Author: Rhys Gregory

A Caerphilly County Borough Council owned sheltered housing scheme in Springfield, Pontllanfraith has been transformed thanks to a £3.18 million investment. Former bedsit accommodation at Ynyswen has been remodelled to provide residents with bright, spacious 1 and 2 bedroomed apartments.  Each home has received extensive refurbishments including new kitchens, wet rooms and heating systems and most are fully wheelchair accessible.  A sprinkler system has also been installed in the building for residents’ safety. New windows and rendering have improved the appearance of the building as well as making it more energy efficient.  Solar panels have also been fitted on the…

A pioneering primary school, built by Powys County Council, has picked up a top award at Wales’ prestigious construction awards ceremony. Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School, which opened its doors in January 2021, won the Value Award at the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards 2023. The awards ceremony, which are recognised across the Welsh built environment as the biggest and brightest celebration of best practice in Wales, took place last Friday (16 June) at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. The school building, which was built as part of the council’s Transforming Education Programme, had also been shortlisted in…

Creative Wales’ investment in productions has boosted the Welsh economy by £187m since it was created in 2020, Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden announced this week. The Deputy Minister revealed the figures at Creative Wales’ first in-person showcase event being held in Cardiff today, which will celebrate the sector’s achievements and outline plans for future growth and development.  Since its establishment, Creative Wales – the Welsh Government’s creative agency – has invested £16.3m in production funding to 31 projects, generating over £187m into the Welsh economy and demonstrating in excess of an 11:1 Return on Investment…

THE submersible which has gone missing while diving on the wreck of the Titanic is the the only commercial vessel capable of reaching it, according to an expert. British Titanic Society chair David Scott-Beddard told GB News: “It’s an incredibly difficult dive. It’s been going on since the wreck was discovered in 1985. “And of course the original dives, including the filming for James Cameron’s movie, were carried out by two Russian submersibles which are no longer in operation and the OceanGate Titan, this particular submersible is the only one currently capable in commercial use, I believe, that can take…

More than 30,000 images of artworks from the collection of Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales will now be available to explore from the comfort of your own phone. Launching today (Tuesday 20th June), Celf ar y Cyd, a core feature of the National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales, led by Amgueddfa Cymru (in partnership with Arts Council of Wales, National Library of Wales, and with support from Welsh Government), gives the people of Wales and beyond digital access to the nation’s collection of contemporary art in a first-of-its-kind project, developed and created following responses to a Wales-wide public consultation. With…

MORE than 17,000 visitors enjoyed this year’s record-breaking Bolesworth International. The lifestyle and equestrian festival packed hundreds of activities into five days featuring celebrity guests, international showjumping competitions and a feast of fun for all the family. The Brand New Heavies, Rick Parfitt Jr and DJ Trevor Nelson were among the stars who took to the live music stage over the weekend, and from Wednesday to Sunday there was a wide selection of things to do, from falconry displays, freestyle motocross and a wildlife and reptile show to a celebrity BBQ masterclass, fancy dress parade, BMX displays, a dog activity…

A new woodland grove has been planted in Neath to commemorate 75 years since HMT Empire Windrush docked in England on 22nd June 1948, and the significant contributions that the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to life here in Wales. The creation of the Windrush Grove was facilitated by Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, and forms part of Brynau, the largest woodland creation project ever to be undertaken by the charity in Wales. To celebrate, Windrush Elders were invited to a special event at Brynau; it was an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of the Windrush…

A man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after he mutilated a hedgehog who was found alive in a bedroom drawer covered in blood. Richard Coyle of no fixed abode appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday 16 June for sentencing after pleading guilty to one offence. The offence was that on or about 29 September 2022 at Greenmeadow Drive, Crosskeys, he caused unnecessary suffering to a captive hedgehog and knew that deliberately mutilating the animal would have been contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. As well as the prison sentence he was also banned from keeping…

Lloyds Bank has strengthened its support for businesses in Wales after appointing two new relationship managers. Jonathan Michael and Josh Williams both join a team of eight working under Sam Noble, area director for South Wales. In the new roles they will be working closely with businesses in Wales, providing tailored financial packages to help firms achieve their immediate and long-term ambitions. Jonathan Michael has more than 15 years’ experience in the sector. In his new role, he will specialise in supporting manufacturing businesses and providing bespoke financial aid as well as support and advice for companies. To further its…

A South Wales college is set to welcome a cohort of famous film industry professionals to run exclusive workshops and masterclasses for aspiring young screen sector creatives this July. Off the back of the successful His Dark Materials exhibition that ran in March, seeing over 1,000 visitors, Coleg y Cymoedd’s brand new Make! programme will open to the public this summer to highlight career opportunities and emerging technologies in film, such as creature effects, digital technologies and costume construction through a range of practical workshops, lectures, and industry engagement from leading professionals. The sessions will be run by renowned industry…