Author: Rhys Gregory

A planning application for a windfarm development in north Powys will now be determined by Welsh Government Ministers, it has been announced. Powys County Council has received notification that Welsh Ministers have made the decision to call-in the planning application for the proposed windfarm on land at Esgair Cwmowen near Carno in order to determine the application themselves. The application for the proposed development, which was submitted to the council in 2010, comprises 11 wind turbines (installed capacity of up to 37.95 MW), anemometer mast, substation and control building, site entrance, new and improved access tracks and all associated building…

Cardiff Metropolitan University has become the first university to achieve CIPD People Development Partner (PDP) status. The CIPD recognises organisations that are dedicated to the development of their people professionals through the ongoing alignment of their capability and impact against the CIPD’s criteria, including promoting and investing in professionalism, providing entry points into the people profession, and collaborating with the CIPD to promote and support the people profession. Fewer than 20 organisations across the UK have been awarded People Development Partner status to date. Cardiff Met achieved PDP status by demonstrating its commitment to providing a world-class people function and…

Autumn is here and with October school holidays just around the corner, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding working families to give their childcare budget a treat this Halloween by opening a Tax-Free Childcare account. Parents can use Tax-Free Childcare to help with childcare costs for school holiday clubs, breakfast or after school clubs, childminders or nurseries. It provides working families with up to £2,000 a year per child off their childcare bills for children up to the age of 11, or £4,000 a year up to the age of 16 if their child has a disability. For every…

Radnor Hills celebrates its rich history and raises awareness for breast cancer with a new listing in Tesco stores across the country this week for its award-winning Heartsease Farm brand. The brand, which includes a sparking ginger beer, and a pink raspberry-flavoured lemonade is now on sale in Tesco. Established over 30 years ago, Radnor Hill’s story began with the discovery of a water source in the Watkins family farm. The family-owned drinks company’s Sparkling British Raspberry Lemonade has teamed up for a number of years with the Pink Ribbon Foundation to raise awareness about breast cancer. The Pink Ribbon…

Local resident Melanie Webber Maybank, Hospital Director, has taken over from Rob Thomas, who is now Health Systems Director for Wales and West.  Melanie joined Nuffield Health as Matron nine years ago, after a 25 year career in the NHS. Now leading the healthcare charity’s Cardiff and Vale Hospitals, she is keen to be involved in the community and let people know how healthcare can support people locally. Melanie began her nurse training at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr and then worked at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, University Hospital Llandough in Penarth and at University Hospital of Wales in various nursing,…

ERS, the specialist motor insurer, has unveiled plans to fill 50 job vacancies at its Swansea headquarters over the next few months, as part of a major investment in its biggest office, on the back of rapid growth for the business. The company already employs close to 500 people at its 33,000 sq ft site at Crucible Park, Swansea Vale, which it first moved to in 2015. That move was prompted by the London-based company taking a strategic decision to bolster its Swansea hub, originally set up in 1994, subsequently relocating many skilled roles to Swansea from London. Since then,…

Images show the progress being made in the early stages of the Muni Arts Centre (Y Muni) project in Pontypridd. The exciting redevelopment in partnership with Awen Cultural Trust got underway in September – to reopen the Muni next year as a multi-purpose and fully-accessible events venue. Early activity has seen the works site being set up by contractor Knox & Wells, while scaffolding has been installed to the building exterior and strip-out/demolition works have started inside. The image on the top-right is looking towards the old stage area, and shows how the auditorium linings have been stripped. The bottom-left…

A drug dealer found with crack cocaine and weighing scales in a fast-food restaurant has been jailed. Officers became suspicious of Jac Verallo who was riding around Leckwith on a pushbike while talking on a mobile phone. Believing he was involved in drug dealing, a police officer followed Verallo into McDonald’s near the Cardiff City Stadium. Verallo, 24, tried to run away but was arrested. He was found with crack cocaine, cocaine, three mobile phones, around £1k in cash and digital weighing scales. A search of his address resulted in finding a large amount of grip seal bags and a…

60 of the country’s most innovative farmers made the cut when they became 2023 finalists for the British Farming Awards in August. Showcasing their exemplary practice, these UK farmers are battling it out across the 18 categories up for grabs at this year’s British Farming Awards, which highlight the exciting and pioneering work being carried out across UK agriculture. Sponsored by Morrisons, alongside farming’s core sectors including dairy, beef, sheep and arable there is also a celebration of new entrants coming into the industry, a wealth of diversification businesses, families across multiple generations and social media influencers. The awards also…

Homeless people, refugees and cancer patients across Wales are set to benefit from over £12,000 in funding thanks to dedicated housing association teams who walked over 2,000 miles. Eight housing associations helped raise a total of £12,380 between July and September by taking part in the Hiking for Housing sponsored walk challenge. The challenge, coordinated by Community Housing Cymru – the body that represents 34 not-for-profit Welsh housing associations – saw teams walk a combined total of 2,300 miles across Wales, with each association supporting a different charitable cause. Housing associations which took on the challenge included Valleys to Coast,…