The South Wales Argus is urging people to eat, drink, buy and shop local to help make sure the local traders across Newport and Gwent survive the inflation and cost of living crisis.

Everyone is seeing their bills rise as inflation soars. Your shopping bill, energy bill, petrol costs will all have gone up sharply this year as inflation has hit levels we haven’t seen for a long time.

Plans to explore the case for a green freeport in south-west Wales have been launched by a consortium this month, focusing on ports in the areas of Milford Haven and Port Talbot.

It has been described as a bid that could provide the area with a “nationally significant energy infrastructure” which would support the development of floating offshore wind, as well as hydrogen and sustainable fuels in the Celtic Sea.

Read More: Welsh council warns of ‘deep service cuts’ without more help after energy bills almost triple

The consortium that consists of councils in Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire, as well as the Port of Milford Haven and Associated British Ports, will explore the potential bid which could see a range of exciting opportunities.

A spokesperson on behalf of the consortium said: “Combining this potential with the region’s skill base, existing facilities and proximity to key markets offers a compelling argument for a potential freeport bid.

“A south-west Wales freeport could bring together the ports of Port Talbot and Milford Haven to unlock the widest possible opportunity for Wales and for the UK by accelerating investment and fast-tracking modern skills development for new green industries. It would also strengthen export opportunities while supporting the Welsh and UK Governments’ ambitions to drive economic growth.”

The Welsh and UK Governments have jointly designed the freeport model to deliver three objectives, which would have to be met by any applicants looking to be a part of the development. These would be to promote regeneration and high-quality job creation, to establish the freeport as a national hub for global trade and investment across the economy, and to foster an innovative environment.

The consortium will now look to work with established industry representatives, academics and other key stakeholders to map out the full scale of the opportunities and create a case for a south-west Wales joint freeport bid.

Speaking in the ministerial foreword for the Freeport Programme in Wales bidding prospectus, Vaughan Gething, Minister for Economy said: “The Welsh Government has a clear Economic Mission to establish the Welsh economy as more prosperous, equal and green than ever before. Turning that ambition into a reality hinges on how we ensure investment reinforces our commitments to fair work, sustainability and supporting the services and industries of the future.

“As an intrinsic part of our rich industrial history and the engine room of our economy, ports have huge potential to accelerate future industries which support net-zero from off-shore energy to advanced manufacturing. Thanks to the agreement we’ve secured with the UK Government, we are launching a Freeport Programme in Wales which offers an opportunity to harness Wales’s abundant economic potential domestically and internationally by reimagining the role of ports, whilst promoting fair work and sustainability.

“We are inviting progressive applications which deliver regeneration and high-quality jobs, boost investment and trade and foster innovation. The successful bid will receive up to £26m seed investment as well as a package of benefits which span tax and rates relief, streamlined planning, customs site designation and wider government support for trade, investment and innovation. Both governments will jointly decide the outcome of the competition and I look forward to considering innovative bids which deliver meaningful economic and social benefits for Wales.”

Bids must now be submitted by November 24, 2022. The successful bid will be will be announced in early spring 2023, with the freeport being established by summer that year. You can read more of our stories from Neath Port Talbot here.

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THE towns of Risca and Pontymister were known for their industrial and mining elements, with Black Vein and Risca North Collieries, a steelworks and a foundry.

Today, none of those exist anymore but the remains can still be seen. Risca itself has a bustling high street, with Caerphilly County Borough Council figures showing it as one of the top towns for footfall in the county.

WALKING through the centre of Newport can expose you to many different sights – but an actual dinosaur isn’t often among them.

On Saturday, September 24, one dinosaur was making its presence known in Friars Walk.

NSW SES Chief Superintendent Ben Pickup says there are currently 15 flood warnings out across the state.

“People should use the time between storms and the floods to prepare their properties, clear trees and secure loose items in the backyard as well as knowing their local flood risk and know what they will do in the event they’re impacted by flooding,” Mr Pickup told Sky News Australia.

ONE of Newport’s most important historic sites is throwing open its doors to visitors for free today, Saturday.

The National Trust is taking part in Cadw’s Open Doors heritage festival, meaning that several National Trust sites in Wales – including Newport’s Tredegar House – are available to visit for free on selected dates and times.

COVID-19 infections in Wales have risen for the first time in two months, new figures show.

Some 927,900 people in private households in the UK are likely to have tested positive for coronavirus in the week ending September 14, up five per cent from 881,200 in the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Robert Page insists Wales will forget about the World Cup on Sunday to try and stay in the top tier of the Nations League.

Wales remain bottom of League A4 after losing 2-1 to Belgium on Thursday.

