Author: Rhys Gregory

In the Senedd later today, Minister for Climate Change Julie James will set out an “ambitious three-pronged approach” to address the impact of second home ownership on Wales’ communities. The new plan has fairness at its heart – ensuring that everyone in Wales can have access to good quality, affordable housing. The three-pronged approach will focus on: Support – addressing affordability and availability of housing, regulatory framework and system- covering planning law and the introduction of a statutory registration scheme for holiday accommodation; and a fairer contribution – using national and local taxation systems to ensure second home owners make…

A lifesaving programme to help improve survival rates after a cardiac arrest is being supported with almost £2.5m over the next three years by the Welsh Government. The funding will enable Save a Life Cymru to raise awareness about the cardiac arrest chain of survival and fund new educational and training resources, including improving public access to defibrillators. The programme aims to educate people in Wales about the need to help anyone suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and help develop their skills and confidence to provide CPR and defibrillation. It comes as figures show Wales has one of the lowest…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 17 years since England and Portugal squared off in Lisbon in hugely entertaining quarter-final clash in Lisbon. As hosts, Portugal were on a roll at Euro 2004, taking full advantage of the home crowd, while England had recovered from defeat to France in their opening match to comfortably beat Croatia and Switzerland to progress to the last eight. With England currently battling it out at Euro 2020, and in with a great chance of going all the way and winning the tournament according to the Euros winner odds, there are parallels to be…

FATHER-OF-THREE Mike Woods has completed the management buyout of the company he set up in 2009 after two of his children were diagnosed with a severe nut allergy.  Eleven years on, Caerphilly-based Just Love Food Company provides nut-free, vegan, gluten and milk-free cakes to the ‘big four’ supermarkets; Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons. And the company – which has a turnover of £3.8million and employs 70 people – has recently launched a caterpillar cake called Archie which is suitable for vegans. Today, thanks to a £750,000 loan and equity funding package provided by the Development Bank of Wales, Mike, 56,…

Now in its Seventh year the annual Cardiff Business Awards launched this week, with businesses across the capital once again encouraged to gain recognition for their achievements over the last 12 months and to celebrate at a black-tie dinner in City Hall on the 26th November 2021. Launched in 2015, the Cardiff Business Awards have grown in prestige and importance to become firmly established as one of the leading business awards, not just in Cardiff, but throughout the whole of Wales. Last year saw the awards go online due to the Covid restrictions and Gorilla TV be recognised as the…

Swansea University’s Oriel Science has welcomed the first school to visit its new city centre exhibition venue. The pupils of St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School created Oriel Science’s first exhibit, Journey, thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Wales and with support from the Centre for Migration Policy Research at Swansea University. St Joseph’s inclusion in the exhibition made it only fitting that they should be the first school to explore the new location on Monday 7th June. While researching the heritage of their school, local community and cathedral, St Joseph’s found all three originated in the 1850s after Irish…

Pembrokeshire zoo, Folly Farm, has upgraded its popular outdoor go karts to sustainable, electric models as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability. Folly Farm invested £160,000 – which was funded through the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund Phase 3 (ERF3) – on 18 new, electric-powered karts for its family-friendly Follystone racetrack. The electric go karts were designed and built by Rhyl-based family business, Formula K. Formula K is a leading go kart manufacturer, supplying leisure attractions all over the world. Folly Farm is the first family attraction in Wales to introduce all-electric go karts. The order, which was placed…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales says the common sense decision to prolong import limits on steel products should trigger somber reflection over the impact of trade deals that open UK markets up to cheap food imports. The UK Government announced on Wednesday (30th June) that it would extend measures that defend the steel industry against cheap imports of certain types of steel, particularly from China. The steel industry had described the original plan to remove tariffs as “utter madness”, warning that import surges would be devastating for the industry in the UK. Referring to the trade deal recently agreed in…

Detectives investigating the death of Carl Chinnock, 50, from Porthcawl have charged Christopher George, aged 27 from Pyle, Bridgend with manslaughter. George appeared before Cardiff Magistrates Court last week (Friday 2nd July 2021) where he was remanded in custody.  He is scheduled to appear before Cardiff Crown Court on July 30th. Mr Chinnock’s partner, Sandi, has paid tribute to him, saying:  Carl looked after me, he was my soulmate, my best friend and the love of my life.  I am devastated.” Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lewis, of South Wales Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said:  “Whilst a man has been…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is inviting nominations for its annual awards ceremony. You can nominate staff in any part of the organisation right across Wales in more than a dozen categories, including Team of the Year, Learning and Innovation and Inspiring Others. To celebrate the launch of the Trust’s first Volunteer Strategy, you can nominate a Community First Responder or Volunteer Car Service Driver for a Volunteer of the Year Award. You can also nominate a member of the public for a Public Recognition Award, designed to celebrate those who go above and beyond to help people in their community. Anyone…