Author: Rhys Gregory

Schools across Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) have charged ahead in the fight against waste, recycling nearly 800kg of used batteries. This impressive total comes from schools participating in the annual School Battery Recycling Competition, saving 792.6kg of used batteries from the waste stream — that’s roughly the weight of a Highland bull! The initiative, hosted by CCBC’s Waste and Recycling Team in partnership with the European Recycling Platform UK (ERP) encourages pupils, parents, and staff to collect and recycle domestic batteries throughout the school year. The competition splits schools into small, medium, and large categories, with prizes awarded to the top recyclers in each…

News that Mid Wales is to get nearly £13million to boost transport has been welcomed by Powys County Council. The region is set to receive £12.8m from the Welsh Government after a regional plan to deliver public transport services, infrastructure improvements and sustainable transport solutions. Council Leader Cllr Jake Berriman said: “We are pleased to announce that the Welsh Government has made an indicative allocation of £12.8 million towards the Regional Transport Delivery Plan for Mid Wales. This proposed investment signifies a vital step towards enhancing the connectivity and sustainability of our regional transport network. “The indicative funding is planned…

A Bill to reform bus services in Wales has this week been passed by the Senedd, putting Wales at the forefront of improving bus services in the UK. The Bus Services (Wales) Bill will transform the way local bus services are planned and delivered across Wales putting passengers first and giving the public sector a bigger say in how services operate in both rural and urban areas. Working closely with local authorities, Corporate Joint Committees, bus operators, unions, and the public, the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales will use local knowledge to design and plan services that puts the…

Schools and other public buildings across Wales will receive solar panels as part of £9m funding to reduce energy bills and decarbonise public buildings. The funding is being provided by Great British Energy, the UK Government’s publicly owned energy company. The UK Government and Great British Energy have worked with the Welsh Government, who will oversee delivery of the funding in Wales. The money will support projects, worth up to £4m, to develop solar PV on and connected to public buildings through the Wales Funding Programme. These include the below, with more to follow in the future: Coleg Cambria, Wrexham…

The Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru have reached an agreement which will allow the budget for 2026-27 to pass and secures almost £300m of additional investment in Wales’ public service. The agreement will avoid the potential of no budget being passed at all and the consequences that would flow from that. There are three elements to the agreement: Additional funding for local government in 2026-27 – an extra £112.8m, which provides an overall 4.5% increase to the local government settlement. All councils will receive increases above 4%. Additional funding for the health and social care budget – an extra £180m,…

Senedd Members have supported a historic Bill, which will create Wales’ first smoke-free generation. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will cover all four UK nations, will see all young people born on or after 1 January 2009 unable to purchase any tobacco products. The Bill is currently being considered by the House of Lords after receiving the support of the House of Commons. Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Sarah Murphy welcomed the Senedd’s vote on the legislative consent motion (LCM), saying the Bill will protect children and young people from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. Ahead of the vote,…

Universal Primary Free School Meals across Wales are to benefit from an estimated additional £8m investment over the coming two years, with the price spent per meal to rise from £3.20 to £3:40. Wales Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) continue to go from strength to strength, with 57 million meals being served in primary schools across Wales since 2022. The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle has confirmed an additional 20p per meal, increasing the unit rate set by Welsh Government from £3.20 to £3.40. This means Wales provides the highest rate to primary schools and council catering teams…

Delighted children at a Denbighshire primary school were given a Christmas surprise when two rescue donkeys trotted to their festive fair. The appearance of Annie and Dugald was made possible thanks to a £150 donation from community-minded Lock Stock Self Storage, allowing the animals to be transported to Ysgol Gymraeg Henllan’s annual celebration. The donkeys quickly became the stars of the show, enchanting pupils, parents and stall-holders as they greeted youngsters outside Henllan Church Institute. Teaching assistant Bethan Roberts first suggested inviting the donkeys and contacted Denbigh-based Lock Stock whose team stepped in to cover the full cost of the…

A well-established training provider has entered a new phase of growth and expansion after securing a £70,000 micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales, enabling the business to expand with a second site. Heads of the Valleys Training offers transport, industrial and safety training for lorries, forklifts and other machines at its centre in Gilwern, Abergavenny. Established in 1969, the business was acquired by Paul and Alexandra Dunstall in 2002, with their son Ollie joining the business in 2013. The Gilwern site provides HGV, plant machinery, industrial and safety training to a wide client base, including in the logistics…

SWIFT ACTION from an optician at Specsavers Porthcawl led to the early diagnosis of a sight-threatening condition for a team member. In July 2025, optical assistant, Ffion Roberts, told specialist optometrist Rachel Burrows that she had been struggling to concentrate on screens and while driving. Concerned, Ms Burrows urged Ms Roberts – who is 24 years old – to have a sight test and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan. The results revealed raised optic nerves in both eyes – a finding that can indicate increased pressure around the brain, which, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. Ms Roberts was…