Author: Rhys Gregory

A man previously jailed for selling thousands of counterfeit cigarettes in Swansea, has been jailed for a second time for similar offences in the city. Adnan Abdullah of Morris Lane, St Thomas, pleaded guilty in Swansea Crown Court to one offence of fraudulent trading, following an investigation by Swansea Trading Standards into the continued sale and supply of counterfeit cigarettes to shops across the city. He has now been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being caught with more than 3,000 packets of counterfeit cigarettes in his car with a street value of more than £15,000. He was also…

The new Haverfordwest signature bridge has opened following a ceremony held on Riverside. The striking signature bridge replaces the old footbridge and is part of the wider Heart of Pembrokeshire regeneration project for the County Town, including the Western Quayside transformation and the public transport interchange. The arrival of the bridge is the latest good news for the project following the recent announcement that local business Tenby Brewing Company will move into the old Marychurch Foundry as part of the Western Quayside development, alongside the Waldo Lounge. Attendees included First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan, PCC Cabinet Members, Prendergast Community…

Construction work on a new specialist care accommodation in Gelli, for people with learning disabilities in adulthood and older age, is continuing to make progress on site. The scheme will be delivered next year, and is a part of the Council’s continued commitment to modernise care options for older people. Work started at the former Bronllwyn Residential Care Home site at Colwyn Road at the end of last year, by the Council’s appointed contractor Langstone Construction Group. The first-class facility will include 14 en-suite rooms with respite provision, built across a lower ground floor, ground floor, and first floor. Modern…

An important place for families to reflect and remember – the first of its kind in the County Borough – has been created at Trealaw Cemetery as part of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s commitment to support bereaved members of its communities. The beautiful Remembrance Area has benches and planters, offering a serene space where lost loved ones can be remembered and celebrated. It also has a Letters to Heaven post box, where people can post letters, cards and messages. It’s the first Remembrance Area of its kind to be completed, but Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has committed to delivering the…

A groundbreaking ceremony for Newport High School’s new 3G pitch, which will be used by learners and the community has been held. Councillor Kate Thomas, the city’s mayor, was in charge of the spade for the first dig, ably assisted by the head boy and head girl. Watching on were council leader Councillor Dimitiri Batrouni; Councillor Deb Davies, cabinet member for education and deputy leader; head teacher Gill Lee and Rob Sidoli, the former Welsh international who is now head of the school’s rugby academy. They also watched a display of skills by present members of the academy which is…

Blaenau Gwent Council has honoured Cymric Netball Club with a special recognition certificate for their outstanding commitment to equality and inclusion within the community. Presiding Member and Equality Champion, Councillor Chris Smith, visited a training session this week to present the team with their award and took the opportunity to net a few balls himself! The award celebrates the club’s dedication to creating a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment for all — both on and off the court. Cymric Netball Club has consistently demonstrated how sport can be a powerful force for bringing people together, breaking down barriers, and celebrating…

Monmouthshire County Council has officially opened a new Assistive Technology Hub at Monnow Vale Community Hospital. The Hub enables council officers, staff from Aneurin Bevan Health Board, and other external organisations to explore the technological solutions available for Monmouthshire residents. The Tech Hub is designed to showcase a range of innovative technologies that support and enable people to live comfortably and securely in their own homes. Visiting the Technology Hub can help professionals identify available equipment that benefits their service users before submitting a referral to the AssistiveTech team. Following the success of the rooms at Chepstow Community Hospital, the…

A showcase of Wales’ top artists and creative industry top dogs have descended on Japan to bolster opportunities between the two countries. More than 20 events and collaborations from Tokyo to Osaka, Oita and Hokkaido include: Gwenno to serenade with her latest album Utopia in intimate gigs, Only Boys Aloud to sing alongside Japanese choirs across the country, Hijinx Theatre performs their award-winning inclusive production, Meet Fred The Super Furry Animals’ Cian Ciaran, in the wake of the group’s recent comeback tour announcement, also joins the mission with his reinterpretation of Welsh classic folklore on self-playing Yamaha pianos. The artist…

Communities in every corner of Wales will benefit from a new fund, worth more than half a billion pounds, to create jobs and grow productivity across Wales. The Local Growth Fund replaces money that used to come from the European Union. Decisions about how the money will be spent will return to Wales, honouring the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to restore decision-making on money that previously came from the EU. The Welsh and UK Governments have agreed a framework which will set priorities and processes for allocating the funds, with a delivery plan developed and led by the Welsh Government.…

Community groups across Wales can now apply for grants of up to £10,000 to help them start a social business or community-led housing project. For over three years, the scheme has supported Welsh-speaking communities with high densities of second homes, with 64 grants awarded across Gwynedd, Conwy, Anglesey, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Even more communities will now be able to benefit from the grant as it opens across the whole of Wales, with funding increased to £400,000 for this year. The Perthyn grant scheme has helped Bys a Bawd Pawb set up as a Community Benefit Society in Llanrwst, Conwy,…