Author: Rhys Gregory

New insights gathered by YouGov on behalf of the Bevan Foundation reveal the true impact of the cost-of-living crisis on Welsh families. The majority of people in Wales are now cutting back on essential items. Between January and July 57 per cent cut back on heating, electricity and/or water, 51 per cent cut back on clothing for adults, 45 per cent cut back on transport costs and 39 per cent cut back on food for adults. Dr Steffan Evans of the Bevan Foundation said: “Surging costs and sluggish income growth means that families all over Wales are feeling the pinch. The…

Swansea contractor ADS has won a three-year contract to transform the kitchens and bathrooms for ateb housing association’s customers. ateb is based in West Wales and currently has over 3000 homes, predominantly in Pembrokeshire, that are rented out on either a social or intermediate rental basis. It periodically replaces the kitchens and bathrooms in the homes as part of its planned improvement programme, and ADS has been tasked with the job. Allyn Pritchard, Maintenance Manager at ateb said: “It’s important to us that homes are well maintained and a great place to live for our customers. We also know that having a new…

Hay Festival Winter Weekend is back to bring writers and readers together for a year-end wonderland of in-person events to inspire, examine and entertain, 24-27 November, in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. Now in its 23rd year, this year’s event will take place at the newly renovated Hay Castle where an eclectic mix of speakers and performers will offer conversations, candle-lit storytelling, comedy, music and family workshops. The full programme is scheduled for release on Tuesday 27 September with priority booking for Friends of Hay Festival. Visit hayfestival.org/winter-weekend for the latest details. More intimate than the spring edition, Hay Festival Winter Weekend sees the Welsh…

One of Cardiff’s most iconic bars, The Philharmonic, will be celebrating the fifth birthday of its reopening this week (July 28th). In July 2017, The Philly reopened its doors to the public after a £1million renovation of the Grade II listed building. Croeso Pubs took over the lease of The Philharmonic in early 2017 and completely gutted the building, repairing a lot of the remedial work carried out by previous owners as well as having to deal with the complicated structure of the premises. During the renovations, they found hidden gems such as a hidden lane which ran between the…

Getting to grips with Snowdonia’s many mountain bike trails will now be easier with Plas y Brenin’s new e-Mountain Bike courses starting in September. The popularity of e-bikes has seen an upsurge in those looking to explore more technical and demanding tracks. Plas y Brenin’s purpose-built bike centre includes a specialist workshop and on-site skills courses. So as well as heading out on amazing trails, participants will be able to practice on dedicated skills areas and wider tracks. The E-Bike Essentials course will also provide riders with a dedicated action plan for their future riding journeys. Led by experienced instructor…

South Wales Police & Crime Commissioner Alun Michael and his team have been successful in their bid for funding worth almost £1.5million to deliver a series of initiatives aimed at keeping women safe, whilst also addressing anti-social behaviour in identified areas across Bridgend and Cardiff. The two successful bids were developed in partnership with organisations including Cardiff Council, Bridgend Council, South Wales Fire & Rescue and Welsh Women’s Aid, as well as other key statutory and third sector partners across the two local authority areas in addition to South Wales Police themselves.  The individual funding allocation of the two bids…

The redevelopment of an iconic Abergele town centre site has moved a step closer with designs being drawn up. Housing association Cartrefi Conwy say they will be consulting local people later this year over the proposals for the long derelict Bee Hotel and the adjoining former Slater’s Citroen and Nissan dealerships. Slaters closed suddenly in March 2018 after 100 years of trading and then went into administration. The shock collapse left 74 people out of work and ended the company’s century-long association with the market town. Cartrefi Conwy have joined forces with contractors Anwyl Partnerships to breathe new life into…

A flagship research and development centre has opened in Welshpool thanks to a £1.98m investment by the Welsh Government, Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has announced today. Automotive manufacturer YASA Ltd will significantly expand its operations from the new centre, based at Offa’s Dyke Business Park, creating up to 40 new jobs. YASA, a leading manufacturer of advanced electric motors and motor controllers for hybrid and electric vehicles, anticipates it will almost treble its workforce at its new base. The building, which has been constructed by mid-Wales building contractors Pave Aways, will include rooms designed for high velocity impacts which will…

Most adults in Wales will now only need to see their dentist once a year, in a shake-up to improve access to NHS dentistry Wales’ new Chief Dental Officer Andrew Dickenson today set out changes, which will make it easier for people to see an NHS dentist and for dentists to focus on those who need help. Changes to NHS dental contracts and to the outdated practice of recalling people for check-ups every six-months will help free up dentists’ time and enable practices to take on up to 112,000 new NHS patients a year. Over the last two decades there…

The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford and Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden have sent a message of good luck to Team Wales before the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Ahead of the opening ceremony of the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the First Minister and Deputy Minister said Team Wales will inspire the next generation of athletes and para-athletes to compete for their nation at the highest level. The Commonwealth Games are an opportunity for Wales’ athletes to compete as a nation in its own right, alongside 72 other nations. 199 Welsh athletes and…