Author: Rhys Gregory

An iconic Pembrokeshire pub has been granted critical financial support, after Senedd member Joyce Watson stepped in to help. The Swan Inn, which overlooks Little Haven beach, received coronavirus business support during the first national lockdown – but had not qualified for further assistance since last September, when the owners took over from the previous tenants. After undertaking an extensive renovation of the 200 year-old listed building, landlord Paul Morris applied to Pembrokeshire Council for new money from the Welsh Government’s COVID-19 Economic Resilience Fund. The claim was initially rejected because he did not receive the property back from his…

Staff and students at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi have put centenary plans on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic but look forward to celebrating when it is safe to do so. Currently operating online and serving small groups of learners at the Denbighshire site – with strict social-distancing measures in place – the college is currently limited to sharing memories and photos online to honour the occasion. They are also holding virtual ‘talk and tour’ events this weekend for prospective students to find out more on the wide range of courses available, meet tutors, take part in Q&A sessions and view…

Health Minister Vaughan Gething will today (Thursday 28th January) publish the Welsh Government’s updated testing strategy. The new strategy will describe the expansion of our testing approach to include more regular testing for NHS staff, care home staff and patients in hospitals. Since the last strategy was published, new testing technologies have demonstrated it is possible to test at far greater scale, frequency and speed than ever before. The strategy also takes into account our greater understanding of the virus and the roll-out of our vaccination programme.

Welsh Government Ministers have announced £6.5million to support local authorities and people affected by flooding during the Alert Level 4 lockdown. The funding will allow local authorities to claim for the costs of responding to flooding including support to residents to address the immediate cost of water damage and replacing necessary belongings. Welsh Government has already announced it will support households who have suffered flooding in their homes or were evacuated with payments of £500 and £1,000, similar to the support provided during storms Ciara and Dennis last year. Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James said: “Dealing with the…

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has confirmed Avian Influenza H5N8 in pheasants on Anglesey. A temporary control zone (TCZ) has been immediately imposed around the infected premises, to limit the risk of the disease spreading and as part of the wider surveillance and disease control measures. Further laboratory results to determine if virus is a Highly Pathogenic type are expected in the next 48 hours.  If so, the TCZ will be replaced by 3 km protection and 10 km surveillance zones. Mortality of birds on the premises is high and all those surviving in the affected group will be…

An emergency bill to ensure the next Senedd election can happen safely, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, has been introduced before the Senedd by the Welsh Government. The Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill introduces a range of measures to make it easier for those affected by the pandemic to vote. It would also prevent an extended hiatus where the Senedd would not be able to meet to consider legislation related to the spread of the Coronavirus. While it is the policy of the Welsh Government to hold the election on 6th May 2021 as intended, if the public heath situation allows,…

The Welsh Government has launched a campaign urging young people who are at risk of homelessness or already homeless to call a free Housing Advice Helpline run by Shelter Cymru and Llamau. Now in its second year, the youth homelessness campaign highlights the problem of hidden homelessness amongst young people – raising awareness of the fact that homelessness doesn’t always live on the streets. Hidden homelessness most commonly takes the form of ‘sofa surfing’ at the house of friends or family, but can also include staying somewhere temporarily like a hostel or bed & breakfast, or somewhere that’s unsafe or…

Swansea Council’s roads teams are getting on with repairs and improvements despite the poor weather and the challenges of the pandemic. Late last year Swansea Council’s Cabinet agreed a £2m cash injection for the work which is being spent on street re-surfacing in locations around the city with more to follow in the coming weeks. Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment Enhancement and Infrastructure Management said the extra cash was much needed and add to £7.4m already committed to highways maintenance during the current financial year, including upgrading pavements and street lighting. In recent months the council has resurfaced almost…

New funding secured from the Valleys Taskforce is now available to provide Covid Recovery support to businesses in 28 local retail areas across Rhondda Cynon Taf – that builds on an existing grant launched in December 2020 for town centres. Around 700 small and medium-size businesses across the County Borough will this week receive a letter from the Council to outline the new funding, and details about how to apply. As a result of the new funding, businesses in 28 identified community retail areas – as well as traders in our eight town centres – can now apply for up…

New funding through the Bridgend County Economic Taskforce will be available to Bridgend businesses in the coming months. The funds, from Bridgend County Borough Council’s Economic Futures Fund, will support start-ups, adaptations to business properties and innovative proposals which help support the economy both during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. They include: Business Start Up funding providing grants of between £250 and £4,000 to new businesses.  Initially £150,000 will be available in 2021/2022. A Local Economy Innovation Fund offering up to £50,000 to innovative projects which help support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.  Initially £200,000 will be…