Martin Joseph Ward appeared before Llandudno Magistrates’ Court earlier today (Monday 19 October) in connection with the death at Llys Watling on London Road.

The body of the 53-year-old local man was discovered in the early hours of Saturday, 17 October, after North Wales Police were contacted by the Welsh Ambulance Service at around 2.42am.

Emergency services attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ward confirmed his personal details during the brief court hearing and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear before Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday.

North Wales Police launched an investigation following the discovery and officers have been carrying out enquiries in the area, including speaking to residents.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Sidney previously said police understood the incident might cause concern in the local community and confirmed there would be an increased police presence while enquiries continued.

The 53-year-old man has not been formally named by police.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact North Wales Police via its online webchat or by calling 101, quoting reference 26000852942.

The Plaid Cymru leader will set out his proposals in a speech at Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre this evening, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham later this month.

He wants the two governments to spend less time duplicating programmes and more time working together on major economic opportunities, including floating offshore wind, the future of Welsh steelmaking, port development and the growth of artificial intelligence and digital industries.

But the proposals come against a longstanding backdrop of tension over devolution, with disagreements about how much control Wales should have over its own affairs and how decisions and funding should be shared between the two governments.

Mr ap Iorwerth says a successful partnership must work both ways. While the Welsh Government should engage constructively with Westminster on opportunities for growth, he argues that the UK Government must respect decisions made by the Senedd in areas where powers have already been devolved.

The issue is particularly significant because Plaid Cymru won the Senedd election earlier this year, ending Labour’s long period as the dominant party in Welsh devolved government. Mr ap Iorwerth has since pressed for further powers, including control over policing and justice, rail infrastructure and the Crown Estate.

There are reasons to believe an agreement could make progress. Mr Burnham has experience of devolved government through his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester and has spoken of his ambition to spread economic growth and give communities greater control over local decisions. He has also expressed a willingness to work co-operatively with the devolved administrations.

However, transferring power to English mayors and city regions is not necessarily the same as giving more authority to the Welsh Government. Wales already has its own parliament and government, with responsibilities that differ from those of English local and regional authorities.

There are also practical questions about what a new partnership would deliver. Major projects such as offshore wind and steelmaking can depend on decisions involving energy policy, planning, transport infrastructure, investment and skills. These responsibilities are spread across different institutions, meaning co-operation could help remove obstacles, but would not automatically guarantee funding or new jobs.

The political relationship is further complicated by Plaid Cymru’s ambition for Welsh independence. Mr ap Iorwerth has made clear that he ultimately wants Wales to have the opportunity to determine its own constitutional future, although his immediate priority is securing more powers and improving outcomes for people in Wales.

That creates a distinction between the party’s long-term destination and the practical business of governing now. A stronger relationship with Westminster could help deliver investment and give Wales more influence over its economic future without resolving the question of independence.

Supporters of the Union may argue that effective co-operation demonstrates the benefits of working together within the UK. Plaid Cymru, meanwhile, can argue that securing greater Welsh control is valuable in its own right, even if independence remains a longer-term ambition.

The immediate challenge for both governments will be turning broad commitments into concrete agreements on investment, infrastructure and economic development. The success of the proposed partnership is likely to depend on whether it produces measurable benefits for Welsh businesses, workers and communities, rather than simply a more cordial relationship between political leaders.

Mr ap Iorwerth is also expected to announce plans for a green paper on how local and regional powers are organised in Wales, to be developed before the end of the current Senedd term.

The consultation will look at how regional collaboration could be improved, with the aim of developing a new regional map and an implementation plan. The First Minister says the proposals must be shaped with local authorities, public services, regional partners and communities, rather than imposed from Cardiff.

The plans therefore address two connected questions: how Wales works with the UK Government to support economic growth, and how decisions are made within Wales itself.

For Mr ap Iorwerth, the test will be whether a more constructive relationship with Westminster can deliver tangible improvements while giving the Welsh Government greater freedom to pursue its priorities. For Mr Burnham, it will be an opportunity to demonstrate whether his commitment to devolution extends beyond English regions to the distinct constitutional position of Wales.

Carers at Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys in Pentrefoelas are heading back to the classroom for the weekly lessons so they can communicate with residents in the language they know best.

The team, drawn from a dozen countries across the globe, is one of the first to take part in a new Bangor University-led initiative tailored specifically for social care workers.

Owner Meryl Welsby is funding staff time for the two-hour classes held at the home on Friday afternoons.

