Mayor of Blaenavon Liam Cowles. Picture: Blaenavon Town Council BLAENAVON Town Council has selected its youngest ever mayor. Cllr Liam Cowles, 28, was unanimously elected at last week’s annual general meeting, taking over from Cllr Alan Jones. Cllr Cowles said it was “an absolute honour” to be chosen as mayor after being elected to the town council almost two years ago. He said, in that period, he had been impressed by the way the council worked together and with the support of chief officer Kevin Warren. “I always said you should come in as a member of the public and not be aware which political parties councillors belonged to,” he said. “And that has proved to be very much the case, with nobody expressing political opinions and working only for the good of Blaenavon.”
CFW have illustrated the point by publishing a “league of shame” highlighting the massive chasm between the top and bottom local authorities. Right at the foot of the table is Swansea where a 40-bed care home receives £230,000 less than a home in league leaders Torfaen in Gwent – or just over £5,700 per resident. The gulf is likely to be even wider in July when Cardiff Council publish their new rates because last year’s fees were higher than the increased payments announced in Gwent for 2021/22. Last year’s fees in Cardiff would still put them at the top of the table – the old rate in the capital is £1,600 a year more per resident than the new increased fee in Torfaen.
Merthyr Tydfilâs new bus station is finally complete and is due to open next month
The new bus station is closed to the train station and will support the South Wales Metro transport links (Image: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council)
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Free weekend parking in Merthyr for two months as shops and businesses reopen in town centre
Merthyr Tydfil town centre is ready to safely welcome visitors
Updated
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Businesses in Merthyr have reopened and are now welcoming customers old and new
It’s been a hard few months, but better times are on the horizon as lifted restrictions mean shops and businesses can now open safely in Wales.
Merthyr Tydfil town centre is excited to welcome back visitors and many businesses have made significant investments to ensure customers feel safe. From altering premises to meet the latest government guidelines to revamping shops with a lick of paint, business owners in Merthyr have used their time wisely during lockdown.