Author: Rhys Gregory

The Bank of England has raised interest rates again from 1.25% to 1.75% in a bid to curb the rising costs from inflationary pressure. The increase announced yesterday is the biggest in 27 years and comes at a time when households and businesses are already struggling with rising costs. It is expected that the rate change won’t be enough to keep the UK out of a recession, which is predicted to happen in the final quarter of this year, 2022. For households, it will make mortgages and loans (if not fixed) more expensive, and if you have savings, you will…

Aberystwyth University has announced a new scholarship for students to study veterinary science through the medium of Welsh, thanks to a generous donation in memory of a local vet. The scheme is being established following a donation from Elaine Davies’s family to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, in memory of her father who was a well-known and highly respected vet in the Llandysul area. The scholarship will be known as the ‘Defi Fet Scholarship’, in memory of DGE Davies, Llandysul. The successful students will receive £2,500 over a five-year period to study at Wales’s first School of Veterinary Science. The announcement…

A free afternoon of live music, activities and socialising aimed at those aged 50 and over is taking place on Swansea Beach on Wednesday (August 10). The event that runs between 12 noon and 4pm has been organised by the council’s partnership and involvement team working with Swansea’s Ageing Well Steering Group. The beach festival, which will also have information stalls from many different groups and organisations, will be on the beach near the Secret Bar & Kitchen. Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Support, Hayley Gwilliam, said: “As long as the weather is good this should be a great…

More than 250 people looking for work have been supported by a new Swansea employment programme. All were either long-term unemployed or economically inactive – and all found support through the Pathways to Work programme. Managed by the council, the scheme offers a number of paid work placements at the council or local businesses. To date, this element of Pathways to Work has supported 15 individuals. More are likely to follow as the scheme has been extended until the end of this year after its six-month pilot. Council cabinet member Alyson Pugh said: “It’s great that we’re able to offer…

BUDDING artists of all ages are getting the chance to come together and learn new skills in a packed summer programme at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. The city art gallery is throwing open its doors for Summer Sundays featuring creative workshops and play and afternoon family films with even more to do during the week as well. Wednesdays are being handed over to workshops offering new skills in painting, sculpture and embroidery, while Thursdays will be offering youngsters the chance to go on magical journeys of the imagination, creating forests and mountains to explore. Elliott King, Cabinet Member for Culture…

Waterside vandals are persistently putting lives at risk after more than 70 rescue aids were stolen from their posts in the Marina and River Tawe area in just seven months. Swansea Council’s water safety team inspect the sites every fortnight and they’re praising local residents who routinely report the thefts. But anti-social activity is resulting in aids being stolen or needlessly thrown in the water, putting other people at risk. The council’s water safety team has had to replace the equipment 76 times this year so far. Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, urged residents to…

A project to restore the vital culvert at Castle Drive in Cimla, Neath, which collapsed last year due to torrential rainfall, is due to start with immediate effect. It follows a decision by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet on Thursday (July 28th) that the council will guarantee to meet a potential funding shortfall for the replacement work which is now due to completed in this financial year. Neath Port Talbot Council was successful in obtaining Welsh Government funding to design a replacement culvert for Castle Drive and earlier this year the council also obtained funding to carry out the work…

Pembrokeshire residents now have the option of booking same day visits to the county’s Waste and Recycling Centres (WRCs) The same day visit option has been introduced by Pembrokeshire County Council following requests from the public. Slots are simple to book through the My Account service, via the Pembrokeshire County Council website or by phone. The requirement to book a slot ahead of visiting a WRC was made permanent in November 2021. The booking system has improved traffic management at WRCs and had health and safety benefits to the public and staff. It has also reduced the level of misuse…

Plans to develop and construct a new visitor centre at Parc Penallta, Ystrad Mynach are progressing. The new multi-purpose visitor centre will be delivered in partnership with Welsh Government and will act as a community hub and Discovery Gateway for the Valleys Regional Park initiative and provide a potential home for their ‘guardian scheme’. It will incorporate education and conferencing facilities, a café, toilets, showers, and act as health and wellbeing hub. Planning permission for the new centre has now been granted, with the location being chosen to widen the appeal of the park, increase users and showcase the parts…

Merthyr Council is to press ahead with plans to make road safety changes on the highway at two primary schools with the agreement of local residents. Concerns had been raised about safety at St Mary’s Catholic and Caedraw Primary schools due to the number of cars parking on pavements on a road that has access-only restrictions. Proposals to create a better highway environment include providing an ‘on road’ cycle lane, prohibition of waiting, loading and unloading at any time, and the addition of ‘school keep clear’ notices, as well as maintaining the existing parking for taxis. Residents of Caedraw Road…