Author: Rhys Gregory

A new BBC Wales programme, voiced by actor, comedian and star of The Tuckers, Steve Spiers, will go behind the scenes as workers race against the clock to deliver Wales’ multi-billion-pound railway refurbishment. In How to Fix a Railway, a BBC Wales crew has followed under-pressure Transport for Wales staff and bosses for three years as they tackle some huge and unexpected challenges to build new trains and electrify 200km of track across Wales and it hasn’t been a smooth journey. Every year 20 million rail trips are taken around Wales and the borders, but the Covid pandemic saw rail…

Researchers at home and away have joined forces for a new international collaboration with the ultimate aim of improving patient care. The Welsh Centre for Emergency Medicine Research, or WCEMR, at Morriston Hospital has marked its fourth anniversary by confirming a new addition to its list of global partnerships – this time in Australia. One of the leading centres of emergency medicine research in the UK and Europe, it has produced more than 100 publications and attracted significant funding for its research. This includes pioneering studies into blood clotting and its effects on patients with serious conditions such as heart…

Menter Môn has installed public Wi-Fi in coastal locations around Anglesey which will benefit fishermen, maritime businesses and businesses associated with the coast. Through funding from the North Wales Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) Menter Môn have installed public Wi-Fi in Traeth Bychan and Porth Amlwch. The installation of the Wi-Fi at these locations further expands the public Wi-Fi network available on Anglesey, which have been installed through projects led by Menter Môn. Elen Foulkes, Menter Môn’s Senior Innovation Officer said: “Installing public Wi-Fi in these rural coastal locations will benefit the fishing and coastal communities, businesses associated with the…

Fast-growth MSP Flotek has revealed the next stage of its impressive strategy with the acquisition of ECS Solutions, a leading telecom service provider and system maintainer based in Chester, expanding the Group’s IT and Telecom service offering to North Wales, the Midlands and North West England.  This acquisition, the sixth since Flotek began in April last year, follows the business’ investment into South East telecoms specialist FlexiNet and furthers its strategic geographic growth to bring customer-centric support and fully integrated IT and telecoms systems to businesses.  Founded in 1985, ECS Solutions has a significant reputation, providing telecoms systems to industry-leading…

Westlife, one of pop music’s most influential boy bands, have confirmed they will headline at Cardiff Castle on Wednesday 5th July 2023. Fans can expect to enjoy the band’s greatest hits “Swear It Again”, “Flying Without Wings”, “World Of Our Own”, “My Love”, “If I Let You Go”, “Uptown Girl”, “Hello My Love” as well as fresh pop anthems from their new album. O2 priority tickets will go on sale this Wednesday from 10am; pre-sale tickets from Thursday at 10am, and general sale will follow on Friday at 10am. Westlife was formed in 1998 and consists of Nicky Byrne, Kian…

Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s Finance Minister, has said protecting public services and the most vulnerable has been put front and centre of the Welsh Government’s Budget. It comes ahead of a debate in the Senedd on the 2023-24 Final Budget later today [Tuesday 7th March]. Key Budget allocations include £227m extra for local government, an additional £165m for the NHS, and a support package for businesses worth £460m over two years. The Senedd will also debate the Local Government Settlement and the Welsh Rates of Income Tax. The Welsh Government has decided now is not the right time to…

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt has visited the Employment Support Hub in Llangefni set up to offer help and advice to those affected by the 2 Sisters announcement. The hub at the Bryn Cefni Business Centre in the town was set up rapidly following the initial announcement, involving a number of organisations including Working Wales, Citizens Advice and Job Centre Plus. The Minister met some of the organisations, affected members of the workforce and Unite the Union at the centre to hear about the support and advice being offered. Following 2 Sisters’ announcement the Welsh Government, in collaboration with…

A public consultation seeking views on making the review process following a person’s death easier and quicker for families has opened. Views are being sought on introducing a Single Unified Safeguarding Review (SUSR) which would integrate Domestic Homicide Reviews, Child Practice Reviews, Adult Practice Reviews, Mental Health Homicide Reviews and Offensive Weapons Homicide Reviews. It would create a single review process, eliminating the need for multiple agency reviews to be undertaken when someone has tragically lost their life or been significantly harmed. By moving to a new process, it will prevent families having to take part in a traumatising cycle…

The Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles, has announced new funding over three years to improve the experiences of further education students with additional learning needs (ALN). The funding will be given to all further education colleges in Wales to help them to implement the ALN Act, which is being phased in over three years and gradually replaces the existing special educational needs (SEN) system. The funding will be used to improve educational experiences and help colleges provide tailored support to students through their individual development plans. It will also support a more consistent approach to ALN…

South Wales Police is continuing to investigate a fatal road traffic collision on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff. Emergency services discovered a Volkswagen Tiguan vehicle at 12.15am on Monday 6th March after the police helicopter, police and fire officers were deployed to the scene. Formal identification has taken place this afternoon and three people who died in the collision have been confirmed as being Rafel Jeanne, aged 24, from Cardiff, Eve Smith, 21, from Newport, and Darcy Ross, 21, from Newport. Two further people were taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where they…