Author: Rhys Gregory

A section of Oystermouth Castle is set to be cloaked in a cascade of red in November for a special community-led tribute this Remembrance season. Upwards of 6,000 poppies have been assembled by the Swansea Yarnbombers who spent many hours crocheting the poppies and sewing them one by one onto netting in preparation for the display, ably assisted by contributions from Swansea residents and indeed with small donations from all over the world. The days spent by the Yarnbombers assembling these poppies and thousands of hours sat crocheting poppies is testament to the respect given for our fallen heroes and others who gave so much for us.…

Drones are increasingly used by criminals to drop contraband into prison estates across the United Kingdom. HMP Parc in Bridgend, South Wales, has been the subject of an ongoing operation by police and G4S to tackle drone incursions and prevent contraband from reaching its intended audience. The operation has already had successes with illicit items being recovered before they can cause harm to the prison population. Prison intelligence officers within Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales, have been working with South Wales Police’s Crime in Prisons Team, and G4S, to track and target the drones and investigate those responsible for sending them. Detective Sergeant Karl Stephens, of Tarian, said:…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has completed a development of 53 new council homes on Hayeswood Road in Barry. This project is part of a long-term plan to increase the number of council houses as the Authority looks to address soaring demand for this type of accommodation. It follows in the footsteps of other council housing schemes at Llys Llechwedd Jenner, Lon y Felin Wynt and Clos Holm View. The development consists of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties built on land acquired by the Vale of Glamorgan Council from Welsh Government. Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of Vale of Glamorgan…

All Hackney Carriages (black and white taxis) in Cardiff are now required to accept card and contactless payments from the public. The new arrangements came into effect on September 1st, following agreement at the Council’s Public Protection Committee meeting in March this year. Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Now that we have given the trade enough time to comply with the new rules, it is important to get the message out to the public that they can now pay for their taxi ride in a Hackney Carriage by card or contactless payment.…

The star attraction will be a covered real ice rink, where you will be able to glide (or slip and slide!) whatever the weather. Other attractions include a Ferris wheel, fire pits for roasting marshmallows and fairground rides. If you’re looking for tasty treats, there will be plenty of choice on offer including: German sausages, burgers, loaded fries Waffles, crepes, doughnuts Christmas carvery Specialist coffees, and deluxe hot chocolates Traditional sweets and confectionery Take a seat at the outside seating area or head over to the bar where there will also be undercover seating. All nestled under festoon lighting and…

BikeShredz Ltd, a small independent bike store renowned for its bespoke bike builds and expert repairs, is thrilled to announce its relocation to a larger unit in Caerphilly, enabling significant business growth and the introduction of new services. The expansion has been made possible through funding support from the UK Government and Caerphilly County Borough Council. The business received 2 match funded grants, totalling £28,148.37, from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This grant was dedicated towards BikeShredz Ltd through Caerphilly County Borough Council’s intervention of UKSPF funds. Funding support helped with the rental bike purchase as…

Work has officially started on the Blessed Carlo Acutis (BCA) Catholic School, which was officially marked by a ground-breaking ceremony on Friday 25 October and officiated by the Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff Menevia. Archbishop O’Toole led the guests in a Liturgy at the site, with readings from children across BCA following shortly after. Guests from the Archdiocese of Cardiff Menevia, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Governors, staff and learners from the school and cluster primary schools, as well as the team from Willmott Dixon and consultants on the project then gathered for speeches. Willmott Dixon will undertake the work to…

As delegates from around the world meet in Cali, Columbia for Biodiversity COP16, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, recently had a chance to speak to pupils in Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron to see what action they are taking to protect nature and why. During his visit the Deputy First Minister met with eco club pupils and staff at Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron as well as the designer of an orchard at the school. Ceredigion Local Nature Partnership has provided Local Places for Nature Funding to create the orchard which demonstrates how a small area can make…

Following a very successful pilot project in 2024, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is calling for diverse communities across Wales to take part in a special showcase for its 2025 festival.  The Community Rhythms and Roots project, supported by Arts Council Wales, aims to explore the multicultural and multilingual nature of modern Wales and unlock the creative potential of communities living in Wales. The project reflects the Llangollen International Eisteddfod’s rich heritage and is aligned to the organisation’s ambition of using the arts and culture to bring different communities together in a spirit of peace and friendship.  Organisers are looking…

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford has welcomed the new UK Government’s first Budget and the additional £1.7bn it will bring to Wales over two years. Speaking after the Chancellor’s statement, he said it was a first step towards “repairing the damage caused over the last 14 years by previous UK governments”. And he said Rachel Reeves – the UK’s first ever female Chancellor – was listening to Wales by investing in coal tip safety and increasing Wales’ capital budget. Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford said: “This is a Budget focused on fixing the foundations; rebuilding public services and creating a pathway of…