She says the investment is vital because 90 per cent of the home’s 30 residents are first language Welsh speakers, many of whom find it easier to express themselves in Welsh, particularly when they are unwell, in pain or experiencing memory problems.

Opened by Meryl in 1990, the home has 28 staff but only five of them are native Welsh speakers.

With recruitment proving difficult locally, the team includes employees from Nepal, lndia, the Philippines, Romania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Shri Lanka, Vietnam, Poland, England and Scotland.

The aim is to help them build stronger connections with the residents and the community they now call home.

Meryl  agreed to sign the care home up to the lessons after being approached by tutor Mair Rees, who lives in Pentrefoelas and whose two grandmothers were cared for by the home.

She works as a health and social care tutor for Learn Welsh - North West at Bangor University, a learning provider for the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

Meryl said: “Our involvement came about because the university understands that there are a lot of overseas social care workers in Wales and it would really benefit them to learn Welsh.

“It is an eight-week course, it is an actual formal course, and we are among the first to take part in the initiative.

“Everybody in a care home has contact with residents, their families, and also friends of residents, so on the course we have a mixture of cooks, cleaners, administrators, carers and nurses.

“The course focuses on verbal interaction rather than vocabulary and written word and it has been designed especially for the social care environment.

“Many of our staff on the course do know quite a bit of Welsh already, because we encourage them to use the Say Something in Welsh app, so they can greet people and things like that already, but this takes them further.

“I have already seen an improvement in their Welsh.

“I hear them greet people at the front door in Welsh now, which is really lovely, and they are answering the phone in Welsh, which is a big, big step.

“It is a funded course, but we are actually paying all the staff to come in on their holidays and days off.”

Meryl said her overseas staff were always keen to fit into the community, and the Welsh lessons were helping that.

She added: “Ideally of course we would recruit locally, so their first language would be Welsh anyway, but unfortunately it remains very challenging to employ local people, they are just not interested in care work.

“We advertise locally and nobody is interested so that is why we are forced to go and look overseas and we are a sponsor with the Home Office, so we sponsor nurses and carers to come over.

“Quite a few of the staff have been here for quite a while now, some of them have been here for five years, and they are here to stay.

“They live in the village and they understand how important it is to integrate with the community, and part of that is understanding and speaking Welsh.

“For many of those on the course, Welsh is their fourth or fifth language.

“They will have their own language, then perhaps Hindi and English, and some will have worked in Dubai so they speak Arabic and so they just pick up Welsh too, they just seem to pick it up straight away from the residents.

According to Mair Rees, she was delighted to be helping the staff improve their Welsh.

Mair said: “Both my grandmothers have been cared for here in recent years so it was nice to be able to offer something back for the care that they received.”

On completion of the course, the staff will receive a certificate recognised by the National Centre for Learning Welsh.

Mair added: “These courses are specific for their workplaces and teach the types of patterns of phrases they can use directly in their jobs straight away.

“They have been learning how to introduce themselves, who they are, what their role is, where they work, what they like, what they don’t like.

“And they are learning to ask what residents like, and what they don’t like, which is really important in terms of personal care.”

Sandhya Dahal, who has worked as a nurse at the care home for two years and is originally from Nepal, said: “I’m enjoying the course because I like learning new things and this will help me interact with my residents and get to know them better.

“It will also help me integrate with Welsh culture, and the course is great fun and our tutor is excellent.”

She added she was proud to add Welsh to the languages she already spoke which includes Nepali, English, Hindi, and Punjabi.

Carer Neethu Raj, who has worked at the home for nearly four years and is originally from India, said: “I am very happy to be learning a new language and it is important because I am working in Wales.

“Learning Welsh will be very helpful to communicate with the residents and their families.” 

For more information about the Welsh courses available, people can contact Mair Rees at mair.rees@bangor.ac.uk or the National Centre at iechydagofal@dysgucymraeg.cymru

The partnership will bring together fundraising activities, community events and family experiences, with DLL using its venues and platforms to raise awareness of the support provided by the children’s hospice charity.

Hope House Ty Gobaith provides specialist care for children with life-threatening conditions and support for their families, helping improve quality of life from the point of diagnosis.

As part of the partnership, DLL plans to support the charity’s fundraising campaigns and involve its staff, customers, suppliers and wider business community in activities throughout the year. The initiative will also create opportunities for families to enjoy special experiences, including prizes and respite activities.

Jamie Groves, managing director of DLL, said the business was proud to support the charity and wanted to bring colleagues, customers and the wider community together to make a difference.

