Author: Rhys Gregory

THE Welsh Ambulance Service has partnered with fire and rescue services to launch a new initiative to better protect vulnerable people at risk of an accident in their home. The new system allows ambulance crews to e-refer at-risk patients to their fire and rescue service counterparts in North, Mid and West and South Wales for a Safe and Well check. Fire crews can then visit the property to mitigate any risks. Nikki Harvey, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Head of Safeguarding, said: “Ambulance crews go to a patient’s property to deliver medical interventions, but often while they’re there, they’ll spot things…

STUDENTS competed in a Trade Olympics and exhibition driven by a leading industrial supplier. Deeside and Rhyl-based GE Tools held events in partnership with Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Coleg Cambria. Coleg Llandrillo Rhyl saw dozens of Construction and Engineering learners battle for medals in plumbing, carpentry and joinery, brickwork, motor vehicle services, vehicle body repair and fabrication and welding, while also welcoming sector businesses on-site. The previous evening, Coleg Cambria Deeside hosted an open event, attended by GE Tools and manufacturers and suppliers from across the area. Chris Owen, Managing Director of GE Tools, said the “incredible response” from attendees…

With the festive season approaching and Brits look to begin their Christmas decorating, Christmas tree expert Mary Dimitrova from Fantastic Services reveals the top tips for looking after your Christmas tree to keep it fresh all throughout the Christmas period. What are some quick and easy insider tricks for knowing if a tree is fresh and will last long?  A healthy tree should have bright and shiny needles, not dry and dull. If you notice any grey sections, that’s a sign of dehydration, which means that the tree is not that fresh. If the tree is fresh, the needles should…

Plans by Bridgend County Borough Council to acquire and demolish Bridgend town centre police station are progressing. The police station site, which is located at Cheapside, is expected to become vacant from March 2022 and forms a significant part of the local authority’s regeneration plans for the town centre with the site earmarked to house an all-new college campus. Under current proposals, the council would purchase the site with a 12-month leaseback agreement in place with South Wales Police to allow time to relocate their offices. It is likely the leaseback will be necessary for less than 12 months. The…

People can book tickets for this year’s free Santa Trail taking place in Bridgend town centre on Saturday 27 November. Visitors to the Santa Trail will walk through various Christmas-themed zones set up in the town centre featuring live music from local choirs and bands, a snowstorm, a Santa selfie sleigh, street entertainment and the chance to meet Father Christmas and his reindeers. Access is by ticket only for specific timeslots and numbers are limited to comply with Welsh Government coronavirus guidance, so please book early to avoid disappointment. Hand sanitiser stations will be available at each zone. Tickets are…

Work is set to begin next week (week commencing 22 November 2021) on demolition of the old bus station. Aberdare Demolition has been appointed to carry out the programme, which will take around five weeks.  Workers will be on site from 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday. The Glebeland site was closed last June when the Council opened our new bus interchange in Swan Street. Redevelopment of the area has been identified as a signature project in the Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre 15-year ‘Masterplan’. The Council recently held a consultation asking residents and businesses their views on ideas for it,…

In October, 14 volunteers gave up their weekend to clear fly-tipping from a Merthyr beauty spot. The event, which was organised by MTCBC Neighbourhood Services Apprentice Daniel Lewis, saw people come from as far afield as Wolverhampton to help. In just four hours on the Saturday morning over 4 tonnes of waste were cleared from Bogey Road, with a further 8 tonnes being cleared from Dowlais Road during Saturday afternoon and throughout Sunday. A total of 6 skips, which were provided by the council, were filled. Waste collected included builder’s waste, domestic waste and asbestos. Daniel said: “It is our…

Cabinet Members have received an update on the development and ongoing delivery of important regeneration projects within Pontypridd Town Centre. A report to Cabinet on November 15 outlined the progress made in the current regeneration framework (‘Pivotal Pontypridd – Delivering Growth’) – which started in September 2017, when the Council identified Pontypridd as one of five Strategic Opportunity Areas. The current framework runs to 2022, and Monday’s report updated Members on work to develop a placemaking plan to build upon what has been achieved, providing a new framework for future developments. ‘Pivotal Pontypridd’ aimed to build upon the investment in…

Wates Residential and Cardiff Council are installing Cardiff’s first sustainable, modular homes, at a brownfield site on Crofts Street, Plasnewydd, as the Council increases its provision of affordable homes for local residents on housing waiting lists and those most in need. The nine two-bedroom properties, which have been built offsite using modern methods of construction (MMC), will be lowered onto their final position on-site with all the groundworks and external hard and soft landscaping completed.  Delivered through Wates Residential and INNO, a joint venture between architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and AECOM, this is the first time this method…

Profound concerns have been jointly expressed by the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government over the process to select the next Chair of Ofcom, and how it could have a detrimental impact on public service broadcasting in the UK. In a letter to the UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, Ministers from both Scotland and Wales have asked to be included in the process and to be given a role that ensures the selected candidate is “someone who can work impartially and independently in the interests of all the nations.” It has been signed…