Author: Rhys Gregory

Transport for Wales will introduce one of the most significant timetable changes for North Wales in a generation this May (from 17th). West Wales will also benefit from extra trains on busy, holiday routes and on Sundays over the summer to support the local tourism economy in the region. The changes will increase the number of rail services on the North Wales Coast Line by around 50%. Delivered through the wider Network North Wales investment programme, these changes mark a major step in improving rail capacity, reliability, and connectivity across the region, supporting growing demand for sustainable travel and stronger…

Road closures and major travel changes are set to come into force across Cardiff when Wales take on Italy in the final Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship 2026 match at the Principality Stadium on March 14. With kick off scheduled for 4.40pm, large parts of the city centre will close to traffic between 12.30pm and 9pm as thousands of rugby fans descend on the Welsh capital. Motorists are being warned that the M4 motorway is expected to be very busy and are being urged to plan ahead. Those travelling by car are advised to avoid congestion in the city centre…

A once simple green space in Pen y Fai has been transformed into a safer and more welcoming community area thanks to funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Pheasant Field has undergone a series of improvements designed to make the area more accessible, vibrant and enjoyable for local residents of all ages. The project has turned the site into a community hub where people can meet, relax and take part in activities. Visitors to the field will now find new safety lighting to support evening walks, inclusive picnic areas for gatherings and accessible gates to make entry easier…

Tickets for the 2026 season at Lido Ponty will go on sale next week as the National Lido of Wales prepares to welcome visitors for its eleventh year since reopening. The main season at the popular outdoor swimming venue in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd will begin at the start of the Easter holidays, with tickets available from 9am on Monday, March 9. In the first ticket release, visitors will be able to book sessions up to June 1, including early morning swims running seven days a week, along with weekend and school holiday family fun sessions. Last year was…

An international festival dedicated to the importance of photography will be hosted in Newport in May. The Eye International Photography Festival will take place at venues across the city from 15-17 May. It will be the first time that Newport, famous throughout the photography world for the legendary Documentary Photography course started in the 1970s by Magnum photographer David Hurn, has hosted the festival. The festival was established in 2012 by ex-Newport student photojournalist Glenn Edwards with a promise to bring the world’s best photographers to Wales. Previous editions, which have been held in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre, have featured…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s flagship Ty Darran later living scheme in Risca has been officially opened. Residents and guests were entertained by Risca Male Voice Choir before the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by the Council’s Leader, Cllr Jamie Pritchard, and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Shayne Cook. Ty Darran is an innovative development, unlike anything the Council has delivered before, and built to the highest levels of energy efficiency. The scheme, delivered by construction expert Willmott Dixon, provides 45 high-quality later living apartments, each with its own private outdoor space, alongside a range of multi-purpose indoor…

Blaenau Gwent Council has this week approved its budget which continues to protect key services, support vulnerable residents, and keeps the Council Tax rise as low as possible at 3.75%. With constructive working between members of the Labour and Independent groups, the Council Tax increase is lower than originally planned, demonstrating a shared commitment from political leaders to minimise the impact on households in Blaenau Gwent. An improved funding settlement from Welsh Government, together with a range of efficiencies. The revenue budget, alongside the capital programme, will deliver increased investment for schools, environmental services, and highways, while maintaining support for…

A defence sector company has purchased Welsh Government land in Powys to develop and test new military equipment for defence clients. BANAIR has purchased two plots at Wyeside Enterprise Park, in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, and has started testing its own-design lightweight aluminium vehicle bridging system at the site. Spanning up to 30 metres, the equipment is being developed to enable military operations to cross water or gaps over dry land, and BANAIR is developing this capability with direct innovation support grant funding. BANAIR – which is headquartered in the West Midlands and operates from multiple sites, including manufacturing facilities in…

A new collection will provide learners with greater opportunities to learn about their local area and the diverse history of Wales. Launched by Adnodd, the national body for educational resources for the Curriculum for Wales, the collection resources cover eras of Welsh history from the Celtic and Roman times through to the modern day. They will help schools tell a range of stories, like the history of Wales’s coal and slate mining industries, the drowning of Cwm Tryweryn and the Aberfan disaster. The Hanes Cymru collection also includes tips for teachers and learners to discover their Cynefin – their own…

The second phase of work on the Menai Suspension Bridge is continuing to progress as it reaches a further stage next week. The further work on the crossbeams has been successfully completed, and the next stage will see the lifting of the scaffold, known as the Aerotruss, to the underdeck. To allow this to happen a tidal flow traffic management system, will be in place from March 9th for a period of approximately six days, to facilitate the preparation and installation of equipment required for underdeck painting and bearing maintenance operations. From 7am – 1pm traffic will be able to…