Author: Rhys Gregory

Kevin Morgan has been appointed as Cornerstone Commercial Finance Managing Director, whilst he also joins the board of the Cornerstone Finance Group. Kevin, 52 who lives in Cardiff, has spent more than 34 years in the commercial finance sector, working in roles as NatWest’s Regional Director of Business Banking covering Wales, Thames Valley, and Cotswolds, as well as Senior Manager at NatWest’s Birmingham Credit Department. Latterly, Kevin was Senior Director of Wales Business Banking and also held the position of Deputy Chairman for NatWest Cymru Board for more than five years. Kevin’s appointment further strengthens the Cornerstone team, which has…

A father and son who shared suicidal thoughts have teamed up to launch helpu.org.uk – an initiative aimed at addressing the stark statics that men are nearly four times as likely as women to die from suicide in Wales, where male suicide rates continue to be higher than England’s. Ian Smith and his son Jake are behind Helpu. –  the Welsh word for ‘to help.’ It is a hub connecting men to resources, groups and each other by sensitively showcasing the personal experiences of men from all walks of life, who have overcome mental health challenges. The charity launches on…

A brand-new home for St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School opened its doors for the very first time this week, as staff and pupils arrived for the start of term  at the new build  £6 million school. Located at the St Edeyrns development, the new school has relocated from its former site in Llanrumney and is one of two new build schools to open this week, delivered as part of Cardiff’s Local Development Plan (LDP) by Halsall Construction on behalf of Persimmon Homes. The other brand-new primary school to welcome pupils for the start of the new term is Ysgol Gynradd…

As part of his national tour of libraries, UK Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, will be visiting Neath Library on Saturday 9th September 9:00am – 10:30am. During the visit Joseph will be signed up as a library member and will borrow a book. He will also deliver a performance of stories and poems from 9:30am – 10:15am. The performance is open to children of all ages but places should be booked in advance, directly with Neath Library (see details below). This is the first ever visit of a current UK Laureate to any NPT Library. Joseph Coelho is a poet and…

RCT Council has announced its multi-million pound redevelopment of the Muni Arts Centre is now officially underway! Contractors have started work to revitalise the much-loved Pontypridd venue and reopen it next summer. The Grade II Listed Muni, in the centre of Pontypridd, was originally built in a gothic style as a Weslyan Chapel in 1895 – and in later years it developed a rich history as a regional arts and music hub. In 2019, the Council announced exciting and ambitious plans for a major refurbishment project, with the aim of re-establishing the Muni as a popular arts venue with a…

Caerphilly County Borough Council and Wastesavers have joined forces with mental health charity Growing Space to run a recycling programme that delivers new skills, employment support, and volunteer opportunities for residents across Caerphilly County Borough. Using a designated space at Penallta Reuse Shop, Growing Space now operates an educational program that includes both accredited and non-accredited qualifications for participants. As part of the programme participants learn the valuable skills needed to upcycle household items that would otherwise be left for landfill. Last year alone, Wastesavers saved tens of thousands of household items (more than 620 tonnes worth) from being dumped…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Environmental Health team has issued advice to residents, following confirmation of potentially harmful blue-green algae in Pen y Fan Pond. The algae produces toxins which can be harmful to both humans and animals. Residents are advised to ensure pets, particularly dogs, do not enter the water of the Pond – should pets come in contact with the water, owners are advised to thoroughly wash the animal with clean water and seek precautionary advice from a qualified vet. In humans, the toxins can cause rashes after skin contact and illnesses if swallowed. Visitors are also urged to…

As pupils return to the classroom this week, schools across Caerphilly County Borough are open as usual with no RAAC having been identified locally. Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) is a material used in construction in many buildings between the 1960s and 1990s. Its presence has been confirmed in a range of public sector properties across the United Kingdom including schools and hospitals. Caerphilly CBC undertook a review of its building portfolio in 2021 which included surveys undertaken by an independent structural expert at sites which were deemed to be at risk of containing RAAC, none of the buildings surveyed…

A 72-year-old man who was taken to hospital following an assault in Pencoed, Bridgend, on Tuesday, August 29 has died. He has been named as Gavin Weekes from Pencoed. In a statement, Mr Weekes’ family said: “As a family we are devastated. We would like to thank family and friends for all their support and kind messages at this time”. Detectives are continuing to investigate what happened in The Chatterton Arms, Pencoed, at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, August 29, while the family are being supported by specially trained officers. A 29-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident is on…

The Welsh Government has become a signatory of an alliance of European regional governments, promoting growth, fostering collaboration, and developing strong value chains in the semiconductor industry. The Welsh Government’s Representative on Europe, on behalf of Minister for the Economy Vaughan Gething, has signed a declaration to join the European Semiconductor Regional Alliance (ESRA), becoming one of the 19 founding regions of the Alliance. The ESRA will act as a regional platform as well as a partner to the European Union and will promote the competitiveness of the industry globally. The ESRA’s activities focus on: Research and Innovation: developing new…