Author: Rhys Gregory

A 10-year-old girl from Swansea who has grown-up welcoming children into her family home has won a top national award. Since before she was born Emilia May Armstrong’s parents have been foster carers. Over the years it has meant Emilia has seen more than 20 children come and go, greeting each with the same enthusiasm and kindness, sharing her toys and her life. Her selfless attitude has seen Emilia win the Outstanding Contribution by Sons and Daughters Award at The Fostering Network’s annual awards. Emilia’s family started to foster before she was born and have been fostering with Foster Wales…

Martin Nicholls who has been serving as interim Chief Executive since March this year, was appointed Chief Executive by a full meeting of councillors at a meeting on November 21. Mr Nicholls took up the interim role following the retirement of predecessor Phil Roberts. Rob Stewart, Leader of the Council, welcomed the appointment and said: “Martin’s appointment as chief executive is richly-deserved. He has been an excellent interim Chief Executive who has the respect of colleagues, councillors and others across local government in Wales. “As interim chief executive and director of place before that, Martin has helped lead the authority…

A museum and culture expert has recommended Neath Port Talbot Council should retain Cefn Coed Colliery Museum and make it a visitor attraction and gateway to the local area as part of its developing Heritage Strategy. The museum, near Crynant in the Dulais Valley, is currently closed due to health and safety issues requiring more than £1m of remedial building works. Museums and culture consultant Chris Delaney, of Chris Delaney and Associates, was appointed to look at future options for the museum, which in 1930, was the deepest anthracite mine in the world. The Welsh Government owns the land at…

Pembrokeshire County Council was delighted to host the Pembrokeshire Spotlight Awards 2022 on 11th November 2022 at the Merlin Theatre, Pembrokeshire College to celebrate the achievements of Pembrokeshire’s young people. The Spotlight Awards are a collaboration between the Youth and Social Services departments of Pembrokeshire County Council. This year’s event was the first since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Huge congratulations and thanks go to the young people from Pembrokeshire Youth Assembly Children and Young People’s Rights Office who have also been involved in organising the event and shortlisting the nominations, including Cameron, Ffion, Grace and Habeba. This was…

With winter just around the corner, Caerphilly County Borough Council would like to assure residents that they are ready for winter. The Council has 13 gritters available to use, all of which can be fitted with a snow plough if needed and around 9,000 tonnes of grit in stock ready to treat roads during the frosty nights. Trained staff monitor weather forecasts plus information from 5 weather stations based at Rhymney, Markham, Hafodyrynys, Caerphilly, and Ystrad Mynach. The decision to grit is based on a number of factors including road temperature, air temperature, rainfall and the possibility of snow and…

The Gwent-wide Nature Isn’t Neat and Gwent Green Grid Partnership (GGGP) have been shortlisted for the Landscape Institute Awards 2022 to be celebrated at the end of November. The Landscape Institute Awards is one of the biggest events in the industry, celebrating people, place and nature, and the many ways that landscape projects can connect them. It celebrates spaces that people can be truly proud of, with there being over 200 entries in total this year, including 53 from international entrants. The Gwent Green Grid Partnership was entered for a Partnership & Collaboration award which recognises exceptional work in landscape. The Gwent Green Grid Partnership…

“Recycling is what we do”. Those were the words of Climate Change Minister Julie James as she set out major steps Wales will take to combat the climate and nature emergencies. The Minister announced plans to increase the quality and level of recycling from businesses, the public and third sectors in Wales, ensuring they separate key recyclable materials in the same way the majority of Wales’ householders already do. They will build on the vast improvements Wales has seen in recycling rates thanks to Welsh Government investment of £1bn since devolution. The results speak for themselves with municipal recycling rates…

Two Dolgellau men have been disqualified from keeping dogs for five years after they caused unnecessary suffering to their pet dogs by failing to provide veterinary treatment. Andrew Lloyd Pugh of Tyn Y Coed, Ganllwyd, Dolgellau, and Dominic John Thomas of Ffordd Heulog, Dolgellau, appeared at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on Wednesday 16 November for sentencing. It follows an earlier hearing on 19 October where each of the men pleaded guilty to one charge each under the Animal Welfare Act following an investigation into suspected wildlife crimes. Pugh pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dark brown/black female terrier known…

Cardiff shoppers have a new convenience store in town! One Stop is now open at 121 Schooner Way, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF10 4EQ. The brand-new store opened on Thursday 17th November with a special launch celebration on Saturday 19thNovember attended by members of the local community. Customers joined in with the celebrations, with branded One Stop hessian shopper bags handed out to the first 50 customers. Five lucky customers also got their hands on Golden Tickets that were hidden around the store and walked away with a £20 One Stop voucher each! Customers filled the aisles, delighted to…

Put up your trees and bring your cheer because Christmas in Newtown is back as Focus Newtown Enterprise Hub announces its second Christmas Market after a successful run last year, which saw over 400 people shop and support local businesses. Situated on the 3rd floor of the iconic Pryce Jones Building, the Christmas Market will take place on 4th December between 11:00-17:00, and along with plenty of stalls there will be fun for the whole family including a choir singing all the festive hits, a Santa’s grotto for that perfect photo opportunity, wreath making opportunities, food and drink and so…