He said the partnership would focus on fundraising, raising awareness and creating “quality moments” for children and families when they need them most.

To mark the launch, a number of DLL attractions will be illuminated in the charity’s colours of blue, yellow, green and pink from October 19 to 23.

The locations taking part include SC2, the Sky Tower and Rhyl Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl, along with 1891 and Ruthin Craft Centre.

A spokesperson for Hope House Ty Gobaith said the charity was delighted to have been chosen and welcomed DLL’s commitment to supporting its campaigns and creating special experiences for local families.

The partnership is expected to continue throughout the year, with both organisations encouraging other businesses and members of the community to get involved.

The progress follows a graduate summit convened by Health and Care Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor in June, bringing together health boards, universities, Health Education and Improvement Wales, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and the Welsh Government.

An additional allocation phase has played a key role in matching graduates with available posts, while work continues to help those still seeking employment find suitable opportunities.

A further 28 graduates have either found work through other routes or are not currently available for employment. The Welsh Government says there are enough vacancies overall to support the remaining unallocated nursing graduates, with efforts continuing to match individuals to appropriate roles.

The Minister is visiting Aberystwyth University today, where all adult nursing and mental health nursing graduates have secured employment. All nursing graduates from Bangor University have also found jobs.

The developments represent progress in efforts to retain newly qualified nurses within the Welsh health service, following concerns about the gap between completing training and securing a first job.

Mr ap Gwynfor said he recognised how worrying the situation had been for graduates waiting to begin their careers, adding that joint working had helped improve the position across Wales.

However, he acknowledged that more work remained, particularly in supporting midwifery graduates into employment.

The experience of the 2026 cohort is also expected to inform future workforce planning, helping ensure the number of people trained and the posts available within the NHS are better aligned.

Among those now working in the health service is Mirain Breese, who graduated from Aberystwyth University in July and has started working as a nurse at Bronglais Hospital.

She said she was proud to be putting into practice the skills and experience gained during her studies and clinical placements.

Returning to education while raising a family had presented challenges, particularly balancing academic work, placements and family life. She credited the support of the university, placement teams, fellow students, family and friends with helping her complete the course.

Being able to study through the medium of Welsh, close to home, had also been important to her.

She said qualifying as a nurse and securing a local job caring for patients in her own community was something she was immensely proud of.

The Welsh Government says work will continue with universities, health boards and other partners to help graduates into employment and retain their skills within NHS Wales.

Clogau, based in Bodelwyddan, has produced 10,000 limited-edition pins for this year's appeal, building on two years of fundraising in support of serving soldiers, veterans and their families.

The campaign, now in its third year, has seen growing demand for the commemorative badges since launching in 2024. The pins will be available online and through Clogau stores across the UK ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Managing Director Ben Roberts said the company was proud of the amount raised so far and hoped the latest campaign would take the total even higher.

He said the response from customers had been phenomenal, adding that the appeal provided an opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces while making a practical difference to those who had served and their loved ones.

Clogau has supported the Army Benevolent Fund over a number of years through sponsorship and donations to fundraising events.

The charity provides financial assistance and practical support to serving and former soldiers and their families facing difficulties including financial hardship, injury and illness.

Daniel Jones, Head of High Value Relationships at the Army Benevolent Fund, thanked Clogau and its customers for their continued support.

He said partnerships of this kind played an important role in helping the charity provide vital assistance to members of the Army family.

The poppy pins will be available through Clogau's website and selected stores, including Llandudno, Bangor, Wrexham and Chester, subject to stock availability.

More information is available at www.clogau.co.uk.

North Wales Police were called by the Welsh Ambulance Service at 2.42am to an address in Llys Watling, off London Road, where a man was found inside one of the flats.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A local man has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in police custody.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Sidney, from North Wales Police, said officers understood the incident could cause concern within the local community.

He said there would be an increased police presence in the area throughout Saturday as officers carried out house-to-house enquiries and further investigations.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist their enquiries to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Wales Police via webchat or by calling 101, quoting reference number 26000852942.

The milestone was marked at Nant Bwlch yr Haearn, near Llanrwst, last Saturday (10 October), with past and present staff and former visitors coming together to celebrate six decades of outdoor learning.

The centres at Nant Bwlch yr Haearn, known as Nant BH, and Pentrellyncymer provide residential stays and outdoor activities for young people from across North Wales.

Their work goes beyond adventure and recreation, giving children and young people opportunities to develop independence, resilience and teamwork in an unfamiliar environment.

