Author: Rhys Gregory

Over the course of the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every facet of our daily lives. The way we work, commute, socialise with our friends, study, and move about the world has changed significantly. Although it has been a difficult time of upheaval, it has also shown that human ingenuity will always find a way to innovate and come up with solutions to new problems. Rather than retreating into isolation, many people have turned to technology to help stay connected with others, while staying physically apart. While there is still uncertainty about what 2021 will bring, one…

Denbighshire County Council has secured £71,000 of funding for a community project in Pengwern. The Rural Futures Lottery funding, which is being match funded by the Council, will focus on making a positive impact within the community of Llangollen by increasing opportunities to raise skills and aspirations, provide additional space at a community centre as well as resources to deliver activities and services to support people. The funding will allow the Council, working with partners South Denbighshire Community Partnership, Friends of Pengwern and Severn Wye, to create three bespoke units to provide a confidential meeting space and a community workshop…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging members to be aware of scams and cold callers, as recent incidents have seen an increase. FUW Carmarthen County Executive Officer David Waters said: “We have received a few reports from members recently that they have been targeted by cold callers and scammers, frequently regarding new utility contracts. “These phone calls and emails, which often end up with the person agreeing to a new contract, are legally binding in many cases and very difficult to get out of. I urge members to remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it…

Every resident and staff member in care homes across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan has received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Just 23 days after Cardiff and Vale University Health Board started their vaccination programme for care homes, a total of 3,485 employees and 1,609 residents received their first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The Health Board’s Mobile Vaccination teams visited 123 homes across both counties to administer the vaccine for this priority cohort, in line with the guidance from the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Fiona Kinghorn, Executive Director of Public Health at…

Year 7 pupils in two local schools have been encouraged to read and boost their literacy during lockdown, thanks to a Swansea University project. The South West Wales Reaching Wider Partnership is running two book clubs with two schools to encourage young people to read and engage with books while also boosting literacy. The Reaching Wider Partnership, whose members include Swansea University, works with pupils, families and adults from deprived areas in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire along with care-experienced young people and carers across the region. Dylan Thomas Community School pupils are part of a book club…

Construction work has finished on a £14m flood protection scheme in Newport, with more than 660 homes protected from the risk of increased flooding. Work on the Crindau Flood Management scheme – backed by Welsh Government funding and led by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) – was carried out to defend homes in the Crindau area of Newport from the flood risk from the Crindau Pill and the nearby River Usk. The Crindau area has a long history of flooding, with the area susceptible to tidal floods. Earlier temporary defences were in a poor condition, and in 2014, the Welsh Government…

A new initiative is encouraging teenagers across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot to get creative and better understand the effects of the pandemic. The Find Your Words competition invites those aged 13-16 to submit their own poetry based on their reflections on 2020. It’s being organised by mental health charity Platfform and Swansea Council’s Dylan Thomas Service. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “This is a great chance for young people to have their voices heard. “It’s a positive initiative for them to get involved with and I encourage young people to get creative.…

Work is progressing at Bridgend County Borough Council’s new community recycling centre at Village Farm Industrial Estate in Pyle. Groundworks are underway and the concrete yard will be completed during the next few weeks as the development begins to take shape. The centre, which is expected to open in the summer, will have more vehicle capacity and bypass lanes to allow better movement on site. A split-level system will be in place in the yard with ramps up to the higher-sided skips and a canopy to protect from the elements. There are also plans to open a re-use shop at…

A new monitoring station has been installed at Park Street, Bridgend, as part of measures to improve air quality in the area. The automated air quality monitoring system has been installed in the grounds of the Quaker Meeting House in Park Street to provide real-time data that can be used to inform traffic control measures for specific periods. In January 2019, the local authority officially implemented the county’s first Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) Order in Park Street after data showed nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were above national air quality limit values. The levels are attributed to inconsistent traffic flows…

Plantasia, the rainforest zoo in Parc Tawe, Swansea, has been awarded provisional membership of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), continuing its commitment to achieve the highest welfare for its species. BIAZA is the professional body representing the best zoos and aquariums in the UK, with the organisation supporting more than 100 zoo and aquarium members. BIAZA’s mission is to lead its members to achieve the highest standards of animal care and welfare in zoos, aquariums, and in the wild. This exclusive membership gained by Plantasia, an indoor rainforest located in the heart of Swansea, makes…