Author: Rhys Gregory

A new support package designed to increase allotments in areas of Wales where they most needed has been announced today by Social Farms & Gardens (SF&G), working in partnership with the Welsh Government.  The timing of this announcement couldn’t be better as National Allotment Week, which is this year themed ‘Growing Food for Health and Wellbeing, runs from Monday, August 10 and Sunday, August 16. More than £130,000 is being invested over the next nine months to help Welsh communities, housing associations and local authorities, including town and community councils, meet a growing demand for allotments. The development funding will support the…

A £1.5 million investment by Hardshell is set to see the UK’s first medical-grade mask-making facility established in Wales, creating over 40 jobs and boosting business opportunities in the region. Life Sciences Hub Wales has supported Hardshell, a global leader in the production of protective defensive equipment such as body armour and demining suits, to secure product certifications that will allow it to become the first in the UK to produce medical-grade face masks for use by the NHS. The site will be the only facility in Britain to manufacture FFP3 type respirators, which are currently imported rather than produced…

A UK procurement specialist has launched a new £500 million procurement solution that will help schools, colleges and universities across the UK save time and money on their cleaning and catering arrangements when they reopen in September. 2buy2 already supports more than 1,000 education professionals ranging from teachers to school business managers and CFO’s of multi-academy trusts with their procurement. It helps schools source everything from energy to stationery in a more time and cost-effective way. Now, it has created a procurement solution for cleaning and catering – areas facing significant changes because of the coronavirus pandemic. New government guidelines stipulate…

A Swansea man has been handed a suspended jail sentence and banned from keeping all animals after a German Shepherd dog starved to death at his Tudno Place home before being dumped in the back of a vehicle. Lee Roger Aylott, 43, pleaded guilty to three Animal Welfare Act offences at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on 27 July. Two offences related to German Shepherd dog Shadow – whose condition was so bad that he had starved to death, before Aylott concealed his body in the back of his people-carrier vehicle. RSPCA Cymru was alerted to this after receiving reports of a…

Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James has confirmed up to £50m to support projects across Wales, providing people with safe and secure homes to make sure they do not fall into homelessness and no-one is forced back onto the streets. The Welsh Government has reiterated their commitment to tackling homelessness, rehousing everyone who has been provided with emergency shelter during the coronavirus pandemic, and building on the initial £10m in funding announced in March by making additional £40m available for local authorities. The initial phase of the homelessness response focused on ensuring everyone had accommodation where they could…

A £1.55m capital investment scheme to help increase capacity in the forestry sector to plant more trees and contribute to a green recovery is open for applications. The Forestry Industry Recovery Scheme, as part of the National Forest Programme, is open to applications from enterprises involved in the sustainable harvesting of trees in Wales and/or the growing of trees in Wales for planting in Wales. A key aim of the scheme is to improve the capacity of tree nurseries to supply trees.  Support will also be available for: ground preparation equipment; equipment for tree safety works for trees affected by…

Network Rail have today commenced preparatory works to enable replacement of the rail bridge adjacent to the A467 at Crumlin.  Funded by the Department for Transport, this £5m investment will see the current bridge replaced with a wider deck which will be able to carry two railway lines across it. This work forms part of the wider Ebbw Vale Frequency Enhancement Scheme, funded by Welsh Government, to enable a more frequent rail service on the Ebbw Vale line in the future. From early August, Network Rail contractors will be busy setting up their site compound in the Navigation Colliery, Crumlin.…

Two people have been charged following a disturbance in Barry on Saturday afternoon. Police responded to a domestic incident on Main Street shortly after 5pm. The first officer on scene had cause to discharge a Taser after two people failed to comply with instructions and attempts at intervention. A man and woman have now been charged. Kyle Anthony Butts, 35, from Barry has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and using threatening and abusive behaviour. Leanne Perrett, 35, also from Barry has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker and attempted theft. Both have been released on police bail…

Most modern banks and credit card organizations have realized the potential of technology in offering electronic payment services. The growing number of online casino players and electronic purchases have made banking companies rethink their business model and become oriented to online banking. One of these companies is Poli Payments. 1. Poli as a payment method Poli is an online banking service from Australia that has been providing electronic payment services for more than twelve years now. One of the benefits of Poli Payment is that you can use it without having to pay for anything and it is available across many…

Local Welsh Labour Members of the Senedd Joyce Watson MS and Eluned Morgan MS are urging everyone to check if they are eligible for help with paying their council tax bills.   With more people than ever facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus crisis, the Welsh Labour Government’s flagship Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) already supports almost 300,000 low-income households in Wales every year with their council tax bills.   You may be entitled to pay less council tax if:   you believe you live on a low income you live alone, or with people/children who do not pay council…