Author: Rhys Gregory

Coleg y Cymoedd will host a culinary event celebrating Italian cured meats on Tuesday 25th February (from 10:30am), as part of an international educational initiative led and organised by ITA – the Italian Trade Agency – in collaboration with ASSICA (Associazione Industriali delle Carni e dei Salumi – Association of Italian Meats and Cured Meats). The event – Italian Salumi, The UK Contest – will feature a live cooking competition involving three culinary students, each challenged to create an original dish with Italian cured meats as the central ingredient – a chance to demonstrate technical skill, creativity and contemporary presentation.…

Browne Jacobson has appointed Matthew Kemp as Partner in its real estate team, marking the tenth partner appointment this financial year as the firm continues its strategic expansion. Matthew joins from Shoosmiths, bringing expertise in real estate investment transactions, acting for investment advisors, fund managers, asset management companies, family offices and corporate occupiers on acquiring, managing, financing and disposing of real estate assets throughout their life cycle. He has led UK-wide projects and acted as real estate lead on cross-discipline and cross-jurisdictional matters, with clients highlighting his ability to cut through complexity and find solutions. Matthew is recognised in both…

A LEADING North Wales care provider is marking 25 years of service with continued expansion across the region – while warning that a deepening crisis now threatens the future of domiciliary care in rural communities. The Meddyg Care Group says its growth and future plans are now being undermined by severe staffing shortages following the scrapping of the Health and Care Worker Visa, which removed a key route for recruiting trained care staff into both domiciliary services and nursing homes. The firm has grown into a major employer, operating specialist nursing and dementia homes in Rhyl, Criccieth and Porthmadog, alongside…

A celebration is due to take place to mark the 200th anniversary of Menai Suspension Bridge being opened. The public event, which is being co-hosted by Bangor University and the Menai Bridge Community Heritage Trust will explore the fascinating story of the groundbreaking piece of civil engineering. It will take place on Saturday 31 January in the Main Arts Lecture Theatre at Bangor University, between 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The day will feature a series of engaging talks delivered by Bangor University academics and volunteer historians from the Trust, who will delve into the origins of the bridge as…

Macauley Cotterill, 28, from Ely, has been sentenced to three years and eight months in prison following his conviction for drug-related offences. The sentencing took place on Friday January 9, 2026, at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court where Cotterill pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and acquire/use of criminal property. The case stems from an arrest of a separate man on Saturday November 29, 2025, who was being offered cocaine for sale from a mobile phone number. Enquiries were completed and the mobile phone number was later identified as belonging to Cotterill. On Thursday December 11, 2025, officers…

A woman has been taken to hospital with serious injuries following a collision in Llandudno yesterday, Tuesday 20 January. At 11:43am, police were informed of a collision involving a pedestrian and a Blue BMW 1 series on Charlotte Road, outside of B&Q. Emergency services attended the area, which resulted in the pedestrian being taken to hospital where she remains. A 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and currently remains in custody whilst enquiries are ongoing. The road was closed for initial collision investigation but has since been re-opened. Sergeant Alun Jones of the…

A food business operator has been fined following a successful prosecution by the Vale of Glamorgan Council for serious and repeated food hygiene breaches at a mobile food premises at Barry Island Pleasure Park. The case was brought by Shared Regulatory Services, which also carries out trading standards, licensing, health and safety, animal welfare and other work for the Cardiff, Bridgend and Vale Local Authority areas. Mr Jamil Ur Rehman, a sole trader operating Fish, Chips and Burgers, pleaded guilty to 11 out of 14 food hygiene offences relating to the operation of the mobile food concession. Council officers first…

Neath Port Talbot Council is warning residents to beware of traders “cold calling” at their homes. The warning comes after the Council’s Trading Standards team received reports of cold callers operating across the county, approaching residents to carry out work on their property. Consumers have more rights when purchasing over the doorstep. For work carried out at a resident’s home that is more than £42 in value, traders are required by law to provide cancellation rights. This gives 14 days for contracts to be cancelled. Trading Standards are also urging family and neighbours to look out for the more vulnerable…

Views are now wanted on a new long-term plan that will guide where homes, jobs, infrastructure and major investment should be located across Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea over the next 25 to 30 years. This follows the Corporate Joint Committee for South West Wales approving consultation on a Draft Delivery Agreement for a Strategic Development Plan, which also covers the area of the Brecon Beacons National Park that falls within the region. Giving residents, communities and organisations the opportunity to help shape how the region grows and develops in future, people can head here to submit feedback by 5pm…

Residents in Mountain Ash may soon see early site works getting underway on land off Darran Road, as final preparations are made for the construction of a new, modern care development for older people. The main phase of construction is expected to begin in February 2026. The scheme is a joint project between the council and Codi Group, formerly Linc Cymru, and has already been granted planning permission. It will deliver 25 extra care apartments, 15 dementia residential care beds and eight later living bungalows, providing a range of high quality accommodation to support older residents in the area. The…