Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

A leading science visitor attraction in the centre of Wrexham is celebrating the “huge impact” it has made in the region thanks to its community engagement work. Xplore! Science Discovery Centre has maintained its educational roots and ethos by showcasing STEAM whilst building upon its reputation as a top visitor attraction, with accolades including a 5-star rating by Visit Wales. A key part of its activity has centred around the introduction of three new science exhibits, taking the total on offer to more than 85. The trio includes a human-sized hamster wheel, stop-motion animation table, and Archimedes spiral. Across the…

HUNDREDS of learners and staff at Coleg Cambria joined a celebration of business and innovation. The college marked Global Entrepreneurship Week with events and activities at its sites in Northop, Wrexham and Deeside. Cambria organised interactive workshops and sessions with industry leaders, Big Ideas Wales mentors and well-known business owners including Tanya Whitebits CEO Shoned Owen, artist Liz Williams and Beatriz Albo, founder of Spanish sauces company, Sabor de Amor. Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Coordinator Judith Alexander said the programme provided opportunities to develop and apply skills such as financial literacy, creativity, a proactive mindset, innovation, problem-solving, time-management and resilience. “Global Entrepreneurship…

Principality Building Society announces the appointment of Garry Stran, to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. Having spent a considerable part of his career in the mutual sector, Garry has over 25 years of executive experience across the financial services sector, with a focus on credit risk management and operational and cultural transformation. He has held senior and non-executive level positions at notable organisations including Nationwide, PCF Bank, WH Ireland and Computershare Loan Services. Garry has a proven track record of commercial success and supporting organisations to execute strategic transformational change, with focus on technology and customer value. In addition…

A 35-year-old man who controlled his ex-partner has been jailed. Justin Nicholas Harvey, Tan Yr Efail, Holyhead, appeared at Mold Crown Court on January 15th after admitting to controlling and coercive behaviour. Harvey repeatedly subjected his ex-partner to controlling behaviour during their four-year relationship, which included assaulting her and damaging her property. He was jailed for three years and four months and was made subject of a restraining order lasting 20 years. Detective Constable Katy Hughes said: “I commend the victim for her bravery following the abuse she suffered from Harvey. “Domestic abuse comes in many forms, including controlling and…