Author: Rhys Gregory

Iceland Foods has announced it will be opening the doors to a brand-new The Food Warehouse store in Merthyr Tydfil on Tuesday 19th May, expanding its product offering and giving local residents a new, enhanced shopping experience. The store is located on Dowlais Top Retail Park, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, CF48 2TA, with the opening generating an estimated 20 additional jobs in the local community. To celebrate the store opening, The Food Warehouse is giving away £1,500 worth of vouchers to the first 150 customers in the queue. With an Iceland store already located on St Tydfils Square, the launch of a new The Food Warehouse store in the area means that local shoppers have even more access to market-leading deals and big-brand products. The Food Warehouse was introduced in 2014, with stores often double the size of traditional Iceland sites, offering a much larger range of goods and bigger packs for even…

A leading further education college in north Wales has secured a £7 million funding package to support the development of a landmark net zero facility and build new student accommodation. Coleg Cambria is one of the UK’s largest further education providers, offering teaching that bridges the gap between education and employment to communities across Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire. To cater to growing demand, it has invested in new facilities at its Llysfasi agricultural campus in Denbighshire, helping to enhance its offering for agricultural learners. Formed in 2013 through the merger of Deeside College and Yale College, Coleg Cambria operates across…

Rising demand for flexible higher education in Wales is outpacing funding, putting future workforce development and access to study at risk, The Open University has warned. The University says its ability to support growing numbers of students could come under increasing pressure without action from the new Welsh Government, despite a sharp increase in learners seeking flexible learning. Thousands more students across Wales are choosing to study flexibly as learners look for education options that fit around work, family life, caring responsibilities, existing careers and growing financial pressures. The shift reflects a broader change in how people access education, with…

Calon Hearts is urging people across west Wales to take up heart screening appointments this weekend that could make a lifesaving difference. Every week in the UK, at least 12 seemingly healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions, often with no symptoms or warning signs. The Welsh charity has already screened more than 34,800 hearts, trained over 600,000 people in CPR and placed more than 37,000 defibrillators in communities across the UK. However, misconceptions about who should be screened remain, with many believing it is only necessary for athletes or those experiencing symptoms. Calon Hearts is working to change…

Members at Bridgend County Borough Council met on Wednesday 13 May for the Annual Meeting of Council to confirm the positions of Leader and Cabinet for the year ahead, and to elect a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Councillor John Spanswick was returned as Leader of the authority, and the following Cabinet positions were also confirmed: Deputy Leader / Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing – Councillor Jane Gebbie Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation – Councillor Hywel Williams Cabinet Member for Education and Young People – Councillor Martyn Jones Cabinet Member for Communities and Environment (Job Share) –…

A new role is being advertised for a passionate change-maker to help decide how up to £20m should be spent to support community-led regeneration in the Upper Afan Valley. The targeted investment comes from the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme (PiPP), which identified Neath Port Talbot as one of nine local authorities across Wales which meets criteria based on levels of deprivation. It aims to improve disadvantaged neighbourhoods by focusing on places with the weakest social infrastructure. The Upper Afan Valley has the highest average rate of deprivation in the County and was therefore chosen by Neath Port Talbot…

Horse owners, keepers, and veterinary professionals are being urged to take immediate precautions following a marked increase in Equine Influenza (EI) activity across Wales and the wider United Kingdom. Equine flu is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among horses, including through the air and over a widespread distance which is why it’s important to take appropriate steps to minimise risk of onward transmission. The Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) team has confirmed that, as of 14 May 2026, there have been 52 outbreaks of equine influenza across 32 counties in England, Scotland and Wales since 1 April 2026. While…

Newport City Council has confirmed that the weight limit for vehicles crossing the George Street Bridge has been increased to 18 tonnes following further investigations and testing. Last summer, surveys carried out on the bridge identified evidence of concrete degradation, leading the council to introduce a temporary 7.5 tonne weight restriction as a precautionary measure. The council has now said that additional investigations and structural testing have confirmed the bridge can safely accommodate vehicles up to 18 tonnes. Despite the increase, vehicles exceeding the 18-tonne limit will still need to use alternative routes. The George Street Bridge is a key…

A Caerphilly project which saw homes transformed into warmer, healthier and more affordable places to live has been recognised at this year’s prestigious Wales Energy Awards, winning the ‘Small Scale Award’. This award recognises a resident-centred retrofit programme delivered at homes in Cefn Ilan, Abertridwr by Caerphilly County Borough Council, in partnership with contractor Joyner Group and designer Michael Dyson Associates Ltd. By combining fabric‑first upgrades, renewable technologies and strong resident engagement, the project eliminated damp and mould issues in homes, improved indoor air quality and increased resident confidence in using new systems. Caerphilly Council was also highly commended at…

At the Annual General Meeting of Blaenau Gwent Council yesterday, key political appointments to the council’s cabinet, committees and outside bodies were confirmed for the year ahead. Councillor Chris Smith was appointed Presiding Member and will chair council meetings, with Cllr David Wilkshire appointed Deputy Presiding Member. Councillor Steve Thomas was re-elected as Leader of the Council and will also have responsibility for Corporate Resources. Cllr Tommy Smith was re-elected as Deputy Leader of the Council and will also hold the portfolio for Neighbourhoods and Environment. The full list of cabinet appointments is: Cabinet Member Corporate Resources – Cllr Steve…