Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh Government has raised its “significant concerns” with UK Government plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights. Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice, and Mick Antoniw, Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, have published a joint statement setting out the Welsh Government’s conviction that people’s rights should not be weakened. The Human Rights Act sets out minimum standards of how people should be treated by public bodies. The UK Government has published a consultation seeking views on replacing the Act. Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice, said: “The Human Rights Act sets out…

Today (13 January 2022) public libraries are joining Wales’ Winter of Wellbeing initiative by launching a campaign to promote the proven difference reading can make to young people’s lives and the power of public libraries to support them. To celebrate the launch, children and young people are being invited to nominate and share a book that’s made a positive difference to how they feel. A national longlist will be announced at the end of this month, as a host of events and activities launch online and in libraries. Nominations are open to all books, in English or Welsh, including fiction,…

Wedding decorators are individuals that ensure everything on your wedding day looks pretty and just how you wanted it. They begin their work to create your perfect day many months before the event by working closely with you to come up with visuals and a plan of how to implement everything that has been agreed upon.  When working with a wedding decorator, it is important that they are able to produce a design for your special day that is everything that you ever wanted. No matter if you go to a wedding decorator with a specific design in mind or…

A CARDIFF veterinary practice has undergone a transformation to offer even higher levels of care to poorly pets. Improvements to St-David Veterinary Centre in Pentwyn Drive, Pentwyn, include a modernised reception, additional consultation room, X-ray room and a dental suite. A cat-only waiting area has also been created, equipped with a shelf where cat carriers can be placed up high, to keep feline patients separate from dogs and make a trip to the vets less stressful for them. The £142,000 refurbishment project took 12 weeks to complete and has been funded by VetPartners, the larger veterinary group St-David Veterinary Centre…

Independent accountancy firm, Kilsby Williams, has promoted Jonathan Harrhy to partner.  Jonathan joined Kilsby Williams in 2007 and since then has established a wide portfolio of clients. As an associate in the business services department, Jonathan was responsible for carrying out audit, business valuations and financial due diligence on behalf of clients.  In his new role Jonathan will continue to oversee client accounts as well as being more closely involved in the day-to-day running of the business, including onboarding new customers.   In 2021 accountancy and taxation specialist Kilsby Williams celebrated many lucrative client wins including both Newport and Cardiff…

Secondary school children struggled to concentrate and engage with schoolwork in the move to online learning during lockdown, negatively affecting their confidence and wellbeing, according to a new study. Researchers from Swansea University and Cardiff University surveyed a total of 407 pupils aged between 11 and 18 during November 2020 when schools had reopened. Lead author Professor Nicola Gray of the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Sciences at Swansea University said: “We wanted to examine if there were differences in concentration, motivation, and engagement from a pupil’s perspective during online and classroom-based teaching. So we asked pupils to compare…

A rare opportunity to acquire a notable Grade II* listed Georgian country house estate has been brought to the market by Savills.  Orielton is an impressive 23 bedroom Georgian mansion dating back to the seventeenth century and is set within 118 acres of private land. The estate also includes a Grade II listed former stable and coach house complex and three detached four bedroom cottages.  The property has been owned by the Field Studies Council since 1963 and used as a centre for exploration, fieldwork, enjoyment and research, with the mansion house providing accommodation.  Prior to this Orielton was owned…

A review will be held in the near future to gather information and facts about the post-16 education provision in Ceredigion. The review will coincide with the reforms made through the establishment of the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER), which is responsible for overseeing the post-16 sector in Wales, along with the recommendations made by Estyn Thematic Review on post-16 partnerships. The last review on post-16 provision in Ceredigion took place in 2007-2008, therefore it was agreed during a Cabinet meeting held virtually on 11 January 2022 that it would be timely to undertake a further review. Councillor…

A Welsh travel agent says business is taking off again with a “big surge” in bookings after the rules on Covid testing for international travellers were eased. Don Bircham, the managing director of Wrexham-based Hays Travel (North West) which has almost 50 branches across the region, said the changes announced by the UK government had opened the floodgates to meet the pent up demand for summer holidays in the sun. The company has stores in Wrexham, Mold, Flint, Prestatyn, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay. Popular destinations included Greece, Turkey, Spain, the Balearic and the Canary islands along with Florida. There was…

A police boss has made an impassioned plea for a law to prevent miscarriages of justice like those suffered after the Hillsborough disaster. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin spoke out after the screening of the powerful TV drama, Anne, based on the tragedy and its aftermath. The campaign for a Hillsborough Law has widespread support from the families of the victims, politicians and celebrities. Mr Dunbobbin says that public authorities like the police should be legally obliged to be proactively honest if anything goes wrong. At the same time, ordinary people should be provided with a legal…