Author: Rhys Gregory

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team has been out on the ground with the London Assay Office, carrying out spot checks on jewellers and pawnbrokers to make sure customers are getting a fair deal. During a recent day of targeted visits, officers checked businesses were meeting their legal duties under the Hallmarking Act 1973 and Weights and Measures Act 1985. Items were inspected for correct hallmarking, advice was given where needed, and weighing equipment used to value precious metals was put to the test to make sure it was accurate and within legal limits. Encouragingly, businesses welcomed the checks.…

Pedestrian access to the Old Wye Bridge in Chepstow will be restored from Saturday, 20 June 2026. Work began on Tuesday, 16 June, to reposition existing Heras fencing, allowing pedestrians to safely use the pavement and a one metre section of the carriageway on the upper side of the bridge between Chepstow and Tutshill. To protect sections of the bridge, sections of the opened carriageway will be narrowed. In these sections, only the pavement will be open for pedestrians. The decision follows a recent report prepared for Monmouthshire County Council by specialist engineers, which confirms that, with ongoing digital monitoring…

PureCyber, one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Wales, is marking a decade in business amid continued expansion following investment from BGF. Since securing backing from BGF in the summer of 2024, the Cardiff-based firm has expanded its team from 34 to 54 cybersecurity professionals, representing a 59% increase in headcount, alongside achieving a 33% increase in revenue and a gross profit increase of 44% since the investment in June 2024. Founded in 2016 by CEO Damon Rands, PureCyber has grown into a full-service cyber security partner, delivering enterprise-grade services including managed SOC operations, global penetration testing, incident response and…

College Road play area in Gabalfa has officially re-opened to the public following refurbishment. Developed following consultation with pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Glan Ceubal and Gabalfa Primary School, the upgrade to College Road play area was designed to make the most of existing embankment features in the play area and includes a range of accessible and inclusive play features. Children visiting the play area can now enjoy: a three bay swing set. basket swing. a wheelchair accessible roundabout. accessible play puzzle, noughts and crosses, and a light-up challenge play feature. hill slides. climbing features. new play mounds. brand-new safety surfacing…

The new Government is determined to address the lack of strategy, vision and support for Wales’s culture and sport sectors, as they are areas of real importance, not something optional or simply nice to have. By working across portfolios, the intention is to ensure that the potential of culture and sport to play a central role for the benefit of people, communities and the Welsh economy is realised. This is the message from the Minister for Culture and Sport, Heledd Fychan, as she outlined her priorities to the Senedd today as part of her first 100-day plan. She also said…

The Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr school modernisation scheme is continuing to make progress as part of plans to expand the amount of Welsh-medium education provision in Bridgend County Borough. Following the discovery of slow worms and common lizards at the site of the proposed new development in Ffordd Cadfan, a suitable receptor location has been identified and the relocation of the reptiles is currently underway in line with ecological regulations. To help accommodate growing pupil numbers ahead of the move to the new school, a double temporary classroom unit has been installed at the existing Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Ogwr site.…

A man who used a converted imitation handgun to assault his brother has been jailed. Jamie Williams, of Caernarfon, attacked his brother and threatened others on April 18. The 24-year-old appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on 15 June having previously admitted to assault causing physical harm, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possession of a firearm and ammunition without a certificate, converting an imitation firearm into a useable firearm and possession of cannabis. Williams punched his brother to the face several times in an unprovoked attack before using an imitation firearm to hit…

A handcrafted wooden steam train installation and a new heritage exhibition have been officially presented at Criccieth railway station, transforming the platform into a vibrant community hub. The two displays were unveiled on Thursday 4 June, bringing local community groups and residents together to celebrate Community Rail Week (1 – 7 June). The project was made possible through the Cambrian Railway Partnership’s Railway 200 Community Grant Fund, an initiative supported by Transport for Wales’s Challenge Fund to support projects that marked 200 years of the modern railway. The scheme empowers local communities to strengthen their connections with their local railway…

A former pub converted to a four-storey house could offer scope for further development with plans lodged for a three-bedroom house to be built on adjacent land. The former Drysiog Inn, at 26 Commercial Street, Ebbw Vale, is being sold by Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of £164,000. The current owner of the end terrace four-bedroom house has submitted a planning application for permission to build a house on land adjacent to the former pub’s garden. Angie Davey, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “This deceptively spacious four-story end of terraced house is on a large corner plot which…

The Celtic Freeport has today published its Five-Year Plan, outlining how it will accelerate investment, create high-quality jobs and strengthen South and West Wales’ position as a leading hub for energy, manufacturing and engineering. The Freeport is designed to attract investment into growing green sectors including low-carbon fuels, floating offshore wind, clean energy manufacturing and advanced engineering.  Over the next five years, the Freeport’s priorities are to attract investment into key industries, support landowners in progressing major development projects, encourage innovation and decarbonisation across supply chains, and lay the foundations for a strong skills and employment pipeline. The strategy places significant emphasis on working collaboratively…