Author: Rhys Gregory

Ensuring buses and trains provide a practical and affordable alternative to travelling by car is a key priority for the South West Wales regional transport plan. The priority was identified during consultation on a draft regional transport plan that’s set to cover Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea. Close to 900 people gave their feedback on the draft plan, which is aimed at creating a more reliable, connected and accessible transport network throughout the region, allowing residents to access essential services, education and employment while unlocking economic activity in South West Wales. Other priorities identified during the consultation included…

A relic from the 1911 Hopkinstown Rail disaster has made its way from Doncaster to A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park Museum and is now on public display. The louvre ventilator, which would have let air in and out of the train carriage, will be on display as part of the Trehafod museum’s Coal Society exhibition, which is open to the public. The object was found in a cupboard in Hall Cross Academy, Doncaster and bears the inscription “A relic from the TVR collision at Hopkinstown, which occurred January 23, 1911: J Morris” and is now in…

A man has been fined over £1000 after he abandoned his car in a busy industrial estate in Rhondda Cynon Taf. In December 2024, the Council’s Streetcare Enforcement Team received a complaint in relation to an abandoned vehicle, which was causing an issue in a Llantrisant Industrial Estate. When the Enforcement Officer attended the location, the vehicle, a 2006 Honda Civic, was assessed and stickered with a warning under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, stating that the vehicle had deemed to have been abandoned. The Warning Notice stated that the owner of the vehicle had 14 days to remove…

Caerphilly County Borough Council approves transformative Placemaking Plans for Bargoed and Blackwood which will provide a blueprint for further investment and regeneration activity in both towns. The Placemaking plans have been developed with support from Welsh Government and aim to revitalise the high streets, support local businesses, and enhance public spaces in both communities. The Council held a series of community workshops in both towns with residents and local representatives, to help shape the plans and ensure the vision reflects local priorities and aspirations. The placemaking plans will serve as vital frameworks to help secure external funding and guide regeneration…

Plans to deepen co-operation between Ireland and Wales over the next five years will be agreed today at the Ireland-Wales Forum, with the launch of the new Ireland-Wales Shared Statement 2030. Tánaiste Simon Harris TD and First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan will meet in Swansea today, launching the new statement which will build on the success of the 2021-2025 Ireland-Wales Shared Statement. The two governments will commit to develop closer ties in a range of different areas, to include cooperation related to renewable energy, research and innovation, while strengthening the historic cultural and linguistic bonds that connect the two…

A young woman, whose father was left fighting for his life after being hit by a car, is now part of a campaign to stop people filming at the scene on their mobile phones. Eve Thomas from Hirwaun, who was 17 at the time, is speaking out about how devastating it is to know people had uploaded footage of the crash to social media. Hundreds of people speculated online about her dad, Nigel Thomas, and his condition. The campaign, It’s not your story to tell, is being spearheaded by the South Wales Trauma Network and has the support of many…

More than 1,400 potholes have been fixed and prevented in just three days along a busy stretch of road in North Wales. The resurfacing work has extended the life of the A494 Mold Bypass by up to a decade, improving safety and reducing the risk of damage for all road users. The road had suffered from years of wear and tear due to increasing traffic and the impact of severe weather. Using innovative resurfacing techniques, the work was completed in just three days, improving safety for all road users. The Mold Bypass scheme is part of the Welsh Government’s Wales-wide…

More people will receive radiotherapy treatment as Ysbyty Glan Clwyd receives new cancer treatment machines. The Welsh Government is investing £9.49m in two new linear accelerators at the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre to replace ageing equipment. The new machines will deliver radiotherapy treatment more precisely and efficiently. The latest Linacs can target and destroy cancer cells more accurately, reducing the risk of harm to normal tissue around the tumour site. The new equipment will be more reliable than the older machines, which can break down and delay patient treatment. They work faster, allowing more people to receive treatment each…

Local fundraiser Gareth Evans, who recently raised more than £10,000 for Parkinson’s UK Cymru by braving a public head shave, has made another meaningful gesture by donating a unique piece of boxing memorabilia to City Hospice. At the recent Brave the Shave auction, Gareth successfully bid for a pair of signed boxing shorts once worn by Sugar Ray Leonard, the legendary American world champion. Rather than keeping the prized item for himself, Gareth chose to donate the shorts to Cardiff-based charity City Hospice, where they were presented to Corporate Partnerships Manager Nicky Piper, himself a former Welsh boxing champion. Adding…

Leading timber supplier, Premier Forest Products, has won the Growth Award at the Circle2Success (C2S) Awards 2025. The award recognises a business that has demonstrated substantial growth through revenue growth, headcount or service and product development. The business, headquartered in Newport, has continued to strengthen over the past year despite a challenging year for the industry. In doing so, the firm has invested heavily in acquisitions and internal growth, increasing their team from 320 to 400 across 19 sites UK-wide. Recent acquisitions have included Bitus UK from Swedish company Bergs Timber in November, followed by Stairway Joinery Ltd, a specialist…