Author: Rhys Gregory

Plans for a brand new community living scheme for older people have been brought to life in a new computer-generated ‘fly-through’ of the development in Riverside. The scheme, which gained planning approval in December 2021, is part of the Council’s ambitious new build programme to deliver more affordable housing in the city, and will provide flexible, sustainable, low-carbon accommodation for older residents to help maintain their independence in their own homes for longer. The new short film gives a glimpse of how the 41 apartment building and community facility will look on Leckwith Road, on the site of the current…

More community play areas, free bus services during school holidays and free school meals for more children are in the pipeline for Swansea over the coming months. In the coming year the council will be investing around £1.9m a day to help hard-pressed families through the cost of living crisis. Hundreds of millions of pounds are also being invested in schools, social services, roads, council housing and other key services that touch the lives of residents every day under proposals agreed by Swansea Council on Thursday March 2. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “When times are tough for…

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Chief Executive Karen Jones has inaugurated 17-year-old Maddie Pritchard as the council’s new Youth Mayor at a ceremony held in the Civic Centre, Port Talbot, on St David’s Day, 2023. Maddie, a pupil at Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur and a member of Neath Port Talbot’s Youth Council, takes over from outgoing Youth Mayor Bethan Nicholas-Thomas. In her acceptance speech, Maddie said in her year of office she wanted to concentrate on promoting the Welsh language and to help raise awareness of environmental issues. Maddie said: “My main priority is Welsh as I’m a fluent Welsh…

A pilot project to aid local people into employment, support businesses and boost skills development has come to an end after a successful six months undertaking. The Enterprise and Skills Project (ESP) was overseen by Pembrokeshire County Council and funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund. This was a dynamic project with a challenging scope and range of outcomes across different training providers and business support organisations. The project’s limited timescale and ambitious aims made the achievements for local individuals, business and studies even more significant. The project has also put in place infrastructure within organisations…

Pembrokeshire County Council has approved its budget for 2023-24. The decision was taken at a meeting of Full Council last week (Thursday, 2nd March). Council also approved a Council Tax rise of 7.5 per cent for 2023-24, equating to a rise of £1.80 per week for a Band D property. The proposal was put forward by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Alec Cormack. An amendment of 5.5 per cent, proposed by Cllr Jamie Adams, was rejected. The final Council Tax demand will include precepts from Town and Community Councils and Dyfed Powys Police. Cabinet Member for Corporate Finance Cllr…

Cabinet has considered and agreed a new three-year capital programme which includes a further £7.1m investment in Council priority areas – targeted across highway maintenance, unadopted roads, drainage, structures, parks, green spaces and play areas. At their meeting on Tuesday, February 28, Cabinet considered a report outlining the new three-year capital programme, which will invest £187.32m between 2023/24 and 2025/26. Members have agreed to recommend that Full Council agrees the new capital programme at its meeting in March 2023. The three-year programme includes a fully-funded core capital programme of £42.5m, major funding to support the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme…

Lewis Girls’ School has become the most recent school in Caerphilly County Borough to achieve The National Quality Award for Healthy Schools. The aim of the scheme is to promote and protect the physical, emotional and social health and well-being of children and young people. The scheme covers 7 topic areas: Food and fitness Mental and Emotional Health and Well-Being Environment Safety Hygiene Substance Misuse Personal Development and Relationships Within each of these areas, schools are required to demonstrate they have reached high standards of practice. The National Quality Award of the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Scheme is awarded…

Second World War veteran, who will celebrate his 98th birthday on Saturday 4 March, has recently been presented with the Dutch Liberation medal for his service in the Netherlands. Dennis Stevens, who resides in Trafalgar Park Care Home in Nelson, travelled to Woody’s Lodge, Amelia Trust Farm in Barry to be presented with his medal where a presentation and speech that depicted his time during the war was given by Colonel Richard Piso, Military Attaché. The Dutch Liberation medal is presented as a token of gratitude from the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to those men and women…

A section of Avenue de Clichy will be closed for the day next Sunday (12 March) for the installation of a new footbridge over the River Taff. The footbridge linking Merthyr Leisure Village, Rhydycar to the town centre is being replaced as part of the Council’s Active Travel improvements programme, funded by Welsh Government. The former bridge had height restrictions and was too narrow for pedestrians and cyclists to pass one another. The new structure is being relocated slightly north towards a new crossing point and will be 3.5m wide, allowing both walkers and cyclists to cross at the same…

Falsely identifying sheep and providing false information on sheep movement reporting documentation has cost a Powys man over £2,300 after they were prosecuted by the county council. Daniel Price of Oakfield, Dolau was prosecuted by Powys County Council’s Animal Health Team for the offences. Price, who pleaded guilty to four offences under the Animal Health Act 1981 and asked for 17 other charges to be taken into consideration, appeared before Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Courts on 1 March 2023 and was fined £1,200 for the offences. He was ordered to pay £1,000 costs and a £120 victim surcharge. The court heard…