Author: Rhys Gregory

An “exceptional” police hero is being put forward for two top honours after helping to save two lives in just two days. Armed response officer PC Richard Shea is being nominated for an official commendation from North Wales Police and a Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society award. News of his heroics emerged during a visit by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin to the Alliance Armed Policing Unit. Like the other members of the armed response team, PC Shea, who joined North Wales Police in 2013 and became a member of the unit three years later, has been trained…

A leading hospitality recruiter is helping to tackle the huge demand for staff as staycations boom. Redwigwam is working with a number of customers around the country to help fill roles. One national hotel group is looking for flexible staff for a number of its hotels in North Wales. Various roles are available including breakfast and dining waiting staff, chefs, cleaners and house keepers. The hotels are in Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno and Caernarvon. Redwigwam, the Liverpool-headquartered company which specialises in providing fully managed, trained and flexible staff for a wide range of sectors including the hospitality industry, is recruiting…

Welsh start-up iungo Solutions is breaking down barriers between the technology and creative industries with its new CreaTech project. The project will bring together iungo’s unique career routing algorithm with new research into careers in the creative economy in Wales. With the support of Clwstwr, the team will investigate the use of technology to support creative freelancers against the backdrop of the gig economy and ‘work from anywhere’ movement. Clwstwr Programme Manager, Lee Walters, said “We are delighted to be working with iungo Solutions to support their CreaTech project.  iungo are an innovative and ambitious Welsh Start-up and we are…

Ogmore Vale Bowls Club has received a helping hand to purchase specialist youth equipment which it hopes will boost the uptake of the sport amongst young people. With many grassroot sports experiencing a hike in running costs, local energy firm Pennant Walters has stepped in to provide over £8,000 of funding which has allowed the Club to purchase specialist youth bowls equipment and implement disabled access throughout the pavilion, to help ensure that the sport is accessible to all. The Club has a long history in the area and is at heart of village life in Ogmore Vale and the…

Morrisons is offering free water refills nationwide at all of its petrol forecourts, as well as in store, to encourage customers and motorists to make the switch from single-use plastic to refillable bottles. Over 14 billion single-use plastic bottles are used each year in the UK – equal to 39 million a day – with the majority purchased on-the-go or at work. However, new research has found that 63 per cent of people would like to do more to reduce plastic, but claim the biggest barrier to taking action is a lack of plastic free alternatives. At Morrisons petrol forecourt…

An instore scheme to help wilko customers recycle their masks has proved so successful that the home and garden retailer will extend it by another three months. The scheme, which allows shoppers to drop off used, disposable face masks so that they can be recycled will now be in place until the end of September 2021. This extension follows an initial three month pilot and will see the service remain in place at the original 150 participating stores. wilko estimates that a huge 400,000 masks could be recycled via the scheme. This equates to a giant 966kg of single use…

A couple from New Tredegar, who won a life-changing £1M EuroMillions Millionaire Maker prize just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, have been looking back on their momentous National Lottery win and reminiscing about how they were doubly lucky on that fateful day. Speaking ahead of this Friday’s special EuroMillions draw, which will mark the traditionally unlucky date of Friday 13th by creating a lucky guaranteed 13 UK millionaires, Lynne and David Price have been recalling how their win coincided with truly amazing news for Lynne’s health. Lynne said, “There was an awful lot going on the day we won (October…

Newcastle Higher Community Council has taken over responsibility for Penyfai Playing Fields after agreeing a 35-year lease with Bridgend County Borough Council. The transfer, which was finalised earlier this month, is the latest to be completed as part of the local authority’s Community Asset Transfer (CAT) programme. The community council’s plans for improving improve the facilities at Penyfai Playing Fields, which are next to the Pheasant pub, include resurfacing the pathway and installing noticeboards, lighting and additional bins for litter and dog waste. The project will be funded in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council, and more than £7,600 has…

A number of businesses across Bridgend County Borough are set to receive a grant of up to £10,000 to help install outdoor facilities including seating areas, gazebos and patio heaters. The Outdoor Improvements Covid-19 Recovery Fund has targeted external areas where customers and members of the public can congregate, rest or enjoy food and drink. The first and second phase of the programme were funded by Bridgend County Borough Council, the Valleys Task Force and Welsh Government’s Targeted Regeneration Investment initiative. As part of the third phase, which was fully funded by the local authority, commercial property and business owners who…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed that additional mobile testing units are on their way to Bridgend County Borough. The new walk-in facilities will be available from Friday 13 August between 9am – 3pm at Ogmore Vale Primary (CF32 7AJ) and Porthcawl Comprehensive (CF36 3ES). They will replace the current mobile testing unit based at Nantymoel Primary, which will close at 4pm on Thursday 12 August. The new facilities are being provided in addition to the testing unit which remains available at the site of the former Revlon (Cosi) factory at Oakwood Drive in Maesteg (CF34 9TS) where…