Author: Rhys Gregory

RCT’s Cabinet has agreed to extend the RCT Empty Homes Strategy before the Council adopts an updated version next year – with the positive work over the last two years helping to bring 501 empty properties back into use. At their meeting on Monday, October 18, Cabinet Members received an update on the current Strategy, which runs from 2018 to 2021 and implements the Council’s approach to tackle the problem of empty homes. Members have now agreed to extend it until March 2022, noting that an updated Strategy is currently being developed by Officers for implementation during April 2022. The…

Innovative smart energy technology provider Thermify is to establish a facility in South Wales, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced. The international company, headed by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Travis Theune, is due to move into Sony’s Pencoed site this month. Thermify Cloud has designed a revolutionary low-carbon heating system that will provide households with affordable heating and hot water by using the waste heat from a bank of computers that are incorporated into the heating system. Thermify Cloud is a distributed data centre in homes that carries out computation tasks for commercial companies (for example financial service companies, retailers and…

The Welsh Government is asking for views on plans to change how livestock are identified, registered and their movements reported. The consultation, which runs until 2 January, relates to processes for sheep, goats, cattle and pigs together with the proposed implementation of Bovine Electronic Identification (Bovine EID). The changes the Welsh Government aims to implement would see mandatory whole movement reporting, and journey information for all livestock which will help the farming industry to improve farm management and support disease control. It also proposes voluntary pre-movement reporting which would be recorded electronically before the animal leaves the holding. This could…

NHS Wales chief executive Andrew Goodall has warned the dual challenge of the Covid pandemic and other respiratory viruses will make this winter ‘one of the hardest we have ever faced’, as the NHS Wales Health and Social Care Winter Plan is published. Recognising the challenges across the health and social care system, there will be an extra £42m funding for social care, some of which will be used to help ease the pressure on hospital beds. This comes on top of £248m already announced for the NHS Covid recovery fund. The social care investment will be used to improve…

The rivalry between WWE and AEW was in full bloom last Friday night and it’s likely that many were awaiting the rating report after SmackDown clashed with Rampage for the first time. While SmackDown beat Rampage in total viewership, the 18-49 demographic was pretty close and the AEW show came out on top in some key ranges. The blue brand garnered a final viewership of 866,000 to Rampage’s 578,000, according to Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston, who reports that SD pulled in 314,000 in the aforementioned demographic while Rampage hauled 313,000. SmackDown was the No.3 ranked show on cable, with Rampage right…

Wales and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has announced a new city centre location for his yet-to-open bar, restaurant and mini-golf concept Par 59.; the venue will open in Spring 2022 at the 23,000 sq ft site of the former Liquid / Life nightclub in St Mary Street. The concept is the result of a partnership between Bale’s company Elevens Group LTD and The DEPOT, one of Wales’ most successful, independent entertainment brands. As a result, Par 59 is now recruiting for General Managers, Assistant Managers, Marketing & Sales, and General Bar Staff – interested parties are encouraged to email [email protected] for details. When Par 59 was originally announced, the plan…

The Lord’s Taverners Wales has raised in excess of £2,000 at its annual Ian Spratling Memorial Golf Day at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. The golf day returned after a year’s hiatus and saw 22 teams from across south Wales compete in a friendly round of 18 holes, with Expedite crowned the overall winners. The fundraiser concluded with a meal, presentation and charity update from Chairman of the Lord’s Taverners Wales, Andrew Gibson. Mr Gibson, said: “It was fantastic to welcome guests back to the Ian Spratling Memorial Golf Day. The day itself has always been a highlight on our calendar,…

Jon Rosser who lives in Ruthin, Denbighshire, has been crowned Wales’ Bread Hero by the Tiptree World Bread Awards with Brook Food. Jon has been baking bread for more than 50 years. During the coronavirus pandemic, his daughter requested his help with bread baking. Her friends soon wanted to join in the fun. With all this great interest, she suggested her father establish an online bread community, through which he could share his lifelong enthusiasm and knowledge for baking even wider. Jon’s group, which is called BreadClub20, is aimed at both those who want to start baking and those who…

The first episode of a new BBC Wales TV series will feature Sir Gareth and Lady Maureen Edwards at the controls of a steam engine on the narrow gauge Corris Railway in Mid Wales. Titled ‘Gareth Edwards Great Welsh Adventure’, the programme will be screened at 8.30pm on Tuesday, October 26. In addition to footage filmed at Corris Railway, the former Wales and British Lion rugby knight and his wife travel at higher speeds in a rally car and have a close up meeting with birds of prey. The programme may be screened more widely on the national BBC network…

Cancer support charity Maggie’s Cardiff is delighted to announce a collaboration with The Diamond Centre of Wales to help raise much needed funds to support people with cancer across South East Wales. The Diamond Centre has designed and made a beautiful one of a kind pendant that Maggie’s will raffle. Tickets are just £5 and anyone can enter online to win this unique piece of jewellery worth over £2600 https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/maggie-s-cardiff1 Kelvin James of Diamond Centre Wales said “We are proud to be able to design and create this wonderful piece of jewellery that will raise funds for Maggie’s Cardiff. We…