Author: Rhys Gregory

Cabinet Members have agreed to further progress the proposals to create a new special school for Rhondda Cynon Taf by 2026, having considered the feedback received in a recent public consultation. At their meeting on Monday, October 23, Cabinet considered a thorough consultation report following the consultation period, which ran from July 4 to September 15 this year. The relevant Statutory Notices will now be published following Members’ decision on Monday – to open a new 3-19 special school and to introduce catchment areas for all special schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The Council has brought forward the plans in…

A report about the future of Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre will be considered by the council’s Cabinet next month, recommending that a consultation takes place on the permanent closure of the facility. Pontllanfraith Leisure Centre closed its doors in March 2020 and the building was used as a vaccination centre throughout the pandemic. It has not re-opened for leisure use since this time and most former users of the centre have relocated to other facilities in the surrounding area. The Leader of Council met community representatives this week to explain the reasons for the proposal and to highlight the significant investment…

Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery will be closed for two weeks from Monday 6th November to allow its stored art collections to be relocated to a new off-site store. As well as match funding from owners of the collection, MTCBC, and managers of the collection, Wellbeing Merthyr, the new store has been primarily funded by Welsh Government’s Cultural Transformation Capital grant award. The grant aims to enable public libraries, local museums, and archive services to transform service delivery, to modernise their facilities, create more sustainable models of delivery, enable joint service working and improve the offer to people and…

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Sir Frank Atherton, has called on large companies to take greater corporate social responsibility for public health in his 2023 annual report. This year’s report, called ‘Shaping our Health’, focuses on the strategies and approaches used by businesses to promote products and choices that are detrimental to our health – including vaping, gambling, and ultra processed food and drinks. It says big industries can significantly influence our environment and our choices in varied and complex ways; from the sourcing and manufacturing of products to marketing methods. The Chief Medical Officer’s annual report looks at…

Support from Creative Wales’s production funding is enabling flagship Welsh games company Wales Interactive to create Maid of Sker 2, a sequel CGI video game following on from the award-winning original. The production funding will allow Wales Interactive to develop this next title at pace and at a high level, allowing 10 freelance developers to work on a major title, the potential for a further 8-9 permanent posts during the project period, and creating opportunities for a further 12 trainees. Maid of Sker was first published in July 2020 and, since its launch, has achieved approx. 1.2 million downloads to…

Following the arrival of steam locomotive ‘Falcon’ number 10,  volunteers at Corris Railway are now turning their attention to the next major project which will double the journey for passengers. ‘Falcon’ completed its first spell of operations on the railway on October 21, having headed all passenger trains since its entrance into traffic on September 8. Engineers from Alan Keef Ltd at Ross-on-Wye and Corris Railway will now work on a snagging list of minor problems on the new loco, the paintwork and lining out of which will be completed before in returns to passenger train services next Easter. A…

Caredig, a community based Housing Association situated in Swansea, have completed a development project transforming former farm land in Trallwn, Swansea, now known as Trallwn Farm Close into new homes. Being community based, Caredig has a clear mission to create strong, vibrant and resilient communities, where people can live active, fulfilling, lives – living independently and safely. The new development adds twelve new homes to their current portfolio andsupports their ambitious programme of delivering 700 affordable, energy efficient homes over the next 10 years. All twelve homes,  both one and two bedroom,  with 4 specifically adapted for disabled users,  have…

Havershed, Pembrokeshire’s newest Men Shed have receives a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to ensure they can run their activities for men in Haverfordwest  Havershed were recently awarded a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to establish a place for men to share skills, socialise, support each other’s health and wellbeing, and carry out projects that benefit the community. Using a grant of £9,470 they will be able to refurb a building in the centre of Haverfordwest to carry out their activities and sessions for men in the area.  Men’s Sheds (or Sheds) are a place to…

Working Wales hosted a special event to recognise the importance of working with partner organisations at the new Careers Wales centre in the YMa building in Pontypridd last week. Opening its doors in July this year, the new careers centre has been welcoming customers for appointments with careers advisers and employability coaches. Hosted on Thursday 26 October, the event brought the Working Wales team together with partner organisations they work with to support the people of Pontypridd and surrounding areas. Those attending were able to network and find out more about Working Wales services and Local Market Information, as well…

A STATE-of-the-art communications upgrade of ambulances in Wales has begun. The £23 million technology refresh will improve the way information is passed between Welsh Ambulance Service control rooms and the frontline crews delivering care to patients.Almost 800 vehicles will undergo the installation of the high-tech Mobile Data Vehicle Solution (MDVS), which includes a new vehicle data router and tablet device. The upgrade is expected to be complete by late spring 2024.   Jonny Sammut, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Director of Digital, said: “Reliable communications technology is vital to keep the wheels turning on our ambulance service.This technology refresh signals a…