Author: Rhys Gregory

A planned price increase for the hire of sports pitches and pavilions across the Caerphilly county borough looks set to be reconsidered next week, when the council’s Cabinet meets to agree a reduced pricing structure. The Cabinet will meet on Wednesday 21 May to consider a report which outlines a revised set of costs for outdoor sports facilities, which are significantly lower than originally anticipated. Cllr Sean Morgan said, “We have responded positively to the feedback from the community, who clearly told us that the increased costs could have a significant impact on grassroots sport across the county borough.” “Therefore,…

Councillor Paula Layton was elected Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil at the Council’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 14th May 2025, taking over from the immediate past Mayor, Councillor John Thomas, as First Citizen of the County Borough. Partner to fellow Councillor Declan Sammon for 20 years, and recently wife, mother to Louise and son-in-law Marc, and grandmother to Jack and Emelia, Paula was born and raised in Merthyr Tydfil. A former Customer Service Manager in T-Mobile, Paula then showcased her culinary skills when she stepped up to the plate by becoming a chef at The Stables View Dowlais, a successful restaurant…

Symbol-based boards have been installed in parks across Wales to help children with speech and language barriers communicate easily. Communication boards display symbols for common words, in Welsh and English, like ‘happy’, ‘want’ and ‘finished’. Children with speech difficulties can point to the boards – designed by specialist speech and language therapists – to express their wants and needs to others. The bilingual boards also help non-Welsh speaking families learn basic Welsh words. Following a successful pilot in west Wales, £78,000 was invested by the Welsh Government to roll out the boards across Wales, to create inclusive play spaces for…

The Welsh Government has today launched a consultation on its Disabled People’s Rights Plan, setting out a positive ambition for advancing the rights and opportunities of all disabled people across Wales over the next decade. Based on the Social Model of Disability and guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, the consultation outlines both immediate actions and long-term outcomes to create lasting change in how society addresses barriers to inclusion. The plan is based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, which brought together people with lived experience and expertise. It addresses…

The latest series of huge global hit TV show, Industry, currently being filmed in Cardiff, is bringing more employment, career progression and upskilling opportunities to Wales’ TV sector. Season 4 of Industry, which airs on the BBC in the UK, is again being produced by Welsh-based production company Bad Wolf, this time with support from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales as part of a four-year deal between the two parties. As part of the terms of the deal, Bad Wolf, via Screen Alliance Wales, provides on-set training and work shadowing experiences for people entering the industry as well as…

The Welsh Government has made £24m available in loan funding to unlock vital land for housing development and deliver more than 600 new homes across Wales. This vital funding supports the acquisition of land for both social and market housing developments. It helps ensure that development opportunities are not missed, often providing support before construction grant funding becomes available. When construction funding is secured, the loan is repaid and reinvested into new projects, creating a sustainable cycle of housing development. Wales & West Housing previously received £3m in loan funding towards the acquisition of land in Grangetown, Cardiff. This was…

In the highly competitive world of online casinos, building customer loyalty is not just about offering generous bonuses or a wide variety of games. While these aspects are certainly important, the real cornerstone of long-term success is trust and security. Without a solid foundation of trust, even the most attractive promotions and cutting-edge games can fall flat. In this article, we’ll explore how trust and security drive customer loyalty in casino brands and why these factors are critical to sustained growth. The Role of Trust in Customer Loyalty Trust is a fundamental component of any successful business, but it holds…

In the fast-paced world of betting, data analytics has emerged as a game-changing tool, reshaping the way companies understand their customers, optimize operations, and maximize profits. From personalized user experiences to real-time odds adjustments, data-driven strategies are helping betting businesses stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market. In this article, we will explore the critical role data analytics plays in driving revenue within the betting industry. Understanding Customer Behavior One of the most significant advantages of data analytics in the betting business is its ability to provide deep insights into customer behavior. Betting platforms collect massive amounts of data from…

Online casinos have come a long way from basic virtual slot machines and digital card tables. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a major role in transforming how these platforms operate and how players experience them. From smarter gameplay suggestions to detecting fraud and enhancing user satisfaction, AI is quietly reshaping the future of online gambling. The Evolution of Online Casinos From Traditional Gambling to Intelligent Platforms In the early days of online casinos, players would log in, pick a game, and rely mostly on luck. There was very little customization or user-specific interaction. These platforms operated much like physical…

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology streamlined market data analysis, helping professionals predict price fluctuations with high accuracy. Novice Forex traders benefit from deploying AI FOREX trading tools, as they allow them to automate trades and avoid making emotional decisions that may lead to losses. In this guide, we will explore the significance of AI Forex trading for inexperienced market participants and provide guidelines for those who want to use such tools. What is AI Forex Trading? The term refers to the use of algorithm-powered solutions that enable users to process large volumes of data, make high-accuracy predictions, and execute…