Author: Rhys Gregory

A contender for this year’s Miss Wales crown is backing a charity which campaigns against sexual violence towards women. Seventeen-year-old Erin Mason, from Holyhead, is a finalist in the event which is staged in Cardiff in May where she is being supported by Denbighshire prom dress company Ffansi Ffrogs who will supply her gown. Erin has also become the face of Ffansi Ffrogs and took part in a fashion shoot at the historic Ruthin Castle Hotel. Rather less glamorously dressed, she celebrated her entry into this year’s competition with a 14-mile charity coastal walk from Anglesey to Bangor which has…

Coleg Cambria calls for Wales-Wide Student Transport Equity, Condemning “Postcode Lottery”. The college is calling for urgent action to address the “absence of equality” in student transport funding across Wales, where a “postcode lottery” is leaving many learners and their families “bearing the brunt of unfair travel costs”. Yana Williams, Chief Executive of Coleg Cambria, expressed her disappointment with the current system, highlighting the stark disparity in support, with some local authorities funding free bus travel for post-16 learners while others provide none. “It is fundamentally unfair that where a student lives determines their access to education,” said Ms Williams.…

A development in south Powys, built by one of Wales’ leading housebuilders, has sold half its homes. Persimmon Homes’ Maes y Rhos site in Ystradgynlais has already seen customers move into 20 properties in the town, with a further 22 to come. Local people who want to move into a high-quality home, built by a five-star developer, are being encouraged to express their interest now. Two, three, and five-bed properties at Maes y Rhos are available from £219,995. The homes at the development, which sits on the border with the Brecon Beacons National Park, can be purchased via Help to…

Dementia specialist Admiral Nurses will host clinics at Nationwide’s Colwyn Bay branch to offer tailored support and guidance to anyone affected by the condition Nationwide and Dementia UK’s free face-to-face clinics are returning to Nationwide’s Colwyn Bay branch in March, offering specialist support in a safe, comfortable and private space for people to discuss any aspect of dementia. Hosted by Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurses, the clinics are open to anyone impacted by dementia, offering life-changing support to families and individuals in the area. The clinics will take place over the next two weeks, and appointments can be booked via Dementia…

The Football Associations of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will collectively submit an expression of interest to FIFA for the United Kingdom to host the Women’s World Cup in 2035. The announcement follows this week’s decision by the FIFA Council to recommend that the 2035 tournament is hosted in Europe or in Africa. The declaration of interest will be submitted to FIFA in the first quarter of 2025. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Football is and always will be at the core of our country’s identity. Whether we watch on TV, play at the weekends…

A man from Aberavon has been jailed following conviction for actual bodily harm (ABH), two counts of common assault, one count of rape and for breaching his restraining order. Corey Jones, 27, from Aberavon, Neath Port Talbot, sexually assaulted his victim at a house in July 2024. He was sentenced to eight years in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday, March 5. Detective Constable Rabaiotti said: “I want to thank the victim in this case for their bravery and strength in coming forward and speaking to us and their commitment throughout the course of the investigation.” “I would encourage…

Full fibre network operator Netomnia has made over 50,000 Swansea premises ready for service on its high-speed broadband network. Thousands of homes and businesses in the area can now accessNetomnia’s full-fibre infrastructure, providing residents and businesses with the ability to take up fast and reliable broadband services via Netomnia’s partner Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Starting in Morriston in 2022, Netomnia has rapidly expanded its network to cover even more areas in Swansea. Zoltan Kovacs, Managing Director at Netomnia, said: “Reaching 50,000 premises in Swansea is a fantastic milestone for us. Our infrastructure, with its symmetrical ultrafast speeds and reliability, empowers…

Five Belgian fishing companies and their vessel masters have been successfully prosecuted for serious breaches of fisheries legislation in Welsh waters, marking the latest success in Welsh Government’s crackdown on illegal fishing activities. The prosecutions relate to the misreporting of Dover Sole catches between quota areas during 2022 and 2023. These cases form part of a wider enforcement operation that has led to eight prosecutions being authorised by the Counsel General. Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies said: “Our seas are vital to Wales’ coastal communities, supporting both commercial fishing and tourism. These…

Local councils will soon be able to access up to £120m to repair more local roads over the next two years, under new plans set out in the Welsh Government’s Final Budget 2025-26. The new local government borrowing initiative will provide an extra £10m of revenue funding to local councils to enable them to unlock an additional £120m of capital funding to accelerate the process of fixing our local roads and pavements. The scheme will be designed in close partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and will be open for applications by the end of this financial year.…

The way businesses approach office space has shifted significantly. Companies now seek adaptable environments that support evolving work models, cost-efficiency, and team collaboration. The UK government outlines the benefits of flexible working, highlighting how it enhances productivity, employee well-being, and business efficiency. A flexible workspace provides a tailored solution, allowing businesses to scale operations without long-term lease commitments. Understanding the key factors involved in selecting the right office space ensures companies find a setup that enhances productivity and operational efficiency. Understanding Flexible Workspaces A flexible workspace is a dynamic office solution that accommodates various work styles and business needs. These…