Author: Rhys Gregory

SPECSAVERS HAVERFORDWEST has relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art premises in the Riverside Shopping Centre, becoming the largest Specsavers store in Wales following a £1.2 million investment by local partners. The grand opening of the new landmark store took place on Monday 16 December, with customers and local dignitaries, including several mayors, in attendance. On arrival, guests were welcomed with performances from the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir and local musician and dispensing technician, Kyle Kirkhouse, followed by a ribbon cutting by one of the store’s long-standing customers, Madaline Roberts, who runs the Milford Haven branch of the Macular Society. William McNamara,…

Burglar Jamie Laver broke into homes and flats in the Roath and Splott areas of Cardiff. He stole a 72-inch television from student accommodation and jewellery of great sentimental value from the home of a grandmother. But his criminal spree came to an end when he was identified through social media and Retrospective Facial Recognition (RFR). Laver was caught on CCTV in the Co-op on Splott Road using a bank card from a burglary committed minutes earlier on April 22, 2024. His identity was unknown, so in May 2024 detectives turned to our Facebook followers for help. Several people named…

Officers in Anglesey are intensifying efforts to protect victims of domestic abuse over the Christmas period. The operation throughout December aims to safeguard victims and deter perpetrators as statistics show incidents of domestic abuse tend to rise around this time of year. It will see two extra police officers carrying out extra safeguarding visits to those identified as being at high risk of domestic abuse. District Sergeant Christopher Burrow said: “Historically, incidents of domestic abuse sadly increase over the Christmas period. “Everyone has the right to feel safe. The introduction of dedicated officers over the Christmas period will ensure we…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Libraries and Cultural Services department has received a major financial boost from the Arts Council of Wales after being awarded more than £100,000 from the Jobs Protection and Resilience Fund. This money will be used to support the Council’s Art Central Gallery in Barry and Penarth Pier Pavilion by contributing to staffing costs. It will also help ensure a programme of cultural activities and events can continue and that each venue remains financially stable and able to serve their communities. Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh…

Work is underway to preserve the legacy of a beloved Ruthin park veteran tree. Storm Darragh recently caused damage to many areas across Denbighshire through high winds, bringing down a number of trees across the county. At Cae Ddôl park, the storm brought down the much loved estimated 550 year-old Oak which has overlooked the nearby water for generations of Ruthin residents and visitors to enjoy. To preserve the memory of the Oak for future generations, intricate work is now underway at Denbighshire County Council’s Tree Nursery at St Asaph. The Council’s Tree Team and Biodiversity Team are leading the…

Shoppers in Swansea are being urged to be on their guard this Christmas when buying gifts for family and friends. The advice follows a recent visit to a temporary pop-up shop in the city centre by the Council’s Trading Standards team, where more than a third of the shops stock was seized, including a wide range of toys, electrical items and perfumes. Trading standards have raised concerns over the potential dangers of many of the items, such as choking risks linked to small toys, as well as wider licensing concerns with fake goods. The team are now in the process…

Staff and tenants supported two important charities as they got into the festive spirit with carols and competitions at the Bridge Innovation Centre, Pembroke Dock, last Friday (December 13th). Local businesses donated generous prizes and pupils from Ysgol Bro Penfro sang carols at the event, which raised funds for emotional support charity the Samaritans and The Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which works with schools and individuals to help children with additional learning needs. Beth Morgan of The Catrin Vaughan Foundation said: “We are really delighted to attend today, this means a huge amount to us as a family and as an…

Caerphilly County Borough Council employees, alongside volunteers from external business Willmott Dixon, came together in the spirit of giving this Christmas by supporting the ToyBox Project during a dedicated volunteer day at Penallta House. The event, held on Thursday 28th November, saw an incredible turnout, with 48 council staff members and additional volunteers from Willmott Dixon working together to check and process an impressive 270 toys, equating to around 66 hours of collective volunteering. The ToyBox Project, a volunteer-driven initiative, aims to provide families and not-for-profit organisations with access to pre-loved toys. By refurbishing and redistributing toys, the project ensures…

Monmouthshire County Council have collaborated with Streetwave to provide a mobile coverage checker for its residents to check their mobile signal. The council began working with Streetwave to measure signal quality in the county in September 2023. Streetwave permanently integrated its cutting-edge data collection equipment into the council’s waste collection vehicles. This allowed for weekly mobile coverage surveys across the region. The survey was commissioned by The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR). The RSPAWIR was awarded £3.75m of funding from the Government to support the growth of wireless innovation and technology in some of its key economic…

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant, has this week (16 December 2024) announced an extension of the Help to Buy Wales scheme, providing continued support for prospective homeowners and the housebuilding industry.  The current scheme is set to close for applications at the end of March 2025, however, the Cabinet Secretary has announced an 18-month extension, ensuring the scheme will continue to provide support until September 2026. The scheme helps people who might otherwise be unable to afford a home and since its launch in January 2014, Help to Buy Wales has helped more than 14,000 households…