Author: Rhys Gregory

Not-for-profit trust Freedom Leisure that operates leisure centres in partnership with Swansea Council is inviting city employers to offer their staff free trial sessions to get active, stay healthy and feel great. Freedom Leisure area manager Nic Beggs said: “During the past 18 months we’ve all changed the way we work and prioritise our week. “Companies are now adapting their workforce to work flexibly – and this will give staff an improved work-life balance and the ability to access different types of exercise. “Our centres have been given a facelift in the last few years and, although they might look…

An orphaned seal that was rehabilitated by the RSPCA after being rescued from an island in the Irish Sea in 2016, has been seen again in North Wales – this time with her nine-day-old pup. The seal, nicknamed Admiral’s Ale, came into the care of the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich in late December 2016 after being found as an injured orphan pup on Walney Island. After receiving initial treatment and care, she was transferred across to finish her rehabilitation in deeper pools at the animal welfare charity’s East Winch Wildlife Centre in Norfolk, from where she was…

Merthyr County Borough Council is applying to Welsh Government for a financial package towards the £3.2m redevelopment costs of the Leisure Centre pools and nearby skate park. The design will incorporate the retention of both the main and learner pools, provision of a new leisure pool and work on the changing rooms. The Council is also putting together a project team to look at building a new skate park, co-designed by users of the current facility and moved closer to the leisure centre. “The redevelopment will cost around £3.2m and we’re making a financial application to Welsh Government which will…

Dance for Parkinson’s classes are fun and informal classes run by National Dance Company Wales (NDCWales) and English National Ballet (ENB) proven to develop confidence and strength, whilst temporarily relieving some participants of symptoms in everyday life. During the pandemic, NDCWales and ENB adapted the classes so it could be delivered online, and working with Digital Communities Wales provided support to give participants the confidence and the skills to engage with online sessions. Now, NDCWales and ENB are reintroducing in person classes, offering participants the chance to take part at various hubs around Wales including Blackwood Miners Institute on a…

Site investigations will take place at the Llanharan Railway footbridge next week, requiring a temporary change to pedestrian arrangements – as the Council continues to work towards delivering a replacement structure. The footbridge remains subject to an ongoing emergency closure after a recent inspection found its condition to be deteriorating. The footbridge closure has resulted in a lane being brought out of use on the road bridge immediately adjacent to it (carrying the A473 Bridgend Road) – enabling a temporary footway to be established within the closed lane of the carriageway. The next steps toward replacing the bridge include site…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has this week (Wednesday, November 24) approved the recommendation that the Freedom of the County Borough be granted to all its of its key workers and to a Welsh rugby legend. The Freedom of the County Borough is the highest accolade that the local authority can bestow and is usually granted for outstanding service to, or achievement associated with, the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. At a full Council meeting held earlier today, approval was given to two recommendations of a working group, initially chaired by previous Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Councillor Susan Morgans,…

Detectives investigating the death of 65-year-old June Fox-Roberts have charged a man from Pontypridd with murder. Luke Deeley, 25, of Pontypridd will appear before Merthyr Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, November 26, 2021. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Darren George said: “I would again like to offer my personal thanks to the local community for their support during the investigation, the charging of a 25 year old local man is quite clearly a significant development in the investigation and I hope this goes some way in offering re-assurance to the local community. “I can also confirm that there are currently no known…

A targeted approach to clamping down on anti-social behaviour and crime problem areas  – part of a wealth of community safety interventions taking place across the city,  is reaping benefits. A multi-agency Problem Solving Group, comprising more than 30 organisations including the Council, Police, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Cardiff Third Sector Council, is successfully steering a co-ordinated response to various issues in a number of hotspots by addressing anti-social behaviour, vandalism and criminal behaviour. The pilot project, that has focussed on areas in Llanrumney and Splott, has seen reported incidents plummet following the introduction of diversionary and…

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Christianne Glossop has confirmed the presence of avian influenza H5N1 in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks at a premises on the Isle of Anglesey. A 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zone Area have been imposed around the small infected  premises, to limit the risk of disease spread. The risk to public health from the virus is considered to be very low and these cases do not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers. A case of avian influenza was confirmed in poultry and wild birds in Wrexham County borough last…

Welsh Government Minister for Climate Change Julie James has welcomed the appointment of Vicky Robinson as the first Chief Planning Inspector of Planning and Environment Decisions Wales. Vicky is currently Operational Manager for Planning and Building Control at Vale of Glamorgan Council and will take up her appointment early in 2022. The Minister for Climate Change Julie James said: “I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Vicky Robinson as the first Chief Planning Inspector of Planning and Environment Decisions Wales. Vicky brings a wealth of experience with her as Operational Manager for Planning and Building Control of Vale of Glamorgan…