Author: Rhys Gregory

Some of Swansea’s finest woodland is now open to all thanks to a new walking and cycling path linking Olchfa to the sea via Clyne Valley. Finishing touches are being completed on work to upgrade the Olchfa-Clyne Valley bridleway connecting Gower Road near Olchfa Comprehensive to the seafront near Blackpill Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement and Infrastructure Management, said much the route is accessible to children in buggies and the disabled for the first time. He said: “The work on this route and on the upgrade to Mayals Road are part of our multi-million pound Active Travel programme…

omprehensive school pupils have been given an insight into the construction industry thanks to contractors working on a £9.9m new home for a Welsh medium primary school in Swansea. Year 10 students at Bishop Vaughan Catholic School have visited the new development at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tan-y-lan. Thanks to contractors Kier and Swansea Council, they have had the chance to take part in virtual work experience, online careers mentoring and environmental sculpturing and all successfully completed the course. Due to the pandemic it was not possible for them to visit the construction site last term but with restrictions being relaxed…

Swansea workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic have been given new hope thanks to a Swansea Council back-to-work scheme. More than 200 people have been helped by Swansea Workways+ Short Term Unemployed project in the past 15 months. Over 100 of them are now back in work – others are completing training or volunteering. Council cabinet member Alyson Pugh said: “We want to improve peoples’ lives – and that’s just what this project is doing.” The Swansea Workways+ short term unemployed project offers training and employment support opportunities to unemployed citizens aged over 25. Backed by £1.2m of EU funds, the project is been supported by…

Specialists from Swansea University and the council’s Glynn Vivian Art Gallery worked together to establish key facts about the oil – including the artist’s identity. Their detailed work included precise analysis of some of the paint along with loving repairs to the image. The city centre gallery is now hosting a new exhibition – Indigo: Collections, Conservation, Chemistry – that features the painting and tells its story. The painting dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “The research on this project has been admirable and has helped solve a mystery dating back…

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Bay Technology Centre, sited on one of Wales’s premier business parks in the heart of South Wales, is on schedule to be completed in December of this year. The £7.9m three-storey office and laboratory space, located at the M4-side Baglan Energy Park in Port Talbot, will host different size units for start-up companies, indigenous businesses and inward investors looking for a base to set up and grow their operations. The centre, being built by contractors Morgan Sindall Construction, will offer 2,500 square metres of mixed use space for flexible office and laboratory work as well as…

As part of its Welsh Government-funded Active Travel programme, the County Borough Council is planning improvements at Tesco roundabout to make crossing the road safer for pedestrians. The scheme will see the creation of dropped ‘tactile’ crossings on each arm of the junction (see plan), along with include central islands to allow people to cross in two phases. There will also be a link provided from Alma Street, as the Council recognises this as a popular route for residents. These improvements are part of the wider Active Travel programme for 2021/22, along with work scheduled for Bethesda Street, Avenue de…

Following extensive ground investigations and drainage surveys Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Highways Team have determined that the drainage on Groes-Faen Terrace, Bargoed requires replacing to prevent further ground deterioration. As part of the pre-enabling works, a weekend closure starting at 8am on the 9th October until the 4pm on the 10th October will be in place between Groes-Faen Terrace and the Factory Road junction. These works and the subsequent repair works are weather dependent and are subject to change at short notice The anticipated start date for the road and drainage replacement works is the 18th October 2021 and are…

Newport City Council’s Leader Councillor Jane Mudd has launched its most generous package of support grants for new and existing small and medium sized enterprises. To mark the occasion, Councillor Mudd visited Sero Waste, Newport’s first zero waste shop which received a business grant from the council The shop in the grounds of Tredegar House sells refillable dry whole foods, local produce such as bread, baked goods, milk and British grown flowers as well as refillable and sustainable products. It was opened by friends Liz Morgan and Laura Parry Laura said: “We used the grant towards the rent. The council…

The first stage of repairs will begin from this week to repair the Iron Tram Bridge near Robertstown – which will see the Ancient Monument sympathetically restored off site and then reinstalled next year. The bridge was in a poor condition before Storm Dennis, and received further damage during the unprecedented weather and subsequent storm events in February 2020. Security fencing has been placed around the structure and its surrounding area, while its Public Right of Way over the river remains closed. Aware of the bridge’s cultural and historical significance, the Council has worked with external consultants to design a…

Residents will shortly be able to have their say on the proposed Llanharan Link Road through a public consultation – to help the Council finalise its planning application, which will be formally submitted in the New Year. The proposed project, running between the Dragon Studios roundabout and Llanharan service station, would be split into three sections for delivery. The western section of the road has already been constructed by the previous developer, the middle section (up to and including the proposed roundabout at the southern end of Enterprise Way) will be delivered by a housing developer in connection with its…