Author: Rhys Gregory

An estimated £100K worth of drugs were seized during seven warrants in Bangor and Caernarfon last week. The warrants came after officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team were made aware of local concerns around drugs at residential properties. A quantity of heroin, dried magic mushrooms and cannabis were seized throughout the week totalling an estimated value of over £100,000. A 55-year-old man and a 32-year-old man were both arrested and have since been bailed whilst investigations continue. PC Scott Jones said: “We will continue to target and disrupt drugs that cause misery to community members. “Growing and supplying drugs at…

Cardiff Council has published a Cabinet Report on its comprehensive City Parking Plan, a 10-year strategy designed to tackle the city’s parking challenges, support sustainable travel, and improve quality of life for residents and visitors. The City Parking Plan is a cornerstone of Cardiff’s wider Transport Strategy, aiming to reduce congestion, improve air quality, and make the city’s streets safer and more accessible. Developed following extensive public consultation, the plan seeks to introduce a new framework for managing parking across Cardiff, aligning the Welsh capital with best practices seen in other major UK cities. Key Features of the City Parking…

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Trading Standards team has taken action to ensure counterfeit and potentially unsafe toys are removed from the marketplace. At present a number of counterfeit Labubu dolls and other branded soft toys are awaiting destruction after being removed from sale. A complaint citing serious safety concerns came through to Pembrokeshire County Council’s Public Protection department and led to investigation. These fake toys, which often appear to be bargain alternatives to genuine products, pose significant risks to children. Unlike legitimate items, counterfeit toys are not manufactured in accordance with strict toy safety legislation. They are frequently poorly constructed and…

The finalists for the Sport Caerphilly Sports Awards 2025 have been announced, shining a spotlight on the incredible people, clubs, and volunteers who make sport and physical activity thrive across Caerphilly, supporting the Council’s wider commitment to the Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2019–2029. Hosted by Sport Caerphilly, the awards evening takes place on Friday 7th November at Bryn Meadows Hotel, Golf & Spa, bringing our sporting community together for a night of celebration. Tickets are £35 per person and are available now from Newbridge Leisure Centre. Young Volunteer of the Year: Recognising young people making an outstanding contribution to…

The national 111 press 2 service, which has transformed access to support for urgent mental health issues, has received more than 200,000 calls since its launch. The service was rolled out nationwide in December 2022 and provides immediate support for people experiencing mental health difficulties. It has handled 200,900 calls to date and is the forerunner for a new generation of open access mental health services, which will be developed across Wales, providing people with access to support when and where they need it. Today (October 10) marks World Mental Health Day; this year’s theme highlights access to services during…

The largest ever project within the Welsh Government’s Coastal Risk Management Programme has officially been opened. The £66m Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme will protect almost 600 properties in Rhyl from flooding and coastal erosion for decades to come. 85% of the construction costs have been funded by the Welsh Government, with the Deputy First Minister labelling the project a ‘significant milestone’ in efforts to protect Welsh communities from the growing threats of climate change. Denbighshire County Council contributed the remaining 15%. The project has also supported the local economy by employing 34 local people, creating six new jobs and…

The Menai Suspension Bridge will partially reopen to cars, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, only, at 07:00hrs on Friday 10 October, after it was temporarily closed last weekend on safety advice from engineers. The partial reopening traffic enforcement plan, which has been developed by UK Highways A55 DBFO Ltd in conjunction with Welsh Government, North Wales Police, the Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd Council, will operate between the hours of 07:00-19:00hrs with a full closure overnight 19:00hrs to 07:00hrs for 7 days a week. Overnight works and further inspections will be taking place during the closures. During the hours of operation,…

Twenty six fantastic social enterprises gathered at Maesteg Town Hall in the south Wales Llynfi valley on Thursday 9 October to highlight their work tackling some of society’s most pressing problems – and eight fantastic social enterprises from across Wales took home the prestigious awards. The annual Social Business Wales awards recognise excellence, innovation, and impact in the social enterprise sector, celebrating social businesses which are improving lives, strengthening communities, and driving inclusive economic growth across Wales. The day-long conference and awards brought together nearly two hundred guests from across Wales’s public, private, and third sectors to hear top social…

Wales is set to host the WorldSkills UK National Finals for the first time ever, and the countdown begins with a torch relay celebrating the nation’s rising young talent. The Roadtrip to Excellence torch relay will light the way as it travels the length and breadth of Wales, celebrating the very best of our learners, apprentices, employers and educators. Beginning on Thursday October 9th at the iconic Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay, the torch will journey across Wales, visiting every region, stopping at colleges and training providers whose students are set to compete in the Finals. At each stop, the torch will…

A LAW practice is celebrating its 25th anniversary with fresh talent, expansion, and a surge in clients across multiple sectors. Mackenzie Jones Solicitors – with offices in Chester, St Asaph, and Menai Bridge – now employs 30 staff and has plans for further recruitment in the coming months. The firm, which holds prestigious accreditations including Lexcel, CQS, and the Legal 500, continues to go from strength to strength with rising demand in commercial contracts, clinical negligence, and family and private client work. Among the latest additions to the team are Adam Hazell and Rebekah Woods, both of whom bring enthusiasm,…