Collective action needed to meet enduring NHS workforce challenges, say Audit Wales
Whilst there have been improvements in some areas, the NHS is still experiencing challenges with recruitment and retention, and a reliance on expensive agency staff to plug gaps in the workforce.Progress is being hampered by the absence of a national…
New Rail Watchdog to Give Passengers a Voice and Hold Railway to Account
Plans for a landmark bill to rewire Britain’s railways, including setting up a powerful passenger watchdog to give passengers a voice and hold train operators to account have been unveiled by the Government today (Tuesday 18 February). This once in…
Huge Amounts of Cash Necessary to Keep Newport Council’s Highways in ‘Steady State’
Newport City Council’s highways department would have to spend enormous amounts of money just to keep infrastructure in a “steady state”, senior officers have said. The council’s maintenance backlog for its highways assets is currently estimated to be £118.7 million,…
Major housebuilder launches schools pilot for National Apprenticeship Week
A leading Welsh developer has launched its new pilot programme where apprentices teach the next generation of housebuilders. Apprentices at Persimmon Homes’ Training Academy in Llanilid, which is run in conjunction with Bridgend College, took pupils from nearby schools through…
Dyfed-Powys Police’s biggest drugs operation takes £12 million of cannabis out of the supply chain
Police teams tackling the threat presented by industrial scale cannabis farms have taken more than £12 million worth of cannabis out of the supply chain. Raiding buildings from former schools and empty town centre shops to a disused newspaper office,…
Research Reveals Wales’s Most Dangerous Areas to Drive in
New research has revealed the most dangerous Wales areas to drive in, with Ceredigion coming out on top. The study by Tollwayr analysed historical data from the Department for Transport Statistics to see which Wales areas had the highest average…
Plans for new disability-friendly railway bridge at Tenby’s Victorian Station submitted to National Park
Plans for a new disability-friendly railway bridge at Tenby’s Victorian station have been submitted to the national park. The Network Rail application at the Warren Street station seeks permission for the installation of an access for all footbridge and associated…
Senedd rejects calls for independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation
Senedd members rejected calls for a Wales-wide independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation by so-called grooming gangs, supporting plans for an audit instead. The Conservatives’ Altaf Hussain backed a campaign led by Emily Vaughn, not her real name, a…
Two hubs in Cardiff hit with recycling bag shortages
Two areas of Cardiff have been hit with a recycling bag shortage. Cardiff Council confirmed at least two of its hubs, Canton Library and Cardiff Central Library, have been affected by green recycling bag shortages this week. There is also a…
Problem property in Nelson to see new lease of life following 15 years of vacancy
A problem property that had been vacant for 15 years has a promising future as a new home, thanks to the efforts of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Empty Homes team. Since becoming vacant in 2009, the house in Nelson…