The faux streetwise journalist and gang leader Ali G is returning to the big screen after more than 20 years - and there's a Rhiwbina connection. The comedy character's creator (and the film's writer, director, producer, and star) Sasha Baron Cohen is the cousin of long-serving councillor Jayne Cowan, who represents Rhiwbina ward on Cardiff Council. Jayne posted on social media: "I want to wish my cousin Sacha Baron Cohen the very best for his new film which will be out on th

Cardiff Council has started using a specialist thermal road-repair machine to help fix potholes and damaged road surfaces across the city. The move follows an unprecedented amount of road damage caused by last winter's prolonged wet weather and cold snaps. The machine uses a heat-based process to repair potholes, while reducing carbon emissions by up to 85% compared with a conventional dig-and-fill repair technique. It works by heating the existing road surface before new mat

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has issued another update today (Wednesday 19 August) on the wildfires in the region. Despite being many miles away, they have caused people in Rhiwbina to notice a burning smell. Today, SWFRS said it was continuing to work alongside National Resilience support from fire services around the UK, the military, and partner agencies to respond to six wildfires.  The statement said: "Wildfires remain ongoing including, Blaenavon, Treher

Our Andy Weltch is gearing up to run the Cardiff Half Marathon to help the fight against homelessness and poor housing in Wales. Andy, who helped set up Rhiwbina Info in 2013 and remains part of the team, has secured a place in the 13.1-mile run around the city for Shelter Cymru, the charity of which he was a trustee for many years. "The Cardiff Half is one of the biggest road races in the UK," said Andy. "So, it's an exciting event to be part of and a great opportunity to sh

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has issued an update on the wildfires in South Wales. Despite being many miles away, they have caused people in Rhiwbina to notice a burning smell. Today (Wednesday 12 August), SWFRS reported the situation to be "stable" ... "the incidents are under control and we have support from neighbouring Services to ensure we have the resources we need to keep communities of South Wales safe". The statement continued: "Recent warm and dry wea

A locally made animated short film had its first public screening this week (Monday 3 August). A still from 'A Fish Out of Water' A Fish Out of Water, which was shown as part of the monthly MovieMaker programme at Chapter Arts Centre, is produced by our own Andy Weltch from a script he co-wrote with award-winning Rhiwbina-born and -raised Rob Lancey. "People certainly seemed to like it," said Andy. "There was a very positive response, especially to the funny moments. The audi

Cardiff Council has issued updated information about the flooding in North Cardiff. At lunchtime today (Friday 31 July), the council said it was continuing to work with emergency services and partner agencies in response to the incident in Gwaelod-y-Garth. "Council officers from Highways, Flood Risk Management, Transport, Waste Management and Housing attended the scene throughout yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and evening to support the emergency response and assist local res

Great Britain has officially become the next host of the Tour de France, ahead of next year's race, when the final Grand Départ stage will pass Rhiwbina (4 July) on its way to the finish in Cardiff city centre. The Grand Départ Trophy was handed over in Paris, following the final stage of this year's race. The handover from 2026 host Barcelona formally confirms Britain as the next host of both the men's and women's Grands Départs in 2027 – the first time both have started fro

School playgrounds in North Cardiff are among those set to become greener, cooler and more resilient to climate change as part of a programme to create climate-adaptive learning spaces for pupils. The Healthy Playground project aims to transform school grounds in areas most vulnerable to climate impacts such as overheating, flooding and biodiversity loss. Pupils at Ysgol Mynydd Bychan working in the garden (Photo: Cardiff Council) Gabalfa Primary School and Glyncoed Primary S

A new North Cardiff swimming pool - the first of its kind in the UK - has opened this week (28 July). The 25-metre pool at Pentwyn Leisure Centre has been rebuilt over the past two years and now features state-of-the-art technology, including two movable floors — the first facility of its kind in the UK. The new pool and slide. Photo: Cardiff Council The design will enable a wider range of swimming activities and improve accessibility for all abilities, with adjustable depth

