Oggy Bloggy Ogwr is a continuation of the original award-winning blog started in 2011 (archive available here), focused on political news from Bridgend county.
The old site didn’t properly separate Welsh politics posts from those relating to Bridgend. It might’ve been confusing for readers (both in Bridgend county and further afield); plus the old site was a bit cluttered.
I hope this new site will be faster, more readable, more responsive on mobile devices and more relevant to Bridgend.
This is vital, as the Glamorgan Gazette has slowly cut back due to falls in newspaper circulations, the Glamorgan Gem is gone while scrutiny of local government in Wales is often very poor.
The main focus is on Bridgend County Borough Council and community councils.
It isn’t all politics. There’s also planning news and relevant news from regional organisations like the Cardiff City Region, South Wales Police, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, fire service etc.
Bridgend-specific updates from the Senedd will be included under the “Bridgend @ The Bay” section.
I would like to eventually start covering sport, culture and business news. For the foreseeable future, politics is the main focus.
There’s no fixed schedule and the site will be updated as and when I want. Some weeks there may be four or five posts; in other weeks (such as over the summer and Christmas) nothing.
Follow Oggy Bloggy Ogwr on social media (more details here), or sign up by email for updates – on the right hand sidebar of the homepage on desktops and tablets; towards the bottom on mobiles.
You’ll be sent an e-mail every time a new article is posted.
I’ve been accused of everything under the sun – one minute I’m too pro-Labour, the next I’m too pro-Independent or someone else.
I don’t like student politics. I don’t like committees. I don’t like press releases. I don’t like the schmoozing and arse-kissing you need to do to get anywhere in politics.
Rest assured, I have no intentions of joining a political party or campaign group (and few would have me).
I don’t make a lot of money.
I receive significantly less financial (and other) support when compared to similar sites. That said, I receive enough in donations to ensure I’m not directly out of pocket, but per hour worked it’s been as low as £1-per-hour.
I’ve never received a single penny of public funding – even for (the now mothballed) Senedd Home.
Most of the donations I receive relate to my work on State of Wales; very few come from Bridgend.
If you like what’s on the site and want to consider donating, head over to the support and donation page.
The most powerful thing you can do is often the simplest: just share the posts – whether you agree, disagree or don’t care.
Likes are nice, but they don’t get eyeballs.
I’ve considered it, but I’ve decided not to.
There are plenty of sites out there that regularly publish opinion pieces, advertorials and commentary, while social media is full of hot takes. You don’t need this platform to do any of that.