Author: Rhys Gregory

Working in partnership with Glamorgan Hedgehog Rescue, Bridgend County Borough Council is in the process of identifying suitable local nature reserves where hedgehogs can be released safely. The nature reserves are being assessed according to the quality, variety, size and safety of the habitats that they offer.  Before any hedgehogs are released at any of the given sites, they will be deemed as free of disease, fit and healthy.  They will also have been originally rescued from the area surrounding the reserve. https://twitter.com/BridgendCBC/status/1641364648103649280 This partnership between the council and the Glamorgan Hedgehog Rescue, forms part of the Cwm Taf Nature…

With Easter on the Horizon, the Times Newspaper has named Margam Country Park’s adventure playground as one of the best in the UK. The newspaper has honoured it as one of Britain’s seven best adventure playgrounds alongside the likes of Wildplay at Keswick, Cumbria, Lilidorei (the world’s largest play structure) in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, and Tudor Towers in Kent. The Times says of the Neath Port Talbot attraction (best for children aged six to 12): “A mini castle with a watchtower and a huge slide are the standouts at this adventure playground, while younger children will fall…

Repeated non-compliance with food safety legislation and deliberate breaches of statutory notices served by Environmental Health Officers to protect the health of consumers has resulted in suspended prison sentences for two food business operators in Pembrokeshire. Colin James Brown and Donna Brown, who run Shores Seafood at 16 India Row in Monkton, Pembroke, were also served with Orders prohibiting them from managing a food business indefinitely. The sentencing hearing took place at Swansea Crown Court on 24th March 2023, after the couple pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to four offences under the Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 as amended and…

A Blue Plaque in memory of Welsh sports administrator and keep fit leader Jenny Jones has been unveiled at Morlais Hall, Ferndale. Jenny Jones was secretary of the South Wales Keep Fit Association in 1956, secretary and development officer of the Sports Council for Wales in 1975, representing Keep Fit Wales and was also responsible for ‘Keeping Rhondda Fit’ for so many years. Councillor Ann Crimmings, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Member For Environment and Leisure, said: “Jenny Jones had a vision to keep the residents of Rhondda fit and healthy during the war years. With great determination, she developed…

RCT Cabinet has approved a £5.808m programme of maintenance, general works and repairs across local schools next year – as well as details of additional school improvements using separate £4.052m Welsh Government funding. Each year, the Council delivers important enhancements across its schools to ensure the buildings remain safe, watertight and warm – with much of this activity taking place during the school summer holiday. Funding of £5.808m was previously allocated by Full Council for next year’s capital programme. An officer report to Cabinet on Monday, March 27, put forward a proposed Education and Inclusion Services Capital Programme for 2023/24,…

Serial Fly-Tipper, Steven Bouchard has been given a custodial sentence following fly-tipping SEVEN times across Rhondda Cynon Taf. Mr Bouchard aged 38, from Pontypridd was caught red handed fly-tipping across known beauty spots within the County Borough. The serial offender dumped almost 200 black bags of waste across 3 locations, namely, Engine House Road, Llanwonno, Penrhys Forestry, and Pen-y-Wal Road, Llanwonno. The waste consisted of large amounts of cannabis waste and related materials, including venting pipes, heat lamps, soil and other items. The offender was a licenced waste carrier – which highlights a key issue in this case and could…

A Caerphilly based manufacturer has been officially opened by Vaughan Gething MS, Minister for Economy. Atlantic Service Company welcomed the Minister for Economy, last week as he officially opened their newly refurbished premises in Gellihaf, Caerphilly. The prestigious site opening was part of the Welsh Government Minister for Economy’s promotion of the Explore Export Wales conference, which Atlantic Service attended as an Exemplar following their recent export successes, with customers in more than 50 countries around the world. Having experienced huge growth in the last decade, the manufacturer – who supply bandsaws and handsaws to the food industry – had…

Maxime Cinema is the independent movie theatre located on Blackwood High Street that has been in operation since 2007. The cinema caters for all age demographics with an excellent variety of food and beverages available, including a licenced bar, making it a great setting for entertainment of the whole community. It is also a large employer for the area employing over 10 full time staff and 12 part time staff. Having been impacted over the last 2 years with the COVID closures, they are gradually starting to build back on customer numbers since restrictions were lifted. Before COVID they were…

A time capsule burying ceremony has been held on the site of the brand new King Henry VIII 3-19 School that is being built in Abergavenny.Pupils from Deri View Primary School created items to let future generations know what life was like in 2023, including information about the current Deri View Primary School. Year five and six pupils produced beautifully written letters, artwork, handprints and stories. Children enthusiastically collected photos, exercise books and other objects to represent current times. Pupils wearing PPE placed the capsule into the ground, and took it in turn to cover it with soil. The children…

Mid Wales businesses and organisations who are thinking ahead about their future workforce needs recently came together for an engagement day, Grow – Define – Deliver Together where the Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership Employment and Skills Plan 2022-2025 was officially launched. Held by the Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership (RSP), the event was an opportunity for businesses to network and explore the opportunities around upskilling, training and apprenticeships and guidance around procurement and tendering. Emma Thomas, Chair of the Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership said: “I’d like to thank everyone who attended the event. As a business-led partnership, we wanted…