Author: Rhys Gregory

The National Eisteddfod has announced that they are postponing the Ceredigion National Eisteddfod for a year. The decision was taken by the organisation’s Management Board following a number of discussions with the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales. Ceredigion County Council supports the National Eisteddfod’s decision to postpone the Ceredigion Eisteddfod for another year until 2022. Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Welsh Language, said, “We support the Eisteddfod on their difficult decision to postpone the Eisteddfod for another year. It will be strange not to work towards and attend the…

A new pilot scheme is being trialled by Ceredigion County Council to provide opportunities for local people to make a start on the property ladder by purchasing a discounted plot of land. A piece of Council land has been identified at Parc yr Hydd, Ciliau Aeron. This will be for a new trial scheme where the Council will offer two plots (subject to the necessary planning consents) at a discounted guide price of £25,000 per plot to local people who would like to make a start on the property ladder and build their own home. The plots will be part…

Developers want to bring top class new public facilities to an under-used seafront site. Property consultants working on behalf of Swansea Council have had a number of promising enquiries proposing a variety of possible uses for the 0.77-acre location at Langland Bay. Those interested in leasing the site and adding another leisure jewel to the area’s spectacular coastline have a February 12 deadline to submit bids. The council, which will continue to own the land, wants any development to provide leisure and public toilet facilities that would improve services for the public and be sympathetic to the environment. Potential uses…

Applications for the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) 2021 Summer Schools, including the RVC Sutton Trust Summer School, are now open for students in Year 10, Year 11 and Year 12. The outreach team is calling for those who meet the Widening Participation eligibility criteria to apply for the opportunity of gaining experience of what it is like to study animal science careers including Veterinary Medicine, Biosciences and Veterinary Nursing. Taking place between July and August 2021, the three RVC Summer Schools offer students first-hand insight into what it is like to study at the internationally renowned RVC. As part of…

South Wales contractor Griffiths is to undertake Swansea Council’s work to make the city centre Wind Street a more family-friendly environment. The well respected firm was selected by the council in a competitive tender process and is due to start redevelopment work shortly in line with government pandemic guidelines. Griffiths stepped in to work on the council’s widely praised Kingsway infrastructure scheme in 2019 after the original main contractor went into administration. That project is nearing completion. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “I’m pleased that a Welsh firm will carry out our Wind…

Work is underway on a feasibility trial in Caerau as part of plans for a low-carbon heat scheme. Eligible households can earn up to £150 for participating in the study, which sees consultants Energy Systems Catapult monitor heat usage in homes over the winter by installing a tado° smart thermostat. This replaces conventional room thermostats and lets residents control their heating system remotely using an app, while allowing the information to be shared for the study. Paul Smith at Energy Systems Catapult said: “We’ve had a great response, so far, with more than 50 people get in touch to take…

More than 400 extra tonnes of waste were recycled by Bridgend county borough residents over Christmas compared to the year before. Compared to the festive period in 2019, residents put an extra 424.77 tonnes of material out for recycling, with a lot more cardboard, glass and food waste in particular. This means that for the main collection crews, which are managed by Bridgend County Borough Council’s waste partners Kier, each operative collected, on average, 2.5 tonnes of recycling each day. Kier’s operations manager Leeann Neagle said: “Each crew went above and beyond to ensure the residents of Bridgend received their…

RCT Council has begun an important flood alleviation scheme at Granville Terrace in Mountain Ash to carry out repairs and help improve the control of debris in the watercourse – requiring a local road closure at Allen Street. The £150,000 scheme, which is being wholly funded by Welsh Government, got underway in the week commencing Monday, January 25. It will deliver scour protection to the channel by installing a new concrete slab base and completing repairs to the channel wall. A downstream weir will also be installed in order to help control debris and minimise erosion at this location. The…

RCT Cabinet could agree to progress proposals for a new £8.5m school for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn-y-Forwyn – which would deliver 21st Century facilities and improve the quality of Welsh Medium primary education in Ferndale. At their meeting on Thursday, January 28,Cabinet will consider a report which outlines proposals to deliver the new school building by 2024, utilising a new location within Ferndale that would not alter the current catchment area of YGG Llyn-y-Forwyn. Members could agree to give formal approval for the Council to consult on the proposals, taking place from March 2021. The project would be delivered through the…

RCT Council will begin to install touchless technology at six busy pedestrian crossings, in a trial funded by Welsh Government as part of its support for sustainable transport measures in response to COVID-19. The new setup will allow pedestrians to activate each of the signal controlled crossings by moving their hand under a sensor, instead of pushing a button. This detection technology is more reliable and efficient than the current button activation, and will help reduce the spread of coronavirus during the pandemic. The technology will be trialled over four weeks, with installations beginning in the week commencing Monday, January…