Author: Rhys Gregory

Leading figures in the public sector and the bus industry have signed a new agreement to deliver better bus services that meet the objective of an integrated transport system. Included with this agreement is an additional £37.2m of funding to continue to support the bus industry in the coming financial year. This will give further reassurance to operators, enabling them to plan for the future. The agreement has been signed by bus operators, local authorities, Transport for Wales and the Welsh Government. Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, commented: “This agreement puts the public interest at the…

The Welsh Government’s plans to create an exciting new tech cluster in Ebbw Vale are being driven forward by investment in 5G technology, a new campus for cyber testing and innovative new business accommodation. Through a new 5G Wales Unlocked project, the Welsh Government is bringing 5G mobile connectivity to support pilots across education, transport, tourism and farming in Blaenau Gwent and neighbouring Monmouthshire. The Welsh Government has also confirmed it is working with Thales UK Ltd on ResilientWorks, a £7m project in Blaenau Gwent to establish a campus for testing cyber security for connected and autonomous vehicles and energy…

Landmark reforms that will boost recycling, tackle plastic pollution and reduce litter have taken a step forward this week (Wednesday 24 March) as ministers from across the UK unveil the latest proposals to overhaul the waste and resources sector. Powers in the Government’s landmark Environment Bill could be used to make manufacturers more responsible for the packaging they produce and incentivise consumers to recycle more. This includes: A Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers: consumers will be incentivised to take their empty drinks containers to return points hosted by retailers. Every year across the UK, consumers go through an estimated 14 billion plastic drinks bottles, nine billion drinks…

The winners of this year’s St David’s Awards have been revealed during a virtual ceremony. The St David’s Awards, in its 8th year is a chance to acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of people in or from Wales and recognise the great deeds and contributions made by people from all walks of life, during an exceptionally difficult year we have faced. This year’s award categories are Bravery, Business, Community Spirit, Culture and Sport, Humanitarian, Innovation, Science and Technology, Young Person, Critical Worker and the First Minister’s Special Award. Speaking at the virtual event, the First Minister said “This year’s St David…

Bridgend County Borough Council has automatically processed a third phase of restriction grant payments totalling £3,000,000 to 750 businesses after further funding was made available to support hospitality, tourism, leisure and non-essential retail sectors. These automatic payments will be paid into bank accounts on Wednesday 24 March for businesses that pay non-domestic rates and already received a payment for a restriction grant between December and March. The cash grants are a top up to the Restrictions Business Fund via the Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) grants and will help businesses with their costs up to 31 March 2021. Eligible business with a…

As community testing moves into its fourth week in Bridgend County Borough, residents of Caerau and Nantyffyllon are being encouraged to help keep their family, friends, neighbours and colleagues safe by visiting an all-new local testing centre. With no appointments necessary, the walk-in centre will be available at Caerau Athletic Football Club between 24-31 March, and can be used 9.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The community testing is designed to identify people who may have coronavirus without knowing it, and prevent them from unwittingly spreading the virus throughout the local community. To date, more than…

Merthyr Tydfil is preparing to host the largest children’s remote Easter festival in the UK, which kicks off today (Thursday 25 March) and runs through the Easter holidays. The Spring into Action Virtual Educational Festival hosted by the Stephens & George Charitable Trust in partnership with the County Borough Council’s Chief Officer for Learning Sue Walker starts at 9.30am, and more than 2,000 schoolchildren are expected to join in. Authors, poets and illustrators will be hosting workshops throughout the day and the event will be followed by a book hunt, with free Easter-themed books distributed on benches, parks and trees…

Residents and road users are advised that a road closure is required on the A4061 Rhigos Mountain Road – which has been scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights this week in order to minimise disruption. The busy commuter route, between Hirwaun and Treherbert, will be closed to all road users from 7pm to 5am on both Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26 – with the second closure ending at 5am on Saturday morning. This emergency road closure has been put in place to address an issue which has developed to a small section of the carriageway surface in the…

Newport City Council has successfully secured £7 million Welsh Government Transforming Towns funding towards a new city centre leisure and well-being centre. Located on a riverfront site, the new purpose-built centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities for residents. It will also pave the way for the redevelopment of the existing Newport Centre site to provide a brand new further education facility for Coleg Gwent delivered under the 21stCentury Schools and Colleges Programme. Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government Hannah Blythyn said: “This is an exciting project which will create a fantastic new leisure facility for Newport. “It’s part of our…

Members of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet have unanimously agreed to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with private green energy company RWE to explore options for the Council to invest, through a shared ownership model in a proposed wind farm development. This Memorandum of Understanding between the Council and RWE is a non-legally binding agreement that will enable both parties to work in partnership to explore possibilities to develop a shared ownership model for the proposed wind farm development on private land at Pen March Farm, to the north of Rhymney. If the initiative is developed, the Council would contribute…