Author: Rhys Gregory

New rules will come into force on Monday to make it easier for family and friends to meet outdoors, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced today (Friday 31 July) as he set out further changes to the coronavirus regulations in Wales. The latest package of changes follow the sixth review of the coronavirus regulations and focus on enabling friends and family to meet each other outdoors and enabling more businesses to open indoors. The First Minster will explain that consideration is being given to extend the number of people able to meet indoors, however this will depend on people continuing to…

Pride Cymru is continuing with its mission to make sure that voices across the LGBT+ communities in Wales are heard. The charity is calling for people within Wales to share what Pride means to them in a 10-60-second-long video ahead of its digital Big Week (24-30 August). With people’s videos, the charity wants to highlight why Pride matters in today’s society and how the need and the fight for inclusion is far from over. This year’s event focuses on the theme ‘Your Pride’. The change to a digital format this year allows the opportunity for all parts of the community…

Despite the Coronavirus national emergency, exciting improvements are continuing to be progressed at the Dare Valley Country Park – as the Council continues to deliver its vision for the popular Discovery Gateway site.  Earlier this week, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services, Councillor Ann Crimmings, had a site visit to see the progress being made on a number of the projects being delivered at the Dare Valley Country Park, which are being funded by a combination of Welsh Government funding through the Valleys Regional Park programme (£1,000,000), and also the Council’s own capital investment…

Two of Wales’ leading family-owned foodservice and hospitality companies have signed a three-year agreement for the supply of food to 100 sites across Wales. SA Brain & Co and Castell Howell Foods are building upon their successful 14-year partnership, and are now planning for the post-Covid-19 recovery in the hospitality sector. Alistair Darby, CEO of SA Brain, said: “We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the team at Castell Howell. During the lockdown, this has been shown to be deep and resilient. We have been able to work together to run click & collect trials, re-engineer menus ready for reopening,…

South Wales Police is investigating a serious Road Traffic Collision, which happened at around 11.10pm yesterday (July 30) on the A4161 Lansdowne Road junction with Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff. The incident involved a black and white Volkswagen Caddy Taxi and a black Volvo motor vehicle. In total five people were taken to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, one woman suffering serious injuries and she remains in a critical condition. Officers wish to thank members of the public who assisted at scene. The road was closed for some time. South Wales Police would like to speak to anyone who…

A test to see how a virtually traffic-free Wind Street will benefit Swansea is to begin on Monday, August 3. It will see vehicles allowed there only from 7-11am every day – and entry will be for loading purposes only. The road will remain one-way in the direction of Victoria Road, accessed from the junction of Caer Street and Castle Street. Non-loading motorists will not be able to use Wind Street during the six-month trial. They should use Caer Street and Princess Way instead. Nearby car parks include the council facility in The Strand and the NCP’s City Gates multi-storey.…

Respected actor and living history expert Ross O’Hennessy, who was previously historical adviser for the living history medieval village at Cosmeston Lakes, has founded a new living history attraction at Fonmon Castle near Cardiff Airport in the Vale of Glamorgan. The new business, named Step Through Time, includes a medieval farm manned by actors who will teach visitors about life in medieval times. It also includes a reconstruction of Norman ring works (a defensive structure common in Norman times) and a dinosaur park with dozens of life-sized dinosaurs to discover. When Covid-19 restrictions lift, Step Through Time will also offer…

Thomas & Friends has today unveiled a stunning new digital artwork by renowned artist Nathan Wyburn to celebrate this year’s International Friendship Day on 30th July. The interactive mosaic image is comprised of over 350 pictures made by children from around the UK of themselves with their friends which they drew on their return to nursery and pre-school earlier this month. In what is being dubbed as ‘the world’s friendliest piece of artwork,’ the International Friendship Day Picture is based on a poster image of ‘Thomas & Friends: The Royal Engine’, the episode which aired earlier this year as part of the brand’s 75th Anniversary celebrations. The successful 22-mins special featured an introduction from…

Mecca Bingo is getting its bingo balls rolling again and announces today the reopening of Mecca Wrexham and Swansea on 3 August. In accordance with the latest Government guidelines and a phased reopening plan, Mecca clubs are welcoming back customers, since temporarily closing their doors due to lockdown restrictions in March. Jonathon Swaine, Managing Director of Retail at Mecca Bingo, said: “We want to reassure the Mecca Bingo community that we are working together to take every precaution necessary to create a safe environment in which to play the nation’s favourite game. We’re also investing in new entertainment formats in our…

Unmanned aircraft will be flown as safety overwatch in support of search and rescue missions for HM Coastguard for the first time this weekend. The unmanned aircraft will be supporting search and rescue response in north Wales both in maritime and in the mountains. It is an operational trial and will potentially have the benefits of showing operations staff for HM Coastguard live situations and incidents to provide the best response. Operated by Bristow, provider of the HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Helicopter Service, the unmanned aerial vehicles will launch from Caernarfon in Wales. They will provide supporting safety patrols…