Work gets underway to revitalise Holyhead's main street
The initiative is designed to improve the town centre, attract more visitors, and encourage further private investment in the area.
Gleeson's pub in Holyhead. (Image: GoogleMaps) It is part of a wider programme of investment in Holyhead with has already seen substantial work to restore several properties in and around the town centre.
Among one of the first business set to get a makeover as part of the scheme is Gleeson's pub on Stanley Street.
Landlady Sandra Hiddleston looks forward to seeing the transformation take shape.
She said: 'I'm excited to see the pub given a new lease of life. It has been part of the community for many generations, and it deserves to look its best again.
"The investment means we can preserve its history and character as well as giving it a refresh, and I hope it encourages more people to visit and support local businesses.'
READ MORE:
Anglesey pub set for grand re-opening after £280k makeover
Re-opening date for Holyhead Port terminal pushed back
Cllr Gary Pritchard, Leader of the Isle of Anglesey County Council, added: 'This project is a key part of the Council's ongoing efforts to support Holyhead's regeneration, and we're proud to be driving it forward. We're confident it will have a lasting impact, boost the local economy and strengthen the community.
'Having grown up in the town, I know just how special its history and culture are.
"We want to build on that unique identity in a way that benefits both residents and local businesses.
"Our goal is to help create a vibrant, welcoming town centre that truly reflects Holyhead's potential and opens the door to new opportunities.'
As work gets underway, the council said it is keen to let people know that Stanley Street remains very much open and that it is business as usual as the work gets underway.
There may be some disruption during the work for safety and practical reasons but arrangements will be put in place so that business are supported and can remain open for as long as possible during the work.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business News Wales
an hour ago
- Business News Wales
Swansea Start-ups Named Among Best in Wales
Two Swansea start-up companies have been named among the best in Wales. At the regional finals of the UK Start-Up Awards, The Cusp won marketing, advertising and public relations start-up of the year, while Hannah Worth, of Bowla – a Bowl with a Roll – won young entrepreneur of the year. The Cusp has been supported by a website development grant and a business growth grant from Swansea Council via the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Bowla – a Bowl with a Roll – has been supported by a website development grant. Founded by Jess Hickman and Louise Rengozzi, The Cusp now has clients throughout the UK as well as in Abu Dhabi. Louise said: 'Winning this award is a huge milestone for us. It's a real sense of achievement and a sign that we're doing something right. 'Over the past two and a half years, we've made incredible progress, and that wouldn't have been possible without the support of Swansea Council's business advisors from the start. 'Their guidance, along with backing from the Shared Prosperity Fund, helped us grow with purpose, create local jobs and invest in people. We're super proud to be building something that supports careers and futures right here in Swansea.' Bowla – a Bowl with a Roll – is a micro bakery and lunch outlet based in Swansea Market. Hannah Worth, who founded the business with her father, said: 'To have my hard work recognised on a regional scale has been massive. It's made me reflect on the successes and pitfalls of building a business from scratch. I'm extremely grateful for all the support we've received from the council and our customers.' Both The Cusp and Hannah will now compete with other regional winners at the UK-wide award finals.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
New £4.4m fund to help Scottish museums ‘stand the test of time'
The new Museum Futures programme will offer funding and support to help transform how museums and galleries operate. With Swinney hailing Scotland's museums as being the 'stewards of our cultural heritage' the fund is aimed at encouraging more collaboration across the sector to develop new ways of working. It has been developed by the Scottish Government in partnership with Museums Galleries Scotland and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. READ MORE: The simple polling change that could be significant for independence support Details of the scheme were announced by the First Minister ahead of a visit to the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Museums will be able to apply for cash either via an open fund – which will be focused on helping them improve leadership and deliver organisational change – or a targeted fund that will be more focused on the needs of communities. An organisational health check as part of the scheme, which has been developed by Museums Galleries Scotland, will also help individual museums to pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses, helping them make more informed decisions about their priorities and funding. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire) The First Minister said: 'Museums are the stewards of our cultural heritage, preserving the objects and artworks that have shaped Scotland, from its earliest beginnings to the latest trends. 'Local museums in particular are responsible for bringing the stories behind their communities to life, and the Museum Futures programme aims to give them a solid foundation to build on by helping organisations innovate, collaborate and adapt.' He said that some museums were 'already early adopters of new ways of working' adding that the new programme would 'encourage more of that through the sharing of ideas, practical advice and funding'. Swinney stressed: 'This programme and the £4 million funding behind it reflects the Scottish Government's commitment to ensure our museums flourish.' He said he had heard 'loud and clear' from the sector on the 'challenges they are currently facing'. And he added: 'I would strongly encourage anyone who might be eligible to consider how they could secure their part of Scotland's story with this funding and support.' Lucy Casot, chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland, hailed the fund as a 'momentous opportunity for Scotland's museums'. Casot said the scheme 'takes a progressive new approach to sector investment and development, allowing us to imagine and test what a strong museum sector could look like'. She added: 'It provides capacity to explore how the sector can adapt to meet current and future challenges while removing some of the risks of trying something new. 'It gives museums a chance to plan for long-term sustainability instead of just getting through another year. 'Museum Futures recognises the hard journey that our sector has had and seeks to offer a positive way to address barriers and support change.' Meanwhile Caroline Clark, National Lottery Heritage Fund director for Scotland, said: 'Since the launch of the Heritage Fund some 30 years ago we have worked closely with Scotland's museum sector and thanks to National Lottery players we have supported museums of every size and style in every part of the country. 'As the largest funder for the UK's heritage our knowledge and experience has helped shape the Museum Futures programme. 'We now look forward to supporting it in delivery and continuing to be a key funder, project partner and supporter for a resilient, creative and collaborative museum sector in Scotland.'
Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Wales Online
PIP changes explained with fears it will hugely impact Wales
PIP changes explained with fears it will hugely impact Wales What the PIP changes could mean for benefits claimants in Wales ahead of crunch vote Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall arrives in Downing Street for today's cabinet meeting ahead of the crucial welfare reform vote (Image: PA ) MPs will tonight vote on UK Government plans to reform welfare payments. It comes after a climbdown by the Labour administration after huge public outcry and facing a huge rebellion from its own MPs. At its height more than 100 Labour MPs said they would vote against their own government, but that has reduced to 39 Labour backbenchers since changes were announced. Wales' four Plaid Cymru MPs have also backed the amendment, which will be voted on. The proposals were hugely controversial. While the UK Government say reform is needed, critics said they were being rushed through and had not consulted charities or disabled people who will be impacted. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall told the Commons: "Welfare reform, let's be honest, is never easy, perhaps especially for Labour governments. Our social security system directly touches the lives of millions of people and it is something we all care deeply about. "We have listened to the concerns that have been raised to help us get these changes right. The Bill protects people already claiming PIP, it protects in real terms the incomes of people already receiving the UC (universal credit) health top-up from that benefit and their standard allowance, and it protects those with severe lifelong conditions who will never work, and those near the end of their life as we promised we would." The Welsh Government had criticised the plans, with senior minister Jane Hutt writing to Ms Kendall saying there needed to be a review of the plans. Once the climbdown was announced, it was welcomed by First Minister Eluned Morgan. She said: "Around 200,000 people could have been in real trouble, and they've listened, they've learned and they've acted – and that is something I think we should welcome." Article continues below What is PIP? Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a non-means-tested benefit intended to help with extra costs arising from long-term disability or ill-health which was introduced in 2013. It replaced Disability Living Allowance for people of working age. PIP is made up of two components: a mobility component, based on an individual's ability to get around; and a 'daily living' component, based on ability to carry out other key activities necessary to be able to participate in daily life. Each component can be awarded at either standard, enhanced, or nil (where they receive nothing). What was proposed? The UK Government had proposed sweeping changes that were deeply unpopular there were two main elements: Increasing the basic 'standard allowance' of Universal Credit that all claimants receive, while reducing the generosity of the additional amounts for claimants with disabilities and health conditions that affect their capability for work In terms of PIP, changes to the way eligibility is calculated - claimants would need to score four or more points for at least one of the 'daily living' activities that determine entitlement to the daily living component Now what is happening? The UK Government announced two major changes the new Personal Independence Payment daily living 'four-point' requirement will only be implemented for new claimants from November 2026 existing recipients of the Universal Credit health element, and any new claimant meeting the criteria for the most severe and lifelong conditions, will "have their incomes fully protected in real terms" Why is it so important in Wales? There was a lack of official government data about exactly who would be impacted in Wales but it was widely commented that there would be a disproportionate impact in Wales because Wales has higher rates of disabled people of working age than the UK average. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlighted the constituencies where cuts to sickness and disability benefits will fall most heavily which showed of the top 20 constituencies in England and Wales with the highest proportion of the working age population in receipt of health-related social security, eight are in Wales (and 10 out of the top 30) which suggested changing PIP would have a disproportionate impact on disabled people in Wales. In fact, Welsh Government minister Jane Hutt wrote to her UK Government counterpart and said that element needed to be reviewed. "The proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments should be reviewed before any changes are made," she wrote. Policy in Practice estimated there will be substantial increases in poverty and financial hardship for working age households in Wales. The original plans would have impacted an estimated 190,000 people in Wales (6.1% of the population) and see £470m lost from the Welsh economy. Victoria Winckler, director of The Bevan Foundation, said it would "increase social inequality, and exacerbating already entrenched poverty in Wales". Are the changes better news? There are still concerns that the row back is going to create a two-tier system and younger disabled people and those who become disabled in the future will be disadvantaged and denied access to work and education. The concessions by the UK Government have seen a number of the Welsh MPs who had signed an amendment which looked set to sink the government plans has decreased. While Plaid Cymru's four MPs have signed the amendment, only one of the five Labour MPs who had originally put their names to it have kept there, that's Steve Witherden, the MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr. However, a huge number of charity groups say the changes don't go far enough. Since the revisions, groups and charities including Citizens Advice, The Poverty Alliance and The Salvation Army have co-signed a letter saying they want the bill withdrawn. There has not, the groups say, been enough consultation. That was echoed by Luke Young, head of policy at Citizens Advice who asked MPs to vote against the bill. "The UK government's own impact assessment says the cuts will plunge 150,000 people into poverty by the end of this Parliament. Even this is an underestimate of the potential impact. If this Bill is passed, then by 2030 it will have cut PIP for more than 400,000 disabled people and Universal Credit for more than 700,000 people who are disabled or have a long-term health condition. Article continues below "We know Wales will be disproportionately affected, with communities such as Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Neath Port Talbot being hardest hit. It will push more people toward already stretched public services and into to food banks, as they find even less support available under a new three tier system."
