent works can be carried out to its heating system. Powys County Council will be carrying out work on Welshpool High School’s heating system next month (December). However, the council needs the heating system completely switched off for up to three weeks to allow the urgent works to take place. Following discussions with the school, it has been agreed that the last day in the school building for learners and staff will be Friday, December 15. The school will…

Residents living in Welshpool have an opportunity to have their say on plans for a proposed housing development in the town, Powys County Council has said. The council is looking to build 16, highly insulated and eco-friendly bungalows on the site of the former Gungrog Church in Wales Nursery and Infant School. A pre-application consultation has now started for the proposed development, which will run until Tuesday, December 19, to allow interested parties to comment on the plans before a planning application is submitted. If planning permission is granted, the new homes will be owned and managed by the council…

The Welsh Government has agreed funding of up to £29.4m for a new Orthopaedic hub at Llandudno Hospital to help reduce orthopaedic waiting times. The new hub will transform elective orthopaedic services at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and provide benefits for patients, staff and the wider North Wales community, by delivering a planned 1,900 procedures a year. Specializing in high volume, low complexity care, the dedicated hub will increase annual surgical activity. by providing orthopaedic services away from hospitals, it will reduce the effects unscheduled care can have on elective treatment and reduce the chance of surgeries being postponed. The…