Author: Rhys Gregory

Scientists are aiming to unlock the potential of clover and other legumes to reduce the use of fertiliser and emissions from livestock agriculture, thanks to a £3.3 million UK Government grant. To achieve the government net zero targets by 2050, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock farming need to fall by 78% by 2035. At the same time, the world’s population is forecast to reach 10 billion people by 2050, with demand for food predicted to rise by 70%. UK sheep and cattle production relies predominately on grass-based pastures which use chemical nitrogen fertiliser to grow the grass used as feed…

A specialist engineering company that keeps the world’s airlines flying will reach new heights thanks to investment from its new American owners, according to one of the firm’s founders. Former production director Steve Noakes, 67, from Trefriw, in the Conwy Valley, was speaking at a presentation ceremony to mark his retirement from Continental Diamond Tool in Kinmel Bay which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Among his leaving gifts was a nickel plated version of the graphite mould for a diamond dresser of the type used to grind the turbine blades of Rolls Royce aero engines, with the signatures…

Two heroine fundraisers are in training to battle the freezing terrain of the Arctic Circle in aid of a children’s cancer charity that’s close to their hearts. Brave adventurers Caroline Platt, from Rossett, and Nerys Price-Jones, from Ruthin, begin their epic glacial challenge on January 31 when they will take off for the sub-zero climate of Finland. The pair signed up for a stamina-sapping expedition walking across 65km of one of the iciest landscapes on earth. The long-time friends work together at family owned firm Platts Agriculture in Llay, near Wrexham, where Caroline is owner/Managing Director and Nerys is the…

A large Welsh IT firm is looking forward to an exciting future in its new home, thanks to a £289k loan from the Development Bank of Wales. Steer IT Solutions provides IT services to businesses across Wales, including networking, cyber security and mobile phone connectivity. The business launched in 2014 as a small, family company run by husband-and-wife team Emily and Stuart Steer, with the team initially working out of a small managed office in Windsor Place, Cardiff. Thanks to the loan from the Development Bank, they have now bought their own venue on the Southpoint Industrial Estate off Clos…

Small business support and coworking experts Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq) has capped a whirlwind year with a series of new business support contracts, new spaces, a multi-million-pound partnership, an acquisition and an international deal. In the past twelve months the business has continued to grow its turnover, increased its headcount to 34 and grown its membership to over 1,000. It’s also grown its number of Operated Spaces to nine, with a new space opening in Hereford and two new spaces set to open in Kingston and Royal Tunbridge Wells. The company, which was named the ninth fastest-growing firm in…

Conwy Council has announced inflation-busting plans to increase fees by up to 20% after warnings that care homes were at risk of financial meltdown and closure. The proposed rises in Conwy for 2024/25 follow a long-running campaign by social care champions Care Forum Wales (CFW) for the introduction of fair fees which reflect the “actual cost” of providing care for vulnerable people in privately run homes, including those with dementia. But across the famous Foryd Bridge, which links Kinmel Bay and Rhyl, Denbighshire County Council is budgeting on much smaller increases of around 8% on rock bottom fees which, CFW…

Cardiff has scored highly in a major new EU survey assessing the quality of life in major European cities – and been declared the best of all for families with young children. The survey, by the European Commission, is the result of extensive polling of at least 839 residents in each of 83 cities in 36 countries – 71,153 interviews in all – on issues, including: Safety Jobs Transport infrastructure Culture Health, and Quality of local administration Since the last survey, carried out in 2019, overall levels of satisfaction across most European cities have declined as events like the Covid-19…

A free advice surgery for Swansea businesses is heading for Clydach next week. Organised by Swansea Council, the drop-in event is taking place on Tuesday January 23 from 10am till 1pm at Clydach Community Centre on Vardre Road. No bookings are needed for the event, which will include business support experts from the council, Gower College Swansea, Business Wales and the Development Bank of Wales. Access to business support and information about Swansea Council grants and loans will be among the services at the event. The event will also include help with funding applications, information about training and recruitment, and…

RCT Council has completed the first stage of flood alleviation work along Park Street in Tylorstown, ahead of a wider flood alleviation scheme which is currently being developed. The initial works, which got underway in late September, have increased the local drainage network’s capacity by improving the existing culvert and swale network. Several chambers, weirs and catch pits have been installed to slow the flow of water entering the culvert, while around 180-metres of the culvert was replaced at the southern end of Park Street. The works are designed to deliver an alleviation of flood risk to nearby residential streets,…

Between December 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, South Wales Police officers conducted 3,145 breath tests and 203 drug tests as part of national campaign, Op Limit. One hundred and fifty-seven were found to be over the drink drive limit, and 87 of those who were tested for drugs gave a positive result. Roads Policing Inspector Michael Prickett said: “I am extremely proud of my officers for their work in taking these drivers off the streets. “This was an exceptionally busy period with drink drive arrests increasing by 2.6% and drug drive arrests increasing by 70% since 2022. “Unfortunately, many…