Author: Rhys Gregory

Heler Foods Packing, part of the Joseph Heler group, is celebrating the continued success of its Porthmadog facility following a £6 million investment. This expansion has significantly boosted production capabilities while delivering major economic benefits to the local community, including the creation of over 200 new jobs. The facility, rebranded as Heler Foods Packing after its acquisition in August 2022, specialises in cutting, blending, and packing multiple cheese formats. While the site has faced challenges under previous regimes, the transformation under Heler Foods Packing has established solid foundations and a clear path to sustainable growth, with turnover now in excess…

Across the globe, New Year’s Day will resound to the sound of locomotive whistles, as heritage railways near and far mark the start of rail’s 200th anniversary. The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (F&WHR) will be going full-out and ‘Whistling for Wales’ at midday on New Year’s Day as their contribution to the steamy salute… and you can join them, in person or online. Passengers on the morning ‘Christmas Mountain Spirit’ will hear the train locomotives ‘LINDA’ and ‘BLANCHE’ sound their whistles as the train passes round the iconic spiral at Dduallt. In Porthmadog, ‘HUGH NAPIER’ and ‘PALMERSTON’ will be…

Do you recognise this car? North Wales Police are hoping to trace the vehicle in connection with an aggravated burglary in Llandudno. In the early hours of Sunday, November 3rd, a house on Abbey Road, Llandudno was targeted by burglars between 12.41am and 3.33am, where a quantity of jewellery was stolen. The items including diamond rings, two necklaces, a watch, a bracelet and costume jewellery are pictured below. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Sean Harrison said: “This was a terrifying incident for the victim, and we are continuing to follow all lines of enquiry to ensure those responsible are caught. “We…

Work to demolish the old SeaQuarium building on Rhyl promenade begins on 6 January and it is expected that the work will take six weeks to complete. The 30-year-old building has stood empty since the closure of SeaQuarium at the end of November 2023 and is no longer fit for purpose as a modern tourist attraction. One of the main aims of the Rhyl Town Centre Vision is to improve the visibility of the seafront, and to better link the town centre with the beach. The building is in a prime location on Rhyl’s seafront and the Council is in…

The people of Mumbles can now have a big say on the future of an area of seafront land. A public consultation is seeking thoughts on the future use of the area which has, in past years, been home to hard-surface tennis courts. Some people may wish that the land – between the Oyster House Hotel and Oystermouth Bowls Club – will continue to be used as tennis courts; others may have alternative ideas that could benefit Mumbles in the years to come. The survey – by landowners Swansea Council – will seek to understand how Mumbles residents, businesses, organisations…

A report outlining Neath Port Talbot Council’s draft budget for 2025/26 has been published. Councillors will be asked for permission to begin a public consultation on its draft budget on the 10th January 2025. If agreed, the consultation will run until the 31st January 2025. During this time, the public can share their views on how the council plans to continue delivering more than 400 vital public services during these challenging times. Despite the difficult financial background, the council hopes to deliver a budget with no significant cuts to services or jobs. For a number of months the council has…

A by-election will be held to fill a vacancy in the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward. A Notice of Election was published on 6th January.  Anyone wishing to stand for election must submit their nomination papers to the Returning Officer between the 7th and 15th January, between 10am and 4pm. For further information and to obtain nomination papers please email [email protected] or call the Elections Helpline number 01437 775844. The Statement of Persons Nominated will be published following the close of nominations. If contested the by-election vote will take place on Tuesday, 11th February. If you are interested in becoming a Councillor…

Blackwood Miners Institute has received positive news to mark the start of the New Year as Caerphilly County borough council announces that the popular attraction is to remain open for the future. In December 2024 it was confirmed that a successful application to the Arts Council for Wales meant that building was able to remain open for an extended period of time, to allow for an alternative delivery model to be considered. Caerphilly county borough council has now confirmed that Blackwood Miners Institute will remain fully operational with more options being explored for the venue to be run in a…

Skills Minister, Jack Sargeant, recently visited a Working Wales careers centre to meet individuals who have turned their careers around in their 40s and 50s with the support from a Working Wales career review. Working Wales are currently running a campaign to encourage more people across Wales to take up the offer of their free career review. The review is an opportunity to explore and consider new career possibilities with an experienced and professionally trained careers adviser. It is open to people of all ages who are considering a career change for any reason, which could include: Looking for a…

First Minister Eluned Morgan will today (Tuesday 7 January) tell the Senedd how she will deliver for Wales in 2025. Since becoming First Minister, she has travelled the length and breadth of Wales, meeting people in their own communities to listen and learn firsthand what is most important to them. Their priorities have been placed at the heart of the government’s work programme: ‘Iechyd da’ – a Healthier Wales, jobs and green growth, opportunity for every family and connecting communities. The Welsh Government has already targeted an extra £157m this financial year to deliver these promises. This includes £21m for…