Author: Rhys Gregory

RCT Council has received the contractor Alun Griffiths’ latest progress update for the major Rhigos Mountain Road repairs. The final phase of work has proven extremely challenging, with a further 700 tonnes of rock needing to be removed and transported from the site, which was unexpected in the initial work programme. Despite the best efforts to bring the target completion date forward, the latest projection indicates the work will continue until Friday, November 22. This will ensure the safe and full completion of this major scheme. The mountain road between Treherbert and Rhigos was closed from July 22 as an…

Running from 2pm to 5.30pm on Saturday 16 November, Countdown to Christmas will feature live music, fairground rides and celebrity guests, culminating in the official switching on of Newport’s city centre Christmas lights and a breathtaking fireworks display. The main support acts for the event have been announced today, with the headline star – a chart-topper with four number one singles and sales of more than three million in the UK – along with the special guest switching on the lights to be revealed on Friday. Four rising stars of Welsh music will be taking to the main stage at…

The Cabinet Secretary for Education has this week outlined the key improvement priorities for school in Wales as well as more funding for initiatives to improve attainment in literacy, maths and science. The additional £1.1 million will boost existing and successful literacy and numeracy programmes and provide enhanced support to teachers and learners by Expanding professional learning to help children develop a love for reading Providing targeted support for younger learners struggling to read by expanding the RILL project delivered by Bangor University, which has seen children gain between 6 and 12 months learning in their reading. Widening the provision…

With Talk Money Week underway, Social Justice Secretary Jane Hutt is encouraging people to check what financial support they’re eligible to receive and might be missing out on, including pension credit. Since 2022, Welsh Government programmes and support for people in Wales, targeting help at those who need it the most, and putting money back in people’s pockets, has been worth almost £5bn. The Here to Help – Claim What’s Yours campaign, Single Advice Fund, Discretionary Assistance Fund, support with council tax and Help to Stay are some of the programmes which continue to be key in supporting people. Between…

The Design Commission for Wales partnered with Land Studio for an event looking at the future of rural and urban communities in North Wales. The event, which was held at Ty Pawb in Wrexham, explored the potential for a place-led, people-focused approach to help shape the region’s future and to capture wider benefits. There were a number of speakers including Simon and Kate Richards, both directors of Land Studio, a landscape architecture engineering design and ecology studio, Vicky Payne, a strategic planning and urban design consultant, David Rudlin, Urban Design Director at BDP, Clare Wilks, director at LDA Design and…

A Welsh asbestos consultancy is to take on 7 staff following a £50,000 investment by Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE. Enquin Environmental of Cardiff will use the Fast Track Loan for a new website and marketing to enhance its reputation across the UK as one of the leading businesses in this crucial environmental field. The firm has been operating for 22 years and has a purpose-built laboratory and UKAS accreditation. ”This support from UKSE is very helpful and timely and will enable us to invest in recruitment of staff, marketing and equipment. We enjoy an excellent reputation across the UK and…

National Express, the UK’s leading scheduled operator, is boosting its network with additional services on key intercity and airport routes. From 4 December, the coach operator is adding more than 2,000 additional seats per week on its popular services between South Wales and London. Tickets from Newport and Cardiff to London start from under £9 and are available to book at www.nationalexpress.com. As demand for affordable intercity travel remains strong, National Express is stepping up by increasing capacity on its network in response to Megabus recently announcing it is withdrawing services from South Wales to London. Ed Rickard, Network Director…

Actor and singer Luke Evans will join the soon to be announced Hay-on-Wye Citizen of the Year to switch on the town’s Christmas lights on Friday 29 November as part of his upcoming Hay Festival Winter Weekend appearance. The free switch-on event, co-hosted by Hay Town Council and Hay Chamber of Commerce, will take place 5–7pm in Memorial Square, accompanied by carol singing, food, mulled wine and entertainment to give a rousing start to the Festival weekend, which runs to Sunday 1 December. Luke Evans is an actor and singer who began his career on the stage, performing in London’s…

The agreement to bring 72 new homes to a coastal Pembrokeshire town has been finalised. Persimmon Homes West Wales and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, in its role as the local planning authority, have signed the S106 agreement that would bring more high-quality housing to Saundersfoot. Support had already been given for the development at a meeting in July of the Authority’s Development Management Committee on the basis that the accord was reached. Persimmon are planning to begin groundworks next spring, with sales launching soon after ahead of the summer season. The zero-carbon ready scheme includes a mix of quality new…

When it’s dark and cold it’s easy to want to stay inside and wrap up warm. However, the winter months are a great time to be clocking up your miles. With the shorter days it means you’ll likely be exercising in the dark, so it’s important you know how to stay safe. Run 4 Wales Race Director, Steve Brace, is a double Olympian having represented Great Britain in the men’s marathon in the 1992 and 1996 summer Olympics. He’s also a former winner of the Paris and Berlin Marathon and ran his marathon PB of 2:10:35 in Houston in 1996.…