The funding will support the merger of two GP practices in the area to create one new integrated health and care centre, leading to improved services for patients. 

The current building will not accommodate the changes needed to merge both practices and modernise services. The accommodation is constrained and rooms are small, with just one treatment room, which is also used by the community nursing team. 

Today’s investment will allow the Health Board to increase the number of clinical rooms and create secure accommodation and private space for clinical staff and patients. 

The Health Secretary said:

“Having two separate GP surgeries within the health centre no longer made sense. For one thing, a large amount of space within the building was being duplicated, which meant facilities were cramped for staff and patients, while recruitment of staff for both surgeries was also a challenge. 

“Our long-term plan for health and social care in Wales focuses on providing better care, closer to home. The refurbishment  to Tonypandy Health Centre will do just that. I’m pleased we’ve committed £1.7million funding for the Centre, which will help improve access to local services for patients.” 

The funding will also be used to improve the infrastructure of the building, with upgrades to water, drainage, electrics, plumbing and heating, creating a modern building which will serve the community for years to come. 

Alan Lawrie, Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health for Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: 

“We very much welcome this announcement of funding for the Tonypandy Health Centre by the Welsh Government.

“It will provide the GPs, staff and patients with a new improved primary care environment, which will allow for enhanced services for the population.

“The investment means a wider integrated multidisciplinary team can be accommodated in the refurbished building which will be fit for the future of healthcare in Tonypandy.”

Today’s announcement forms part of the biggest targeted investment in primary and community care infrastructure by the Welsh Government. Earlier this year 19 projects were approved to deliver health and care services closer to people’s homes.

Earlier this year the Cabinet Secretary launched the £6m Young People into Agriculture scheme to support new young entrants into the industry.

The scheme will offer start-up aid to top performing young people looking to establish a new business or develop an existing business. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate they have the attributes to lead dynamic businesses and drive positive change in the wider industry.

Following the first window for applications, 106 young people progressed to the next stage.  Recently, during the Royal Welsh Agriculture Show, the Cabinet Secretary announced a new window for applications, which closes next week on 29 August.

The Cabinet Secretary said:

“Young farmers are the future of agriculture and that is why attracting the most ambitious new and young entrants to the industry is a priority of mine.  Our £6m Young People into Agriculture scheme aims to do just this and I am pleased 106 people have already progressed to the next stage.

“There are 150 places available on the scheme and at the Royal Welsh Show I announced a new window for applications. With a week to go until that window closes, my message to aspiring young people is simple – find out more about the sizeable support available through the scheme to kick start your farming business and future career.

“It is now just over seven months until we leave the European Union and we are working with the industry to help them prepare for the inevitable change and challenges ahead.

The funding will support the merger of Fishguard and Goodwick surgeries, updating the facilities at the current Fishguard GP practice to accommodate this service change and lead to improved services for patients.   

The Health Secretary said:

“Our long-term plan for health and social care in Wales focuses on providing better care, closer to home. The investment at Fishguard Health Centre will do just that. I’m pleased we’re providing £646,000 to assist in updating the Centre and help improve access to local services for patients.”

The investment will also lead to:

• an improved district nursing service by co-locating in the new Health Centre
• direct access to local anti-coagulant clinics, so patients will no longer need to travel to Withybush Hospital
• improved accommodation for community services, including physiotherapy, midwifery and community psychiatric nurse
• opportunities to join staffing, addressing current recruitment challenges caused in part by the two separate practices. 

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long Term Care at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said:

“On behalf of the health board I am delighted that the Welsh Government has approved this investment for the refurbishment and redevelopment of the Health Centre at Fishguard. This vital work will enable us to strengthen Primary care services in the area and improve the Health Centre’s estate, as well as providing joint staffing opportunities. Patients will have less need to travel to Withybush General Hospital for anti-coagulant clinics as we will be able to provide direct access at the Health Centre, whilst there will also be improved accommodation for a range of Community services including physiotherapy, health visiting, district nursing, a heart failure nurse, midwifery, podiatry, community psychiatric nurse, audiology, the leg ulcer service and diabetic retinopathy service.”

Today’s announcement forms part of the biggest targeted investment in primary and community care infrastructure by the Welsh Government. Earlier this year 19 projects were approved to deliver health and care services closer to people’s homes.

The EU funding will support the redevelopment of the Innovation Centre at Bridgend Science Park and the construction of a new enterprise centre at the Village Farm Industrial Estate.

The project will create more than 2,500m2 of business premises, which will accommodate around 35 start-up and early-years businesses and more than 100 jobs. It builds on Bridgend’s success in growing the number of new businesses in recent years.

In total the project will cost around £3.5 million, with £2.3m of EU funding and a further £1.2m from Bridgend County Borough Council.

Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford, said:

“This is excellent news for the business community in Bridgend. This investment will provide the quality infrastructure which new businesses need to thrive. Combined with the work we are doing with businesses to understand the challenges they face and the opportunities they have for growth and innovation, it will create more jobs and grow prosperity for the area.”

Councillor Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Education at Bridgend County Borough Council, said:

“The modern enterprise hub will greatly benefit small-to-medium sized businesses, helping to meet growing demand for new premises, whilst strengthening the local economy.”

The consultation, which looks at options to remove the roundabouts at junctions 15 and 16, began on Monday 4 June and comes to an end on Monday 28 August.

There are nine options begin considered, five for Junction 15 and four for junction 16.

The proposals will improve safety for road users along the A55, and for people using the route to travel to and from Dwygyfylchi, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan. They will also strengthen the road’s resilience, result in better journey times and seek to improve active travel routes in the area.

Public Consultation Exhibitions were held in June in Dwygyfylchi, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan for people to see the options being considered in detail and the timescales involved.

Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates said: 

“The Welsh Government is investing hundreds of millions of pounds into improving transport infrastructure in North Wales and the A55 Junction 15 and 16 improvement scheme is a significant part of our plans.

“People’s views on the options being considered are a vital part of the decision process and I encourage everyone with an interest to share their opinion before the consultation closes on 28 August.”