Author: Rhys Gregory

This week begins with mild, cloud‑topped mornings and highs around 24 °C (76 °F), rising to a peak close to 28 °C (83 °F) on Tuesday. Expect notably warm sunshine midweek before temperatures ease slightly later on. Is this the heatwave we’ve been waiting for? The Met Office originally warned of a heatwave approaching—defined as three consecutive days surpassing local thresholds—especially affecting parts of England and Wales. Temperatures were expected to climb above 30 °C in some areas by Thursday or Friday. However, while Tuesday may flirt with those thresholds, there’s currently no confirmed heatwave for Wales this week. Still, the warm spell is enough…

A repeat shoplifter has been served with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) preventing him from attending named shops and streets in Cardiff city centre. The 59-year-old had previously agreed to a written warning that that if the behaviour didn’t stop, then a CPN would be issued. A Community Protection Notice is aimed to prevent unreasonable behaviour that is having a negative impact on the local community’s quality of life. But he breached the Community Protection Warning resulting in him being served with the 6-month Community Protection Notice. As part of the notice, he must not attend: St David’s Shopping Centre…

Four people were taken to hospital – one with serious injuries following a road traffic collision on the A55 on Saturday afternoon (August 9th). At 15:21hrs North Wales Police received a report of a multi-vehicle collision on the A55 near Pentre Halkyn. Officers attended and established that an artic lorry travelling in the eastbound carriageway had collided with two vehicles that were travelling in the westbound carriageway, and a major incident was declared. Four people were taken to hospital – one was airlifted to hospital in Stoke by the Air Ambulance and the other was taken to Stoke via Ambulance.…

Swansea’s World War II veterans are set to take centre stage at a special event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, VJ Day. August 15,1945, brought the war to a close when Japan formally surrendered – two months after VE Day was declared in Europe. And on Friday, August 15, a small band of veterans who served in World War II will be at Swansea’s Guildhall in front of an invited audience for a commemorative event. At noon council buildings and libraries will be joining the rest of the UK for the national two minute…

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan have visited Neath Port Talbot viewing progress on a coal tip safety project and meeting those affected by blast furnace closures at the Port Talbot steelworks. On Thursday, August 7th, 2025, the Chancellor visited the site of Neath Port Talbot Council-led work with contractors Walters UK to stabilise a coal tip at the former Dyffryn Rhondda Colliery on the banks of the River Afan in the Upper Afan Valley where she was met by council Leader Cllr Steve Hunt, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Economic Growth Cllr…

The Pembrokeshire County Show is back once again – and this year’s event on 20th and 21st August will see Pembrokeshire County Council provide an insight into the roles available at the Authority. This year it was decided to take a different approach and use the opportunity to showcase the type of roles we have within the Authority and struggle to recruit – and highlight that we are an employer providing excellent employee support and future progression. Visitors will also have the chance to meet Cabinet Members and the Chief Executive and find out about a host of interesting and innovative projects…

The third phase of a major drainage improvement scheme in Mountain Ash will get underway this week, with work focusing on High Street and Cliff Street. The scheme, jointly funded by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and the Welsh Government, will start on Monday, 11 August as part of a wider project to strengthen the town’s drainage network and reduce flood risk. This phase will see a section of twin pipes at the junction of Cliff Street and High Street replaced with a larger single pipe to improve capacity. Pipe re-lining will also be carried out on High Street. Road closures…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has welcomed an excellent response to its latest round of Community Asset Transfer (CAT) opportunities. The CAT process allows local community groups to take on the running of council-owned buildings, parks, or land, putting valued public spaces directly into the hands of the people who use them. By taking over the management, groups can shape how these assets are run, ensuring they meet local needs and continue to thrive. Following Cabinet approval of a refreshed CAT policy designed to improve transparency, flexibility, and efficiency, the Council invited expressions of interest (EOIs) from prospective community organisations. While…

Blaenau Gwent Council’s Trading Standards and Trading Standards Wales’s Regional Tobacco Enforcement Team have been carrying out joint operations into illegal products in the county borough. In the past two months a total of 456 vapes, 4,280 cigarettes, and 2,650 grams of hand rolling tobacco have been seized. These products are often cunningly concealed in hidden locations around a shop, including inside an empty fire extinguisher and hydraulic wall concealments. Councillor Tommy Smith, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood and Environment Services, says: “Counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco can be potentially dangerous to health as controls governing their production may be lacking, and…

A new state of art playground comes to Powys, and a chance for communities to revamp their local parks, thanks to Welsh Government funding. Powys County Council has been awarded over £200,000 to improve playgrounds and play facilities for children. The funding will be used to create a new playground in South Powys and support local community-led projects to improve their local play spaces. The new playground will be located at The Promenade in Brecon and will provide a play space for children of all abilities to play together. Cabinet Member for Future Generations, Cllr Sandra Davies said: “I am…