Author: Rhys Gregory

A multi-agency operation arranged and led by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards Team has led to the seizure of hundreds of cigarettes, tobacco, illegal vapes, toys and two vehicles. Officers from the council’s Trading Standards and Waste Enforcement Teams working with South Wales Police carried out a series of raids following the receipt of intelligence received about the sale of illegal vapes and illicit tobacco and the disposal of associated business waste. Illicit tobacco was found hidden in concealments in business premises and in vehicles parked nearby, detected by thorough searching and the use of sniffer dogs. Illegal disposable…

Theatr na nÓg’s award-winning musical Eye of the Storm is set to return to Swansea this autumn, following overwhelming demand that has seen its six-week schools’ run sell out months in advance. The award-winning production, written by Geinor Styles with songs by Grammy Award winner Amy Wadge, runs at the Dylan Thomas Theatre from 16 September to 25 October. First performed in 2017 before touring the UK and Hong Kong, Eye of the Storm will break new ground this year with its first Welsh-language performances. The translation, Dal y Gwynt by Gwawr Loader, will be performed both for schools and,…

Health and Care Research Wales is launching a new three-year action plan to increase diversity and inclusion in health and social care research in Wales. The plan will be launched this week by the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Professor Isabel Oliver, at a special event at the Senedd, where a new partnership between Health and Care Research Wales and Oxford University’s Centre for Research Equity (CfRE) will also be announced. Healthcare inequalities are a continuing challenge in Wales. Factors such as ethnicity, disability, age and deprivation can all influence health, even before people become unwell. For example, women born…

Life Sciences Hub Wales has announced the appointment of Elinor Williams as the new Head of Marketing and Communications. Elinor joins Life Sciences Hub Wales from a distinguished career at Ofcom, bringing a wealth of experience and strong relationships with stakeholders across government, industry, and media to strengthen our reputation in Wales. Elinor was the face of Ofcom in Wales for many years, representing the organisation in all parts of Wales and in a wide variety of contexts from meetings in village halls to Senedd Committees and media interviews. During her time at Ofcom, she succeeded in nurturing long-term relationships with…

A heartwarming wave of community collaboration has helped transform a retail space in Penarth into a shop that will provide Ysgol y Deri learners with valuable work experience. Volunteers from Morgan Sindall, CS Flooring, Ian Williams Carpentry, Whiteheads Building Services and the Vale of Glamorgan Council offered their time, resources and skills to bring the new Hubbub shop to life. The Hubbub shop aims to create a welcoming and functional space where pupils can gain hands-on experience in retail, customer service, and shop management, all within a supportive and inclusive environment. Stacey Long, Post-16 Transition Lead at Ysgol y Deri,…

A Cardiff business has been ordered to pay over £8,000 for two waste offences linked to the dumping of 15 bags of rubbish outside their business on Splott Road, Cardiff. White Rose Funerals and Memorials Ltd were sentenced in their absence last Thursday (11 September) at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court for two offences that took place on 12 January 2024 and 26 November 2024. The case came to light when eight green recycling bags and seven black bags of commercial waste were discovered outside the premises during routine inspections by waste enforcement officers. The company, which did not hold a commercial…

Pontypool-based Freight Logistics Solutions (FLS) is set to expand its operations and create up to 20 new jobs as part of a seven-figure funding package from NatWest. The funding has enabled FLS to refinance and return to full private ownership while driving forward ambitious expansion plans across the UK and Europe, following the acquisition of Logiquanta in Lithuania. This strategic move strengthens FLS’s presence in European markets and supports further growth at its South Wales headquarters, with new roles being created to facilitate expansion. Founded in 2016, FLS has grown into a leading logistics partner, offering tailored delivery solutions through…

This week, representatives from the British Medical Association’s Welsh GP Committee gave evidence at the Health and Social Committee’s ‘Future of General Practice’ Inquiry at the Senedd, highlighting the precarious state of the service. The inquiry was established in response to the BMA’s ‘Save Our Surgeries’ campaign*, which calls on the Welsh Government to provide a rescue package for general practice and invited GPs from across Wales to discuss the issues affecting the sustainability of their practices. At the inquiry, Dr Gareth Oelmann and Dr Ian Harris, Chair and Deputy Chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP committee, shared evidence from…

McDonald’s on Queen Street, Cardiff, which is owned and operated by local Franchisee Ralph Parker, has reopened after a ‘Convenience of the Future’ redesign, which promises to deliver a better customer experience for all. With consumers increasingly looking for greater speed, efficiency and choice when ordering their food, McDonald’s ambitious ‘Convenience of the Future’restaurant revamp programme will combine a new restaurant layout with the latest technology to create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for customers. Improvements have been made for restaurant crew with a redesign of the crew room which will create a more relaxing and comfortable space for…

A new exhibition has opened at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth to mark 60 years since the controversial flooding of the Tryweryn valley to create a reservoir to supply water to Liverpool. The ‘TRYWERYN 60’ exhibition brings together powerful images and artistic responses to this tragic moment in Welsh history. The exhibition features striking photographs by renowned photographer and journalist Geoff Charles, who captured the passionate protests against the flooding, the final days of the community and the lasting impact of the loss. Alongside these are contemporary works of art inspired by this dark and difficult chapter in Wales’ past that…