For many pupils, a residential visit can be their first experience of spending time away from home, tackling physical challenges or working closely with classmates outside the usual school setting. Activities such as mountain biking, canoeing and other outdoor pursuits can help build self-belief, encourage problem-solving and give young people the chance to discover abilities they may not have recognised in themselves.

Outdoor education can also offer an alternative way of learning for children who may find traditional classroom environments challenging. Practical activities encourage communication, cooperation and a connection with the natural world, while shared experiences can help strengthen friendships and improve relationships between pupils.

Nant BH began life as a school building serving the local mining community before being repurposed as an outdoor education centre and developed over subsequent decades. Today, it hosts residential courses for school groups, day courses for groups with specific needs and referral work with families.

Pentrellyncymer, near Cerrigydrudion, also provides residential experiences for schools, with activities including canoeing on Llyn Brenig and mountain biking.

Both centres serve schools across the six North Wales local authorities, helping to make outdoor learning available to young people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Conwy County Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Aaron Wynne, said the centres had provided a wealth of experiences for children across the region.

Having visited both centres himself as a child, he said he understood first-hand the positive impact the experiences could have on young people.

He added that many former attendees had returned for Saturday's celebration to reflect on the time they had spent at the centres.

Safety and quality remain central to the service, with both centres holding AHOEC Gold Standard accreditation, the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge and a current Adventure Activities Licensing Authority licence.

The service is also developing its work with social services and is preparing a new partnership with Bangor University to deliver outdoor programmes for families as a health intervention.

The anniversary highlights the continuing role of outdoor education in supporting young people's personal development, wellbeing and learning, while giving them lasting memories of the North Wales countryside.

Conwy County Borough Council is holding a series of public drop-in sessions this week, giving people the opportunity to discuss proposals and help identify where routes need to be safer, more accessible and better connected.

Active travel is an important part of Wales's wider transport strategy, with the Welsh Government aiming to make walking, cycling and other forms of non-motorised travel easier choices for everyday journeys.

Providing safer routes can help people walk or cycle to work, school, shops and local services, reducing reliance on cars for shorter trips. It can also support healthier lifestyles, improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion, while helping people who do not drive to travel more independently.

Making routes accessible is another key consideration. The term ‘wheeling’ includes journeys made by people using wheelchairs and other wheeled mobility aids, highlighting the need for routes that work for people with different mobility needs.

Under the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, Welsh councils have responsibilities to map and plan routes for walking and cycling and to improve opportunities for people to use them. Reviewing the network map helps the council assess existing routes and consider where improvements or new connections may be needed.

For Conwy, the challenge includes connecting communities across a varied landscape, from coastal towns and residential areas to villages where distances, road layouts and existing infrastructure can make everyday journeys more difficult without a car.

The first drop-in session takes place at Llandudno Library on Mostyn Street on Monday, 19 October, between midday and 5pm.

On Tuesday, 20 October, residents can visit Old Colwyn Methodist Church on Wynn Avenue between 9am and midday, followed by a session at Neuadd Ni on Rose Hill Street in Conwy from noon until 3pm.

Two further sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, 21 October. Llanrwst Library at Glasdir, Plas yn Dre, will host a drop-in between 9am and midday, before the consultation moves to Kinmel Bay Library at the Community Centre on Kendal Road, where residents can attend between 2pm and 5pm.

The sessions provide an opportunity for residents to raise concerns about existing walking and cycling routes, identify gaps in the network and suggest where improvements could make a difference to their daily journeys.

Further information about the Active Travel Network Map Consultation 2026 is available on the Conwy County Borough Council website.

Police received a 999 call at around 7.35pm on Thursday, October 15, reporting a collision involving a black BMW 240i and a black Mitsubishi L200 at Llanuwchllyn, on the outskirts of Bala.

Emergency services attended the scene, but the driver of the BMW was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Mitsubishi suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses as they work to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Detective Sergeant Liam Morris said police were particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw the BMW being driven in the period leading up to the crash.

Anyone who was travelling along the A494 near Llanuwchllyn on Thursday evening and witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam footage that could assist the investigation, is asked to contact police.

Information can be provided through the police online webchat or by calling 101, quoting reference number 26000849235.

Police have offered their condolences to the man's family and everyone affected by the collision.

The requirement came into force on April 6, 2026, and applies to electrical items measuring 50 centimetres or less on every side. This includes unwanted phones, laptops, kettles, toasters, hairdryers, lighting, power tools and some medical devices.

The change extends existing workplace recycling rules, meaning organisations must separate all small waste electrical items, not just unsold equipment, and ensure they are collected separately from other waste.

