Author: Rhys Gregory

South Wales Police was called just before 6.05pm last night, Tuesday 23rd January, with a report of a woman having been seen by the water’s edge just off the Esplanade in Porthcawl. Emergency services responded including HM Coastguard, the RNLI, and the National Police Air Service (NPAS). HM Coastguard is continuing the maritime search effort with assistance from our specialist search team and other agencies.

Ahead of tomorrow’s Dydd Santes Dwynwen – a day that is considered to be the Welsh equivalent to Valentine’s Day – RSPCA Cymru is hoping that love will be in the air for some of the pets that have been so far overlooked in their search for a forever home. The RSPCA revealed earlier this month –  to mark its 200th birthday in 2024 – that it has found loving new homes for more than 17,000 animalsin a decade across Wales across its animal centres and branch network. Although due to a number of factors including a post-pandemic world coupled…

Blossoming Welsh culinary talent was on display as eight chefs put their skills to the test in the final of the Junior Chef of Wales competition yesterday (Tuesday). The final was held on the second day of the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) organised by the Culinary Association of Wales and hosted by the International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales), Newport. Last year’s runner-up Abbie Williams, a learner at Coleg y Cymoedd’s Nantgarw Campus, is hoping to go one better this time, after competing against seven young rivals from across Wales. The other finalists included Katie Duffy, chef at The…

Shortly before 8.30pm on Friday (January 19) emergency services were called to a major fire at a property on Bridgend Industrial Estate. The building was safely evacuated and there are no reports of any injuries. The fire is now extinguished and a full investigation into the incident will begin as soon as it is safe to do so. Local road closures remain in place and members of the public are advised to avoid the area, especially with the forecast high winds. Efforts have also begun to enable neighbouring premises to resume business as usual when the area is secure. Local…

Cardiff-based partners appointed to begin work at The Coal Exchange Hotel to further improve iconic landmark Eden Grove Developments Limited, the freeholder of The Coal Exchange Hotel in Cardiff Bay, has started to appoint the team for works to begin on the north side of the property less than one month after regaining possession of the site. An all Cardiff-based team has been appointed with Burroughs overseeing engineering review and project management requirements, Austin Smith Lord being the appointed architect and with Harrison Clark Rickerbys providing legal advice and support. Speaking of the appointments and the project, a spokesperson for Eden Grove Developments…

Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid is set to make a splash in Cardiff Bay on March 25th 2024. Nestled along the waterfront with breathtaking harbour views, Giggling Squid promises an unforgettable dining experience that combines mouthwatering cuisine with a stylish and inviting atmosphere. The Cardiff Bay restaurant will be serving Giggling Squid’s new menu for 2024, which includes a plant-based starter, customisable noodles and stir-fry meals, and indulgent desserts. The vegan starter, Salt & Pepper Chilli Mushrooms (£6.50) is a meat-free alternative to their bestselling Salt & Pepper Squid (£8.50). Also on the menu is the new succulent Caramelised Pork Belly (£8.25), bite-sized Crispy…

Automotive and green energy developer, First Hydrogen will begin vehicle trials with gas distribution network, Wales & West Utilities (WWU) later this month. First Hydrogen’s unique hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle (FCEV) will operate from WWU’s Swansea depot, as part of the business’ fleet of 1,300 vehicles, which are deployed across Wales and the south west of England. The FCEV will support network engineers to make customer call outs and undertake repair and maintenance work. The trial will showcase First Hydrogen’s FCEV advantage over battery electric vehicles in range (630 km/400 mile), payload towing and fast refuelling capabilities. The FCEV is…

A HEARTWARMING project supporting elderly care home residents will be rolled out across North Wales. Driven by the community interest company Book of You, based in Ruthin, the Care Home Buddy scheme has been extended to include Wrexham, Flintshire, Anglesey, and Gwynedd following a successful pilot programme in Denbighshire, Conwy, and Pembrokeshire. Volunteers attend residential care homes weekly after being paired up as a ‘buddy’ with a resident who may feel isolated, lonely, and anxious, without friends or family to visit them regularly. Post-pandemic this has been a significant issue, according to project manager Danielle Jones, who is leading a…

Close to 200 city centre businesses are now featured in a free new app that Swansea residents are being encouraged to install. Created and run by the Swansea Business Improvement District (BID), the residents rewards progressive web app is funded by an initial grant from Swansea Council. Replacing the old Big Heart of Swansea app, residents can benefit from the new one by visiting app.bigheartofswansea.co.uk and installing it on their mobile devices. The progressive web app includes access to offers in shops and restaurants in the city centre and a directory of city centre businesses showing information like opening times, their…

A leading local housebuilder has submitted its plans to Swansea Council for a new zero-carbon ready housing development in Pontarddulais. Persimmon Homes West Wales plans to construct 504 zero-carbon ready homes for local people on land south of Glanffrwd Road. The no-gas site will feature one-bedroom apartments to four-bedroom houses, which will be powered by air-source heat pumps and solar panels. A number of properties will also be transferred to a housing association partner as part of the housebuilder’s commitment to the local community. As part of the proposed scheme, Persimmon also plans to deliver a new primary school, community…