Author: Rhys Gregory

Construction work is now underway on a brand-new Garden Village inspired development on the former council office site in Pontllanfraith. Partnership developer Lovell, along with partners Pobl Group and Caerphilly County Borough Council, marked the occasion with a breaking-ground ceremony on the site, which will be called Chartist Garden Village. Chartist Garden Village is a design and build scheme being delivered by Lovell, after it was awarded the contract earlier this year. The development will consist of 123 properties, including 40 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes for open market sale, 40 affordable shared ownership homes and 43 affordable homes…

Caerphilly Council has successfully appointed globally renowned Grimshaw Architects to design a landmark interchange in the heart of Caerphilly town centre as part of significant regeneration plans, supported by Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme. Working in partnership with Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) and with support from the Design Commission for Wales we are developing and expanding the public transport network through the South Wales Metro and the electrification of the Core Valley Lines. A new, modern and fit for purpose interchange in Caerphilly is set to serve in excess of 1 million passengers, annually.…

Six new flats have been approved for development on Blackwood High Street, Caerphilly. Office space above ASA fashions and New Mode have been given the go ahead for renovation, transforming the vacant space into six new flats. The building at 195 – 197 High Street, Blackwood benefited from a funding boost of £239,416 from the Welsh Government Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) programme. The TRI funding programme aims to support regeneration projects that promote economic regeneration – creating jobs, enhancing skills and employability, and creating the right environment for businesses to grow and thrive. The funding is aimed at bringing vacant…

The war in Ukraine and co-operation across Europe will be discussed by European leaders, when the First Minister addresses the EU Committee of the Regions. The talks, held on Friday at the Senedd, in Cardiff Bay, will see leaders of the EU’s assembly of local and regional representatives meet their UK counterparts. The committee will include leaders from across the EU, including from Brittany, Flanders, Galicia and Bremen. During his speech to the committee, the First Minister will talk about Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary and the warm welcome Ukrainian refugees will receive in Wales. Mark Drakeford will also…

Charities supporting people through bereavement will benefit from £3m in funding over the next three years the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Lynne Neagle has announced today. Sadly bereavement is something that will touch all our lives and charities and third sector organisation across Wales provide vital support. In October last year the Deputy Minister outlined the National Framework for the Delivery of Bereavement Care in Wales, which was underpinned by a £1m per annum support grant for charities and support groups to apply for. 21 charities will receive funding via the grant over the next three years.…

The Welsh Government will invest over £4m over the next year to support Welsh businesses find new export opportunities in global markets, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, announced today. Speaking at the Explore Export Wales conference in Cardiff, the Minister is today unveiling an ambitious programme of export support, including a series of international trade missions, available over the next year to support Welsh businesses find new opportunities in markets globally, helping to secure and create new jobs here in Wales. According to the most recent data, Welsh firms exported £14.3 billion worth of goods in the year ending September 2021.…

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has announced that from today, refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine can travel for free on Transport for Wales services. The scheme will help the refugees while they are settling in Wales, with the free travel scheme running for six months. Ukrainian nationals can claim free travel by showing a Ukraine passport to conductors and station staff. The scheme is an extension of an ongoing Welsh Government programme which provides free public transport for asylum seekers in Wales, as part of its ambition to become the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary as endorsed…

Wales is taking action against marine litter as it becomes the first UK nation to introduce a recycling scheme for fishing gear. The first collection, which took place today on Global Recycling Day (March 18), has proved a huge success, with some three tonnes of fishing gear collected for recycling from seven harbours around Wales. The new scheme will help to bolster Wales’ recycling credentials –Wales has the best household waste recycling record in the UK and the third best in the world. Recycling bins for used fishing gear have been placed at Swansea, Milford Haven, Fishguard, Cardigan, Conwy, Anglesey…

Cardiff Castle will host the biggest party of the year on the June Bank Holiday weekend when the very best of Welsh entertainment join forces for the must-attend family event of 2022. With some of Wales’ finest singers and entertainers live on stage, choirs, bands and a full piece orchestra, the Castle will reverberate with music, song and laughter on Saturday June 4th 2022. Artistes already confirmed include hosts Aled Jones and Shan Cothi, Mike Peters from The Alarm, Bonnie Tyler, West End and Broadway star John Owen Jones, everyone’s favourite drumming weatherman Owain Wyn Evans, funnyman Mike Doyle, the…

Following significant new client wins in the Swansea area, leading commercial cleaning company Mrs Buckét will be attending the Swansea City Centre Conference and Exhibition with a view to showcasing the business and finding some new recruits. Mrs Buckét, which was established in Swansea in 2005, has been rapidly expanding, and the company now has up to 100 jobs on offer, ranging from Head of Finance to Cleaning Technician. The Swansea City Centre Conference and Exhibition is taking place in the Swansea Arena on Thursday 17th March. Rachael Flanagan, founder and Managing Director said: “Mrs Buckét is proud to be…