Author: Rhys Gregory

M&S Pontarddulais has unveiled a brand-new look for customers. The Foodhall’s fresh new look is part of a significant investment in South Wales, with Store Manager Darcie Price and long serving colleague Allison Hart, who is celebrating 42 years of service, declaring the Foodhall officially ‘reopen’ this week, cutting the ribbon alongside Percy Pig. Customers were invited to explore the bigger, better, fresher store and meet local Welsh suppliers, whose brilliant products are featured in M&S stores across the UK, with samples of whisky, Brecon gin and tonics from Penderyn, alongside Shirgar butter from Castle Dairies enjoyed by many. To…

There definitely ain’t no mountain high enough for an intrepid group of mums of children with life-shortening conditions who are set to tackle the Welsh Three Peaks for Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice. The eight mothers, all of whom have a child cared for by the much-loved children’s hospice, are aiming to conquer Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen-y-Fan on Sunday, May 7 despite most of them being self-confessed newbies to mountain walking. What they are old hands at, though, is dealing with the emotional, physical, and practical mountains to climb that come thick and fast when looking after…

Haven, the UK’s leading holiday park operator and a Blackstone portfolio company, has announced it is recruiting over 80 new seasonal and permanent team members at Quay West as the holiday season opens for 2023. Roles are available across a range of positions within activities & leisure and food & beverage, including chefs, lifeguards, front of house, and cleaners at Haven’s Quay West resort. Both full time and part time vacancies are available. The significant recruitment drive follows an investment of over £170 million in Haven, across multiple parks in 2023, driven by the continued growth of the domestic tourism…

After a largely fine and dry Easter weekend for most, things are turning more unsettled, with wind warnings in force from Tuesday afternoon. High pressure, which has been responsible for the dry and fine weekend weather for most, will move away to the east, to be replaced by a westerly Atlantic regime, with periods of winds and rain to come. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “A change is on the way for the UK weather as the dry, settled, and in places warm conditions are replaced by a more unsettled weather pattern from Sunday afternoon. “This change happens…

Orbis Education and Care has appointed Danielle Coakley as Head of Education at its Brecon service Ty Bronllys. The appointment comes after Danielle, from Pontypridd, recently received her own autism diagnosis, which she believes gives her a unique understanding of the needs of the children and young people at Ty Bronllys. Orbis is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist schools and homes, supporting children and adults with complex needs associated with autism. Thirty-five year old Danielle, who is also a mother-of-one, says being autistic herself allows her to have a distinctive insight into supporting children and adults with…

New legislation from Welsh Government means that from 17 September 2023, the national speed limit will fall from 30mph to 20mph on restricted roads. The move aims to reduce road injuries, offer a safer environment to encourage cycling or walking, as well as lower noise pollution. The council has identified some roads in Bridgend County Borough that may retain the existing 30mph speed limit. These roads will then be exceptions to the Welsh Government 20mph scheme. Bridgend County Borough Council is looking to gather feedback for the roads that are proposed as exceptions. An online public engagement is currently underway,…

A ‘soft marketing’ exercise inviting offers from experienced and qualified theatre, arts and venue services organisations, interested in leasing and operating St David’s Hall has begun. The exercise follows a Cardiff Council Cabinet decision to agree in principle an offer from Academy Music Group (AMG) Ltd, to take over the running of the National Concert Hall of Wales, and is an additional process aimed at ensuring best value is achieved. If the AMG offer remains the best option following the completion of the six-week marketing exercise, a Voluntary Ex-ante (VEAT) notice of intent providing details of the draft contract negotiated…

Following an investigation by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards department, the director of a Resolven landscaping company, “Total Landscaping Solutions Ltd”, Nicholas REES, who preyed on vulnerable consumers and made false claims has been sentenced to 8 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years and ordered to pay £9000 compensation at Swansea Crown Court for offences of fraud and theft. In December 2020 the department received a complaint about Total Landscaping Solutions Ltd which had entered into a contract locally with an elderly couple to renovate their garden so they could access and enjoy it during their retirement. The initial…

Experienced operator for Haverfordwest’s Palace Cinema is set to give the venue a new lease of life. Independent cinema operator Sinema Palace Ltd has signed a lease with Pembrokeshire County Council to run the venue and aims to be open before the end of the Easter holidays. Sinema Palace Ltd owner Alejandro Whyatt, based in Essex, is working with his father Ashley and their team, to improve the sound and picture quality at the cinema ready to screen the new Super Mario Bros. Movie. Further work to refurbish and improve the Grade II listed building, that opened in 1913, originally…

One of the oldest Armed Forces veterans in Wales, the oldest in Rhondda Cynon Taf, is celebrating his 100th birthday this week surrounded by family, friends and former Servicemen and women at a special event held in Pontypridd. Gordon White, known all his life as Pop, was born on April 2, 1923, one of eight children born to Alfred and Alice White. He attended Pwllgwaun Infants School and Maesycoed Boys School before starting work underground at Pwllgwaun Colliery, Pontypridd, at just 14 years of age. Councillor Maureen Webber, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Deputy Leader and Armed Forces Champion, said: “On…