Changes are intended to increase recycling, recover valuable materials and reduce the environmental impact of waste. Many small electrical items contain lithium-ion batteries, which can cause serious fires if they are crushed in general rubbish.

Workplaces are being encouraged to consider whether unwanted equipment can be repaired or reused before arranging recycling. Items could be sold, donated locally or passed on to staff, where appropriate.

Where equipment cannot be reused, organisations should speak to their waste collector, local authority or a specialist electrical recycler about suitable collection arrangements. Some manufacturers also offer take-back schemes, while certain everyday appliances may be accepted through in-store collection schemes.

Businesses should not assume they can take commercial waste to household recycling centres. The centres at Mochdre and Gofer near Abergele, along with sites at Rhyl, Denbigh and Ruthin, are primarily for domestic household waste. Commercial waste must be handled through an appropriate, authorised waste service.

The rules apply to businesses of all sizes, as well as charities and public bodies. Organisations are responsible for ensuring their waste is separated correctly and passed to a reputable, registered waste collector.

The Welsh Government estimates that around 75 per cent of the materials in old electrical goods can be recycled. Recovering metals such as copper, aluminium and steel helps conserve resources and reduces the need to extract new raw materials.

The new requirement forms part of wider workplace recycling reforms introduced in Wales in 2024, with further changes phased in during April 2026.

Businesses can find guidance on their responsibilities, including sector-specific advice and resources for staff, at  WRAP's Business of Recycling Wales website.

More than £550,000 is being invested in the projects, which aim to make culture more accessible and help communities connect with their local history and heritage.

Culture Gwynedd brings together museums, archives and libraries across the county, helping more people discover and engage with the cultural resources available in their own communities.

The continued support will allow the programme to build on work already underway, widening opportunities for people to access cultural activities, explore local history and make use of the collections and services held by these institutions.

Museums, libraries and archives can play an important role in community life, providing opportunities for learning, helping preserve local stories and traditions, and connecting people with the places where they live. Making these resources more accessible can also help ensure that local heritage remains relevant to younger generations.

The funding forms part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to widening access to culture, with projects across Wales covering activities including encouraging young people to use libraries, digitising historic collections and developing new ways for people to discover local history.

Other projects receiving support include an archaeology and prehistory engagement programme on Anglesey and a reading strategy pilot in the Vale of Glamorgan, working with schools and families.

Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport Heledd Fychan said museums, archives and libraries connected people with their history, culture and each other.

She said the additional funding would help projects build on their progress, reach more people and continue their work into next spring.

Dewar Shield fixtures scheduled for Friday at Stadiwm Eirias have also been called off.

Details of rearranged fixtures will be announced in due course.

The findings show that 77 per cent support making advertising, special offers and price promotions focus on healthier products, while 72 per cent back the approach even if it means fewer promotions for less healthy food and drink.

The survey also found that 81 per cent support making healthier options the default in publicly funded settings, including schools, hospitals and leisure centres.

Support was particularly high for schools, childcare settings and hospitals, where more than 90 per cent of respondents said healthier food and drink should be the standard choice.

At least 80 per cent also supported making healthier options the focus of advertising and special offers in schools, colleges, universities, healthcare settings and sports and leisure facilities.

The research looked at what people want to see when buying food and drink away from home, including healthier portion sizes, more options lower in sugar, salt, fat and calories, and non-sugary drinks offered as standard with meals.

There was also strong backing for clearer nutritional information. Seven in ten respondents said information about the nutritional content of food prepared outside the home should always be available, while 24 per cent said it should be provided on request.

For drinks, 66 per cent wanted nutritional information to be available as standard, with a further 27 per cent saying it should be available on request.

Dr Ilona Johnson, Consultant in Public Health for Public Health Wales, said the findings showed people wanted healthier choices to be easier to make when eating away from home.

She said public places and services had an important role in making healthier options easy to find, understand and choose.

Steve Adie, Head of Standards Policy at the Food Standards Agency in Wales, said clear, accurate and accessible labelling could help people understand their options and make informed decisions about what they buy and eat.

The findings come from the latest Time to Talk Public Health survey, which questioned adults aged 16 and over across Wales. The panel is designed to broadly reflect the population in terms of age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board.

The full survey findings are available on the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Wellbeing website.

Officers from the West Conwy Policing District carried out a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Tuesday.

During the search, they seized a significant quantity of suspected illegal drugs, along with several weapons.

The teenager was arrested in connection with the investigation.

Police say enquiries are ongoing.