Author: Rhys Gregory

Hundreds of primary school children in Swansea have been gifted cycling equipment as part of a drive to get more people cycling in the city. Six schools in the city, including Morriston Primary School, Llangyfelach Primary, St Illtyd’s RC Primary, Ysgol Gymraeg Y Cym, Cwm Glas Primary and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, have all been provided a range of cycling kit including balance bikes, scooters and storage facilities, so young children can learn to cycle and have fun while in school. All the equipment has been gifted to the schools by local contractors who have recently constructed new walking…

A proposal to expand the Welsh Government’s flagship Flying Start in Neath Port Talbot has been given the go ahead. Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s new coalition Cabinet approved plans to extend Flying Start to certain parts of Margam, Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Port Talbot at their meeting on July 28th. If given final approval, it will mean an estimated 127 extra children in Neath Port Talbot will get specialist help from the programme and an additional 32 children will be supported by an expansion in capacity of the Flying Start Outreach Programme. Flying Start is the Welsh Government’s targeted…

A number of trees have been destroyed after being injected with poison in the Baglan area of Port Talbot. Neath Port Talbot Council responded to concerns raised by a member of the public about dead trees on land between Crofton Drive and Willow Grove, Baglan. A council officer visited the site and after inspection found holes drilled into the bases of these semi mature trees – eight in total. Soil and bark samples were taken at a later date and sent for analysis to Bartlett Tree Experts. Testing confirmed the presence of an undiluted herbicide which in large doses, can…

Management of Neath Port Talbot’s leisure services will be transferred from Celtic Leisure to Neath Port Talbot Council (in-house) by April 2023. That is what members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s new Rainbow Coalition Cabinet heard at their meeting on Thursday (July 28th ) in an update from officers on the transfer plan – approved by councillors in February. Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Wellbeing, Cllr Jeremy Hurley, welcomed the report, saying: “There will be a number of benefits to existing staff – the majority of them being local residents – who will have the…

The next stages of work to replace Brook Street footbridge at Ystrad Rhondda Railway Station take place in August – requiring the temporary removal of a ramped access and the temporary closure of the station car park. The bridge has reached the end of its design life, and requires replacement to maintain the well-used pedestrian access from Ystrad to Nant-y-Gwyddon Road. The significant replacement scheme is being jointly funded by the Council and Welsh Government. Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd started the first work on site this year with initial vegetation clearance from January 2022. The project is challenging as it must…

Newport Ship Centre will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the discovery of the Newport Ship on Saturday 30 July with a Medieval Open Day (10am-4pm). The day will feature fun medieval-themed activities for all the family, including: Family crafts Re-enactments Storytelling Rope making Willow weaving Music Coin striking Surgeon barber Tours of the Ship Centre will also be running all day, with some of the ship’s conserved timbers being placed on display. Admission is free, with free parking available on site, and refreshments on sale. All proceeds from the sale of refreshments will go to the Friends of Newport…

A project developed by Caerphilly County Borough Council to deliver 18 new one bedroom apartments has been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s prestigious Inside Housing Development Awards. The Inside Housing Development Awards celebrate the very best in housing developments across the UK.  The awards also recognise the teams, schemes and solutions that have made a positive impact on communities. Caerphilly Council has worked in partnership with construction expert Willmott Dixon, Ystrad Mynach based manufacturer Caledan and architects Holder Mathias to develop innovative new homes on sites in Trecenydd and Trethomas. Homes on these developments are the first in…

The construction of a new Multi-Functional Cadet and Sports Pavilion at Morgan Jones Park has recently been agreed by Cabinet. The new Multi-Functional Cadet and Sports Pavilion will be delivered as a joint project with the Ministry of Defence. It will provide cadet organisations and clubs a place to provide youth activities for young people across the borough and local community. The creation will see a new RAF and Army Cadet Hall and Bowls Pavilion within the same building. Local ward member and Deputy Leader Cllr Jamie Pritchard said, “The Air Cadets and Bowls Clubs have a membership that spans…

Caerphilly CBC is seeking residents’ views on the proposed installation of barriers on two Public Rights of Way in Risca. Public Rights of Way are rights across land accessible by the public, and which allow them to pass along them at any time they choose. You can walk on all Public Rights of Way. Some Public Rights of Way are also open to horse riders, cyclists, or motorists. The council have a duty to protect users of Public Rights of Way from unlawful use and propose to install barriers on public footpath 102 in the former parish of Graig and…

Connecting the villages of Glangrwyney in Powys and Gilwern in Monmouthshire on either side of the River Usk, Llangrwyney bridge has reopened following an extensive structural rebuild. Glangrwyney Road (the C126) had been closed since February 2020 following a major embankment failure during Storm Dennis. Following inspection, it was discovered that the part of the underlying beams of the 1980’s 64-metre bridge had partially collapsed due to corrosion. Developing a plan to repair the failed supports to the 40-year-old Acrow Panel superstructure, whilst minimising environmental damage to the surrounding area, took a considerable amount of time and resource. Working within…