Author: Rhys Gregory

Everyone at Ysgol Gymraeg Tan-y-lan said goodbye to the old Victorian buildings at Tan-y-lan Terrace in Morriston before Christmas and will start this term in a brand new school in Clase. It has been funded by Swansea Council and the Welsh Government under the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Improvement and Skills, Robert Smith, said: “I was fortunate to join some of the pupils on a tour of the new building last term and I have to say the facilities are impressive. “I wish all the pupils and their families and all the staff…

Pembrokeshire businesses impacted by the move to Alert Level 2 Covid-19 measures will shortly be able to register or apply for Welsh Government funding. The First Minister announced a £120m package of support for nightclubs, events, retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses and their supply chains, impacted by the move to Alert Level 2. An eligibility checker for businesses has now gone live. Businesses are urged to check their eligibility at: https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/businesssupport?_ga=2.234856926.1944247233.1641292011-360841121.1641292011 The above link also features further information and a series of FAQs about the latest round of support. The funding will take the form of three elements. Non…

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet has today authorised a four week public consultation on the draft budget and corporate plan for 2022/23. The consultation commences 5th January 2022. Council Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Carol Clement-Williams said: “The 8.8% increase in funding for council services and the financial support for the ongoing pandemic response being provided by the Welsh Government, together with our track record of prudent financial management will enable the council to adopt a different approach after years of UK Government austerity. Our priorities include a freeze on Council Tax in recognition of the cost of living pressures…

Residents at Bryn y Cae, Brackla and Pantyrawel’s Tŷ Cwm Ogwr care homes have been transported across the world and beyond from the comfort of their own armchair thanks to virtual reality technology. Thanks to a project delivered by Awen Cultural Trust and Bridgend County Borough Council, residents enjoyed wildlife adventures, space flights and visits to cities across the world. Funded by Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fund ‘Connected Communities’ Grant, the project also worked with Cardiff-based Rescape Innovation to create 12 personalised VR experiences for residents with dementia, aimed at unlocking memories and provoking conversations. The comments I have received…

Foster Wales Monmouthshire has partnered up with Great British Bake-off finalist, Jon Jenkins, to support a new regional campaign; ‘A great thing to do in 2022’. The campaign, which is aimed at encouraging more kind and caring people to consider fostering, hopes to have a substantial impact on the futures of children and young people who are fostered in Monmouthshire. Throughout Gwent and Monmouthshire every child in need of a foster carer is in the care of their local authority. By helping children to stay within their local community wherever possible, Monmouthshire is able to keep them connected with their…

Are you aged over 65 and living in Powys? Mature drivers are being given the opportunity to revise and improve their road knowledge by taking advantage of a free, online driver theory course, organised by the county council. Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit will be holding its Driver Theory Refresher workshop on the following days: Wednesday 19th January 2022 Wednesday 16th February 2022 Wednesday 16th March 2022 The course is a two hour, online informal workshop designed to update your knowledge of the road in an ever-changing environment, thus helping improve your driving skills and keep you driving safely.…

Caerleon Bridge is due to be closed from 7.30am to 5pm on Sunday 16 January for inspection work to take place. It will include a ground penetration radar survey of the walls and follows earlier investigation works that took place in October. The road bridge will be closed to all motor vehicles but pedestrians and dismounted cyclists can use the pedestrian bridge. These essential works are taking place on Sunday to minimise disruption to residents and businesses. Diversion signs will be in place.

Work continues to restore the Penrhiwceiber War Memorial to its former glory as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to its Armed Forces community. The focal point of the community for many years, the Penrhiwceiber War Memorial, a Grade II listed building by Cadw, also serves as the village clock. But in recent years its condition had deteriorated and the clock no longer worked. However, in the last few months, and in time for the 2021 annual Armistice commemorations, the clock tower and its inscribed brass panels, commemorating the Fallen from the village of Penrhiwceiber, were cleaned and restored and uplighters repaired and restored to enhance its beauty at night. Scaffolding has now…

Volunteers, ‘Friends of’ groups, residents and council staff have been busy planting 11,000 bulbsand this new year, more volunteers are invited to help keep Cardiff in bloom. Special bulb planting events have been held at Bute Park; Jellicoe Gardens, Cyncoed; Forest Farm, St Mary’s Gardens, Whitchurch and Littleton Street, Riverside,to support pollinators and enhance biodiversity. The bulbs havebeen funded through the Cardiff Pollinator Project supported by the Cardiff Local Nature Partnership and Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature scheme. Samantha Eaves, Cardiff Local Nature Partnership Coordinator, said:”UK native bluebells, wild garlic, tulips and snowdrops are among some of the bulbs…

Despite the volatility of the markets, real estate remains one of the most attractive investments during times of low-interest rates. The pandemic has affected millions of people and accelerated structural changes in three core sectors of the real estate industry. Due to the uncertainty, many assets that were previously considered uneconomic have been repositioned and are now being actively managed by market participants. Data centers, life sciences buildings, and industrial property are some of the beneficiaries of the steady demand for logistics and housing. This requires a deeper understanding of the various types of assets that can be derived from…