Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea Building Society has increased the interest rates payable on all its savings accounts, for the second time in just two months. The second interest rate rise has been introduced from March 1, 2022, following a previous increase brought in on January 1, 2022. The building society, with branch offices in Swansea, Mumbles, Carmarthen and Cowbridge, raised its savings account interest rates by 0.15% at the very start of 2022 and has now raised this by a further 0.25%. The latest rise means that all the Society’s savings interest rates have increased by 0.40% in the first eight weeks of…

High school pupils across Cardiff are being encouraged to channel their inner Barack Obama and become the debating stars of the future. In a first for Wales, Cardiff Council and FinTech Wales is launching the DebateMate Schools programme, designed to develop pupils’ oratory skills and awareness of the FinTech sector in a series of debating contests leading to a grand final later this year. As part of the programme, each of the schools – Cardiff West Community High School, Cantonian High School, Cathays High School, Willows High School, St Teilo’s CiW High School, Eastern High Community Campus, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg…

A Council Tax freeze together with a number of other proposals designed to help address the cost of living crisis and help the county borough recover have been approved. A meeting of Neath Port Talbot Council on Tuesday, (March 1st, 2022) agreed the draft budget and corporate plan and a £2m Hardship Relief Scheme to combat the cost of living crisis was agreed by Cabinet members who met on Monday (Feb 28th, 2022). AGREED: A freeze in council tax so it remains at 2021-22 levels An extra £6.364m for social care, taking the budget to more than £95.5m An increase…

An Ambleston farming family, who were told fast broadband would never reach their home, are now enjoying ultrafast fibre speeds, thanks to a pioneering Pembrokeshire project. The remote location of Anne and Richard James’ cattle farm led previous engineers to tell them that they could not receive anything other than their slow service along the old copper line. Problems on the line added to the frustration of barely receiving a pitiful 1Mbps, and the property sometimes went days without any service at all. Anne said: “The engineer, last time he came, said we would never get fast broadband here.” After…

After a welcome return last summer, the popular All Stars and Dynamos cricket programmes for youngsters are back once more this year. After the disruption of Covid, a record 472 children (previously 300) signed up in 2021 to enjoy the fun introduction to cricket that builds up skills and helps make new friends. This year there are 12 local clubs taking part. They are Burton, Carew, Cresselly, Haverfordwest, Llanrhian, Llechryd, Narberth, Neyland, Pembroke, Pembroke Dock, Saundersfoot and Whitland. Now in its sixth year, All Stars Cricket is a fantastic initiative from the England and Wales Cricket Board aimed at providing…

Newport City Council will provide more targeted support to local charities after changes to its discretionary rate relief scheme were agreed. Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of the council, announced the changes at Tuesday’s council meeting, alongside a package of discretionary rate relief for city centre businesses. The changes allow the council to consider giving a rate relief ‘top-up’ to small, locally based charities and organisations that fall into the following categories: the charity occupies a property that is entitled to small business rate relief the charity is providing facilities for children or young people in the city the charity provides…

This week (March 1st) a brand new Public Space Protection Order will see dogs banned from marked sports pitches in Caerphilly County in the interest of player safety. Following public consultation, in November 2021 Caerphilly County Borough Council approved a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which contains new restrictions in relation to dog control. Since the introduction of the PSPO in October 2017 over 2,136 complaints of dog fouling have been investigated. 64 Fixed Penalty Notices have been served for either dog fouling or for failing to carry bags to clean up dog waste. There have also been 28 prosecutions…

St David’s Day celebrations in Abergavenny took on an extra special significance this year. Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent the 1st of March in Monmouthshire on a visit aimed at highlighting the importance of supporting local producers and the role of agriculture within the Welsh economy. Following a visit to Pant Farm near Abergavenny, the royal couple received a warm Welsh welcome as they arrived in Abergavenny’s town centre. Children from Cantref Primary School and Monmouthshire County Council’s Flying Start group were lined up outside the historic market hall to greet the royal couple with…

Welsh language and culture projects in Merthyr Tydfil are celebrating St David’s Day with a share of almost £100,000 worth of grants paid out by a local community fund. The Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund Intermediate Grants programme is supporting organisations ranging from Welsh medium playgroups to community groups and schools. Welsh arts project Artis Community Cymuned has received £5,000 for choir tuition and other costs of its weekly Merthyr Crafty Cuppa group at Theatre Soar; and Pontsticill Community Group has been awarded £4,500 for its Welsh language projects, including courses on Welsh place names and celebrations. Welsh medium preschool group…

The Childcare Offer will be extended to parents in education and training and parents on adoption leave, the Welsh Government has announced. From September, parents in education and training and parents who are on adoption leave, if it is in line with the child’s Adoption Support Plan, will be eligible for up to30 hours of government funded early education and childcare for children aged three and four. Currently workless households are not eligible for government-funded childcare in addition to their early education entitlement. The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Julie Morgan said: “Our Programme for Government outlined our pledge to…