Author: Rhys Gregory

Popham Kidney Support, the Swansea-based charity, has unveiled its latest fundraising event: Wally’s Way, a dinner commemorating ten years since the passing of its namesake, Paul ‘Wally’ Popham. This one-off event is taking place on October 20 at Morgan’s Hotel, Swansea, also marks the charity’s tenth anniversary providing an array of support services including financial, informational and emotional support to kidney patients and their families throughout Wales. In honour of Wally, the evening will be hosted by the renowned Swansea figure, Kev Johns. The event features a drink upon arrival, a 3-course meal, and guest speakers including Swansea football legends,…

Following an investigation by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), Bridgend based window and UPVC fitter Jordan Klein Jones has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after defrauding 22 customers out of thousands of pounds. In a case brought by Bridgend County Borough Council, Jones’ company (KJ Windows Limited) cold called many of its victims and took money for works and materials without ever returning. In situations where work had actually been carried out, it was often of a poor and even dangerous standard. Cardiff Crown Court heard that victims were regularly given a string of excuses such as the weather, Covid-19,…

Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas has welcomed this week’s news that Wales will host matches at the finals of a major senior international football tournament for the first time. In a ceremony in Switzerland today, UEFA announced that the UK and Ireland’s bid to host the 2028 UEFA European Championships has been successful. Wales has previously hosted major sporting events, including the UEFA Champions League Final in 2017, boxing, the London 2012 Olympics and the Rugby World Cup final.  EURO 2028 will be the first time matches in the finals of a major senior men’s international football tournament are…

Swansea Canal Society has reached a major milestone in its work to regenerate the historic Swansea Canal. After several years of work by volunteers and supporters, a previously infilled section of the waterway in Clydach has become a water-filled mooring basin. It flooded for the first time on Friday in an event attended by funders and project supporters, including the council. Also unveiled was a launching ramp for use by canoeists, and a by-wash water channel that will maintain canal water levels. The work was made possible thanks to the Welsh Government Brilliant Basics programme administered by Visit Wales, with…

An investigation into the remnants of a cannabis farm being dumped on Natural Resources Wales land near Blaengwynfi, in Port Talbot’s Afan Valley, has cost a Caerphilly man nearly £2,000. Peter Darmanin, 50, of Penyfordd, Caerphilly, pleaded guilty at Swansea Magistrates’ Court to an offence of failing to comply with his Duty Of Care, when disposing of waste under s34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He told Neath Port Talbot Council Waste Enforcement Officers that through his contractor, he arranged for the waste to be removed by another business, from a house in Margaret Street, Blaengwynfi, of which Mr…

Neath Port Talbot Council has welcomed an announcement from the National Lottery Heritage Fund which will see the county borough benefit from a share of £200m to help transform the area’s heritage through a new Heritage Places initiative. Neath Port Talbot is one of the first nine places set to benefit from the funding that aims to unlock the potential of their heritage. Building on almost 30 years of experience, research and learning from the largest funder of the UK’s heritage, Heritage Places will provide early funding to engage communities and develop partnerships which unlock possibilities from the heritage on…

People from across Rhondda Cynon Taf are invited to come together and pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country at the Pontypridd Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service. The event is being held in partnership with Pontypridd Town Council and will take place in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park on Sunday, November 12th and will include a parade through the park involving people of all ages from a range of community and military organisations. The parade will start at 10.35 and will culminate at the War Memorial where a service led by the Reverend Charlotte Rushton…

Plans that could help Powys County Council meet the aims of its Strategy for Transforming Education will be considered by Cabinet later this month, it has been announced. The council is looking to continue to deliver the next wave of its Transforming Education Programme, which was relaunched last year along with an updated version of the Strategy for Transforming Education in Powys. The latest plans, which will be considered by the council’s Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, October 17 and by Cabinet on Tuesday, October 24, are: Plans for Newtown schools Proposal to close Irfon Valley C.P. School…

More than £158m will be shared by over 15,600 farms across Wales as Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2023 advance payments are made today (Thursday 12 October), Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced. The announcement means over 96 per cent of claimants will see a BPS advance payment worth approximately 70% of their estimated claim value. This year, for the first time, Rural Payments Wales (RPW) will be making BPS advance payments during a payment window. The new payment window which opens tomorrow will run until 15 December. Farm businesses not receiving an advance payment tomorrow, but whose claim is…

Nearly half a million pounds of extra finance has been invested into the Caerphilly Enterprise Fund following a decision by the Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund Board. The funding, which will be split £370k Capital and £70k revenue, has been secured to support small and medium businesses who have applied for assistance through the popular scheme. Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Prosperity, Regeneration & Climate Change said: “Having visited businesses all across the county borough, it’s clear this fund is really offering real – terms assistance. In the first year, CEF provided financial support to seventy-eight businesses,…