Author: Rhys Gregory

More than 20,900 primary age school pupils city-wide are now able to benefit from free school meals through Welsh Government’s Universal Free School Meals programme, ensuring children eat well during the school day whilst providing financial benefit to families.  Extensive work carried out by Cardiff’s Education Catering teamshas seen school kitchens across the city updated and capacity increased, so that provision can be efficiently delivered to primary aged children inCardiff’s primary and special schools. All primary pupils from Reception to Year 6 are able to access free school meals. To ensure primary aged children do not miss out on their…

Essential work on underground power lines is currently underway as the council prepares for the transformation of Castle Square into a greener, more welcoming space in the city centre. Contractors working on behalf of National Grid have now arrived on site in Castle Square. Despite the ongoing construction, all businesses in the area are trading as usual. This phase of the project involves moving and re-laying high-voltage cables to accommodate the new design for Castle Square Gardens, which has been developed with extensive public engagement. National Grid’s work necessitates temporary pedestrian re-routing, but the square and surrounding shops remain accessible.…

Work has been carried out across Pembrokeshire to manage trees affected by ash dieback. Ash dieback is one of the worst tree disease epidemics the UK has ever seen and there is no treatment option. Trees affected by the disease become brittle over time with branches breaking away. If they are not dealt with, trees are weakened and may become susceptible to secondary pathogens which may result in total failure, presenting an immediate danger to the surrounding area. Cllr Rhys Sinnett, the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “Like many areas of Wales and the UK, ash dieback is prevalent…

Proposals to develop a Business Improvement District (BID) for Tonypandy will progress to the next stage following Cabinet’s approval. If agreed, a BID would establish a funding model to support investment and development in the town, led by the input of local businesses. A BID is an area within which traders, linked to their business rates, pay into a levy that acts as a shared fund to be used for projects in the local town centre – while also drawing on other funding avenues to support this activity. There are 14 BIDs in Wales, three of which are successfully operating…

Management of Sites of Special Scientific Interest will be included in the Universal Baseline Payment for the Sustainable Farming Scheme, Cabinet Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies has confirmed this week. The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs made the announcement after a Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) round table at the Royal Welsh Show. He said: “While final decisions on Scheme design will not be taken until the current work with stakeholders has concluded, the overwhelming feedback we have had, including through the consultation, is that SSSIs should be included in the Universal Baseline Payment. “Having further determined that habitat maintenance…

The long-anticipated refurbishment and repair of the children’s play area in Glyncoed, Ebbw Vale have been completed, much to the delight of the local community. The Council’s Street Scene team, in collaboration with specialist contractors Touchline, have successfully transformed the play area, which is now open for the public to enjoy. The newly refurbished play area boasts innovative floor designs, including a vibrant snakes and ladders game, alongside significant upgrades to the existing equipment. The sports area, frequently used for football and netball, has also seen extensive improvements. The before and after pictures show a dramatic transformation, with the play…

Following the appointment as Chair of the Council, Cllr Su McConnel has been busy visiting a number of organisations and events across the county and speaking to residents. Cllr Su McConnel was elected as Chair of Council on the 16th of May and will be in post for the Civic Year 2024/25. Cllr McConnell is a member of the council for the Croesonen ward. Over the last week, Cllr McConnel has visited schools and the Youth Service conference to learn more about topics that are important to children and young people right across Monmouthshire and share her experiences working for the…

Although it may sound like a small thing, the disassembly and reassembly of office furniture are actually annoying steps in any relocation process. Probably, doing anything in an orderly manner requires planning, organization, and orchestration. Therefore, this article will serve as a detailed guide to disassembling and reassembling office furniture in an orderly manner. It will cover all the essential aspects to make your move hassle-free. Plаnning аnԁ Preраrаtion First of all, plan and prepare well before you start dismantling the furniture. This means taking inventory of everything that will be moved and deciding what will be disassembled and what…

Bangor-based Snowdon Timber Products is eyeing up expansion of sales into Europe after experiencing vast growth during the past year. The Llandygai Industrial Estate-based business, which was established towards the end of 2019, has experienced a fluctuation in sales following Covid but following a £100,000 finance package it has unlocked a stream of potential business avenues and is optimistic about the future. Director of Snowdon Timber Products, Jody Goode, explains: “There have been so many market variations that we’ve had to navigate since Covid and Brexit. Not only have we had to work our way through fluctuating market prices, whilst…

An artisan brownie bakery in North Wales is looking to grow after an investment by Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE. Grazed Bakery in Wrexham, run by husband and wife Mark and Renee Thompson, aims to create five jobs following the £50,000 investment by business-backers UKSE. The couple have turned what started as a small-scale baking operation into an expanding commercial business, retaining its family-run values and artisan approach and always with an eye on sustainability. Having set up the business as Covid hit the UK, they battled through relying on the quality of their products and personal service, posting small orders to…