Author: Rhys Gregory

n eminent harpist was reunited with an old friend when she performed at a music-loving care home. Virtuosa Elinor Bennett staged a mini concert at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon as a thank you for the support they have given to Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre) which she was instrumental in setting up. Elinor said: “I’ve visited Bryn Seiont Newydd several times because it is only a short distance from my home in Bontnewydd and I am in awe of the work they do here with residents. “I have meant to bring my…

Penrhyn Castle and Garden are working to develop a new experience in the Stable Block to share stories of Penrhyn’s industrial history and bring to the forefront items in the collection that haven’t been shared before. Built in the early 19th century, Penrhyn Castle’s formidable architecture, opulent interiors and fine art collection lean on a long history of sugar and slate fortunes, social unrest and the longest-running industrial dispute in British history. The Penrhyn Slate Quarry and Port Penrhyn, established by the Pennant family, dominated the Welsh slate industry for almost 150 years which ripped apart a community and changed…

More than 20,600 start-ups were launched in Wales in 2023, according to new research from R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body. R3’s analysis of data provided by Creditsafe shows 20,675 firms were set-up in Wales in 2023 – a rise of 13.8% from 2022’s total of 18,170. March was the busiest month in Wales for start-ups in 2023, with 1,992 new businesses launching that month – but this figure was lower than March 2022, the previous year’s busiest month, when 2,116 new firms were set up. Wales and the West Midlands saw the joint-third largest yearly increase in start-up…

A new grant has been launched for Swansea businesses looking to develop new products, commercialise ideas or develop processes which support innovation and growth. Funding of up to £10,000 can now be applied for, thanks to the Innovation Grant scheme now available from Swansea Council through the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund. Examples of eligible projects include: Support for developing and testing new products or services, including prototyping. Patent drafting and filing costs. Research and development of processes, products or services. Testing of innovation ideas. Market research, scoping projects or competitor analysis to test and identify gaps in the market.…

Two men have been disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years after they admitted to failing to provide a suitable environment for 24 cats. Martin Clowes and Gavin James Cromwell both of Margam, pleaded guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act in that they both failed to meet the needs of 24 cats in terms of a suitable environment. The court heard that the RSPCA were called by South Wales Fire & Rescue Service on 22 March last year – to assist them at a property on Pyle Road following a house fire. Tragically a total of 11…

An event to celebrate the successful conclusion of a pilot programme for therapy practitioners at Hywel Dda University Health Board was held on Friday evening at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). The Therapy Assistant Practitioner (TAP) Diploma is the first of its kind in Wales and is a collaboration between UWTSD, Hywel Dda, Agored Cymru and Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the strategic workforce body for NHS Wales. Following the successful pilot, the programme is now being offered across Wales via the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeship Framework through Coleg Sir Gar. Participants already enrolled onto the programme…

The regeneration of Atlantic Wharf took another step forward this week, with a new report providing an update on the proposal to redevelop The Red Dragon site which – along with the new indoor arena – is a key project to stimulate the next-phase regeneration of Cardiff Bay. In January 2020, Cardiff Council acquired The Red Dragon Site so that the council had full control over the land required to enable the development of a new 15,000-capacity indoor arena, and to facilitate the investment into the wider Atlantic Wharf site. The 30-acre site, which includes the Red Dragon site and…

A plan to invest in Cardiff’s skatepark infrastructure which could see six new skateparks built by 2032 and many existing skateparks converted into modern concrete-built layouts, has been agreed by Cardiff Council. The ‘Skateboard Amenities Strategy,’ which was developed by Cardiff Council with the support of internationally renowned skate park consultants Van de Zalm and New Line Skate Parks, aims to support and grow the skateboarding community, foster a diverse user group, and create skate amenities that support a wide range of uses and skill levels. Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “We want as…

Senior figures from Swansea Council and the Welsh Government have toured the Mumbles sea defences project. Council leader Rob Stewart and minister for climate change Julie James were among those who saw that progress is being made as the council works to protect the community from storms and rising sea levels in coming years and decades. Fellow guests included council cabinet member for environment and infrastructure Andrew Stevens, fellow cabinet members, Senedd Member for Gower Rebecca Evans and Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi. The large-scale project, mainly funded by the Welsh Government, is being delivered for the council by main contractors…

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Cabinet could agree for phase two of this year’s Budget consultation to focus on a draft strategy put forward by officers, proposing how the Council could set a balanced budget for 2024/25 amid the significant financial challenges being faced. At their meeting on Wednesday, January 24, Cabinet will consider a detailed report that proposes a draft strategy in response to the large Budget gap being faced. December’s provisional Local Government Settlement included a 2.8% funding increase for Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the Budget gap following this was £36.65m. All councils in Wales are facing significant challenges to…