Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

A new Welsh-medium primary school being built in north Powys will now open after the Easter holidays, the county council has said. Powys County Council is building a new 150-place school for Welshpool’s Ysgol Gymraeg Y Trallwng. The new building will include early years and community facilities. The innovative scheme for the new school combines the old and the new which will provide the pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng and the community of Welshpool with fantastic facilities whilst maintaining the presence of the iconic Ysgol Maesydre. The old Grade II listed building will be refurbished to accommodate early years…

Goods export values by Welsh businesses have recovered beyond pre-pandemic levels and totalled £19.4 billion for the year ending September 2022 , an increase of more than a third compared to the previous 12-month period and £1.7 billion higher than the year ending September 2019, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced. The latest provisional figures show Welsh goods exporters have demonstrated significant resilience amid ongoing challenges in the global trading environment, from the war in Ukraine to currency instability and the increased costs of shipping and energy. Inspiring businesses to take up exporting, where it is right for them, has…

A new pilot project helping to prepare young people for a career and to understand their working rights has begun as part of the new Curriculum for Wales. Aimed at young people aged 13-16 years old, up to 35 schools from across Wales will take part in the new Unions and the World of Work programme. Schools’ collaborations with businesses are already providing learners with opportunities to learn about work and employment. Developing the skills required by employers, and to raise the aspirations of all learners in considering the full range of opportunities available to them. In this new programme,…

The inclusion of the Gateway site in Deeside on the shortlist of three sites for the Rolls Royce SMR factory to produce key components for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), shows the strength of the skills and expertise in North Wales, Ministers have said. Rolls Royce SMR has considered over 100 sites across the UK. The Heavy Pressure Vessels (HPV) factory will support the production of first-of-a kind SMRs in the UK, with additional potential for worldwide export.  The final decision on its location is to be taken in the New Year. The Welsh Government is committed to developing a low…