Author: Rhys Gregory

People on and around Anglesey are invited to join volunteering events at the Llyn Alaw reservoir (Anglesey) in February, to help rediscover a huge sculpture (approx. 11×6 yd) by Beca artist Paul Davies (best known for his “Welsh Not”-performance at 1977 Eisteddfod). The events emerge from an ongoing collaboration between Welsh Water, Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Countryside and AONB Unit and Bangor University researcher Dr Sarah Pogoda from the School of Arts, Culture and Language. Sarah is looking into Paul Davies’s work and the Llyn Alaw site in particular, working closely with local authorities and the artist’s family. Sarah…

One of Wales’ best known law firms, JCP Solicitors announces three senior appointments across Commercial, Agriculture & Property Litigation, further strengthening its offering for commercial and rural clients in Wales and beyond. The announcement welcomes two new starters and one internal promotion: existing JCP Director Jonathan Flynn has been named as Head of Property Litigation, Natalie Jones joins the firm as a Director in the Commercial Services team, and Sally Milliner joins the Agricultural and Property Litigation team as a Senior Associate. JCP Director Jonathan Flynn takes over from Sarah Davies who has recently left the practice for a full…

Strike action by Unite members working within Cardiff council’s refuse and recycling department is being extended by a further four weeks. The current strike action which started on 28 December, was due to end on Thursday 25 January will now continue until Thursday 22 February. The fresh strike dates are in response to Cardiff Council’s failure to make any progress in relation to Unite’s concerns on a number of local issues. The most prominent of these being the widespread bullying culture within the refuse and recycling department alongside the ingrained use of agency labour. Unite is concerned that Cardiff council are showing no…

With forecasters predicting snow and cold weather for much of Wales during the coming weeks, Age Cymru is offering tips and advice to help older people to stay safe, warm, and well during cold spells.  With the cost-of-living crisis hitting hard some people may be tempted to turn down their heating. But the charity says keeping warm puts less strain on the heart and lungs, improves the symptoms of existing health conditions, and helps with pain management. Being warm can also protect physical and mental wellbeing and thereby help people to become more resilient to the many challenges posed by…

Following the huge success of the free ticket offer to attend Vitality Blast matches at Sophia Gardens during June 2023, Glamorgan Cricket will once again offer free ticket packages for accompanied school groups to watch games at Cardiff during 2024. The matches in question are: Thursday, 13 June – Western Storm v The Thunder, starting at 1430. Thursday, 13 June – Glamorgan v Hampshire, starting at 1830. Thursday, 20 June – Glamorgan v Gloucestershire starting at 1830. The good news is that it will be possible for schools attending the afternoon game on 13 June to stay on and watch…

Further snow showers, perhaps merging into a longer spell of snow, are likely to cause further disruption on Tuesday. Snow showers will continue to feed inland early on Tuesday morning across northern and western Scotland, parts of Wales and northwest England where 2-5 cm of snow is possible over a few hours in some places. During the day, an area of more organised rain, sleet and snow is likely to move east with further showers following. There is still some uncertainty in the track of more prolonged snow, and it is possible that at lower elevations across Wales and northern…

Bridgend County Borough Council is embarking on a ground breaking project to address hate graffiti across the county borough, through the use of the newly developed StreetSnap App from Swansea University. The initiative positions the council and its partners at the forefront in aligning with Welsh Government’s Anti-racist Wales Action Plan to create a “Wales where everyone is respected and valued and where we can enjoy and celebrate our differences”.  The project is funded by a SMART Partnership between Swansea University, Bridgend County Borough Council, and Welsh Government.  At this stage, the StreetSnap App will be used by practitioners from…

CITY residents are set to have their say on plans that will see around an extra £15m spent on council services in the next financial year. Consultation has opened on Swansea Council’s budget proposals that will go to full council for a final decision in March. Swansea has secured an increase on its budget for 2024/25 from the Welsh Government of around £15.3m or 3.7% which will help the council support residents through the tough times ahead. However, Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council warned that 22 local councils in Wales were getting only an extra £165m between them this…

Work will soon begin to deliver a significant repair and improvement scheme to Bodringallt Bridge, which carries the A4058 in Ystrad. Minimal disruption to the main road or the wider community is expected during the work. The scheme will infill the void beneath the bridge, ensuring the bridge deck no longer functions as a structural element. Additional improvements will reprofile the embankment slope, install a highway drainage system, repaint the metal parapet and remove vegetation. The masonry approach wall and wing walls will be repointed, while the western approach wall will be demolished/rebuilt. Work will begin from Monday, January 15,…

Presteigne and Norton becomes the first community in Wales and mainland England to be designated as an International Dark Sky Place by DarkSky International. This achievement represents a unique collaboration between the local community, Presteigne and Norton Town Council, Powys County Council and Dark Source Lighting Design Studio, to pursue a dark sky ambition through tackling light pollution. Mayor of Presteigne and Norton Town Council and Powys County Council local member, Cllr Beverley Baynham said, “The whole community in Presteigne and Norton are delighted to learn that our six-year campaign to become a dark sky community has been successful. “It has…