Author: Rhys Gregory

Homeowners across UK cities need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario: a cold winter, empty commercial properties closed due to lockdown with dwindling food sources and rats looking for somewhere warm to call home. “We are facing a challenging winter with potentially “perfect storm” conditions as the bad news of more lockdowns seems inevitable, rats are breeding like crazy in quiet streets and closed commercial properties – the fear is they will come into homes looking for food when the cold hits”, explains Jenny Rathbone from Pest Control company Pest.co.uk Empty commercial buildings with dwindling food sources have been…

Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, has today (08 October) put out a call for members of the public to suggest buildings, landmarks and sites of interest for heritage listing and protection in Wales. The call comes after AA Telephone Box 161 was granted Grade II listed status — an honour bestowed in May 2020, following a recommendation from Brecon-resident, Mr John Bell. Located on the A40 between Crickhowell and Tretower in Brecon Beacons National Park, the sixty-year-old telephone box is one of only three surviving in their original locations in Wales. Each year, Cadw carries out on-the-ground surveys…

Postdoc researcher Dr Claire Price has been recognised for bringing a science festival to South Wales. The RSB Outreach and Engagement Awards celebrate researchers who communicate their scientific work using novel methods that effectively engage with their target audiences. The New Researcher Award looks to celebrate those making outstanding strides in outreach and engagement within the first five years after graduation, whilst the Established Researcher award recognises those who are taking the lead in embedding outreach and engagement efforts at an institutional level. This year, the winner of the Outreach and Engagement Award for an Established Researcher is Dr Claire…

COLEG CAMBRIA will be taking more of its learning online later this month to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors during the Coronavirus pandemic. From October 19 – the week before half term – the college will move some face-to-face lectures to self-directed study and remote delivery. Its sites in Wrexham, Deeside, Northop and Llysfasi will remain open to support students, with social distancing and safety measures in place, and staff will be on hand for support and pastoral care. Chief Executive Yana Williams reiterated that the health and wellbeing of learners, employees and visitors is…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is reminding businesses of their obligation to keep their own Test, Trace and Protect records. Businesses are reminded that whilst the NHS Covid-19 app will work alongside the existing manual contact tracing system, it does not replace the need for premises to keep their own records. The Council is also encouraging people to download and use the app because the more people that do so, the more it will help improve the existing contact tracing system and help stop the spread of the coronavirus. What this means for businesses: The app doesn’t replace the existing need…

Caerphilly Youth Service LGBTQ+ group #GGNP has been shortlisted for an award in the ‘Equality and Diversity in a youth work setting’ category at the Youth Work Excellence Awards. The Youth Work Excellence Awards are held every year in Wales. The national awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate outstanding youth work projects, youth workers and those involved in youth work across Wales. This group is a unique initiative within Caerphilly County Borough’s Youth Service which supports young people aged between 11 and 25 years who are LGBTQ+. Over the past 4 years it has been established, it has…

Collections for garden-waste across Cardiff are to be suspended for four months in order to help the Council deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and to ensure general waste, recycling and food waste collections can continue to take place. The once-a-month, garden waste collections, which normally take place in November, December, January and February will be halted, although residents will be able to have Christmas trees collected between January 4th and January 11th. October’s fortnightly garden waste collections will continue as normal. This should allow residents to remove any autumn leaf fall and clear any garden waste before winter. Spring collections…

First Minister Mark Drakeford has further strengthened the Welsh Government’s response to coronavirus by realigning key Ministerial portfolios. Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething will focus solely on Wales’ twin priorities of responding to coronavirus and NHS performance and delivery. And as cases of coronavirus increase across Wales, Eluned Morgan will take on a new role as Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh Language, acknowledging the longer-term impact on the virus on people’s mental health and wellbeing. She will assume Ministerial responsibility for mental health services, dementia, autism, substance misuse, veterans’ health, patient experience and the…

Rhug Estate is ingeniously using the organic wool from its flock of sheep on the farm to make high quality, sustainable, protective packaging for its new Wild Beauty skin and body care collections. Wool from the farm is also used to produce luxury duvets and mattress toppers. This week is a time to celebrate the versatility of sheep’s wool as it is #WoolWeek. This year is the tenth anniversary of HRH The Prince of Wales’ Campaign for Wool. Rhug Estate was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales two years ago. Lord Newborough, owner of…

People showing symptoms of Covid-19 in Swansea are to have access to a seven-days-a-week walk-in Local Testing Site (LTS). It will be based at the city centre’s Grand Theatre and will soon be open 8am-8pm every day. This is in addition to mobile testing units already rolled out across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and drive-through testing facilities at the Liberty Stadium and Margam. The Grand LTS will offer pre-booked walk-in appointments. Appointments must be made via the Welsh Government website https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test. Anyone booking a test will need a mobile phone number or email address as they will receive a…