Author: Rhys Gregory

Work is progressing at a significant refurbishment project at a school in Merthyr Tydfil which will pave the way for the future construction of educational facilities in Wales.    Morgan Sindall Construction was appointed the contract for Pen Y Dre High School by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council last summer, which once complete will be the first major school refurbishment project delivering net zero carbon in operation in Wales.   The scheme is partially funded by the Welsh Government, as part of its Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme which aims to invest in and improve educational facilities.    The news follows an announcement from…

Residents of two Gwynedd specialist dementia care homes are catching the next train back in time after new simulation launches to replicate the historic North West Wales railways. Patients at Meddyg Care Group’s Criccieth and Porthmadog homes are boarding the ‘Meddyg Care Express’, a train carriage installation which will provide a new themed area for its occupants recreating traditional first-class rail travel. The simulator features a high-quality 60-inch screen showing hours of footage of the local region, as well as vintage lighting, luggage, storage racks, seating, and a table. Additionally, an expanded railway experience is found at Porthmadog, with the…

North has announced the appointment of David Crawford as its new Chief Executive Officer as it seeks to drive further growth and reinforce its position as the UK’s leading provider of smart integrated technology solutions. North operates at the forefront of the smart integrated technologies market, working with public and private sector clients to transform the way people, organisations and places work. Backed by Livingbridge, a global mid-market private equity firm, North is focused on driving growth across its advanced networking, Internet of Things (IoT) and intelligent security solutions and services. Crawford joins from Cellnex Telecom, Europe’s leading telecoms infrastructure…

Creative Wales has joined forces with Horizons and iconic Welsh venue, Clwb Ifor Bach, to produce a showcase of Welsh talent featured at this year’s The Great Escape in Brighton. The Great Escape is regarded as one of the UK’s most important festivals for new music and music lovers.  Showcase Cymru brings together emerging Welsh artists listed on this year’s bill and highlights the diversity and wealth of talent continuing to come out of the Welsh music scene. The showcase will take place across two days on the afternoons of the 11th and 12th May 2023 at One Church Brighton,…

Following on from a week of contrasts, with increasingly warmer conditions spreading north eastwards across the UK following below-average temperatures earlier in the week. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: “The cold conditions from earlier in the week will linger longest in the far north of Scotland but the rest of the UK will see the transition to warmer, but more unsettled conditions. However, frost is still a possibility in central areas of the UK where cloud gives way to clearer spells. https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1651209371836207104 “Following on from Wednesday’s largely cloudy conditions, two areas of rain will move in overnight. Western…

Forty-seven new, air-quality monitoring stations are to be placed across the city to help measure pollution in the air that we breathe. The monitors – which will identify levels of Nitrogen Dioxide and very small particles of dust known as Particulate Matter (PM10and PM2.5) – will further improve how Cardiff Council measures air pollution and better identify problems quickly and take steps to reduce pollution. They will be placed in the city’s four Air Quality Monitoring Areas (AQMAs) and more widely across the whole of the city, near areas of concern like schools and health centres following an assessment procedure…

A colourful parade with a carnival atmosphere will make its way through the city centre on Saturday as the annual Swansea Pride festival returns. This year the free festival which starts at 12 noon and runs until 7pm is taking place in the car park and grounds at the front of the Guildhall and the nearby Brangwyn Hall. It has been moved as the traditional venue at Museum Park has not recovered from weeks of heavy rain. Prior to the festival a parade will take place, starting out from Wind Street at 11am and then making its way through the…

One of Swansea’s most successful ever art shows is being extended. The free-entry His Dark Materials exhibition at Swansea Council’s Glynn Vivian Art Gallery has attracted more than 24,000 visitors since its launch just before Christmas. Last month saw the city centre gallery enjoy its highest monthly visitor figure – more than 8,700 – since an exhibition of works by iconic painter LS Lowry 21 years ago. Council cabinet member Elliott King said: “This is an exceptional exhibition in a beautiful gallery. It’s fantastic that so many people have enjoyed it. “I’m delighted that it’s been extended so that yet…

The last few years have been a difficult time for businesses, especially those who want to start a new venture. The impact of the Covid pandemic, the changing shopping habits along with the shift to online shopping have all challenged Town Centres. Encouraging new businesses into the Town Centre has proven difficult resulting in vacancies. One Government-led initiative to encourage the temporary occupation of vacant shops in Town Centre’s is a scheme called Meanwhile Use. The Meanwhile Use Scheme provides new businesses with financial assistance allowing them the opportunity to take on a tenancy and test trade the market without…

Two pupils from Osbaston CiW School in Monmouth have presented a ‘Save the Polar Bears’ petition to Monmouthshire County Council’s Place Scrutiny Meeting. The petition was signed by pupils from the primary school who want to see the end of single-use plastics to help address the climate emergency. The pupils, Charlotte and Ffion, stood in the Council Chamber and read their petition to the Cabinet, to Councillors representing wards across the county and to officers from across the Council. Council Leader, Cllr. Mary Ann Brocklesby, spent time with the pupils prior to the meeting discussing their petition and praising their…