Author: Rhys Gregory

Roger Stapleton, 75, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, March 8, for 15 sexual offences, committed over a 13-year period. They included: Rape of a child under 13 Sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13 Sexual assault by touching of a child under 13 Sexual assault by touching Possession of category A indecent images of a child Making an indecent image of a child Detective Constable Julia Page said:”Roger Stapleton abused his victim over a significant period of time, with the abuse starting when they were only 5 years old.  “He took advantage of them at…

The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail has taken a step forward today – with news that a design and build partner is set to be appointed, to deliver the detailed design for the first phase of the scheme from Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay railway station. Cardiff Council’s Cabinet will receive an update on the scheme at its meeting on Thursday, March 21, with recommendations to procure and appoint a delivery partner to deliver the first phase of the scheme, and to give authority for the council and Transport for Wales (TfW) to start the consultation and engagement process with…

A new plan to improve six key bus routes into Cardiff city centre, designed to boost passenger numbers and deliver quicker journey times, has been revealed. The Bus Infrastructure Plan, which sets out a series of possible on-street interventions aimed at improving key bus corridors into Cardiff, will be discussed by the council’s Cabinet at its meeting on Thursday, March 21. The plan, that has been produced in consultation with Cardiff Bus, Transport for Wales, and other operators, sets out a series of improvements which could make bus travel quicker and more reliable. If approved by Cabinet, authority will be…

Pupils from Afon y Felin Primary School and Ysgol Cynwyd Sant have recently navigated their way through to the UK finals of the Formula 1 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Challenge, which will be held in Rotherham on March 12. Encouraging the use of cross curricular skills, the Formula One (F1) STEM engineering project is based on building and modifying a model F1 car.  Project lead at Afon y Felin Primary School, Andrew Brown, said: “This has been a wonderful, inclusive, STEM experience which has enriched my teaching experience as a newly qualified teacher.  It has also been the…

Schools in Merthyr Tydfil county still have time to sign up to the UK’s largest walking, wheeling, scooting, and cycling to school challenge. Taking place from the 11th to the 22nd of March 2024, Sustrans’ Big Walk and Wheel inspires pupils to make active journeys to school, improving air quality in their neighbourhood and discovering how these changes benefit the world around them. The event sees schools compete each day to make the most journeys by travelling actively to school and is seeing its 15th anniversary by celebrating the success enjoyed across the years for pupils, parents, and schools. The…

The Welsh Government will be investing £1m to create a network of car clubs to connect rural communities, Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters announced today. The move comes as part of plans to meet ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions with aims for public transport, walking and cycling trips to account for 45% of journeys by 2040. Today’s announcement builds on steps the Welsh Government has already taken to improve accessibility in rural communities, such as the response led Fflecsi bus service. The car club schemes, which provide an easy and affordable way for people to share the benefits of…

A memorial garden in Senghenydd, which commemorates those who died in the worst disaster in the history of British mining, has been given the “recognition it deserves” and formally acknowledged by the Welsh Government as the National Mining Disaster Memorial Garden of Wales. The village’s garden of remembrance was officially opened on the 100th anniversary of the 1913 disaster when 439 miners were killed after an explosion tore through the Universal Colliery. Now, it has been added to the Statutory Register of Historic Parks and Gardens for Wales and received endorsement from First Minister, Mark Drakeford and the Deputy Minister…

Landmark legal proposals to increase the proportion of women standing as candidates in future Senedd elections were published yesterday (11 March). The Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill aims to make the Senedd more effective by being more representative of Wales. The Bill delivers on recommendations made by the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform, which were subsequently endorsed by a majority of Senedd Members in June 2022 and reflects the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. If the Bill becomes law, political parties putting forward more than one candidate in a constituency at a Senedd election…

Britain’s Got Talent fans are in for a treat this month as singing sensation, Tom Ball takes to the stage at Llanelli’s Ffwrnes on Friday 22nd March at 7:30pm; the only Welsh date of his Curtain Call: ‘Featuring Songs from Stage & Screen’ Tour. Tom has transformed from the humble teacher who first appeared on our TV screens on Britain’s Got Talent to the global performer he’s fast becoming. His eagerly awaited debut album, Curtain Call will be released in May 2024. The album promises a fantastic mix of self-penned songs and classic covers, showcasing Tom’s powerful vocals as he celebrates his…

One of the star attractions at this year’s Wonderwool Wales, the award-winning show that celebrates all that’s great about Welsh wool and natural fibres, will be an engaging display of felted birds. The ‘Flock2Flight’ display, which measures 10 metres by three metres, is the creation of fibre artist Janna Turner and two friends, Alex Johnstone and Deborah Taylor Dyer. Wonderwool Wales is being held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on April 27 and 28, with 220 exhibitors. Both Shepton Mallet based Janna, who runs Flocks2Felts, and Alex are no strangers to Wonderwool Wales. Janna was project lead…