Author: Rhys Gregory

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has played a key role in the successful redevelopment of the former Rates building in Aberdare town centre, helping to secure Welsh Government funding to bring the historic site back into use. Working with Morris Property Developments Ltd, council officers supported the application for major grant funding which has delivered 10 modern apartments and a new commercial unit on High Street. All apartments have already been let, while Coco’s Coffee and Kitchen has opened its doors in the retail space, expanding its popular Aberdare-based business. The Grade-2 Listed, early to mid-19th Century building has great historical…

On Saturday 11 October, Newport Food Festival will once again bring the city centre to life for a day of food, drink and fun. With over 90 stalls lining High Street and surrounding areas, there will be entertainment and activities for all the family. The chef demonstrations will bring together some of the best local culinary talent and this year will host not one but two celebrity chefs. Headlining the fantastic line up at Newport Market will be Matt Tebbutt, TV chef and presenter. Matt will be joined by Cyrus Todiwala, Hywel Jones, Carl Cleghorn and Adam Whittle. The demonstration…

The Leader of Caerphilly Council has announced that he is to stand down with immediate effect. Cllr Sean Morgan, who represents the Nelson ward, was elected as the Leader of Council following the May 2022 local government elections. “It’s been a pleasure to lead the organisation over the past 3 years and I am proud of the achievements and improvements that we have delivered together. However, I believe my moral standing does not allow me to be aligned with the Labour Party any longer, therefore I have taken the difficult decision to step down,“ said Cllr Morgan The Chief Executive…

The Merthyr Central Library invites residents and boxing enthusiasts to explore an extraordinary exhibition honouring local boxing hero, Eddie Thomas throughout September, commemorating what would have been his 100th year. The exhibition, running the entire month (excluding September 12th and 13th), offers a comprehensive journey through Thomas’s remarkable life. From his humble beginnings as a coal miner’s son to becoming a celebrated boxer and community leader, the display showcases his incredible amateur and professional boxing career. Visitors can explore the “Clip Corner” featuring archival videos from the National Libraries, providing an immersive experience into Thomas’s extraordinary boxing career. The exhibition…

Landmark legislation to address the safety issues caused by Wales’s mining past has received Royal Assent, becoming law. The Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill was officially sealed by First Minister Eluned Morgan at a ceremony in Blaenavon’s Big Pit. In July 2025, the Senedd passed the Welsh Government’s Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Bill. This modernised legislation will ensure the long-term effective management of disused tips and reduce the threat to public safety. The Bill’s Royal Assent comes following significant funding provided by both the Welsh and UK governments. The UK Government recently agreed to provide record…

St David’s Cardiff will soon welcome the grand reopening of its new and improved LEGO Store, which is set to open its doors on Thursday, 18 September. The redesigned store will be bigger and better than before, offering an interactive retail experience for builders of all ages. Customers will be able to enjoy a range of new features including: A Pick & Build Wall, giving fans the chance to choose their own selection of LEGO bricks and elements. Build a Minifigure Tower, where visitors can create personalised characters. Exclusive LEGO sets and products not available elsewhere. Free build challenges and…

A dog-owner has been jailed for ten months after setting his terriers on badgers and foxes, filming the attacks and posting the footage online. Mason James Paines of Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan, admitted 12 offences of deliberately injuring or persecuting protected wildlife. The RSPCA prosecution was mounted after an investigation by the charity’s Special Operations Unit, following evidence from the Naturewatch Foundation. Judge Lucy Crowther said at Cardiff Crown Court that Paines’ posting of the clips to TikTok, Instagram and Facebook were an aggravating feature of the case. After sentencing, a spokesperson for the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit,…

A Cardiff-based freight expert has launched an industry-first innovation to eliminate costly inland customs stops for exporters in Wales. Europa Road, located in Pontprennau, is rolling out its DAP Flow product which is helping to streamline border trade. For businesses shipping full loads to Europe, customs clearance has become a complex show of detours, delays and cash flow disruption for the end consumer. For Wales, which exports approximately £6.3[1] bn worth of goods into Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France and Germany, disruption puts strain on these businesses’ reputations, and consumers in Europe are now less likely to purchase British-made goods. Europa…

With coffee houses opening on almost every corner of Cardiff, one brand is standing out from the rest — Black Sheep Coffee. Known for rewriting the rules of coffee culture, they are rolling into autumn with a new line-up that mixes street-food favourites, comfort eats, and seasonal drinks that promise to hit the spot. Black Sheep Coffee first made headlines for introducing the UK’s first speciality-grade 100% Robusta coffee and for launching innovations like the Lion’s Mane Latte. Their Functional Latte range helped to bring health-focused coffee into the mainstream. With an ethos rooted in ethically sourced beans, sustainability, and…

Restaurants and fast-food outlets in Swansea called on to take allergies linked to certain foods seriously. The call to businesses in the city follows action taken by Swansea Council’s Trading Standards Team, which has seen two Swansea food business fined by Swansea Magistrates at the beginning of September, for placing unsafe food on the market for consumption. Posing as customers, officers in the Council’s Trading Standards Team placed food orders with both restaurants, declaring they were allergic to specific food ingredients (egg) and asked the businesses to reassure them that their order did not contain those ingredients. On both occasions,…