Author: Rhys Gregory

Bridgend County Borough Council has agreed a net revenue budget of £408m for 2026-27 and this includes a commitment to protecting budgets for schools as well as investing into visible public realm improvements such as highways maintenance and street cleaning. Developed following careful analysis of feedback from extensive public consultation and scrutiny by councillors, this will enable the council to continue to provide local residents with more than 800 services. Of this figure, at least £164m will be invested into services provided by Education, Early Years and Young People. More than £124m will be allocated for Social Services and Wellbeing,…

Newport City Council’s new abandoned trolley policy has come into effect this week, giving the authority stronger powers to deal with shopping trolleys left on pavements, in green spaces and other public areas. The policy, formally adopted late last year, aims to tackle what has become a growing source of frustration for local communities. It forms part of the council’s wider commitment to reducing waste, supporting cleaner streets and improving neighbourhoods across the city. How the policy works The council has formally adopted Schedule 4 of Section 99 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods…

Abertillery will take centre stage this March as businesses, residents and the council come together for a special one week town boost aimed at improving the town centre. Running from Tuesday 10 March to Saturday 14 March, the programme is being led by Creative Communities International with support from Welsh Government and the Design Commission for Wales. The week will begin with a series of hands on events at The Met in Abertillery before moving to a one day practical workshop to transform part of Somerset Street. The initiative forms part of the Blaenau Gwent Deal, a new way of…

Monmouthshire County Council has finished 2nd in Wales for its recycling rate. Figures for 2024-5 recently released put Monmouthshire at 72.3% for the proportion of waste collected that is reused, recycled or composted. This is just behind the overall leaders, Pembrokeshire, at 73.5%. Research puts Wales in second place internationally for recycling, just behind Austria. In recent years, Wales has been a trailblazer in the world of recycling. In the 1990s, recycling rates stood at around 5%. In more recent years, this has risen to more than 68%. The data released recently by the Welsh Government are the first statistics to be published since new rules for workplaces were introduced, which…

A balanced budget for 2026‑27 has been approved this week, setting out how Powys County Council will continue to protect frontline services, support vulnerable residents, and invest in key priorities despite sustained financial pressures. At the heart of the budget are commitments to keep Council Tax rise to a minimum, increase investment in education, and provide additional funding to tackle homelessness. The budget includes a 4.9% Council Tax increase, lower than many expected in the current financial climate. This rise will help the council manage significant cost pressures while limiting the impact on residents as far as possible. Schools across…

The Welsh Government has announced a record-breaking £85m investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management for this year – the highest annual allocation ever delivered in Wales. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed the funding during a visit to a scheme at Rover Way in Cardiff, where major construction work is underway to strengthen coastal defences. This latest allocation builds on more than £377m committed to flood risk management during this Senedd term – the highest level of investment in flooding ever delivered in Wales. For 2026/27, more than £85m will be made available to Risk Management Authorities across Wales, including almost £43m in capital funding for new schemes to protect communities…

Welsh star Max Boyce MBE and Wales’ most capped footballer Jess Fishlock MBE have been celebrated at this year’s St David Awards. Max received the Culture award in recognition of his decades-long contribution to Welsh life. From his chart-topping albums to his iconic anthem “Hymns and Arias”, the Glynneath-born performer has brought Welsh humour and warmth to audiences around the world. Jess Fishlock was honoured with the Sport award. Wales’ first footballer to reach 100 international caps, Jess was instrumental in guiding the Wales Women’s National Team to their historic first UEFA EURO Championship finals last year. Now in its…

The Welsh Government will ensure Wales is primed to maximise every opportunity from modern nuclear generation at Wylfa in North Wales. That’s the message from the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, who delivered a speech at an event held in Cardiff by the Nuclear Industry Association yesterday. The event shone a spotlight on a monumental year for the civil nuclear industry in the UK and was supported by the Wales Nuclear Forum and sponsored by Rolls-Royce SMR – which is designing what will be the UK’s first three small modular reactors (SMR) at Wylfa. Cabinet Secretary…

The new Deeside Parkway station will strengthen links between North East Wales, Deeside Industrial estate and Liverpool, improving access to one of the largest employment sites in Europe and help reduce congestion on main roads in the area. That was the message from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, as he visited the site of the proposed station. The station is one of 7 being taken forward in Wales, with more exciting developments to come following the UK Government’s commitment to support Transport for Wales’ £14bn plan for rail. During a visit to Deeside Industrial estate,…

A specialist clinic providing tailored perimenopause and menopause support for women is being opened in Cardiff. The women’s health hub is the first of its kind in the capital city and is tailored to women aged 40 to 65. Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, visited the East Cardiff Menopause Hub this week to hear more about the new service, which will provide patient-centred advice, treatment, and community support in one place. It is part of a Wales-wide network of pathfinder women’s health hubs opened in the first phase of delivering the Women’s Health Plan. Women registered with…