Author: Rhys Gregory

Neath Port Talbot are the first local authority to sign a pledge ensure that care-experienced children and young people in their care have their precious belongings treated with dignity, care and respect whenever they move home. The ‘My Things Matter’ campaign, created by leading children’s rights charity NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), is calling for all local authorities across England and Wales to sign up to a pledge outlining five promises, when moving children and young people in care, so they don’t have their belongings moved in bin bags. Local authorities who do so will be eligible to receive free…

Conditional planning permission for a new development team to take forward the transformational Afan Valley adventure resort project has now been granted after the signing of a legal agreement. The project – the first of a planned series of UK leisure developments under the Wildfox Resorts brand – could create hundreds of jobs and provide significant social and environmental benefits for the Afan Valley and surrounding areas. Conditional approval for the Salamanca Group to progress the project to its next stages was granted by members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Planning Committee on October 12th last year subject to the…

Residents are being invited to have their say on proposals for improvements to the local walking and cycling network between Caldicot, Portskewett and Caerwent/Crick. Monmouthshire County Council is currently working with Sustrans Cymru to make local active travel – a term used for journeys with a purpose – in the area accessible, more enjoyable and safer for the whole community, encouraging more journeys to be taken on foot or bicycle instead of by car. Two new traffic-free routes are being designed: one through Caldicot Castle Grounds and another along the old disused railway line from Portskewett to Caerwent and Crick,…

Last week, Kier Hardie’s Ty Enfys Dementia Day Care Unit received the ‘Meaningful Care Matters’ outstanding accreditation, a first to be awarded in Wales. The audit by Meaningful Care Matters (MCM) found the quality of life experienced by day care patients at Ty Enfys was at the highest level, with outstanding care provided by loving and engaged staff who really cared deeply for their patients whilst bringing joy, dignity and meaning to their care. The Ty Enfys capital project has seen integrated care fund capital of £1.6M utilised to completely transform the physical environment of a joint health and social…

Caerphilly County Borough Council have recently received a number of complaints concerning the abuse of resident parking and therefore, are issuing a reminder to residents to only park in resident bays if you are able to display a valid resident or visitor permit. An increase in enforcement against unlawful parking will be taking place across the borough to ensure the fair use of resident parking. Back in 2019, Caerphilly County Borough Council took over parking enforcement duties from Gwent Police. The transfer of powers allowed the Council to provide a coordinated and consistent approach to the enforcement of traffic regulations…

Cabinet have recently noted and formally approved the results of consultation on the draft Active Travel Network Map (ATNM). The Cabinet’s approval enables Caerphilly County Borough Council’s ATNM, that was conditionally submitted to WG by the 31st December 2021 deadline, to be formally endorsed and ensures that the Council’s statutory obligation is met. Since the formal approval of the new maps, it is the intention of Welsh Government to publish this on their datamap website. This will hold not only Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Active Travel map but also other maps provided by Local Authorities throughout Wales. Stakeholders will be…

A Caerphilly man has been sentenced for unlicensed dog breeding under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Jedd Wiegold (aged 32) of Keble Court, Machen, Caerphilly received a custodial sentence at Newport Magistrates Court on the 11th of January 2022 for unlicensed dog breeding and a number of mutilation offences. He was sentenced to 5 months for each of 5 separate offences, all to be served concurrently. Wiegold is already serving a custodial sentence for unrelated offences. Wiegold has since been disqualified from owning, keeping and transporting dogs for 10 years with a restriction for 7 years on applying to have…

Newport City Council has reopened Old Bassaleg Bridge to pedestrians only following the completion of the first phase of emergency repairs. Repairs include the stabilisation of the bridge pier, and all cracks and voids on the main supporting pier have been filled. Assessments have confirmed the bridge is not at risk of imminent collapse, and that it is safe to reopen it to pedestrians. Further work and testing is needed for us to reopen the bridge safely to vehicles. This will include the lifting of the complete structure and replacement of bearings on the west abutment.

Council Leader Andrew Morgan has confirmed his intention to appoint Cllr Jill Bonetto and Cllr Gareth Caple as members of his Cabinet team. This move follows the decision earlier this week by Cllr Rosser and Cllr Hopkins to step back from their executive roles. The change will take effect from this coming Thursday (January 20) with the following members serving as part of the Council’s Cabinet: Cllr Andrew Morgan – Leader of the Council and Chair of the Cabinet Cllr Maureen Webber – Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Council Business Cllr Mark Norris – Cabinet Member…

Three key buildings in Cardiff city centre have secured £2.35m in interest free loans from the Welsh Government Transforming Towns Loans programme, via Cardiff Council to help with repurposing and regeneration plans. In line with the authority’s Recovery Strategy for the city centre the council has used its Loan funding to support the following ventures: Number 30-31 Windsor Place. The conversion of this Listed building into offices and incubation spaces for leading technology and fintech businesses. Imperial Gate, lower St Mary Street. The conversion of this former nightclub into a new golf-themed leisure attraction. Asador 44 building in Quay Street to repurpose…