Author: Rhys Gregory

Improvement works to the Newport City footbridge will begin today (Friday 28 April). The works will see new deck boards laid across the length of the bridge. These boards are designed to reduce the noise levels made by people crossing the bridge, particularly those on bikes and scooters. Some of the new deck boards were installed at one end of the bridge in March as a trial, the results of which showed that they were effective in reducing noise levels Work will start tomorrow and is scheduled to be completed within six weeks. While there will be some disruption, the…

A tender package to build 32 one-bedroom flats in north Powys has now been published, the county council has said. Powys County Council’s Affordable Housing Team is looking to appoint a principal contractor to build the energy efficient homes on the site of the former Robert Owen House in Newtown. The new homes will be owned and managed by the council and allocated to applicants on the Powys Common Housing Register. Cllr Matthew Dorrance, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys, said: “One of the priorities of the Cabinet is to tackle the housing emergency in the county…

Minister for Climate Change Julie James has announced a pot of nearly £11m to help curb the decline of Wales’ wildlife today, as she met with scientists working to save the Atlantic wild salmon. Experts say the ancient fish could disappear from Welsh rivers by the next two decades. The Minister named nine new large and 17 medium projects who will benefit from the latest round of Nature Networks funding, to strengthen the resilience of Wales’ seas, forests and disappearing grasslands. These are home to some of Wales’ most iconic species, including the curlew, otter and bottlenose dolphin. Over centuries,…

A new plan to boost business in Wales, developed by Innovate UK, in partnership with Welsh Government, has been launched, paving the way for a strengthened innovation economy. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed at an event held yesterday [Thursday 27th April] attended by business leaders from the region, at AMRC Cymru in Broughton, North Wales, which is part of the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) industry-focused R&D innovation cluster. The call to action has three themes: Connecting Support; ensuring that stakeholders in Wales have clear and effective routes to innovation support schemes, making Welsh Government a partner in Innovate UK’s business…

CHRISTMAS has come early for fans of one of the North West’s premier venues. Tickets are now on sale for the Bolesworth winter spectacular, with early bird offers up for grabs. The 6,000-acre estate’s festive extravaganza will this year include a 240 square-metre real ice skating rink, fairground, Santa and his reindeer at Rudolph’s Rest, food and drink, a Champagne bar, and the popular lights trail. People are urged to book now to capitalise on a 50% discount for Santa’s Grotto, with a 20% reduction on all other attractions until Monday (May 1). Nina Barbour, Managing Director of the Bolesworth Estate, said: “Christmas…

Although the sport of greyhound racing has fallen on hard times in Wales, one trainer from Merthyr Tydfil remains ‘in the Hunt’ for the sport’s richest prize. Nathan Hunt, who also happens to be one of the youngest trainers in greyhound racing at 28, is expected to have a number of entries into the English Greyhound Derby this May – and that includes Category One winners. The Derby, held at Towcester Racecourse each year, boasts a champion’s prize of £175,000 – making it by and far away the most prestigious renewal in greyhound racing. Competition for the title and the…

You already know a reason why your sixties are commonly referred to as the golden years. You have already started a family and you get to watch as that family grows and grandkids start to enter your life. Don’t forget that you also have that well-earned retirement to look forward to. What’s more, you get to watch all this unfold with an increasing amount of wisdom and experience. Unfortunately, the human body isn’t as durable as the mind. There is no reason that you should be concerned about the issues of ageing, however. There are plenty of methods out there…

Aberystwyth University has been crowned a winner at this year’s Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCA), collecting two coveted awards. At a glamorous black-tie ceremony hosted by comedian, actor and writer Ellie Taylor, Aberystwyth picked up the Lecturers and Teaching Quality and the Student Life awards as well as being the highest placed Welsh University in the overall ‘University of the Year’ award. The Whatuni Student Choice Awards are the UK’s leading student-led university awards. Now in their tenth year, they celebrate the UK’s best universities. This year saw 35,000 verified student reviews generated from over 240 higher education institutions across…

A new housing development on the site of the former Penallta Colliery near Hengoed, Caerphilly is now complete, with residents moved in and enjoying their new homes. Not-for-profit housing organisation United Welsh worked in partnership with Caerphilly Council and Morganstone Ltd to develop 48 homes for affordable rent and home ownership. 38 of the homes were allocated for rent through Caerphilly Council’s Common Housing Register, with a further 10 homes sold through Harmoni Homes – United Welsh’s brand for affordable homes for sale. Kerry and Rob Bailey purchased a three-bedroom home with Harmoni Homes. Kerry said: “We have been tenants…

Data-driven marketing and technology agency Yard has achieved B Corp status just two years after completing a seven figure management buy-in funded by the Development Bank of Wales. Yard Associates was first established in 2006 in Cardiff by founding Directors Stephan Briggs and Paul Newbury who met when working together at Lloyds Bank. Chief Executive Collette Easton became a shareholder with a stake in the business in 2021 alongside Owen Davies as Client Director when the Development Bank made its third investment in Yard with an equity stake worth 16%. Specialising in providing data driven analysis of consumer behaviour, Yard…