Author: Rhys Gregory

To celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month this year, new artwork has been revealed on Castle Street, with four progressive pride flag designs painted on the carriageway to celebrate and remember the history, lives, and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, plus community in Cardiff. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Pride March in the UK in 1972, highlighting a key equality milestone in the early Gay Rights Movement. This year the theme is ‘art’ – exploring ideas of creative expression for political progress. The chosen tagline is, ‘The Arc is Long’, taken from Dr Martin Luther King…

Swansea people are being invited to take part in the testing of their arena at two events taking place later this month. Tickets are now on sale for the events, which will enable the testing of all aspects of the venue ahead of the arena opening in March. This will include evacuations as part of safety testing. Featuring a variety of Swansea-based artists, the test events are being held on Friday February 25 and Saturday February 26. The Friday February 25 test event – which will take place from the early evening – will feature Trampolene, The Now, Inscape and…

Thousands of households across Neath Port Talbot are being urged to apply for their winter fuel support payments without delay after the Welsh Government doubled to £200 the amount it will pay to eligible applicants. In total, Neath Port Talbot Council has already issued Winter Fuel payments totalling nearly £2m. The Welsh Government announced on February 1st that an additional £100 payment would be made automatically to those who had applied and received the initial Winter Fuel Payment of £100. Neath Port Talbot Council has already processed the additional payment and advised applicants by email that the payment will have…

In partnership with Vfairs, the Council will be hosting its third FREE Virtual Careers Fair on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 (10am to 5pm) following its success in its two previous Virtual Careers Fairs in 2021. The event will coincide with National Apprenticeship Week and attending organisations will have a range of apprenticeship and graduate posts available alongside live employment vacancies. Over the last few years, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Virtual Careers Fairs have grown in popularity. During the previous Virtual Careers Fair, held in September 2021, over 2000 people registered to attend the event which hosted over 1000 job vacancies.…

A couple from Caerphilly have been fined for dog breeding, without the authority of a licence issued by Caerphilly County Borough Council, under the Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014, contrary to Section 13(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Callum Pine and Megan Arundel of 5 Kingsley Place, Senghenydd, Caerphilly, received their Band D penalties at Newport Magistrates Court on January 13, 2022. Pine was fined £615, ordered to pay a surcharge of £61 and £1,000 toward prosecution costs (total £1,676). Arundel was fined £200, and ordered to pay a surcharge of £34 and £1,000 toward prosecution…

A pledge, initially signed by the Leaders of the three political parties at Caerphilly County Borough Council, to take a zero tolerance stance against abuse has been adapted and rolled out across Wales. “Unfortunately, in Caerphilly county borough, we noted an increasing number of councillors and candidates being subjected to abuse, threats and intimidation” said Cllr Philippa Marsden, Leader of Council. ​“As a result, a joint statement was released in January from the Leaders of the Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Independent groups to clearly set out our position.” At Friday’s Welsh Local Government Association Executive Board, all 22 council…

A vintage and rare Mickey Mouse toy will proudly be put on display after being saved from the rubbish tip thanks to eagle-eyed colleagues from Monmouthshire County Council’s waste and recycling contractors, Suez. The extraordinary cuddly toy, which is thought to date back to the 1930s, was discovered in a container destined for the tip. After unearthing the old toy, staff contacted MonLife’s Museum’s team about their special find. Intensive research found the Mickey Mouse was originally made at one of UK’s oldest teddy bear manufacturers, the Deans toy factory in Pontypool. The business, which dated back as far as…

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans has said tackling the climate and nature emergency is the “overarching ambition” of Wales’ new Infrastructure Investment Strategy. The strategy is underpinned by investment of more than £8.1bn over the next three years. It comes ahead of a debate on the draft budget later today in the Senedd. Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance and Local Government, said: “Our budget set the foundations to strengthen public services, tackle the climate and nature emergency, and support a zero carbon economy. Investment in the right infrastructure, in the right places, will be vital in achieving this. “Investment will differ…

A review of Wales’ long-Covid programme has found it is helping to treat and manage the needs of people who have sought help for their symptoms. The £5m Adferiad (Recovery) programme was set up to diagnose, rehabilitate and support those suffering from long-Covid in Wales. All health boards in Wales provide integrated, multi-professional rehabilitation services for people with long-Covid and refer people to specialist care services wherever needed. The review of the programme assessed information provided by health boards and feedback from almost 600 people who had accessed long-Covid services in Wales. Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan…

To get the perfect coffee table for your living room you first need to consider two factors. What is its form and what is its function? In other words, how do you want it to look and what will it be used for? These days  coffee cups may still be one thing placed there but as we all know a central table in your living space can provide a myriad of uses. Takeouts, homework, Lego building and a place to keep your remote controls and that’s just for starters. In this article we will look at the factors you need…