Author: Rhys Gregory

A royal composer has hailed a pioneering music service that teaches 5,000 children every week in Wrexham and Denbighshire as a “national treasure”. According to patron Professor Paul Mealor, the spectacular success of the North Wales Music Cooperative is all the more remarkable because it was formed nine years ago in the aftermath of a financial crisis that saw funding for peripatetic music teachers being axed. Prof Mealor, the new artistic director of the North Wales International Music Festival in St Asaph who was appointed by the King as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order after writing music for…

When he was found and scanned by RSPCA Inspector Sophie Daniels, she was stunned to find out that the cat, known as Riggs, had been missing from his owner for four years – and not too far from home either! “I couldn’t believe it when his owner said he had been missing for four years,” said Sophie. “He had a pink collar on, so he looked owned so I hoped I could track down his owner easily, but I didn’t expect to hear the length of time he had been missing! “When Riggs went missing he was wearing a black…

With the weather getting warmer and a bank holiday weekend and half term approaching, it’s a great time to take the plunge and embark on a water adventure at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs. The Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water visitor attraction in North Cardiff opened in July 2023 as a hub for health and wellbeing and a haven for wildlife. It offers a fantastic range of water activities set in stunning surroundings – including sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking, open-water swimming, and cold-water dipping. Anyone can enjoy the thrill of exhilarating water sports at Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs. Beginners can…

Blake Morgan’s corporate team in Cardiff has hailed an “extremely busy” financial year with the market remaining active and a strong pipeline for the new financial year ahead. The team advised 58 transactions during the financial year ended 30 April 2024, with a combined deal value of £380m. James Williams, Partner and Head of the Corporate team, said: “We have enjoyed an extremely busy period, which is a testament to our team’s dedication and our clients’ trust in us. The market remains robust, particularly in technology, life sciences, health and social care. Our deep experience and comprehensive support have been crucial…

The views of Swansea citizens and organisations are set to shape the future of their fast-evolving city centre. They’re to be given the chance to offer their opinions in a number of ways, with their views leading to a new council plan that’ll help make the city an even greater place in which to live, work, learn in and spend quality free time. The plan will update and replace the council’s existing Swansea Central Area Regeneration Framework that was put in place in 2016. The wide range of forthcoming consultation opportunities will include an interactive website from May 28, in-person…

A scheme supporting businesses in town centres to spruce up their exteriors is being extended to include Tenby. Since the start of the year businesses on certain streets in some of Pembrokeshire’s biggest towns have been invited to access a Streetscape Paint Scheme, part of the County Council’s Street Enhancement Programme. Tenby is the latest town to be included and businesses on High Street, Tudor Square, St Georges Street, Church Street, Upper and Lower Frog Street, and South Parade can apply for up to £4,999 per property. The fund will support owners of eligible properties and tenants/leaseholders who have the…

Williamston Nursing Home is an award-winning 34-bed care home, set in five acres of garden and woodland in Houghton, near Milford Haven. Opened in 1995, the business, which provides care and accommodation for elderly residents, was run for nearly 30 years by a former owner, who looked for an opportunity to sell the business late last year. The home has now been bought by husband-and-wife team Kuljit and Parmjit Grewal, who purchased both the property and the business and intend to keep all current staff at Williamston. The purchase was backed with a £950,000 loan from the Development Bank of…

ROATH opticians has expanded its store following a £250,000 investment. Specsavers on Albany Road is set to officially relaunch on 25 May following the investment, which saw two new test rooms added to create additional space and meet the growing demand for eye tests and audiology clinics in the area. As part of the expansion, the store can provide services on behalf of the NHS, including prescribing treatment for a range of eye conditions, as well as providing professional ear wax removal. Director Jessica Borley says: ‘The brand-new renovation, complete with state-of-the-art technology, aids us in providing vital services to…

With the bank holiday and half-term approaching many people will be planning on getting out to enjoy everything that Pembrokeshire has to offer. With fingers crossed for good weather, the county’s beautiful beaches and coastline are sure to be busy. Anyone planning to take their four-legged friends along are reminded that seasonal dog restrictions are now in place at some Pembrokeshire beaches. While many Pembrokeshire beaches welcome dogs all year around, there are some restrictions in place between 1st May and September 30th. Between these dates total dog bans are in place at Tenby North beach and Whitesands. Partial dog…

There is still time to take part in Linc Cymru’s consultation for a proposed development in Mountain Ash, that would provide new care accommodation for older people. The Council is committed to modernising care accommodation for older people, including a multi-million pound investment to increase the extra care housing provision across the County Borough in partnership with Linc Cymru (Linc). As part of this commitment, Linc is progressing significant proposals to develop new care accommodation on vacant brownfield land off Darran Road in Mountain Ash. The development could include a three-storey building that supports 25 extra care apartments and 15…