Author: Rhys Gregory

New report by the Bevan Foundation, shows that 1 in every 215 households in Wales is trapped in temporary accommodation because of a shortfall in the number of social homes. More than 6,000 households are living in bed & breakfasts and other temporary accommodation because they are homeless and cannot find a permanent home, nearly 1,000 more than the same time last year. Many people end up in temporary accommodation for six months or more because there is nowhere else to go. Wendy Dearden, Senior Policy and Research Officer at the Bevan Foundation said: “The number of households living in…

A growing property developer has successfully completed its first new build residential development in the heart of Merthyr Tydfil, thanks to a £1.2 million loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Bishop Bayliss Developments spotted an opportunity to build four new homes on Grove Park, Maesnynant, in 2023. Infrastructure work had already been carried out on site by an earlier owner, with Bishop Bayliss keen to use the project to complete their first set of new-build homes, having previously focused on refurbishing or renovating existing properties. They approached the Development Bank of Wales to part-fund purchase of the plots and…

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) warns consumers this week that parking charge scam messages are becoming more common, with many being reported recently across the UK. These text messages tell consumers that they have an outstanding parking charge, and sometimes threaten that if they do not pay it in time, they will be banned from driving or be taken to court. The messages include a link to a very convincing copycat Government website complete with accurate fonts, branding and logos, but any payments made end up with the fraudsters. Often, there are three successive messages: a first message informing…

THREE is the magic number for one of the country’s most illustrious skin clinics. Pure Perfection, based in Rossett near Chester and Wrexham, has won its third major award of the year. Led by esteemed director Sara Cheeney, the business picked up the title for Provider of the Year – Wales at the Cutera Awards, hosted by TV presenter and journalist Anna Richardson at London’s Sopwell House Hotel. The accolade comes after Pure Perfection was named Best Clinic Midlands and Wales at the national Aesthetics Awards, and Aesthetic Clinic of the Year for the South West and Wales at the…

Cardiff University, along with other SETsquared Partnership universities and leading regional investment firm QantX, have announced plans for a new £300 million spinout-focused investment vehicle to catalyse the creation and growth of science and technology companies addressing global challenges. This new investment vehicle will drive a much-needed step change in early-stage patient capital, expertise, and support available to university spinouts and start-up companies in the region that are working in areas of true global impact – such as sustainability, clean energy, and transformative healthcare. Cardiff has been a member of the SETsquared partnership since 2021 and has collaborated with them…

A pioneering wheelchair rugby league coach from Wrexham is one of seven sporting ‘Game Changers’ honoured in a heartfelt poem unveiled across four iconic UK venues as part of The National Lottery’s 30th Birthday celebrations. Stephen Jones, Head Coach and Chairman of North Wales Wheelchair Rugby League & Disability Sports Club, is celebrated in one of seven verses that together form a powerful tribute crafted by world-renowned Scottish contemporary artist and poet Robert Montgomery. Each verse, honouring a different ‘Game Changer’, has been unveiled at a significant sporting location across the UK. Jones’s verse, recognising his groundbreaking efforts to make…

This week, four dedicated cyclists departed from Pontypridd Common, embarking on a significant journey to ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. Departing from the 5th Welch Memorial Pontypridd, they will cover a distance of 365 miles to reach ‘s-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch. The cyclists are set to arrive in Den Bosch on Thursday, in time for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the city. This event holds deep historical significance, as 146 British soldiers lost their lives in the battle of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and the citizens of Den Bosch have always recognised that they owe their freedom to the troops who fought…

Newport City Council are working with Kerbo Charge to trial their charging gullies, with gullies having already been installed in Oakfield Road, Preston Avenue, Park Avenue and Tredegar Park View. The gullies offer a potential solution to electric vehicle drivers who need to charge their vehicle but have no access to off-street parking. It is estimated that around 22,000 homes in Newport do not have access to off-street parking. By installing a shallow, polymer gully into the pavement by their house, a resident can safely run a cable from their house to their car. The cable is secured in place…

In an exciting collaboration between Caerphilly Cares and local company Catnic, staff volunteers took part in vital conservation work aimed at enhancing local biodiversity and providing safer access to forest school sessions for pupils. The volunteering efforts took place in an area within Bargoed Woodland Park with tasks including cutting back scrub and removing small trees to improve access and encourage new growth on the woodland floor. The volunteer’s work not only boosted the local ecosystem but also created a safer, more accessible space for the local primary school to conduct forest school sessions. Andrew Thomas, Catnic’s Health & Safety,…

An Independent Commission into the water sector and its regulation has been launched by the government today (Wednesday 23 October), in what is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. The Commission forms the next stage in the Government’s long-term approach to ensuring we have a sufficiently robust and stable regulatory framework to attract the investment needed to clean up our waterways, speed up infrastructure delivery and restore public confidence in the sector. It follows the Government’s inaugural International Investment Summit last week at which the Prime Minister spoke of the need for regulation and regulators…