Author: Rhys Gregory

A county council by-election for the Rhiwcynon ward is to be held, Powys County Council has confirmed. The by-election is taking place to fill one vacancy following the resignation of Heulwen Hulme earlier this month (April). The notice of election for the by-election has been published and anyone considering standing as a candidate have until 4pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 to submit their nomination paper to the Returning Officer. If an election is contested, it will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Electors should take note that applications to vote by post or requests to change or cancel…

Visitors to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) are now able to take their very own bilingual mobile phone app guide on their train journey. The FfWHR Explore App has been created as part of the Railway’s Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project, thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery players, the Ffestiniog Railway Society and the FfWHR Trust. The app has been designed with everyone’s enjoyment in mind, providing descriptive and historic information about stops and points of interest along the line, marking the passenger’s route as they go with a locomotive icon on the map. Each…

Significant flood alleviation work has recently been completed in Cwmaman – which has strengthened the infrastructure at the Nant Aman Fach to help reduce the risk of flooding to nearby properties during storm events. The Cwmaman Flood Alleviation Scheme (Phase 2) got underway during autumn 2023, and has been designed to reduce the risk of flooding to around 78 properties across Glanaman Road and Brynhyfryd. The scheme has intended to maximise the capacity of the existing flood alleviation network, with the Nant Aman Fach running adjacent to the two residential streets. The scheme has improved an existing wall that sits…

Gregynog, one of Wales’ leading country houses and former home of art collectors and music lovers Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, is to host two music and dance events next week. The picturesque venue, located at Tregynon, near Newtown, welcomes virtuoso violinist Ezo Sarici and her fellow Menuhin School graduate, guitarist Finlay Hay, on Monday, April 29 with tickets available for £15. The brilliant musicians will perform ‘Two to Tango’, a programme including pieces by Astor Piazzola and Ana Carla Maza, a selection of tango and folk inspired music. Ezo and Finlay requested to perform and generously donate the proceeds to Gregynog’s roof…

Pembrokeshire County Council is once again preparing for the annual Tenby Pedestrianisation scheme. The scheme is due to start on Monday 1st July and finish on Friday 13th September and run between 11am – 5.30pm each day. The scheme will again see the Walled Town divided into three ‘zones,’ each of which will have varying degrees of vehicle access. Full details of the scheme and the online application form will be available from Wednesday 1st May and can be found on the Council’s website. Residents and business within the Walled Town are encouraged to complete the application process as soon…

A new train driver apprenticeship programme – the first of its kind in the UK has helped TfW win a prestigious award. Transport for Wales currently employs 189 apprentices and has recruited over 300 since being created over five years ago – the not-for-profit was recently named Larger Employer of the Year at the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2024. Through embracing work-based learning across 12 areas of the business, TfW has recruited hundreds of apprentices to help improve performance of the business, support with long-term sustainability and provide employment opportunities for the local communities it serves. By partnering with Coleg y…

Bear Grylls, Globally renowned adventure icon, award-winning TV host and number one best-selling author, is bringing his Never Give Up tour to Cardiff this week Bear is coming to Cardiff to inspire and captivate the audience with his stories of adventure and survival and hopefully engage a new generation of adventurers. The show will feature unseen, hair-raising images and remarkable behind-the-scenes videos that tell the inspiring story of a man who embodies that Never Give Up spirit. Bear Grylls is best known for pushing himself to the limits, both mentally and physically, this tour will take audiences on a captivating…

Mirrorless cameras have revolutionised the world of photography, offering a seamless blend of portability and top-notch image quality. These cutting-edge devices capture stunning visuals without relying on the traditional mirror mechanism found in SLR cameras, instead utilising advanced electronic viewfinders or the camera’s screen to preview shots. Featuring a compact and lightweight design, mirrorless cameras boast an array of innovative features, including superior image quality, in-body image stabilisation, touch screen live view, advanced autofocus systems, and silent shutter operation, while also granting the flexibility to use SLR lenses with an adapter. The Rise of Mirrorless Technology Mirrorless Cameras Gain Momentum…

On your marks, get set, go… The most unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans is back in Cardiff by popular demand. Monster Jam® roars back into Principality Stadium on Saturday 6th July for an adrenaline-charged day, where world champion athletes and their 12,000 pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill. Tickets go on sale this week, with Monster Jam Priority Customers able to purchase tickets from Wednesday 24th April, before tickets go on-sale to the general public on Friday 26th April. The fun begins before the event at the…

Hay Festival Global has announced the participants of Writers at Work 2024, a creative development programme for emerging Welsh talent at Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye (23 May–2 June) with the support of Literature Wales, funded by Arts Council of Wales. Offering a fully-programmed ten days of creative development opportunities, Hay Festival Writers at Work allows the selected writers to engage in Festival events, attend workshops with publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists. Open to writers working in English and Welsh across genres – fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry – this year’s 10 successful applicants are: Dylan Huw Hammad…