Author: Rhys Gregory

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated how important public open spaces are for our mental and physical wellbeing, and luckily Neath Port Talbot is well served by its forests, parks and seaside. But one of the most popular local assets – Neath’s Gnoll Estate Country Park – is currently under regular attack by vandals who are causing extensive damage valued at many thousands of pounds. Over the past few months, toilets have been damaged, buildings broken into, the Visitor Centre has been attacked with CCTV cameras smashed, tiles have been torn from the roof, windows broken, and items set on fire. …

Construction company Willmott Dixon has recently made donations which will support many residents in the Caerphilly county borough. The contractor has been appointed by Caerphilly County Borough Council to deliver a key element of its new house building programme; with sites in Trecenydd and Trethomas currently under development. Willmott Dixon donated £1,000 to the council’s Christmas foodbank appeal, which saw a total of over £10,500 raised to enable foodbanks throughout the county borough buy the supplies they need.  In addition, Willmott Dixon also donated several ‘Prepare for Work’ packs for participants signed up to the council’s employment support programmes. Cllr…

A Monmouth woman and her sister battled extreme sleep deprivation, 40-foot waves and flying fish to row unaided across the Atlantic Ocean in just 40 days. Pippa Edwards and her sister, Felicity Ashley, both former students at Monmouth School for Girls, completed the epic 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in a remarkable 40 days 11 hours and 25 minutes! It has been an incredible effort by Monmouth-based Pippa; Felicity and crew-mates Jo Blackshaw and Lebby Eyres, who got their challenge under way in La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 12th December and spent Christmas Day on the Ocean. Known…

A Welsh machinery manufacturer is celebrating its expansion into the United States with the opening of a dedicated American office, following a surge in demand for its products across the globe. RM Group, which employs 62 people at its base in Newtown, Powys, designs and builds both manual and automated machinery used to process and package items for industries like food and drink, construction, energy, utilities and general industry. The company now exports its products to more than 15 countries from its factory in Wales, including Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Iraq and the USA, just 20 years after it was…

A scheme providing people with training and knowledge about tourism in North Wales is proving popular. With over 2,000 people signed up, there are over 1,350 who have become Ambassadors for at least one of the regions in Wales, including Denbighshire Tourism Ambassadors – and this continues to grow. The Denbighshire scheme offers 12 online training modules on a variety of themes including walking, cycling, towns, history, arts, coast, Welsh language and food tourism. There are 3 levels of awards – bronze, silver and gold, depending on the number of modules completed. Leader of Denbighshire County Council, Councillor Hugh Evans…

The redeveloped Fitness Suite at Newbridge Leisure Centre has reopened its doors following a significant investment by Caerphilly County Borough Council. The new state of the art, air-conditioned fitness suite has been designed with a contemporary style supported by an extensive range of industry leading equipment, offering cardiovascular, strength and digital based solutions. The new fitness suite includes the latest, high quality equipment including curve treadmills, Air cycle, SkiErg’s and the exciting eGym concept, complemented by industry leading racks, benches and lifting platforms. The newly designed group cycle studio and dance studio will be home to a varied programme of…

Four million customers are yet to submit their completed Self Assessment tax return and pay any tax owed ahead of the deadline on 31 January, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned. More than 12.2 million customers are expected to complete a tax return for the 2020/21 tax year. HMRC is urging the millions of customers still to file their tax return, pay any outstanding liabilities or set up a payment plan, to do so ahead of the deadline as interest will be applied to all outstanding balances from 1 February. However, earlier this month, HMRC announced they would waive…

The score was 4-3 but everyone involved in a football match in Wrexham agreed that it was a win-win result. The final whistle of the game at the Football Association of Wales’ Colliers Park complex marked a milestone in community relations as the match was between teams of local police officers and Bellevue FC, a community-based side comprised of players from a variety of backgrounds. And not only did the fixture succeed in its aim of helping to break down barriers between the police and the public but it also provided a boost to Wrexham’s City of Culture bid for 2025.…

Taking a lateral flow rapid test has become the norm for most of us, but if you’re feeling fine, you might be wondering why it is still necessary to take a test. There are many reasons why testing is still important, from helping scientists track the spread of the virus to protecting those around you. We’ll cover these reasons, and more, in greater detail below, so read on to learn why lateral flow testing is still important even as restrictions continue to be eased across the country. Works in Those With No Symptoms One of the main reasons that regular…

The minimum electrical safety standards (ESS) came into force for rented properties in June 2020. These new rules require landlords to have all electrical installations within their properties inspected by a qualified electrician every five years. The regulations were introduced to ensure that electrics in rented properties are safe and maintained. Here are five ways that landlords can ensure the electrical safety of their tenants: 1. Obtain a new EICR Obtaining a new EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is the easiest way to get an overview of the safety and overall condition of the electrical fittings and installations within your…