Author: Rhys Gregory

A council project to bring new life to the historic Hafod-Morfa Copperworks has secured an extra £750,000 in grant support. The scheme, that’s due to see Welsh distillery Penderyn open an attraction in the site’s disused powerhouse next year, will also help the council redevelop other under-used areas of the Lower Swansea Valley. The powerhouse scheme’s latest grants are from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (£250,000) and the Welsh Government’s Regional Capital Stimulus Funding Programme (£500,000). Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “This initiative is going to be a big boost for our regeneration work.” He plans to detail the…

Plans for new sea defences to help protect Mumbles for decades to come are about to take another big step forward. The council’s cabinet will meet on September 15 to consider proposals for the scheme’s funding agreement between Welsh Government and the council, the construction cost and the award of the construction contract. If these details are approved, the council-driven project – which has undergone several years of careful planning and consultation – will be set to move towards construction, a phased approach from late this year to around summer 2024. The 1.2km project – from Knab Rock slipway to…

The council is set to extend the pandemic support it gives to key partner organisations that help deliver leisure services to people across the area. A meeting of the cabinet on September 15 is to be asked to agree new financial backing for the bodies that run operations such as the LC, leisure centres and the Wales National Pool. Such services help the council in its aim to create an active and healthy Swansea. Cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “The impact of Covid-19 continues; we want our leisure partnerships to be sustainable so it’s important that we support them.” Ongoing…

The Wales and the Battle of Britain Touring Exhibition has been officially opened this week (Mon 5 September) by the Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, Councillor Robert Wood. Also attending the opening were Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan Mrs Louise Fleet, the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, Mr Stephen Hugh Rogers and representatives from the Sea Cadets (Neath), Royal British Legion and Air Cadets (Neath) The exhibition tells the story of Wales’s contribution in the largest air battle ever recorded and was created by the RAF’s Air Historical Branch (Dr Lynsey Shaw) together with Air Commodore Adrian Williams,…

A national scheme to roll out free school meals to the youngest learners in primary schools in Wales has been launched today (Wednesday, 7 September) by First Minister Mark Drakeford and Sian Gwenllian MS at Ysgol Bro Preseli in Crymych. In Pembrokeshire, the rollout will include learners in: ·       full time nursery ·       reception ·       and years 1 and 2 pupils in primary schools Known as the Universal Primary Free School Meals, the policy is part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. The agreement will see free school meals extended to ALL primary school learners…

Wales & West Utilities are making progress with work to upgrade the gas network in Blackwood. The £150,000 work, which will be complete in October, is essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations to come. As part of the latest phase of work Wales & West Utilities has liaised with Caerphilly County Borough Council and, in order to avoid locally planned events, Wales & West Utilities has revised its traffic management plans. Cefn Road will be now be closed in phases as work progresses from its junction of…

Members of Blaenau Gwent Council’s People Scrutiny Committee has heard of the ongoing commitment to monitor and review Education provision in the County Borough to secure further improvements in educational outcomes for children and young people. The Council’s Education Directorate has an ongoing programme of self-evaluation, which is driven by the improvement priorities in the Education Improvement Plan 2022 – 2025. The Committee heard how steady progress has been made in many areas, especially in relation to school performance where the inspection and categorisation profile has improved. There has also been a reduction in schools causing concern and requiring intervention,…

The Big Arch in Ebbw Vale, one of the largest early horse-drawn railway bridges in Britain symbolising the town’s place in the history of iron and steel making in Wales, has been restored to its former glory. Constructed in 1813, Big Arch was once the northern gateway to the Ebbw Vale Ironworks and then in later years to the sprawling Ebbw Vale Steelworks. Itis now one of the few surviving tangible reminders of the area’s rich industrial past. The 200-year-old structure is in reasonable condition for its age, however the masonry arch barrel had areas of structural concern (such as…

Lidl has opened its new supermarket in Brynmawr Retail Park on Blaina Road today, Thursday 8th September. The new, modern store will create around 40 new jobs for the local community and feature the supermarket’s famous in-store bakery, customer toilets with baby changing facilities and ample parking for cars and bicycles. During the opening weekend, customers will be able to find exclusive deals and offers on selected products including an Angle Grinder (£9.99) on Friday 9th September as well as a Sharp 12V/240V 24″ HD Ready Smart TV (£99.00) on Saturday 10th September. The store opening times will be between…

Community groups, clubs and projects across Merthyr Tydfil are to receive awards of between £10,000 and £200,000 from a grants programme funded by the company running the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme. Three town centre churches will get more than £280,000 between them for extensive refurbishment work, while a range of sports clubs will also benefit from facility improvements, and a community wellbeing centre will get support towards a new minibus. The Ffos-y-fran Large Grant Scheme makes funding available for projects that help create a ‘strong, sustainable and diverse economy’, support people in developing new skills, and contribute to making Merthyr…