Author: Rhys Gregory

Will Bramble, the new CEO of Pembrokeshire County Council, takes up his post at County Hall on Monday (September 13th). Mr Bramble was appointed in March this year following an extensive recruitment process. He takes over from Interim CEO Richard Brown. Since his appointment, Mr Bramble has been meeting key Council colleagues and partners, including attending the Pembrokeshire County Show last month. Mr Bramble said: “I’m delighted to be settling into County Hall next week and getting to work for the people and communities of Pembrokeshire. “Pembrokeshire is a special place to live, learn and work and full of potential…

Swansea’s favourite re-use shop at Tip Treasures in Llansamlet has been extended and refurbished to include new sections for re-used wood products. Shoppers heading for the popular venue at Llansamlet Recycling Centre will be able see an extended range of furniture it offers thanks to Welsh Government funding for a new recycling area that re-purposes materials that might otherwise end up in landfill. Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Improvement and Infrastructure Management, said that since it re-opened as Swansea emerged from the pandemic, Tip Treasures had been hugely-popular. He said: “Ash dieback is forcing the council, like many others…

SWANSEA Council is set to spend an extra £21m supporting vital Covid-19 services in the coming year, a new report to Cabinet next week suggests. Although the Welsh Government alert level is set at zero and communities are adjusting to changes as the country emerges from the pandemic, the council will still be investing in supporting people affected by the virus. According to a report going to Cabinet on September 16, the council’s finances are in a strong position to deal with the uncertainties ahead in the aftermath of Covid-19, Brexit and other inflationary pressures. But it will still be…

Early partial lighting tests have now started at Swansea Arena as progress on site gathers even more pace. The initial, limited tests follow-on from the installation of some of the gold-coloured LED lighting panels being fitted around the outside of the development. Further preparatory tests will take place in coming weeks and months as more and more lighting panels are installed. Once complete, the arena will feature over 1,600 panels, complete with 95,000 LED lights. This will enable the hosting of light shows around the outside of the arena, along with the potential to promote upcoming shows, concerts, conferences and…

People who’ve not yet had their first Covid-19 vaccination are being urged to get the jab now to get ready for the countdown to Christmas season. Many of the festivities for last Christmas had to be cancelled due to the virus, and this year people who aren’t double-vaccinated by the time the season starts in November run the risk of missing out. Dr Keith Reid, Executive Director of Public Health in Swansea Bay, said that while 70% of young adults in the area have had their first jab, he urged the others to get their vaccination now. He said: “Much…

Cabinet members at Bridgend County Borough Council will consider a proposal that could result in the development of an all-new Welsh-medium seedling school when they meet next week. Following Welsh Government’s recent announcement over the next phase of its capital grant scheme for Welsh-medium education, Cabinet members will be asked to give their approval for an expression of interest to be submitted on using the funding to establish a new seedling school. If agreed, the council will explore options for adding the seedling school to existing plans that aim to create a new Welsh-medium childcare facility in the Porthcawl area.…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has announced that people overdue their second Covid-19 vaccination can now walk-in to any community vaccination centre for their second jab without booking an appointment. The walk-in offer is available to those who received their first dose of the vaccine eight weeks or more ago and applies to every community vaccination centre in the health board’s area. This includes Ravens Court in Bridgend town centre (CF31 4AP) where the walk-in appointments are available between 9.15am and 4.30pm. Details of other vaccination centres in the region are available on the health board’s website which is updated…

Work activity is now underway to demolish the former Dan y Mynydd Care Home buildings in Porth, which would enable a potential future redevelopment of the site by Linc Cymru (Linc) and the Council into an Extra Care facility. The former care home buildings, located off Bronwydd Avenue, have had no residents for some time – and, in December 2020, Cabinet agreed that a new Extra Care housing scheme would be built on the site. This is in line with the Council’s strategy to modernise residential care options for older people. Extra Care delivers modern accommodation with 24-hour support for…

Works to extend a key Cardiff cycleway, which will run from Cathays to the Heath Hospital, are due to begin on Monday, September 13. Cycleway 1 will be extended from St Andrew’s Crescent and Senghennydd Road along Cathays Terrace, in the second phase of works to deliver a strategic cycleway on one of the city’s main commuter routes. The route will link some of the most densely populated areas in Wales with the city centre and some of the city’s busiest destinations, Cardiff University, Sherman Theatre, Cathays train station and the UHW site and several shopping areas. The route also…

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said, “We’ve received a report this morning of significant criminal damage in our much loved Bute Park. “Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been done all the way from Blackweir Bridge to Pettigrew Tearooms. Over 50 trees have been destroyed, bins have been ripped from the concrete, plants and planters have been wrecked, manhole covers have been broken – our officers are still assessing the park to see the full extent of the damage. “I fully condemn this behaviour. It is not acceptable. There is absolutely no reason for…