Author: Rhys Gregory

The Bridgend Indoor Market is celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary on Sunday and an exciting PopUp Wales initiative means the stall holders of the future might just be around the corner. The market first opened on Monday 15 May 1972 and it was then made official the following week by the then chairman of Bridgend Urban Council. “I first remember it as a very bright big hall with pop-up stalls,” said historian, Natalie Murphy. “It’s great to see that some of the stalls are still in the same place today. For example, Peter Wood from the butchers is now retired…

Young singers from Neath Port Talbot schools are starring in a video of their inspirational cover of You’re the Voice, the song made famous by John Farnham. The moving cover version by The Cerdd NPT Music Service and pupils from Neath Port Talbot schools was recorded at Cwmtawe Community School to raise money for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Kirstie Roberts, a singer and singing teacher who works with the Cerdd NPT Music Service, along with colleagues, drove the project forward. She said: “Just a few weeks after hearing Ukraine had been invaded by Russia, feeling frustrated and helpless that more…

Nearly 14,000 visited Caerphilly Town Centre last weekend for the town’s first Food Festival since 2019. The town’s annual Food Festival has been cancelled for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however was a huge success on its first year back. Saturday 7th May saw Caerphilly Town Centre transformed into a marketplace bursting with an array of culinary delights including 70 food and craft stalls and cookery demonstrations. Street entertainers also roamed the festival throughout the day to keep everyone amused and there were also a small selection of children’s funfair rides to keep the little ones…

Ysgol Bro Sannan in Aberbargoed has been removed from the list of schools in Wales “requiring significant improvement”. A recent inspection judged the school to have made sufficient progress in relation to the recommendations following the most recent core inspection. As a result, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales has removed Ysgol Bro Sannan from the list of schools that are in need of significant improvement. The inspection report highlighted efforts made by the school and Caerphilly County Borough Council in developing a robust leadership structure, which has helped Ysgol Bro Sannan make good progress against…

Eligible unpaid carers in Caerphilly County Borough can now apply for the Welsh Government funded £500 support payment. A one-off £500 payment is available to all eligible unpaid carers in Wales who were in receipt of Carers Allowance on 31 March 2022. The payment is being made in recognition of the increased financial pressures many unpaid carers have experienced during the pandemic, and to help with some of the additional costs they have incurred.  The payment is targeted towards those individuals who care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and have low incomes. Individuals are not eligible for…

Stagecoach has informed the Merthyr Council that some of its services to and from the Merthyr Tydfil Bus Interchange will undergo significant changes from 29 May because of staff shortages. A number of buses have been cancelled, with other services covering their routes – but there will be an overall reduction.  Stagecoach says the changes are unavoidable due to driver shortages, especially in the Merthyr Tydfil area. The company is actively trying to recruit new drivers and will look to reintroduce some or increase frequency in some areas should the situation improve. Service changes across Merthyr Tydfil and Bargoed include:…

Powys County Council has announced that there will be free parking in all council owned car parks throughout the four-day Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are happening between 2 – 5 June 2022 with an extended bank holiday weekend providing the opportunities for communities to come together to celebrate this historic milestone. Following the invitation from the council to apply for free road closures to enable residents to organise their own street parties, the latest move to remove all parking charges for the weekend will help facilitate these celebrations in our local towns. Nigel Brinn, Executive…

Every child will have the opportunity to benefit from music education as part of the Welsh Government’s plans for a national music service, which will help ensure no child misses out due to a lack of means. As the National Plan for Music Education is published, the Minister for Education has confirmed funding will be trebled, with £13.5m being invested over the next three years. The plan will make access to music education fairer and more consistent across Wales, with a particular focus on learners from low-income households and those with Additional Learning Needs. Support will be available for children…

Every single business needs its own unique logo. Consumers expect it, and it helps to set your company apart from competitors. A logo also generates brand loyalty, attracts your target audience, and showcases your core values and overall business “vibe”. If you run a local business designed to bring in customers in your immediate area, you’ll want to design a logo with a local feel. Following are some tried and proven tips for doing just that. Make a List of Prominent Local Landmarks and Icons Unique local landmarks and icons will help people readily identify your business as a local…

People from all around the world can select to play in any online casino in Australia. Players looking for safe and secure online gaming sites can look into online casino providers in this country. Australians and professional gaming players worldwide, irrespective of any age, have access to a wide and entire range of online casino games. Even though Australia has over three dozen online casinos, finding one suited for real money gambling is complicated. Compared to casinos in the United Kingdom or Canada, online gambling establishments are poorly regulated across the continent. Choosing a solid Australian online casino is a…