Author: Rhys Gregory

A much loved old Swansea city centre building is beginning to change as it prepares for an exciting future. Contractors Kier, working on behalf of Swansea Council, have started to transform Oxford Street’s former BHS. It’s set to become Y Storfa, a public services hub that’ll attract thousands of visitors every week. A short distance from bus stops, cycle routes and car parks, it’ll be home to services such as the city’s main public library and West Glamorgan Archive Service, Swansea’s Careers Wales service and Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot. Other services the public will be able to access…

Council house tenants in Pembrokeshire are being urged to take part in a survey which will be sent out shortly by Pembrokeshire County Council. The customer satisfaction survey will ask questions about how residents feel about the services they receive from the Council’s Housing Management and Building Maintenance sections. Cllr Michelle Bateman, Cabinet Member for Housing, encouraged all those who receive a survey to respond. “Tenants’ views and opinions on our services really matter to us and will help shape our services for the future,” she said. Following the survey, we will be holding focus groups to discuss feedback. So keep…

The spookiest night of the year is nearly here, and a frightening amount of waste is created, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Get creative with Halloween costumes: by making your own ghost gown from old bed sheets. Revamp old outfits from previous years and reuse costumes from charity shops instead of buying new ones. Welcoming trick or treaters at your door? Offer them treats such as apples, tangerines, biscuits or cake without the wrapping, so less litter gets dropped in the street. Pumpkin carving? Use the pulp leftovers to make a tasty soup. Then, when the fun’s…

A number of singles use plastics have been banned from being supplied in Wales as of this week. The move follows a Welsh Government commitment to ‘embed our response to the climate and nature emergency in everything we do’ The purpose of the new law is to reduce the flow of plastic pollution into our environment by prohibiting the supply of certain single-use plastic products. Climate Change Minister Julie James explained the Act forms part of the Welsh Government’s response to the climate and nature emergencies and ‘builds on momentum created by communities across Wales who have chosen to go…

 The Welsh Museums Festival is making a return for the half term holidays (Saturday 28 October – Sunday 5 November) with a week of special events to celebrate the diverse history and culture of our country. More than 45 large and small museums across Wales are taking part in the festival this week, offering a number of mostly free, exciting and diverse activities for families – from a ‘climate rave’ in Rhayader to a potion-making workshop in Ceredigion and storytelling in Cardiff. There will also be an exciting, new Wales History Trails Passport Challenge, which will require museum-goers to visit…

We’re a nation of holiday lovers. With Britons taking over 45 million holiday trips to chase the sun, visit new places, or return to their favourite staycation spots every year, it’s never been more important to enjoy your downtime safe in the knowledge that your home is secure while you’re away.  Office for National Statistics data shows that while 45.6 million holidays were taken by UK residents in 2022, many households have also had to face the threat of burglary within the same timeframe.  Some 191,490 residential burglaries took place in England and Wales for the year ending March 2023,…

The holiday season is a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. But it can also be a time of financial stress, with the pressure to buy gifts, decorate, and prepare festive meals. That’s where a Christmas savings club can come to the rescue. In this article, we’ll explore 20 compelling reasons why joining a Christmas savings club can make your holiday season more enjoyable and less financially burdensome. 1. Steady Savings One of the primary benefits of a Christmas savings club is that it encourages steady savings throughout the year. By contributing a fixed amount each month, you’ll have a…

Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or ADHD) is a condition that, in the UK, affects around 4% of boys, and less than 1% of girls. It can potentially last into adulthood, though it tends to present itself differently as we age, with older sufferers tending to be inattentive rather than hyperactive. Sensory overload Around 60% of those with ADHD tend to also suffer from something called Sensory Processing Disorder. This can lead a person to become fixated on a particular sensation or thought, to the point that they’re unable to focus on the task in front of them. So, rather than dealing…

If the pistachio trend on social media has got you dreaming of a decadent dessert, then you are in luck! The clever people at Five Guy have just launched a brand new, limited-edition pistachio milkshake – and it’s available right now! Pistachio has become more than a seasonal trend, it’s taking the world by storm, partly driven by its health-benefiting properties. A quick search or lookup of #FoodTok online and you’ll be inundated with food hacks of people indulging in the luxury treat. The new pistachio milkshake at Five Guys offers the perfect blend of sweetness with rich pistachio in…

The Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR) at Aberystwyth is negotiating to acquire the Brecon Mountain Railway (BMR). This merger represents an historic milestone for both railways and safeguards the future of the BMR for future generations to enjoy. The VoR has a rich history dating back to 1902. Known for its breath-taking journeys from the coast at Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge in the Cambrian Mountains, it has been continuously operating as a tourist railway for 120 years, carrying visitors from across the globe. It has a unique history as the last steam railway to be operated by British Rail. By…