Author: Rhys Gregory

Gwynedd Council’s Library Service is contributing to a brand new Welsh language podcast for readers. ‘Byw Llyfrau’ will be discussing all kinds of books, chatting with different authors from Wales about their books and reading interests. It’s a light, easy-to-listen podcast that will hopefully appeal to all book lovers. The Welsh Government funded Estyn Allan project is being led by the Society of Chief Librarians Wales which offers representatives from each authority the opportunity to take part in a digital training project. Library staff from Gwynedd, Conwy, Ceredigion and Denbigh are leading on the production of the podcast. Rhian Evans,…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service donated more than 100 of its old computers to help schoolchildren in South Wales with remote learning through Covid-19. Tens of thousands of children in Wales had to study from home when schools closed their doors through the pandemic – but not all families had a computer. The Trust was one of 20 organisations who answered a call for surplus ICT equipment which could be put to good use, and donated 107 of its ‘pre-loved’ computers and laptops to the cause. Nicola Stephens, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Estates Officer and Environmental Specialist, said: “The pandemic meant…

Sonovate, a provider of on-demand business finance and technology solutions to the global contract workforce sector, funded a record £55m in March – cementing its status as one of the UK’s most established and scalable fintechs. The achievement capped a year of growth for the Cardiff and London-based disruptor, during which it provided more than £500m of funding to recruitment businesses, online freelance marketplaces and consultancies, helping to keep the contract labour market moving despite the economic shock of the pandemic. Founded in 2013 by Richard Prime and Damon Chapple, who between them have more than 30 years of leadership…

Caerphilly Council’s Cabinet have approved plans to put forward bids for exciting projects across the borough as part of new funding and finance programmes for local and regional economies. Cabinet have decided on projects which could be proposed to central government as part of the national Levelling Up Fund (LUF), announced as part of the Chancellor’s budget in March. The LUF is a competitive fund for which areas across the UK can submit bids. Each constituency can submit a bid of up to £20m in total so Caerphilly County Borough is eligible to submit three applications, one of which will…

Residents in the Caerphilly county borough are being asked to give their views on local walking and cycling routes. Caerphilly County Borough Council is working with Sustrans Cymru as part of Welsh Government’s Active Travel Network Map consultation (ATNM). The Council will use findings from the consultation to upgrade and create new walking and cycling routes, making journeys on foot or by bike easier and safer for everyone.  New and improved active travel routes will also encourage more people to use active travel for local journeys; reducing traffic and improving air quality. To give your views on the existing active…

Derwendeg Primary School has recently celebrated its 100th birthday. The school arranged for a variety of activities to take place for staff and pupils in honour of the anniversary. The children celebrated with a ‘Wow day’ with each class dressing up in fashion from different decades. Each class has been allocated a decade to focus their learning on, investigating the question – ‘Which was the best decade to attend Derwendeg Primary?’ The children will be celebrating for the whole of the Summer term. Other celebrations will include: Burying a time capsule within the school grounds to document how life looked…

Bridgend County Borough Council has taken action to make a dilapidated former shop building safe. Following concerns raised about the safety of the vacant property at 23 Commercial Street, Maesteg, Shared Regulatory Services served an enforcement notice requiring the owner of the premises to take steps to board over the shopfront windows. The owner failed to comply with the requirements of the notice so council officers arranged for the work to be carried out. This property has been vacant for over 20 years and has been the subject of complaints due to its deteriorating condition. After concerns were raised about…

Ask most teenagers what they’re doing in their spare time during lockdown and you’re likely to hear a mixed bag of interests. Many like to spend their free time with family, going shopping, reading, spending time outside safely with their friends or they could mention Netflix marathons and practising Tik Tok trends (so we’re told…) However, two local teenagers are spending their free time doing good in their local communities by tackling the litter problem. 14-year-old Arjen Bhal and 13-year-old Jaden Manns from Lisvane and Grangetown in Cardiff tell us why they’re volunteering with Keep Grangetown Tidy: What made you…

Wales’ reigning Flat Trainer Of The Year, David Evans could be travelling to Royal Ascot with a live challenger on his hands, after Rohaan won the Pavilion Stakes. Having enjoyed a solid campaign last year, saddling 50 winners in total, Evans is well on-course to surpass that total in 2021. Evans has just 70 horses housed in his Ty-Derlwyn Farm stables near Abergavenny, but they’ve already amassed 31 winners between them during the first few months of the new season. The stand-out horse in Evan’s ranks is undoubtedly Rohaan – a speedy son of Mayson, who was picked up by…

With hotels, restaurants and cafés closed to the public for months, many commercial kitchens have been left idle and unused and so too have the properties’ drainage systems. As venues begin to reopen, business owners will need to ensure their premises continue to meet all regulations and hygiene requirements which includes maintaining clear drains. For pubs, restaurants and all other businesses with commercial kitchens there are strict regulations in place for how waste products must be disposed of, in particular fats, oils and grease (FOG). This is to prevent them from reaching water systems and contributing to the increasing fatberg…