Author: Rhys Gregory

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed aspects of the Welsh Governments’ consultation on planning legislation and policy for second homes and short term holiday lets, but warns that these must be enforceable. The consultation proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning Order 1987 to include three separate use classes for primary homes, secondary homes and short-term holiday lets, along with subsequent changes to the Town and Country Planning Order 1995 and primary legislation on how and when planning permission should be required. FUW Senior Policy and Communications Officer Gareth Parry said: “The FUW expressed support for three recommendations…

Denbighshire County Council has received an award for its support of the armed forces community. At a full council meeting on Tuesday (February 22) Air Commodore Adrian Williams OBE who is the highest ranking RAF Officer in Wales, and Tony Fish, Regional Employer Engagement Director (North) presented Chairman Cllr Alan James with the Silver Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Award. The Council is one of 24 Welsh organisations and private sector employers to have received a Defence ERS Silver Award in 2021 from the Ministry of Defence. The ERS encourages employers to support defence and is open to employer organisations that…

Local businesses are invited to submit applications if they wish to trade outdoors in the towns of Ceredigion as we look ahead to the spring/summer season. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions remained on indoor trading, Ceredigion County Council made it possible for businesses to trade outdoors by utilising pavement space and allowing pedestrians to roam the streets safely. Now that the restrictions have eased in Wales, there is no longer a need for such measures. However, many local businesses embraced the outdoor trading element which bought vitality and renewed energy to public spaces in Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay and…

Thomas Spriggs, a PhD research student at Swansea University, is to present his physics research in Parliament, to a panel of expert judges and politicians, as one of the finalists in STEM for BRITAIN 2022. The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee runs the unique, annual event in collaboration with a number of distinguished scientific, learned and professional organisations. It showcases the best of UK scientific research being carried out by early career researchers and is in the only national competition of its kind. Thomas is one of a field of strong finalists in the Physics session of the competition, which is…

Age Cymru is seeking volunteers who are passionate about our cultural sites such as museums, public art works, and parks, to join our newly formed Culture Club and support isolated older people to visit and enjoy such sites. The main aims behind Culture Club, funded by the Welsh Government, are to build the confidence of isolated older people, help them to make new friends, and encourage them to get out and about to safely enjoy our many cultural sites, with the help of a friendly volunteer. The volunteers may travel with the older people, or they may meet them at…

A pioneering centre that provides a fast diagnosis for people with symptoms that could be cancer is expanding following a six-figure charity investment. The Rapid Diagnosis Centre (RDC) opened its doors at Neath Port Talbot Hospital five years ago and is now the flagship centre of its kind in Wales. GPs with concerns about patients who do not have the traditional “red flag” signs of cancer have been able to refer them to the RDC since its launch in June 2017. If a patient is found to have cancer, they are referred to a specialist team for assessment without any…

The East Rhyl Coastal Defence Scheme funded by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government will protect 1,650 properties in East Rhyl from coastal flooding. Works began in April 2020 and were due to end in December 2022, however the scheme has been completed ahead of schedule. The successful placement of 128,000 tonnes of rock armour in front of the existing sea defences at East Rhyl and the newly added 600 metres of sea defence wall and promenade will protect the area from current storms and the impact of climate change. Cllr Brian Jones, the Council’s Lead Member for Waste,…

At the moment there is a high number of rabbits in RSPCA care in Wales and staff are appealing for those considering adopting rabbits to get in touch. At RSPCA Newport Animal Centre, Crunchie, Twirl, Rolo and Twix are looking for homes. They were sadly abandoned in a box in Birmingham back in October and have since been in RSPCA care. Staff at the Newport centre are appealing for two owners for the foursome, so they could go home in pairs. They could happily live with sensible primary school aged children and would be able to live indoor or outdoors…

Fifty new homes have been built at Bellway’s Heron’s Mead development in Newport – and all of them are now occupied by residents. The half-century milestone means the housebuilder has completed just under a third of the 152 properties it is delivering at the development on the former Llanwern steelworks site off Queen’s Way. More than half of the 137 homes for private sale have already been purchased, with a further 15 being provided as affordable housing for rent or shared ownership. Construction work at Heron’s Mead is on course to finish by the beginning of next year. The development…

The Steel Procurement Taskforce presented the findings of its final report to the Steel Council and Ministers, highlighting ways that the steel sector can become more competitive in the UK and globally. The report was discussed at the meeting of the UK Steel Council, which brings together Government and representatives from the UK’s 6 major steel companies, trade unions and the devolved administrations, to support the sector’s transition to a competitive, sustainable and low carbon future. The Taskforce’s recommendations, outlined in their Final Report, aim to help industry to compete for major public projects by developing new technology, improving data,…