Author: Rhys Gregory

Star employers, inspirational learners and dedicated work-based learning practitioners across Wales have been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru on June 17. The annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships will see 35 finalists compete in 12 categories for awards at a virtual ceremony. Highlight of the of the work-based learning calendar, the awards showcase businesses and individuals who have excelled on the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Programmes and gone the extra mile to achieve success during these unprecedented times. The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru are jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training…

A report which details responses from a consultation on initial proposals for a new Cathays High School, will be shared with Cardiff Council’s Cabinet when it meets on Thursday 17 June. Concluding in March 2020, the consultation provided members of the public with an opportunity to share their views and in total 494 responses were received. Whilst there was substantial support for the redevelopment of the school, there were also a number of concerns raised including; potential changes and increase to traffic, impact on public open access space and use of existing local leisure amenities. As a result, the report…

A multi-million pound flood defence designed to cope with a one-in-200-year storm, and rising sea levels caused by climate change, could be built to protect the south east of Cardiff. Plans for the £25m coastal protection scheme, on the banks of the River Rhymney, have been released by Cardiff Council. The new flood defence, which could be ready by 2023, will help: Manage flood risk to just under 1,200 properties; Prevent material from Lamby Way landfill site eroding into the sea; Protect key road infrastructure, a supermarket and the Rover Way Travellers site for the next 100 years. Cabinet Member…

Cardiff’s Castle Street looks set to reopen to general traffic in the autumn as soon as necessary road works, road markings, and signage have been put in place to make it safe. A recommendation to reopen the street, which was closed to help food and drink businesses remain viable during the height of the pandemic last year, will be brought before Cardiff Council’s Cabinet at its next meeting on Thursday, June17. It follows a consultation offering the public two options: 1. To allow general traffic to use the street; 2. To allow only buses, taxis and cyclists to use the…

Significant future plans to improve travel connectivity between communities in Rhondda Cynon Taf and north west Cardiff have been announced, following the first stage of a Welsh Government-funded transport study. The study into the ‘North West Transport Corridor’ was commissioned in July 2019 and has now identified short and long-term public transport options from Pontyclun, Talbot Green, Llantrisant, Beddau, Creigiau and Plasdwr towards Cardiff City Centre – while encouraging travel in the opposite direction into Rhondda Cynon Taf. Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff Councils will now review the plans in order to investigate how they can best serve local residents…

SOME of Gower’s best-loved heritage, leisure and natural beauty destinations are set for a £325,000 spruce-up in the coming months. Swansea Council has secured Welsh Government grants to help protect the natural beauty of some of our most scenic locations like Clyne Valley, Pennard Castle and Fairwood Common. At the same time some of the money will be going to help manage the pressure of visitor numbers on locations like the Blue Flag beach at Port Eynon and nearby Horton. David Hopkins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Delivery and Operations, said there is already feasibility work underway to develop…

Swansea Council is set to commit almost £250,000 to fund a floodlit all-weather sports pitch in Pontarddulais. It will replace the former tennis courts at the town’s comprehensive with pupils using the new facility during the day and it being made available to the wider community in the evenings and at weekends. A report going to the council’s cabinet next week says it would be a big boost to school and grass-roots sport in Pontarddulais with a lasting legacy for many years to come as there are no similar facilities in the town. Cabinet members are being asked to approve…

Swansea Council is set to extend its pandemic funding for its key leisure facilities to keep up their high-quality services for residents across the city. The council’s ruling cabinet is due to discuss a possible extension of funding arrangements for its contract-managed premises, including the LC, community leisure centres, the Wales National Pool Swansea (WNPS) and Plantasia. The support could be in place until March next year and would cover the facilities’ pandemic-related losses and recovery plans. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “Our leisure facilities are key to creating an active and healthy…

A mobile coronavirus testing facility is now available to the public at Ysbyty’r Seren, the field hospital set up by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Located on the Bridgend Industrial Estate, Bennett Street, Bridgend, CF31 3SH, the facility is a drive-through testing centre with booking required. It is open to the public from 11am to 4pm, seven days a week. A walk-in mobile testing facility continues to be available at the Awel-Y-Mor Community Centre in Hutchwns Terrace, Porthcawl (CF36 5TP) between 9am and 6pm daily, with no appointment needed. And a walk-through testing…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet approve plans for an Employee Volunteering Scheme. A report was considered by Cabinet at a virtual meeting on 9th June where they approved the proposed Employee Volunteering Scheme and agreed to implement the Scheme with a review to be carried out in 12 months on the uptake and benefits of it. The Employee Volunteering Scheme aims to increase volunteering opportunities for employees at CCBC, allowing the release of employees to volunteer and support the local community. CCBC recognises many of its employees already volunteer in their local communities – this Scheme is a way the…