Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales will be taking on Italy on Saturday 16 March at Principality Stadium. With the kick-off taking place at 2.15pm – there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.15am until 6.15pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely. The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy – please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at the former Toy’s R Us site car park in the Sports Village. Gates open at 12pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to…

Two ladies who worked as codebreakers at the top secret Bletchley Park mansion during the Second World War have celebrated their 100th birthdays at a joint party in Port Talbot. Mrs Gwenfron Picken who was 100 on February 29th, 2024 and Mrs Kath Morris who reached her centenary a week later on March 7th, are both from Port Talbot but Mrs Morris now lives in a care home in Neath. During the dark days of World War Two, both worked in the iconic huts and blocks of Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, a Victorian mansion which housed the Government Code and…

Pembrokeshire County Council licensing officers were out with officers from the LA’s Integrated Transport Unit again this week checking vehicle safety. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Enforcement officers joined the joint operation to spot check licensed taxis and buses after dropping off learners at Pembrokeshire College. The checks resulted in five vehicles licences being suspended for not meeting licence standards. All larger passenger carrying vehicles (PVC), including buses and coaches, all passed the inspections carried out by the DVSA with no reported faults. This follows a similar operation in late January at Portfield School where Dyfed-Powys Police assisted in…

Users of the Lady Windsor Cycle Route between Ynysybwl and Pontypridd will notice improvement works being delivered next week. The Council has secured funding from Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund, and will invest in important upgrades across the shared route and its links. The work will start in the week commencing Monday, March 18 – and will last around 10 days in total. The route will remain open throughout with the path being temporarily widened at some of the work locations, where this is necessary to ensure safety. A range of improvements will be delivered – including resurfacing works and…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced plans which could transform secondary education in the Upper Rhymney Valley over the next few years. A special Board of experts have been considering options for the future of single sex education, as well as looking at the impact of surplus places on the current school configuration in the area. Caerphilly is the only council area in Wales to still operate single sex comprehensive schools – one at Lewis Girls School in Ystrad Mynach and the other at Lewis School Pengam. The Board agreed to explore ways in which families can be brought together…

The opening of a new market development in the heart of Caerphilly town centre is to be postponed. Despite the best efforts of all parties, the significant rainfall in recent weeks has impacted construction of the market and a difficult decision has been made to delay the launch, which was due to take place on Friday 15th March. Following consultation with the market operator, a revised opening date is anticipated in early April to allow the final works to be completed to the high standards expected of an exciting project such as this. An official launch event will follow. “The…

Award-winning teams of animal licensing and enforcement officers are making a difference across Wales, as part of the Welsh Government’s plans to improve animal welfare, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said today. The Animal Licensing Wales project, which initially focussed on dog breeding and enforcement, has been extended to 2025, following positive feedback from local authorities and animal welfare partners. This follows a Programme for Government commitment to improve qualifications for animal welfare inspectors. The project was recognised as an example of good practice at last autumn’s responsible dog ownership summit after delivering five training courses to 58 officers across…

Hundreds of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Wales will soon be able to apply for Welsh Government funding designed to help them to reduce their running costs. Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 will be available to eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors. The £20m Future Proofing Fund will help businesses strengthen their future trading position by increasing profitability through investment in renewable energy technology, improvements to the fabric of their premises, and upgrades to systems or machinery to reduce energy use. Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “The ongoing cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crises continues to present…

Three high-achievers from Buckley are eager to help drive scientific advancements, as they set their sights on trailblazing careers in the field. Marcel Banski, Haf Peers-Buxton, and Sam Kenny have ambitions which stretch beyond the classroom, from developing research in marine biology, to working as a psychiatrist, to a job in aerospace engineering, respectively. The Elfed High School pupils’ exceptional performance in their studies have been recognised through the annual Synthite Science Prize, which celebrates young people’s passion and talents in physics, chemistry, and biology. The award, sponsored by the Mold-based chemical manufacturer, was awarded to Marcel as the overall…

Following a recent call for applications for projects seeking to improve adult numeracy skills, 14* projects across the Mid Wales region have been approved. Through the UK Government’s Multiply programme which forms part of the Shared Prosperity Fund, an allocation of just under £2 million of funding is being given to deliver a variety of projects. The types of projects that have secured funding, include: Supporting people to be more confident with numbers Running courses to help people use numeracy to manage their money. Working with employers to provide courses covering specific numeracy skills that are needed in the workplace.…