Author: Rhys Gregory

Pupils from Portfield School have had the exciting opportunity to leave their mark on history as work continues at pace at their fantastic new school. The pupils attended an event to mark the reaching of the highest point of the new building, traditionally known as the ‘topping-out’ ceremony. The event gave pupils a chance to sign one of the first steel beams, and leaving handprints a wall, symbolising their role at the heart of the school community and the bright future ahead. The event was hosted by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd and was attended by staff, pupils, governors,…

Almost £3 million is set to be invested in Rhondda Cynon Taf’s parks, play areas and associated facilities, protecting and improving the beautiful open spaces. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council runs almost 100 parks and over 215 play areas across the county borough and has a significant ongoing investment programme to ensure they are maintained at the highest possible level. It is council priority for residents of all ages to have access to good quality, well-maintained spaces – from families with young children who enjoy the fresh air, picnics and play areas to walkers, joggers and sports players who use courts…

Monmouthshire County Council are celebrating the incredible work of Food Partnerships across the country, including the work of Monmouthshire Food Partnership. Food Sense Wales has recently published the Local Food Partnership Status Report, showcasing the amazing and diverse food activities happening all over the country. Monmouthshire County Council have adopted organisation wide food strategies, setting measurable targets for procuring and providing local, healthy, and sustainable food. One project which has been implemented by the Monmouthshire Food partnership is the Welsh Veg in Schools, a pilot project co-ordinated by Food Sense Wales that aims to get more organically produced Welsh vegetables…

lans to change business rates in Wales, giving smaller shops a lower rate, are being considered. The Welsh Government has announced a 12-week consultation, which could benefit around 13,000 retail properties across Wales. It would cut rates for retail shops with rateable values less than £51,000, to help them compete with online retailers. Larger properties with rateable values over £100,000 could be charged slightly more, but some public buildings like hospitals and schools would be protected. If approved, the changes would start on 1st April next year. The exact rates will be set during the Welsh Government’s budget planning for…

Two roads in Wrexham have become the first in north Wales to return to 30mph following the 20mph default speed limit change in 2023. The B5605 Wrexham Rd/High Street, in Johnstown and the A525 Bryn-Y-Grog Road have returned to 30mph following public consultation. The two roads are the first of 52 sections of highway where the speed limit is going to be changed to 30mph by Wrexham County Council, following the publication of revised guidance by the Welsh Government, to ensure that 20mph is targeted on the right roads. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates joined…

A husband-and-wife duo from Cardiff will be taking on the Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K to raise money for the event’s lead charity Tŷ Hafan. The children’s hospice is particularly close to their hearts as it cares for their 15-year-old niece Elain. Anwen and Huw Jones are currently doing the Couch to 5K training programme, as well as parkruns, in preparation for the race which takes place in the seaside town on Sunday 6 July. When Elain was born in March 2010 she was diagnosed with a complicated heart condition, including the genetic condition 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. It means she also…

A historic home in Wrexham is celebrating 60 years of caring for older people. Hillbury House was built in 1864 on five acres of land on the south west of the city for local businessman John Bury. It became a care home in 1965 when it was taken over by the Catholic Order of the Sisters of Nazareth who ran it until 2005 as Nazareth House when it became part of the Pendine Park care organisation founded by Mario Kreft MBE and his wife, Gill. Pendine Park is now celebrating its 40th anniversary but Hillbury has been looking after Wrexham…

AN EMPLOYEE at Specsavers Flint has raised £650 for North East Wales Mind after completing the Chester Half Marathon on Sunday. Coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week (12 – 18 May), the 13-mile run took dispensing optician Dawn Dale 1 hour and 52 minutes, raising vital funds for the charity, which supports people living with mental health challenges across Flintshire and Wrexham. Out of 189 runners in the over-50’s category, Ms Dale placed fourteenth. Colleagues at Specsavers Flint were there to cheer Ms Dale on along the route and supported her fundraising efforts in the lead-up to the race day.…

A Cardiff-based ingredient manufacturer has secured new wholesale customers thanks to technical support delivered through the Welsh Government’s HELIX Programme, previously named Project HELIX. Aromada, which produces a range of mirror glazes, jams and jellies that are supplied to the baking industry, secured SALSA food safety certification following support from ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Founded by Samir Bougaci and Motaz Dadou in 2019, Aromada combines the pair’s experience in ingredient manufacture and luxury patisserie. Motaz previously worked in development for a European ingredient manufacturer whilst Samir is a trained baker who also owns a Cardiff-based celebration…

Construction has started on a major housing development in Abertridwr, Caerphilly. Working in partnership with Caerphilly County Borough Council and Welsh Government, not-for-profit housing organisation United Welsh has officially started work on the former Windsor Colliery site. This project will see the development of 152 new homes next to Ysgol Ifor Bach in Abertridwr. The development will include houses and apartments available for social rent, affordable rent and sale. The homes will be entirely off-gas and built to the highest energy efficiency standards, helping to reduce the development’s carbon footprint and providing homes for residents that are cost-effective to heat.…