Author: Rhys Gregory

Aberystwyth’s bandstand will showcase a world-first series of photographic collections exploring how people’s life experiences impact on their attitudes to independence in Catalonia, Wales, and Scotland. The pop-up exhibition, Head / Heart: Framing Future Wales, is open to the public between 10am and 5pm over the next three days (13-15 April 2023) and is part of a study led by Aberystwyth academics. The research marks a fundamental shift in how independence has been studied to date. Project leaders Dr Anwen Elias and Dr Elin Royles from the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society at Aberystwyth University are using photography to…

Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd will once again host Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Friday 23rd June from 10am – 2pm. This lovely free event is aimed at nurseries, schools, families, and carers with children aged five and under. While the children enjoy all the activities such as the mini funfair, bouncy castle, arts, crafts and games, adults can pick up essential information on services available to them in Rhondda Cynon Taf. This year there will be a performance area featuring Martyn Geraint, one of Wales’ best known children’s entertainers and Cardboard City will be joining the event for the…

The important scheme to repair and refurbish Imperial Bridge in Porth will resume on site from Monday, April 17. Announced last year, this is the second scheduled phase of work that is required to protect the structure for the future. The first phase of work was carried out throughout 2022, pausing during November to comply with Natural Resources Wales’ seasonal restrictions for working within the river. The overall scheme will carry out steelwork repairs to structural elements of the bridge, repaint all steelwork and parapets, install expansion joints and complete carriageway resurfacing at Pontypridd Road. Contractor Centregreat Ltd made good…

Cardiff Council has backed the joint UK & Ireland UEFA EURO 2028 bid, jointly submitted today by theFootball Associations of Wales, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Cardiff is a vibrant and welcoming city, with a really strong track-record of successfully hosting major sporting events, and the prospect, if the UK and Ireland bid is successful, of bringing together football fans from across Europe to enjoy our unique history and culture, as well as the incredible match-day atmosphere, is really exciting for the city. “It’s potentially…

An extra bank holiday day will take place on Monday 8 May 2023 along with a series of national events aimed at celebrating the King’s Coronation from the 6 to 8 May 2023. The Coronation of His Majesty, The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, 2023. Bridgend County Borough Council has produced a step-by-step guide to help residents who want to mark the occasion with a street party or other community celebration. The street parties and non-commercial events on the highway webpage can be viewed on the council’s website. Residents…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s Warm Welcome programme has awarded nearly £30,000 to community projects and seen more than 3,500 people use their facilities this winter. As part of the Council’s work to support citizens during the cost-of-living crisis, this initiative launched in September. It offers a warm and inviting place for people to come together at no cost to enjoy a range of activities, should they wish, and access cost-of-living support. Nearly 40 locations across the Vale have taken part in the scheme, creating a network of community spaces. All of them of them were free to access and…

The Minister for Social Justice has today announced continued funding for credit unions to expand their lending and support more financially vulnerable people. £600,000 will boost a cost of living intervention introduced last year which is providing assistance to people with poor credit histories who are struggling financially. Credit unions have a proven track record of building financial resilience to those who may be more financially vulnerable. Not-for-profit, they are owned by the people who use their services, rather than by external shareholders or investors. They are affordable and responsible lenders who contribute to the economy and the financial wellbeing…

The Welsh Government is a full partner in the ambitious UK and Ireland bid to host UEFA EURO 2028, the First Minister of Wales has confirmed. The bid to host the UEFA EURO European Championship has been submitted jointly today by the five football associations of UK and Ireland in partnership with their government partners. The Welsh Government’s support for the bid was confirmed in a letter from the First Minister of Wales to the president of UEFA, Aleksander Čeferin. First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, said: “It is with great pleasure that we can support the UK and Ireland…

The Welsh Government is supporting Aberystwyth-based LEB Construction Limited to expand its operations at the town’s Glanyrafon Industrial Estate with a £537,000 investment which will help the company grow, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething has announced this week. The mid Wales company specialise in delivering complex remodelling, refurbishment, and new build projects. Some recent highlights include the £2.73m refurbishment, extensions and alterations at Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi, the £1.1m redevelopment of Lampeter Leisure Centre into Ceredigion’s Flagship “Wellbeing Hub” and the £1.8m development of the new Post Room for the National Library of Wales. The company currently directly employ 14 FTE staff…

The eyewear industry is a key culprit for plastic waste and the production of carbon emissions across the globe. With over 4 billion adults now wearing glasses across the globe, brands are constantly churning out new specs and styles to meet the growing demand for trendy eyewear. As luxury brands continue to use “detractive manufacturing” techniques to speed up production times, over 65-70% of the acetate plastic used during production is disregarded. Moving into 2023, this ever-growing market has an eco-friendly journey on its hands. The question is, could technology be the answer the industry has been looking for? On…