Author: Rhys Gregory

A bakery boss is appealing to people to continue supporting village and corner shops which have provided a lifeline for families during the coronavirus crisis. According to Village Bakery managing director Robin Jones, local stores have “saved our bacon” after the lockdown restrictions were imposed and supermarket delivery slots were impossible to come by. As well as supplying major supermarkets across the UK, the Wrexham-based family firm supplies a network of independent retailers across North Wales and the borders. Among them is the community shop in Llanarmon-yn-Iȃl which is staffed mainly by volunteers. The admiration is a two-way street for…

A search has been launched for talented singers from across Wales who fantasise about performing with the musical idol. The top tenor Rhys , who hails from Porthmadog, is looking for music-loving dreamers to take part in  dazzling duets on his new S4C television show, Canu Gyda fy Arwr (Singing with My Idol). Anybody wanting to have a go or nominate somebody a friend or a family member need to contact the Caernarfon-based TV production company, Cwmni Da, by August 2. They are looking for nine people, aged from 10 to 110, to take part in the life-enhancing series which…

Detectives investigating a serious assault on a 21-year-old man are appealing for information on a machete used during the alleged attack. Officers were called to Harris Avenue, Rumney, at 3.25pm on Monday, April 13 following reports of a serious assault. The victim, who is from Tremorfa, suffered injuries believed to have been caused by a machete and a shot gun. He underwent surgery at the University Hospital of Wales but has since been discharged from hospital. In May, officers recovered two firearms on land near Harrowby Street in Butetown. Searches have been continuing for a machete and today detectives are appealing…

RCT has worked in partnership with Transport for Wales and Stagecoach to extend the ‘fflecsi’ pilot scheme to the 152 bus service between Tonypandy and Hendreforgan. Fflecsi allows people to request a demand-responsive bus to pick them up near home, work or shops for essential travel, rather than following a set timetable at fixed bus stops. Powered by technology from ViaVan, fflecsi was first launched by TfW and Newport Bus in May, replacing a number of scheduled local bus services in Newport and has received positive feedback in its first month of operation. It has also since been rolled out…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet is set to consider plans for phase 1 of improvements being delivered as part of a £78 million investment through the 21st Century Schools and Colleges Band B programme. A report will be considered by Cabinet at a virtual meeting on 22nd July; if approved, the council will begin consultation on plans for the expansion of Trinity Fields School and Resource Centre, Ystrad Mynach, along with the relocation and expansion of Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon in Cwmcarn. Proposals for Trinity Fields, the only special school in the Caerphilly county borough, include building a new extension…

More homes and businesses are set to benefit from the Welsh Government’s rollout of fast fibre broadband in partnership with Openreach. The vast majority of homes and businesses in Wales – 95 per cent – already have access to superfast broadband, following the completion of Superfast Cymru. As part of a package of measures to reach the remaining premises, the Welsh Government has an agreement with Openreach which will now increase from 26,000 premises to 39,000.The extension will be funded by £30m from the Welsh Government and European Union, with additional investment from Openreach. The extension to the project will…

People will be asked to phone first before going to A&E as emergency services are remodeled to respond to coronavirus, Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced today. The telephone triage service will direct to people to the right service for their condition or injury instead of everyone automatically seeking care at their local A&E department. The changes, which will be trialled at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, are modelled on a successful Scandinavian scheme, and are part of a new approach to delivering safe, person-centred health and care services. The emergency 999 service will not be affected by the changes.…

For people across Wales, these are challenging times. Only now are households no longer being asked to stay local. The coronavirus restrictions have put a lot of things into perspective – from the role of key workers to the leisure activities we once took for granted. But it is also a chance for many to take stock of their financial situation and manage their money more effectively. Keeping track of your finances is something that is a good habit to get to in ‘normal’ times. The recent lockdown restrictions, however, now make that point much louder and clearer. There are…

In light of the cancellation of events like Wimbledon, Euro 2020, The Open, and many other events this summer, it has to be said that broadcasters like the BBC did a pretty good job of making up for the lack of live sport in the schedules. The Euros Rewind show, for example, was excellent, showing the full coverage of classic games from the tournament’s history, including Wales’ incredible victory over Belgium at Euro 2016. But if we are honest, even reliving Gareth Bale and Co dismantling one of the world’s best teams cannot compare with live sport. And, while the…

A new skate park and play park are being developed in Penllwyn, along with improvements to the surrounding area. The improvements are being funded by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) environmental improvement programme. Over the term of the WHQS programme over £260 million will have been invested into the homes of council tenants and their local communities. Around £467k will be invested into environmental improvements in Penllwyn, with £131k being invested into the skate park and play park. Works to the skate park are underway, with Bendcrete completing this. Approximately £109k worth of work has already…