Author: Rhys Gregory

One of the UK’s leading insurance brokers is urging businesses to understand the cybersecurity risks associated with returning to the workplace. Towergate Insurance Brokers is warning organisations that in preparation for ‘business as normal’, businesses need to be carrying out risk assessments and rewriting policies to ensure that they are ready for any large-scale return to the office. Scott Mewse, Account Executive at Towergate Insurance Brokers says that cybersecurity risks will be just as significant as we return to the office as they were upon the move to home working, despite the environment we are returning to being more well…

Plenty of greenery is being planted alongside a key Swansea city centre gateway to give it a fresh new look. The selection of plants, shrubs and grassed areas now taking shape on Oystermouth Road forms part of the city’s emerging £135m Copr Bay phase one district. Running adjacent to a new shared-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, the greenery will soon be complemented by a living wall being introduced at the car park under construction nearby. Developed by Swansea Council and advised by development managers RivingtonHark, Copr Bay phase one also includes a 1.1-acre coastal park that will feature a…

Smart Money Cymru is the first Credit Union in Wales to launch an online shopping service for members. The innovative valleys credit union is now offering its 7000 members the chance to buy cookers, fridges, televisions and a wide range of domestic goods from an online store through its new Smart Goods service. Smart Money Cymru has linked up with supplier CSL to offer the new service to the credit union’s members. CSL specialises in offering a catalogue of over 5000 top quality goods to disadvantaged and low-income communities, working with the charity sector and local financial institutions. Purchases are funded by…

An exciting new era for Swansea Market is set to start soon. The iconic venue is about to become yet more welcoming to people who shop, work and live in the city centre. Construction work is due to start next week (note: Mon Oct 18) on a creatively designed new area at the heart of the market where people can eat, work and enjoy themselves. The work will take several weeks, with disturbance kept to a minimum and the market remaining fully open. Transparent fencing will go up around the construction area to keep people safe and to maintain sightlines…

An historic canal route in Swansea, already popular with walkers and cyclists, is set to be upgraded. Swansea Council has secured funding to upgrade a 1.4km section of towpath along Swansea Canal. The route between Clydach and Pontardawe is already part of the national cycle network (NCN 43) and sees many people using it to walk and travel by bicycle. Overgrown vegetation and an ageing surface under foot has prompted the council to seek further funding to make it more user-friendly. A £250,000 investment via the Welsh Government Active Travel programme has now been secured and will result in a…

A major demolition scheme to help improve air quality levels at Hafodyrynys Hill has started this week (Thursday 14th October). Over 20 properties will be demolished along this key strategic route to tackle pollution problems at the site. Last year, residents were offered a generous financial settlement for the purchase of their homes to allow the scheme to progress and contractors started the 14 week demolition works today. Cllr Philippa Marsden, Leader of Caerphilly CBC was on site to see the scheme commence, “The council, along with the whole community, welcomes the start of these demolition works, which will finally…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has approved an additional investment of £150,000 to support the regeneration of Caerphilly town. This investment will be used to appoint specialist multi-disciplinary consultants to support the council in the delivery of its ambitious Caerphilly Town 2035 Plan and the Council’s exciting Placeshaping Programme. Focus will be initially on Caerphilly Town 2035 which identifies a total of 62 projects within Caerphilly town centre that will provide a comprehensive regeneration and development platform to encourage growth, improve the social, economic and environmental performance of the town centre and support the health and well-being of its residents…

The One Planet Strategy – which sets out Cardiff Council’s plans to deliver a carbon neutral local authority by 2030 – has been published and approved by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet. The council has spent the past year calculating the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) (expressed as an equivalent carbon dioxide emission (CO2e)) it produces, while looking at ways in which emissions can be reduced. The latest figures show that Wales’ capital is responsible for 1,626,056 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2e) every year, with around 184,904 tonnes generated by the council. Cllr Michael Michael, Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Recycling and…

The Championship season is reaching the point where the league table begins to take shape. After the initial weeks of some sides shaking off the cobwebs and others enjoying frantic early starts, we are now at a stage where we can realistically look at who are the favourites for promotion in the Championship betting odds and who should be gearing up for another arduous relegation battle from perhaps the most competitive division in all of Europe. There are always dark horses associated with promotion and in a league where form fluctuates so often it might still be premature to pick…

Another UFC is on the horizon. At the Etihad Arena, on Yas Island, in Dubai, and in the Light Heavyweight division, the champ Jan Blachowicz will be defending his belt against challenger Glover Teixeira on October 30th at UFC 267. For those interested in betting you can click here, but before you do it’s worth noting that although Teixera equals the champ in height, he concedes two inches in reach, one-and-a-half inches in leg reach and 15 lbs in weight. Bookmakers are placing their confidence more in the champ to hold onto his title, with odds of around 10/31, compared…