Author: Rhys Gregory

Watkin Property Ventures (WPV) has pledged an annual donation of £10k to Bangor Cricket Club until 2034, a total of £100k, to support the recruitment of coaches and to improve the facilities at the club. The first £10k donation was made in 2024 and has allowed the club to appoint a professional coach, overseeing all the age groups. They have also appointed a coach and manager for each junior team, to ensure they have a steady stream of players for the senior team. The commitment comes from a long-standing partnership with Watkin Property Ventures and is part of the company’s…

Fans of Aberdare Splashpad are able to enjoy more activities this summer thanks to funding, which has allowed two new features to be installed. The new ‘spider’ and ‘frilly lily’ have been installed thanks to a donation of £8,400 from local energy company, Pennant Walters. Aberdare Park has become a destination for a sunny day outing for both local people and those living further afield, and it is now hoped that the expansion will allow more people to join in the water fun. The splashpad was brought to reality and opened in 2021 by Friends of Aberdare Park who worked…

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to stalking a woman and assaulting her and her son. 54-year-old Johnathan Price, from Hafod, led a course of behaviour against his ex-partner beginning in June this year. When his ex-partner reported his behaviour to police, Price pressured her to retract her statement and also sent several messages to her to the same effect. He has been sentenced to eight months in prison. PC Bennett said: “Johnathan Price conducted a campaign of stalking and harassment against his ex-partner which nobody should have to tolerate. “The fact that this would…

Following a house fire on Protheroe Street, Ferndale, during the early hours of Monday morning (July 28), four people have been charged. Three men aged 18, 19 and 23, and a 19-year-old woman, all from the Weston-super-Mare area, have been charged with the following. Auryn Gustar, 19, charged with arson with intent to endanger life; Connor Pitt, 23, charged with arson with intent to endanger life; Storm Truman, 19, charged with arson with intent to endanger life; Alfie Wheeler, 18, charged with arson with intent to endanger life and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place.…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council – in close partnership with Penarth Town Council and the local community – has published new plans that will help shape the town’s future. Placemaking is a people-centred approach focused on enhancing our towns and  community spaces to make them more welcoming, vibrant, and enjoyable places for everyone. It could involve a wide range of efforts – from major infrastructure upgrades to cultural events and small-scale local projects that are all designed to foster a strong sense of belonging and connection within the community. These plans are the result of an extensive programme of engagement…

A Port Talbot Indian Takeaway Restaurant has been closed after environmental health officials discovered an active infestation of cockroaches there. As well as the cockroach infestation, “filthy” conditions were discovered at the Mirchi Masalla restaurant on Commercial Road, Taibach, which presented an imminent risk to public health. On July 21st, 2025, Environmental Health Officers of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Food Safety and Health Protection department issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice served under Regulation 8 of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 during a visit to the business. This required the restaurant to shut its doors to the public immediately. Officers…

Library services will return to Pill from the beginning of August thanks to a partnership between the council and the Yemeni Cultural Association. It will host a pop-up library in its centre in Temple Street that will be available to all residents in the area. It will feature a small display of books which can be borrowed using a self-service checkout machine. Library users can also reserve and collect items from the centre. Other library activities such as the summer reading challenge and book clubs will also be offered at the venue. Councillor Jason Hughes, Newport City Council’s cabinet member,…

The future is looking bright for one of Caerphilly County Borough’s most cherished heritage sites, Llancaiach Fawr Manor House in Nelson, following the announcement that a preferred operator has now been selected to take over the running of the popular venue. The historic 16th-century manor house, a major tourist attraction and educational resource, closed its doors at the end of December 2024. The closure came as Caerphilly County Borough Council explored alternative delivery models in an effort to reduce the venue’s significant running costs, which included an annual subsidy of approximately £500,000. As part of a formal procurement process, several…

Brand new electric trains offering travellers an improved customer experience are now being used on Transport for Wales services between Coryton, Caerphilly and Penarth. An additional five new tri-mode Class 756 trains, which are part of the Welsh Government’s £800m investment in new trains, will join the fleet that are already transforming passenger’s experiences on the Merthyr, Aberdare and Treherbert lines, taking the total of brand-new electric trains in service daily to 19 (with 24 in the total fleet). The new trains, which provide 50% more capacity and improved accessibility, including level boarding, are being introduced after a successful trial…

When the first wave of electric vehicles (EVs) hit the roads, many drivers marvelled at the silence, the instant torque, and the sense that they were stepping into the future. But one of the quieter revolutions in EV ownership has unfolded not on the road, but in the garage. For decades, car servicing followed a familiar rhythm: oil changes every few thousand miles, regular spark plug replacements, timing belt concerns, exhaust system repairs—the list went on. These scheduled rituals were almost sacred in the ownership experience. With EVs, that calendar is getting torn up and rewritten. Fewer Moving Parts, Fewer…