Author: Rhys Gregory

Storm Éowyn will move across the northwest of the UK on Friday, clearing to the northeast on Friday night. This will bring a spell of very strong west to southwesterly winds, with peak gusts of 60-70 mph fairly widely inland, 70-80 mph in some areas, and 80-90 mph along more exposed coasts and hills (perhaps even higher in a few locations). It should be noted that there may be a slight reduction in wind strength for a time as the centre of Storm Éowyn passes overhead, this most likely in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, before winds rapidly…

Teenagers are being urged to think twice before ‘sexting’ and to pause before they send explicit or naked pictures of themselves to others. The advice comes as part of an awareness-raising drive being rolled out by North Wales Police’ School Police Officers (SPO’s) following an increase in the number of reported incidents in schools. Sexting is a term used for sending or receiving of sexual, naked or semi-naked images or videos which can be taken by a young person of themselves (selfie), or by others. Since September, School Police Officers have dealt with 28 incidents of sexting involving young people.…

A national housing developer has been found guilty of damaging an established badger sett at Churchlands in Lisvane, Cardiff. Redrow Homes admitted their guilt during their development in Churchlands, Cardiff of damaging a large and established active Badger Sett. Redrow Homes secured planning permission to construct more than 1,000 homes, open spaces, and a school at Churchlands in the Lisvane area of north Cardiff. In the heart of the development area was a large, established badger sett, which identified by Redrow in 2012 during initial scoping works at the site.  The sett was fully active and occupied by a badger…

Transport for Wales (TfW) is another step closer to delivering the next phase of the South Wales Metro as it prepares to electrify the Coryton and lower Rhymney lines in the coming weeks. As part of the Metro project, which will deliver 170km of electrified track, 116km is already completed and ‘live’. With the upcoming electrification of the Coryton and lower Rhymney lines (from Caerphilly to Cardiff Queen Street), the total will rise to 155km. Electrifying these lines will enable TfW to introduce new tri-mode trains on the Coryton and Caerphilly to Penarth routes, from Spring 2025. As TfW continue…

A Rhyl nature reserve is opening up brand new views of its wildlife for this year. Over the autumn and winter months, Denbighshire County Council’s Countryside Service has continued to work on developing Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve to support local nature and the surrounding communities. Brickfield Pond Nature Reserve was recently honoured at the Wales in Bloom 2024 awards ceremony, receiving the class ‘Thriving’ under the Wales in Bloom It’s Your Neighbourhood awards. Countryside rangers and volunteers supported by Nature for Health have carried out work that has seen a community orchard and pond opened up, improvements to the walkways,…

Work gets underway to develop a new games and puzzle-themed play area in Splott next week. As part of the Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme programme and with funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, delivery of the new playground in Splott Park begins on Monday January 27 and is expected to last 14 weeks. The Neighbourhood Renewal Schemes programme is based on regeneration priorities identified by ward councillors, as representatives of their communities and delivers regeneration projects all over the city ranging from new parks and street improvements to community safety improvements. The design of the Splott playground was…

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Road Safety Team have worked in partnership with the family of a young woman killed in a road traffic collision to launch an intervention for young drivers in our County and beyond. Ella Bee’s Story aims to prevent further deaths on the road, particularly among the 17 to 25-year-old age group, and concentrates on the Fatal 5, peer pressure, driver behaviour and how to reduce the risks both as a driver and passenger. Twenty-one year-old Ella Smith was killed in a road traffic collision on the Broad Haven road in 2021 and her family are bravely telling…

Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced that construction has officially started on a brand-new dual use 3G pitch at St Cenydd Leisure Centre in Caerphilly. The project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UK SPF), represents a significant investment in upgrading local sporting facilities and promoting community wellbeing. The new 3G pitch will be located below the leisure centre, providing a high-quality, durable facility suitable for year-round use. As a joint-use site with St Cenydd School, the pitch will benefit both the school and the wider community, creating opportunities for sports, physical activity, and grassroots development. Councillor Chris Morgan,…

The Welsh Government has announced that the new Ynys Mon Freeport special status has gone live this week. Ynys Mon (Anglesey) joins the other freeport in Wales, the Celtic Freeport of Port Talbot and Milford Haven, which went live in November. The freeports will form special zones for business with tax and customs benefits, and funding for key infrastructure and skills projects. The Welsh freeports are distinctive as they include fair work, union recognition and the involvement of local authorities. Freeports are designed to promote regeneration and the creation of high-quality jobs. They also aim to become a national hub for…

On the back of a highly successful event in Swansea in 2024, the Child of Wales Awards has unveiled a new headline sponsor – and will now officially open nominations for 2025 on January 25, 2025. Ascona Group, one of the UK’s fastest growing forecourt operators, has entered into a year-long partnership with Child of Wales, which culminates in a prestigious annual event, which shines a bright light on the remarkable achievements and resilience of the young people of Wales, while raising vital funds for charities dedicated to supporting children across the nation. The Pembrokeshire-based company has a network of 62…