Author: Rhys Gregory

The RSPCA Cymru Branches understand that it is a worrying time for the owners of American Bully XL type dogs especially those on low incomes. In order to prevent healthy dogs being put down or abandoned  they have come together to offer some financial help to owners to comply with the Law and keep their dogs. From 31 December 2023 breeding, selling, advertising, rehoming, abandoning and allowing an American Bully XL dog to stray will be illegal. From this date, these dogs must be kept on a lead and muzzled in public From 1 February 2024 it will be a…

Funding has been given to a project to fund two police officers and state-of the-art technology to help tackle illegal off-roading. The initiative between Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly councils and Gwent Police has been operating since the start of November resulting in the seizure of 10 illegal off-road vehicles to date. The local authorities have invested £122,220 Shared Prosperity Funding to fund the officers’ posts, as well as a drone, Land drover and quad bike to catch people who ride scramblers, quad bikes and motorbikes illegally on the mountainsides. The project is being led by Torfaen Council and will…

Council has provided a progress report on the major ongoing scheme to redevelop the Muni Arts Centre (Y Muni) in Pontypridd. Work to the building, in partnership with Awen Cultural Trust, started in September – to reopen Y Muni next year as a multi-purpose and fully-accessible events hub. The redevelopment will repair and conserve the 1890s building, with the project designed to expose elements of its stunning gothic architecture. The internal strip of the building, which includes some demolition work, continues to progress well – across the lobby area, ground floor, first floor and staircases. Scaffolding has recently been installed…

A Newport food business operator was fined £5,426 after pleading guilty to serious food hygiene and safety offences. Muhammad Afzal Malik, owner of Top Up convenience store located at 163 Corporation Road, was handed the fines at a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on 14 December. Mr Malik was also ordered to pay costs of £1,500 to the council, bringing his total amount for fines and costs to £6,936. Mr Malik will also face a two-month prison sentence should he default on the repayments. The fine followed successful enforcement action taken by Newport City Council against Mr Malik, and…

There is just a month left to respond to a consultation by Transport for Wales’ on plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and improved cross-border train services. Members of the public have been invited to share their views as part of a 13-week consultation which will close on 14 January. Transport for Wales is looking for feedback on the designs of potential stations at Cardiff East, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor and Undy, including the types of facilities that people would like to see at each station. The consultation is available at: tfw.wales/sew-new-stations Members of…

Quakers Yard railway station will reopen to passengers today, Monday 18 December, following infrastructure upgrade works. As part of the South Wales Metro project, Transport for Wales (TfW) has upgraded the station from a single platform to double, installed a brand-new step and ramped footbridge and installed additional railway track. The extra track and creation of a doubled railway line will allow TfW to run four trains per hour from Merthyr Tydfil into Cardiff in the near future, as electrification of the line continues. The transformation of the Core Valley Lines for the Metro has been part-funded by the European…

A strong friendship between celebrated illustrator Margaret Jones and Prendergast Community Primary School is continuing more than 20 years on. In the early 2000s, the pupils and staff of Prendergast Junior School forged a strong relationship with Margaret when they studied her fantasy book, ‘Nat’. A group of pupils met her at her home and interviewed her and during this visit, Margaret revealed that she had written a sequel to the book, but it had not been published. Keen to find out what happened next, the pupils lobbied the publisher and encouraged Margaret to release the sequel. A friendship began…

A licensed waste carrier who deposited a trailer containing more than a tonne of assorted waste at the pedestrian access to Neath’s Cwrt Herbert Playing Fields, has been ordered to pay £1200 for waste offences by Swansea Crown Court. Christian Astill, 34, of Lon Einon, Penllergaer, Swansea, was ordered to pay a £500 fine, £500 costs and £200 victim surcharge for illegally depositing controlled waste, contrary to section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at Swansea Crown Court on the 08/12/23 after pleading guilty to the offence at Swansea Magistrates Court on the 19/10/23. The Court heard that on…

Work on the new indoor sports barn at Cefn Hengoed Community School and Leisure Centre is continuing to progress well ahead of its opening in the new year. The external shell of the building is now complete and work is underway to install the new 3G pitch inside. It is part of a £7.5m investment that also includes upgrades to the school, leisure centre and a new family engagement centre. It has been jointly funded by Swansea Council, Welsh Government, the Football Foundation, Freedom Leisure and Sports Wales, and supported by partners including the Swansea City AFC Foundation, the Football…

Residents living in Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant have an opportunity to have their say on plans for a proposed housing development in the village, Powys County Council has said. The council is looking to build 18, highly insulated and eco-friendly homes on land to the west of Maes yr Esgob. The proposed development will consist of two three-bed houses, six two-bed houses, six one-bed houses and four one-bed bungalows. A pre-application consultation has now started for the proposed development, which will run until Tuesday, January 16, 2024, to allow interested parties to comment on the plans before a planning application is submitted. If…