Author: Rhys Gregory

Monmouthshire County Council has signed a groundbreaking agreement with three other English and Welsh local authorities. The Marches Forward Partnership became a reality at an official event held at Hay Castle, the border of England and Wales. The new partnership sees Monmouthshire County Council join forces with Herefordshire, Shropshire and Powys County Councils to take on some of the big challenges they share. The four local authorities aim to work closely with UK and Welsh Governments to progress this exciting cross-border collaboration. This will include working jointly to secure funding support from both Governments and a wide range of other…

Network Rail is reminding passengers to check before they travel as the multi-million-pound upgrade of the Ebbw Vale line moves into its final stage. Buses will replace trains between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central from Wednesday 15 November to Sunday 3 December as teams work around the clock to transform the line. Engineers from Network Rail will carry out 1.2 km of track upgrades at nine different locations between Crosskeys and Crumlin, to complete the creation of a seven-mile loop to enable trains to pass in the future. Elsewhere on the line, contractors from Siemens will finish setting up…

The Lounges restaurant chain has announced that the new ‘Consurio Lounge’ will soon open in the heart of Caerphilly Town Centre. The Consurio Lounge will be a welcome and vibrant addition to the Town Centre. Situated in the former Gatehouse building within Castle Court Shopping Centre, the Consurio Lounge is set to breathe new life into a space that recently closed its doors, showcasing the resilience and importance of local businesses. The Lounges restaurant chain already operates a number of successful restaurants in nearby Cardiff, and the decision to expand to Caerphilly is welcomed by Caerphilly County Borough Council. Cllr…

The full entertainment line-up has been announced for Newport Now’s Countdown to Christmas family fun event. Running from 2.45pm to 5.15pm, Countdown to Christmas will feature live music, fairground rides and celebrity guests, culminating in the official switching on of Newport’s city centre Christmas lights and a breath-taking fireworks display. Organised by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely successful previous events with the main stage based at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street. Last year’s event attracted…

Newport City Council’s cabinet will next week consider a proposal to ask people’s views on introducing a premium on council tax for long-term empty and second homes only. Demand for affordable housing is outstripping supply but there are more than 800 properties in the city which have been unoccupied for at least a year and 15 second homes. In March, more than 450 households were in temporary accommodation. There are more than 9,000 people registered for social housing but in 2021/22 there were just 686 new social housing lettings. As part of the council’s determination to tackle homelessness, it wants…

RCT  have welcomed FA Wales men’s football manager Rob Page back to the Rhondda on Wednesday, November 8, to visit the new Darran Park 3G pitch in Ferndale. The Council’s 16th ‘all-weather’ 3G pitch has recently opened to the public, using a funding contribution from the Cymru Football Foundation (CFF) in partnership with the UK Government. Rob Page grew up in the Rhondda, and Wednesday’s visit came a year after he helped us open another local pitch at Baglan Field, Penyrenglyn, in November 2022. The recent community event was organised by CFF – and it was great to see lots…

The first ‘Library of Things’ scheme in Neath Port Talbot has officially opened at Sandfields Library, offering residents a chance to save money and reduce waste. This initiative allows people to borrow household items and electrical equipment at a low cost rather than having to buy them brand new. Popular items that are useful for occasional DIY projects and family events are available including a drill, wheelbarrow, jet wash, hose pipe, electric screwdriver, carpet cleaning machine, a tent and a gazebo. The project was started by Aled Davies, one of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Local Area Coordinators, who worked with…

An exciting new partnership between Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Council is focusing on building high quality, sustainable affordable homes at pace across the region. At a time of unprecedented housing pressures, the two authorities are taking a collaborative approach to dealing with the demand by teaming up to explore cross border opportunities that will deliver around 2,500 new homes for the area over the next 10 years. The partnership – Cardiff’s second housing programme following the success of its Cardiff Living scheme with Wates Group, is now seeking a development partner that shares the two authorities’ commitment and…

Cardiff has been crowned ‘City of the Year’ at the annual EG Awards, 2023. The EG awards celebrate the very best things about the real estate sector; including the best deals; the very best developments; the best businesses; the greatest places to work; upcoming talent; the game changers and the inspirations. In short, this is an event celebrating all the good that real estate does. Applications for the awards were put forward by a range of public and private sector organisations, covering categories, including Public/Private Partnerships; Rising Star; Sustainability; Social Impact; Regional Deal; Best Workspace, plus many more. Cardiff’s ‘Invest in…

Maesteg Post Office is up and running and repairs to the building will be carried out within weeks with the help of Bridgend County Borough Council. This follows a burglary that took place during the early hours of 25 October, resulting in property damage and a significant loss of funds. Replacement glazing and repairs to the damaged roller shutter are set to be completed during the next three weeks. Located within the conservation area of Maesteg Market, the Post Office will be supported by the council when considering what additional security measures can be installed in line with planning conditions.…