Author: Rhys Gregory

Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire County Councils have agreed to the creation of a cross-boundary work group to develop solutions to the long-standing congestion issues in the Chepstow area. The working group will develop a series of proposals aimed at improving access to public transport and active travel to provide viable alternatives to the car. The group will also consider the economic and environmental viability and feasibility of developing a proposed by-pass solution and other highway solutions – including the identification of potential funding streams. The councils will use their combined voice to lobby for improvements to the rail network and other…

Minister for Skills, Jack Sargeant, has this week hosted a Skills Summit in North Wales, bringing together key leaders to prepare the region’s workforce for future job opportunities. Industry leaders, education and training providers, and government partners gathered at the Llangefni Campus of Grŵp Llandrillo Menai to focus on how the region can capitalise on transformative projects like the Wylfa nuclear power station and the new AI growth zone. Discussions focused on skills priorities for North Wales,creating clear pathways for young people into rewarding local careers, and upskilling workers already in employment so everyone in North Wales can benefit. The Summit was also attended by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca…

The NHS Wales waiting list has fallen and fewer people are facing the longest waits for treatment, new figures show. The latest monthly fall in the waiting list, a 23,400 drop from October to November, is the biggest monthly reduction on record. It is also the sixth consecutive month the waiting list has been cut. People waiting over two years fell to just under 6,900 – down more than 90% from the peak. Provisional December data suggest further reductions in the overall waiting list, with two-year waits dropping to around 5,300. The number of people waiting over a year for…

Swansea Council is calling on the Welsh Rugby Union to halt its controversial overhaul of regional rugby amid growing concern for the future of the Ospreys. Council Leader Rob Stewart has criticised WRU plans to cut Wales’ professional regions from four to three — a move that would effectively erase the Ospreys as a top‑flight regional team. The WRU has confirmed it has entered negotiations with Y11, the owners of the Ospreys, to buy the Cardiff regional club. Following meetings today with senior WRU and Ospreys officials, Cllr Stewart warned that the proposals threaten both the region’s proud rugby heritage…

Leisure time in the UK has always been varied and eventful. From traditional pub gatherings to exciting evenings at the cinema, Britons have always found ways to enjoy themselves. However, with the development of technology and the growing popularity of mobile games, not only how people spend their free time has changed, but also where. Changes in gambling habits are particularly noticeable, as gambling is now available not only in real life, but also on smartphone screens. For example, the website https://www.sharpgambler.net/ is one such online platform offering gambling on mobile devices without the need to register. In this article,…

The large e-commerce firms based in the UK are operating in an increasingly complex cost environment. Increasing fulfilment and customer acquisition costs, wage inflation, and relentless margin pressure have made profitable scaling harder than it has been in the last 10 years. When most organisations are focused on logistics optimisation or product pricing, one of the most effective and least exploited drivers of sustainable growth is modern payment services. Payments infrastructure can go beyond a transactional utility when used strategically and become a source of efficiency, conversion and profitability in the long term. The Cost Pressures Reshaping UK E-Commerce For…

Something shifted in Wales last year. The numbers tell part of the story—around 55 percent of Welsh adults gamble, with an estimated 10 percent at risk of harm—but what’s more interesting is how policymakers responded. The levy came into effect on 6 April and is expected to raise around £100m a year across Great Britain, with Wales’ share equating to approximately £5m per year.  That’s not massive money in government terms, yet it represents a different approach to managing an industry that smaller jurisdictions can’t simply ignore. As regional frameworks evolve, international platforms like 1xBet Syria demonstrate how betting operators…

The wedding morning sets the tone for the entire day. Long before guests arrive and music starts playing, these early hours shape how calm, confident, and present a bride feels as she prepares to walk down the aisle. For Welsh brides planning weddings in 2026, expectations around the wedding morning are changing. There is a growing focus on calm preparation, realistic timelines, and surrounding yourself with professionals who understand how important these moments really are. Below are practical wedding morning preparation tips, shaped around how weddings are now planned across Wales. Start With a Calm, Light Filled Space Natural light…

The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical has landed at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, bringing gods, monsters and plenty of noise with it. I’ll be honest from the start. I’ve never read the books. I’d done a bit of reading online beforehand, but even then I didn’t fully grasp the story until sitting in the theatre on opening night. On paper, it sounds like this. Percy Jackson is a New York teenager who discovers he is a half blood, the son of the Greek god Poseidon. His world is turned upside down as mythical monsters appear, powers begin to…

The RSPCA is appealing for information after receiving distressing reports of a dog being used to hunt squirrels at Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd. The animal welfare charity has been informed of alleged incidents where a lurcher dog is being used by an unknown male to hunt squirrels – who are then killed. It has been reported that one squirrel – who was still alive after a pursuit – was thrown to a sandy-coloured lurcher by an unknown male for him to be killed. It has been reported that this horrific incident was witnessed by children. RSPCA Inspector Simon Evans said:…