Author: Rhys Gregory

There has been an update to this story. Read it here. Two Cardiff secondary schools will remain closed on Monday (March 16) as a precaution while police investigate a report made on Sunday evening. Llanishen High School and Eastern High School will both shut for the day following discussions between South Wales Police and Cardiff Council. The decision has been taken as a safety measure while enquiries are carried out. Superintendent Mark Kavanagh said: “We have come to the decision, with support from Cardiff Council, to keep these schools closed on Monday in order to avoid risk, following a report…

A new permanent memorial dedicated to everyone in Swansea affected by the Covid-19 pandemic is set to be created on the promenade in the coming months. The reflective public artwork, designed  by Welsh glass artist Catrin Jones and sculptor, Angharad Pearce Jones, will offer a quiet space for remembrance and contemplation, overlooking Swansea Bay. The work will be fabricated by the artists themselves at Angharad’s metal workshop in the Amman Valley. The design was developed in response to extensive community engagement involving groups affected by the pandemic and will sparkle in the sunlight. It combines sculpted steel forms and coloured…

Two new tenants have recently joined the growing community of innovative businesses at the Bridge Innovation Centre (BIC) in Pembroke Dock. JCT EHS Ltd, a training and consultancy company working in the construction sector, was established in 1997 as a family run business and Director Tanya Cooze-Smith is now bringing training to the BIC. Whitestone Media Group has also recently moved into new offices at the Bridge Innovation Centre, Pembroke Dock as part of their expansion plans. Whitestone Media was founded during lockdown in 2020 by Dayne and Liby Stone with the aim to provide businesses with low-cost, highly effective…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has confirmed an increase to its Local Business Rate Reduction Scheme for 2026 to 2027, providing extra financial support for shops, cafés, pubs and other high street businesses. The council says the move will help local traders manage rising costs while continuing to support town centres and the wider local economy. Rhondda Cynon Taf is one of the only councils in Wales currently providing this type of support to local businesses. Under the updated scheme, the maximum relief available to eligible businesses will rise from £500 to £625 for the 2026 to 2027 financial year. The…

Caerphilly Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve an application for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to allow essential works for a £20million repair of the A469 near Pontlottyn when they meet on Wednesday March 18th. The report has been billed as a “necessary next step in repairing this long-standing highway issue” by Council leader Jamie Pritchard. The report makes reference to every effort being made to reach agreement with interested parties for the acquisition of the land required, but that a CPO option should be run in tandem to reach a quick turnaround. Cllr Jamie Pritchard said the local…

Caerphilly county borough council is seeking a new operator to help secure a bright new future for Blackwood Miners Institute. The Grade II listed building is a landmark venue in the heart of Blackwood Town Centre, boasting a proud history as a performance and cultural hub. The council is looking to appoint an external operator to run the facility and Expressions of Interest can now be submitted. Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Leader of Council said, “We are working hard to ensure we can secure a bright new future for this historic venue, without the need for high levels of public subsidy. …

The Welsh Government has announced a further £11.2 million in funding to support local authorities and help them recover from the devastating storms that struck communities across Wales in recent years. £10.2 million will be allocated in 2026-27 to Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire councils to support their recovery from flooding in November 2025. Additional funding of almost £1 million will be provided this financial year to Merthyr Tydfil Council to meet the ongoing costs of remediating the sinkhole caused by Storm Bert. The announcement builds on the £2.5 million already made available to affected communities in Monmouthshire following Storm Claudia in November 2025. Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government,…

Wales is lining up for a summer of footballing history, as its new national football museum offered a first glimpse inside this week. Wales’ new national football museum has moved a significant step closer to opening its doors this week with a never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes preview of its nearly completed galleries and exhibits. The Football Museum of Wales, which is due to open to the public in summer 2026, represents a landmark cultural investment. The new museum sits just half a mile from the Cae Ras, home of Wrexham AFC and the Wynnstay Arms Hotel where the Football Association of Wales…

Procurement arrangements to deliver major fire safety and energy efficiency improvement works at two more of the council’s high rise blocks of flats will be considered this week. Beech House and Sycamore House, on the Hollybush Estate in Whitchurch, are the next buildings in the council’s programme of recladding and improvement works, which aims to improve fire safety and bring homes up to current Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) requirements. Cladding was removed from five council high rise blocks in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. While the retro fitted external cladding on the council’s buildings was not the…

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth will benefit from part of the €5 million funding for 12 projects announced under the UK-Ireland Cultural Co-Operation Programme. The approved projects, which will take place between 2026 and 2030, include a first of its kind collaborative exhibition and events programme between the four national libraries – National Library of Wales, National Library of Ireland, National Library of Scotland and the British Library. The “Across these islands – shared histories and shared futures” project, which will involve other partners and communities, will receive €750,000. The project will explore two themes of engagement with…