Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

A boy who died from a brain tumour is the inspiration behind a book to help families impacted by the deadly disease. Finn McCabe from Barry in Wales was just 12 when he died from a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a year after he was diagnosed. Sister-in-law, Alana Frassinelli, 25, took to writing through her grief publishing ‘A Guardian In The Sky’ which shares Finn’s memory with the nephew he never got to meet. The mum of one said: “It took around 18 months after Finn’s death for me to complete the book. I found the process cathartic, helping…

Swansea’s amazing summer of entertainment is set to continue with a fantastic weekend line-up of top class music. Global stars Nile Rodgers and CHIC, Anne-Marie and Paul Weller are set to play Singleton Park over three consecutive days from this Friday, July 29. Rodgers – with hits such as Le Freak and Everybody Dance – plays the Friday, Anne-Marie (2002 and Friends) the Saturday, and Weller (That’s Entertainment & The Changing Man) the Sunday. The weekend is brought to Swansea by promoters Orchard Live and supported by Swansea Council who are working with promoters to prepare the venue. A limited…

Ysgol Gymraeg Penalltau in Hengoed, Caerphilly has been awarded a Siarter Iaith Gold Award for their work promoting the use of the Welsh Language. The Siarter Iaith, is a project introduced by the Welsh Assembly to all schools in Wales, to promote the Welsh language, develop a Welsh ethos and encourage pupils to improve their Welsh language skills, with the aim to increase the social use of Welsh by children and young people. There are three Siarter Iaith awards: bronze, silver and gold, with each having separate targets. Some of the targets for the gold award include: Pupils are able…

Cardiff Council has been honoured with a prestigious Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) gold award for its support for the Armed Forces. The highest award in the ERS, it is presented to those employers that employ and support those who serve in the Armed Forces or the Reserves, veterans and their families and was launched in 2014 by then-Prime Minister David Cameron to ensure serving personnel and veterans are treated fairly. Minister for Defence People Leo Docherty said: “Regardless of size, location or sector, employing members of the Armed Forces community is good for business and these awards…