Author: Rhys Gregory

Conwy Council has announced inflation-busting plans to increase fees by up to 20% after warnings that care homes were at risk of financial meltdown and closure. The proposed rises in Conwy for 2024/25 follow a long-running campaign by social care champions Care Forum Wales (CFW) for the introduction of fair fees which reflect the “actual cost” of providing care for vulnerable people in privately run homes, including those with dementia. But across the famous Foryd Bridge, which links Kinmel Bay and Rhyl, Denbighshire County Council is budgeting on much smaller increases of around 8% on rock bottom fees which, CFW…

Cardiff has scored highly in a major new EU survey assessing the quality of life in major European cities – and been declared the best of all for families with young children. The survey, by the European Commission, is the result of extensive polling of at least 839 residents in each of 83 cities in 36 countries – 71,153 interviews in all – on issues, including: Safety Jobs Transport infrastructure Culture Health, and Quality of local administration Since the last survey, carried out in 2019, overall levels of satisfaction across most European cities have declined as events like the Covid-19…

A free advice surgery for Swansea businesses is heading for Clydach next week. Organised by Swansea Council, the drop-in event is taking place on Tuesday January 23 from 10am till 1pm at Clydach Community Centre on Vardre Road. No bookings are needed for the event, which will include business support experts from the council, Gower College Swansea, Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales. Access to business support and information about Swansea Council grants and loans will be among the services at the event. The event will also include help with funding applications, information about training and recruitment, and…

RCT Council has completed the first stage of flood alleviation work along Park Street in Tylorstown, ahead of a wider flood alleviation scheme which is currently being developed. The initial works, which got underway in late September, have increased the local drainage network’s capacity by improving the existing culvert and swale network. Several chambers, weirs and catch pits have been installed to slow the flow of water entering the culvert, while around 180-metres of the culvert was replaced at the southern end of Park Street. The works are designed to deliver an alleviation of flood risk to nearby residential streets,…

Between December 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, South Wales Police officers conducted 3,145 breath tests and 203 drug tests as part of national campaign, Op Limit. One hundred and fifty-seven were found to be over the drink drive limit, and 87 of those who were tested for drugs gave a positive result. Roads Policing Inspector Michael Prickett said: “I am extremely proud of my officers for their work in taking these drivers off the streets. “This was an exceptionally busy period with drink drive arrests increasing by 2.6% and drug drive arrests increasing by 70% since 2022. “Unfortunately, many…

The Welsh Government’s investment in its education buildings has paid dividend, with no further cases of RAAC having been identified in Wales and all schools now open for all pupils, the Education Minister, Jeremy Miles, said today. In comparison to other countries in the UK that have carried out detailed surveys of their school estate, Wales has a lot fewer instances of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete  (RAAC) in schools. Only five schools in Wales have identified as containing RAAC, compared to 231 in England and 39 in Scotland. The five schools in Wales have reopened to all pupils. The Minister…

The Economy Minister has said in a Senedd debate that the UK Government’s Levelling-Up schemes are failing Welsh people, businesses, and communities as the amount of unreplaced EU funding rises with inflation. Vaughan Gething argued that in real terms Wales is now short-changed by almost £1.3bn in unreplaced EU structural and rural funding between 2021 and 2025 due the ongoing impact of inflation in this period. This shortfall is on top of the overall Welsh budget now being up to £1.3bn less in real terms than when it was set at the UK Government’s Spending Review in 2021 due to decisions…

Developing a new product can be a challenging and complex process. It requires careful consideration of different factors and options to ensure you develop a useful product that potential customers want or need. A decision tree can help you organize and evaluate various options, helping you make better and more informed decisions. What is a Product Development Decision Tree Diagram? A decision tree is similar to a flow chart, but it outlines different decisions and outcomes instead of processes and workflows. It is a visual tool that product designers and developers can use to organize and evaluate different factors and…

When it comes to health issues surrounding menstrual cycles, it’s common for those struggling to just suffer in silence. However, it’s important to open up the conversation around menstrual cycles and the warning signs of potential health problems in order to ensure those suffering can access the help and support they need. In this post, we’ll cover 5 of the most common menstrual issues and the potential treatments that can help alleviate their symptoms. Dysmenorrhea Dysmenorrhea, commonly known as painful menstruation, is a prevalent condition affecting a significant number of menstruating individuals worldwide. If you have dysmenorrhea, your signs might…

Wales isn’t known for its casino scene, so most gamblers turn to the online realm for a bit of fun. You’ll find hundreds of casinos advertised online, but they’re all under the watchful eye of the UKGC. It seems unfair that Welsh players have to follow strict UKGC casino rules and many are asking for separate regulations for online casinos in Wales.  That’s unlikely to happen any time soon, but you can join international casinos instead! These sites have no link to the UK Gambling Commission and let you enjoy as much freedom as you wish. How can you join…