Author: Rhys Gregory

Plans by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai to relocate its Bangor campus to Parc Menai could lead to investment of around £11m in modernising the learning and training facilities available locally for young people. The Grŵp is proposing to move Coleg Menai’s existing provision from the Ffriddoedd Road and Friars site to the iconic Tŷ Menai building on Parc Menai, which has stood largely empty in recent years. If granted change of use permission by Gwynedd Council, this would see the creation of cutting-edge, hi-tech facilities for students at Tŷ Menai, as well as strengthened links between further education and future employers.…

Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet has approved its budget for the 2021/2022 financial year, with an increase of 3.8% in council tax for the county’s residents. The draft settlement announced by Welsh Government in December showed an increase of 3.6% in the budget for Denbighshire and in cash terms this means an increase of £5.4 million. The budget still has to go to Full Council for approval on January 26. In setting the budget, councillors have considered the fact that there are £10.6 million budget pressures facing the authority, including continued pressure on social services, education, schools and waste service. In…

South Wales Police can confirm the identity of the 43 year-old man who died in a collision on the A4059 in Aberdare on Saturday (16 Jan, 2021). Jamie Owen was 43 and from the Cadoxton area of Neath – his family have paid the following tribute to him: “Jamie was a loving son, father and brother and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. We as a family are finding comfort in hearing about how well thought of he was by so many people. “We remember with fondness, the many years he worked for a local maintenance company…

Businesses in Wales have received in excess of £1.7bn from the Welsh Government since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. More than 178,000 grants totalling £1bn have been delivered through local authorities who have been administering schemes on behalf of the Welsh Government including the Non-Domestic Rates scheme, Start-Up Grant and the Discretionary Fund. Economy Minister Ken Skates said this financial assistance has been crucial in helping thousands of businesses throughout Wales and protected many more jobs and livelihoods that might otherwise have been lost. The funding includes over £520m provided through the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund with more…

A covid recovery app has been launched today (20 January) as part of wider support on offer for people experiencing the longer term effects of coronavirus. The bilingual, first of its kind, app has been developed by the NHS Wales respiratory health group on behalf of the Welsh Government and has been designed to offer people a bespoke tool and personal coach to help them on their road to recovery With more than 100 videos and links to advice, app users will be able to record their symptoms, track their progress and learn to manage their condition at home with…

Music figures from across Swansea are forging a new relationship with the German twin city of Mannheim. Assisted by Swansea Council’s Cultural Services team, they joined with contemporaries in the state of Baden-Württemberg for an online get-together. It was the first meeting of a new partnership that promises to develop a strong inter-city music network. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “I’m glad that our two cities are creating new links through music. “Culture brings people together even though we may be physically apart so this meeting was an important stepping stone. “Our new…

The gorgeous scenery that Wales has to offer has long been a favourite for wedding-goers globally, and so its little surprise that Wales Online highlights the downturn in Welsh weddings as a huge, multi-million pound hit to the economy. Both for those looking to tie the knot and for organisers, there is some benefit to be gained. The downturn in activity means more time for all-crucial planning. Extra planning It’s so often the case these days that an engagement and wedding is rushed through without too much care for the smaller stuff. The extra time you can take to plan means that…

Hundreds of companies have begun viewing remote working as a viable option due to the COVID pandemic. It’s safe to say that remote working will continue far after the pandemic, as well. And while many remote workers enjoy not having to get dressed and deal with the morning commute every day, there are a few downsides to working from home, including the lack of security. Today, let’s go over the dangers looming over remote workers and how remote workers can protect themselves. 3 Risks Facing Remote Workers 1. Phishing Scams A large subset of cybercriminals does what they do for…

NHS and council leaders have written to every householder in the Swansea Bay area to highlight action being taken to vaccinate the most vulnerable in our communities. Tens of thousands of residents across the area are due to be vaccinated in the coming weeks to help protect them and their loved-ones from Covid-19. Thousands of frontline social care and health board staff have been getting the vaccine since before Christmas and elderly people living in care homes across the area are next in line. Similar letters are being sent to every household in Wales over the next couple of weeks…

Neath Port Talbot Council has appointed a contractor to start work on the creation of a new Active Travel route between Neath and Tonna. The route will take users alongside the towpath from Bridge Street in Neath to a point next to the Calor Gas centre in Tonna. Work on the new Active Travel route by contractors Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd, begins today, Monday January 18th . The route will be closed temporarily while the Welsh Government funded work goes ahead. By upgrading and creating new walking and cycling routes, the council plans to make Active Travel the “normal” way…