Author: Rhys Gregory

​​​​​​​VISITORS continue to flock to major leisure and destination venues supported by Swansea Council as staff there continue their bounceback from the pandemic. Freedom Leisure, Wales National Pool Swansea (WNPS), Plantasia and the National Waterfront Museum are all enjoying healthy levels of custom. Visitor numbers at the city centre LC and Freedom’s other community leisure facilities in the 2022-23 financial year were up almost 30% to more than 1.8m on the previous year. Income rose almost 36% to around £8m. WNPS increased its income by more than £300,000 to around £1.3m. Plantasia, run by Parkwood Leisure, saw attendance figures up…

Welsh company LoftCo are gearing up to reopen Swansea city centre’s fantastic Albert Hall. Their transformation of the historic Cradock Street venue – with some help from ourselves – is in full swing & we’re thrilled they’ve allowed us to share the latest news with you. The building opened in 1864 as a venue for up to 2,500 people. It became the Albert Hall a few years later & went on to host a wide range of speeches, performances and shows. It became a cinema and bingo hall before closing in 2007. LoftCo acquired it around four years ago. It’s…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet have updated Members with regards to the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme in respect of the proposal to relocate Ysgol Y Lawnt and Upper Rhymney Primary School, through the creation of sustainable school buildings with shared facilities. Cabinet members were asked to consider the information contained in the Objection Report and approve the recommendations, via vote, to proceed to planning application stage and subsequent Welsh Government business case approvals. The Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme is a major, long term and strategic capital investment programme supporting large scale capital building projects across Wales with the…

The second Spring Fair of 2024 took place in Blackwood Town Centre on Saturday 13thApril. A total of 6,926 people visited the Town Centre on the day, with 1,018 being the peak attendance at 1pm. There were 2,759 more visitors in town than the previous Saturday. There was a whole load of family entertainment at the fair including street theatre performers, The Mid Wales Ghostbusters, Birds of prey with Falconry UK, craft workshops, exotic animals, funfair rides, and more! Traders were even selling out by early afternoon. Hear what local businesses and traders thought of the event: Gavyn Bolton of…

The Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes National Quality Award has been presented to Templeton CP School. The award is given to schools that have wellbeing initiatives in place that are serving pupils at the highest level which meet all criteria set under seven health topics. The fantastic work of the school, with special thanks given to in-school Healthy Schools Coordinator Oliver Furneaux who has led the work and evidenced it, has been celebrated. A review of the school found that there are so many “areas of excellent practice” that it was impossible to include them all in the final…

A man who was four times the drug drive limit following a fatal road traffic collision which killed a pedestrian in Johnstown, Wrexham in 2022 has been jailed. 42-year-old Dale Hilton of Heol Kenyon, Johnstown was sentenced to four years imprisonment following the collision which tragically resulted in the death of 86-year-old George Ian Stevenson on the March 2nd 2022. He was also disqualified from driving for five years and will have to pass an extended test to regain his licence. He was ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge. The collision happened shortly after 7:30pm on the High Street…

Unexpected household bills can arise at any time, causing stress and financial strain if you’re unprepared. This is perhaps more true than ever with the country going through a recession and cost of living crisis. However, with a well-thought-out plan in place, you can mitigate the impact of these surprises and navigate them more smoothly. This should help to give you greater peace of mind while dealing with financial pressures. Being prepared for unexpected household bills isn’t something that happens overnight, though. That’s why we’ve put this handy guide together to make it easy to understand what you need to…

It happens to everyone. Well, most people! As they get older, they may find it harder to shift tummy fat from around their abdomen. Or, if they have just had a baby and have lost some weight, they may be looking for a way to get rid of the ‘pooch’ that can occur. Exercise can take you so far so, many people resort to having a tummy tuck. This procedure aims to remove excess flesh from the abdomen and, in doing so, tighten and firm up the area. After it has been performed, you should feel more comfortable in your…

The UK is widely regarded as having some of the best gambling markets in the world despite having a relatively robust regulatory framework in place.  Gambling companies operating in the UK must adhere to strict betting laws set out by the UK Gambling Commission. However, moving between the countries that make up the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland) can cause confusion for those unsure of individual betting rules. Unlike the U.S. whose member states decide their own betting laws, the UK is largely governed by the Gambling Act 2005. Take a look below to learn more about gambling…

Wales’ most capped hooker, Ken Owens, has today confirmed his retirement from rugby. Speaking about his decision Owens, who started his rugby journey at his beloved Carmarthen Athletic, said; “Reluctantly, I am announcing my retirement from rugby.  Not playing has been challenging but the time is right to follow medical advice and hang up my boots. “Had I written the script there would have been one more game for Wales, for the Scarlets and ultimately Carmarthen Athletic. A chance to sign off and thank everyone involved. It was not to be. It might not be the dream ending but my…