Author: Rhys Gregory

A North Wales food wholesaler is launching a raft of measures including an innovative new rewards app to help customers cope with the cost of living crisis. Harlech Foodservice says many businesses have been dealt a “real body blow” by controversial Budget measures, including the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions. There have already been warnings of hotels, pubs and cafes struggling to cope with the extra staff costs and experts predict that some care homes will be forced to close. The My Harlech loyalty app will be unveiled at Harlech’s annual two-day  trade fair Expo 25, that’s being held…

Sales of new electroplated grinding products launched by a precision engineering company in North Wales have rocketed by 960 per cent. Continental Diamond Tool (CDT) in Kinmel Bay – which supplies blue chip companies like Rolls Royce and Tenneco – is confident success of the electroplated line will lead to “considerable growth” over the next three years. The niche company is best known for designing and making diamond-encrusted rotary dressers, with tolerances down to 1,000th of a millimetre in terms of accuracy. The team in Kinmel Bay began making electroplated grinding wheels and other electroplated products in a small way…

A local childminder has used a six-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales to transform her family home into a new nursery for 60 children that is surrounded by nature. Located in the village of Alltami near Mold, Country House Childcare has been established by mum of three Caroline Aindow. She has used the loan from the Development Bank to part-fund the conversion and fit-out of her family home into a registered day care setting for 60 children ranging from 9months to 12 years old. Employing seven nursery nurses and a qualified forest school leader, Country House Childcare is…

With a rich history dating back over 500 years, Aberglasney has inspired poets and hosted bishops. Thanks to the creation of a new Museum on site visitors to the Gardens in Carmarthenshire will soon be able to discover how former residents made their mark on the estate. The artefacts in the Museum give a glimpse into the lives of those that called Aberglasney their home over the centuries. The collection includes items found during the archaeological dig in the 1990s as well as photographs, posters and furniture. The new Museum will be officially opened on Saturday, 29 March 2025 by…

Immersed Festival – a multimedia event curated by creative industries students at the University of South Wales (USW) – returns to Cardiff this month. Taking place at Tramshed on Saturday 22 March, Immersed will showcase some of the most exciting names in indie, hip-hop and dance music, led by headliners Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn who will make their highly anticipated Welsh debut. Known for their collaborations with artists such as Loyle Carner, Sam Tompkins, and Kojey Radical, their performance promises to be an unmissable night of high-energy and emotion from the Brighton-based rap duo. Support artists include Porij, who…

Matthew Battenbough, 33, has been charged with the murder of Leanne Williams.  He is due to appear at Swansea Magistrates Court today, Wednesday March 5 at 10am. No further action is being taken against a 41-year-old man arrested as part of the investigation and he has been released from police custody. South Wales Police’s Major Crime Team launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a woman’s body at an address in Townhill on Thursday, February 27. Leanne Williams, 47, was found by police officers at her home in Gomer Road at approximately 2pm. A Home Office Postmortem, which was carried…

A UK home grown electric powered all-terrain vehicle is set to take to the hills of Denbighshire and the surrounding areas. Denbighshire County Council’s Fleet Department has secured a Munro Series M electric 4×4 vehicle to support the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscapes team. The vehicle has been supported in part by gap funding from the Welsh Government’s Energy Service. Currently in production, the Scottish produced all-terrain vehicle will replace a fossil fuel powered pick-up truck that has come to the end of its fleet life. It will be based at Loggerheads Country Park. Countryside rangers will use…

Welsh football superstar Gareth Bale has a new title to add to the five UEFA Champions Leagues he won playing for Real Madrid. The former Wales captain was appointed as a new Cardiff Conference Ambassador due to his investment in Cardiff’s leisure & tourism sector, through his co-ownership of Elevens Bar & Grill and Par 59. He accepted the accolade at a special Wales Week London event called ‘Game Plan Cardiff – Scoring big on investment and growth’ that was organised by Cardiff Council’s Invest in Cardiff and Meet in Cardiff teams. The event showcased the emerging investment opportunities in Cardiff up…

Newport City Council has issued an update on its ongoing 20mph listening exercise, which was launched in response to concerns from residents and businesses about the implementation of the new speed limits across the city. The listening exercise, initiated in November 2024, was introduced to gather public feedback on how the 20mph speed limit, which was rolled out in September 2023, has impacted road users. The council has since received a significant number of responses and has been working to assess the views expressed. According to the latest update, Newport City Council has identified several roads where changes could be…

The Senedd has approved the Welsh Budget 2025-26, releasing £1.6bn of extra funding for the NHS, councils, schools and public transport, benefitting people and communities throughout Wales. In total, the Budget sets out £26bn of spending commitments with substantial increases across all government departments. More than £3bn of capital funding will be allocated in 2025-26 to upgrade vital equipment in the NHS and schools and to build new homes, modernise public transport and support economic growth. Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford said: “Passing this budget is a significant moment for Wales – it unlocks a real uplift in funding…