Author: Rhys Gregory

The South Wales Law Awards is delighted to announce the judging panel for the 2021 South Wales Law Awards. The South Wales Law Awards has assembled the leading law and commercial experts to form the Independent Judging Panel. They include: Holly Evans – Solicitor & Academic Subject Manager for Law at USW Hannah Menard – Director of the Legal Advice Clinic – USW Karen Jones   – Director of TSR Legal Recruitment Richard Miles – Swansea Building Society – Head of Savings / Area Manager (East) Oliver Pughe – Financial Planner – Penguin Holly Evans – Solicitor & Academic Subject Manager…

Homelessness and rough sleeping in Swansea is being dramatically reduced thanks to ongoing efforts by Swansea Council and partner organisations. More individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless are being supported than ever while rough sleeping is at its lowest level on record. Swansea Council has pledged that anyone who finds themselves at risk of sleeping rough has a place to sleep if they want it. Wrap-around services to prevent people from returning to living rough continue to be expanded and more money is being invested in suitable temporary accommodation. A progress report on Swansea’s Homelessness Strategy has been…

Work by Neath Port Talbot Council to transform the iconic former Metal Box factory in Neath into a business zone for job creation is progressing well with a number of refurbished offices at the site now available to let. Occupied for more than 70 years by the Metal Box factory and known locally as “The Box”, it closed in 2016. With support from the Welsh Government’s targeted regeneration investment programme, Neath Port Talbot Council bought the site in 2019 with the aim of creating hundreds of jobs. The project got a major boost when Sevenoaks Modular purchased approximately 50% of…

Work is under way to remove an invasive plant species at Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve to protect the dunes. Two diggers are on site to help clear the non-native sea buckthorn, which has previously been managed with the help of volunteers but has now become widespread. The work has been commissioned by Bridgend County Borough Council under the Dunes 2 Dunes project, which aims to preserve and enhance the sand dune landscapes at Kenfig and Merthyr Mawr Warren. While the council no longer manages the overall site, we continue to be involved in the Dunes 2 Dunes project…

Blackweir Bridge has re-opened following the completion of structural works by Cardiff University, who hold responsibility for maintenance of the bridge over the River Taff, to make it safe. New signage is in place asking people to keep left, follow good hand and respiratory hygiene, and not to stop on the bridge. Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, Cllr Peter Bradbury said: “Throughout the pandemic we have done, and will continue to do, all we can to keep Cardiff safe and limit the spread of Covid-19. But we also want to enable people to move safely and easily around the…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is continuing to support the national roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine, and in partnership with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, is providing three Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centres, one at Llantrisant Leisure Centre, one at Rhondda Sports Centre, and another at Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls. Following the success of the first phase of vaccine roll-out up to the 14th February, the Council-owned Llantrisant Leisure and Rhondda Sport Centres have been remodelled to help provide facilities for the vaccine roll-out. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has also stepped up to remodel Cynon Valley Indoor Bowls for use as…

Gwent Vice Lord-Lieutenant to sleep under the stars to raise funds for Homeless Veterans in Wales on Friday 5 March 2021. Gwent’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Andrew Tuggey, is one of five Welsh Ambassadors for Homes for Veterans Cymru, a charity within Alabare, which provides much-needed support for homeless veterans across Wales. Alabare is encouraging its supporters to participate in ‘The Big Sleep at Home’ fundraiser, on Friday 5 March. Andrew will be sleeping outside under the stars that night, atop the 280m hill behind his home in his ambition to raise £10,000 for homeless veterans in Wales. You may wish to…

A study into a major cause of hospital acquired infections (HAI) has begun. The work is exploring how contagion bacteria survive even deep cleans with chemical products and is evaluating a novel approach to reduce HAI through the use of probiotic hard surface cleaners. The collaboration between Genesis Biosciences and the University of Huddersfield has received funding from the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) and will examine infection-causing dry biofilms and assess the efficacy of preventative probiotic cleansers. Although historically high, HAI have witnessed a significant increase over the past year due to COVID 19 and represent an unrelenting and…

A barn owl has been rescued from a disused building in Pontyates by RSPCA Cymru. Officers from the animal welfare charity were alerted after members of the public spotted the owl in the front window of the property in the Gwendraeth Valley village. RSPCA Cymru attended the scene – and made local enquiries to track down the owner of the building, and gain access to the trapped owl. Amazing photographs show what animal rescuer Paula Milton saw at the property on 20 February – with the owl peeking out of a top floor widow. The bird, once rescued, appeared a…

A father of two from Suffolk, who has endured a tough 12 months due to COVID-19, was given a ‘life changing’ boost in his efforts to start a new business when rugby legend James Hook drew his name in a prize draw as the lucky winner of a £20,000 new van. Suffolk-based Perry Green had entered a competition run by Neath-based van leasing and contract hire company, Low Cost Vans, one of the UK’s leading providers of commercial vehicles, to give away a Ford Transit Custom van worth more that £20,000. The draw was announced live on Instagram by rugby…