Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales & West Utilities has joined forces with the rest of the UK’s gas distribution networks and Fuel Bank Foundation to provide a pathway to help people living in fuel poverty. The gas emergency and pipeline service for Wales and south west England has partnered with Cadent, Northern Gas Networks and SGN in committing to providing the charity with a combined £500,000 fund over two years to support households in a fuel crisis. The money will be used to provide same or next day emergency financial support to people struggling to top-up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meters. Fuel Bank Foundation will also provide additional ongoing…

A group of students at a college in south Wales have created the first ever language app for refugees and asylum seekers. AILEM has been created to provide knowledge and education to support the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in integrating into society. The app is the result of a year-long project by students at UWC Atlantic College in Llantwit Major. Abobakar, 18, is a refugee from Afghanistan on a full scholarship at UWC Atlantic, and co-created the app with his classmate Zakarya, who is also a refugee, alongside their fellow students Lucia and Xinyao Liu. “Unemployment, discrimination, poverty…

A Mountain Ash man and woman have been sentenced after they caused their two dogs to unnecessarily suffer. Kenneth George Thomas (d.o.b 20/04/1964) and Denise Kimberley Warner (d.o.b 21/06/1973), of Hazel Terrace, Perthcelyn, Mountain Ash, appeared at Merthyr Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 13 April, and faced two offences under the Animal Welfare Act. Both defendants had pleaded guilty to these at the first hearing. The offences were that they caused unnecessary suffering to a brindle Staffordshire bull terrier type dog called Sheba, and also a dog called Vinnie, by failing to provide sufficient nutrition for their needs. In a witness…

RCT Council has now resumed its work activity at Station Road in Treorchy to strengthen key structures that provide support to the road – with site setup underway and the main work getting underway in early May. Last year, an important repair and maintenance scheme got underway to the Nant Cwm Parc Cantilever and Institute Bridge, which support A4061 Station Road. With work taking place in and around the river, the scheme was paused over the winter months to adhere to seasonal environmental restrictions. The Council’s contractor Walters Ltd returned to the site from April 19, in order to begin…

In fact, Wales play on Saturday in all five rounds of the competition, both home and away, featuring in the first match of the day on two occasions. The men in red open the 2023 tournament hosting the Irish in round one and then begin the weekend of fixtures in round four when they take on Italy in Rome for another 2.15pm kick-off. There are no Friday night fixtures for anyone this time out and Wales have also avoided Sunday matches altogether, so their second round visit to Scotland on the 11th February – as the second match of the…

Transport for Wales (TfW) customers are being encouraged to check their journey details as an increase in train services comes into effect in May. From Sunday 15 May, a new rail timetable will be in place across the Wales and Borders rail network. This will include the return of a number of services across North, Mid and West Wales that were removed from the timetable as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a boost to capacity ahead of a summer tourist season. While the times of many services will be unaffected, customers should still ensure they double-check their departure,…

The new High Sheriff of Clwyd has pledged to work with schools across North East Wales to help keep young people on the straight and narrow. Zoë Henderson, 60, a former executive with the giant US-based Dow Chemical Corporation, has hit the ground running by arranging a series of meetings with head teachers at the area’s secondary schools. She held the Declaration to begin her year in office at historic 15th century Nantclwyd y Dre, in her home town of Ruthin. Her own education began at Llanbedr village school in the Vale of Clwyd before going on to Ysgol Brynhyfryd…

FARMERS have warned of impending food shortages as the cost of living crisis impacts on food production. Gareth Wyn Jones, a farmer from Snowdonia, told GB News today that producers are reducing their output due to the increased cost of fuel, fertiliser and feed. He said: “We’re sleepwalking into food shortages and that’s a fact. “I could take you to ten farms in the surrounding area now that are turning down their production – chicken farmers, egg producers, milk producers, even beef and lamb because feed prices are going through the roof. “We’ve got absolutely ridiculous fertiliser prices and we…

A swan has been rescued after being spotted by a RSPCA wildlife officer during a patrol with the police in Milford Haven. RSPCA wildlife officer, Ellie West, was travelling with a Dyfed-Powys Police PCSO as part of Operation Seabird – a campaign which urges people to be responsible around coastal wildlife, when they came across the unwell swan on Thursday 14 April. The swan was found near the Castle Pill area Milford Haven, and clearly looked unwell. Ellie said: “We were getting ready for the action day and planned some leaflet drops and chats with people but we got a…

In celebration of National Tea Day (21 April), Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales has revealed the first thing that 19% of new homeowners in Cardiff do upon receiving the keys to their new home… Make a cup of tea or coffee! According to a recent survey conducted by the local housebuilder, a cuppa is the first thing on the agenda ― closely followed by getting the bed made up (13%), opening a bottle of something to celebrate (13%) and ordering a takeaway (11%). What’s more, each new home comes with a welcome pack containing both teabags and biscuits…