Author: Rhys Gregory

In the face of dramatic falls in passenger numbers the Welsh Government has decided to bring the Wales and Borders rail franchise under public control. Transport Minister Ken Skates said the move will help secure the future of passenger services in Wales and the Borders area, protect jobs and maintain the Welsh Government’s ambitious plans for Metro. The move comes after a challenging period in which Covid-19 has significantly impacted passenger numbers and rail revenue across Wales. The new arrangements will see day to day rail services become the responsibility of a new publicly owned subsidiary of Transport for Wales,…

Leading Welsh transport provider NAT Group has been awarded the UK Business Heroes stamp by the South and Mid Wales Chambers of Commerce for going the extra mile during the Coronavirus outbreak.

PROGRESS on the Growth Vision for North Wales and major investment in the region will be the focus of a virtual conference. Organised by North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council, in partnership with North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB), the online event takes place on Wednesday November 4. Presented by Business Council chair and North Wales Tourism CEO Jim Jones, the event will feature updates from the NWEAB Programme Office on transformative projects set to begin in 2021. Among the speakers are Programme Director Alwen Williams, Digital Programme Manager Stuart Whitfield, Energy Programme Manager Henry Aron, Land and Property Manager…

Home hearing test specialist Hearfocus has moved its UK headquarters to the Cambrian Buildings office building in Cardiff Bay. The rapidly expanding independent company has taken a five year lease on the 4,747 sq ft first floor of the multi-let building. Landlord Longmead Capital was represented in the transaction by the Cardiff office of property consultancy Knight Frank. Hearfocus offers free home hearing tests from its nationwide team of fully qualified and registered hearing aid audiologists, and the latest digital hearing systems from leading manufacturers. Managing director of Hearfocus, Russell Borland, said: “We outgrew our former offices in Cowbridge Road East, and Cambrian…

AN OFF-duty paramedic who gave CPR to his own wife after her sudden cardiac arrest has recounted the extraordinary ordeal. Phil Wilkins gave chest compressions and rescue breaths to his wife of 20 years, Cerys, after she collapsed without warning at their Pentrebach home the Friday before last. The couple’s teenage daughter called 999 and summoned Phil’s Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues, who helped to resuscitate the 48-year-old nurse. The mum-of-two is now on the road to recovery, and the family are urging everyone to learn life-saving CPR. Phil, a paramedic of 16 years, said: “At not one point through the…

At 4.50pm on Tuesday, October 20 a report was received of a stabbing in Pant Glas, Pentwyn. Armed officers were deployed as a precaution to ensure the safety of the public and officers. A 31-year-old man from Penarth sustained significant injuries which are described as non-life threatening. He remains at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Extensive enquiries are being carried out in the area and detectives are appealing for information. There have been no arrests but a number of items have been recovered for forensic examination. Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact South Wales Police on…

The team at one of Swansea’s newest restaurants are remaining optimistic about the future despite having to close its doors from Friday under the Welsh government’s ‘fire break’ enforced lockdown. The Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, which is located at J Shed in the SA1 area of the city, opened its doors in August, and quickly established itself as one of the more popular places to eat out with a waiting list to reserve a table. The team is now focusing on the last few days of service, before closing the doors for two weeks. Rhys Andrews, restaurant…

A woman remains critically ill in hospital and one man has been arrested following a road traffic collision in Cardiff on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency services were called the scene of the collision in Canton just after 3pm on Tuesday, October 20. A red Volkswagen Caravelle collided with a parked unattended blue Nissan Qashqai in Market Road. As a result of the collision, a 51-year-old female pedestrian who was walking along the pavement at the time was seriously injured and taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff by ambulance. A 71-year-old man from Caerphilly has been arrested on suspicion of…

At Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday, 21 October, 2020), Zara Radcliffe, 29, of Wyndham Street, Penygraig, was given an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder on the basis of diminished responsibility. Local man John Rees, who was 88 years-old, was beaten to death on 5th May, after he tried to save a woman who was being attacked by Zara Radcliffe inside the Co-op store in Tylacelyn Road, Penygraig. While paying for his shopping, Mr Rees noticed a commotion behind him, and immediately put himself between Zara Radcliffe and a woman who she was…

Swansea Bay University Health Board has successfully appointed a new Chief Executive to take over from Tracy Myhill when she retires at the end of the year.  Mark will bring with him over twenty years of experience as an NHS Chief Executive, as well as experience of system leadership roles in the NHS in England and of healthcare consultancy. Mark Hackett said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed as the new Chief Executive and am looking forward to taking up post in the New Year. “I know I am joining at an exciting time for the organisation, following its…