Author: Rhys Gregory

A Swansea University graduate hopes her new children’s book will be the first in a series of resources aimed at taking young readers on sensory journey. Author Harriet Beth Carr says techniques learned while studying for her master’s in Developmental and Therapeutic Play have been put into practice whilst writing The Mindful Walk: The Adventures of Wilbur-James & Mary. Harriet, from Merthyr Tydfil said: “The story is based on my own two dogs and follows an adventure through a forest practising a commonly used mindfulness technique called sensory awareness. “I learned about the part play can have in our development…

Skin care experts in Swansea Bay are urging people to keep safe whilst enjoying the sun to help ward off cancer. They are supporting the annual Sun Awareness Week, which started on Monday 3rd May and run by the British Association of Dermatologists. The association has issued advice on what we can do to protect ourselves and highlight the risks involved with too much exposure to the sun’s rays and ultraviolet light. The campaign aims to let the public know about the dangers of burning, sun bed use and excessive tanning to try to prevent skin cancers from developing. It…

Popular apprentice Zach Chapman refuses to let disability stand in the way of his ambition to become a qualified personal trainer. Zach, 20, from Connah’s Quay, is diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy which affects his  co-ordination, balance and speech. He left school at 16 not knowing what career path to follow and anxious about future job opportunities. But his passion for fitness secured him a job at Lifestyle Fitness, who run the gym at Coleg Cambria Deeside, and he hopes to complete his Apprenticeship in Personal Training soon, supported by learning provider Babcock Training. Zach has spent most of the last…

The club football season is coming to a close and while there are exciting climaxes to look forward to in both domestic and continental competitions, betting sites and many punters are looking ahead to the Euro 2020 tournament. Betting odds for the main markets have been available for two years, but lots has changed in that time and a number of teams have shortened in price while others have drifted as a result of poor performances over recent years. Outright Winner  England have made a habit of crashing out of international tournaments in disappointing fashion, and despite a 55-year trophy…

New speed limits are in place on Western Avenue (A48) to improve road safety and air quality on one of Cardiff’s busiest roads. A 30 mph limit – previously set at 40 mph – is now in place on Western Avenue in both directions between Ely Roundabout and Gabalfa Interchange. Speed limits on the remaining stretch of Western Avenue have also been modified, with the following changes in place: Drivers travelling eastbound from Gabalfa Roundabout towards Newport can increase their speed from 30 mph up to 50 mph until they reach the Llanedeyrn Roundabout. The speed limit on this stretch…

A resident from Ferndale has been ordered to pay more than £1,700 after she was caught fly-tipping on six separate occasions at the same location – with CCTV evidence provided by the Council used in court. The defendant appeared at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 21, in relation to fly tipping offences which took place last year. On April 20, 2020, Council enforcement officers found a total of 25 bags of dumped waste at a location in Ferndale. Upon inspection, the waste contained evidence which indicated who the waste belonged to. After it was apparent that fly tipping…

RCT Council will carry out essential scour repairs to two bridges in Ynyshir to rectify storm damage – requiring a one-way closure of the link road between the A4233 and Ynyshir Road/Aber-Rhondda Road from Tuesday. The Llanwonno River Footbridge and Maindy Arch River Bridge were both damaged in Storm Dennis, and repairs are now able to take place due to the recent low river levels. The Council has appointed contractor Kaymac, which specialises in in-water construction, as the contractor for the scheme. The work will begin on Tuesday, May 4, lasting around seven days. The contractor requires traffic management to…

RCT Council has shared a virtual fly-through tour of the proposed Llanharan Bypass, which will feature in an extensive public consultation which will be commencing in the near future. In March 2021, the Council provided a progress update on the major highway scheme, and announced that it would undertake a Pre-Planning Application consultation exercise in summer 2021. This will further bring residents up to date with progress and receive their views to inform a planning submission. The proposed Llanharan Bypass scheme will construct a new road to the south of Llanharan, which is split into three sections. The road’s western…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed that the drive-through mobile testing facility for residents who have symptoms of Covid-19 will remain in Pyle until Sunday 2 May before moving to Maesteg. From today, Monday 3 May, the drive-through mobile testing facility will reopen in Maesteg, at the site of the former Revlon / Cosi factory off Oakwood Drive in Maesteg (CF34 8TS), opening between 9am and 5pm. Booking for both sites is essential and can be done by visiting the Welsh Government website or calling 119. If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you can call 18001119. The walk-through…

The Welsh language is on the rise again. The National Office of Statistics recorded an increase in speakers for the fourth consecutive year  in 2020, and the Welsh Assembly has set a target of one million speakers by 2050. Speaking the country’s native tongue is important to Welsh people. It’s part of their heritage and identity, and a symbol of resistance to oppression over the course of Welsh history. It’s something that is represented in place names, too – not least in the country’s highest mountain, Yr Wddfa, or Snowdon as it’s known in English. The peak has been made…