Author: Rhys Gregory

The new High Sheriff of Clwyd has pledged to help support the growing number of people suffering mental health issues during his term of office. Former Airbus UK executive Steve Thomas, from St Asaph, was speaking after making his declarations before magistrate Toby Prosser, Chair of the Central North Wales Bench, at St Asaph. He has taken over in the role as the Queen’s representative in North East Wales from David Wynne-Finch. The origins of the office date back to Saxon times when the ‘Shire Reeve’ was responsible to the king for the maintenance of law and order within the…

A number of additional wildflower meadows will be created this year in Denbighshire to support an ongoing pilot to increase biodiversity. Last year Denbighshire County Council identified 21 sites including highway verges, footpath edges, cycleways and amenity grasslands, to be managed to create wildflower meadows As part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity across the county, the council has identified an additional 29 sites to be included into its Wildflower Project. This brings the total number of sites being managed for local provenance wildflowers to 54. These sites, along with the Council’s 11 Roadside Nature Reserves, contribute almost…

One of Cardiff’s most popular restaurants will operate an outdoor pop-up on the banks of the River Taff this Spring. Whilst hospitality is limited to ‘outdoor opening only’ restrictions in Wales, Victoria Park’s Nook will move into a 12 x 10m stretch tent situated alongside Llandaff rowing club. With enough room for up to 35 socially distanced guests, ‘Nook by the River’ will allow customers to dine and drink next to the water; table bookings will be available from Thursday to Sunday each week. Before and / or after their reservations, customers will also be able to enjoy a drink…

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a python measuring 8ft long was found on a farm in the Merthyr area. The reticulated python was found by a member of the public on Thursday 18 March on land near Woodlands, in Troedyrhiw, and handed into the RSPCA’s Merthyr clinic. RSPCA inspector Dave Milborrow said: “Finding a snake this big out in the open must be a bit of a shock! This isn’t the biggest a python can get, females can grow up to 28ft long so this python is a little one compared to how long they can grow. “While…

BBC’s Great British Menu star, Tommy Heaney will be delighting ‘foodies’ with his cookery techniques in an exclusive virtual cooking event to raise money for children and families living with cerebral palsy in Wales. Owner of the extremely popular ‘Heaney’s Cardiff’ restaurant, situated in Pontcanna, and star of the BBC’s Great British Menu in 2017 and 2018, Tommy Heaney will join Cerebral Palsy Cymru and host Eleri Sion, from BBC Radio Wales for  ‘Friday Night Kitchen with Tommy Heaney’ on Friday 16th April from 6.30pm. This fun, virtual event will give exclusive insight into the cookery techniques of the acclaimed…

Welsh-based start-up, Yimba, a multimedia and marketing platform that enhances bank digital wallet integrations, has finalised a bridge round of financing supported by the Development Bank of Wales and a group of private investors. This new funding will support Yimba’s immediate network and bank integrations as well as accelerate the development of next-generation features to its core platform.   Robert Dowd, Yimba CEO and Co-founder said: “The Development Bank of Wales has been with us from the beginning and their continued support as a partner and equity investor is not only an endorsement of our business model but also for the…

Road safety works are underway across a bridge in a Swansea community in an effort to prevent accidents. The railway bridge which crosses Pentre Road near Pontarddulais and is owned by Network Rail, is currently closed to traffic while maintenance work is completed. Swansea Council has since been in discussions with Network Rail and has developed a road safety scheme to install a pavement across the bridge, helping pedestrians safely cross it once it reopens. Recent speed surveys conducted by the council have shown average speeds across the bridge are well above the 30mph speed limit and motorists could be…

Bridgend County Borough Council has approved capital funding bids for a host of improvements to community facilities across the area. As part of the council’s work in partnership with town and community councils to develop facilities which could otherwise be under threat due to budget pressures, a report was presented to Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday 6 April to outline the latest funding bids. The requests for funding from the Town & Community Council Capital Grant scheme 2021-22 and Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Fund included: A request for £25,675 from Brackla Community Council for essential repairs to Brackla Community…

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has confirmed that its mobile testing facility for residents who have symptoms of Covid-19 will stay in Pyle until Thursday 15 April. The drive-through facility at the Halo Swimming Pool on Marshfield Avenue in Pyle (CF33 6RP) is available from 9am-5pm. Booking is essential. A walk-through testing facility is also available daily between 8am-8pm at the Bowls Hall car park off Bridgend Life Centre (CF31 4AH). Booking for this facility is also essential. To book an appointment for either facility, visit the Welsh Government website or call 119. If you have hearing or speech…

Merthyr Tydfil community groups are being urged to apply for funding of up to £5,000 from two local grants schemes. The Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund programme was established by the County Borough Council in collaboration with local mining company Merthyr (South Wales) Limited. It donates £1 for every ton of coal sold from the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme, and since the site opened in 2007, more than £6m has been awarded to a wide range of groups and causes. The Ffos-y-fran Intermediate Grants Scheme awards grants of up to £5,000 twice a year, while the Small Grants Scheme of up…