Author: Rhys Gregory

Young boys who lent a bike to an officer in pursuit of a fleeing offender have been commended for their actions. Harry Jones and Jack Clews, aged 11 and 10 respectively, and who both live in Rhyl, were recently riding their bikes through the town. Shortly after finishing school, the pair were making their way towards the Marsh Tracks Bike Park when they encountered PC Hart. He and a fellow officer were involved in a foot chase, pursuing two males suspected of shoplifting and drug possession. PC Hart stopped suddenly to speak with the boys and asked if he could…

A new Community Rail Partnership has been launched in South East Wales, funded through Transport for Wales. Based in Merthyr, the ‘Three Valleys Community Rail Partnership’ is hosted by Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil (VAMT) and includes representatives from the voluntary and tourism sectors, healthcare providers, community partners and rail industry. Its objective will be to promote sustainable travel, health and wellbeing, tourism and economic development along the railway lines linking Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr with Cardiff. By focussing on local projects, the partnership aims to make a real difference to the people and communities it serves. Melanie Lawton, Strategic Lead…

A bus service linking Mawdlam and Kenfig Pool with Bridgend and Porthcawl is set to be reinstated following approval by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet. The new service will be known as Service 63B and operated by First Cymru Buses Ltd as part of the existing supported bus routes contract. It will see one journey per hour, between approximately 9:41am and 3:39pm, Monday to Saturday, diverted through Mawdlam and Kenfig Pool. The route was last served by a public bus in August 2019 and funding for the reinstated service has been secured through Welsh Government’s Bus Network Grant, with no…

Two hundred recycled laptops have been distributed this month to young people who would otherwise not have one, thanks to a partnership between DVLA and Swansea Council. DVLA donates refurbished digital equipment it no longer needs to local authorities for redistribution. Launched in 2021, the scheme has enabled DVLA to become one of the first signatures to sign the UK Government’s IT Reuse for Good charter, which promotes refurbishing IT devices to encourage greater digital inclusion. The scheme supports the growth of vital digital skills for all and helps to ensure that young people aren’t faced with digital exclusion. The…

Ongoing improvements at Duke Street Car Park in Aberdare Town Centre are progressing towards completion, and a week-long closure of the facility is required shortly to undertake the main resurfacing element of the work. The Council started work in early September 2025 to undertake pedestrian access and drainage improvements, along with the main resurfacing activity that encompasses the entire car park. This involves the current blockwork being removed, with some of the existing paving blocks having been installed almost 30 years ago – many of which have become loose or started to sink. The car park has remained open throughout,…

A popular public footpath in the Gwyddon Valley has been made safe and fully usable again thanks to a successful collaboration between Caerphilly County Borough Council, Natural Resources Wales and The Gwyddon Valley Group volunteers. A damaged flight of steps on the path had been preventing safe use of the route. Recognising the importance of this infrastructure – local residents and volunteers stepped forward to help. As the land is managed by Natural Resources Wales, they provided a volunteer coordinator to lead a work party and supply basic tools with CCBC providing the necessary materials from existing stock. Volunteers from…

From 1 January 2026, Welsh businesses exporting to the European Union (EU) will face new regulations at the border under Regime 42 (a post-Brexit customs process). The Cardiff office – located at Cardiff Gate Business Park in Pontprennau – of European road freight operator Europa Road has been supporting Welsh exporters with time-critical shipments three years. It is estimated that £7.2 billion worth of goods is exported annually from Wales into Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. The changes for exporters have sparked some uncertainty for more than 100,000 British businesses trading with the EU, but Europa Worldwide…

Foresight Group (“Foresight”), a leading independent private equity and infrastructure investment manager, is pleased to announce that Phil Sampson has joined the Private Equity Team to help lead the deployment and management of the £50 million equity element of the Investment Fund for Wales. Based in Foresight’s Cardiff office, Phil brings extensive experience in supporting high-growth SMEs and will be instrumental in identifying and backing ambitious Welsh businesses. Prior to joining Foresight, Phil held a role at PwC, supporting on the CCR investment fund. His appointment comes as the Fund prepares to celebrate its second anniversary this November, marking a significant…

A leading civil engineering firm has helped Windy Standard III Wind Farm reach a significant construction milestone with the first pouring of concrete on turbine foundations. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK is the principal contractor for the multi-million-pound 20-turbine scheme in Dumfries and Galloway, which will have the capacity to power more than 130,000 UK homes annually. The North Wales-headquartered contractor completed the 400m3 pour in approximately nine hours by utilising its two on-site concrete batching plants, which cuts down vehicle movements both offsite and onsite, and helps streamline programme delivery. The Fred. Olsen Renewables-led development, first consented in 2021, will be…

Newport Live are rolling the red carpet for local communities to celebrate the installation of a brand-new cinema projector at The Riverfront by hosting their very own free film screenings. The upgrade, made possible thanks to funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, marks an exciting step forward for The Riverfront’s long-running cinema programme. Community groups across the city are encouraged to take part by choosing a film that reflects their mission, celebrates cultural heritage, or simply brings people together for a shared experience. The new projector was unveiled at a special launch event attended by guests including the…