Author: Rhys Gregory

Applications for nursery school places are now open and parents with children who turn three between September 1 2023 and August 31 2024, can now apply for a part-time nursery place to start in September 2024. English and Welsh medium places are available at one of the 91 nursery classes in 88 schools across the city, including three schools with a dual stream offer. Families are encouraged to apply before the deadline of Monday 26 February 2024, to help their chance of being offered a nursery place of their choice. To apply for a place in a community school nursery…

A well-being nature walk linking historic churches, a flower market and schemes to help cut rural Swansea’s carbon footprint are among those soon to benefit from a major funding boost. Swansea Council has now awarded funding worth a combined £178,000 to 14 schemes under the second round of the overall rural anchor project being funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This follows funding that’s been previously awarded to other projects as part of the first funding round. Schemes to have successfully bid for round two project funding include: The Reflective Rambling on Gower project, which…

The Castle Pond link will be closed on its North side from the end of the month while new railings are installed by Pembrokeshire County Council. Work started on 29th January for 21 days initially. The route is due to be closed for the safety of the public from the South end of the barrage to the Rocky Park entrance and the Corn Store whilst works are in progress. The quayside opposite Pembroke Castle will remain open for businesses to continue as normal. Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery and Local Member Cllr Jon Harvey said: “It’s great to…

Penarth-based TestLodge has continued to cement itself as one of the leading, global software testing tools after another strong year of growth. In the last twelve months the company has increased its six-figure revenue by 25% and grown its profit by 23% thanks to a strong presence in US and EU markets. TestLodge is a SaaS test-case management tool and is primarily used by companies as a way of organising and overseeing their software testing and development. The tool is regularly cited as being a necessary experience in software testing job descriptions, something that founder Scott Sherwood might not have…

The UK’s leading finishing group, SD Team, which is headquartered in Caldicot, has appointed Raymond Koper as CEO of its first European division, SD Team B.V. SD has been providing sealants and cosmetic repair services to a range of sectors across the UK for over 50 years, and is now strengthening its position with the launch of its first European office in the Netherlands. With newly appointed CEO Raymond at the helm, SD Team B.V. will be bringing its hard surface repair and sealant offering to Dutch businesses and contractors. The Netherlands office will also be a European hub for…

In the bustling world of casinos, few games are as popular as the classic slot machines and they are an iconic symbol of casinos. But beyond the glitz and glamour you may see within both land-based and online casinos, what exactly are Slots, how do they work, and why are they so popular? Let’s delve into the slot gaming landscape to uncover the essence of this beloved casino game, so you can go on to play games like Luck O’ The Irish Gold Spins, for example… The basics What are Slots? Slots are games of chance typically found in casinos.…

Whether you’re an avid player of trading card games or a collector of rare cards, protecting your cards is essential if you want them to last a lifetime. In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of keeping your gaming cards protected, the different types of protection available, and some tips on how to properly store and maintain your cards. So let’s dive in and learn how to extend the lifespan of your beloved gaming cards! The Importance of Protecting Your Gaming Cards For many avid players and collectors, gaming cards hold both sentimental and monetary value. From rare foil cards…

A man has been found guilty of murder following a trial at Swansea Crown Court after the death of 46-year-old Georgina Dowey in his Cadoxton, Neath address last year. Matthew Pickering, 49, of Beaconsfield Street, pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denied murder after Georgina’s body was discovered by police in his downstairs bathroom on Sunday, May 7, 2023. The victim, who was a vulnerable individual, was in a relationship with Pickering, and had moved into his address in March 2023. Detective Inspector David Butt said: “This conviction represents justice being served for Georgina’s murder – at the hands of her…

A WELSH charity that has invested over £3 million in cancer research projects across North Wales is opening three new shops in the area. Cancer Research Wales is setting up shop in Llandudno, Wrexham and Bangor in the next three months. The Llandudno store on Gloddaeth Street will be launching in late February with the Wrexham shop on Priory Street opening for trade in March. Cancer Research Wales’s brand-new Bangor charity shop in the Menai Centre is scheduled to open its doors in May. The shops will be selling a range of quality goods and providing opportunities for local people…

Business confidence in Wales has declined for the second consecutive quarter amid financial challenges and wider economic uncertainty, a survey of business leaders has revealed. Sentiment tracked by ICAEW’s Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) for Wales, published today, put confidence at -6.7 on the index for Q4 2023, a drop from -3.2 in the previous quarter and the lowest reading in the UK. However, Welsh companies are optimistic about their prospects for the next 12 months and forecast that annual domestic sales growth will hit 5.5% during the forthcoming year, somewhat higher than the projected rate for the UK average. This…