Author: Rhys Gregory

A major milestone has been reached in the transformation of the former Aberthaw Power Station site, with the safe and successful demolition of its iconic chimney stack. Standing at approximately 650 feet (198 metres) tall, the Aberthaw stack was one of the tallest structures in Wales and had dominated the South Wales skyline for more than 50 years. Constructed as part of the power station’s development during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the chimney housed three flues and became synonymous with Aberthaw’s role in electricity generation and industrial development across Wales. Visible from communities throughout South Wales and across…

Cardiff-based Brains Brewery has completed its first major rebrand in seven years with the rollout of striking new chimney-themed beer pump handles and branded pump badges in pubs and bars across the UK. The rebrand marks a significant milestone for the iconic Welsh brewer, blending its rich heritage with a fresh modern identity designed to appeal to both existing customers and a new generation of beer drinkers. Brains partnered with Cardiff design studio Toward to develop the new look, which has been gradually introduced across the brewery’s off-trade and on-trade products and marketing materials over recent months. The introduction of…

One of North Wales’ longest-established vintage organisations is celebrating a major milestone this year as the Clwyd Veteran and Vintage Machinery Society marks its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1976, the Society has spent five decades preserving and promoting Britain’s rich agricultural, engineering and transport heritage. To mark the occasion, the club is inviting visitors to its 2026 Annual Vintage Show, taking place at Oswestry Showground on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June. The two-day event promises a fantastic family day out, with a diverse range of exhibits including steam engines, vintage cars, tractors, motorcycles and much more. Enthusiasts and families…

Facilities management company Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists has secured £150,000 in funding from BCRS Business Loans to support a key acquisition as part of its continued growth strategy across the UK. The funding package, which comprises £75,000 from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund 2 (CIEF2) and £75,000 from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Wales (IFW), has enabled the purchase of Mid Wales-based Hafren Services Limited. The expansion into Mid Wales, through Hafren Services Limited, includes all existing contracts, strengthening Maid to Help Cleaning Specialists’ operational footprint across Wales, helping the company to build further long-term partnerships and…

A Cardiff shop owner and his business have been ordered to pay just under £6,500 after selling a vape to a 14-year-old child. Jihad Abass Subhan, of Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, and his company, Corner Mini Market, were sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 9 June. Mr Subhan did not attend court, and the case was proved in his absence. The case came to light following a sting operation carried out by Trading Standards officers, who use underage volunteers to check whether shops are selling age-restricted products to children. Despite receiving a previous warning from officers of the Shared Regulatory…

A Ford Transit van involved in the fly-tipping of parts of a cannabis farm near Resolven has been crushed. It’s after Neath Port Talbot Council successfully prosecuted four men and a woman following the discovery of waste on land in Rheola Forestry, which is owned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).  They’ve been ordered to pay a combined total of nearly £7,000 (£6,822) by Swansea Magistrates Court after NRW found correspondence within the waste that had been deposited on their land. All five individuals were sentenced on the 21st May 2026. Further details of those involved can be found below. The…

More than 400 abandoned shopping trolleys have been removed from Newport’s streets since the city council introduced new enforcement powers earlier this year. Newport City Council’s abandoned trolley policy came into force at the end of February and has already led to the removal of 424 trolleys from public land between March and May. The policy gives the council enhanced powers to tackle the issue, including the ability to seize and remove abandoned trolleys, store them for up to six weeks, issue formal notices to identified owners and dispose of or recycle unclaimed trolleys after the storage period has ended.…

A Merthyr Tydfil town centre business premise has been handed a three‑month closure order after repeated sales of illicit tobacco and vaping products. On the 11th June, Ronty Mini Market, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, was ordered to close by Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court under section 80 of the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The Closure Order was granted following an application from Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team. The Court were told that Trading Standards had carried out several enforcement operations at the premise relating to the possession and supply of illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes.…

Powys County Council has confirmed that the Household Recycling Centre (HRC) at Lower Cwmtwrch will remain closed following a significant break-in. All residents with bookings have been contacted directly and plans are in place to open as soon as possible. The facility was forced to close after a serious break-in resulted in the theft of equipment, alongside extensive disruption to the site. Police are currently on site carrying out forensic investigations, and a full clean-up operation is required before the site can safely reopen. In addition, stolen stock will need to be replaced. In the meantime, residents can use the…

Young people in Wales will be offered Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccination for the first time, in autumn 2026, as part of a time limited programme. The programme is being introduced as a precautionary measure following the unprecedented outbreak of Men B primarily among University of Kent students in March 2026 and other more recent unseasonal clusters elsewhere in the UK. Men B is the most common cause of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK, and can cause meningitis and sepsis, both of which can be life-threatening. Evidence shows that young people face higher risk of contracting Men B, and…