Author: Rhys Gregory

Four storeys above street level have now been constructed as building work continues on a major new development in Swansea city centre. With construction earmarked for completion in early 2024, the office development at 71/72 Kingsway will provide space for 600 workers in sectors like tech and digital once it’s up and running. Developed by Swansea Council, Bouygues UK are main contactors for the scheme, which is taking shape at the site of the former Oceana nightclub. The building will include unique internal and external public spaces with a reception area, balconies, a green rooftop terrace, atriums, dedicated event areas,…

REDEVELOPMENT of a disused school building will create up to 30 jobs and breathe new life into a picturesque Cheshire village. Bolesworth Estate has submitted plans to transform the Grade II-listed former Harthill School and schoolmaster’s house into a high-quality restaurant and pub. Proposals also include a staff apartment, the demolition of a 1960s extension and conservatory, and construction of a single-storey rear extension with patio, and the rebuilding of an existing barn as a storage facility for plant and bicycles. Neglected outdoor space would be utilised for landscaping, parking for up to 59 vehicles, and an accessible children’s play…

A NEW mental health community rehabilitation service for women has opened near Merthyr Tydfil. Ty Alarch, run by Cygnet Group, is a six bed community rehabilitation service for women who have been able to progress through the hospital pathway at existing service, Cygnet St Teilo House. The hospital is part of the Cygnet Health Care division and was officially opened in a ribbon cutting ceremony by local actor Ross O’Hennessy who is known for appearances in Game of Thrones, Holby City and Mission Impossible. The new service, on Park Terrace, has six en-suite bedrooms with spacious communal living areas including…

Dylan’s Den Crystal Shop, an independent crystal and giftware retail business, is expanding with the opening of a new shop in Aberystwyth. Part-funded by a £100,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales, the new shop on Great Darkgate Street is the fourth in the Dylan Jones Group,  with the first having opened in Tregaron in 2021. Other high street locations now include Monnow Street, Monmouth and Terrace Road, Aberystwyth. Plans are in progress for a further two Welsh stores for 2023/24. Established by property professional Dylan Jones, Dylan’s Den now employs 16 staff and is managed by daughter Caitlin…

Locals and visitors to Cwmbran who are looking for new ways to try meat-based alternatives, are invited to visit The Queen Inn as it announces its mouth-watering Summer Menu.   The traditional pub first made headlines in early 2023 when it became the ‘world’s first vegan steakhouse’ and now it’s back in the news with its new Summer Menu – featuring two delicious dishes made with award-winning [MOCK]® Lamb Pieces:  [MOCK]® l*mb rogan josh, served with rice and/or chips [MOCK]® minted l*mb skewers salad bowl, served with potato salad, coleslaw, pickled red cabbage, quinoa, and green salad Ryan Edwards, Owner…

Llanelli-based charity Foothold Cymru is celebrating after being awarded a share of £500,000 to run an innovative eco project to help tackle electronic waste and to support devices being used again and again. Foothold Cymry has received a £42,000 grant from the Time After Time fund, created by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub to support environmental projects across the country. Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub established the Time After Time fund last year in response to the growing environmental impact of e-waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the world – with the UK producing more electrical…

The Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Music Service is changing to ‘Cardiff and Vale Music Education’.The service has been refreshed, with a different look including a new logo and website making the service wider and more user-friendly for pupils, parents and schools. The Cardiff and Vale Music Education is going from strength to strength following the launch of the National Plan for Music Education last September and in order to respond to its new crucial role as the local lead organisation for the National Music Service, a fresh new name, brand, website and parent and school portal has been developed.…

Funding is available of between £10,000 and £250,000 for projects to benefit local communities across Cardiff. The funding is available to a range of organisations that can demonstrate that they can deliver projects which benefit local communities, build pride in place, deliver economic benefits, and are in line with both the required criteria and Cardiff Council’s Stronger, Fairer, Greener Policy. The eligible organisations are: Local authorities and other public sector bodies Private sector companies that deliver projects Voluntary and third sector organisations Further education and higher education colleges and institutions All of the information on the funding and eligibility criteria…

Residents who have downloaded the Cardiff Gov app on their mobile devices can now report issues with street lighting in the city. The latest release of the app, available to download on the Google Play Store or Apple’s App store, allows residents to quickly and conveniently tell the Council about a street lighting fault, pinpointing its exact location on in-app map. The new function is the latest to be added to the app, which has now been downloaded almost 77,000 times since its launch, with almost 1,400 downloads last month alone. The street lighting reporting joins a host of other…

A unique project in Pembroke Dock ‘Tackling Loneliness’ is bringing the local community together with veterans. An Enhancing Pembrokeshire grant of £20,000, in collaboration with the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, has funded a Peer Mentor, who supports many people, not just veterans, at its former Catholic school site. The funding also allowed the continuation of weekday Naafi breaks where participants can chat and enjoy the company of other veterans. There is a focus on older veterans living in the local area, but all ages and people from all walks of life are now involved. Peer mentor Kevin Stanley, a…