Author: Rhys Gregory

Rail passengers are being asked to check before they travel as Transport for Wales introduces an emergency rail timetable from Wednesday 22 December. This is to prepare for an expected rise in staff shortages due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and to ensure the company can continue to provide a reliable service throughout this latest stage of the pandemic. TfW and Network Rail have already seen a significant increase in staff absences since the beginning of December and this has started to impact rail services. Absences are expected to continue to rise sharply over the coming…

A college learner from Caerphilly, is one step closer to achieving her dreams of becoming a screenwriter after securing a place on a prestigious writing programme held at a world-renowned literature festival. Coleg y Cymoedd learner Cerys Baker, 16, is one of only twenty learners to have been selected to take part in the Beacons Project – a specialist writing programme for 16-18 year old aspiring Welsh writers and journalists held at Hay-on-Wye’s famous Hay Festival. Hundreds of learners from schools and colleges across Wales applied to take part in a programme of creative workshops, discussions and events aimed at…

More than 20 Welsh artists have started to unleash their creativity on their giant Snoopy sculptures, which will be featured in next year’s A Dog’s Trail with Snoopy – a public art trail that will see 40 Snoopy sculptures take over the streets of Cardiff, Caerphilly and Porthcawl to raise vital funds for Dogs Trust. The Snoopy sculptures have been temporarily homed in a dedicated painting space at Cardiff Bay’s waterfront dining and shopping centre Mermaid Quay, one of the trail sponsors. Mermaid Quay centre manager, Simon Whiting said: “We are delighted to welcome the A Dog’s Trail with Snoopy…

Leftover turkey and the trimmings from across Wales and south west England will be put to good use this Christmas, helping to produce enough green gas to heat more than 150,000 homes, new data shows. In a report released by Energy Networks Association (ENA), as part of its first ever annual Britain’s Green Gas Scoreboard, the data shows that enough biomethane green gas, produced from food waste, along with cow-dung and household sewage, is now being produced from Wales & West Utilities network to supply over 150,000 homes, whilst also supporting greener electricity production by displacing natural gas. This is…

A KIND-HEARTED foster parent and Army veteran lit up the lives of struggling families, pensioners and vulnerable adults throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Passionate Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) resident Dawn Parkin set up The Lighthouse Project two years ago, initially as a service supporting bereaved families in the area. Operating from home to begin with, Dawn seized an opportunity to take over the Tonyrefail Community Centre in January 2020 – which in her own words needed some “TLC”. In less than two years, the Project has joined forces with leading charitable, housing and health and wellbeing organisations across the Cwm Taf…

An ambitious North Wales food wholesaler is planning a major expansion into England’s North West and West Midlands in the NewYear. Gwynedd-based Harlech Foodservice Ltd are taking aim at targets across the border from their new Chester offices and depot and have appointed a globe-trotting executive to spearhead their drive for growth. Matt Flynn, who has managed olive oil shipments across the Mediterranean, tuna canning in the Indian Ocean and food purchasing in the Netherlands for food giant Prince’s, is Harlech’s new Head of Purchasing and Marketing. The 41-year-old leads a ten-strong team with an office at Chester Business Park…

Pupils at Penybont Primary School had a class they won’t ‘fur-get’ as Rylie the border collie joined their reading group for the day. As part of an initiative to introduce workshops and education around animal care and welfare, Cariad Pet Therapy joined forces with like-minded social enterprise Because Animals Are Worthwhile to bring their popular sessions to the Bridgend school. Year Two pupils had the chance to have their usual reading lesson in the company of Rylie, a therapy dog specially trained to have a calming influence, and found they were more relaxed during the class with the pressure taken…

Proposals for new sea defences that will help protect Mumbles for decades to come have taken a big step forward. A planning application for the scheme, driven by Swansea Council, has just been submitted to local planners. Its aims to protect the community against flooding and rising tides – and to remodel the prom as a safe, modern, inclusive visitor attraction. The proposals – shaped with the help of extensive public consultation – show more space for pedestrians and cyclists to share the prom with care, the protection of trees and more opportunities for play and relaxation. A key planning…

Merthyr Tydfil’s indoor shopping centre has been purchased by the County Borough Council with the intention of it playing a major role in the authority’s 15-year town centre ‘Masterplan’. Built in 1970, the semi-covered pedestrian St Tydfil Shopping Centre was refurbished in 1993 and contains more than 50 shops, including national retailers and independent businesses. It also has an upstairs indoor market with more than 30 stalls. St Tydfil was owned by German property investment company Patrizia, and the three centre management staff will be employed by the Council going forward. “We’re very excited to have purchased St Tydfil Shopping…

An annual appeal co-ordinated by Caerphilly County Borough Council has raised over £10,500 to support local food banks. The Christmas appeal saw online donations donated from residents, council staff, councillors, contractors and suppliers; in line with their community benefit contractual offerings.  Donations will be shared out between food banks in Blackwood, Bargoed, Rhymney, Caerphilly and Risca. Companies who supported the appeal include Willmott Dixon, Busy Feet, Acorn Travel, KB Taxis, DNA Heating Ltd, Decoglass Glazin, Styles Electrical Ltd, WEEKES, Willis Construction Ltd, Workforce Wellbeing, A L Landscapes, Alpha biolaboratories Legal Ltd, Gary Carpenter Building Contractor, Laver Group, Mel Evans, Starlight…