Author: Rhys Gregory

Talented trainees were recognised in Wales’s top environmental and land-based awards as they celebrated numerous achievements at a very challenging time for the industry. Announced virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lantra Cymru Wales’ Land-based Learner of the Year Awards recognised the initiative, skills and enthusiasm of individuals pursuing careers within the environmental and land-based sectors. Winner of the Learner of the Year Award (20 years and under) went to John Williams from Whitford, Holywell in Flintshire, with David Goodchild from Llwyngwril in Gwynedd announced as winner of the Learner of the Year Award (21 years and…

A new pilot scheme to provide better access to longer term affordable and good quality housing in the private rented sector is underway in Cardiff. Cardiff Council has said they are keen to work with residential landlords in the city who have properties available to lease to the authority for a period of five years, to increase the amount of affordable homes available for tenants. The scheme is funded by Welsh Government and will be managed by the Council, offering a significant range of support services and benefits to private landlords and tenants, including: Financial assistance to improve a property;…

Swansea Council plans to create a new community hub on the city centre High Street. It would mean important new space for members of the local community to meet with third sector organisations and others. The idea is to strengthen the local community. The council seeks planning permission to create the hub in three neighbouring retail units that no longer have tenants – 107-109 High Street. The change of use would see the properties refurbished, including new electrics, replastering, new kitchen and office space and an open plan area at the front. A number of local groups have been consulted;…

Work has started on a new Splash Pad attraction for children and families to replace the popular former Aquasplash facility at the Aberavon Seafront. The new attraction will include a range of more than 30 exciting water features including fountains, jets and “waterfalls”. Aquasplash proved to be a massively successful attraction to both local residents and visitors alike for many years.  Unfortunately, the repair and maintenance necessary to keep it open for another season made it financially unviable. The time had therefore come for a replacement. The new Splash Pad will no longer have at its centre a standing pool…

Two overnight closures have been confirmed for the eastbound lane of the M4 motorway between Junction 37 at Pyle and Junction 35 at Pencoed in Bridgend County Borough. The closures are necessary so that essential roadworks can be carried out by the South Wales Trunk Road Agency (SWTRA), which is responsible for managing, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in South Wales on behalf of Welsh Government. The first full overnight closure will be place on Thursday 11 February from 8pm until 6am the following morning, and again on Friday 12 February from 8pm-6am. Access will be maintained for…

Caerphilly Council has fined a hairdresser after receiving a report the person was cutting hair and operating a business from a shed. A complaint was received from a concerned resident who reported an individual breaching Covid Guidance. Trading Standards and Covid Enforcement Officers visited the premises on Friday 5th February 2021 to find the individual operating a business from his property. The 26 year old male from the Morgan Jones’ Park area in Caerphilly was caught cutting hair in a shed situated in his back garden that was set up as a barber’s shop. The male was issued with a…

CBD or cannabidiol has been used for medicinal purposes for decades, and in recent times it has been rapidly growing in popularity, particularly within the UK. On 31st March 2021 however, the CBD market will be drastically changing in the UK, upon the advent of new guidelines from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA). Come April 1st 2021, these new guidelines will mean that any ingestible CBD product in the UK must be covered by a valid novel foods application. This application can indeed be incredibly costly and complex to acquire, resulting in many smaller companies being left with an…

Domino’s, the nation’s best-loved pizza company, has relocated to a brand-new premise in Gorseinon after 10 years at West Street, the new store reopened at Unit C, J47 Retail Park, Gorseinon Road on 26 January following an extensive refit. The store’s new location has been transformed with smart new signage and a freshly fitted open fronted kitchen designed to show the theatre of pizza-making so customers can watch firm favourites being made, including Pepperoni Passion and Vegi Supreme, as well as recent product innovations such as the long-awaited Vegan pizza. Calvin, Area Manager at Domino’s Gorseinon said: “After 10 years of…

More than £5million could have been missed out on last winter by people in later life who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount scheme, according to analysis by Independent Age. The charity has found that more than 38,000 older people across Wales potentially missed out on a £140 discount on their energy bills, because they are eligible for, but not receiving the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit. These figures are an indication of the wider problem with Pension Credit uptake, which has not risen above 64% for around a decade – the worst uptake of any income-related benefit.…

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is opening the Vale of Glamorgan’s first Mass Vaccination Centre yesterday (Monday 8th February), in Barry. It is the third centre of its kind to be opened by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board as part of its COVID-19 Mass Vaccination programme, alongside those in Splott and Pentwyn in Cardiff. The new Mass Vaccination Centre will bolster vaccination capacity in the Health Board area, alongside mobile vaccination teams vaccinating care homes and people who are housebound, a satellite clinic at University Hospital Llandough for staff and the public, and GP practices throughout the area…