Author: Rhys Gregory

Welsh workers and their communities will benefit from a landmark shift in how the Welsh Government shapes policy, First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has told trade union leaders this week. In a keynote speech to TUC Cymru’s biennial congress this morning, the FM outlined a programme placing workers’ voices at the centre of government — from procurement and skills to industrial remediation and the green transition. Public bodies in Wales currently spend more than £8 billion a year on procurement. The Welsh Government aims to increase the share of public contracts awarded to Welsh-based firms from around 55% to over…

Plans to develop a new state-of-the-art recycling operations depot in Ystrad Mynach are progressing. Following the successful completion of the statutory Pre-Application Consultation (PAC), Caerphilly County Borough Council can confirm that a full planning application has now been submitted for the proposed facility at Dyffryn Business Park. The development forms a key part of the Council’s ambitious Waste and Recycling Strategy and will support the implementation of Welsh Government’s ‘blueprint’ collections from 2028. The proposed facility will allow the Council to process all kerbside recycling materials locally and will replace the existing operations depot in Tir-y-berth, helping to deliver a…

Pembrokeshire’s much‑loved coastal buses are gearing up for another summer of scenic journeys, with three key services returning from Saturday May 23rd. The services are: Puffin Shuttle (Service 400 – Richards Bros) linking St David’s and Marloes, this route takes in Broad Haven, Little Haven, St Brides, Marloes and Martins Haven – the gateway to boat trips for Skomer Island. Strumble Shuttle (Service 404 – Richards Bros) running the spectacular coast road between St Davids and Fishguard, with stops at Abereiddy (home of the Blue Lagoon), Porthgain, and Strumble Head. The Coastal Cruiser (Service 387/388 – Pembrokeshire County Council) around…

A Cardiff business owner and his company have been ordered to pay more than £9,000 after a rat infestation was discovered at a minimarket in Ely. Cardiff Council confirmed that Jeyaratnam Pathmastri, of Ely, appeared before Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on May 12 where he pleaded guilty to three charges against both himself and his company, Family Choice T&N Ltd. The prosecution followed an investigation by Shared Regulatory Services after a member of the public raised concerns in August 2024 about rat droppings and contaminated food at the Family Choice Minimarket in Ely. The complaint was made after a customer purchased…

A South Wales mother began a gruelling trek up Ben Nevis at 5.30am this morning (Friday, May 22), carrying 281 hand-knitted kidneys to raise awareness of the Welsh transplant waiting list. Carolyn Thomas, from Efail Isaf, is leading the “One’s Enough” Three Peaks Challenge alongside friends and family. The team will carry 281 wool and felt kidneys, lovingly crafted by the Pontyclun Yarnmongers to the summits of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Each piece represents a real person currently waiting for a kidney transplant in Wales. The campaign has already made history before even reaching the first…

A new Shaun the Sheep augmented reality trail has been launched at St David’s Cardiff, alongside a line-up of fun half-term activities. Families are invited to embark on a free adventure with the Shaun the Sheep: Fun with the Flock augmented reality trail at the city shopping destination, bringing the much-loved Shaun the Sheep character and his farmyard friends to life in 3D. Guests can hunt down nine markers throughout St David’s, each unlocking an interactive A.R. scene. Along the way, families can complete fun challenges with Bitzer the dog, pose alongside animated characters, and capture photos and videos to share…

voco St David’s Cardiff has become one of only a handful of spas in the UK to offer “Nurturing Touch”, a specialist wellbeing treatment from spa partner ishga Skincare, designed specifically for people undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment. Available now at The Spa at St David’s, the deeply nurturing treatment has been carefully developed to provide comfort, relaxation and emotional support in a safe and restorative environment. The treatment is SATCC approved, meaning therapists have undertaken specialist Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care training to ensure treatments can be adapted safely and sensitively to individual client needs. The…

Hit TV series Landscape Artist of the Year is heading to Margam Country Park this summer, with members of the public invited to watch filming take place at the iconic Welsh location. The popular art competition programme will film a brand new episode at Margam Castle on Monday, June 29 as part of a refreshed format for the upcoming series. The new series will see 10 artists travel across the country taking on landscape challenges in different locations each week. Contestants who progress through the competition will return episode after episode to create new work, with one artist eliminated during…

Families are being invited to look to the skies this half term as the popular International Kite Festival returns to Margam Country Park this weekend. The free three-day event will take place from Saturday, May 23 to Monday, May 25, bringing colourful displays of kites of all shapes and sizes to the historic park grounds. Visitors are encouraged to bring along their own kites and join in the fun, or simply enjoy watching the skies fill with vibrant creations during the bank holiday weekend. The festival has become a popular family attraction during the May half term, offering a relaxed outdoor…

Conservation specialists are carrying out detailed restoration work on one of Cardiff’s most recognisable landmarks, the famous Animal Wall outside Cardiff Castle. Cardiff Council has shared an update on the ongoing work taking place along Castle Street, where skilled craftsmen are currently repairing the wall’s wolf sculpture. As part of the restoration, specialists have carefully modelled a replacement ear using clay, which has been temporarily fitted before being recreated in stone as part of the final repair process. The much-loved Animal Wall has attracted attention from residents and visitors for generations and remains one of Cardiff’s most photographed landmarks. The…