Author: Rhys Gregory

A decision on plans to replace three Swansea Valley primary schools with a new English medium school in Pontardawe will be made by members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet on April 19th, 2023. The council’s former Cabinet approved the proposed replacement of primary schools at Alltwen, Llangiwg and Godre’rgraig with the new school plus a specialist learning centre and public swimming pool in October 2021. But after the May 2022 local elections, the council’s new Rainbow Coalition administration pledged to review the new school proposal, this being followed by a successful legal challenge to the plans by parent group…

A burns patient who spent a year in hospital after suffering horrific injuries in an explosion at his home turned to poetry to thank the ‘angels’ who cared for him at Morriston Hospital. The work from the pen of Stuart Cooper has now been presented to one the hospital wards where he was previously a patient, as part of an art collaboration with an artist who also owes her life to the NHS, in the hope it will inspire nurses and others struggling during their time in hospital. Father-of-four Stuart remembers little of the fire at his home in Cowlas near Penzance, believed to have been caused by a gas heater, which led him to being airlifted to…

A trailblazing West Wales family business, which will be exhibiting at Wonderwool Wales on April 22-23, plans to create up to six jobs when its new woollen mill is in full production later this spring. Garthenor Organic moved to a 21,000 square feet unit at Mwldan Business Park in Cardigan last year and has been gradually moving in worsted spinning machinery to produce 100 per cent organic wool yarn. Mother and son partnership Sally Davies and Jonny King, who currently have two employees, hope to have the mill in full production by early May as they attempt to meet increasing…

It is over a year since physical punishment, like smacking, became illegal in Wales. It was a historic moment for children’s rights as children received the same legal protection from common assault as adults for the first time. As part of the ongoing support for parents, Parenting. Give it time roadshows took place across Wales in March. Due to the heavy snow in Newtown on 9 March which prevented the event from taking place, the roadshow has been rescheduled and will visit Tesco Newtown on Thursday 20 April from 10am to 1pm. Parenting isn’t always easy; the Welsh Government’s Parenting. Give it time…

Persimmon Homes has appointed a new managing director at its West Wales region.   Following the recent retirement of the region’s long-standing MD, Andy Edwards, Stuart Phillips has been promoted from his previous position as Deputy Managing Director. During his thirteen years with Persimmon, Stuart has worked in various roles, including as Head of Land and Director of Land and Planning. Stuart will now assume responsibility for all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the business, which is building quality new homes for local people at numerous sites stretching from Pembrokeshire to Bridgend. Commenting on his new role, Stuart said: …

The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has made the decision not to stage the Horticulture Section at the 2023 Royal Welsh Show, while big plans are put in place to revamp the section in time for next year’s show. The difficult decision is due to the extreme financial challenges the RWAS has faced in the wake of the pandemic, rising costs and inflation. Last year, the Society experienced a significant operating loss, which is forecast to develop into a major budget deficit if current spending is continued. When looking for areas to grow income and cut down costs, the Society identified…

There are many myths surrounding driving in the UK, and sometimes it can be difficult to know what is true and what is not. To help, the team at The AA has looked to dispel some of the most common myths about driving in the UK, from driving with your interior lights on, to driving in Uggs. It’s very possible that at some point as a child, your parents told you that turning the car’s inside lights on while driving was a crime. However, you are not alone. The AA has revealed that Google searches for ‘is it illegal to…

Around 30 people are expected to participate in the third annual fundraising St George’s Walk, which, this year, will cover the Gower Peninsula. Consultant Richard Bond, from Hendy, created the charity walk in memory of his father, Barry, who passed away on St George’s Day, in 2020. And the walk raises funds for four charities close to Barry’s heart: Armed Forces charity Help for Heroes; the Scouts Association – for whom Barry was a venture scout leader; Children in Need; and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Richard, 46, explained: “He had a long association with three of the charities,…

A new kind of glass made from discarded slate for a Welsh wine producer has been tested for its food preserving qualities by researchers at Aberystwyth University. Dyffryn Nantlle based Pant Du Vineyard and Orchardproduces a range of red, white and rose wines from vines grown in a former slate mining valley in Snowdonia, along with cider and apple juice from local orchards. As part of its plans to develop a new range of apple cider vinegar, Pant Du turned to researchers at the Food, Diet and Health Research Group at Aberystwyth University to test the freshness preserving properties of…

After months of economic turmoil, a measure of confidence is returning to the economy says accountancy professional body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). A poll of accounting professionals found cautious optimism about the economic impact of the UK government’s Spring Budget compared with the Autumn Statement in late 2022. The survey was completed by ACCA members – including members in Wales – working across all sectors of the economy. In the poll, conducted in the second half of March and following the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, 36% of respondents felt the measures announced in the UK March budget would…