Author: Rhys Gregory

A temporary contraflow on the A55 between junctions 2 – 4 eastbound will be in place from today [Monday, 28 December] as part of the Welsh Government’s contingency plans for the end of the EU Transition period. The plans are aimed at minimising any possible disruption to the port, town and wider community. From 1 January ferry operators will require freight customers bound for Ireland to link customs information to their booking and if they arrive without having done so they will not be able to enter the port. The reasonable worst case scenario published by the UK Government highlights…

Inspiring artwork by local primary school pupils will be showcased online by The Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay’s leading entertainment destination, throughout the New Year. The ‘Hopes and Dreams for 2021’ project led by The Red Dragon Centre will display over two hundred pieces of art created by key stage two pupils at Mount Stuart Primary School. After a tough year for many, The Red Dragon Centre team wanted to share uplifting messages and a positive outlook for the New Year. Eight classes from the nearby school submitted artwork for the exhibition, which will be shared online from January, with…

Holding the Tesco Food Collections, which ran for three days in large stores, is just one of a number of ways in which Tesco supports the two food charities. The supermarket has provided more than £60m in support to help the charities feed communities during the pandemic. During the initial lockdown Tesco donated £15m of food, split between the two charities. The supermarket has announced a further £4m of food for FareShare in recent months and donates two million meals a month of surplus food via the charity. This year’s collection was held on November 19-21 amid the lockdown in…

There’s no doubt this year’s festive celebrations will be a little different for all of us so to lighten the atmosphere, staff on Neath Port Talbot Council’s winter gritting fleet asked for help in naming their sturdy lorries. Among the names other councils have dreamed up for their vehicles have been Spreaddie Mercury and David Plowie but after getting assistance from people around Neath Port Talbot on social media, it was decided some of the area’s not inconsiderable group of local celebrities should be honoured. Listed below are the final five gritter lorry names which were chosen by lorry drivers…

Welsh farmers and food producers have sighed a huge sigh of relief after it was revealed that the UK and EU are close to agreeing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) covering key Welsh products. Speaking after news of the breakthrough broke on Wednesday evening (December 23), FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “The consequences of a no deal for farming and other industries would be catastrophic, so it was always hoped that common sense would prevail. “However, there was always a risk that refusals to compromise on one or other side could lead to the worst case scenario.” Mr Roberts also…

Households in Wales are being reminded to regularly check up on vulnerable relatives, neighbours and friends this winter to ensure they are keeping warm and well. People living in rural parts of the UK are more likely to struggle to keep warm during the colder months because their homes tend to be older and less well insulated, making them harder to heat effectively. More than 2.3 million people living in rural areas are also over 65* and so at greater risk of developing health problems such as respiratory conditions, which are made worse by cold temperatures. With many of these…

A 123-year-old steam railway locomotive that saw 27 years’ service with Welsh Slate has found its forever home with a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Mid Wales. The 11-tonne Manning Wardle “Jubilee 1897”, so named to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, has been sold to the Vale of Rheidol Railway at Aberystwyth which had been its foster home for the past two years. Jubilee 1897 initially worked at Cilgwyn slate quarry at Nantlle, hauling waste from the quarry to remote tips near the village of Y Fron. It was sold to Welsh Slate in 1928 when it travelled to Dinas Junction…

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will continue to help safeguard Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve after its management lease comes to an end on 31 December 2020. National Nature Reserves are areas of the countryside where special examples of Britain’s habitats and wildlife are protected. NRW will continue its work at Merthyr Mawr, which is home to the highest dune in Wales known as the Big Dipper, through the Sands of LIFE dune rejuvenation project. The project aims to revitalise sand dunes by recreating natural movement and rejuvenating habitats, which are home to some of UK’s most rare wildlife. Merthyr…

An annual appeal co-ordinated by Caerphilly County Borough Council has raised over £9,000 to support local food banks. The Christmas appeal saw online donations, supermarket gift cards and food donated from Council staff, contractors and suppliers; in line with their community benefit contractual offerings.  Donations will be shared out between food banks in Blackwood, Rhymney, Caerphilly and Risca. Companies who supported the appeal include A L Landscapes, A P Waters, A.G. James & son, Albert & Flaherty, ART Travel, CAE UK, Cardiff Lift Company, Carter’s Taxis, CDS Systems Ltd, Centerprise, Colin Laver Heating Ltd, Creigiau Travel, DNA Heating Ltd, DP…

Caerphilly County Borough Council served their one millionth free school meal delivery on the 16th December when they delivered their Christmas meal boxes. Rachel Booton and her three children received the one millionth free school meal delivery and were gifted with a bunch of goodies to celebrate this fantastic achievement, sponsored by W R Bishop, the Council’s free school meal fresh produce suppliers. Included in the Christmas meal box is a Christmas dinner, a Christmas cracker, festive deserts and a selection box. In March, the Catering team were challenged to feed over 6,000 children and young people in the Caerphilly…