Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh Government is to launch a consultation on phasing out greyhound racing in Wales, in a “huge moment” for dog welfare. On Wednesday (15 February), the Minister for Rural Affairs, who is responsible for animal welfare in Wales, confirmed to Senedd members that she has now responded to a recent Petitions Committee report, which saw a majority of Members back phasing out the sport in Wales. The Minister confirmed she has accepted, or accepted in principle, all recommendations from the Committee – bar one. Recommendations supported by the Minister include “that Welsh Government action should include a phased ban…

With half-term – February 20-24 – fast approaching Swansea residents are being urged to try out some of the city’s many free trails. Local activities can keep families entertained – both indoor and outdoor – with a large number being free of charge, according to Swansea Council. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “With the days staying lighter for longer there’s no better time to enjoy a host of fun in and around our own city.” 7 things to do in Swansea Visit the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery – Here you can check out the latest exhibition as the gallery presents…

Seven varieties of native ferns have been planted at a new fern garden at Pembroke Mill Pond in the latest green enhancement to the town. The garden is tucked away in a shady corner of the Mill Pond walk near the town walls – providing perfect growing conditions for the plants. The fern garden was created by volunteers from Roots to Recovery programme, a people-led project all about the restorative powers of Pembrokeshire’s amazing outdoors. The new garden will make a significant difference to a previously overgrown and neglected area, as Maisie Sherratt explains. “The before and after photos above…

Newport City Council’s Cabinet has agreed how it will spend its 2023-24 budget. In December last year, a number of proposals went out to public consultation and the response from the public was excellent says the council, with thousands of responses received. Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader of the council, said: “We have promised to be a listening council and I was pleased with the level of response this year. It has been one of the most challenging budgets we’ve had to set in recent years, and it was vitally important that everyone had their opportunity to contribute. Every response was…

The Leader of Caerphilly council has welcomed the news that Welsh Government has signalled its support for improvements to address long-standing problems with the A469 between New Tredegar and Pontlottyn. The road at Troedrhiwfuwch has been impacted by significant ground movement following an initial landslip back in 2014. Since 2020, single lane traffic restrictions have been in place, causing disruption and inconvenience to the local community. The council has been lobbying Welsh Government over recent years and a report published this week (14/2/23), entitled ‘The Future of Road Investment in Wales’, recommends the green light for an A469 improvement scheme.…

A new app will provide those visiting Wales’ Montgomery Canal with a real walk on the wild side this winter. Launched earlier this year, the free app, ‘Canal Safari’, has been developed by local conservation charity, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (MWT). Part of a collaborative project called Canals, Communities and Wellbeing, the app aims to enhance the visitor experience by bringing them closer to the waterway’s wealth of wildlife. “We’re so lucky to have the Montgomery Canal on our doorstep. Not only is it a vital resource for wildlife, it’s also a fantastic space for people to get closer to nature…

Since Storm Dennis hit Wales in February 2020, the Welsh Government has provided more than £194m to help with the risk of flooding. This includes more than £13m for Local Authorities to help reduce the risk of flooding for over 6,500 properties. It also includes more than £9.3m in emergency funding which has been provided to Natural Resources Wales and Local Authorities to repair critical flood infrastructure. In addition to this, as part of the Cooperation Agreement with Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Government has also committed to its largest ever flood programme. This includes investment for flood and coastal erosion…

More two-year olds in Wales are set to benefit from funded childcare as scheme expands with £10 million of further Welsh Government funding. The extra funding is part of a phased plan to expand early years provision to all two-year-olds in Wales, with a particular emphasis on strengthening Welsh-medium provision. This is a commitment in the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru. The new investment will see an additional 2,200 children benefit from Flying Start childcare in 2023-24. Flying Start helps families with young children in the most disadvantaged areas of Wales and includes free, part-time quality…

Fancy a new car? Chances are you will probably have to sell your old one first. If you are buying then you need to make sure you know if the price you are paying is a fair one, and if you’re selling then knowing how much to ask will ensure your car is snapped up quickly, meaning you can move onto your new one sooner. Used car pricing has been a challenging process in the last couple of years, with several things impacting the values that used cars have been attracting. Almost without exception, used car values have been heading…

Gambling has long been considered a controversial topic, with some people believing that it can lead to addiction and other negative consequences. Although gambling, as a whole, can also have various detrimental consequences, there are some ways it can also help someone’s well-being, besides just adding to their financial ability. Nevertheless, the popular belief that online gambling is bad is gradually shifting as more people, including experts, continue to see its positive sides, and not the financial benefits that it comes it. Recent studies have shown that online gambling can have a positive impact on your mental state. But how…