Author: Rhys Gregory

A historic oak tree in Ruthin is set to have a second chance at life after it was brought down by Storm Darragh. The veteran tree, believed to be over 500 years old, was widely admired by locals and visitors of Cae Ddôl and was a staple at the park for generations. Since then, Denbighshire County Council’s tree team working with Streetscene, have finished works to clear the site of brash and damaged timber and are now in the position to begin the final stage of processing the oak tree. The fallen tree trunk will remain in its historic position…

South Wales Police has confirmed that two men have been arrested following an incident in Pyle earlier this month. On Monday, September 22, two bullets were discovered at a property on Maes Glas, Pyle. Following enquiries, two men aged 20 and 39 from the Bryntirion area of Bridgend were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Both remain in police custody and are being questioned further. For the safety of officers and the local community, firearms officers were deployed during the arrests. A South Wales Police spokesperson said:“We would like to thank the local…

Swansea Council is surging ahead with its work to upgrade roads across the city. Highways teams have completed the resurfacing a main route into North Gower (B4295) between Llanmorlais and Llanrhidian. The resurfacing work will see nearly three kilometres of road resurfaced with the upgrade being completed overnight to avoid major disruption for motorists. The road improvements also follow on from similar work completed in the summer along the same road with 2.4kms of resurfacing being Penclawdd and Llanmorlais and a further 2.6kms completed between Llanrhidian and Oldwalls. Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “The road through…

Pembrokeshire County Council is pleased to announce that construction work on the new Gwêl yr Hafan social housing development at the former Motorworld site on Charles Street, Milford Haven, is scheduled to commence next week, Monday, October 6th. The development, which will deliver 24 sheltered accommodation flats, is being constructed by WB Griffiths on behalf of the Council. The build is expected to take approximately 20 months, subject to site conditions and project progress. To ensure residents and stakeholders are kept informed and have the opportunity to engage with the development, Pembrokeshire Housing Services will be hosting a Community Engagement…

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is helping the town go greener, with classrooms, nurseries and libraries across the borough benefiting from major energy-saving upgrades. The Council has led a programme of improvements including LED lighting, solar power and upgraded controls, creating brighter, more efficient spaces for staff, students and visitors. The work is part of the Wales Funding Programme, funded by Welsh Government and delivered by Salix, enabling public sector organisations to cut costs, reduce emissions and improve everyday environments. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has been working to improve these spaces through a programme of energy saving upgrades across…

Welsh communities are being better protected from the threat of disused coal tips, with over 3,000 inspections carried out so far, and updated data published today (Friday 3 October). In 2023, the Welsh Government published the location and category of disused coal tips in Wales on a single central database. Since then, the Welsh Government continues to work closely with public partners to deliver an effective inspection and maintenance regime across Wales. With tips across Wales now regularly monitored to keep communities safe, updates to the National Dataset are published twice a year. Disused coal tips are given categories, which…

The Welsh Government has agreed a contract with Barratt Redrow to deliver the UK’s largest net zero carbon housing development. It is also believed to be one of the biggest in Europe.  The site, known as Cosmeston Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, will see the delivery of 576 new homes that will achieve net zero carbon through innovative design and technologies. Net zero housing developments aim to create homes that produce as much energy as they consume, significantly reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability. Cardiff University has been appointed to independently assess and verify data that monitors zero carbon…

Renowned Welsh chef Tom Simmons has partnered with local 3D visualisation studio 4Real Creative to digitally reimagine Cardiff’s iconic Park House as a premier dining destination. The Grade I listed building, designed by Victorian architect William Burges for Lord Bute, has been empty for 18 months. Its French Gothic style, once described as “perhaps the most important 19th-century house in Wales”, was home to the acclaimed Park House Restaurant & Wine Bar until it shut down in 2023. The landmark venue is set to undergo a transformation that blends historical heritage with modern dining experiences. Through CGI renderings created by…

European beavers will become a protected native species under Welsh law. The Welsh Government will extend European Protected Species status to European beavers, making it illegal to deliberately harm them or damage their habitats. The legislative changes bring Wales into line with England and Scotland in recognising beavers as a native species requiring protection. The move will also see how European beavers can help create natural flood defences and cleaner rivers across Wales. Recent scientific evidence demonstrates that beaver dams trap sediments and filter pollutants from agricultural runoff, significantly reducing harmful nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways. This natural water treatment…

Swansea Building Societyhas appointed Christopher Rice as the new Branch Manager of its Cowbridge branch. Rice, who joined Swansea Building Society at the start of April this year, brings with him over two decades of financial services experience to his new role. Throughout his career, Rice has held senior sales and managerial roles at major financial institutions including Woolwich, Barclays, Northern Rock, Virgin Money, Seren Financial and The Money Partnership. His expertise includes leading teams, providing mortgage advice, and supporting clients and communities with their financial needs. He replaces David Osterland, who has moved to manage the Society’s Portland Street…