Author: Rhys Gregory

New research by Dataloft show property transactions rapidly returning to pre-COVID levels as the clamour to take advantage of the English Stamp Duty (SDLT) holiday gathers momentum. However, these unexpectedly high transaction numbers are causing something of a log jam as solicitors and local councils struggle to deal with the mountains of paperwork associated with a home sale. Purchasers who agree to buy a property in the months before Christmas face the very real possibility of losing the benefits of the SDLT tax break – costing them thousands of pounds and the pressure is mounting on solicitors and surveyors –…

Street Food Cinema returns next month for a festive drive-in movie experience with classic films, Christmas carol-oke, and the best of Cardiff’s street food vendors. The run includes classic Christmas favourites Elf, Home Alone, Muppet Christmas Carol and Die Hard, alongside classic night-out movies like Batman Returns, Bridget Jones’ Diary and new release Tenet. As Wales prepares for a uniquely different Christmas, the events team behind the drive-in is pulling out all the stops to deliver something extra special. Organiser Matt ‘the hat’ Lawton explained: “We’re going all-out with pre-film experiences, lights, smoke, actors, music to give people a much-needed…

A motorist had a surprise after finding five brown long-eared bats in a green refuse sack on the A48. Local resident Huw Jones spotted the sack on the road at the Maes Y Bont turn-off last Wednesday (11 November) at approximately 5.15pm. However, he had an “unbelievable shock” when he went to move the bag and saw signs of life inside. Initially, Mr Jones thought the bag contained a single bat – but, on further inspection after transporting the bag to his nearby home, found a further four bats wrapped in different carrier bags inside the refuse sack. He safely…

RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after a lovebird was found abandoned in its cage at the side of a road in Caerau, Cardiff. The animal welfare charity was contacted by a nearby resident who had found the cage with the bird inside at around 7.30pm on Caerau Lane on Monday (16 November). The caller kindly took the bird and cage home with them from the cold weather conditions for safe keeping. RSPCA inspector Sophie Daniels said: “This beautiful bird was found on the side on the road next to an electric box. There was food and water inside, but…

A new Community Rail Officer will start work in the Conwy Valley this month. Working for The Conwy Valley Rail Partnership, the new officer, Karen Williams will engage with communities across the valley including Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog and the North West Wales Coast, Llandudno Junction to Holyhead. Since launching their Community Rail Vision last year, Transport for Wales is continuing to implement an investment programme in communities across their Wales and the Borders network. This new role will connect people in North Wales to their railway and deliver social and economic benefits, with a focus on sustainable and accessible…

A Mold man has been sentenced to 20 weeks imprisonment after he was found guilty of badger baiting and causing dogs to suffer with their injuries. Damien Sweeney (d.o.b 02/11/1986) of Maes Glyndwr, Treuddyn, Mold, was found guilty on 12 charges – eight under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and four under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 – at an October trial. Eight of the charges were that he caused unnecessary suffering to two dogs – a female tan lurcher – and a dog named Reggie, in the Treuddyn area. Four of these charges related to the tan lurcher…

RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after a young fox is suspected to have died from poisoning in Cardiff. The animal welfare charity was alerted to the animal by a member of the public who found the fox in a collapsed state in the area of Pant-Y-Caerau, Church Road in Pentyrch. Sadly when RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper attended the location on 12 November, the fox had died. “The symptoms presented by the fox before death would suggest that he died of poisoning, which is very sad,” she said. “But we don’t know exactly how this poor fox died as there…

RSPCA Cymru has urged the Welsh Government to ensure a recent review into dog breeding leads to “meaningful change” to better protect dogs and puppies in Wales. The comments come as the Welsh Government yesterday (18 November) publishes their response to an expert Task and Finish Group published earlier this year by the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group. RSPCA Cymru inputted into the review via its role as part of the Animal Welfare Network for Wales. The review made 55 recommendations – covering issues such as improved training for local authorities, amending the controversial minimum staff-to-dog ratio to…

A new Welsh Government initiative aimed at helping unemployed people who are interested in starting their own business to overcome hidden barriers opens this week. As part of its commitment to supporting people through the coronavirus pandemic and beyond, the Welsh Government is working with partners such as Chwarae Teg, Mubo, Assadaquaat Community Finance, Jobcentre Plus and Network She so that disabled people, those from BAME backgrounds, women and young people not in education or training, can access targeted support to help them start their own business. Economy Minister Ken Skates announced the opening of the £1.2m business start-up Barriers…

Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, has announced a new set of experimental measures for emergency departments. Developed alongside front line clinicians, the three new measures will provide much greater context about the timeliness and quality of care in emergency departments. The measures will better record what happens to patients when accessing emergency care than existing targets, and should help to drive improvement in patient care. They will be published monthly, on a national basis initially, from today (Thursday, 19 November). Mr Gething said: “These new measures, developed alongside clinicians, will give us all a much better picture of the care provided…