Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff Council has started its search for a developer to secure the future of Merchant Place/Cory’s Buildings in Cardiff Bay. With the historic, but unused, buildings now in the ownership of Cardiff Council, by appointing prominent city agents Avison Young and Knight Frank to market the property, a brighter future for this important landmark is being signalled. Situated in the heart of Mount Stuart Square, close to the Wales Millennium Centre and the Atlantic Wharf development, Merchant Place/Cory’s Buildings have been empty for over 10 years. The 0.5 acre site is located in the historic core of Cardiff Bay, bounded…

Award-winning pet food company Burns Pet Nutrition has launched a brand new support group exclusively for owners of overweight and obese dogs. The aptly named Hounds Dropping Pounds weight loss group was launched on the social media platform Facebook early in January as a way to combat the growing crisis of overweight pets in the UK. According to PDSA, the well-respected UK veterinary charity, it is believed that over half of all pets in the UK are overweight or obese. In a survey of veterinary professionals, most UK vets identified obesity as one of the top five welfare issues of…

Star employers, inspirational learners and dedicated work-based learning practitioners across Wales have been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru. The annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships will see 36 finalists compete in 12 categories for awards at a virtual ceremony on April 29. 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…

Construction work is set to begin this week on making Swansea’s Wind Street a more family-friendly environment. South Wales contractor Griffiths will undertake Swansea Council’s work to improve the city centre venue. It follows consultation with local businesses and residents. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “I’m pleased that this important work can begin. “We want Wind Street to be a family-friendly, high quality hospitality environment. “Preparation work has continued through the pandemic; this has included consultation with traders and with environmental, disability and residents’ representatives. “Our reimagining of Wind Street is a key…

More than half of people who had to self-isolate felt it negatively affected their mental health with more than a quarter saying it negatively affected their income, Swansea University research has revealed. A study also found that 75 per cent those self-isolating said no one from the contact tracing service checked on their wellbeing while they isolated and 60 per cent either hadn’t heard about the £500 self-isolation support scheme or didn’t know how to apply for it. But the researchers discovered that despite these challenges, compliance with self-isolation was very high, with 80 per cent fully complying with guidelines…

Ty Isaf Infants School have successfully completed their Healthy School National Quality Award reaccreditation. The National Quality Award is the highest accreditation a school can achieve through the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes, which is run by Public Health Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government. The Healthy Schools Team work with pupils, teachers, parents and a range of partners to improve the health of whole school communities. Their primary aim is to support schools to develop a whole school approach to health through its work in 7 key areas: Food and Fitness Mental and Emotional Health and Well-being…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has unveiled plans to provide new and improved car parking for tenants living in flats at Risca Road, Crosskeys. The Council is investing over £100,000 into the plans as part of its Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme; which will see a total investment of £260 million made into tenants’ homes and communities throughout the Caerphilly county borough. Parking has been an issue for tenants at Risca Road for several years, due to insufficient spaces and problems caused by visitors to the nearby college campus.  The Council’s proposals could see parking spaces for tenants increase from…

Two Council owned sheltered housing schemes in the Caerphilly county borough are set to benefit from almost £220,000 of improvements. Caerphilly County Borough Council has approved the investment to enhance outdoor spaces at Ynsywen, Pontllanfraith and Tredegar Court, Crosskeys. The improvements are being delivered as part of the Council’s £260 million Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme; which includes an investment of over £10 million in sheltered housing schemes across the county borough. Ynyswen has already received extensive improvements, as part of the WHQS programme, both internally and externally.  The additional investment will be used to carry out improvements to…

Essential work by Openreach requires a road closure at Penycoedcae Road from February 13-21. A free shuttle bus service will be in place as the NAT Group Service 404 between Pontypridd and Bridgend will be unable to take its normal route. Openreach requires the closure of Penycoedcae Road – north of its junction with Heol-y-Beddau, for around one mile (in a northerly direction). The closure will be manned at all times and access will be provided to residents living within the closure area, as well as for emergency services and pedestrians. The closure will be in place from 8am-5pm, from…

Residents and road users are advised that Castell Ifor Bridge in Hopkinstown will be closed this week as the contractor for a recent repair scheme carries out minor corrective work, at no further cost to the Council. The bridge, which supports Ford Road off the A4058, reopened in 2020 after the completion of a significant scheme to replace the weak bridge deck with a new reinforced concrete deck, along with further future-proofing measures. RCT Council’s contractor Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd will now return to the site in order to correct minor defects. This work will require the one-way bridge to…