Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

A Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) pilot has been launched in Wales offering an alternative family court for children’s care and help keep families together. Welsh Government has provided £450,000 to support the pilot programme over a two year period. The Family Drug and Alcohol Court will offer an alternative approach to families where there are concerns about substance misuse by providing access to intensive treatment and support. The scheme will be available for families referred by Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan local authorities, operating from the Cardiff Family Court. The aim of the court will be to…

You will, no doubt, get to enjoy plenty of wonderful sceneries. It gets better if you are planning on traveling by road. Road trips are a fun and exciting way to wind down and simply let go of our everyday stress. They are also a great way to explore and share memorable times with our friends and family. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your next road trip this Christmas comes with all the benefits and allows you to enter your next year in a hopeful, more relaxed mood. Here are some tips for your next Christmas getaway…

Wales has come a long way in creating a system that ensures minimal waste from its citizens. Through the years, they have deployed their resources and expertise in recycling most products that would otherwise be thrown out causing more harm to the environment. This initiative has led them to become a world leader in environmental conservation, specifically with recycling. Compared to England, a much older and wealthier nation, Wales is doing way better in terms of recycling. Considering that Wales only came to be less than 30 years ago, how exactly did they become the leader in recycling? They Set…