Author: Rhys Gregory

Ambitious plans for a new Canal Quarter in Cardiff could play a major part in helping the city recover and renew itself after the pandemic. A masterplan for the area has been drawn up by the council which reimagines the east of the city centre as a vibrant and bustling district – able to deliver much-needed homes, jobs and attractive public spaces. Designed to capitalise on the city’s re-opening of its hidden, historic waterways – the Canal Quarter would deliver jobs during its construction phase and create much-needed employment opportunities once completed. Cabinet Member for Investment and Development, Cllr Russell…

RCT Council will shortly begin a public consultation inviting residents, businesses and visitors to have their say on the Council’s Draft Tourism Strategy – to help us shape the way in which we seek to maximise the great potential of Rhondda Cynon Taf as a place to visit and stay. With a varied and unique tourism offer, already established tourist attractions – such as the National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty, the Royal Mint Experience, Penderyn Whisky Distillery, and A Welsh Coal Mining Experience, at Rhondda Heritage Park – were bringing thousands of visitors in to the County each year…

Construction of a new pedestrian crossing at Brecon Road in Hirwaun will start on Monday – as part of the Council’s safe routes in communities work in areas which have benefitted from 21st Century Schools investment. The new safe crossing point for the community will be located near Brecon Road’s junction with Cross Street, in order to create a safer environment for pedestrians who wish to cross the main road. The work will also include new streetlights, kerbs and paving to deliver further improvements at this location. The pedestrian crossing is being funded by the Council to complement the new…

In line with Welsh Government regulations, RCT Council has confirmed that the award-winning A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park will open its doors to visitors for the first time in 2021 on Tuesday, May 18. You can book online or by calling the venue from Tuesday to Saturday, 9am-5pm. Extensive work has taken place to ensure the unique attraction can re-open in a safe manner that adheres to social distancing requirements and is compliant with the latest COVID-19 regulations. In addition, Visit Britain’s “We’re Good to Go Standard” has been awarded to the site – giving confidence…

Gowerton secondary school, YG Bryntawe and Swansea’s special schools could be the next to benefit from record investment in school buildings in the city. Swansea Council’s current programme will see spend of almost £170m to improve classrooms and cultural and sports facilities for thousands of pupils. A report to the council’s Education Performance Scrutiny Panel says work is progressing well on four major school investment projects underway in Swansea as part of Band B of the £149.5m QEd / 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme jointly funded by Swansea Council and Welsh Government. Extensions and remodelling is taking place at Ysgol…

A £20m package of support for our communities aims to ensure no-one is left behind as Swansea emerges from the pandemic. From a freeze on the price of school meals and cheap car parking offers to more make-over grants for shop-fronts, a recovery fund being unveiled by Swansea Council’s Cabinet aims to benefit every community in the city. The move is the biggest-ever package of targeted measures put together to give people in Swansea a helping hand out of the pandemic. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, said: “The council was there for the people of Swansea throughout the pandemic…

Port Talbot’s Aberavon Beach has won a prestigious Seaside Award in the 2021 Wales Coastal Awards run by Keep Wales Tidy. The award’s flag is a symbol of quality which ensures visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, attractive and well managed coastal stretch. The 2021 award for Aberavon Beach, one of dozens of 2021 Wales Coastal Awards given out across Wales, was announced by Keep Wales Tidy on Friday, May 14th. In recent years, more than £22m has been invested in infrastructure and facilities on the seafront and promenade by the council’s regeneration team with help from funders including…

Eight new and refurbished benches have been installed around Pwll y Waun Lake in Porthcawl by the Green Spaces team of Bridgend County Borough Council. The work was carried out after the original benches were damaged through natural deterioration and exposure to the weather. The Green Spaces team completed the work after the Covid-19 pandemic prevented a previous restoration proposal put together by a local community group from going ahead. Pwll y Waun Lake is a stunning area of natural beauty and is popular with residents and visitors alike. While well used, the benches which have been installed around the…

Capel Aberfan has been deemed an ‘immediate threat to the public’ and is to be partially demolished this week. The chapel was devastated by an arson attack in July 2015 and has been in a state of serious disrepair ever since. At the time Merthyr Vale councillor Darren Roberts said: “This is devastating for the community as it has so much history” and added that the building had been “totally gutted”. After numerous, unsuccessful attempts by the Council to contact the private owners – and with the front elevation bowing and leaning dangerously, putting the building at risk of collapse…

Councillor Shayne Cook Cabinet Member for Social Care has had his first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine and encourages others to follow suit when they receive their appointment invite. “I’m delighted to say I’ve just had my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine,” he said. “It was completely painless, I was in and out in no time at all, and the staff did an amazing job – a huge thank you to them and everyone who is helping getting the vaccine out across Caerphilly County borough. Worryingly, I’ve heard that those in my age group, their 30s are not turning…