Author: Rhys Gregory

A multi-million pound package of investment is on the way to further help Swansea recover from the impact of the pandemic. Building on work Swansea Council has already carried out since the onset of Covid, a number of new schemes are now set for approval to support even more residents, families, communities and businesses. Schemes due for the green light include the upgrade of all council-owned play areas across the city to a high standard, following-on from the improvement of dozens in 2021. Also due for approval is a plan to assess and improve all skate park facilities in Swansea.…

Swansea retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses, charities and not-for-profit organisations impacted by the current Coronavirus restrictions in Wales can now apply online for emergency financial support. Funded by the Welsh Government and administered by Swansea Council, the new grant scheme is aimed at supporting businesses in these sectors which have been affected by the move to alert level two late last month. Eligible businesses as well as those in their supply chains which are liable to pay non-domestic rates could be entitled to grants of £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000, depending on their rateable value. More information, eligibility criteria and…

An exciting opportunity has arisen for prospective operators to tender for a lease to operate and maintain a café, informal visitor information centre and campsite at the popular Afan Forest Park tourist destination in Port Talbot’s Afan Valley. Afan Forest Park is one of the most well established mountain biking destinations within the UK and the area’s beautiful walking and cycling trails add to the Forest Park’s appeal as a popular destination for families. The successful tenderer will be required to enter into both an operating and lease agreement with the council for a ten year period. There will also…

Pembrokeshire County Council has unveiled a series of short films that tell the incredible stories of our community-led action across Pembrokeshire. Communities in Pembrokeshire have some amazing stories to tell – and the clips produced bring the variety of community-led initiatives to life. They come in all shapes and sizes, from looking after green spaces, to providing meals on wheels, running public toilets and even swimming pools. The series of films also capture the importance of volunteering and what it means to the people who need support the most. The first to premiere is the greening project which is based…

Community-based health and social care services in Neath Port Talbot and Swansea face increasing pressures as concerns grow over staffing shortages. Today, they have released the following statement: “As the rates of COVID-19 infection continue to rise within our region, we once again find ourselves in ‘emergency response mode’. With the level of Omicron transmission being significantly greater than the Delta variant, we are seeing large numbers of employees across all sectors having to isolate either because they have contracted the virus, or they have been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive. “We have learnt a…

Pupils at Penybont Primary School can pick up their new favourite reading books from a unique vending machine. Each week, classes choose one lucky pupil to receive a token with winners chosen for their efforts, attitude and progress in reading. The winning pupil can then use the token to pick out a new book to keep from a vending machine within the school. It was introduced as part of the school’s ‘Reading for Pleasure’ initiative which aims to create a positive mindset for pupils to view reading. Each term, an Amazon wish list of books for all ages is shared…

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council will meet next week to discuss the local authority’s budget proposals for 2022-23. The council’s medium term financial strategy has been updated to reflect a record 9.2 per cent increase in funding from Welsh Government – an increase of £19.6m when compared to last year. If approved, the council’s budget proposals will mean: No council tax increase for 2022-23. No cuts to frontline services. An extra £2.5m to ensure that all care workers receive a pay rise which reflects the real living wage. An extra £1.5m a year for local primary, secondary and…

The Powys Local Development Plan (LDP) 2011-2026 is now under review to determine how well it is functioning and to assess what updates are required. It was adopted nearly four years ago (April 2018) and sets out the county council’s policies for the development and use of land in Powys (excluding the Brecon Beacons National Park). And, together with national planning policy, guides decision-making on planning applications with the aim of securing sustainable development. Powys County Council’s (PCC) findings and conclusions on the review are detailed in the Draft Review Report which is now available for comments. These should be…

Applications are now open for the Viridor and Prosiect Gwyrdd Community Fund. The Viridor and Prosiect Gwyrdd Community Fund is a £50,000 per annum donation that Viridor has committed to make available to community initiatives that operate in the local authority regions that make up Prosiect Gwyrdd; Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Newport and Vale of Glamorgan. The donation was first made available in 2016 and will be available every April for 25 years. Funding of projects is awarded on a set of criteria based around sustainability, local need, community involvement, value for money and education. All projects that meet these initial…

Work will shortly begin to construct the Porth Transport Hub and deliver a modern integrated bus and rail interchange for the town – with initial site setup beginning next week and full delivery on course for next year. Located at the existing railway station, the development consists of a modern and attractive transport hub at the heart of the Town Centre, which will provide seamless travel across bus and rail. The project also includes EV charging points, a taxi rank, cycle stores and local Active Travel network upgrades. The Council has recently secured £3.5m from the UK Government towards the…