Author: Rhys Gregory

First Minister Mark Drakeford has launched a new campaign about how to help people who are staying at home because of coronavirus. The Looking Out for Each Other campaign focuses on the small things we can all do to help each other during the pandemic. It provides practical guidance about how everyday tasks, like running errands or simply staying in touch, can be done safely, without physical contact to minimise the risk of contracting coronavirus. It will also share information about how to stay mentally and physically active. A new online hub – gov.wales/safehelp – will include a ‘helping hand’…

Cardiff Council is closing Heath Park Car Park to the public in order to provide free parking there for doctors, nurses and other vital NHS staff. Signs are going up in the car park to notify the public that the car park, situated in Heath Park, can only be used by NHS staff. Leader of Cardiff Council, Councillor Huw Thomas said: “These are unprecedented times and we want to do everything we can to help our colleagues in the NHS. We hope this will make things just a little easier for NHS staff who are doing a remarkable job trying to…

Plans are being made for significant work that will help deliver Swansea city centre regeneration plans. The overnight course of work will switch eight key roads from one-way traffic to two-way. The improvement, being planned and managed by Swansea Council, will mean that the £12m Kingsway Infrastructure Project will be practically complete. Corresponding work, from March 23 to April 10, is due to see the carriageways resurfaced, meaning a series of overnight road closures. One short road will be down to one lane of traffic for two days and nights. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “The major overnight operation to…

Bus and rail operators across Wales have introduced a reduced timetable beginning this week. These changes have come into effect following the Government’s latest briefing surrounding non-essential travel and will be in place until further notice. Operators have cited safety and wellbeing concerns of travellers, as well as seeing a reduction in demand for services. These are the timetable changes where you are… Transport for Wales 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. Full details of the changes will be available to…

A local pre-school ballet dancing class has moved all its lessons online to enable toddlers to keep dancing during the disruption of the coronavirus outbreak. babyballet Cardiff has moved its classes that are usually held face-to-face to a private and secure online platform. Miss Holly, owner of babyballet Cardiff, said: “It’s a worrying time as the UK deals with the outbreak of the coronavirus but we are remaining very positive. As more and more families self-isolate and limit the amount of social contact that they have, our primary focus is to ensure children and families in and around Cardiff can…

Free rail travel for NHS workers on TfW services from Monday 23rd March 2020. A spokesperson from Transport for Wales said: “At Transport for Wales our primary focus is keeping our colleagues and customers safe, and keep key workers moving. “From Monday 23 March, Transport for Wales will provide all NHS workers free travel to and from work until 30th April on production of their NHS ID. “Key workers are reminded that a reduced timetable will operate throughout the Transport for Wales rail network also starting Monday 23rd March until further notice. “We are doing all we can to keep vital services…

Parts of Wales have seen unprecedented levels of tourism this weekend, as thousands of people have deserted cities and flocked to West Wales. Less than 24 hours after the Prime Minister issued tighter measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, Wales turned into a typical bank holiday weekend. The leaders of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire County Councils have consulted with leaders at; Hywel Dda University Health Board and MPs and AMs across the Hywel Dda region have prepared a joint statement. “As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic progresses, it is crucial we all play our part in tackling this disease in…

Snowdonia National Park experienced its busiest ever visitor day in living memory this weekend. Only 24 hours after the Prime Minister issued tighter measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, these were the unprecedented scenes in Snowdonia yesterday. The Snowdonia National Park Authority is now calling upon Government to institute clearer measures to protect people and rural communities in Wales. The authority ‘fears that the current guidance is not explicit enough for people to protect themselves and others’. Emyr Williams, Chief Executive of the Snowdonia National Park Authority said: “On Friday night the prime minister announced new restrictions aimed…

Emergency legislation to protect renters and landlords affected by COVID-19 will apply to Wales, Minister for Housing and Local Government, Julie James has confirmed. The Welsh Government has agreed that measure being developed by the UK Government, to suspend evictions from social or private rented accommodation will apply to Welsh tenants. New protection under the emergency bill will include: Landlords will be unable to start possession proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three month period during the crisis and; The three month mortgage payment holiday will be extended to Buy to Let mortgages to protect landlords. The Minister…

The latest figure comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns that the NHS could be “overwhelmed” if people fail to act on the advice given. The number of people who have died in the UK with coronavirus rose to 233 on Saturday, with cases topping 5,000. In Wales, the total number of confirmed cases rose to 280, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher. Dr Giri Shankar, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “The Chief Medical Officer has today (22 March) confirmed the death of seven patients in Wales…