Author: Rhys Gregory

Citizens Advice Cymru is calling for more action to assist people falling behind on paying their council tax. Council tax arrears are the most common debt issue we see at Citizens Advice in Wales. As the biggest fixed cost most households have after housing, people can risk falling behind on their council tax payments if their other essential living costs start to strain their budgets. However, rather than help people to get back on track, current regulations governing council tax debt collection, alongside budget pressures that drive in-year collections, mean many people face recovery methods that can worsen debt problems…

Adventure Travel is set to take over two key Vale of Glamorgan bus routes from Easyway of Pencoed following the independent company’s closure at the end of July. Leading South Wales transport operator Adventure Travel has secured agreement with the Vale of Glamorgan council to run the 88 and B3 routes from September 1st and as such, there will be a seamless service provision for both services this summer. Route 88 connects Penarth and Barry via Sully and Cadoxton, while the B3 service operates in Barry, with stops including the town centre and the dock. Adventure Travel, which operates in…

Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid has echoed the call of the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) for the UK government to protect the economy from crisis and support businesses in their recovery. In a speech delivered at the BCC’s global annual conference, Director General Shevaun Haviland said: “Everywhere I go I hear the same stories from businesses. They tell me about the difficulties they have faced throughout this year: increasing cost of raw materials over last summer, supply chain and shipping issues, problems in recruiting people and, by this March, spiralling energy prices. “It really is the…

The Vikings and the Napoleonic Cavalry are coming to Fonmon Castle in the Vale of Glamorgan this summer. The Viking Festival on August 13 and 14 promises all the excitement and drama of sword and shield, with Blaeddau Du Viking re-enactment teaming up with The Vikings Dark Age Re-enactment for an event full of Valhalla and fun. Witness Viking battles and visit the Viking encampment to watch Viking craftspeople at work, meet Viking traders and chat to Viking cooks about the foods they ate. You’ll get to handle swords and shields, feel how heavy their chain mail was, and learn…

The Cardiff Wine Passport (a physical, 16-page keepsake booklet) will cost £25 and entitle each holder to claim a ‘wine flight’ from six different bars and restaurants around the city centre. Intrepid wine explorers will be able to claim a 175ml glass at each venue of their choice, earning a stamp for their passport in return. Valid from the 7th August for six weeks (from Sunday to Thursday), the independent hospitality businesses who’ve signed up to be part of the Cardiff Wine Passport scheme include: Bacareto: A relaxed and informal café bar, inspired by the small bàcari of Venice. Curado Bar:This Spanish deli bar in Westgate street…

A highly visible clock tower has been reinstated at the historic powerhouse building at the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks. In the coming months, the restored building and neighbouring structures will be an additional new home for Welsh drinks specialists Penderyn. The site is being revamped by Swansea firm John Weaver Contractors on behalf of Swansea Council. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “It’s wonderful to see a new clock tower on this very special old building – the tower will become an iconic new landmark for this site.” Work continues on the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks site that’s due to become a new visitor…

Welsh player Mimi Xu made a great start to the Junior Championships, Wimbledon, after being given a wildcard entry. The Swansea ace beat Carolina Kuhl of Germany 7-6, 6-3 in the first round, and continued to showcase her talent by beating Lucia Peyre of Argentina 6-2,6-0 in the second – successfully advancing to the next round. The 14-year-old recently made the headlines when she played in qualification for the senior Wimbledon tournament. Mimi, who is GB National Junior Champion, trains at the LTA National Academy in Loughborough. She is the top ranked under-18 girl in Wales, and in the top…

Cardiff Council has invested over £1.3 million in energy saving upgrades across 11 of its primary, secondary and Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, as part of its work to be carbon neutral by 2030. The initiatives are set to drastically reduce the council’s operational carbon emissions by up to 20% across the 11 sites – Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern, Bryn Celyn Primary School, Glyncoed Primary School, Hywel Dda Primary School, Llandaff City C.I.W. Primary School, Llanishen High School, Mary Immaculate High School, Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, St Illtyd’s High School, The Bishop of Llandaff C.I.W. High School, and Ty…

Football fans searching for a different match-day drink are queuing up for milk from a north Wales dairy farm. Llaethdy Plas Isa Dairy’s milk vending machine outside Glan Conwy Football Club has proved such a hit that a series of table-top ‘filling stations’ have been installed at shops around the locality. Two years ago, the Jones family decided to set up a dairy on their Llansanffraid farm and sell directly to the public after finding a gap in the market for locally produced milk. Rachael Jones, who farms with her husband Huw, said, “We had our milk delivered, but it…

A 20-year-old entrepreneur from Neath Port Talbot is tickling the tastebuds of locals with the launch of her own catering business, thanks to support from the Welsh Government. Poppi Kingsepp, from the village of Jersey Marine, launched Beautiful Buffets at the end of last year from her family kitchen, a place where she’d often find solace during difficult times. With a passion for baking passed down from her mother and grandmother, Poppi’s business offers a range of menus to cater for events of varying sizes. Beautiful Buffets has already proven popular with locals for its ethos of fresh homemade food,…