Author: Rhys Gregory

Flintshire Foodbanks are feeling the strain of the cost-of-living crisis with demand up 47% in the past year. Yet volunteers are determined to ensure there is some festive cheer with 500 hampers being prepared for hard-pressed families this Christmas. The rising demand was one of the issues touched upon when Plaid Cymru regional MS Llyr Gruffydd visited Tesco in Holywell to meet Flintshire Foodbank coordinator Stacey Adams and volunteer Jim Rough. Mr Gruffydd said: “The work done by volunteers at foodbanks such as Flintshire is phenomenal. It’s providing a really essential service for so many people and, while it’s a…

Outbreaks of heavy rain will move northeastwards across England and Wales during Wednesday. Across the warning area 20-30 mm of rain is expected to accumulate quite widely. Across south facing slopes of Dartmoor and the Dorset Downs, the western Pennines and parts of the Lake District, 40-60 mm is likely during this period. The greatest totals will probably be across the high ground of south and west Wales, where 70-90 mm of rain could develop. Strong winds will likely exacerbate any impacts from the rain. Snow is also likely for a time across the higher Pennines, although this will turn…

Transport for Wales and Cyngor Gwynedd are delighted to announce the latest brand new TrawsCymru service will commence operation in February 2024. These will be the first electric buses on Gwynedd’s public transport network will operate between Caernarfon, Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog. The vehicles and charging facilities have been provided thanks to financial support from the Welsh Government and will be operated by Llew Jones International. Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Cyngor Gwynedd’s Environment Member, said: “It is excellent news that the first electric buses are being introduced on our public transport network here in Gwynedd. The new T22 service will offer…

Swansea Building Society’s Cowbridge branch has concluded its centenary year philanthropic initiative by donating £1,500 to Velindre Cancer Centre. The funds have been specifically directed towards the enhancement of the centre’s children’s resources. This donation marks the final contribution from a £100,000 fund pot allocated to support local charities throughout the Society’s centenary year. Velindre Cancer Centre, known as The Hospital of Hope, received the donation to bolster the efforts of Specialist Nurse Michele Pengelly and Patient Support Manager Leigh-Anne Porter in organising vital children’s resources. These resources are crucial elements in providing emotional support to young patients dealing with…

A man and woman from Carmarthenshire have been handed a suspended custody sentence after 48 dogs and a cat were found in unsuitable conditions – with 22 dogs suffering with matted coats and 17 suffering from skin disease. When some of the animals were first seen – in one upstairs bedroom – RSPCA Keith Hogben said that the smell of urine and faeces “was one of the worst” he had smelt in his near-24 years with the RSPCA. Many of the dogs were kept in cages, some stacked on top of each other – although others were roaming the house.…

Cardiff Council has published its mid-term ‘Well-Being’ appraisal – offering a comprehensive self-assessment of how it has performed in meeting objectives set out in its corporate plan for 2023-26. The objectives are centred on seven key Council commitments: Cardiff is a great place to grow up Cardiff is a great place to grow older Supporting people out of poverty Safe, confident and empowered communities A capital city that works for Wales One Planet Cardiff Modernising and integrating our public services In compiling the report, the Council draws on a number of sources of performance intelligence, including the annual Ask Cardiff…

The National Forest is a long-term project, matching the scale and ambition of the Wales Coast Path, which links together a network of woodlands across Wales. In time, it will form a connected network of woodlands throughout Wales which will bring social, environmental, and economic benefits. These could be small urban or community woodlands, private land or farms, large areas of land owned by local authorities, and charity or timber-producing woodlands. The scheme also aims to create new woodland areas across Wales. In November, Welsh Government announced a further 27 sites had been chosen to join the National Forest for…

In December 2022, the Council approved proposals from Hafod Housing for the old Cowbridge Comprehensive School building on Aberthin Road to be demolished and replaced with 34 affordable homes – 30 flats and four houses. A local group objected to the scheme on the basis that paperwork relating to drainage had not been completed and measures to protect bats were not in place. But at a hearing in Cardiff, His Honour Judge Andrew Keyser KC dismissed both of those challenges and ordered that the Council be paid £7,500 in costs, the maximum that can be awarded in such cases. Cllr…

New apprentices at Caerphilly County Borough Council have been given the tools for success, thanks to a generous donation from Robert Price Builders Merchants. Bespoke toolkits were donated for 7 newly recruited apprentices, with trades including carpentry, electrics and plastering.  The apprentices are all working to support the Council’s repairs and improvements services. This donation comes in addition to 10 individually tailored toolkits provided to last year’s apprentices by Robert Price, the Council’s single source supply partner. Cllr Shayne Cook, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said “As well as providing invaluable opportunities to gain on-the-job experience, apprenticeships help us…

The Monmouthshire Local Nature Partnership, which Monmouthshire County Council hosts, will be delivering the Community Nature Spaces Project in Abergavenny this winter and next spring, following on from similar projects in Monmouth and Chepstow. Over the past few months, residents and stakeholders have been asked to share their views on ideas for improving the area. The response has been positive, with the ideas now being developed into final designs. You can now provide feedback on the designs before any work begins. The eight Abergavenny sites that will be taken forward at this time are: Major’s Barn / Underhill Play Area…