Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh Government’s new Counsel General, Mick Antoniw, has been sworn into office at a ceremony at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday 28th May. The Counsel General is the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser and representative in the courts. Earlier this week the Senedd passed a motion agreeing the nomination. Mick Antoniw has been an MS since 2011 and was a practising solicitor before his election to the Senedd. He studied at Cardiff Law School, University of Wales. He has also been appointed to the role of Minister for Constitution and will play an active role in constitutional affairs during…

Businesses in Wales reported the biggest month-on-month increase in confidence of any nation or region in the UK, rising 18 points during May to 27%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking. Companies in Wales reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up 29 points at 28%.  When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up seven points to 26%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 27% – the highest reading since November 2018. The Business Barometer questions 1,200 businesses monthly and provides early signals about UK economic trends both regionally and nationwide. When it comes to jobs,…

Communities where Police Now officers have been posted for the last 22-months have seen 38,772 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour compared to the same time period from October 2016 – equivalent to a 14 per cent drop.    Officers on Police Now’s National Graduate Leadership Programme have been working alongside their colleagues within their local neighbourhood teams.    As well as the drop in anti-social behaviour, communities have also seen 14,301 fewer incidents of criminal damage & arson – a fall of 13 per cent. There were 12,460 fewer incidents of burglary – a fall of 16 per cent – and 31,732 fewer incidents of theft, equivalent to a 14 per cent fall.    PC Lucy Tregidon of South Wales Police resolved an ongoing neighbour dispute that was causing almost daily anti-social behaviour calls to police. She worked with the…

Wales Millennium Centre have announced their partnership with street food connoisseurs, Street Food Warehouse, to launch an epic new foodie venture in the heart of Cardiff Bay. Launching at the end of May, the Street Food Teras will host some of Cardiff’s best independent traders in an all new outdoor seating space. Cooking up a storm from Friday 28th May, 12pm – late, the Teras will be open daily for your lunchtime bites and fuelling your summer evenings with drinks and local foodie favourites. Located directly to the right of Wales Millennium Centre, the Teras will be rotating street food…

A Flintshire historian is motivating residents to dive into the local past of the region as part of Local and Community History Month. With May being the month to celebrate regional history, there is no better time to learn more about the rich and varied stories of the towns and villages which make up part of the county. With five heritage trails which weave their way through localities across Flintshire, learners can have their pick of historical sites to visit. Flintshire-based historian Dr Miranda Kaufmann said: “Learning about our local history is so important because we cannot know who we…

WELSH Ambulance Service crews in Cardigan Bay are preparing to move to a state-of-the-art new permanent home. Crews previously based in a Portakabin at New Quay Fire Station will move to a new facility in nearby Aberaeron in November. A full refurbishment of a 1,700 square foot building on the grounds of Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Minaeron complex is now underway. The facility will include a garage and two-bay ambulance area as well as a kitchen, rest room and showers. Catrin Convery, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Locality Manager in Ceredigion, said: “Until recently, our New Quay crews were based…

Leading timber company, Newport-based Premier Forest Group is celebrating its most successful year to date, despite the unprecedented national and international challenges facing their industry. Established in 1993, Premier Forest Group’s turnover has increased by £31M to £170M over 12 months, in spite of constraints imposed by nationwide lockdowns, operating restrictions at their sites in UK and Ireland and significant supply chain disruption. As well as the growth in turnover, combined EBITDA profit for the two halves of the Premier Group came in at £16M, up £7M on the group’s previous best year. Terry Edgell, CEO and co-founder of Premier…

With Swans supporters hoping for promotion to the Premier League and others backing Chelsea or Manchester City in the Champions League final, there’s a lot to play for. A great prize this weekend will be for local communities to stay safe from Covid-19 – and the Swans, police and council are united in a desire to see the city stay safe. There’ll be no organised event at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday so fans are asked to stay away, and the city’s hospitality businesses will continue to work hard to keep staff and customers safe. Also to keep people safe…

Some of the most exciting planes and airborne stunt shows are set to be flying high over Swansea next summer after the pandemic forced this year’s Wales Airshow to be grounded. It means what promises to be the biggest and best Wales Airshow ever will be back on July 2 and 3, 2022. The move comes after a string of airshows around Britain have been cancelled due to continuing uncertainty about UK and Welsh Government’s ability to give the green light for very large spectator events this summer. Events at Rhyl, Blackpool, Weston-super-Mare and Southport have already been called off…

Work on a major new high-tech office development that will provide space for 600 jobs is set to begin in Swansea city centre this summer. Swansea Council’s Cabinet has agreed to commit funding to the scheme, which is planned for the former Oceana nightclub site at 71/72 The Kingsway. Worth about £32.6 million a year to Swansea’s economy once operational, a five-storey, carbon zero development with state-of-the-art digital connectivity is planned. It will also feature a roof terrace, greenery and balconies overlooking the city centre and Swansea Bay. Set for completion in early 2023, the scheme will include 114,000 square…