Author: Rhys Gregory

​​​​​​​Work has been completed on a new Swansea Council housing scheme. It combines the refurbishment of a former education centre as permanent homes and the neighbouring installation of residential pods for people who need temporary accommodation. The whole scheme, in Uplands, was commissioned as a rapid response to the housing shortfall at the start of the pandemic. Conversion of the main house into four one-bedroom flats was completed in December and has brought an empty building near the city centre back into use. The pods – which are fully furnished self-contained units – will soon be offered on a short-term…

A major investment to build an impressive new teaching block complete with canteen, kitchen and hall, together with new outdoor sports facilities and refurbish some existing classrooms, has been completed at Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr. Minister for Finance and Local Government, Rebecca Evans, officially opened the £6.7m project this week. It has been jointly funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government under the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme and is part of a £170m investment in new and improved school facilities in Swansea. Council Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning and Skills, Robert Smith, welcomed Ms Evans to the school.…

Pembrokeshire County Council is beginning to outline the next steps to redevelop the Western Quayside in Haverfordwest, but not before a significant archaeological dig is complete. Dyfed Archaeological Trust is working at the retail and hospitality redevelopment site for 18 weeks following the discovery of artefacts and human remains dating back to the 14th Century AD. The team and Council officers were surprised at how well-preserved remains survived across some of the site. This work is a great opportunity for the dig team and residents to find out more about an area in the town that has significant historical value.…

Pupils and staff from Waldo Williams Primary School celebrated St David’s Day in style by moving to their newly-refurbished school site at Scarrowscant Lane, Haverfordwest. Formerly the home of Ysgol Glan Cleddau, the site has undergone a £3.5 million refurbishment over recent months ready for the influx of more than 250 pupils, teachers and school staff. Headteacher Mrs Cora O’Brien said: “Everybody in our school community is overjoyed with the exceptionally inviting, exciting and stimulating learning environment which has been created for our wonderful pupils and staff. It has been described as ‘awesome’ by our pupils. “We have had a…

A couple from Mountain Ash have shown they are partners in crime not just in life as they both receive a FINE for £928 for fly-tipping! The couple were caught red handed after their waste was found dumped. Their waste consisted of 18 black bags of waste and a bicycle on an embankment in Blaenrhondda, opposite a residential area. Despite failing to attend a number of PACE interviews and a change of address, the pair were no match for the Streetcare Enforcement team and were tracked down and held to account for their joint actions at magistrates court! The items…

The pilot project to improve and adopt seven private roads in Rhondda Cynon Taf continues to make progress – with two phases of work now complete at Belle Vue in Trecynon, and work underway at Heol Penrhiw in Mountain Ash. During September 2021, Cabinet Members agreed to the pilot project, which will carry out much-needed carriageway improvements at six privately-owned residential roads across Rhondda Cynon Taf – using £250,000 Council funding plus an additional £50,000 earmarked as a contingency for the work. Members also noted that the Council was successful in securing £157,000 Welsh Government funding for a seventh scheme,…

New technology like 5G could help provide new opportunities for education in Wales, according to a new trial which launched this month. 5G Wales Unlocked is the innovation project behind the new immersive 360-degree classroom in Ebbw Vale – just one of several trials demonstrating how ultrafast technology like 5G could transform rural communities, from powering tech innovations in agriculture, to improving rural transport and education and bolstering the tourism industry. Using a localised 5G network by project partners BT, the classroom uses the high-speed connectivity to project inspiring and educational video content onto all four walls in a 360-degree…

The Welsh Government has today confirmed up to £22m in additional capital funding to support the redevelopment of Theatr Clwyd. Investment in the iconic theatre in Flintshire is a key commitment within the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government. Theatr Clwyd is the biggest producing theatre in Wales, known for world class theatre productions and a significant social, cultural and economic impact in north-east Wales. It attracts over 200,000 paying visitors annually and has a strong outreach programme, bringing culture to a range of diverse audiences. Theatr Clwyd’s, Executive Director, Liam Evans-Ford, and Artistic Director, Tamara Harvey are working with Flintshire…

In the first phase of the extension of high-quality childcare to all two-year olds in Wales, the Flying Start programme is being expanded to 2,500 more children under the age of four. Expanding childcare to all two-year-olds in Wales, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Welsh-medium provision, is a commitment in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. Speaking on a visit to Ringland Community Hub, in Newport, which provides Flying Start, today (Wednesday March 16) Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “I have heard from parents and carers about the positive impact Flying Start…

Climate Change Minister Julie James has this week revealed the Welsh Government’s largest ever flood programme, totalling more than £214m over three years. The Programme for Government makes clear that we are focused on understanding the impacts of climate change, gathering evidence to identify solutions and deliver outcomes that help improve the resilience of our communities, economy and environment to support future generations. This includes an increase in investment for flood and coastal erosion risk management and mitigation as part of the Cooperation Agreement with Plaid Cymru. The Minister revealed the details at a press conference following a visit to…