Author: Rhys Gregory

Mass strandings of pilot whales may be linked to disruption to their family groups new research has suggested. Recent genetic analysis in both the northern and southern hemisphere by a team including academics from Aberystwyth University challenges existing thinking as to the role of social behaviours in mass strandings of these animals. Mass stranding events in cetaceans – a group of marine mammals including the whale, dolphin and porpoise – have been reported since the times of Aristotle and there has been a long drive to understand what causes them. Long-finned pilot whales – a gregarious species with complex social…

As part of the charity’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, the RSPCA has revealed it received more than 100 reports of animals being abandoned every single day throughout 2021 and sadly these figures are on the rise this year. A total of 38,087 abandonment reports were made to the charity’s cruelty line last year across England and Wales – an average of over 3,000 reports a month, 104 a day or four abandoned animals every hour. In Wales there were 2,509 abandoned animals reported to the RSPCA in 2021. This included 279 alone in Rhondda Cynon Taff, 191 in Caerphilly and…

Cardiff’s Summer of Fun continues to keep thousands of children and their families amused, educated and active and a series of camps at Ysgol Glantaf in north Cardiff saw around 150 young people try their hand at a wide range of sports. The programme – a series of organised events during the school holidays funded by the City Council – includes free-to-attend events throughout the city, all designed to appeal to youngsters of all ages and abilities. The sports camps at Glantaf were run by Wales’ largest youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru whose coaches guided around 50 youngsters a day…

Visitors to Aberafan Shopping Centre will be greeted with a full-size replica of a Battle of Britain Mk I/II Supermarine Spitfire plane next month. The striking exhibit will be at the Centre from Monday 5 to Friday 9 September during the Wales and the Battle of Britain Touring Exhibition, which tells the story of Wales’s contribution in the largest air battle ever recorded. Visitors to the event will be able to find out more about the Spitfire – one of the most important aircraft in history, the Battle of Britain and World War 2, as there will be an educator…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet will next week consider proposals for the Council to provide an overall funding package of £2.89million, to further support local families and residents who are likely to be affected by the Cost of Living crisis. A report to Cabinet at their meeting on Tuesday, September 6, will provide details of a proposed local Supplementary (Discretionary) Cost of Living Support Scheme. The report proposes four specific areas of support as part of the Scheme, alongside implementation arrangements and timescales, and if agreed the Scheme will be progressed by Council Officers. The proposed Scheme would be on top…

RHA Wales will build thirteen affordable apartments at 122-126 Dunraven Street in Tonypandy town centre. The empty site was previously commercial premises on the ground floor with residential accommodation above. The building was demolished after being damaged by a fire. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council provided £148k to RHA Wales from Welsh Government’s Targeted Regeneration Investment (TRI) programme to pay for demolition work. The site occupies a prominent location in the town centre. The Council identified the site as a strategic priority for the wider Tonypandy town centre regeneration plan. Regeneration of the site will visually improve the town centre and…

Newport Market is hosting a recruitment fair on 21 September in partnership with Newport City Council, Job Centre Plus and Restart Newport. It follows a similar successful event in Newport Centre in May when more than 40 employers showcased their vacancies. Employers from all sectors are due to attend the September recruitment fair including some of the largest in South Wales. Newport Market is an ideal venue, offering excellent facilities and a great city centre location close to public transport links with public car parks a short walk away. The event will take place between 10am and 2pm. To register…

Following the driest five-month period in more than 40 years, Natural Resources Wales have extended the drought warning announced earlier this month for Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire, to cover all of South and Mid Wales. While this may sound worrying, there are currently no concerns about drinking water supply and Public Health Wales is keen to reassure people that they can continue to drink water and wash, as well as use water more generally for cooking and cleaning as usual. The decision to move these areas from prolonged dry weather status to drought status was agreed following the meeting…

Wales’ Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething is demanding the UK Government takes immediate action to reduce the growing cost of energy and fuel on businesses across Wales. The call comes as many commercial energy bills are poised to rise more than fourfold this autumn. Welsh Government Ministers have consistently called on the UK Government to act by introducing measures that will help support people during this crisis. Since November 2021, the Welsh Government has used all available financial levers to deliver a package of measures to support households across Wales deal with the crisis. The Minister is convening an urgent meeting…

The Welsh Government, in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council, is supporting the construction of new high-quality office space in Cross Hands, which will help create new jobs in the local area, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething announced today. Carmarthenshire County Council has provided a £492,000 Property Development Grant to Sterling Developments, a local company, to support the delivery of the commercial offices at the Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site. The Cross Hands East Strategic Employment Site has been delivered via a joint venture between the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council, comprising a large programme of infrastructure works. A total…