Author: Rhys Gregory

A new £20m fund is being created by Swansea Council to help the city’s businesses and its communities emerge stronger from the Covid pandemic. The stimulus package will be targeted towards four key areas – the local economy, people and jobs people’s well-being and communities. It will help create and protect 10,000 jobs, provide grants for businesses, improve transport links and reward key workers who served their communities during the pandemic. Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said the aim was to pump financial support into areas where it was most needed and help drive the city forward as it…

Covid-19 community testing will be available for residents in Evanstown and Gilfach Goch. The testing facility at Gilfach Goch Day Centre is for people without any coronavirus symptoms who live, work or study in the area local to Evanstown and Gilfach Goch. Statistics from Public Health Wales confirm that one in three people may not display any symptoms when infected with Covid-19, and may unknowingly be passing the virus on to others. A number of local testing centres have been set up across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board region with residents aged 11 and over being encouraged to come…

A new initiative to transform lanes and alleyways intofun, green and safe spaces for children to play, is being piloted in Grangetown this month. A joint partnership between Cardiff Council, Cardiff University and Grange Pavilion, the Safe Play Lanes Project aims to increase opportunities for children to play safely whilst promoting community cohesion and helping to reduce anti-social behaviours, such as fly-tipping. Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: “Ensuring children can access safe, fun spaces to play is essential and supports Cardiff’s commitment to becoming globally recognised by the UK Committee for UNICEF, as aChild…

Unpaid carers who may not be registered as an unpaid carer with their GP are being asked to come forward by completing a new online self-referral form in order to receive their Covid-19 vaccine as part of priority group 6. Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething, has published guidance to outline who is eligible for a vaccine as part of priority group 6.  Within the guidance eligible unpaid carers are those who are the sole or primary carer of someone who is at increased risk were they to catch coronavirus. Those clinically vulnerable to Covid-19 include children with…

South Wales Police can confirm the death of a 16 year-old girl following an incident in Baglan Street, Treorchy on Friday (5 March, 2021), is now being treated as murder and the investigation is being led the force’s Major Crime Investigation Team. Officers can also confirm the identity of the victim to be Wenjing XU. The family of the victim, who are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers, have paid the following tribute to her: “Wenjing had a very gentle soul, she was a very quiet person. Wenjing helped the whole family, working in the family takeaway. She…

Swansea’s new landmark Copr Bay bridge was eased into place in a major construction operation over the weekend. The 150 metric tonne bridge is now in place over the main Oystermouth Road. It’s 12 metres wide, 49m long and features 2,756 laser-cut origami shapes. It will be pivotal in improving access between the city, the Marina and the coastline. It will be a number of months before the gold-coloured pedestrian and cyclist bridge – central to Swansea Council’s emerging £135m Copr Bay Phase One regeneration scheme – will be ready for use by the public. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “This is another big milestone…

The history of humankind is a history filled with many remarkable individuals and their accomplishments. For millennia, people have broken new ground in every conceivable area of life. Quite rightly so, we remember great writers and poets, skilful politicians and leaders, explorers, inventors, and our other extraordinary fellow humans. The country of Wales isn’t lacking in the extraordinary department, either. The nation’s proud sons and daughters excel in various fields, especially sports and theatre arts. In this article, we will be taking a look at two Welsh individuals who have made a name for themselves in the unusual and absorbing…

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board will be opening a fourth Mass Vaccination Centre as part of its Mass Vaccination programme to protect its adult population from Covid 19 as quickly as possible. The Health Board is working in partnership with Cardiff Council and Vale of Glamorgan Council to increase capacity for vaccinations and the new Bayside MVC will enable additional capacity of up to 2,500 vaccines per day, which will be dependent on vaccine supply. The new centre will be available towards the end of March. The new centre is being developed on the former Toys R Us site…

A Rhondda Cynon Taf school has launched a community food distribution project which not only teaches learners about healthy foods, but also provides a place where families can access free or reduced-price provisions. Staff and learners at St Margaret’s Catholic Primary School in Aberdare are taking part in the Big Bocs Bwyd (BBB) Project, which helps children develop an early understanding of healthy food choices while providing affordable priced food to families in the community. The Big Bocs Bwyd Project is supported by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, with funding from Welsh Government. Charities, such as FareShare, which aims to reduce…

Newport City Council is a finalist in the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) awards for planning excellence 2021. Work by the planning and regeneration teams on Central View in the city centre has won them a place on the shortlist in the excellence in planning to deliver homes small schemes category. Newport is one of only two Welsh council to make the final of the awards which attracted entrants from all over the UK in the public and private sector. Central View is a high quality housing scheme for over-55s in Commercial Street which was developed using funding from…