Author: Rhys Gregory

New classrooms and a Welsh Language Immersion Centre were officially opened on Friday, October 13th, 2023 at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Pontardawe by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles MS. The £2.3m project was funded by the Welsh Government as part of its Welsh Medium Grant programme. YGG Pontardawe, a 3 – 11 Welsh-medium school, is fast approaching its capacity of 335 and 59 nursery places necessitating the expansion and modernisation of its facilities. The project has enabled the school to increase capacity by 60 pupils and the existing childcare setting by 12 full time places. The work…

This is the moment a reckless driver was brought to a stop, after he pushed through miles of traffic which had been brought to a standstill at the scene of a fatal collision, and sped off in the wrong direction. Craig Roach, 42, of Croespenmaen, Caerphilly County Borough, forced his way through the traffic on the A465 near Resolven on Friday evening (September 8), and failed to stop despite a direction by officers who were in attendance at a collision, in which a local man lost his life. A short pursuit entailed, with further directions for Roach to stop the…

Minister for the Economy, Vaughan Gething, has today (Monday, October 16) unveiled a first-of-its-kind action plan between a devolved nation and Innovate UK setting out how Wales will build a strengthened innovation economy. Speaking at the start of Wales Tech Week at ICC Wales in Newport, the Minister was joined by the CEO of Innovate UK, Indro Mukerjee, to launch the joint Collaborative Innovation Plan. The plan aims to harness the country’s innovative spirit, helping business and organisations share ideas and use new technologies. It  follows through on commitments made over the past 12 months, building on the Welsh Government…

Seven members of an Organised Crime Group (OCG) were sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on September 22nd following an operation led by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales. Operation Cruz was a complex investigation which tackled the group’s wholesale supply of cocaine across the southern Wales region. The OCG was headed up by Joshua Matthews, from Pontyclun who bought his drugs from several upstream suppliers. On 21st July 2023, Vincent Aquilina, a known associate of Matthews, was seen leaving an address in the Caerau area of Cardiff, carrying a bag. Aquilina then met Matthews and handed him…

Transport for Wales’ ambitious plans to improve public transport move one step closer, with public consultation on designs for five new railway stations in South East Wales and new train services launched today. Members of the public are being invited to share their views as part of a 13-week consultation which runs from today (16 October) to 14 January. The consultation is available on: Haveyoursay.tfw.wales/sew-new-stations-and-services Transport for Wales is looking for feedback on the designs of potential stations at Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor and Undy, including the types of facilities that people would like to see…

One of Cardiff Council’s flagship projects to transform education across the city is set to clear a major hurdle with the approval of funds to begin building the pioneering Fairwater Community Campus. A new report, which goes before the council’s Cabinet this week (Oct 19), recommends approving funds that will allow the main building work to go ahead on the redevelopment of the Cantonian High School site. When the campus is completed in the 2026/27 academic year, it will incorporate three existing schools – Cantonian, Woodlands and Riverbank – and form the largest project in the Welsh Government Sustainable Communities…

St David’s Hall is to remain closed until the New Year as additional checks on the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) panels in the building take place. In a statement released by Cardiff Council last week, the hall will need work to be carried out in order for it to be reopen. The iconic Cardiff venue closed earlier in September, following a decision taken in light of the recent change to advice on RAAC in public buildings issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and following further discussions with the Council’s appointed independent structural engineers, and the council’s insurers.…

A stunning new fly-through video of a landmark office development in Swansea city centre has been released. The video shows how the inside and outside of the 71/72 Kingsway scheme will look once construction is complete. It includes conceptual footage of the reception area, office spaces, balconies, networking areas and rooftop terrace with views over Swansea Bay. Developed by Swansea Council, the development at the former Oceana nightclub site is being specifically targeted at the digital, tech and creative sectors. JLL and Avison Young are the letting and marketing agents for the scheme. Main contractor Bouygues UK is making considerable…

Neath Port Talbot Council is asking for people to have their say on its Draft Heritage strategy that aims to raise awareness about the area’s exceptional heritage, including its economic, well-being and environment importance. ‘Restore, Regenerate, Repurpose’, the title of the draft strategy, sets out how it will ensure the conservation, protection and sustainability of Neath Port Talbot’s heritage assets from 2023 to 2038. The five main themes outlined in the action plan include: •    Understanding heritage and its significance. •    Conserving & investing in heritage for future generations. •    Capitalising & building on heritage. •    Positive management of heritage.…

They’ve screamed us into summer for thousands of years but now the ancient swift is in danger of disappearing from our skies. The iconic birds have recently been placed on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern as populations across the UK have declined by 58% since 1995 with an alarming 75% drop in Wales. As a result, Neath Port Talbot Council, together with Glantawe Outdoor Education Academy will soon by erecting a ‘Swift Tower’ at Glantawe Riverside Park in Pontardawe. This initiative will: •    Provide a prominent, 7m high piece of art to inform residents and visitors to…