Author: Rhys Gregory

Flint-coffee lovers, your wait is over! Costa Coffee opened its very first store in Flint in Flintshire Retail Park on Holywell Road, on Thursday 27th March 2025 – bringing Costa Coffee’s iconic Mocha Italia Signature taste, delicious treats, and a welcoming new space for the local community to enjoy. The brand new store, designed with a modern and welcoming feel, offers both indoor and outdoor seating, making it the perfect spot for customers to relax, catch up with friends, or grab your favourite coffee on-the-go. The Flint community can also look forward to enjoying Costa Coffee’s delicious, freshly baked range…

A LEADING holiday park operator marked 10 years ownership of a luxury coastal retreat with a major revamp of its sports and leisure facilities. Aberconwy Resort and Spa is one of the jewels in the crown of the Darwin Escapes portfolio. The Talacre-based company acquired the Conwy site from Ken and Linda Houghton in 2015 and has invested heavily over the last decade. The award-winning, Michelin-recommended Signatures Restaurant, Mali’s Hair Salon and Escape Spa and Beauty are among the businesses attracting thousands of customers to the resort each year. And now a major overhaul of the popular Langley’s Country Club…

A 31-year-old man has been sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court today after being convicted of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to arrange / facilitate the commission of child sex offence – rape / assault by penetration of child under 13. Liam Lewis from Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taff, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. He is also subject of a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will have to register as a sex offender indefinitely. Following sentencing, officer in the case, Detective Constable Isaac Gott of Tarian, the regional…

A number of arrests have been made in the last three weeks as part of Renew Bangor, a multi-agency partnership targeting serious and organised crime. The team, which is made up of six police officers and a sergeant, have focused their efforts on increasing visibility on the high street, Hirael and Maesgeirchen as well as conducting several drugs warrants in the area. Since the beginning of March, 24 people have been arrested in connection with offences including drug supply, drug driving, violent behaviour, money laundering, theft, and being wanted on warrant. The team have also conducted 56 proactive stop searches…

 Wales will be taking on England in the Women’s 6 Nations on Saturday 29 March at Principality Stadium. With the kick-off taking place at 4.45pm – there will be a partial city centre road closure from 1.45pm until 8.15pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely. Gates open at 3.15pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early.  Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at  principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city. Road closures The…

A Cardiff restaurant has been hit with fines totalling £16,000 after inspectors discovered an active mice infestation and multiple food hygiene violations. Lake Spice Curry House, located on Lake Road West in Cyncoed, and its owner, Mamun Miah, faced prosecution for failing to control the infestation and maintain proper hygiene standards. The issues came to light during an inspection by Food Hygiene Inspectors from Shared Regulatory Services on September 21st, 2023. Inspectors found that the storage facilities were infested with mice, and the restaurant’s layout, design, construction, siting, and size were inadequate for maintaining good hygiene practices. Additionally, the premises…

Work will soon start to give Swansea’s historic Castle Cinema building a new future. Led by local non-profit Beacon Cymru in partnership with contractors Easy Living Ltd, plans include 30 new apartments and new commercial units. The new commercial units will include the lower part of the building that fronts on to the Strand, which is intended to accommodate small scale office use. In the main elevation facing Worcester Place and the castle, a new commercial unit over two storeys is being created for a café/restaurant type use. A new glazed box is proposed that will form part of this…

Hwb y Gors (HyG), formerly Ysgol Cwmgors, a cherished building in the heart of the Amman Valley dating back to 1912, has undergone an incredible transformation into a vibrant, zero-carbon community hub. This project has been a labour of love for Awel Aman Tawe, who have been developing plans for the Hwb since acquiring it in 2018. Hwb y Gors will be a significant community resource, offering facilities, activities, and opportunities to support community cohesion and resilience. With a focus on enterprise, education, and the creative sector, HyG will provide an affordable, attractive, and sustainable place to learn, work, volunteer,…

Pembrokeshire Music Service welcomed pupils from across the county to share their musical talents with a delighted audience at the Primary Valero Music Festival. The overall winner of the festival, held at Ysgol Caer Elen on March 22nd, was Ysgol Bro Penfro pupil Wolfgang Evans on the piano, with his rendition of “Jackson Street Blues” by Martha Mier. Wolfgang was also winner of the Open Brass class, performing “Rondino” by Allan Street on trumpet. In the morning the children performed in the Open Classes and in the afternoon the audience enjoyed the Spotlight Concert that featured performances winners: Open woodwind…

A serial fly-tipper has been given a community order and fined over £1000 for blighting the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. Mr Jeremy Boyes, who is aged 55 from Penrhiwceiber was caught red handed on a number of occasions when he decided to fly-tip items near to where he lived. Mr Boyes turned a local beauty spot in to a fly tipping hot spot and continued to use the area to get rid of his unwanted waste! The prime location was less than half-a-mile from his home along the road between Llanwonno Road, Perthcelyn and Mill Road, Ynysybwl –…