Author: Rhys Gregory

A plan to safeguard the future of St David’s Hall as the National Concert Hall of Wales could see much-needed repairs and refurbishment works worth millions carried out on the building, and a revitalised events programme designed to safeguard the classical music repertoire, while also bringing some of the most celebrated rock and pop artists to perform in Cardiff. A report to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet reveals that the Hall is in need of necessary repair works and significant sums of money would also be required to fully upgrade the venue. However, with Cardiff Council already facing a £53m hole in…

Neath Port Talbot councillors have approved plans to demolish the evacuated Godre’rGraig Primary School after being told it was the only affordable solution available. The school was closed and pupils relocated to demountable classrooms at Cwmtawe Community School in 2019 after geological experts Earth Science Partnership (ESP) discovered a medium level risk to the school from a quarry spoil tip on land above the school. Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Environment, Regeneration and Streetscene Services Cabinet Board meeting on Friday, December 2nd 2022 were given the following three options for dealing with the issue: •    Removal of the Quarry…

Following two years of classroom learnings during the pandemic, Crucial Crew has returned – much to the enjoyment of almost 1,400 year six pupils from 43 Pembrokeshire primary schools. Providing valuable safety advice across a range of everyday situations, Crucial Crew brings together emergency services, agencies and organisations that take children through a series of fun and interactive workshops. The youngsters experiencing Crucial Crew this year join around 35,000 local children who have been through the event in the past 29 years. The two-week long event, which is held at Withybush Showground, is co-ordinated through Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety…

Significant increases in inflation, energy costs and fuel prices are placing unprecedented pressure on council budgets in Pembrokeshire. The council has this week issued a statement, highlighting factors such as compounded interest rate rises, increased demand in children’s social care and continued uncertainty about future government funding. Like all other Councils in Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council is facing the most significant budget pressure in its history. The statement talks of the Authority’s legal responsibility to set a balanced budget. And if they were to remove whole departments such as cultural and leisure services – and their entire environmental services, they…

Public Health Wales is reminding parents that cases of invasive group A streptococcal infection (iGAS) remain rare in Wales, and that children have a very low risk of contracting the disease. The reminder comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Public Health Wales confirmed a number of deaths from iGAS, a rare complication of group A streptococcal infection. In most cases, infection with streptococcal A causes scarlet fever, usually a mild illness. There has been an increase in scarlet fever this year.  In the UK, there were 1,512 notifications of scarlet fever between January and October 2022, compared…

Thousands more people in Wales will benefit from faster diagnosis of cancers and rare disease thanks to a new plan to increase the use of gene testing. Health Minister Eluned Morgan said the new Genomics Delivery Plan for Wales sets out how the NHS can take advantage of the genomics revolution in healthcare. Genomics is thestudy of genes and genetic information and in recent years its use in healthcare has expanded rapidly leading to early detection and prevention of diseases, new treatments and personalised medicines. Ambitions set out in the plan include: Offering more extensive genomic testing and support to…

Wales will become the first part of the UK to legislate against a thorough list of single-use plastics as the Senedd approves legislation to ban selling unnecessary, disposable products to consumers. The new law is a key step in reducing the flow of damaging plastic waste into the Welsh environment and is being introduced following consultation with the public and other stakeholders. Taking effect in autumn 2023, it will give local authorities the power to enforce the offence of supplying or offering to supply the commonly littered items – even when they are free. Wales is currently ranked as the…

The UK Government hub in Cardiff, Tŷ William Morgan has this week, 5 December 2022, been formally opened by David TC Davies MP, Secretary of State for Wales. The creation of the new hub has been managed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of the department’s wider estates and transformation work across the UK.  Spread across 12 floors, Tŷ William Morgan is one of 14 new UK Government hubs across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is the eleventh new regional centre to be formally opened as part of HMRC’s estates programme. Named after Bishop William Morgan…

A new campaign has been created to help ease the financial pressures of smoking. The ‘Switch, Quit and Save’ campaign has been launched to highlight how stopping smoking can not only improve personal health, but can also improve personal finances. The campaign has been launched by the tobacco control organisation ASH Cymru, a charity that offers help and support to smokers across Wales. According to the charity, Welsh smokers face significant costs due to smoking, which becomes apparent when taking the high costs of cigarettes into consideration. According to ASH Cymru, smoking 20 a day could be costing around £84…

A new independent veterinary practice has opened at Parc Pensarn in Carmarthen. Seren Vets has been created by a group of local like-minded vets who share similar values and a common goal: to offer high-quality independent veterinary care for the surrounding community, whilst also looking after their staff and building a happy and committed team. After years of planning by vets Kevin Jones and Katy Peak, the opportunity presented itself to open the Carmarthen practice as part of the Burns Pet Wellness Centre, in new purpose-built premises. Kevin and Katy are joined by Jo Lloyd Davies and Nia Williams to…