Author: Rhys Gregory

Christina Wall, 32, from Adamsdown, Cardiff, has been jailed following a city centre robbery in May last year. Accompanied by two men, Wall approached the victim, a 23-year-old man from Roath, before punching him inside a multi-storey car park, then strangling him and attempting to gouge his eyes. Wall also told him they were in possession of a knife, threatening to kill him unless he emptied his pockets. Wall then took his mobile phone and wallet. Wall pleaded guilty to robbery and has been sentenced to eight years and three months in prison. Detective Constable Carys Davies said: “This was…

Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, was joined by Jayne Bryant MS, the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government to see key council housing developments. They visited several housing sites in Barry – one of the areas with the greatest demand for accommodation – including three schemes at Coldbrook Road East, Clos Holm View and on the former Colcot Clinic site, as well as the newly completed homes at Hayeswood Road. The Hayeswood Road development consists of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties built on land acquired by the Vale of Glamorgan Council…

Plans for a new-build replacement Mynydd Cynffig Primary School are continuing to progress with a full planning application now having been submitted for consideration. Under the plans, the new-build school would be built on land currently occupied by Mynydd Cynffig Primary School’s junior department and would operate on a single site basis, bringing together all year groups in the same location. The school has also been designed with sustainable features and will be Net Zero Carbon in operation. In addition to the classrooms, the two-storey school features an indoor learning plaza, a main hall, ancillary studio hall, outdoor play areas,…

Newport City Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration have welcomed ambitious proposals by docks’ operator ABP. Last year, the company unveiled its masterplan which set out how it would build on its classic port role while blending in innovations to become a highly efficient, zero-carbon port with a “clean growth hub” by 2040. Councillor Dimitri Batrouni and Councillor James Clarke met with ABP representatives during a recent visit to the port. Councillor Batrouni said: “Newport Docks have been pivotal to the development of the city over the last two centuries and we were impressed with the company’s plans to…

Redevelopment work is set to begin on two Caerphilly town squares while conserving and enhancing much-loved public art installations. Stockland Square and Windsor Square, on Cardiff Road, were built in the late 1990s featuring now familiar sculptures of jackdaws and geese, connecting residential streets to one of the town’s main shopping streets. Preparation work is set to begin later this month to rejuvenate the squares to create an open social space while introducing more greenery, seating, and improve bin facilities for local businesses. The project will be delivered as part of the Caerphilly Town 2035 Placemaking Plan, utilising up to…

Communities across mid-Wales are set to experience early benefits that groundbreaking bus reform will bring. Led by Transport for Wales and mid-Wales councils’ a trial of the criteria designed for bus reform will take place and identify what a good bus network will look like. The trial will also bring opportunities for early improvements to services in rural communities in Ceredigion and Powys, through better reliability of buses. This will help inform further improvements as part of plans for full franchising in the longer term. Contracts for this work are expected to be awarded later this year. This trial provides…

With one in six species at risk of extinction in Wales, it has never been more important to restore and strengthen people’s connection to nature. Today, Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change has outlined the ways Welsh Government has spent more than £150m restoring nature this Senedd term. Speaking in the Siambr, he said: “Restoring nature means restoring the places we live and enjoy. “It provides green jobs, supports local and rural economies and underpins the economy in a whole range of sectors, including food production and tourism. “That’s why, in this Senedd term alone we…

The Welsh public are being urged to visit their local pharmacies for free advice and treatment for a wide range of illnesses, as new figures reveal more than 400,000 people used the common ailments service in the last 12 months. Visiting your pharmacy gives you convenient access to a healthcare professional, often without an appointment, and helps to free up GP appointments for people with more complex or urgent health issues. The common ailments service, available in 99% of pharmacies throughout Wales, provides access to free, confidential advice and treatments for 28 common illnesses including sore throats and urinary tract…

Castell Howell has launched a new Food Show, showcasing the food trends and innovations that the hospitality industry can expect to see in 2025 and giving visitors a preview of its growing range of Welsh food and drink products. The new industry event is taking place alongside the 2025 Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) at the International Conference Centre in Newport from 20-22 January. Castell Howell managing director Matt Lewis said: “The Castell Howell Food Show will be a new highlight in this three-day celebration of Welsh culinary excellence, hospitality skills, and innovation. As the largest wholesale supplier of Welsh…

Barclays has become the latest organisation to partner with FinTech Wales, the independent membership association dedicated to supporting the FinTech and Financial Services industry in Wales. Barclays joins an exclusive group of 11 partners that provide substantial support to FinTech Wales’ mission to empower Wales as a globally recognised hub of fintech excellence. As a partner, Barclays will play a key role in supporting the FinTech Wales community of over 150 members across key areas, including skills and talent development, fostering investment opportunities, and driving innovation within the financial technology sector. Their involvement will help strengthen collaboration, nurture emerging talent,…