Author: Rhys Gregory

A Cardiff man has been jailed for running a cryptocurrency investment scam on social media, defrauding 17 known victims of more than £124,000. Haroon Zaman, from Grangetown, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, following close investigative work between South Wales Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU). Zaman, 23, of Holmesdale Street, was sentenced to three years and eight months’ imprisonment for 17 counts of fraud by false representation. Between January 2021 and June 2023, Zaman hacked into victims’ social media accounts and impersonated them online. He then used these compromised accounts to promote fraudulent…

A 37-year-old man from Llandudno Junction has been jailed for multiple drug offences. John Michael Smith, of Kimberley Road, Llandudno Junction, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday, 12 December. He was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B substances, namely cocaine and cannabis. His charges related to offences committed between August 2024 and June of this year. Smith was arrested at his home on 5 June and subsequently charged by investigating officers. At court, Smith pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years in prison. PC Kimberley…

Councillor John Spanswick, Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, has confirmed that changes have been made to the local authority’s Cabinet structure. Announcing the amendments at a meeting of Cabinet held on Tuesday 16 December, he confirmed that Councillor Paul Davies has stepped down from the role of Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment. In future, the portfolio will be jointly shared between Councillor Eugene Caparros and Councillor Gary Haines. The Leader also confirmed that Councillor Melanie Evans will be taking on the role of Cabinet Member for Resources, a post that she previously shared with Councillor Caparros.…

Scott Harbour flats in Cardiff Bay have become the first residential building in Cardiff to receive heat and hot water from Cardiff Council’s pioneering low-carbon district heat network. The former office block was recently converted into 78 council-owned apartments and now provides much-needed social housing in the city. As well as modern new accommodation, residents are now also enjoying sustainable heat and hot water. Cardiff Heat Network captures heat from steam already produced as a by-product of the process that powers electricity-generating turbines at Viridor’s Trident Park Energy Recovery Facility. The heat is then transported through a network of highly…

Residents included in a trial soft plastic kerbside recycling scheme in Swansea can continue using the service in 2026. Swansea Council has been trialling the soft plastic collections scheme since April 2025, offering 20,000 households across the city. A decision has now been made to extend the trial until June 2026. So far, the council has collected over 70 tonnes of soft plastic from residents, which may otherwise have ended up in black bags. Data on the trial is being collated by Welsh Government and will help inform their decisions on how best to roll out similar schemes across other…

Flood Assistance Centre Neath Port Talbot Council has set up an assistance centre for people in Briton Ferry affected by flooding at: ‘The Lodge’ Community Hall, Ynysmaerdy Road, Briton Ferry, SA11 2NS Council staff will be on hand from 10am – 3pm Friday 19th December 2025 and Monday 22nd December 2025. Staff from Social Services, Housing, Welfare Rights, and Local Area Co-ordination will be there to provide information, assistance and signposting. Waste collections  NPT Council will be providing special collections for flood damaged items removed from properties. However, it is vital to follow your insurer’s advice before items are presented for collection, as this could affect your claim. Companies may want photographic evidence, or…

Significant work to Westfield Pill Bridge is planned affecting traffic on the A477. The essential work to maintain and repair the busy bridge over Westfield Pill, between Neyland and Pembroke Dock, is due to start on Monday, 19th January. Following a Principal Inspection in 2022, a programme of essential works were identified to maintain the durability of the structure. Significant work was last carried out on Westfield Pill Bridge in 1998 which required a full closure of the structure, however it is planned for the works in 2026 to be managed through traffic management systems to avoid closure of the…

Cabinet Members have approved the proposed names put forward for newly-forming schools in Clydach Vale and Glyn-coch – following recommendations made by the temporary governing bodies of the two respective schools. At the Cabinet meeting on Monday, December 15, an officer report informed Members of the consultation processes undertaken by the headteachers and governing bodies of the new schools, which will open in time for the 2026/27 academic year. They have followed the protocol for setting and changing school names under the Council’s policy, that has been in place since 2012. Both consultations saw the headteachers meet with pupils to…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has confirmed that remediation and groundworks at the former Windsor Colliery site have now been completed, paving the way for the second phase of construction to begin on a major 152-home development delivered by United Welsh. The mixed-tenure scheme will provide 70% affordable housing, including general needs homes and properties for intermediate rent, alongside high-quality accommodation for single residents. The remaining homes will be delivered as open market sale through United Welsh’s sales brand, Harmoni Homes. Supported by Welsh Government through the Social Housing Grant and Housing Viability Gap Funding (HVGF) from the Cardiff Capital Region,…

Powys County Council has welcomed the news that Ysgol Bro Caereinion has been removed from Estyn’s list of schools requiring review. Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, has judged the school to have made appropriate progress in respect of the key issues for action, and in developing the capacity to continue to bring about improvements. Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “This is very positive news for Ysgol Bro Caereinion and reflects the commitment and hard work of the headteacher, staff, governors, learners and the wider school community. Their determination to make improvements has…