Author: Rhys Gregory

Expectations for the housing market in Wales remain positive despite a slower market in November as uncertainly around the UK Budget impacted on confidence, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey. A net balance of -23% of survey respondents said that there was a fall in new instructions to sell in November, down from the 6% seen in the October survey.  It was a similar story with new buyer enquiries with the net balance also moving from positive into negative territory in November. There was also a marginal slowdown in sales last month, with…

Cymru fans are being urged to secure their seats early as the FAW confirms the ticket sales process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off pathway. Rob Page’s side will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a crucial semi-final on Thursday 26 March, before meeting either Italy or Northern Ireland on Tuesday 31 March in a play-off final or international challenge match. Both fixtures will take place at the Cardiff City Stadium with a 7.45pm kick off. The FAW has introduced a new pricing structure for the play-off fixtures, with all profits from international matches now being reinvested into grassroots football…

An ex-husband and wife who oversaw a drugs operation supplying large quantities of cocaine to dealers in Swansea and Ammanford have both been sent to prison. 44-year-old Phillip Jones, from Brynhyfryd, Swansea, and 53-year-old Lisa Regan, from Portmead, Swansea, laundered their illegally gotten cash through a café in Blaenymaes. Images obtained from mobile phones owned by the pair showed Phillip Jones cutting up one kilo of cocaine. Regan was arrested after officers conveyed her off a plane post-flight. Jones pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to supply cocaine, concealing criminal…

A 19-year-old Gwynedd man has been jailed after admitting to deliberately driving his car into another male outside a café in Bethesda. Thomas Baker, of Glan Ogwen, Bethesda, appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for sentencing earlier yesterday (Wednesday, 10 December). The incident occurred outside Caffi Seren on Bethesda High Street on the afternoon of Monday, 18 August. The 37-year-old male victim was left lying unconscious on the pavement after a white Audi A3, driven by Baker, collided with him at speed. Prior to the collision, the victim and his friend had been involved in a physical altercation with Baker and…

Last Friday, the Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Licensing Team carried out a taxi licensing operation  – Operation Beccles – alongside our colleagues from the Swansea Council taxi licensing team. The date coincided with the first day of this year’s Op Advent, which involves policing activity to ensure that visitors can enjoy the city centre’s night-time economy during the festive period, as well as an Operation Chirk day of action, which saw outstanding suspects brought into custody. During the evening, marked police vehicles patrolled the city centre and identified Hackney carriage and private-hire taxis to be brought back for spot-checks…

Transport for Wales has now electrified 99% of the railway lines in South East Wales as part of the South Wales Metro. Overhead wires across the Rhymney railway line were switched on this past weekend, signifying another major milestone for the project, as well as the recent official opening of the South Wales Metro depot at Taff’s Well by His Majesty King Charles. Since 2023, the Rhymney, Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr, Coryton and Caerphilly railway lines have all been electrified, with the final section of railway along the Cardiff Bay line planned to go live from early 2026. Dubbed the ‘Welsh…

Cardiff Council is exploring bold new ways to tackle congestion and further improve air quality in the city, by exploring an alternative option to a congestion charge, a Workplace Parking Levy.Although the air quality in Cardiff is far better than it ever has been, further work is required to reduce harmful pollutants, reduce congestion, and provide much-needed investment in public transport. The three-step business case process for a Road User Payment Scheme, which can take several different forms began in April 2023, examining various charging options in detail. More recently the Council has completed the first stage of the process,…

Plans to address long-standing problems caused by ground movement on the A469 between Pontlottyn and New Tredegar have been agreed by Cabinet. Cabinet agreed to commit £20 million using a combination of repurposed budgets and borrowing, to fund the major engineering project. Leader of Council, Cllr Jamie Pritchard said, “I’m pleased that in the few short weeks since becoming Leader of the Council, I have delivered on my promise to seek the funding needed to get this work done. We recognise the significant impact the road is having on residents and businesses in the Uper Rhymney Valley, so we are…

Merthyr Tydfil’s eagerly awaited new Indoor Market will open its doors this Saturday, 13th December, just in time for the Christmas trade! The new market, located in St Tydfil Shopping Centre, will see a mixture of traditional stalls and exciting new food offerings located within the refurbished building that was once the ground floor of the former Wilko premises. This exciting project has come to fruition following the Merthyr Tydfil Placemaking Plan consultation in Summer 2024, where we listened to the community’s suggestions to re-locate the current indoor market. The Council’s Regeneration team have also worked closely with existing traders…

Organisations across Mid Wales are now invited to submit proposals for new capital projects to help shape a strengthened regional investment pipeline. The open call is now live. The purpose of the pipeline is to identify, support and prepare a range of high-impact, investment-ready projects that can help drive long-term economic growth across the region. It will provide possible options for investment through the Mid Wales Growth Deal, but also position Mid Wales strongly for future funding opportunities and wider private sector investment. This pipeline-led approach will support the region in bringing forward proposals that are ambitious, deliverable and capable…