Author: Rhys Gregory

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Leader, Councillor Andrew Morgan, has been awarded his OBE from HRH The Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony held (Wednesday, February 1) at Windsor Castle. It was announced last June that Councillor Morgan, Elected Member for Mountain Ash, was awarded the OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours. Her Majesty The Queen sadly passed away on September 8, 2022. Councillor Morgan has this week become an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his Public Service. The honour follows his strong leadership of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council during his time…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has submitted an outline planning application to develop up to 23 residential units at the site of the former Aldi store in Rhymney. The vacant Aldi store was demolished in 2014 and the land has remained predominantly vacant since, apart from temporary uses such as a Covid centre during the pandemic. Plans submitted by the Council include a range of house types, sizes and tenures; including affordable housing to meet local needs.  The plans also ensure strong accessibility between the development, the centre of Rhymney and public transport links. The proposals also incorporate planting throughout to…

The Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K is set to return on Sunday 14 May 2023 as well as the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 2K fun run. With May fast approaching, entries are now open to register your place for 2023. Whether you are looking to enter your first race, an experienced runner or just love running, join us and sign up today. Set in the shadows of the spectacular Caerphilly Castle, the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K will both start and finish on Crescent Road. The course will lead runners in and around the town centre, passing iconic landmarks on a relatively flat…

Highfield Court in Newbridge has recently been transformed thanks to an investment of £1.49 million from Caerphilly County Borough Council. Extensive improvements were undertaken at the sheltered housing scheme to modernise the facility and ensure it meets the needs of current and future residents. Work included the installation of new kitchens, wet rooms, electrical rewiring and heating systems to all 20 flats at the integrated later living facility. Communal and external areas also received refurbishments. Cllr Shayne Cook, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said “The work at Highfield Court is part of a wider programme to develop modern, fit…

Demolition has now begun at the derelict former Ty Darran care home in Risca. Caerphilly County Borough Council has earmarked the site for an innovative new later living scheme, which will replace several existing sheltered housing schemes in the locality programmed for closure. The Council’s Leader, Cllr Sean Morgan, said “It’s fantastic to be here to see the first stages in developing what will become a flagship scheme for later living. “We know from conversations with future residents that they’re keen to see this development progressing, so I’m sure this initial step will come as positive news.” Cllr Shayne Cook,…

Work has officially begun on the new £2.9m state-of-the-art community hub earmarked for the communities of Magor and Undy. On Tuesday 24th January, representatives from Monmouthshire County Council, Kier Construction and members of the Magor and Undy Community Hub (MUCH) group gathered at the ‘Three Fields’ site in Magor for the official ground-breaking ceremony at the site. The ceremony marks a significant milestone for the project, which has been in the works for several years. Once opened, the facility will boast a modern and sustainable multi-use hub designed for social, culture, leisure, sporting and other community activities. The site will…

New stats published today show that 2,676 additional affordable homes were built in Wales in 2021/2022. Registered Social Landlords continued to make the largest contribution, delivering 80% of the total. Local authority owned social rented units made up 18% of the total with 486 new homes. The majority of these were delivered by five local authorities, Cardiff (99 units), Carmarthenshire (91 units), Swansea (60 units), Pembrokeshire (57 units) and Denbighshire (56 units). The stats show that 2021/22 is the third highest delivery figure recorded despite being down compared to 2020/21 and 2019/20. Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “Everyone deserves…

Brand new trains, hydrogen fuelled buses and tripling walking and cycling routes – these are just some of the ways the Welsh Government plans to ‘make the right thing to do, the easy thing to do’ according to Deputy Minister Lee Waters. The Deputy Climate Change Minister – who has responsibility for transport – provided an update on how transport plans are progressing across Wales while at a visit to see electrification rail works taking place in Radyr. To date the Welsh Government has invested more than £1.6bn on a series of transport programmes across Wales which will be essential…

Welsh Smokers are choosing between smoking, heating, or eating, as the cost of living deepens in Wales. Concerns have been raised by the health charity ASH Wales and Welsh NHS services, who have both seen a rise in smokers seeking support. According to ASH Wales, smoking is not a habit but an addiction, which explains why smoking can lead many into financial hardship. For context, a packet of cigarettes now costs in the region of £12. Research conducted by ASH has found that smokers now spend on average £2,451 a year on cigarettes, which is the cost equivalent of an…

Sam Warburton, former captain of the Wales and British Lions rugby union teams announced USW’s new high-performance sport programme, at an event last week. USW Honorary Fellow, Sam, was joined by Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip, who opened the event. The focus of the new programme is to enhance the student experience by providing a high-performance environment for USW students whilst they continue to play football, rugby, or netball, at a high level. It has been designed to offer elite athletes, or those aspiring to compete at national or international level, a host…