Author: Rhys Gregory

Rhys Watkins, 33 and Rachael Heywood, 39, were stopped by officers carrying out a routine stop and check when they were travelling along Port Road in Barry shortly after 11.00pm on Sunday May 31st and following a search both were arrested and charged with being concerned in supply of heroin and crack cocaine. At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday (July 10th) both Watkins and Heywood entered guilty pleas to their offences. Watkins, from Barry was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison and Heywood, also from Barry, received a sentence of five years and seven months. Detective Inspector…

MULTIMEDIA and marketing companies have joined forces during lockdown to give clients a business boost. Award-winning North Wales firms Ginger Pixie Photography, Welsh Photo Guy and ie instinct will be offering firms a series of packages to support them in the weeks ahead, as they begin to reopen and revitalise trade. Melissa Cross, director of Buckley-based Ginger Pixie Photography – celebrating five years – said the spirit of collaboration shown across the region in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has been heartening and was a driver behind their back2business partnership. “My business has continued to grow in the last…

Insole Court, a Victorian mansion and gardens, in Llandaff, Cardiff has secured over £170,000 of grant funding from the National Lottery’s Coronavirus support schemes. The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund have both agreed to support the Insole Court Trust as it responds to the Covid-19 crisis. The Arts Council of Wales has also awarded a grant from its ‘Stabilisation fund for organisations.’ Since reopening to the public in 2016, Insole Court has become a popular venue for events such as weddings, concerts and food festivals but closed in March at the beginning of the lockdown.…

Support for families in Wales facing emergency financial crisis due to Covid- 19 must be continued beyond the deadline, according to The Children’s Society. Ahead of a debate, set to take place in the Senedd on Wednesday, the charity is calling for the Welsh government to continue the flexible approach in distributing the discretionary assistance fund (DAF) beyond 31st July. The DAF provides Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) to help those hit by a financial emergency. The grants are designed to cover immediate essentials such as bills, food, clothing and transport in the wake of an unexpected disaster or family emergency.…

Police in Merthyr Tydfil are appealing for information following a suspicious incident on Monday (13 July). Officers received a report that a man approached a young girl as she waited for an ice cream near the Gurnos Ring Road at approximately 1.20pm. It is understood that the man – who has been described as white with a chunky build, wearing high-vis clothing – was driving a small silver van and got out of his vehicle to speak to the girl. Officers are appealing for anybody who may have seen what happened, or who noticed anybody acting suspiciously, to come forward.…

The significant ongoing scheme to replace St Albans Bridge in Blaenrhondda has reached an important milestone, as large steel beams are being delivered to the works site for installation over the coming weeks.  St Albans Bridge was built over the River Rhondda and railway line in the 1930s, and was in increasingly poor condition. In 2016, Cabinet Members agreed to support its replacement and a total of £1.78m funding was allocated towards the scheme in 2017/18 through #RCTinvest – with further funding allocated as the project progressed. The total cost of the scheme is £2.09m. The construction phase (including demolition…

The bridge was due to open at the beginning of April, but has remained closed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Newport City Council staff have been working to implement social distancing conditions at the bridge, and can now confirm that systems are in place to minimise risk for visitors, staff and volunteers. It will mark a welcome return to operation for the bridge, which subject to funding is scheduled to close at the end of September to allow major restoration work and the construction of a new visitor centre to begin next year. Crossings on the bridge will reopen…

A cross-border response, involving Welsh Government and its partners, to support the Airbus workforce and wider supply chain is well underway, Minister for Economy and North Wales Ken Skates has said. The first meeting of the Regional Employment Response Group, established by the Minister, has taken place this week involving Airbus, the supply chain, trade unions, key partners and agencies from North Wales and the Mersey Dee area to ensure the rapid and effective deployment of support required. The group will provide an oversight of the labour market, drive improved collaborative working and facilitate an inclusive regional response by using…

The Welsh Government has made up to £9 million available to support town centres recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn has announced up to £5.3 million from the Transforming Towns programme will be used to fund adaptions in town centres to support traders and improve public safety in response to coronavirus.  While a further £3.7m of Valleys Taskforce funding will be invested to enhance small town centres in the Valleys region. During a visit to Rhyl, Hannah Blythyn said the £5.3m repurposed capital funding from the Transforming Towns programme, will be used…

The Caerphilly Enterprise Fund will help non-essential retail and service businesses, who were forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants, of up to £200, can be used for equipment required to operate safely, while social-distancing requirements exist. This includes: Protective screens Hand-sanitiser dispensers Social-distancing signage Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as gloves and masks. Businesses who apply must operate in Caerphilly county borough and employ nine people or less. They must operate in the retail or service sector, offering goods or services to visiting members of the public. Grants will be paid retrospectively (i.e. for equipment already purchased) and…