Author: Rhys Gregory

Two men and one woman from the Neath and Swansea areas have been jailed for being concerned in the supply of cocaine. Lisa Amass, 42, Ryan Huxtable, 47, and 50-year-old Thomas Norman have been sentenced to four years, four years and four-and-a-half years in prison respectively. Officers forced entry to Huxtable’s Briton Ferry address following a report that he was being ‘cuckooed’ – used to describe when a vulnerable person’s home is used by an organised criminal group (OCG) as their base of operations. However, at interview it became clear that his account did not support the cuckooing allegation, and…

As we approach Child Safety Week, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has identified three products that can cause devastation if used incorrectly and urges parents and carers to skill up on the risks. Following devastating stories in the press about babies who have died, RoSPA says there’s still more work to do when it comes to education around baby slings, nappy sacks and baby baths. Baby slings Baby slings have become a popular choice for parents, offering a convenient way to carry their infants while keeping their hands free. However, safety is largely dependent on the…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has recently appointed consultants AECOM and architects Austin Smith Lord to undertake a detailed feasibility study and prepare a master plan for the ambitious Western Gateway scheme in Barry. The scheme will redevelop the site of the Broad Street Clinic and a piece of land adjacent to Gladstone Road Bridge, referred to as the Gladstone Road Bridge Compound, into greatly needed new affordable homes and a new health centre for Barry. Proposals for improving the Gladstone Road traffic junction will also be included in the masterplan. These will make it easier for pedestrians and those…

Bridgend County Borough Council is supporting an action-packed weekend of beach sports, family fun, lifeboat displays and more under the banner of BeachFest@Porthcawl, which also includes the return of RNLI’s RescueFest event for first time since 2019. Sandy Bay (Coney Beach) will play host to the event on the weekend of 15 and 16 June and families will be able to get involved in the action with ‘have-a-go’ sessions including Celtic Longboat rowing, circus skills and beach cricket. Elite competitions will also take place with teams arriving from across the UK to compete in beach volleyball, surf rowing, beach golf and more.…

Preparations are underway to create a new country park on an historic Denbighshire parkland. Denbighshire County Council has agreed planning permission for the creation of a country park on woodland and parkland next to Bodelwyddan Castle. Work to address the condition of the parkland began in 2022 and now this project has received £900,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to allow the plans to be put into action. The historic park area will undergo renovation work to reopen the mixture of park lands, woods and orchards to the public once again. A redeveloped 73 space…

Port Talbot’s Aberafan Shopping Centre has unveiled a spectacular “beach scene” display commemorating the World War Two Normandy Landings. The D-Day Landings of June 6th, 1944 when around 156,000 men converged on the shores of Normandy became the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, the landings marked the beginning of the liberation of France and Western Europe during World War Two. In June, the battlefields of France will draw world leaders and veterans for major commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. On Wednesday, May 29th, 2024, the Management and staff at the Shopping Centre…

RCT Council has shared an update on the major redevelopment of the Muni Arts Centre – with excellent progress being made to create a modern arts and events hub while enhancing and conserving the building’s original features. The multi-million pound redevelopment started in 2023, to revitalise the much-loved Pontypridd landmark. The Muni is a gothic-style, Grade II Listed building in the heart of the town, originally built as a Weslyan Chapel in 1895. More recently it became a recognised and valued regional hub for arts and music. In 2019, the Council and Awen Cultural Trust (Awen) announced ambitious plans to…

Foster Wales Merthyr Tydfil has been working with local artist Tee2Sugars and local children to create a beautiful mural which celebrates the difference local authority fostering makes to young people. Last weekend (Sun 26th May), a new mural was unveiled at Merthyr Town FC, organised by the team from Foster Wales Merthyr Tydfil. The mural includes a poem written by care experienced young people in Merthyr Tydfil whose meaningful and lovingly written words narrate how important fostering is and what a difference it can make. In Wales, Foster Wales is the national network for local authority fostering services, who over…

June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and a chance to celebrate and learn more about the rich culture and heritage of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Wales. In 2024-25 the Welsh Government is providing £11m to local authorities to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people who experience barriers to learning, accessing the curriculum, or education in general. In December 2023 new guidance was published to help schools support Gypsy, Roma, Traveller children and young people. Over 40 children and young people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Wales helped contribute to the new…

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice, Lesley Griffiths has visited Newport Mind to see how £300,000 in Welsh Government funding has enabled the charity to open a new sanctuary space in their building and provide their facilities to more people. The funding came from the Community Facilities Programme which is an annual grant scheme to help organisations make improvements to community facilities such as sports clubs and community halls. The support has enabled Newport Mind to add consultation, training, and group rooms to the centre, as well as increase volunteer numbers and provide training for them. The charity works…