Author: Rhys Gregory

The recent Awel y Môr offshore wind farm public consultation received a fantastic response from members of the public across north Wales. Following the exercise, RWE has carefully considered all feedback from stakeholders and members of the public and, as a result, amended key aspects of the project. With concerns raised about the visual impact of the wind farm, the offshore array area has been reduced further on its western side, resulting in a 26% reduction from the original project design in 2020. In addition to this, the maximum number of turbines that can be built has been significantly reduced…

Tafarn yr Heliwr in Nefyn is to benefit from a long-term tenancy agreement with Rhug Estate which will allow them to grow fresh produce for the community pub. Lord Newborough, who owns land in and around Nefyn, has let a field on Stryd y Plas to the owners of Yr Heliwr to help them in their endeavour. Lord Newborough, Owner of Rhug Estate said, “I’m pleased to be able to support the local community in this way and play a small part in what they are trying to achieve. The group’s efforts to reduce the community pub’s food miles must…

Swansea Council’s cabinet agreed to a smart new concept for the city centre Castle Square Gardens – one that introduces more greenery, fun and reasons to visit. Public consultation this year saw 95% of people back a council concept for a space with more trees, grass and other greenery. A detailed design has since been drawn up – and this was presented to the cabinet today. Members agreed to commit capital finance funds to support the development over the next two years. The plans will now go through a formal planning process next summer. This will be another chance for…

Pupils and staff at a Swansea Valley Welsh medium school are about to move into new £9m facilities which include a concert hall, canteen and kitchen, extra classrooms, a music and drama centre and modern sports pitches. The project carried out by Port Talbot based contractors Andrew Scott Ltd on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Council is the third phase of work which completes the modernisation of the Ystalyfera Campus of Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur. Funding for the third phase has come through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme (65%) with the remainder provided from the council’s own…

Merthyr County Borough Council is consulting residents on the planned introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent street drinking and drug taking in a town centre exclusion zone. On breach of the Order, police or Council enforcement officers could issue a fixed penalty fine of £100, and failure to pay this could result in prosecution and a court fine of up to £1,000. The Council is seeking public views to gauge the impact intoxicating substance related anti-social behaviour is having on the public in the proposed exclusion zone. The consultation is running until 10 March 2022, with…

Powys residents are being reminded that Rapid lateral flow test (LFT) kits are available to collect from many locations across Powys, the county council has said. With the testing criteria being expanded so anyone can qualify for an LFT test, Powys residents are being reminded that they can be collected from many of Powys’ libraries. About one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still infect others. Residents are being encouraged to get test kits before libraries close on Christmas Eve at 4pm and re-open on January 4, 2022. Getting tested regularly is one way to…

RCT Cabinet has agreed to progress 21st Century Schools proposals that would deliver new buildings and first-class education facilities for existing primary schools in Llantwit Fardre, Talbot Green and Glyncoch. A report to the Cabinet meeting on Monday, December 13, sought Members’ approval for the Council to submit business cases to Welsh Government, to bid for Mutual Investment Model (MIM) funding for the three projects – via the revenue funding route of the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme. Cabinet agreed to submit a business case for all of the MIM projects, which include delivering replacement community primary schools for…

Having considered feedback from a recent consultation, RCT’s Cabinet has agreed for the Council to adopt the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) – setting ambitious targets to increase Welsh medium learners over the next 10 years. The WESP is a strategy to underpin the Council’s approach to increase the number of Year 1 learners in Welsh medium education, up to and including 2032. The main target of the updated WESP, which was recently consulted upon, is to increase the percentage of Year 1 learners in Welsh medium education by between 8% to 12%, equating to an increase from 506…

The First Minister will today set out a two-phase plan to respond to the current delta variant and the new, fast-moving, easily-transmissible omicron variant, which is expected to be the dominant form of the virus in the UK by the end of the month. The Welsh Government is issuing strong guidance to support people across Wales through the Christmas period. Wales will then introduce new restrictions, including for businesses and services – from 27 December. This will include a 2m rule on social distancing in offices and putting extra measures in place to protect customers and staff, such as one-way…

When a person has made a valid Will and wishes to cancel it, the law stated in section 20 of The Wills Act 1837; a Will can only be invalidated in three ways: marriage or civil partnership, making a new Will or Codicil, or by destruction (tear, burn, cancel, deface, obliterate or destroy). The term used is ‘Revocation’. Revocation of a Will can be carried out at any time during the Will maker’s (known as the ‘Testator’) lifetime. However, the Will must be revoked legally, and the Testator must intend to revoke their Will, not done accidentally and is the…