Author: Rhys Gregory

A young man who joined a Gwynedd-based  food supplier as a teenage part-time van driver’s assistant has been appointed to a top job by the fast growing business. Ten years ago Morgan Jones was a 16-year-old schoolboy from Chwilog looking for a summer job and now he has a key role a Warehouse Manager as Harlech Foodservice expands its operations throughout Wales and the border counties. He is one of four new promotions announced by Harlech at their headquarters near Criccieth, with Tomos Owen, a new HGV Class One driver, and Jason Martin, Class Two, and Shane Parker joining the…

In March 1977, news broke of an undercover police operation. It led to the greatest drug bust in history. In sleepy West Wales…..it was called Operation Julie. Selling out an initial run, and back by popular demand, Operation Julie is taking this unique retelling of one of Wales’ greatest stories to more people in more places than ever across the UK. Almost fifty years ago, a colossal police investigation involving 11 police forces invaded the rural Welsh countryside and resulted in more than a hundred arrests across Europe, over a century of jailtime and the discovery of over half a…

RHYL HIGH SCHOOL has unveiled a bold strategy to combat a £1million shortfall in funding over the next three years. Headteacher Claire Armitstead, staff and governors have had to explore and identify ways to continue delivering a high-class, high-quality education and outstanding pastoral care for all learners in the face of this “financial challenge”. Rhyl High School is oversubscribed annually, and Mrs Armitstead says the decision to slash education budgets will have a major impact on the health and wellbeing of learners and their families during what’s already a period of economic despond UK-wide. “We have scrutinised and focused on…

Three employees from Wales’s leading farmer owned dairy co-operative are retiring with an impressive 117 years of service between them. Morgan Owen, Gwyn Jones and Peredur Williams are leaving South Caernarfon Creameries with a string of lifelong friendships and a vatful of fond memories. From earthquakes to frightening flights and early morning calls, the three soon-to-be retirees have many stories to tell of their time at the creamery. Morgan from Llangybi is the longest serving of the three, having worked for almost half a century at the creamery. His 45-year career began in the cheese area, before progressing to running…

Hywel Dda University Health board has launched an innovative, yet simple ‘Switch it off’ campaign to help drastically reduce both its energy usage and costs. The campaign consists of ‘switching off’ all non-essential equipment when not in use; from computer monitors and laptops to medical equipment, lights, and radiators. This is one of the several initiatives being delivered as part of Hywel Dda’s Decarbonisation Delivery Plan. All of which are aimed at helping to reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions for non-essential equipment by around 20%, which could save around £100,000 per year. From March 2022 to April 2023, the…

37 pre-school settings from across Bridgend County Borough are taking part in the Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme which helps to promote positive health behaviours from an early age. Day nurseries, Flying Start settings, playgroups, childminders and Cylchoedd Meithrin providers (Welsh-medium) have all signed up to the scheme to ensure this important message reaches a wide range of children. Funded by Welsh Government and co-ordinated by Bridgend County Borough Council’s Childcare Team in partnership with Public Health Wales, the scheme covers several aspects of health, including active play/physical activity, emotional health, wellbeing, hygiene, safety, nutrition and oral health. Flying Start…

The latest roll out of the new ‘sack sort’ recycling scheme to 37,000 properties across Cardiff has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of recycling collected from residents’ homes, Cardiff Council can reveal. After running the scheme for six weeks the council’s latest household recycling figures show that around 92% of waste collected from residents’ homes via the new system can be recycled. Under the co-mingled green bag collection scheme only 70% of material collected is able to be recycled, via our internal processes. The rollout is producing similar figures to the pilot project which took place last…

A major new heating network is in the pipeline for Swansea to help save businesses money on their energy bills and cut the city’s carbon footprint. The low carbon heating network would use excess heat from a large data centre that’s due to form part of the £4bn renewable energy project in the area of Swansea port. Led by Bridgend-based DST Innovations, the overall project is also set to include a tidal lagoon, a high-tech battery manufacturing centre, eco-homes anchored in the water and an oceanic and climate change research centre. The proposed heating network would heat a number of buildings in the SA1 and city…

Neath Port Talbot residents are to be consulted on a series of potential measures to help ensure the Council exceeds the Welsh Government’s latest 70% recycling target. The decision to consult to improve recycling was taken as part of the council’s Waste Strategy Action Plan which was approved in 2023. Members of the council’s Environment, Regeneration and Steetscene Scrutiny Committee will be provided with draft proposals for the consultation and an update on progress on the Waste Strategy Action Plan at their meeting on Friday, April 19th  2024. The rising Welsh Government recycling targets are set to make our environments…

A 22-year-old has been jailed following a 15-hour siege in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Cameron Lloyd Jennings-Williams of Hafan Deg, Tanygrisiau held a woman hostage and took up considerable emergency service resources during the incident in August last year. He appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court today (Thursday, April 11th) for sentence after admitting threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a private place, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and intentionally causing a public nuisance. He was sentenced to two years in prison. On August 16th, North Wales Police received a 999 call shortly after midnight reporting Jennings-Williams…