Author: Rhys Gregory

Local housebuilder, Barratt Developments South Wales, has this week reported that the first available properties at its sought-after Penllergaer development, Pentref Llewelyn, have already been sold — with only a handful of first-release homes remaining. It comes after the recent sell-out of Barratt’s nearby Chapel Fields development in Loughor —  with the new Penllergaer development proving to be just as popular.  And although additional properties are regularly being made available at Pentref Llewelyn, prospective buyers are encouraged to move quickly to ensure they don’t miss out on their dream home. Pentref Llewelyn was named in honour of the ground-breaking astrophotography father-daughter duo, John and Thereza Dillwyn Llewelyn, who hailed…

Additional Electric Vehicle (EV) charge-point locations are being installed across the county for use by residents and visitors to Ceredigion. Ceredigion County Council has partnered with Silverstone Green Energy Limited as its Charge-point Operator and have begun to install EV charge-points in public Pay and Display off-street car parks in the county. A significant growth in demand for public and private Electric Vehicle (EV) charge-points is forecast during the next ten years as the sales of EVs increase. Whilst the Council is doing its bit, a range of other public, private and community-based organisations must all play a part in…

Wheelchair basketball teams from North Wales are punching well above their weight in the UK national leagues after clinching a three-year sponsorship deal. Housing association Cartrefi Conwy are backing regional club North Wales Knights who run four teams with players based at sports centres at Rhyl, Penrhyn Bay and Anglesey. They run mixed sides competing in Division One and Division Three of the National League, a women’s team and a mixed Under-18 and Cartrefi Conwy’s support aims to keep them competitive. They are certainly making waves in the physical world of wheelchair basketball with the first team third in Division…

A rising star in the world of classical music who overcame childhood deafness has been invited to take centre stage at a major international festival. Talented conductor Robert Guy, who comes from Wrexham, will be taking the baton at the prestigious ChopinPianoFest in Pristina in Kosovo on May 29. He was recommended to the festival by one of the world’s top concert pianists, Peter Donohoe CBE. Donohoe chose Robert  to conduct while he plays the notoriously challenging Rachmaninoff Concerto No.3 with the  Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert will be a highlight of the festival that’s dedicated to the mastery of…

A new charity challenge will see 12 cyclists pedal 260 miles across the highest Welsh mountains to raise money for people with MS. They are hoping to fundraise £5,000 for local multiple sclerosis support groups, including one in Cardiff. The four-day route runs from Holyhead to Cardiff and includes 18,000ft of elevation across Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. These riders are the first to take on the challenge, which will run from the 18th to 21st May and is run by the charity Bike the UK for MS. The group will also be meeting local MS groups in Caernarfon at…

Students from the University of South Wales (USW) have created an art exhibit for a community garden in Treforest. The collaboration between Meadow Street Community Garden and BA (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts students was celebrated at a garden party on 10 May. Under the themes of biodiversity, well-being, and the community, the first-year students produced art for the sensory garden to encourage visitors to enjoy nature within their local environment. Talia Simons installed an interpretation of Pontypridd’s ‘Old Bridge’, made with an original roof tile from her family home, built in 1904. She said: “At Meadow Street Garden, their…

When Ogmore Valley Life Centre opened its doors to the public back in March 1993, the county’s attitude to health and fitness was very different. Very few people had thought of paying for a bottle of water, thousands still lit up cigarettes in public places and no one had ever heard of Zumba, Indoor Cycling or HIIT!  But times change and Ogmore Valley Life Centre has been there every step of the way to get more local people, more active, more often.“Since the Centre officially opened its doors to the local community 30 years ago this month, it has really…

Wales’ former Grand Slam-winning captain Ryan Jones has been named as the official ambassador for the Swansea University Swansea Half Marathon, which is set to take place on 11 June 2023. As the ambassador, Jones will be actively involved in promoting the race and encouraging participation from runners of all levels, and will run on behalf of Swansea University’s Making Strides for Mental Health campaign, which raises funds for essential world-class research into suicide prevention, along with mental health and wellbeing support for Swansea University students. Jones – awarded an MBE in the 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services…

Cardiff Metropolitan University has become the first Welsh university in almost 30 years to be awarded Project Grant funding from the Stroke Association to conduct research which aims to provide critical insight into stroke prevention and treatment after a patient’s first ‘mini-stroke’. The study, known as PREDICT-EV, will test new biomarkers in patients who suffer a ‘mini-stroke’, otherwise known as a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA). The research will be carried out in collaboration with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB), where patients will be screened for levels of microscopic vesicles in the blood, that if present in large numbers…

Deeside Regeneration Limited, a joint venture between Maple Grove Developments and Trebor Developments, has agreed a 10-year lease with Sainsbury’s Supermarkets for a new Argos distribution centre at Pencoed Technology Park in South Wales. The deal sees Sainsbury’s take the lease on the 46,180 sq ft industrial / warehouse facility which reaches practical completion this month. Designed by Chapter 3 Architects, the building is being delivered by contractor, Andrew Scott Ltd. Knight Frank’s Cardiff office has now been appointed to market the investment. This speculative project has been supported by a grant from the Property Infrastructure Fund which is delivered by Welsh…