Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

New images have been released that show the true scale of the ambitious North Wales metro programme. The images were released ahead of a visit by Lee Waters to Wrexham General Station last week (Friday, September 10). The Deputy Minister for Climate Change, with responsibility for transport, was at the station to see the work that is taking place on the north Wales metro scheme thanks to more than £9m the Welsh Government has recently provided to Transport for Wales. This is part of £50m provided since 2020. The new images show priorities up until 2029 which include major enhancements…

The Welsh Government has committed to net zero emissions by 2050. Achieving net zero requires rapid transformation of our energy system, to enable the decarbonisation of home heating, transport and industry. At the heart of this work are the networks responsible for connecting homes and buildings with electricity and gas. The Welsh Government is working closely with Wales’ existing electricity and gas network operators to make sure their networks can support the energy systems’ transformation the Committee on Climate Change says is necessary by 2030. The Welsh Government believes a planned approach is best suited to developing networks that meet…