Author: Rhys Gregory

Nine tourism projects have secured over £3million from the Development Bank of Wales in the first half of 2023/24 from the dedicated Wales Tourism Investment Fund as demand for funding gains momentum post Covid-19. Since its launch in 2020, the Wales Tourism Investment Fund has supported 17 different companies with £15.3 million made up of £13.81 million in loans and £1.1 million grant funding from Visit Wales. Co-investment is £6.7 million. Launched specifically to support stand-out tourism projects that add value to the rural and local economies of Wales, the Wales Tourism Investment Fund offers loans between £100,000 and £5…

On Thursday night, 26 October, a new network, ‘Creative West Wales’, was launched at Canolfan S4C Yr Egin.   This new network aims to represent and engage the creative industries in the region, namely the counties of Swansea, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Neath Port Talbot. Creative West Wales’s initial priority is to focus on the growth of the screen, music, digital and research and development sectors. As part of the launch, there was a special preview of a new S4C documentary series by the local production company Carlam, “Ceffylau, Sheiks a Chowbois”, which follows a family’s story from Ffairfach to…

To mark the end of the Future Energy Wales conference, where collaboration has been a central theme, Marine Energy Wales (MEW) and RenewableUK Cymru (RUKC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining their commitment to work together to accelerate the clean transition in Wales. MEW and RUK, both membership organisations, are committed to supporting the renewable energy industry in Wales, and to realising the economic and environmental opportunities for Welsh communities. Marine Energy Wales has its roots in the marine renewable energy sector in Wales, representing the tidal, wave and floating offshore wind (FLOW) industries. RenewableUK Cymru has specific interests…

Seven cross pug puppies have been found abandoned in a wet cardboard box in New Tredegar, prompting an urgent RSPCA appeal for information. The eight-week old pups were found on a mountain pass on 31 October and were handed into a vets before the RSPCA were contacted. RSPCA animal rescue officer Carl Hone said: “Unfortunately we don’t know much about this abandonment, as the contact number for the person who took them to the vets isn’t working. “The puppies all appear healthy – and may even come from two different litters as two of the seven are bigger than the…

Wales’ national observance of Remembrance Sunday, which is jointly hosted by Cardiff Council, the Welsh Government and in partnership with The Royal British Legion, will take place in Cardiff on Sunday, 12th November 2023. Detachments from the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, Cadet Forces will march past City Hall and along King Edward VII Avenue to the Welsh National War Memorial in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park, Cardiff where they will arrive by 10:40am and form up around the memorial. Those detachments will be joined by columns of ex-Servicemen and women, organised by the Royal British…

A rogue roofer who carried out work that wasn’t required on the home of a vulnerable couple and charged them thousands of pounds has been sentenced to a suspended prison term of 15 months. Toby Price of Broadmoor was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, November 6th following a successful investigation and prosecution brought by Pembrokeshire County Council Trading Standards. Price admitted four charges of fraud and one offence of engaging in a misleading commercial practice by omitting contractual information including cancellation rights. The Court heard that Price was trading as ‘Best Price Roofing Services’ when he was contacted…

The A4061 Rhigos Mountain Road will be closed for five overnight work shifts from November 13-17 (9pm to 6am), for repair and maintenance work to the rock netting at the location of last year’s large wildfire. The fire in August 2022 caused major damage to the hillside and to areas of wire netting, plastic netting and fencing. The road reopened after emergency works were carried out, and temporary traffic lights have remained in place to direct traffic away from the high-risk area of rock netting. A significant scheme to rectify the damage is being planned for construction on site in…

Newport’s annual Remembrance parade and service will take place on Sunday 12 November in Newport city centre. The Newport Stedfast Band will lead the parade which will leave High Street at 10:35am making its way to the Cenotaph at Clarence Place. The City of Newport Male Choir will also be in attendance at the cenotaph along with the Newport Borough Brass Band. The service, led by Reverend Keith Beardmore, will take place at the Newport Cenotaph at 10.58am with the guns sounding at 11am to mark the start of the two-minute silence. Residents are advised that there will be road closures…

Excited pupils and staff from Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Gwyddon arrived at their new school this week in Cwmcarn, as the state-of-the-art facility officially opened its doors for the first time. The impressive build is located on the site of the former Cwmcarn Comprehensive School and has been funded jointly by Caerphilly Council and Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, which forms part of the Council’s wider Place Shaping Strategy. The new building was constructed by Andrew Scott Ltd and has been designed to accommodate the Welsh medium primary school which has dramatically increased in numbers over the…

Monmouthshire County Council and Monmouthshire Housing Association are working with Post Office to bring this vital service back to Caldicot. It’s an opportunity for a business in the town centre to serve the local community – and attract more customers at the same time. A Post Office usually works best as an addition to another business. This could be: A business that’s already in the town centre, opening a Post Office in its existing premises A business expanding or relocating into Caldicot and including a Post Office A new business, with a Post Office as part of the offer Help…