Author: Rhys Gregory

Science Minister Nusrat Ghani has unveiled a new £15 million fund for UK businesses to revolutionise satellite communications technology. The competition, running until next spring, is open to organisations developing ambitious technologies across the satellite communications ecosystem. It will prioritise customer needs, support sustainable growth and catalyse further investment into the UK space sector, which already employs 47,000 people. Ideas can focus on creating entire new satellite constellations, ground systems, or delivering new services to customers, and will be funded through the UK Space Agency’s leading role in the European Space Agency (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) programme.…

A WREXHAM builder is preparing to run a gruelling 250km over five days to raise money for a charity that supports people with their mental health. Shane Crawford, 24, a site manager for Anwyl Homes, will set off on the ‘ultra-marathon’ on November 2 in a group of 25 runners. The challenge involves running an average of 50km a day (31 miles) on planned routes around Bath, Somerset, returning to their base each evening to camp overnight. Shane and his fellow ultra-runners are all raising money and awareness for Wales-based charity bigmoose, who provide support to people around mental health,…

Wales’ biggest festive light trail is back and bigger than ever this winter – with a specially composed soundtrack and a UK premiere in cutting-edge lighting design as its grand finale. Visitors to Christmas at Bute Park 2022 will be the first in Britain to see the brand new iridescent light orb experience ‘Prismatic’, designed by one of the UK’s foremost lighting designers, DBN Audile. It is among a host of new installations being introduced in the event’s second year, alongside a magical ‘Light Canyon’ awash with a thousand mesmerising stars, a lake of light created by hypnotic lasers to…

Over £3.1m – that’s how much has been paid to families across Swansea in recent weeks as part of a scheme to help people heat their homes this winter. Funded by the Welsh Government and run locally by Swansea Council, the fuel support scheme means eligible households are entitled to claim a £200 payment. Since the scheme first went live towards the end of September, the council has processed thousands of applications while also answering hundreds of daily queries by email and phone. More than 15,600 Swansea households have already been paid, with a further 6,000 applications being looked at…

Neath Port Talbot councillors have approved a Rapid Rehousing Plan which is part of a Wales-wide initiative aimed at making any homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated”. Welsh Government published its Ending Homelessness in Wales strategy in 2021. It came after the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a crisis in homelessness and it was felt a radical change and a shift towards early preventative actions and a rapid rehousing model was needed in Wales. Welsh councils are now being asked to transform their homelessness services over the next five years in line with Welsh Government’s ambitions. Rapid Rehousing is an intervention designed…

Two Pembrokeshire footballers have helped Wales clinch a prestigious Street Football win. Tati Richards and Laura Edwards pulled on the famous red shirt at the Street Soccer Nations Cup held in Dundee. Both were key members of the women’s national side that won the tournament plate beating Sweden 4-2 in the final. Laura and Tati are representatives of the Street Football sessions based in Haverfordwest where they have developed to become the first players from Pembrokeshire to represent Wales in this fast-paced format of the game. Tati and Laura joined Street Football sessions offered by the social inclusion charity Street…

Stagecoach’s Michael Evans from the Rhondda was recently crowned UK Bus Driver of the Year 2022 – and says that meeting local people and knowing he’s making a difference to their lives is the most rewarding part of his job. Michael, who is based in the Stagecoach’s Porth depot, had worked as a car salesman for more than 30 years before changing career in 2018. He entered the prestigious competition after it was mentioned to him by one of his colleagues, and he went on to qualify for the national finals having won the local heats. The finals took place…

A range of exciting regeneration projects across the Caerphilly county borough have received a cash boost thanks to a funding decision made by the council’s Cabinet. In total, more than £570k has been allocated towards a number of developments including: New Caerphilly market proposal – £450,000 has been secured to progress exciting plans to create an attractive new market development on Park Lane in the heart of the town centre. The new market will, subject to Welsh Government approval, provide 28 small-scale units and space for additional ‘pop-up’ market traders. Transforming Town Centres – £111,000 has been secured to act…

Local primary school children declared Penallta Reuse Shop open during an official launch last week. The former Penallta Depot has been transformed into a Reuse Shop. This flagship facility provides a great opportunity for items once destined for the Household Waste Recycling Centre to be reused and sold at bargain prices. The Reuse Shop has been launched in partnership with South Wales based charity, Wastesavers. Wastesavers currently have nine Reuse Shops in operation throughout South Wales, however Penallta Reuse Shop is the first to open in the Caerphilly County Borough. Members of the local community, along with key environmental groups…

A drop-in session for the final phase of the consultation aimed at improving the public spaces within Brecon town centre, will take place on Wednesday 2 November, between 3.30pm and 6.30pm at Y Gaer, Brecon. Working together with Amey Consulting and LDA Design, Powys County Council are looking at ways to improve the public spaces within Brecon town centre. The focus is on improving pedestrian priority and experience, improving connections and biodiversity and creating safe, accessible public areas that enhances the unique qualities of the town along the length of the High Street; including the Struet, High Street Superior, High…