Author: Rhys Gregory

A new programme worth up to £9.5m million will reduce the carbon footprint of existing social housing in Wales, make energy bills more manageable for residents and provide new job and training opportunities. The Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP), part of the Innovative Housing Programme, will fund the fitting of energy efficiency measures in up to 1000 existing homes owned by registered social landlords and councils.  The investment package will lead to better homes, help tackle fuel poverty and contribute to decarbonisation. Julie James, Minister for Housing and Local Government, launched the Optimised Retrofit Programme during a visit to Craig Cefn…

When most people think of Wales, they think of the dragon on the flag. But what if that connotation was upgraded for the 21st century? Rather than thinking of the tale of Celtic king Vortigern’s red dragon, people might automatically think of the dragon that represents modern gaming – such as a drake from League of Legends. Wales is putting itself forwards to be a contender in the field of eSports – which takes gaming and turns it into a sports-like competitive tournament. The dragon may exist in League of Legends or Fortnite, as well as the Welsh flag. Could Wales…

Blackwood and Risca High Streets may become hot spots for alfresco dining as outdoor areas are set to host seating in certain parts of the high street. After overwhelming support from local members and traders, the council has taken the decision to assist businesses to introduce outdoor seating along the existing highway or parking bays on the high street in both Blackwood and Risca. The approach has been replicated across Wales in an effort to support local businesses to comply with social distancing rules when trading while recovering from the economic impact of Covid-19. Customers will be able to order…

Health Minister Vaughan Gething has announced nearly £32m to speed up result turnaround times. The investment will deliver faster results for contact tracing and ensure Wales is prepared for any increases in cases during the autumn and winter. The money will pay for Extra staff and equipment for the Public Health Wales regional laboratories based at University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, Morriston Hospital, Swansea and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Rhyl, so they can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Creation of six Hot Labs at acute hospitals across Wales, which will have rapid, under four hour, testing equipment and…

A SHARPSHOOTING student will jet out to the United States this week to begin a soccer scholarship. And former Coleg Cambria learner Ricardo Chinea will be across the Atlantic after receiving the results of A Levels he completed in Geography and Business. The 18 year-old, who also has an A Level in Spanish, was a member of the triumphant Connah’s Quay Nomads Under 18s and the Under 19s squad that led the JD Cymru Premier Development North League before the season was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. He now looks forward to attending Concord University in West Virginia to…

The first Bellway homes have been released for sale at Plasdŵr, a new community in north-west Cardiff. The five-star builder is providing 120 new homes at Rhiwlas, located just off Llantrisant Road near Radyr, which will make up part of the first 630 at Plasdŵr. The Bellway sales office opened to the public by appointment only earlier this month, with people now able to book a dedicated time slot to visit the development. The wider Plasdŵr development, described as Cardiff’s 21st century garden city, will comprise up to 7,000 homes, as well as a secondary school, four primary schools, health…

As the full impact of the COVID-19 crisis hits us there will sadly be many people left out of work and looking for new opportunities.  Whilst the security of employment will be attractive to many it could prove the perfect time to start your own business and be your own boss. Some initial thoughts So, you’ve got a business idea, and you think it might be a runner. Before you start to spend money make sure you do some research to check you know the answers to these basic questions: What will it cost to get up and running? How…

Students across Wales heading off to university next month are being urged to stay alert and check that correct safety measures have been followed before moving into rental accommodation. The advice follows A-Levels results day as students across the country begin to finalise their accommodation decisions. The impact of COVID-19 means an expected rise in those living and studying from home through e-learning, but for those moving into accommodation it is important not to rush into contracts. A recent survey of students revealed over two-thirds of renters’ biggest problems included damp, lack of water or heating and living in dangerous…

After a sold-out first two weeks’ of screenings, Street Food Cinema, Cardiff’s first dedicated drive-in movie and street-food experience, has launched its next run of films. From kids’ classics to horror and musicals, tickets are now on sale for Drive, Toy Story 4, The Shining, Frozen, Mama Mia and The Goonies. More films will be announced for the remainder of August. For the complete movie experience, local independent street food favourites Franks Hotdogs and Dirty Bird Fried Chicken are joined by Welsh producers Joe’s Ice Cream, Blakes Popcorn and the Street Food Cinema Soda Bus. Street Food Circus founder, Matt…

An ingenious TV company has made broadcasting history by becoming the first in the UK to complete a comedy drama series during the Covid-19 lockdown – by creating a bubble for the cast and crew in a closed down pub. Production of the new sitcom, Rybish (Rubbish), set in a recycling centre, was brought to a halt in March by the coronavirus crisis but undeterred Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da came up with a plan to carrying on filming. Members of the crew self-isolated for a fortnight before resuming and they were tested regularly throughout the shoot. When they were not working,…