Author: Rhys Gregory

MORE than 60,000 extra journeys have been made on the Ebbw Vale line since the launch of new services to Newport. A £70 million investment in infrastructure on the line was completed by Network Rail last year to allow an increase in services on the line to two per hour. The first direct services between Ebbw Vale and Newport began in January almost doubling the number of daily services from 33 to 63. And since the start of the year the line has seen people make 317,267 journeys on the line, compared with 253,283 over the same period in 2023.…

Aldi is set to open a brand-new store in Aberdare on Thursday 22nd August at 8am. The new store will be run by Store Manager Paul Bibby, along with a team of 31 colleagues from the local community. As part of the supermarket’s investment in local communities across the UK, the new store will offer more customers access to Aldi’s high quality, low-price products. In fact, consumer group Which? confirmed Aldi as the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket for 2023* – the third year in a row that it has been awarded this title. The new store will offer fresh, Welsh meat…

The Directors of Chepstow recruitment agency Nu-Staff have completed a management buy-out that has been part-funded by a six-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales. GS Verde Group advised David Matthews and Paul Fletcher on the acquisition of the business that was first established by the late John Scriven in 1993. Paul started with Nu-Staff in 2001 while David joined the company as Operations Director in February 2021, having spent over 20 years working in recruitment in South Wales. They will work alongside co-Director Michelle Mallett. Operating throughout South Wales and the West, Nu-Staff has offices in Chepstow and…

It has been three years since Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, launched direct flights from Cardiff to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. The National Airport for Wales marked the third anniversary with an online competition for followers to win a pair of free tickets on the route. Loganair’s convenient trip has been used by over 55,000 customers since it started, visiting both countries for work and pleasure. Spencer Birns, CEO of Cardiff Wales Airport, said: “I and the entire Airport team want to say thank you to Loganair. It’s been amazing to see customers enjoy the advantages of using the Loganair…

Work is underway to build 75 new affordable homes near Caerphilly town centre. The Austin Grange development is being built on land near Caerphilly Station Park and Ride, with excellent community connections close to shops, local businesses and schools. The development will be a mix of houses and apartments, with the homes available to rent from not-for-profit housing organisation United Welsh. All the homes will be off-gas and built to high levels of energy efficiency, as part of United Welsh’s commitments to reduce its carbon footprint and provide homes that are more cost effective for residents to live in. Celtic…

The number of incidents reported to and investigated by the RSPCA in Wales has risen by 21% in the last four years, exclusive figures reveal today. The number of dogfighting incidents reported to the RSPCA is on the rise, increasing 21% from 2020 (19 incidents) to 2023 (23 incidents). The charity’s Special Operations Unit (SOU) – a specialist taskforce that investigates serious and organised animal crime, such as dog fighting – recently brought a fighting ring to justice following a two-year investigation. Now, the charity is racing funds via its ‘No Animal Deserves Cruelty’ campaign to support the efforts of…

A North Wales consultancy’s planning expertise and UK-wide reach has been strengthened by the acquisition of a four-strong team of specialists. Caulmert, which has offices in St Asaph, Bangor, Altrincham, Nottingham, and Kent has acquired Sheffield-based Crowley Associates, whose team will deepen the subdivision’s talent pool. The move is part of Caulmert’s ambitious growth plans, which include doubling its turnover to more than £7.5m across the next five years. Founder of Crowley Associates, Susan Crowley, who is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, will take up a place on the consultancy’s new-look board. As director of planning,…

An Aberystwyth graduate whose work was recognised by NASA has bequeathed over £720,000 to his former university to support research and the Old College project. Originally from Trefin in Pembrokeshire, Dr Rhidian Lawrence graduated with first class honours in Physics in 1962 and studied for a PhD as a member of the shockwave research group before moving to the University of Toronto. In a professional career that spanned nearly forty years, Dr Lawrence worked for aerospace companies in Alabama and Seattle, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Colorado. An expert in laser technology, he retained his love for…

A Welsh landlord is paying the price for flouting Rent Smart Wales requirements, after being found guilty of managing rented properties without a licence. Gareth Davies, 44, of Caswell, Swansea was convicted under Section 7(5) of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 of failing to be licensed to carry out property management activities in relation to three properties in Swansea,at Cardiff Magistrates Court yesterday. In addition to being fined £2,383, the consequences of his conviction goes beyond financial reprimand, with an ongoing impact on his ability to manage properties in the private rented sector in Wales. Cabinet Member for Housing and…

An initiative to encourage older people to get out and about, socialise and reduce loneliness and isolation keeps growing in popularity. Swansea Council’s Ageing Well activities are now supporting around 500 residents every week, with low cost or no cost activities. They include weekly walks, boules, movie afternoons, bowling, a choir, quiz and social get-togethers for a cuppa and chat. There have also been day trips and people have taken part in various projects with youth clubs in Swansea, including afternoon teas, breaking down generational barriers. Now the service, run by the Community Engagement Team, is laying on even more…