Author: Rhys Gregory

Neath Port Talbot Council Cabinet members have approved a wide ranging £3.23m programme of improvements, repairs and maintenance to footpaths, roads, bridges and drainage in all parts of the county borough. The council’s Environment, Regeneration and Streetcare Services Cabinet Board approved the comprehensive programme at its meeting on March 3rd, 2023. The proposed package of works is contained in the council’s Highways and Engineering Works Programme for the forthcoming financial year (2023/24). The programme will involve: Bridge Strengthening (£300,000). Drainage (£300,000). Carriageway Resurfacing (£1,115,000). Carriageway Micro Surfacing (Preventative treatment for roads keeping them in good condition) (£70,000). Carriageway Surface Dressing…

A Pembroke Dock man has been jailed for breaching a Court Order imposed after he was convicted of multiple animal welfare charges in a case brought by Pembrokeshire County Council Sean Burns of Rose Hill Lodge, Bramble Hall, Ferry Lane, Pembroke Dock, appeared in Court on Thursday March 2nd and was sentenced to eight months in prison. Burns was convicted for breaching an earlier Order, made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which disqualified him from having any involvement or influence over the care or welfare of animals. The Order, which amounted to an indefinite ban, was imposed in February…

New EV charging points are now operational at three more Council car parks – Abercynon Park and Ride (pictured), Glyncoch Community Centre and Porth Park and Ride Phase 2. Regional contractor Connected Kerb is in the process of installing EV facilities at 31 car parks in Rhondda Cynon Taf, with five locations now completed. The 31 sites are being delivered using funding secured via the Cardiff Capital Region, Welsh Government and UK Government. Further updates will be provided on social media as more sites are installed and ready to use.

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements, raises awareness about discrimination and encourages individuals and organisations to take action to drive gender equality. Newport Civic Centre will be lit purple on Wednesday 8 March to mark the event which this year is focusing on embracing equity. The words equity and equality are often used interchangeably. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and are allocated the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. Councillor Jane Mudd, leader of the council, said: “Women…

The Welsh Government has confirmed that a spring Covid-19 booster vaccination programme will begin on 1st April for the most vulnerable, including people over 75. Following advice from the expert Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the vaccine will be offered to: adults aged 75 and over residents in care homes for older adults, and individuals aged 5 years and over who are immunosuppressed. In addition, the Welsh Government has announced that the universal offer of a Covid-19 booster will end on 31st March. Higher risk groups and people who develop a new health condition that makes them eligible…

The drug development process is a topic you wouldn’t overhear being talked about too often unless you work in the medical field. Most people would have no idea, and a few might throw around important keywords like clinical trials and drug research. Regardless, drug development is an essential process in the medical field. It stands to reason that it must be done as efficiently as possible to quickly create and distribute helpful medicine to eradicate people’s suffering. While there are a lot of steps involved in the drug development process, the critical phase where most optimisation can be applied is…

GRAFMARINE is testing revolutionary solar energy cells in Equatorial waters. Based at M-SParc in Gaerwen, Anglesey, and Manchester, the company is piloting its NanoDeck AI Solar tile management solution in partnership with Carisbrooke Shipping Ltd, which operates a fleet of multi-purpose vessels from offices in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Grafmarine Director and Founder Martin Leigh said they have come up with a solution which will support the International Maritime Organisation’s urgent requirements for a cleaner renewable alternative power source to reduce the sector’s substantial impact on the environment due to greenhouse gas emissions. “NanoDeck challenges the current reliance…

In the Welsh Wind’s award-winning premium gins will feature at an exclusive Harvey Nichols food and drink event in Manchester this week. The Cardigan-based distillery will have a team at the luxury store’s Taste on Two soiree, which is being held on Thursday, March 9. It will be the first time In the Welsh Wind has taken part in Harvey Nichols’ Taste on Two, having secured a deal with the luxury store last October to stock two of its premium gins. At Taste on Two, guests will be able to sample In the Welsh Wind’s gold medal Signature Style gin…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service has welcomed its first wellbeing and trauma therapy dog. Border collie Dill and Katie McPheat-Collins, Service Manager for the Emergency Medical Services across Central Wales, have become affiliated with the Oscar Kilo 9 (OK9) wellbeing and trauma therapy scheme, a UK ambulance first. OK9 was launched in 2019 by The National Police Wellbeing Service, which aims to build on local police wellbeing dog services to make them available to all forces who wish to introduce a dog as part of their wellbeing provision. Dill has passed the assessments set by OK9 and achieved all of the…

The Green Digital Academy, a project that supports North Wales businesses to reduce their environmental impact, has supported over 50 companies to date. Led by Busnes@LlandrilloMenai, the academy was funded by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund in 2022 to work with businesses in the hospitality, tourism, social care, creative industries and manufacturing sectors across Gwynedd and Anglesey. Following substantial business and stakeholder support, the academy  is now working with the next round of companies in anticipation of growing the innovative project through the £126m UK Shared Prosperity Fund held by local authorities in the region. The academy provides expert…