Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

Santa Claus is making a welcome return to our town centres this year and he’s bringing even more festive fun than ever before! Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has announced Christmas Events in the following town centres: 24th November Ferndale Lime Street Car Park 3pm to 6.30pm 25th November Porth Porth Plaza Car Park 12pm to 5pm 1st December Tonypandy De-Winton Street Car Park 3pm to 6.30pm 2nd December Mountain Ash Henry Street Car Park 12pm to 5pm Every effort has been made to make this an affordable Christmas event for the residents of RCT and tokens will be available for…

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Education has visited the fantastic new Welsh Medium primary school building in Rhydyfelin, where pupils and staff have been enjoying the first-class facilities since the start of the school year. The new building, on the Heol y Celyn Primary site, is part of the Council’s £75.6m investment in education facilities for Greater Pontypridd – with major projects in Hawthorn, Cilfynydd, Rhydyfelin and Beddau being jointly delivered with Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Construction of the impressive new building in Rhydyfelin was completed on schedule over the summer, to welcome Heol y Celyn Primary…

A team at Caerphilly County Borough Council is turning houses into homes, by working with owners to bring empty properties back into beneficial use. Caerphilly’s Empty Property Team offers a wide range of advice and support to owners of empty homes, including financial assistance.  However, when all options to engage owners are exhausted the team can use enforcement powers to tackle problematic long-term empty properties. The team recently completed the Council’s first enforced sale on a property in Caerphilly that had been empty since at least February 2015.  The property had been left to deteriorate with no liable person identified…

Low-income families can get up to £200 to help with essentials like school uniform, shoes, bags, stationery, sports kit and equipment. Families on lower incomes and who receive certain benefits can claim £125 per child per year to help with school costs. Because of the extra cost families might face when their children start secondary school, £200 is available for pupils going into year 7. The grant can be used to pay for: school uniform, including coats and shoes. school activities, like learning a musical instrument, sports kit and equipment for after school activities. classroom essentials, like pens, pencils and…

Creative Wales to lead its first major trade mission to 75th Frankfurt Book Fair/ Frankfurter Buchmesse from 18-22 October. The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world’s leading venue for printed and digital content and will be an opportunity for publishing experts to meet with partners from the technology and creative industries such as film and games – to exchange ideas, be inspired, try out new technologies and cultivate contacts. Latest figures from 2022 data show that the publishing sector in Wales turns over £429m annually, with 965 businesses making up the industry, many of which are micro-operations. Between 2021 and 2022…

Chief Nursing Officer for Wales (CNO), Sue Tranka, commences her third year in post and recognises the importance in supporting efforts to enhance the wellbeing of the professions through physical, emotional, work-life balance and fostering a supportive workplace culture. Speaking at the annual Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Conference, Sue said: “Growing the workforce, investing in, and developing nurse and midwifery leaders at every level through formal and informal leadership programmes, was one of the priorities last year, to enable strong and effective leadership, and to consistently deliver high levels of care. “We have to spot our talented workforce early…

From indoor market stalls and shopping arcades to a museum and state-of-the-art leisure centre, Climate Change Minister Julie James has seen first-hand how £17m of Transforming Towns funding has been put to use in Newport. Newport City Council has received the funding since 2018 through the Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) programme and the Transforming Towns (TT) programme. During the visit, the Minister saw several projects first hand including: The new indoor market supported by a £2m TRI loan The Central Library and Museum where refurbishment work was completed in February thanks to £1.3m of TT funding Newport Leisure and Wellbeing…

Ysgol Llangynwyd is to receive £155,000 of Welsh Government’s community focussed schools funding for a new sports pavilion, refurbishment of tennis courts and a revamped sports hall. This will enable further use of the school’s facilities by the local community. The school has a close relationship with a number of local sports clubs, including Yr Urdd, Llan Rangers and Maesteg Park AFC. From 2023 to 2025, £46m of capital funding will be invested in schools across Wales in practical infrastructure projects to create Community Focused Schools. Bridgend alone has received over £2.3m funding for 21 projects, benefitting up to 49…