Author: Rhys Gregory

A&E admissions in Welsh capital shaped by queue jumping and alcohol consumption, research suggests Violence in night-time environments might be caused by people jumping queues, research by Cardiff University suggests. Scientists from the University’s Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute, the School of Medicine’s Central for Trials Research and School of Mathematics used mathematical models to understand why people end up in A&E with assault injuries. They found evidence suggesting that queues at places like bars, taxi ranks and fast-food outlets, when mixed with alcohol consumption, were associated with increased violence and in admissions to A&E at University Hospital Wales,…

Tarian, the south Wales Regional Organised Crime Unit, working with southern Wales police forces and partners have made 269 arrests and seized more than 460 kilograms of drugs during 2022. Tarian are responsible for tackling serious and organised crime across southern Wales and managing the threat posed from crime types such as firearms supply, county drugs lines, child sexual exploitation, cybercrime and modern day slavery. During 2022, investigations by Tarian have resulted in 269 arrests, 211 criminals being jailed for a total of 763 years and approximately 469kg of drugs have been removed from the streets. Tarian have also supported…

The Walnut Tree Inn, the iconic Michelin-starred restaurant near Abergavenny, has been named ’Timeless Classic’ in Food & Travel Magazine’s Reader Awards. The prestigious Food and Travel Reader Awards have been running since 2012, and the 2022 ceremony was held at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall, London. Celebrating the very best from the world of food, drink and travel, across 23 categories, restaurants, chefs, hotels, destinations, tour operators, cruise companies and airlines were among those honoured. Legendary chef Shaun Hill, who’s been at the helm at The Walnut Tree since 2008, says: “I’m so pleased to win this category. It reflects not just…

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is collaborating with industry leading AV providers to install two innovative, state-of-the-art immersive rooms, providing its students and partners with world leading learning spaces which transform education. Working with AV partner, IDNS, and part funded by the Higher Education Council Funding Wales (HEFCW), work is underway to install the first new learning spaces of their kind in Wales at the University’s  Carmarthen and Swansea campuses.  The Immersive Rooms will utilise the latest Samsung LED screens across three walls creating a fully immersive virtual and augmented reality user experience. Once complete, these learning…

Plans to erect a statue of three legendary Welsh ‘Rugby Codebreakers‘ in Cardiff Bay have been approved. Billy Boston Clive Sullivan Gus Risman The statue celebrating Billy Boston, Clive Sullivan, and Gus Risman will be erected in Landsea Square in Mermaid Quay. All three players grew up within a three-mile radius of the Cardiff Bay area and went on to become some of the country’s greatest sporting heroes. Established in 2020, the ‘One Team. One Race: Honouring the Cardiff Bay Rugby Codebreakers’ project behind the statue was inspired to begin fundraising for a statue following calls from the Butetown and…

A business from Cwmbran has been ordered to pay over £3,000 in fines and costs after being found guilty of repeated fly-posting offences. Mabe’s Guttering and Cleaning Services was prosecuted by the council after committing 28 fly-posting offences over a five-month period. The offences took place across Newport and came despite the council issuing several warnings to the business. The owner of the business, Kyle Mabe, 35, was found guilty in his absence at Newport magistrates court of 28 counts of breaching the Highways Act 1980, by leaving an unauthorised mark on a highway. Mr Mabe was handed a £2,500…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee has endorsed a strategy which sets out how empty private homes will be dealt with. The ‘Private Sector Empty Homes Strategy 2023 – 28’ sets out the Council’s plans to tackle the issue of high number of empty homes in the county borough.  It also sets out a range of initiatives available to the Council to help owners bring their empty homes back into use. A 6 week public consultation exercise was undertaken where residents were asked to give their views on proposals contained within the draft strategy.  Of those who…

Twelve members of staff from Ysgol Gymraeg Gilfach Fargod have come together to support Dylan Williams, a Year 2 pupil who has been diagnosed with Leukaemia. Staff worked together to climb Pen y Fan enough times so that the total amount climbed adds up to the height of climbing Mount Everest. As Mount Everest is 8848m, and Pen y Fan, when climbing from Pont ar Daf car park, is 446m, Pen y Fan needed to be climbed 20 times between the group. The idea was developed during a staff meeting. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) had raised money for the…

A Merthyr Tydfil shopping centre built in 1970 is set for a 21st century transformation after being purchased by the County Borough Council. As part of the authority’s 15-year town centre ‘Masterplan’, St Tydfil Shopping Centre will get a new look – and residents, businesses and shoppers are being asked how they would like to see it change. The redevelopment will also include a revamp of the original bus station site at Glebeland, next to the shopping centre, which was demolished with the opening of the new Merthyr Tydfil Transport Interchange. “Based on proposals in the Town Centre Masterplan, we’re…

A young man with additional learning needs who is particularly passionate about ice hockey, is helping community sport clubs in north-east Wales boost the number of people taking part in sport by becoming an apprentice sports coach, thanks to the support of the Welsh Government’s shared apprenticeship scheme. As the annual National Apprenticeship Week gets underway, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething is encouraging more firms to consider how an apprentice can help them boost their businesses. Taking place between 6-12 February 2023, National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships and the value they bring to employers and learners…