Author: Rhys Gregory

Paul Taylor has been made an Honorary Lecturer at Bangor University and attended the University’s Graduation ceremonies for the first time in that role just before Christmas. As a young man with intellectual disability, Paul has valuable insights which he shares with the University’s Nursing students. Paul is the only person in the UK in this unique role. Asked about his role, Paul said, “I contacted the University as it was something I hadn’t done before, to see what happens. I had a meeting and now I talk to students. I like being an Honorary lecturer, I get to go…

Popham Kidney Support, the Swansea based kidney charity, has unveiled plans for further growth and expansion at its annual Supporters Lunch as it gears for its tenth year in operation. The charity’s employees, volunteers, supporters, and partners attended the annual event, held at the Mercure Hotel, Swansea, on Thursday 15thDecember. In 2022, the charity raised £135,000 and supported 3,323 people affected by kidney disease. It also rebranded and launched a new website as it gears up to deliver on ambitious plans for next year, which will also be its 10th anniversary. An important part of that will be expanding its…

Swansea Building Society’s Cowbridge branch celebrates five years trading this month, as the society continues to grow its customer base in South East Wales and expand its workforce across the region. The Cowbridge branch, which opened during December 2017, has now reached £164 million in mortgage balances and over £61 million in savings balances with over 3,000 savings accounts – a particularly impressive figure considering the length of time the branch has been in operation. When the Society first opened the branch, it employed just seven staff at the branch with two further staff covering the east region. Now the…

This year, Bridgend County Borough has been listed in the top two best performing local authority areas in Wales for recycling. The county borough’s recycling rate has increased to 72.6 per cent, which is three per cent higher than the previous year – a number which has also exceeded the Welsh Government’s recycling target for local authorities, which is currently 64 per cent. In 2024-25, the statutory target will be raised to 70 per cent – a target that the county borough has already achieved, three years early.  There is a large network of staff that support the recycling and…

The proposed Celtic Freeport is an exciting new project promising an industrial renaissance in south west Wales creating 16,000 new jobs and £5.5bn of new inward investment all based on green energy. The Welsh and UK Governments will name the successful bidder in the race to host Wales’ first freeport in early 2023. The Celtic Freeport bid aims to create a green innovation and investment corridor with sites at the ports of Port Talbot and Milford Haven in which clean energy developments, fuel terminals, a power station and hydrogen fuel innovation will thrive. So here are ten big benefits of the…

RCT’s Cabinet has agreed to progress proposals to introduce Council Tax premiums for long-term empty properties and second homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf, having considered the feedback received in a recent consultation. Following this decision on Monday, December 12, Cabinet will now recommend to full council to adopt the proposals. If agreed, this would introduce the Council Tax premiums from April 2023 for long-term empty properties that have remained empty for more than a year, and April 2024 for all second homes. On October 17, Cabinet agreed a new Empty Homes Strategy (2022-2025) to continue the positive work that has…

RCT Council has received planning permission to provide a brand new Welsh Medium primary school for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn y Forwyn, to provide the Ferndale school with state-of-the-art facilities on a more suitable site. The Planning and Development Committee granted full planning permission on Thursday, December 15, which will enable the development to progress. The decision was in line with officer recommendations to approve the application for a new primary school at the old Chubb factory site, including pedestrian access, landscaping, sustainable drainage and car/cycle parking. The new school and community facilities will be provided by 2024, benefitting from…

Jubilee Park Primary School has received an outstanding report from the official school inspection body. Making their first visit since the school was established five years ago, the Estyn inspectors made no recommendations but said Jubilee Park should continue its improvement journey. HM’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales is also inviting the school to prepare a case study an on its work in relation to creating a culture of professional learning as well as developing an anti-racism curriculum which will be shared on the Estyn website. Headteacher Catherine Place said: “I am delighted with the outcome of our…

More local businesses in Caerphilly County Borough have benefited from funding this year, with the Caerphilly Enterprise Fund increasing three-fold compared to 2021. A combined £151,746 has been granted to support new and established businesses and community enterprises throughout the County Borough. The Caerphilly Enterprise Fund is aimed at start-ups, and small and medium sized enterprises with less than 250 employees. Applicants to the Fund can receive up to £2,000 towards revenue costs and up to £10,000 towards capital costs for property enhancement can include external and internal works for business premises. Gatehouse in Caerphilly Town Centre was just one…

Caerphilly county borough council has secured funding to progress the new market development in the heart of Caerphilly town centre. The funding has been awarded as part of Welsh Governments Transforming Towns Programme and forms an exciting next step in the regeneration of Caerphilly Town Centre. Deputy Leader of Council, Cllr Jamie Pritchard said, “This is welcome news, and demonstrates the commitment of both Caerphilly Council and Welsh Government to make significant investments in developing new business opportunities in Caerphilly.” He continued, “We now await the outcome of the Local Planning Authority’s determination of the planning application and look ahead…