Author: Rhys Gregory

Wines from vineyards across Wales have been recognised by the Welsh Vineyard Association at its 2022 award ceremony. The Welsh Wine Awards saw six wines from four Welsh vineyards take home accolades across the event, which was held at Llanerch Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan. A total of 12 vineyards entered this year’s awards, representing a proportion of the growing Welsh wine industry, with around 30 vineyards currently operating across the country. The competing wines were split into seven classes: white, rosé, red, sparkling white, sparkling rosé, best Welsh PDO/PGI and the Best Overall Wine and were judged by…

The Autumn Statement’s inclusion of a new “Tesla tax” is in contradiction to the Government’s stated plans to continue its campaign for UK drivers to switch to electric vehicles (EVS). According to the UK’s premier used car buying service, ChooseMyCar.com, the Autumn Statement includes a decision to no longer exempt EVs from the £335 “premium supplement” on new cars. That means that any person buying an EV worth £40,000 or more could have to pay a whopping £520 for road tax, despite being the greenest option. Recent research, commissioned by ChooseMyCar.com, suggested that many UK drivers were keen to swap…

Rebecca Evans, the Welsh Government’s Finance Minister, has said today’s Autumn Statement will mean people are paying more for less. The Chancellor’s statement confirmed tax rises for people across the United Kingdom along with deep spending cuts in future spending review periods. Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility have indicated the biggest fall in disposable income since records began, with household incomes not expected to get back to pre-pandemic levels until 2028. Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: “We should be under no illusions; this statement confirms we are in a deep recession. Real incomes are…

A Cardiff-based sculptor has been appointed to deliver the first piece of public art to be created at Plasdŵr, Cardiff’s ‘garden city for the 21st Century’. David Mackie, from Roath, Cardiff, has been commissioned by lead developer Redrow Homes to create a unique piece of public art for the entrance of the Gateway Linear Park, the ‘green gateway’ to Plasdŵr which will lead to its residential areas, schools and commercial centres. The initial concept for the commission at the Gateway Linear Park focuses on the history of Penrhys Pilgrimage Way, which starts at Llandaff Cathedral and leads to the shrine…

At a meeting of the Snowdonia National Park Authority committee this week, Members voted to use the Welsh names of Eryri (Snowdonia) and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in both Welsh and English contexts. A paper on Place Names Principles was also adopted as a guide for the Authority on the use of place names within the National Park. A five thousand strong petition calling on the National Park Authority to formalise the Authority’s use of the Welsh names Eryri and Yr Wyddfa boosted the Authority to take decisive action. The petition was instigated in response to a proposal by Councillor John…

Residents have moved into new homes at the site of the former St Cuthbert’s Church in Butetown, Cardiff. Not-for-profit housing organisation United Welsh worked with Cardiff Council and M&J Cosgrove Construction to build St Cuthbert’s House, a development of one and two-bedroom apartments for affordable rent which are in high demand in the capital. One of the new residents at St Cuthbert’s House is Davina Driscoll, who has happy memories of the area. Davina said: “I used to go to the old St Cuthbert’s church and school, so it’s nice to come back to where I’m from. “I wanted to…

A West-Wales farming couple have been successful in securing funding from Triodos Bank UK to expand their already successful diversified farm, and take it off-grid. Geraint and Christine Thomas, of 80-acre Bargoed Farm in Llwyncelyn, Aberareron, first established themselves as a successful camping and caravan site in 2016, providing over 50 serviced hardstanding pitches (many of which have private hot tubs). In the years since, they have expanded the business to include the Moody Cow farm shop and bistro – selling locally sourced food and drink, which are well used by both tourists and locals alike. A very popular indoor…

Superstar footballer Gareth Bale has become a shareholder of Penderyn Distillery and will be a global ambassador for Penderyn’s spirit brands. Bale, who is on his way to the World Cup as the pivotal player in the Welsh football team, is proud to be creating this world-class partnership with the internationally acclaimed Welsh business. Penderyn Chief Executive Stephen Davies said, “It is a combination of two global Welsh brands. Gareth Bale is an ambassador for Wales as a nation all around the world, and Penderyn is renowned for world-class award-winning Single Malts and other spirits and is now distributed in over…

A Carmarthenshire headquartered fuel supplier has donated in excess of £250,000 worth of fuel to its most vulnerable customers this winter. In September, Oil 4 Wales announced it would be donating a one-off delivery of 800 litres of oil to its customers aged 80 years old or over to ensure they were kept warm over the winter months. Thanks to its eligible customers who contacted their local depots to take part in the scheme, Oil 4 Wales’ forecasted pledge of £75,000 towards heating fuel was surpassed, with over £250,000 being donated over the past two months. With the scheme exceeding…

Do you know someone who regularly goes the extra mile for others, is an outstanding charity fundraiser, has performed an act of great bravery, or has put the local area on the map by achieving something special over the past 18 months? As the year draws to a close, the Mayor of Bridgend County Borough is seeking nominations for the Mayor’s Citizenship Awards 2023, where individuals, groups or businesses will be acknowledged for their outstanding achievements. Previous winners have included two brave young brothers who saved their mother’s life, following her suffering a seizure at home; a 10-year-old who, having…