Author: Rhys Gregory

A primary school in Barry that set up a ‘pay-as-you-feel’ food, uniform, and launderette shop to support struggling families is in the running for a global education prize. Cadoxton Primary is one of six schools in the UK that is in the top 10 shortlist for the T4 Education World’s Best School prizes, and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society is proud to be welcoming them to the Royal Welsh Show later this month. The Royal Welsh Show, which takes place on the 24th – 27th of July, attracts over 200,000 visitors across four days to come together and celebrate the…

GWM ORA UK announces its new partnership with Wales’ largest automotive retailer, Sinclair Group. The brand will launch initially with one site in Swansea, officially opening its doors to the public for the first time on the 5th July. GWM ORA UK has announced six new retail group partnerships this year already and is on track to achieve a total of 20 full sales sites by the end of 2023. While GWM ORA does take an omni-channel approach to sales through ‘ORA Online’, the brand is investing heavily in physical retail spaces which it believes will be key to scaling…

Pressures including rising inflation, increased demand for services and anticipated pay awards for its staff have led Cardiff Council to predict a £36.8m gap in its budget for 2024-25, a new report has revealed. The Council’s latest Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), which will be reviewed by the Cabinet at its meeting on July 13, outlines in detail the predicted cost of delivering its services next year, including running schools, caring for vulnerable people and operating libraries and venues. It also estimates how much Welsh Government funding it will receive. For 2024-25, the council estimates additional costs of £53.6m. Set…

Building work is expected to start on Cardiff’s new 15,000-capacity indoor arena site by the end of this year. Cardiff Councill’s Cabinet will discuss the progress of the project with recommendations to approve a range of legal agreements at its meeting on 13 July, so that both the indoor arena and the regeneration of the Atlantic Wharf site can take a further step forward. The Cabinet report recommends that the Atlantic Wharf regeneration site is split into two specific areas, with one area being put out to tender to deliver a specific development and the other to undergo further market…

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet has underlined its commitment to creating a transformational Public Transport Interchange for the County Town of Haverfordwest. Cabinet was told on Monday 3rd July that all funding has been secured for the development which forms part of the Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro project. The interchange, including upgraded multi-storey car park, EV charge points, integrated bus station and new public toilets, links to the wider ongoing regeneration of Haverfordwest. This includes the redevelopment of the former Ocky White department store at Western Quayside and public areas and the significant investment planned for Haverfordwest Castle. Cabinet…

Libanus Primary, near Blackwood has been named as the best in the region – picking up the top prize of School of the Year at the 2023 South Wales Schools and Education Awards. Nicola Williams, Headteacher said: “Children’s wellbeing is at the centre of everything we do, and we have built our community, curriculum, and opportunity for pupil voice around the needs of our children. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to improve the experiences that our children have through their learning, visits and visitors and enrichment activities.” “A dedicated team of staff encourages them to flourish and reach their…

Monmouthshire County Council has been awarded ‘Local Places for Nature’ funding by Welsh Government to build upon the success of the Community Nature Spaces schemes in Monmouth and Chepstow to deliver a similar scheme in Abergavenny. The project, which is currently in its initial phase, is seeking the opinion of local residents about the proposed sites in Abergavenny and their potential uses via a short questionnaire on the MonLife website. The consultation will close on Monday 31st July, 2023, but residents and stakeholders are welcome to get in touch about the project at any time. Community Nature Spaces aims to…

Work is nearing completion on road safety improvements outside two town centre primary schools. Caedraw Road is access-only, meaning it can only be used by people needing access to their properties or place of work. The street cannot be used for parking other than permitted use for school buses, taxis and disabled users – and then only within designated bays for a limited period, as stated on the road signs. A solid white line along most of the length of the street denotes a mandatory cycle lane, with parking or driving inside it prohibited. On the other side of the…

A series of safety measures including a campaign encouraging youngsters to Have Fun, Take Care and Stay Safe will return ahead of this month’s Royal Welsh Show. The campaign will see a series of posters, banners and other media displayed at licenced premises and throughout Builth Wells during show week, encouraging people to behave responsibly in a creative and humorous way. The campaign is being implemented by the Builth Wells Events Safety Group. The measures introduced by the safety group, which was formed in 2017 and led by Powys County Council, aim to reduce public risk and improve the safety…

Leading insurance broker Aston Lark, a Howden company, has made another key hire as it looks to expand its offering within Wales. Alex Davies, from Brynmawr, has joined Aston Lark as an Account Executive and is part of a growing team responsible for expanding the company’s client base within this new region. Alex joins with over 13 years of experience in the industry, beginning her career at Abergavenny firm FR Ball, where she worked with both commercial and personal clients, and led on the creation of the firm’s successful school absence insurance arm. After 11 years, Alex made the move…