Author: Rhys Gregory

The British Business Bank has reached the landmark milestone of £5bn of lending across its structured guarantee programmes, ENABLE Guarantees and ENABLE Build, with more than £3bn delivered to businesses outside London and the South East. A total of £500m of funding has been provided in each of the North West, East Midlands and East of England regions. The ENABLE Guarantees programme is designed to encourage additional lending to smaller and medium-sized businesses. Participating institutions are incentivised by a government-backed guarantee to support defined portfolios of debt finance in return for a fee. Smaller and medium-sized businesses across the UK…

A former member of police staff has been convicted of passing on confidential information to her drug dealer boyfriend. Lucy Langmead, aged 44, from Pontypridd, was working for South Wales Police when she began a relationship in 2020 with Daniel Cozens, 37. An investigation by the force’s Anti-Corruption Unit found that between May 2021 and February 2022 Langmead accessed the police computer system and leaked confidential information to Cozens about his associates. Between May 2020 and March 2022 Langmead also accessed the police computer system unlawfully to obtain information concerning family members and associates. They were arrested and pleaded guilty…

The discovery of a large amount of fly tipped waste, which included bathroom furnishings, near a picnic site in Neath, led to a van driver appearing at Swansea Magistrates Court after concerned residents called in Neath Port Talbot Council’s Waste Enforcement Team. At the court on Thursday May 29th 2025, Richard Marc Holland, 47, of Jersey Road, Bonymaen, was fined £153 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs and a £61 victim surcharge after he pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. While the defendant was not seen to have deposited the waste, section…

A new affordable housing scheme has been launched in Pembrokeshire that helps first-time buyers to access the housing market and purchase their first home. Homebuy Pembrokeshire is funded by the Second Home Premium and addresses some of the issues buyers face when looking to purchase a home. Pembrokeshire experiences large variances in property prices across the County that can make many areas unaffordable for first-time buyers.  Despite saving a deposit and securing access to a mortgage, house prices can remain a barrier to home ownership. Delivered by Pembrokeshire County Council, Homebuy Pembrokeshire will help to remove this barrier by providing…

The Pencelli Hotel in Treorchy is thriving following its recent grand reopening! With the new owner having received important help from officers to secure funding and provide support for the building’s refurbishment, the Council is reminding businesses that support and grant opportunities are available to access. The former public house at Pencai Terrace had been permanently closed in 2022 after a series of intermittent closures during height of the pandemic. The building itself was in a poor condition, and a large amount of work was needed to bring it into a position to operate as a thriving business once again.…

An exciting new community sports hub under construction in Pontllanfraith is on track to open this summer. Senior councillors visited the site this week to view progress and were impressed with how the development is taking shape. The impressive £14 million development called Y Cwmpawd, is centred around  a new ‘Centre for Vulnerable Learners’ and will also boasts a 4-court multi-purpose sports hall, changing facilities and a small 3G pitch available for community use outside of school hours. The scheme forms part of the council’s ambitious Place Shaping programme, that delivers strategic investment across the county borough in facilities such…

Augusta House, Blaenau Gwent’s Learning Disability Respite Service at Victoria Park, has received an incredible garden makeover thanks to an outpouring of support from local organisations, schools and volunteers. Kicking off early on a Monday morning, a determined team of enthusiastic volunteers arrived, ready to bring the vision to life. Armed with shovels and trowels, they divided into groups, each tasked with revamping different sections of the garden. Their mission was simple; to create a welcoming and stimulating space for residents and their families to enjoy. The transformative project was made possible through generous contributions including fencing, compost, plants, planters,…

Cutting-edge smart technology is helping to transform care options for older people – helping them to stay in their own homes for longer. The technology includes voice-activated devices and smart speakers, which remind people to take their medication, have remote GP check-ups and allow care-givers to monitor whether appliances have been left on. Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy learned more about technology-enabled care during visits to two projects in West Wales yesterday (June 2). She had a tour of the SMART Home Lab at Aberystwyth University, which is trialling a fully-functioning and connected bungalow to test assisted…

The visitor centre at the historical Strata Florida has reopened thanks to support from a local trust. Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, has joined forces with the Strata Florida Trust in a collaborative arrangement to safeguard and enhance this treasured Welsh heritage site with local people now managing the site and visitor centre. Strata Florida – meaning ‘Vale of Flowers’ in Latin – is a grand medieval abbey in Ceredigion where generations of Welsh princes are buried, with the Cistercian abbey having stood on the banks of the river Teifi since 1184. The Strata Florida Trust’s staff and…

Wales is a land of breathtaking landscapes, winding mountain roads, and unpredictable weather. From the rolling hills of Powys to the rugged coastline of Pembrokeshire, driving across Wales isn’t just about enjoying the views—it’s about being prepared for a wide variety of road conditions. That’s where choosing the right car tyres becomes essential. With so much variation in terrain and climate, Welsh drivers need tyres that offer more than just basic road grip. Whether you’re commuting through Cardiff, venturing into Snowdonia, or exploring narrow countryside lanes, here’s what you need to know about selecting the perfect tyres for Welsh roads.…