Author: Rhys Gregory

With just two weeks to go until the Brexit Transition period ends, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging traders to complete crucial preparations needed to trade with Europe from 1 January. This month, HMRC has sent 250,000 letters and emails to VAT-registered traders urging them to get ready for the new trading rules. Ongoing trade negotiations between the UK and the EU will not impact on this deadline. There will be no further extensions and these talks will not remove the changes ahead for trading with Europe. As of 1 January, businesses will no longer be able to trade…

On the 17th December, Dreams & Wishes – a south Wales based children’s charity – went to spread some festive cheer throughout local hospitals via the Pony Express. Having collected thousands of presents, the Queen’s Dragoon Guards joined forces with The Welsh Cavalry and their trustee pony to support Father Christmas in his heartwarming mission. The Express visited three hospitals across Swansea, Cardiff and the Newport area, including a visit to the recently opened University Grange Hospital. All gifts had been specially wrapped 3 weeks prior to their delivery date, ensuring they were Covid safe and ready to go. The Pony…

On Saturday 19th December, volunteers from Greenpeace Cardiff and Cardiff Green New Deal met with local councillors on the Wellfield and Albany Road junction to present them with a giant Christmas card with messages supporting measures for safer active travel.  Roath has recently been subject to a range of measures designed to improve the cycling and walking infrastructure. Clare James from Penylan said “Today Cardiff Greenpeace and Cardiff Green New Deal presented Christmas cards to Councillors in Roath to let them know that for Christmas we want to see temporary measures, such as pop-up cycle ways, made permanent. We also want…

Residents and businesses in Mountain Ash town centre will shortly receive a letter outlining upcoming work to demolish two buildings in Oxford Street – to enable significant future improvements at Rhos Square. Known locally as Guto Square, the area will be developed under the Mountain Ash Town Centre Regeneration Framework – which incorporates several future projects including a new Primary Care Centre, an Extra Care Facility and the redevelopment of 1-4 Oxford Buildings. Canolfan Pennar Community Hub was also delivered under the Framework, opening its doors in June 2019. Planning permission for the Rhos Square development was granted in April…

Schools in Swansea will begin reopening on Wednesday January 6 after the Christmas break and it is expected most schools will have resumed face-to-face teaching by January 11. Parents and carers will be contacted directly by their schools before the start of term with the arrangements that apply to them. All schools will be closed on January 4 and 5 to allow headteachers to assess levels of staff availability, to review all risk assessments and to consider any further requirements in relation to the planning of the spring term. Swansea Council’s Interim Director of Education, Helen Morgan-Rees, has today (Friday)…

Detectives investigating a reported assault in the Roath area of Cardiff are appealing to trace the victim. Members of the public reported seeing an assault take place on Plasnewydd Square at around 3.05pm on Saturday, 19 December. The victim – described as a black man, approximately 5ft 11in tall, with short, dreadlocked hair and wearing a white top or jacket – was attacked by two men who exited a car on the street. Following the violent attack, the men fled scene, and the victim left along with a woman who had been heard screaming to try and stop the attack.…

Finance Minister Rebecca Evans will today [Monday 21 December] publish a Draft Budget designed to protect the NHS and the economy, build a greener future and create change for a more equal Wales. In the first full Budget since the pandemic, the Welsh Government has set out its plans to help public services recover, support businesses and reach those hardest hit in this crisis. Following a ‘deeply disappointing’ UK Government Spending Review, the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget outlines its priorities for the foundations of Wales’ recovery. Speaking ahead of its publication, Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: “The consequences of this…

Higher-level restrictions came into force at midnight last night (Saturday 19 December 2020) to control rapidly accelerating coronavirus rates across Wales. Wales has moved into alert level 4, which had been planned for after Christmas, but it has been brought forward based on new information about the virus. What is alert “Level 4”? Alert level 4 means that: people must stay at home, except for very limited purposes people must not visit other households, or meet other people they do not live with many types of businesses are required to close What does alert level 4 mean for Christmas? You…

Higher-level restrictions will come into force to control rapidly accelerating coronavirus rates across Wales, from midnight tonight (Saturday 19 December 2020). Earlier today, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford met with the First Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Michael Gove, from the UK Government, to discuss the very latest information on a new strain of coronavirus. As a result of this new information, Wales will move to alert level four which had been planned for after Christmas. People can still form a Christmas bubble but now for only one day – 25 December. The new restrictions will apply…

Projects will be completed or paused along the A55, M4 and all major trunk roads in the run up to the festive period, other than unscheduled emergency situations. The Welsh Government is either bringing to a close or pausing any projects where it is safe to do so, that could cause disruption to our networks during what is normally one of the busiest times of the year. People are being asked to be sensible and stay as close to home as possible this year in line with guidance and regulations. Ahead of essential journeys people are encouraged to check traffic…