Author: Rhys Gregory

Educational talks, cookery workshops and free fitness sessions have been helping to inspire people in Swansea to live an even healthier lifestyle. The Penderi Local Cluster Collaborative (LCC) hosted a free health and wellbeing event with a wide range of fitness classes, workshops and talks on offer. Its main aim was to support and motivate people to improve their health and wellbeing by making them aware of different resources and organisations available to them. Held at Penlan Leisure Centre, it was the first event of its kind to be hosted by the LCC. Members of the public learned how to…

On Thursday 30th March, not-for-profit housing organisation United Welsh welcomed councillors from Caerphilly Council and Bedwas Trethomas Machen Community Council for a tour of Ty Yn Y Pwll, a new apartment building of 25 new homes in the heart of Trethomas. Built at the site of the former Ty Yn Y Pwll pub and hotel on Newport Road, development work to build the new homes for older people is now complete. Ty Yn Y Pwll includes one and two-bedroom apartments for people aged over 55, with communal social space on the ground floor. The new apartments have all achieved an…

A young football star has the world at his feet after playing for Wales and rubbing shoulders with real life royalty and the Hollywood variety. Cai Lloyd Evans, 17, who lives in Bangor and plays football for the Wrexham AFC youth team, was a member of the 20-strong Wales Schools Under 18 squad who took part in the 2023 Roma Caput Mundi tournament in Italy. Cai’s mum Sandra, who is the manager at the award winning Bryn Seiont Newydd care home on the outskirts of Caernarfon, often takes Cai to the training sessions and regularly watches him play. “I enjoy…

A splash of colour and good measure of community partnership working has brightened up the walk to school for pupils and families in Llanedeyrn. A vibrant new mural has been painted on a subway in the area close to St Philip Evans RC Primary School, thanks to a collaboration between the schoolchildren, the Council’s Caretaking Services and Cardiff-based mural company, Wall-op Murals. The Council’s graffiti removal team cleaned and jet-washed the subway, which suffered frequent vandalism and was in desperate need of some TLC, to prepare the space for its mini-makeover. The mural was then created by children from St…

School cook Pat Morgan has retired after more than three decades working for Bryn Celyn in Pentwyn and more recently for Ysgol Pen Y Groes. During hercareer Pat has served nearly 1 million lunches and has seen generations of families pass through the school. Pat has been a huge part of the local community and her smile and sense of fun as she fed hundreds of hungry children every day, has been infectious. Pat is looking forward to her retirement and her husband is hoping to persuade her to join him on his allotment! A spokesperson thanked Pat for her…

TWO of Swansea’s longest-serving councillors have become Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor. Cllr Graham Thomas succeeds Councillor Mike Day, to become Lord Mayor for 2023/24 and his deputy will be Cllr Paxton Hood-Williams. Cllr Thomas, who has been a ward member for Cwmbwrla since 1999, will take up his post following inauguration in May after Full Council agreed the move at its meeting on March 30. As Lord Mayor Cllr Thomas will have an important civic and ceremonial role as the city’s official ambassador. He will also be involved in raising money for local good causes. Cllr Thomas said:…

A dedicated team of part-time Swansea Council workers has launched the Swansea Bay Land Rider Train for its new season. They’ll take thousands of passengers on trips between Mumbles and Blackpill through the warmer months. Retired teacher Geoff Davies and retired police officer Andy Maslin are part of the small team of drivers employed on a part-time seasonal basis by the council. Geoff said: “I love meeting people who ride the train and have become good friends with some of them. Some see it as a really magical experience.” Andy said: “The service gives a lot of pleasure to a lot…

The countdown to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort is on and Swansea residents can get involved by throwing their own street parties. The council has waived road closure fees for locals who want to close off their street for street parties to celebrate the monarch’s coronation on the bank holiday weekend of May 6-8. Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “Now’s the time to get organising if you want to celebrate the coronation weekend in style. For most of us it will be the first coronation to take place in our lifetimes, so…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has secured full funding from Welsh Government to deliver the brand new school for the community of Glyn-coch – which will include innovative green technologies and establish an on-site civic hub. On Friday, March 24, Education and Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles announced the new school for Glyn-coch is one of only three successful entries to the Sustainable Schools Challenge. The projects, which will be funded by a combined investment of £44.7m, demonstrated innovative ways to collaborate with communities in the design, delivery and management of the schools. Following a six-week public consultation in early 2022,…

A Herefordshire rogue trader, who targeted victims in Powys, has been jailed for 33 months. Naheed Plumridge was sentenced by Worcester Crown Court on Friday, March 24 after being found guilty of 14 counts of fraud and one count of fraudulent trading. The successful prosecution was led by Herefordshire County Council with the support from Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Service. An investigation by trading standards officers in Powys found that in early 2020, Plumridge had carried out roof works at a property in Llandrindod Wells for £2,000, intending to make a gain of £1,245 for himself. Officers also found…