Author: Rhys Gregory

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway is suspending trains until at least April 11 following Government advice about limiting the spread of Coronavirus. The railway has been working hard to get everything ready for the main season opening on April 4, including special cleaning, extra carriages to spread visitors out, limited catering and other protections for both staff and visitors. But Government advice about isolation, social distancing and avoiding unnecessary travel made it impossible to run a public train service, said a railway spokesman Individuals and groups with advance bookings for trains or events over Easter will have their tickets honoured…

First Cymru has announced the following service changes for the working week from Monday 23 March to ensure it sustains services for those needing to travel across the region. From Monday 23 March, for one week only: Swansea services will switch to a Saturday timetable during weekdays. This does not apply to Services 15 and 30 which will continue to operate their normal Mondays to Fridays timetable Swansea (University) Services 10 and 9 will be suspended until further notice All other depots (Port Talbot, Bridgend, Maesteg, Ammanford, Llanelli, Carmarthen and Haverfordwest) will operate a school holiday service The changes are…

In total, there have been 191 cases of Coronavirus and three deaths in Wales, with confirmed cases up 21 in the latest figures. Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “The Chief Medical Officer has today confirmed the death of a third Welsh resident who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Public Health Wales offer our sincere condolences to family and friends affected by this loss. “The individual, who was in their seventies and had underlying health conditions, was being treated at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.…

Spartan Motor Factors Limited has been sold to MWR Sales, in a deal that safeguards 135 jobs at the firm in Newport. Richard Hawes and Matt Cowlishaw were appointed as joint administrators to Spartan Motor Factors Limited on 13 March 2020. Following the appointment, the business was successfully sold to MWR Sales Limited on 18 March 2020. The Company is a motor parts business operating a central hub in Newport and ten other branches across South Wales and the South West serving over 1,400 customers. The Company employs 135 across its network. MWR Sales Limited operates the motor factors and…

From next Monday (23rd March), Transport for Wales will reduce its weekday service to balance a reduction in demand, availability of its workforce and the need to support key workers. A spokesperson from Transport for Wales said: “At Transport for Wales our primary focus is keeping our colleagues and customers safe. In line with the rest of the UK rail industry, and based on advice from public health bodies, we have taken the difficult decision to reduce weekday passenger services moving forward. “This timetable has been designed to be as resilient as possible, whilst ensuring we balance a reduction in…

A police boss is warning people in North Wales to beware of heartless scammers using the coronavirus pandemic to prey on the vulnerable. Already over £800,000 has been stolen across the UK by fraudsters cashing in on fear generated by the unprecedented outbreak but North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones is determined to clamp down on the cheats. He said: “These are heartless criminals seeking to make money out of what is a worldwide crisis by preying on people’s fear and concern. “We have seen from public order incidents in supermarkets just how desperate people can become and…

With confirmed cases of coronavirus in the Caerphilly area, the council are following steps similar to other councils and will be making a number of changes to its services. The council continues to follow official advice from key agencies such as Welsh Government and Public Health Wales. In a statement on the Caerphilly Council website, a spokesperson has said: “The health and wellbeing of our loyal customers remains our utmost priority during this period of rising concern relating to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak. “In recent weeks, we have taken a number of precautionary measures to ensure we can provide…

Caerphilly Council has been closely monitoring the situation surrounding the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak, aligning their response to the Public Health Wales guidelines, whilst making preparations for any upcoming events. In line with recent decisions from high profile sporting events such as the London Marathon, the council have decided that it is in the best interest of runners, spectators, volunteers and event staff to postpone the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K/2K that was scheduled to take place on 17th May 2020. The Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K/2K will now take place on Sunday 13th September 2020. In a statement on the council…

Today (Friday 20th) the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Bill received Royal Assent and became the Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020. The new law seeks to end the physical punishment of children in Wales, protect their rights and build upon the Welsh Government’s commitment to the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child. Today’s occasion was marked by the First Minister Mark Drakeford officially sealing the Bill, meaning the law will come into force on Monday 21st March 2022. The Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services Julie Morgan, who has…

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, responds to the latest NHS Wales activity and performance data published yesterday (Thursday 19 March). Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said: “February was another busy month for our emergency departments and ambulance service. It was encouraging to see an improvement in the four hour waiting times for emergency departments and the ambulance target was met again. After one of the busiest winters on record our hard-working and dedicated health and social care staff now face the challenge of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. For this reason I announced last…