Here's your Friday update, covering: Cardiff cash & carry and former director ordered to pay over £10,000 at Cardiff Magistrates' Court; 17th Century treasure goes on display at Museum of Cardiff; and Travel advice for Judgement Day at Principality Stadium this Saturday, April 22^nd.

Cardiff cash & carry and former director ordered to pay over £10,000 at Cardiff Magistrates' Court

A former director of a large wholesale cash and carry business based in Bessemer Road in Cardiff has been ordered to pay a total of £1,517 due to a rat infestation at his premises as well as failing to get the necessary approval from the authorising authority to supply foods of ‘animal origin' including meat products for human consumption over a 30-mile radius.

LS Wholesale Ltd, based at Unit 16d Wholesales Fruit Centre in Bessemer Road, Cardiff, is a wholesale business that supplies spices, vegetables, meat, fish and other foods of ‘animal origin' to nearby shops and restaurants.

Between December 6th, 2021, and September 20th, 2022, Environmental Health Officers from Shared Regulatory Services on behalf of Cardiff Council visited the business on several occasions to find a widespread rat infestation and other food hygiene offences, including:

• Extensive rat droppings were found where bags of spices were being stored
• Live rats were seen underneath the food storage pallets
• There were holes in the structure of the building which allowed rodents to enter the premises
• Mixed mutton was being sold, without the correct paperwork to show where the meat had been sourced from; and
• Meat was being transported to England further than 30 miles from where the business is located and didn't have the necessary approval from the authorising Authority.

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17th Century treasure goes on display at Museum of Cardiff

A piece of 17thCentury treasure found by a local metal detectorist has gone on display at the Museum of Cardiff.

The rare silver thimble, which is believed to have been intended as a romantic gift due to the inscription around its base which reads ‘I AM YOVRS' (I am yours) was found buried in Pentyrch, 18cm below the ground.

Museum Manager, Alison Tallontire, said: "This is the first piece of treasure to ever go on display at the Museum, so it's really exciting for us.

"These thimbles were once commonly-owned by members of the upper-class nobility, but they're now a rare find as many of them were donated by female supporters of the Parliamentarians during the English Civil Wars of 1642 - 1652 so they could be melted down to reuse the silver."

The treasure, found by metal detectorist Peter Morgan in 2017, was reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme Wales (PAS Cymru) and it was declared ‘treasure' by the Assistant Coroner for South Wales Central, Mr Nadim Bashir in 2019.

The Museum of Cardiff subsequently acquired the thimble through the Saving Treasures; Telling Stories Partnership Project (2015-2020) led by Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales and funded via the Collecting Cultures programme of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The thimble now forms part of the museum's ‘Early Cardiff' display, alongside other archaeological finds that pre-date 1794, and expands the story the museum tells of early Cardiff.

The thimble can be viewed in the ‘Early Cardiff' section of the Museum of Cardiff's ‘Cardiff in Context' gallery, open every day 10am - 4pm.

Travel advice for Judgement Day at Principality Stadium this Saturday, April 22^nd

Judgement Day will be taking place at Principality Stadium this Saturday and to ensure all ticket holders can into out of the stadium safely, there will be a partial road closure in place between 11am and 9pm in the city centre, but Castle Street will remain open to traffic.

Those attending these rugby matches are strongly advised to plan their journey in advance and get into the stadium early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at  principalitystadium.wales,  in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.

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