Author: Rhys Gregory

Its ruling cabinet today recommended to a full council meeting next month that the budget be approved to support this minimum salary proposal of £10 per hour. If approved, it would be implemented from April 1 this year and would be above the UK’s voluntary real living wage rate of £9.90. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “Our staff and key workers have been amazing throughout the pandemic, delivering essential services to the people of Swansea every day – from providing care and support, to ensuring bins are collected, and major projects are delivered. “I’m really proud that we’ve been able to work…

Castle Square Gardens, city schools and community facilities across Swansea are set for major investment in the next 12 months. More than £83m has been earmarked for spending on vital regeneration projects to support Swansea and its communities as they emerge from the pandemic. Millions of pounds of investment in the 71/72 Kingsway digital village project means construction work will be starting soon. And on top of that, £20m has been set aside for projects aimed at giving Swansea a further boost as it emerges from the pandemic. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “Despite the challenges of the…

New greenery, benches, soft play areas and other facilities have now been introduced at Swansea’s emerging coastal park. About the same size as a football pitch, the 1.1-acre park forms part of the £135m Copr Bay phase one district being developed by Swansea Council. Run by the Secret Hospitality Group, a café restaurant called The Green Room will also be located at the coastal park. Other features of the coastal park include bug hotels, water features and a selection of new trees. Over 70 trees are being introduced as part of the Copr Bay phase one district as a whole.…

RCT Council will undertake ground investigations at A4061 Station Road (near the Parc and Dare Theatre) during half term – to prepare for a second phase of work to strengthen the structures which support the road. The Nant Cwm Parc Cantilever is located on Station Road and supports the road over the stream at the junction with Dyfodwg Street. The Council is carrying out ongoing work to replace the life-expired structure, as well as strengthening Institute Bridge, which both provide support to the main road. The first phase of this scheme took place from summer through to autumn 2021, and…

Conservation work on the Newport Ship is stepping up as the twentieth anniversary of its discovery approaches. The council and partners at Friends of Newport Ship (FONS) recently took delivery of the latest batch of timbers from specialist conservation contractor, Mary Rose Archaeological Services. The latest batch contained a large part of the central mast step, as well as a number of long oak stringers that were used to strengthen the ship. Over ninety per cent of the ship’s timbers have been returned to date. Once the remaining timbers have passed through the conservation stage later this year, we will…

Blaenau Gwent Council considered its level of Council Tax and budget for 2022-23 at a meeting held today. The Council recognises the impact the rising cost of living is having on already stretched household budgets and the Council has agreed that the Blaenau Gwent element of Council Tax will not increase in 2022–23. Budget 2022-23 The provisional settlement from Welsh Government will see Blaenau Gwent’s budget increase by 8.4% for 2022-23. This has provided the council with an extra £10.4 million in funding above initial budget estimates. The extra funding is aimed at addressing some of the increased costs facing…

Sections of Lower High Street will be closed overnight the next two Sundays for work to construct a new pedestrian crossing between High Street car park and the ‘fountain shops’ the other side of the road. The northbound section of the road will be closed from 6pm this Sunday (February 20) until 6am Monday, and the southbound section during the same times on Sunday 27 to create the puffin crossing and new road markings, reconstruct footways and carry out surfacing works. A diversion route will be in place and clearly signposted. The car park itself will also be closed from…

Efforts by a north Powys sports club to secure land so they can develop new football pitches could be boosted by the county council if a decision by Cabinet is approved next week. Welshpool Football Club has agreed a lease with a local landowner which will enable the club to develop a number of football pitches which would allow the community to access these recreational facilities. To help the club’s efforts, Powys County Council is proposing to provide a grant of £5,500 a year to the football club as part of the council’s contribution towards the 25-year lease to secure…

Plans to install new 3G pitches at two north Powys sports centres have been drawn up the county council and its leisure partners have announced. Powys County Council and Freedom Leisure are looking to install the new pitches at Llanfair Caereinion Sports Centre and Llanfyllin Sports Centre to replace the outdated pitches.  The 3G pitches could be suitable for football, hockey and a number of other outdoor sports. As part of the plans, new and improved energy saving floodlighting schemes could be installed. A planning application will be submitted and a tender process will begin shortly. If given the go-ahead,…

Health Minister, Eluned Morgan has welcomed progress on new eye care facilities which will increase the number of patients receiving eye care treatment and cut waiting times. Backed by investment from the NHS recovery funding’ health boards in Wales are undertaking innovative work to improve access eye care. Despite continuing pressures on the NHS Between November 2021 and December 2021 the number of highest risk patients waiting for an ophthalmology outpatient appointment fell by just over 2,000. To accommodate the growing number of patients requiring eye care, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board worked in partnership with Cardiff University to re-think how eye care was delivered…