Author: Rhys Gregory

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed more than a billion items of free personal protective equipment (PPE) have been issued to the NHS and social care sector across Wales since the start of the pandemic. Since March 2020, the Welsh Government has been working with NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) to provide free PPE to everyone working in health and social care. Free PPE will continue to be supplied to primary care and social care for as long as it is needed during the pandemic. A service level agreement with the Welsh Local Government Association – which makes sure…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is progressing plans for the reopening of its buildings to the public. The Council’s Cabinet has approved proposals to begin the reopening of several of its buildings, in line with Alert Level Zero guidance from Welsh Government. From Monday 4th October appointment-only visits will be available for members of the public at the Council’s Penallta House headquarters.  Appointments can be made by contacting the Council’s Customer Services Team on 01443 866571; visitors without an appointment will not be able to access the building. Cllr Colin Gordon, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said “Throughout the…

One of the most prominent buildings in Mountain Ash town centre, the former town hall, has had a makeover, making it fit for purpose in the 21st Century. The Grade II listed building, majestically overlooking the town bridge at Ffrwd Crescent, was originally built in 1904 at a cost of £5,000. It initially served as the main offices of Mountain Ash Urban District Council and has continued to be used as a property of the respective local authority. Having gained its listed status with Cadw due to its architecture and design, the premises has now been redeveloped into a co-working business hub by Final Frontier Space Holdings…

The number of people visiting Cardiff City Centre in August this year is only 5% less than it was in August 2019, the year before the pandemic struck. The figures show that Cardiff is bucking the Wales-wide trend and that of other UK cities, which on average are seeing a drop of 17.7% and 23% in footfall respectively. The figures give a clear indication that the city centre is recovering from the pandemic, quicker than expected. Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development at Cardiff Council said: “During August 2021, the footfall figures in the city centre were…

A new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), designed to help improve public and green spaces, comes into effect across the city from Monday, October 4. The PSPO, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, will allow Cardiff council to take action against dog owners who allow their pets to foul in an area of public land without cleaning up after them. The Order, launched following a full consultation, also requires: Any person in charge of a dog to carry dog waste bags and produce them if requested by a Council or Police Officer; Dogs to be kept on…

Following a calamitous and often unpredictable year for the UK, the FTSE 100 Index, an index that tracks the 100 most valuable companies on the UK stock market, is edging closer to its pre-pandemic level. This comes despite the fact that, as recently as last winter, the FTSE was at one of its lowest points in years. The UK economic recovery exceeded expectations in the summer of 2021 and the stock market followed suit, lifting the value of many investors’ portfolios considerably. However, now it seems that the UK recovery could be potentially starting to lose steam. So, what does…

A competition to encourage businesses to develop their Welsh language skills is being launched by Menter a Busnes in collaboration with rugby international James Hook. Called ‘Iaith ar Waith’, the Menter a Busnes (MaB) competition also highlights Welsh’s increasing importance and growth in the workplace. The prize is a five-day Welsh course tailored to the needs and level of the winner. The course will be provided through Nant Gwrtheyrn near Pwllheli – home to the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre – or, if preferred, it may be delivered virtually. At the end of the course, the winner will also…

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging Working Tax Credit (WTC) customers to check if they need to update their working hours if these have reduced as a result of coronavirus. During the pandemic, WTC customers have not needed to tell HMRC about temporary short-term reductions in their working hours as a result of coronavirus – for example if they were working fewer hours or were furloughed. It is one of several measures HMRC introduced to help those facing uncertainty around their hours. If a WTC customer’s hours temporarily fell because of coronavirus, they have been treated as if they…

The international fitness sensation, Clubbercise, is coming to Denbighshire Leisure with brand new classes coming to Ruthin Leisure and Club Nova, Prestatyn. Get ready to bring a night out to your workout – without the heels or hangover the next day! Clubbercise® is a fun full body workout with a banging soundtrack that gets great results, with clubbers burning up to 600 kcals per workout. The official Clubbercise launch will start with a DJ and party at Club Nova and the new Bar Nova on October 22nd.  3 classes delivered by ‘master Clubbercise trainers’ throughout the night. There will be complimentary…

Almost as many children aged 15 and under have been in hospital with Covid-19 in Swansea Bay over the last three months than the whole of the rest of the pandemic. So far 93 children in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have been ill enough to need inpatient treatment for Covid-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. But almost half of those, 45, have been admitted this July, August and up to 24th September. The increase in paediatric admissions mirrors a steep rise in Covid-19 community infection rates in comprehensive school age children in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot,…