Author: Rhys Gregory

Two new pontoons are being planned to boost travel up and down Swansea’s River Tawe. One pontoon would be located close to the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks, with the other located within  a short walking distance of The Strand. The new pontoons are part of a Lower Swansea Valley improvement project being led by Swansea Council. Improvements to The Strand also form part of the project, which will be part-funded by the UK Government as part of its levelling-up programme. Other features of the £28.7m project will include improvements to Swansea Museum and further transformation works at the copperworks. These transformation works…

Swansea Council has reassured residents and businesses following news that Buckingham Group has taken steps to avoid administration. Buckingham Group are the council’s main contractor for the city’s Copr Bay district that stretches from close to the former St David’s Shopping Centre site to the area of the marina. Buckingham this week filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, which is a step companies can take before potentially going into administration. A Swansea Council spokesperson said: “Buckingham has taken steps to avoid going into administration and we hope this will secure the company’s future. “In the meantime, we can…

A man who repeatedly dumped waste at a wooded area in the Broomhill area of Port Talbot has appeared before Swansea Magistrates. Francisco Covaci, 23, of Beverley Street, Port Talbot, admitted three charges of unlawfully depositing controlled waste at the court hearing on August 14th, 2023. His sentence involved payment of a fine, prosecution costs, clean-up costs and a victim impact surcharge totalling £1,239.51. The Magistrates heard Neath Port Talbot Council Waste Enforcement Officers discovered waste deposited at Broomhill on three separate occasions, once in April and twice in May of 2022. Their investigation into the fly-tipping incidents led them…

Schools and colleges from across Caerphilly county borough are this week celebrating AS and A-Level examination results day. This significant milestone in the academic journey of these young learners is the beginning of a new chapter in each of their lives, as many will now move on to either further education or search for employment opportunities such as apprenticeships. Commenting on this year’s exceptional results, Cllr Carol Andrews, the Cabinet Member for Education, said: “A massive congratulations to all the students who have received either their AS or A-Level results today. I hope you are all really pleased with your…

Selling chocolate bars that had the name ‘Wonka’ and did not have the allergen information in the correct format has cost a sweet shop owner over £10,000 after they were prosecuted by Powys County Council. Mr Alan Price, trading as Mollies Sweet Shops, pleaded guilty to ten charges under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and the Food Information (Wales) Regulations 2014 in a prosecution led by the council’s Trading Standards Service. On Wednesday, August 16, Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court heard that the Wonka logo is a registered trademark and it is an offence to apply it to any product without…

The first made-in-Wales Agriculture Act is now law, having received Royal Assent this week. The Agriculture (Wales) Act is key in supporting farmers and sustainable food production for generations to come. The main source of future Government support for farmers in Wales underpinned by the Act will come through the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme. This Act provides Welsh Ministers with the powers necessary to provide support in the future whilst also ensuring continued support for farmers during a transition period, reflecting the Cooperation Agreement commitment with Plaid Cymru It also paves the way for the banning of snares and glue…

Based in the heart of Cardiff, Llanishen High School is a community-led high school focused on creating a learning environment where students can realise their potential and achieve success, whatever that means to them. This A Level Results Day, the school saw 83 students receive their A Level results, with 95% achieving 3 A* to E grades, and 76% achieving at least 3 A*- C grades. Over 75% of students have now been accepted onto their university places with around 50% of these heading to Russell Group Universities. Meanwhile, 20 students are celebrating their progression into vocational pathways and apprenticeships…

Abi Tierney, one of the UK’s senior civil servants, will be the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The Director General for Customer Services at the Home Office will join the WRU by the end of this year after serving notice at the Home Office, where she is also Ethics Advisor and Chair of their People Committee. Before joining the Civil Service, Abi Tierney was a Business Development Director at Serco, where she also held a number of operational roles, including Regional Director and Chief Executive of Suffolk Community Services. Prior to this, she was…

A 19-year-old apprentice from Bala has credited his apprenticeship for allowing him to pursue his dream career in engineering while helping to have a positive impact on the environment. Harley Durak, a Civil Engineering higher apprentice at Welsh Engineering company Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, is now encouraging other school leavers unsure on their next steps to explore the many options available to them, especially apprenticeships. Speaking about his experience, Harley said: “I’ve always been fascinated with renewable energy and the engineering industry, which is why from an early age I found weekend work on local hydroelectricity schemes. “I knew…

COLEG CAMBRIA leaders praised students for rising above post-pandemic challenges to achieve “outstanding and inspirational” A Level and BTEC results. Chief Executive Yana Williams said overall figures including A*-C grades were “fantastic” and pointed to the resilience of learners in successfully transitioning from secondary school to college during lockdown and going on to successfully complete their studies. “We are proud of the students, they have risen to overcome the challenges of the last few years and once again demonstrated hard work and a focus to do their very best, with the support of our amazing staff and tutors,” said Ms…