Author: Rhys Gregory

In conjunction with Wrexham County Borough Council’s Christmas Lights Switch On, families are set to parade with glowing lanterns along a 1-mile route in a beautiful spectacle to raise money for patient care at Nightingale House Hospice. The sponsored lantern parade will take place on Sunday, 18th November, at 4pm following festive carol singing, starting in Queens Square and continuing along a 1-mile pedestrian route around Llwyn Isaf, through Wrexham city centre, ending at Eagles Meadow. This family-friendly lantern parade connects the daytime events with the evening of the Christmas Lights Switch On. Event and Campaigns Manager at Nightingale House…

A new, mixed-use, urban district has been recommended for approval by Cardiff Council’s Planning Committee. Vastint UK’s outline plans for The Embankment Site will see 47 acres of underutilised brownfield land to the south of the City revitalised, providing 2,500 homes alongside 54,000sqm of business space and opportunities for leisure, hospitality and retail. The proposals will open up the riverside with a new park and green spaces providing pedestrian and cycle links. The redevelopment will enhance connectivity between the communities of Butetown and Grangetown, the City centre and Cardiff Bay. Stephen Lindley, Managing Director, Vastint UK said “We are thrilled…

BIC Innovation Ltd, a leading business consultancy specialising in innovation and growth support, is proud to announce the appointment of Alun Thomas as the new Chairperson of the Board of Directors. He is joined by Wyn Jones as the nominated Minority Shareholder Director. These two appointments reflect BIC’s commitment to maintaining strong leadership to guide the company towards achieving its strategic ambitions into the future. In recent years, BIC Innovation has continued to deliver for its clients, reaching remarkable milestones as a result. As a people focused business, it has substantially increased its turnover, grown and developed the team and…

Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas says he is on track to help get 5000 children on their bikes by 2028. He has this week revealed that The Geraint Thomas Charitable Trust, which was launched after the Welsh cyclist won the Tour de France in 2018, has stepped in with grant aid support for five projects over the last 12 months which are in London, Caerphilly, Cardiff and Swansea. The five projects deliver cycling programmes to disabled children and young carers as well as those who live in deprived areas. Speaking at the Charitable Trust’s latest fundraising lunch at Eversheds…

Work has begun to develop an old chapel in Hermon, Pembrokeshire, into a heritage centre, café, and affordable flats, thanks to the efforts of local people and the help of the Welsh Government’s Project Perthyn grant. The community are now on the verge of purchasing the old chapel building and CarTrefUn began the project of developing the site for the benefit of the community. With £21,000 financial support from the Welsh Government, CarTrefUn has been able to appoint project officers, create architectural plans and site surveys to develop the new centre. The funding was awarded through the Perthyn Small Grants…

Monmouthshire County Council has signed a groundbreaking agreement with three other English and Welsh local authorities. The Marches Forward Partnership became a reality at an official event held at Hay Castle, the border of England and Wales. The new partnership sees Monmouthshire County Council join forces with Herefordshire, Shropshire and Powys County Councils to take on some of the big challenges they share. The four local authorities aim to work closely with UK and Welsh Governments to progress this exciting cross-border collaboration. This will include working jointly to secure funding support from both Governments and a wide range of other…

Network Rail is reminding passengers to check before they travel as the multi-million-pound upgrade of the Ebbw Vale line moves into its final stage. Buses will replace trains between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central from Wednesday 15 November to Sunday 3 December as teams work around the clock to transform the line. Engineers from Network Rail will carry out 1.2 km of track upgrades at nine different locations between Crosskeys and Crumlin, to complete the creation of a seven-mile loop to enable trains to pass in the future. Elsewhere on the line, contractors from Siemens will finish setting up…

The Lounges restaurant chain has announced that the new ‘Consurio Lounge’ will soon open in the heart of Caerphilly Town Centre. The Consurio Lounge will be a welcome and vibrant addition to the Town Centre. Situated in the former Gatehouse building within Castle Court Shopping Centre, the Consurio Lounge is set to breathe new life into a space that recently closed its doors, showcasing the resilience and importance of local businesses. The Lounges restaurant chain already operates a number of successful restaurants in nearby Cardiff, and the decision to expand to Caerphilly is welcomed by Caerphilly County Borough Council. Cllr…

The full entertainment line-up has been announced for Newport Now’s Countdown to Christmas family fun event. Running from 2.45pm to 5.15pm, Countdown to Christmas will feature live music, fairground rides and celebrity guests, culminating in the official switching on of Newport’s city centre Christmas lights and a breath-taking fireworks display. Organised by the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Newport City Council, Friars Walk and Newport City Radio, Countdown to Christmas will mirror the BID’s hugely successful previous events with the main stage based at the junction of Charles Street and Commercial Street. Last year’s event attracted…

Newport City Council’s cabinet will next week consider a proposal to ask people’s views on introducing a premium on council tax for long-term empty and second homes only. Demand for affordable housing is outstripping supply but there are more than 800 properties in the city which have been unoccupied for at least a year and 15 second homes. In March, more than 450 households were in temporary accommodation. There are more than 9,000 people registered for social housing but in 2021/22 there were just 686 new social housing lettings. As part of the council’s determination to tackle homelessness, it wants…