Author: Rhys Gregory

Invited guests enjoyed a first look at the new Tŷ Hotel Newport six months ahead of its opening at a special party held on the building site for the £20m development. Part of The Celtic Collection, the 146-bedroom hotel by the Coldra roundabout at Langstone will not open until the beginning of June 2024 but construction halted temporarily for a night of celebration to toast the future success of the new venue. More than 60 people gathered on the concrete foundations that will become the hotel’s Casa restaurant and bar to enjoy drinks and street food style tasters of the…

Llanishen High School is celebrating the release of a positive Estyn report this week following a full school inspection earlier this year. Striving to create a supportive, inclusive learning environment that nurtures individual growth and success, Llanishen High School goes beyond the academic to develop learning programmes that bolster the curriculum while also developing essential life skills. With the school’s latest inspection completed in September 2023 as the first since 2016, the report was broken down into five key areas with inspectors noting:  Learning – pupils are making good progress in their subject knowledge and understanding;  Wellbeing and attitudes towards…

Work to build a new state of the art flower court at Coychurch Crematorium is now complete and funerals are once again being held at the main Crallo Chapel following the conclusion of the works. The £1.2 million project, which was approved by the Coychurch Crematorium Joint Committee, will help congregations to exit the chapel more easily and will prevent delays to following services. The works have been carried out by local Bridgend based company South Wales Contractors Ltd. The flower court now also has a fully covered roof and access to the toilet facilities has been improved. The extension…

Securing the multi-million pound Celtic Freeport, opening Neath’s new swimming pool, leisure centre and library complex and securing more than £17m in Levelling Up money for the Vale of Neath tourism corridor. These were among Neath Port Talbot Council’s key achievements in the 2022/23 fiscal year outlined in its Corporate Plan Annual Report entitled Recover, Reset, Renew which was endorsed by the council’s Cabinet on 28/11/23. The report shows Neath Port Talbot Council is on track to meet four ambitious wellbeing objectives: Best Start in Life; All Communities are Thriving and Sustainable; Our local Environment, Heritage and Culture Can Be…

Welsh Government has agreed its funding package for the redevelopment of the former Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station site. The circa £1m development will see the unused space transformed into a marketplace with events area, parks, and open green space. Councillor Michelle Symonds, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “We’re delighted that this funding package has now been confirmed and the plans for the site can be realised. These are exciting times for Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre!” Leader of the Council, Councillor Geraint Thomas, said: “We’ve taken onboard the comments of residents through two phases of consultation, and we know that residents…

Residents in Powys are being asked to help the council find anyone that may be sleeping rough in the county so that help and support can be provided. Members of the public can let Powys County Council know about rough sleeping they come across by contacting its Housing Service on 01597 827464 or by emailing [email protected] Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “With the weather turning colder, we’re asking residents to be on the lookout for anyone who is rough sleeping in the county. “Whilst rough sleeping is the severest form of homelessness…

Tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales are being encouraged to work with Visit Wales to bring more international visitors to the region. A sell-out Mid Wales Tourism Conference, held at the Metropole Hotel and Spa, Llandrindod Wells, heard that international tour operators are keen to bring visitors to the region. Recognised for its culture, adventure, landscape, history and heritage, Mid Wales is being marketed by Visit Wales to countries France, Germany, Netherlands, USA and Ireland. “Tour operators need accommodation partners and bookable attractions and experiences in Mid Wales, which have an opportunity to grow international business,” said Val Hawkins,…

The Friends of Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth are seeking support to keep a nationally important hoard of Bronze Age metalwork in the county. The exciting find of more than 50 bronze tools, weapons and body ornaments was made by metal detectorists Craig Hearne and Kieran Slade in Llangeitho in 2020. This find of a lifetime was declared as treasure by a coroner under the Treasure Act and an opportunity was given to purchase the hoard for the sum of £4,200. The Friends of Ceredigion Museum are now raising the funds necessary to ensure that the treasure remains in Ceredigion. Bronze…

Leading Welsh environmental services specialist, Forward, has clinched a coveted National Recycling Award. Forward emerged victorious in the Employee Training and Skills category at the ceremony in London on 16 November, the largest and most prestigious event in the recycling and resource management sector calendar. Forward beat the competition thanks to its ‘bringing values to life’ project, set to reaffirm the company’s five core values: trust, preparation, thoroughness, creativity, and persistence. Over the past twelve months, Forward has actively revitalised these values, aligning them with the evolving work landscape post-Covid, inspiring existing team members and guiding new recruits. Judges commented…

City Hospice’s annual charity art auction is back for its 12th year. Cardiff’s local hospice is hosting a charity art auction, as part of its Light up a Life appeal, to support its work in providing specialist palliative care to patients with life limiting and terminal illnesses, and support to their families. The auction will take place at Rogers Jones Auctioneers in Cardiff on Wednesday 13 December. Commencing at 6:30pm, guests will be welcomed with complimentary canapes and a drinks reception, before the auction begins at 7:30pm. Guests can put bids forward online or in person. Returning to wield the…