Author: Rhys Gregory

An instore scheme to help wilko customers recycle their masks has proved so successful that the home and garden retailer will extend it by another three months. The scheme, which allows shoppers to drop off used, disposable face masks so that they can be recycled will now be in place until the end of September 2021. This extension follows an initial three month pilot and will see the service remain in place at the original 150 participating stores. wilko estimates that a huge 400,000 masks could be recycled via the scheme. This equates to a giant 966kg of single use…

A couple from New Tredegar, who won a life-changing £1M EuroMillions Millionaire Maker prize just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, have been looking back on their momentous National Lottery win and reminiscing about how they were doubly lucky on that fateful day. Speaking ahead of this Friday’s special EuroMillions draw, which will mark the traditionally unlucky date of Friday 13th by creating a lucky guaranteed 13 UK millionaires, Lynne and David Price have been recalling how their win coincided with truly amazing news for Lynne’s health. Lynne said, “There was an awful lot going on the day we won (October…

Newcastle Higher Community Council has taken over responsibility for Penyfai Playing Fields after agreeing a 35-year lease with Bridgend County Borough Council. The transfer, which was finalised earlier this month, is the latest to be completed as part of the local authority’s Community Asset Transfer (CAT) programme. The community council’s plans for improving improve the facilities at Penyfai Playing Fields, which are next to the Pheasant pub, include resurfacing the pathway and installing noticeboards, lighting and additional bins for litter and dog waste. The project will be funded in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, and more than £7,600 has…

A number of businesses across Bridgend County Borough are set to receive a grant of up to £10,000 to help install outdoor facilities including seating areas, gazebos and patio heaters. The Outdoor Improvements Covid-19 Recovery Fund has targeted external areas where customers and members of the public can congregate, rest or enjoy food and drink. The first and second phase of the programme were funded by Bridgend County Borough Council, the Valleys Task Force and Welsh Government’s Targeted Regeneration Investment initiative. As part of the third phase, which was fully funded by the local authority, commercial property and business owners who…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed that additional mobile testing units are on their way to Bridgend County Borough. The new walk-in facilities will be available from Friday 13 August between 9am – 3pm at Ogmore Vale Primary (CF32 7AJ) and Porthcawl Comprehensive (CF36 3ES). They will replace the current mobile testing unit based at Nantymoel Primary, which will close at 4pm on Thursday 12 August. The new facilities are being provided in addition to the testing unit which remains available at the site of the former Revlon (Cosi) factory at Oakwood Drive in Maesteg (CF34 9TS) where…

The residents of Lansbury Park approached Caerphilly Council with a desire to organise a mass clean-up of the estate. More than 20 residents have spent the last 10 days litter picking on the estate after they were provided with equipment, funded by Caerphilly Council. Wayne George a local resident who was part of the event, said, “The children of Lansbury deserve the praise for this effort. It is testament to the parents who have raised these responsible youngsters. As a community we are really proud of our young residents who are leading the way and taking pride in their place.”…

Work has now started on an exciting development that will being 12 new one-bedroom apartments to Trethomas, Caerphilly. Caerphilly County Borough Council is delivering the development on Llanfabon Drive as part of an innovative pilot programme that will also see 6 new homes built in Trecenydd. Homes on both sites will be owned and managed by Caerphilly County Borough Council and allocated to eligible applicants from its Common Housing Register.  The homes are expected to be completed in Spring 2022. Homes will be constructed to Passivhaus standard, consisting of very high levels of insulation, extremely high-performance windows with insulated frames,…

A temporary vehicular access road has been created from the A467 Rogerstone by-pass to Forge Mews following the emergency closure of Old Bassaleg Bridge. To ensure safe entry and exit, the A467 has been reduced to one lane northbound and the speed limit reduced to 30mph. Only vehicles needing to enter and exit Forge Mews are allowed to use the left-hand lane of the A467 between the Forge Road roundabout and Chartist Drive roundabout and this is clearly signposted. Drivers travelling northbound on the A467 are asked to take care and be aware of vehicles merging from the left-hand lane.…

Garden waste collections in Cardiff will move from fortnightly collections to monthly collections from Saturday, August 14th, as Cardiff Council works to clear a backlog of garden waste on the city’s streets caused by a UK-wide shortage of HGV drivers and fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council will use the rest of August to collect any outstanding garden waste that remains on the street and residents are asked to leave their garden waste out for collection until it is picked up. The next garden waste collection will take place after the August Bank Holiday weekend, with a further collection…

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has congratulated software start-up company Aforza on securing a $22 million funding investment which will see it double its number of employees, establish new headquarters in the US and drive significant product innovation that will benefit consumer goods businesses of all shapes and sizes. The rapidly-expanding business, which is backed by key Silicon Valley investors, started at the Tramshed Tech working hub in Cardiff with a Research and Development lab and customer support centre. The Welsh Government supported the company to set up in Wales in 2019, awarding £900,000 from the Economy Futures Fund, with an…