Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea Council and the Ospreys are poised to launch a bold new era for both top-flight and community rugby with a major investment in the historic St Helen’s ground. The proposal would see St Helen’s revitalised as a modern home for professional rugby while becoming one of Wales’ most accessible and inclusive community rugby hubs. Central to the plans is a new state‑of‑the‑art 4G playing surface, which would be used by the Ospreys for match days and weekly team run‑outs, the Whites and opened to schools, clubs and community groups for the rest of the week. Under the joint investment…

A public footpath leading to Melincwrt Waterfalls has now reopened thanks to extensive works following severe storm damage. Melincwrt Waterfalls Nature Reserve, managed by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW), was forced to close after a storm caused significant erosion, undercutting and treefall along the route. Working in close partnership with WTSWW and Neath Port Talbot Council’s Biodiversity Team, essential repairs have now been completed to make access safe again for everyone. The footpath forms part of a wider 12-acre nature reserve. Here’s a summary of the work that’s been carried out: Contractors tackled challenging winter weather…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has welcomed a major investment from Welsh Government towards the delivery of a brand new Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda in Cymer, marking the most important milestone yet for one of the County Borough’s most significant school projects. The Council can confirm that Welsh Government is investing £51,694,157 in the project through its Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. The Council will invest £25,805,843, with the total project expected to cost £77,500,000. The new school will provide a brand-new, fully accessible 11-19 Welsh Medium school on the current site, replacing the existing buildings and creating first-class facilities for…

Powys County Council has announced a major boost to its highway maintenance programme, due to an additional £2.5 million of general capital investment from Welsh Government which the council have chosen to use to accelerate improvements, strengthen road resilience, and deliver long lasting repairs across the county’s road network. The funding arrives at a critical time for Powys’ 5,500km network, which continues to face growing pressure from severe weather, historic underinvestment, rising material costs and unresolved drainage issues. Earlier this year, the council took decisive action by allocating an additional £1.2 million in revenue funding for 2025/26 to restart essential…

Workers across Wales will gain new skills in housing, construction and retrofit, as the Welsh Government invests £655,000 to tackle the shortage of trained professionals in the sector. The funding will support training programmes and paid work placements delivered by social housing organisations and housing professionals, helping to build the skilled workforce needed to deliver more affordable, low-carbon homes across Wales. Over 100 young people will be supported into green careers, with a focus on women, disabled people, and those from ethnic minority backgrounds. In addition, a new accredited training model for social housing professionals will be created, to continue professional development in this priority area of work. Jayne Bryant, Cabinet…

A new £34m health and wellbeing hub bringing GP, mental health and family services together will be built in Cardiff. The Park View Health and Wellbeing Hub in Ely will be developed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and will serve residents across the Caerau and Ely areas. Construction is expected to begin in June and the centre is expected to open in January 2028. It will bring together health, social care and community services under one roof, including GP and primary care services, outpatient clinics, mental health and neurodiversity support, early intervention and family wellbeing services, and falls…

Hospices across Wales will receive further funding support as landmark national commissioning guidance is agreed. The £4.3m support package from the Welsh Government will provide financial relief to children’s and adult hospices to help meet rising costs. The national commissioning guidance sets – for the first time – out a fairer and more consistent approach to commissioning hospice and palliative care services. These reforms set the direction for a streamlined national commissioning model from April 2027, which will address inequity and variation in access to hospice and palliative care across Wales. Around 35,000 people die in Wales each year, with…

Bridgend County Borough Council is to invest regional transport funding of £93,000 in a series of improvements across the local public transport network that will offer fresh advantages for passengers as well as supporting more sustainable travel. Passengers in the Llynfi Valley will benefit from a £48,000 refurbishment of the bus shelters at Maesteg bus station which aims to enhance their comfort while supporting and encouraging shifts towards sustainable modes of transport. The remaining funding will be invested in the installation of a series of new solar and battery powered paper-free electronic displays which will provide improved real-time information on…

The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed the dates for Wales Men’s three home fixtures in the inaugural Nations Championship, with a series of high-profile clashes set for Principality Stadium this November. Wales will play three consecutive Saturday matches in Cardiff as part of rounds four to six of the new international competition. The campaign at Principality Stadium will begin on November 7, when Wales host Japan. It will be the fourth meeting between the two sides in the last 18 months, with Wales winning two of the previous three encounters, including their most recent clash in Cardiff. That match also…

Park Avenue in Aberystwyth will host the 2026 Bute Energy U16s Cup Final, the Football Association of Wales has confirmed. The final will see Briton Ferry Llansawel take on The New Saints on Sunday, May 3, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm. Briton Ferry Llansawel progressed directly to the final after their semi-final opponents Swansea City were unable to field a team and forfeited their place in the competition. Meanwhile, The New Saints secured their spot in the showpiece fixture with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Barry Town United at Jenner Park. Supporters planning to attend should note that there will…