Author: Rhys Gregory

The play area in Rhydypennau Park has officially re-opened to the public following an extensive upgrade, inspired by the reservoirs and lakes that can be found a stone’s throw from the popular local facility. Local children from Rhydypenau Primary School and Coed Glas Primary School helped select the new equipment which includes: toddler, junior, basket and ‘fishing rod’ swings; a wheelchair accessible roundabout; a climbing mound and slide; boat themed multi-play units; bird and fish themed spring toys; an accessible dragonfly seesaw; and an ‘island to island’ zipway. Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “This…

Wales is setting an ambitious target to close its productivity gap with the rest of the UK within the next decade, as the Welsh Government unveils a new economic mission aimed at boosting wages, supporting business growth and strengthening communities. Speaking in the Senedd, Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Adam Price outlined plans to halve the nation’s productivity gap, which currently sits around 15% below the UK average. The strategy will focus on helping businesses scale up, attracting investment and creating a skills system designed to support long-term career progression. The new approach will be delivered in partnership…

New plans to cut waiting times, recruit more GPs and move care out of hospitals and into communities are being outlined by Wales’ new Health Minister. A programme of up to ten surgical and diagnostic hubs will be developed over the next four years to increase capacity of the NHS and cut delays. Two-year waits will be eliminated within months, with the overall backlog reduced to pre-pandemic levels before the end of this Senedd term. Up to 100 new salaried GPs will be recruited and access to out-of-hours primary care expanded to reduce pressure on hospitals. Community care will be…

One of the UK’s leading luxury sleeper coach operators has entered a new chapter after South Wales-based Jumbocruiser was acquired by Hobboard. Founded in 1996, South Wales based Jumbocruiser is one of the UK’s leading providers of luxury sleeper coach transport for touring artists, production crews and live events. The acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the business, with entrepreneur Robert Ezigbo, founder of Hobboard, taking ownership and assuming responsibility for the day-to-day running of the company following the retirement of exiting founder Stephen Lee. Stephen Lee, Founder of Jumbocruiser, said: “I am extremely proud of the…

A paedophile who sexually abused two children has been sentenced to life in prison. Robert Mattravers, 47, of Russell Road, Runcorn appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, 2 June where he was sentenced for multiple sex offences. They included four counts of rape of a child, two counts of sexual assault of a child, five counts of sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and causing a child to watch sexual activity. He was also charged with making indecent images of children, including two Category A, two category B, four Category…

A brand-new railway bridge will be installed at Cathays railway station with work starting on 13 June 2026. The ‘Access for All’ (AFA) footbridge will provide better accessibility and help modernise the station to a safer transport hub. Additional features of the infrastructure upgrade include step-free lift access for wheelchair users, improved walkways, and direct access to the Cardiff University’s Centre for Student Life. These improvements form part of the wider South Wales Metro programme, supporting TfW’s commitment to delivering a more reliable, faster, greener, and more accessible transport system for communities across Wales. The project will be delivered in phases with the main construction starting in…

Travellers are searching for cruises in bigger numbers this spring, and the interest in staying closer to home is rising too. New UK search data analysis from Avanti Travel Insurance shows interest in ‘cruise holidays’ climbed around 25% between February and May 2026 (up from roughly 16% over the same period in 2025). And it’s not just general cruise demand. Google searches for ‘UK cruises’ were essentially flat (0% growth) between February and May 2025, but the same period in 2026 saw an increase of almost 20%, pointing to growing appetite for no-fly cruises. The timing is telling. With international…

Most property valuations are relatively straightforward exercises. An experienced local estate agent or surveyor draws on a body of comparable sales evidence, applies their knowledge of the local market, and arrives at a well-supported figure that reflects what a willing buyer would pay in the current climate. This process works well when there is a reasonable supply of genuinely comparable properties and a clear evidence base from which to work. For properties that fall outside the conventional parameters of the residential or commercial market, however, the standard approach is simply inadequate, and the consequences of applying it can be significant. …

South Wales Police is continuing to investigate a stabbing which took place at Barry Island on Bank Holiday Monday (May 25). A 17-year-old boy from Cardiff suffered a serious leg injury which was initially not believed to be life threatening or life changing. However, he has since had to undergo a life-changing leg amputation and has been subject to critical care at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. Detective Inspector Sarah Lee, from South Wales Police, said: “The extent and seriousness of the injury sustained by the teenage victim is absolutely devastating. “Understandably his family are distraught, and they have…

A family will remember a fun-loving husband and dad with a limited edition pink poppy this summer as they continue to support City Hospice’s Forever Flowers campaign. Forever Flowers, which is returning for its sixth year, invites supporters to remember cherished family members, friends, colleagues and other loved ones with a lasting tribute. This year’s Forever Flower is a pink poppy, symbolising love, compassion, peace and admiration. The pink poppies will feature in a beautiful display within the grounds of Cardiff Castle from Saturday 1 to Saturday 8 August, with a special Celebration of Life event taking place on Thursday…