Author: Rhys Gregory

The Welsh Government is being called upon to open up the housing market at a quicker pace and to match the recent changes to stamp duty land tax that have been introduced with immediate effect in both England and Northern Ireland. On Thursday, Scotland said house buyers will not pay tax on properties sold for for less than £250,000. However, the Welsh Government are yet to respond to the measures. Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance in Wales has so far only responded on Twitter, saying that a ‘decision will be announced early next week’ and accusing UK Government for not informing…

Newport City Council will begin the process of restarting library services by reopening Newport Central Library from Tuesday 14 July. The library will be open from Tuesday-Friday, 10am-12.30pm and 1pm-4pm. Initially, only Central Library will reopen, whilst the council works to extend reopening across all libraries in the city. A reduced service will be offered at Central, with members having to pre-book an appointment slot to visit in order to collect items reserved online and browse from a small range of unreserved fiction books. Visits will be limited to two people and fifteen minutes per booking. All other services, including…

Planning permission has been granted, subject to approval by Welsh Ministers, for a flagship housing development in Pontllanfraith; bringing much needed affordable homes to the area in the future. Approval for the Chartist Garden Village development was given during a remote meeting of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Planning Committee, held today (Wednesday 8thJuly). Councillors were assured that the development would not encroach onto the Harold Finch Memorial Park, which is located adjacent to the site, or the protected nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Chartist Garden Village is an exciting collaboration between the council and the Pobl…

Work has begun to ensure that children’s play areas and outdoor fitness equipment in Cardiff’s parks are safe to use, following the Welsh Government announcement that they can now re-open to the public.  Cardiff has more than 100 play areas and nine outdoor fitness areas and safety inspections will need to be carried out at each site before they can be re-opened to the public. To ensure that all areas of Cardiff have some outdoor children’s play provision available to use as quickly as possible, these inspections and any necessary work to reinstate or repair equipment will be carried out…

Anton Boston, 26, from Ely in Cardiff has been convicted of illegal dog breeding and fraud at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on July 3rd. In sentencing last Friday, District Judge Khan told Boston that if it wasn’t for COVID 19 and his health condition, he would have sent him immediately to prison. This case came to light following a number of complaints about Anton Boston and his dog breeding business – Boston Bullies Wales, following adverts and social media posts that had been placed on Facebook. After collecting all the relevant evidence needed to apply for a warrant, a multi-agency warrant…

Yesterday (10 July 2020) International Trade secretary Liz Truss visited the Port of Southampton to see Aston Martin’s first luxury SUV, the DBX, which will be shipped to the United States later this summer. This comes ahead of the third round of trade talks with the US expected in late July.  On her visit, Liz Truss discussed how the production of innovative British vehicles like the Aston Martin DBX will play a part in Britain’s economic recovery from coronavirus, and how a free trade agreement with the US can benefit the UK’s automotive industry. With US consumers being major buyers of…

The First Minister Mark Drakeford will today see how tourism businesses are preparing to welcome back visitors to Wales as the sector prepares to open for the first time since the since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. He will visit The Hide in St Donats, in the Vale of Glamorgan, to see the measures self-contained accommodation is putting in place, as the first visitors arrive in Wales today (Saturday July 11). The visit comes after the First Minister announced a new – and extensive – package of measures to further lift Wales’ coronavirus restrictions, which will see large parts…

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Hairdressers, barbers and most indoor tourist attractions will reopen on Monday, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced today (Friday 10 July) as he set out further measures to lift Wales’ coronavirus restrictions. Following the latest 21-day review of the coronavirus regulations, the First Minister has set out a phased timetable to ease restrictions for large parts of Wales’ visitor, hospitality, and leisure and tourism sectors. He is asking the beauty sector and other close-contact services, including tattooists and nail salons, to begin preparing to reopen from 27 July, if the conditions allow. Although cases of coronavirus are declining in Wales, the…

Today at Swansea Crown Court Kyle Bowen, aged 28, of Glynneath, has pleaded guilty to the murder of David Williams. 73-year-old Mr Williams was found in the Danygraig Lane area of Pontwalby, Glynneath, on Monday, 27th January 2020. Detective Chief Inspector Paul Peters, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts remain with Mr Williams’ family who continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. I am pleased that today’s plea means they will not have to endure a trial which can be very distressing. “Myself and my team would like thank the community of Glynneath and Pontwalby…