Author: Rhys Gregory

Work has begun to develop a flagship later living scheme on the site of the former Ty Darran care home in Risca. Caerphilly County Borough Council is working with construction expert Willmott Dixon to deliver the innovative scheme.  It has been designed to the highest levels of energy efficiency, to reduce carbon emissions and keep residents’ fuel costs to a minimum.  It will also boast spacious apartments, with lift access to all floors. Incorporated in the scheme are a wide range of indoor and outdoor communal spaces, to improve the health and wellbeing of residents and facilitate interaction with the wider…

A free entry fun-packed festival will take over the Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields on Crescent Road, Caerphilly on Saturday June 8th. Ffiliffest is Menter Caerffili’s summer celebration of the Welsh language and of local Welsh culture and the event will include performances, entertainment, activities, workshops, food and drink stalls and a chance to buy produce from local businesses. The event returns again and it will be a fun-filled day for the whole community! Menter Caerffili has worked closely with Caerphilly Town Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, community groups and performers to plan the event which is unique to the area.…

A road in Ebbw Vale has been officially named after a steelworks employee who overcame adversity and became a local celebrity after losing both his arms in an accident in the brickworks aged just 14. New road signs were unveiled this week to officially name ‘Billy Collins Way’ (Ffordd Billy Collins) at the rear of the General Offices in Ebbw Vale. Billy’s story was uncovered by Pen–y-Cwm School Post-16 student, Ciaran Mitchel-Neal, when he started work experience with Ebbw Vale Works Museum, based in the General Offices. Ciaran was inspired by Billy who, despite the life changing accident, made a…

Public libraries will share a new efficient digital library platform which will make the service more consistent and improve access to books, e-books and other library services. Backed by over £900,000 from the Welsh Government, the shared platform will increase the range of materials available at people’s local libraries by allowing them to share their resources with other libraries. Once implemented the platform will enable library services to work together on other developments such as a single Welsh library card. Procurement of the platform was led by Cyngor Gwynedd as lead authority for this project. It will be implemented over…

The First Minister has announced that over 20 million additional meals have been served since the rollout of universal free meals to all primary pupils in Wales began in September 2022. All primary school children and more than 6,000 nursery-age pupils attending a maintained school will be eligible for free meals by September 2024. But new figures now show 19 of Wales’ 22 local authorities are already reaching all eligible pupils – ahead of the September target. £260m of Welsh Government funding was committed to implement universal free school meals, which included £60m of capital funding to support improvements to…

Football fanatics and sport enthusiasts can kick off their May half-term with the return of a well-loved Family Funday taking place in Wrexham. Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is staging the full-day event at Queen’s Square, which will see local organisations come together to offer a range of free amusements to promote sport-based play in the community. Pro-Skill Soccer will bring its popular inflatable penalty shootout and dart board to the city on Saturday 25 May, as well as activities provided by Wrexham Museum, which is currently developing the Football Museum for Wales at its site on Regent Street. Made possible…

Powys residents were helped to claim an extra £3.28 million in benefits, that they were entitled to, during the last financial year (2023/24), thanks to the county council. Its Money Advice Service helped 1,406 people over that period and would like to help even more residents who are struggling with their finances over the next 12 months. Powys County Council’s (PCC) Money Advice Service can help you: Find ways to maximise your income and give advice on your entitlements. Apply for benefits and welfare grants. Manage your fuel costs and find better ways to heat your home. Manage your debt…

A retired engineer the late Queen Elizabeth once mistook for comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson is a big hit when he goes on “Royle visits” to a North Wales care home. Wil Williams, who lives in Valley, on Anglesey, is the spitting image of Ricky’s most famous character, Jim Royle, the patriarch in the hit BBC TV series, The Royle Family. The 74 year old lookalike is a regular visitor to Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon where his mother-in-law, Ethna Williams, is a resident. Wil said: “I love going to Bryn Seiont Newydd. I’ll go along as…

After six months of hard work during poor winter weather conditions, local contractors working on behalf of Ceredigion County Council completed construction of the new path in early April. The new shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists starts in Waunfawr and makes a direct link to Comins Coch Primary School. The path also has a new spur heading northwards to join into future planned phases. It will connect with the path to Penrhyncoch, the path which connects with Bow Street, and the new railway station. Construction work has also included the installation of numerous biodiversity measures such as new hedgerows…

Keep Wales Tidy has this week announced the Wales Coast Award winners for 2024, spotlighting the 49 coastal sites achieving the high standards required to receive a prestigious Blue Flag, Green Coast or Seaside Award. With more and more local authorities and organisations facing pressure on reduced budgets, it is heartening to see so many continue to prioritise the delivery of the exceptional standards required to achieve these awards in the stunning coastal areas which surround our beautiful country. Blue Flag is managed internationally by FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education) and is one of the world’s most recognised awards…