Author: Rhys Gregory

Ceredigion County Council and Powys County Council are pleased to announce that organisations in the region can soon submit their applications for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in Mid Wales. From 20 March, projects operating in the Local Authority areas of Ceredigion and Powys can present their outline applications for funding in a series of two open funding calls. Interested parties considering the fund can attend a webinar on 16 March at 10am to find out more and what steps are needed to apply for it. In December 2022, the Mid Wales region’s application for the UKSPF was approved, enabling…

The Ceredigion Coast Path is celebrating 15 years since it’s official opening. It was opened in 2008 and became only the second long distance Coast Path in Wales. It now forms an integral part of the All Wales Coast Path that skirts 871 miles around the stunning Welsh coastline. At 60 miles long and snaking its way from Cardigan and the Teifi Estuary in the south, to Ynyslas and the Dyfi estuary in the north, the path truly does have something to appeal to everyone. Soaring cliffs are home to seabird colonies and offer spectacular views out over Cardigan Bay…

A solar array producing at least a quarter of the electricity required by Aberystwyth University’s Penglais Campus has been officially opened this week (Thursday 9 March 2023) by the Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS. The green electricity development is expected to reduce the University’s carbon emissions by over 500 tonnes a year as well as deliver annual energy cost savings of over £450,000 based on current prices. Covering 3.8 hectares of land belonging to the University on Fferm Penglais, the array includes around 4,500 individual solar panels. Construction on the site has also included work to…

Head coach Warren Gatland has announced his Wales senior men’s XV for the fourth round Guinness Six Nations match against Italy this Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome (11 March, KO 2.15pm GMT live on ITV and S4C). Rhys Webb, named at scrum half, will make his first start for Wales in this year’s Championship. Owen Williams is at fly half. Rio Dyer and Josh Adams are selected on the wings with Liam Williams returning at full back. Mason Grady, who won his first senior international cap against England at Principality Stadium in round three, and Joe Hawkins continue in…

Gemma Grainger’s Cymru will face Portugal in an international challenge match on Tuesday 11 April (KO 17:30) in Guimarães. Portugal, who are ranked 22nd in the world rankings, booked their place in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup last month after beating Cameroon in the intercontinental play-off final. The fixture will take place at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques and will be the first meeting between the two sides since 2018, when they played out a goalless draw in a friendly in Almada. Broadcast details for the match will be confirmed in due course. The game comes five days after Cymru’s…

They say a dog can be your best friend and that’s certainly the case when you are trading standards officers on the hunt for illegal tobacco products. This is Cooper, a specially-trained dog who has been helping Swansea Trading Standards to unearth hiding places for counterfeit and illicit tobacco. In this particular operation officers searched five premises and illegal tobacco and vapes were found in four of them with three arrests made. David Hopkins, Swansea Council’s joint deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance, said: “Cooper has a real nose for finding illegal tobacco. Some of the…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has approved plans to develop a new centre for vulnerable learners on the site of the former Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School. The approved plans will see the Council adapt and refurbish the former Grammar School building at Pontllanfraith to create a bespoke facility for vulnerable learners.  The new facility will include 10 teaching spaces, along with smaller group rooms, a meeting room, staff room, main hall, teaching kitchen and café. A new building on the site will provide a 4 court sports hall with changing facilities, in addition to a planned outdoor multi-use games area with a…

Pobl Living have officially opened the doors to their brand-new Sales & Marketing Suite at Chartist Garden Village and are inviting anyone who is interested in purchasing a home at the site to come and have a look around the gorgeous show home, a four bedroom ‘Humberstone’. The Sales team are currently taking registers of interest for the first homes to be completed on the development, which are due to be ready in Summer 2023. Chartist Garden Village occupies an enviable position adjacent to Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park in the popular village of Pontllanfraith. The new development consists of…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has unanimously approved a range of proposals to address the issue of private empty homes. During a meeting held on 8th March Cabinet members approved the ‘Private Sector Empty Homes Strategy 2023 – 28’ which sets out the Council’s plans to tackle the high number of private empty homes in the county borough.  It also sets out a range of initiatives available to the Council to help owners bring their empty homes back into use. As well as offering support and assistance through a range of grants and loans, the Council’s dedicated Empty Homes Team…

A new footbridge over the River Taff linking Merthyr Leisure Village, Rhydycar and the town centre is en route from its construction site in Shropshire. Manufactured by Beaver Bridges, the structure will be installed this Sunday (12 March) and a section of Avenue de Clichy closed for the day to enable a crane to lift it into place. The former bridge, which had height restrictions and was too narrow for pedestrians and cyclists to pass one another, is being replaced as part of the Council’s Active Travel improvements programme funded by Welsh Government. The new structure is being relocated slightly…