There will be no rail services on the Coryton Line from Saturday (25 July) to the end of service on Monday (27). It's because of a summer programme of work to upgrade the South Wales Valley Lines to deliver the South Wales Metro system. The Coryton Line links Coryton with Cardiff Queen Street station and serves local stations including Rhiwbina, Whitchurch, Birchgrove, and Ty Glas. While the line is closed, your train ticket will be accepted on Cardiff Bus routes 21, 23, and

A burning smell which affected homes in Rhiwbina and surrounding areas last night (Monday) was caused by a wildfire in the Blaenavon area, some 20 miles away, the fire service has advised. People across North Cardiff have been posting online this morning (Tuesday) about waking in the night to a smell of burning. A Birchgrove resident told us: "We had an electric fan on in the bedroom, and I thought it was overheating. It smelt like there might be an electrical fault. "When I

The Summer with a DIFF’erence programme is back for 2026, offering activities, trips and experiences for young people aged 11-25 throughout the school holidays. Running across North Cardiff and the rest of the city, the programme includes free and low-cost opportunities designed to help them build confidence, develop new skills, make friends and have fun over the summer. This year’s programme from Cardiff Youth Service includes: Youth club sessions Day trips Year 11 leavers s

Cardiff Council’s cabinet has announced it does not back a congestion charge for the city. Instead it favours a workplace parking levy to help improve bus services. A workplace parking levy is a charge to certain businesses for parking spaces on their premises. The council would use the money raised to improve bus services and to make them more affordable. The council has looked at cities like Nottingham which have successfully introduced a workplace parking levy. In Nottin

Local man David Phelps has spent more than two decades in the quiet, disciplined world of elite rifle shooting, a sport where success is measured in fractions of millimetres and the difference between triumph and obscurity can be the slightest tremor. Now, that lifetime of precision, resilience, and service has been recognised by his induction into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, joining a roll of honour reserved for the nation’s most influential sporting figures. They includ

Rhiwbina-based actor, writer, and comedian Steve Speirs will star in this year's pantomime at the New Theatre Cardiff, Beauty and the Beast, it was announced today (Tuesday 30 June). The Merthyr-born star, who lives in Rhiwbina village, will play Belle's father, Monsieur Marzipan. Perhaps best known for creating and starring in TV's The Tuckers, Steve is currently filming the BBC comedy Better Later, alongside Ruth Jones. He has also appeared in many hit series including Afte

What a weekend it was! Congratulations to the organisers at Rhiwbina Events Team and everyone involved with this year's Rhiwbina Summer Festival. Photo: Cowan & Payne After Friday evening's music show, Saturday was family fun day, with a huge range of activities and attractions on the stage, in the arts tent, and around the field at Parc y Pentre. We're grateful to Rhiwbina photographers Cowan & Payne for sharing these images, which capture the atmosphere of this fabulous eve

A new primary school serving parts of North Cardiff held its opening ceremony yesterday (Tuesday 23 June). Fairoak Primary School, which we reported opened last September, brings together pupils, staff, and families from the former Allensbank and Gladstone Primary Schools and serves Heath, Gabalfa, Llandaff North and Plasnewydd, and mainly Cathays. Yesterday's official opening event saw Cardiff Council leader and vice chair of governors, Chris Weaver, alongside chair of gover

Another North Cardiff play area has been reopened after refurbishment. College Road play area in Gabalfa has been redesigned with input from pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Glan Ceubal and Gabalfa Primary School. The upgrade was designed to make the most of existing embankment features and includes a range of accessible and inclusive play features. Children can now enjoy: a three-bay swing set basket swing a wheelchair accessible roundabout accessible play puzzle, noughts and crosses

Promotional content After another successful year of helping to keep homes and businesses across Cardiff safe, Cardiff Alarm Systems is renewing its Premium Partnership with Rhiwbina Info. Cardiff Alarm Systems offers high-quality security system installation and an extensive range of other security services. Based in North Cardiff at Cardiff Gate Business Park, they work with customers across the whole city with everything from CCTV cameras to alarm systems for your home or