Author: Rhys Gregory

A popular and long-standing Caerphilly Councillor has sadly passed away. Cllr Christine Forehead, who represented the Van ward in Caerphilly, passed away on Tuesday 18 November aged 81, surrounded by her family. The Leader of Council, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, paid tribute to Christine’s legacy, “The community of Caerphilly, and the wider county borough, has lost a dedicated and long-standing councillor who has always worked tirelessly to improve the lives of everyone in the local community. Christine held a number of senior roles within local government over the years and was also active in the local community council and within school…

Financial support will be provided to people in Monmouthshire following the exceptional events of Storm Claudia,  Jayne Bryant, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government has confirmed. The Welsh Government has made more than £2.5m available following the weekend’s extreme weather events which saw South Wales Fire and Rescue Service declare a major incident. The support includes funding for grants, which will be issued through Monmouthshire County Council, for households affected. Grants of £1,000 and £500 per home affected by flooding are available and those affected should contact Monmouthshire County Council for more information. Jayne Bryant, the Cabinet Secretary for…

Mae’r stori hon hefyd ar gael yn Saesneg – cliciwch yma i’w darllen. Cafwyd cytundeb i Gymru gyfan ar gyfer gwella cyflogau ac amodau miloedd o staff GIG Cymru sy’n ymgymryd â dyletswyddau clinigol uwch. Llywodraeth Cymru a chyflogwyr y GIG sy’n gyfrifol am negodi amodau’r cytundeb cenedlaethol hwn. Mae’r cytundeb yn nodi cam pwysig tuag at sicrhau bod tua 6,000 o aelodau o staff GIG Cymru yn cael eu trin yn deg ac yn derbyn y cyflog cywir am y gwaith maen nhw’n ei wneud. Cafodd y cytundeb, sy’n effeithio ar staff band 2 a 3 sy’n cael eu cyflogi gan…

This story is also available in Welsh – click here to read it. An all-Wales agreement has been reached to improve the pay and terms and conditions of thousands of NHS Wales staff undertaking higher clinical duties. This national agreement, brokered by the Welsh Government and NHS Wales employers, marks an important step in ensuring around 6,000 NHS Wales staff members are treated fairly and receive the right pay for the work they do. The agreement, which affects band 2 and 3 staff employed by health boards and NHS trusts all over Wales was ratified today by the Welsh Government, NHS employers…

Mae’r stori hon hefyd ar gael yn Saesneg – cliciwch yma i’w darllen. Gall grwpiau cymunedol nawr wneud cais am grantiau o hyd at £300,000 i wella adeiladau lleol, sicrhau cyfleusterau gwerthfawr a mannau cymorth lle gall pobl ddod at ei gilydd. Ers 2015, mae mwy na £70 miliwn wedi cefnogi bron i 500 o brosiectau cymunedol ledled Cymru. Mae’r cyllid hwn wedi helpu i gadw mannau pwysig ar agor, atgyweirio adeiladau sy’n heneiddio, diweddaru ystafelloedd cymunedol a chynnal cyfleusterau a ddefnyddir ar gyfer cyfarfodydd, gweithgareddau a gwasanaethau lleol. Un gymuned sydd wedi elwa o’r gefnogaeth hon yw Llandyrnog yn Sir Ddinbych.…

This story is also available in Welsh – click here to read it. Community groups can now apply for grants of up to £300,000 to improve local buildings, secure valued facilities and support spaces where people can come together. Since 2015, more than £70 million has supported nearly 500 community projects across Wales. This funding has helped keep important spaces open, repair ageing buildings, update community rooms and maintain facilities used for meetings, activities and local services. One community that has benefited from this support is Llandyrnog in Denbighshire. When the Post Office faced closure, local people stepped in to save it…

WITH growing pressure on GPs and rising demand for preventative personal healthcare, a new service is bringing back the family doctor for families across North Wales. Launching this month ahead of its full opening in January, West End Health is set to redefine local private healthcare. Founded by lifelong friends Aaron Ferguson and Andy Boyd, and Dr Trevor Ferguson, the Colwyn Bay-based service will provide the region’s first premium GP and preventative health membership. West End Health is designed to provide unlimited GP access, same-day appointments, and comprehensive annual health and dental assessments, all without the need to travel to…

Whether you’re looking to hang onto your current car longer or improve its resale value, motorists will face the age-old dilemma of OEM vs aftermarket car parts. The choice can greatly impact how a car performs, its reliability, and even its resale value. While the Welsh drive a mix of urban, country, and coastal landscapes, their vehicles often bear the ugly brunt of wear and tear. By choosing the right car parts, they can help prolong the life of their vehicle. Understanding OEM Parts OEM, or Original Equipment Manufacturer, parts are those created by the same company that supplied the…

Anyone who’s done a proper long-distance drive in the UK knows that it isn’t as simple as topping up the tank and hoping for the best. Motorways can feel endless, the weather changes whenever it feels like it, and half the journey is spent hoping nothing starts making any new noises. For people setting off from Worksop, where most long trips involve at least a couple of hours on the road, getting the car ready beforehand becomes more of a necessity rather than just a formality. Before You Set Off: The Little Things That Matter  Most people do the same…

The UK Gambling Commission has announced new rules for so-called “deposit limits.” These are intended to provide clarity for players and providers. The changes are set to take effect on June 30, 2026, and apply in particular to online providers. The new rules clearly define which types of limits may be referred to as “deposit limits” and which may not. According to the UK Gambling Commission, only those limits that exclusively cover the actual amounts deposited over a certain period of time may be referred to as such. To protect customers, operators must give their customers the option to set…