Wales’ best curry houses have been revealed from the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2022 nominations, as four Welsh restaurants have been shortlisted in the Wales Restaurant of the Year accolade.

Curry houses in south Wales dominate the nominations as restaurants from Cardiff, Barry and Port Talbot make it onto the shortlist. Duchess of Delhi in Cardiff and The Grand Sultan in Port Talbot are no strangers to winning awards and were previously named the best in Wales.

They are joined by the Mint Room in Barry, which was previously crowned the best takeaway in Wales by winning the Best Asian Restaurant in South Wales at the Asian Restaurant Awards 2021 and has a recommendation in the Restaurant Guru guide for 2021. The award-winning Elaichi Indian restaurant in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, has also been nominated.

READ MORE: The Ivy Asia review: Pricey dishes at Cardiff’s controversial new restaurant left us holding our breath for the bill

The ARTA bring the UK’s most prestigious Asian restaurants and chefs together under one roof. The winners will be announced at a celebrity red-carpet event at the InterContinental Hotel at The O2-London on October 2.

From the National Champion of the Champions, Regional Restaurant of the Year, National & Regional Chefs of the Year, to Takeaways and Newcomer of the Year Award, ARTA will spotlight the pinnacle of over 2,370 restaurants and takeaways across the UK. The finalists were chosen based on survey data of over 700,000 customers from ChefOnline, followed by a final judgement of an esteemed judging panel to crown each region’s South Asian excellency.

The ARTA awards are in celebration and recognition of Britain’s vibrant Asian restaurants and takeaways and offer solidarity and morale to the industry, which is currently facing headwinds from the cost of energy crisis, inflation, and the impact from the pandemic.

Speaking about the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards 2022, Mohammed Munim, Founder Member and CEO of ARTA, said: “Britain has some of the most vibrant and dynamic Asian restaurants, and they are an integral part of the fabric and culture of the country.

“The ARTA awards are a celebration and recognition of these exceptional restaurants, takeaways, chefs, and restaurateurs all across the country, who are serving their local communities so exceptionally well. Each nominee is a worthy winner, and we look forward to celebrating with them all at the award ceremony on October 2.”

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A rain band is forecast to deliver widespread showers and thunderstorms across most of New South Wales (NSW) as the small town of Wee Waa is cut off by floodwaters.

Severe thunderstorms with large hail, heavy rainfall and damaging winds are forecast for parts of inland NSW, and southern Queensland on Wednesday, Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Jenny Sturrock said.

A severe weather warning has been issued for the state’s central west slopes and plains, with six-hourly rainfall totals of up to 60 to 70mm expected, triggering a risk of flash and riverine flooding.

Flooding is already impacting Dubbo, Gunnedah and Tamworth, with Parkes, Wellington, Coonamble, Gilgandra and Peak Hill also at risk.

Helicopters are preparing to fly in supplies to the town of Wee Waa, between Narrabri and Walgett, as flooding cuts off road access.

A strong western front is expected to fill the already swollen Namoi River on Wednesday evening, stranding the town with a population of about 2000.

The Lachlan, Narran and Macquarie Rivers are already experiencing major flooding.

Further rainfall across Wednesday night was likely to exacerbate flood conditions throughout NSW, and down to northern Victoria and up to southern Queensland, Ms Sturrock said.

Falls are likely to concentrate around the coast on Thursday.

“Heavy rainfall for the Hunter, the Mid North Coast and even the Northern Rivers can’t be ruled out.”

Light to moderate falls across saturated catchments have the potential to trigger significant flood responses, and Ms Sturrock urged the community to stay up to date with warnings from the BOM.

Many catchments in the northwest, central west and southwest are already dealing with flooding after heavy recent falls, saturated catchments and filled dams.

Residents in northwestern Gunnedah and Wee Waa are facing their third flood in a year as five houses were inundated when the Namoi River peaked at over eight metres on the weekend, the State Emergency Service said.

In the state’s central west, Dubbo received 30mm of rain by 3 p.m., on the lower end of the predicted rainfall.

“The intensity of rain we’ve anticipated hasn’t fallen yet,” SES spokesperson David Rankin told AAP.

“That’s really good news, but we aren’t out of the woods—it could come later tonight.”

The SES urged people living in flood warning zones to prepare for the potential of potential flash flooding.

Residents from the Coffs Coast, Kempsey and Nambucca, as well as those further south at Coutts Crossing and the Upper Hunter, should prepare for rising waters and monitor for road closures.

“NSW river catchments remain wet at present, and any storm or weather event can lead to flash flooding very quickly,” SES Superintendent Joanna Jones said.

She urged people not to enter flood waters and to update their emergency plans.

People in inland NSW should prepare to leave homes that could be inundated and move pets and livestock to safe higher ground, she added.