Author: Rhys Gregory

The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford officially opens the substation linked to Morlais tidal energy on Anglesey this week. The event, which is the culmination of more than ten years’ work, marks not only a significant milestone for the project itself but for the tidal energy sector in Wales. As part of this week’s Ireland Wales Forum, the First Minister will host the Irish Tánaiste, Micheál Martin TD (Deputy Prime Minister) and showcase the Morlais project as a key tidal stream development in Wales. Morlais, off the west coast of Holy Island is the largest consented tidal energy scheme…

A powerful new chamber opera from Swansea City Opera – Shoulder to Shoulder – exploring the male experience of loneliness tours Wales this November.   Loneliness is an epidemic and affects men disproportionately. The experience of loneliness is explored in Swansea City Opera’s (SCO) new chamber opera Shoulder to Shoulder, created in partnership with the charity Men’s Sheds Cymru, part of the international Men’s Shed movement, which originated in Australia. Busy young mum Gwen is at her wits end with her dad, Rhys, who’s hitting the whisky, having lost his wife and son. Bereaved and lonely, Rhys reluctantly joins his local…

YSGOL EIRIAS has been lauded for its work in helping parents and carers improve the lives of their children.  The Colwyn Bay secondary school is one of just a handful in North Wales to receive the Investors in Families Bronze Award. The quality mark is awarded to settings that demonstrate a commitment to working with families and evidence of activities carried out in and out of school hours, communication with parents and carers, and setting high standards. In 2022, Ysgol Eirias introduced extracurricular provision based on Areas of Learning and Experience – a key part of the new Curriculum for Wales – to encourage wider learning and mindfulness via extra-curricular sessions, with wellbeing…

Officers executed a warrant at the home address of Ryan Robbins on the afternoon of Friday, September 15. In the kitchen they found weighing scales, cellophane and 120g of crack cocaine, which was about to be prepared into street deals. The estimated street value of the crack cocaine was between £6,000 and £7,260. Also seized was a mobile phone found to have messages advertising the availability of Class-A drugs. Robbins, 37, of Red House Crescent, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. He pleaded…

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council has approved a list of priority strategic transport projects that can be progressed when new funding is made available by UK or Welsh Government, either as part of the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) Metro Programme or other transport funding initiatives. Currently, the largest investment in strategic transportation in the county borough is Porthcawl’s Metrolink bus facility, funded by CCR in partnership with Welsh Government (WG), and the council’s Active Travel programme, funded by WG. Other prioritized transport projects – all compliant with national, regional and local policies, as well as linking with WG,…

One of Cardiff Council’s flagship projects to transform education across the city has cleared a major hurdle with the approval of funds to begin building the pioneering Fairwater Community Campus. A new report, which went before the council’s Cabinet last week (Oct 19), recommended approving funds that will allow the main building work to go ahead on the redevelopment of the Cantonian High School site. When the campus is completed in the 2026/27 academic year, it will incorporate three existing schools – Cantonian, Woodlands and Riverbank – and form the largest project in the Welsh Government Sustainable Communities for Learning…

Contractors working on behalf of the council have started putting in place the new structure at a Landore riverbank location on the Tawe. It’s taking shape on the river’s western bank, around 1.5 miles upstream from the Tawe Barrage and next to the former Hafod Morfa Copperworks site which is being transformed as part of the council’s ongoing £1bn city regeneration. Once complete, the pontoon – which has planning permission – will be available for use by groups that already use the river, including Copper Jack cruises, the City of Swansea Rowing Club and Swansea University Rowing Club. Work is…

Pembrokeshire remains number one in Wales and in the top 20 per cent in the UK for the number of battery EV charge points, according to official figures. The Department for Transport data from July 2023 shows that there are 172 public EV charge points across Pembrokeshire. This is compared to 134 in Swansea, 117 in Cardiff and 127 in Newport. Pembrokeshire County Council has been installing electric car charging points over a number of years, mostly in off street car parks. The Council has also been working in collaboration with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to provide EV charging…

The recently launched Youth Enterprise Fund offers a boost for new businesses being set up by people aged 21 and under. Pembrokeshire’s young entrepreneurs and their budding businesses are being offered a helping hand from a new council service, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Alex Evans is the new Economic Development Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council’s Youth Enterprise. Alex’s role is to promote the new funding and support people with their application and sourcing other business support. The aim of the Pembrokeshire Business Youth Enterprise Fund is to support applicants aged 16 to 21 to create new…

Pembrokeshire County Council is commissioning a lead artist to co-create a new trail or series of trails for the twin towns of Fishguard and Goodwick. The project aims to increase a sense of pride in place for local communities as well as promoting economic revival. The trails are an opportunity to celebrate the distinctive history, culture and stories of the area and make an appealing attraction for local people and tourists alike. The new trails form part of a wider regeneration drive funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund to encourage vibrant town centres, maintain and increase footfall to…