Author: Rhys Gregory

The Llandaff Sub-Control Centre is a single storey, windowless building which is rarely noticed by members of the public — but it once held secrets of Wales’s role in the Cold War. In recognition of this, Cadw has awarded the unusual building with Grade II listed status —acknowledging the site as a sobering reminder of how close Wales came to nuclear annihilation in the twentieth century. The Sub-Control Centre building is on the outer edge of the beautiful, terraced gardens of Insole Court — a Victorian mansion which, during the Second World War, was a centre for the emergency services…

A mystery EuroMillions winner, known only as Mr. N from Cardiff, has become a New Year’s Eve millionaire after scooping a whopping £1,000,000 prize in the EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker draw on Friday 31 December 2021. EuroMillions Millionaire Maker guarantees to create a millionaire in every draw but the special draw on New Year’s Eve saw 10 lucky UK millionaires made in one night. The Cardiff local, who played a Lucky Dip via The National Lottery website, has become one of over eight million players that win each week on The National Lottery’s range of games. Interactive winners have the…

New research by Acas has found that over a third (35%) of British employers have not spoken to their staff about their mental health and wellbeing over the past year during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Acas commissioned YouGov to ask businesses in Britain about whether they had personally talked to their staff about their mental health in the last 12 months during the pandemic. The poll found that: Nearly three out of five (59%) had spoken to staff; Over a third (35%) had not talked to staff; 3% did not know or could not remember; and 3% preferred not to…

INNOVATORS and entrepreneurs with sustainable project ideas are being urged to apply for grants that will drive post-Covid economic recovery in Denbighshire. Led by Cadwyn Clwyd and Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), the £600,000 Community Innovation Denbighshire project will focus on encouraging micro firms, community groups and social enterprises in rural and urban areas to put forward proposals that will deliver regional and environmental benefits. Supported by Denbighshire County Council and part-funded by the UK Government through the £220m UK Community Renewal Fund, support is available for 25 organisations or individuals who can apply for a £5,000 grant they will…

The delivery of a veg box and a £20,000 fast track micro loan from the Development Bank of Wales  has inspired husband and wife team Liz and Chris Kameen to expand their Denbigh-based fruit and veg business. The Vale Grocer stocks and sells organic fruit and veg which are either grown locally by the Kameen’s or supplied by farmers via Organic North, an organic wholesaler.  Customers in and around Denbigh and Ruthin can subscribe to a veg box that is delivered weekly to their home or visit The Vale Grocer shop in Denbigh. The £20,000 fast track loan from the…

National geek-focused retail brand Geek Retreat has opened a new location in Cardiff with another in Newport set to launch next month. The stores join the brand’s first Welsh location in Llandudno. Geek Retreat is a ‘geek culture’ retailer, gaming café and events hub rolled into one, that aims to offer an inclusive, welcoming environment for geeks to find a community with similar interests. Following the opening of the first store in Glasgow in 2013, the Geek Retreat brand has undertaken a rapid franchise-based national expansion programme and has recently added two new Welsh stores to its portfolio. Geek Retreat…

Welsh building contractor, J.G. Hale Construction, has completed work on an innovative development consisting of 12 residential dwellings and five commercial units in Neath town centre for social housing provider Coastal Housing. The development has been built as part of Coastal Housing’s plans to deliver low-cost homes and affordable commercial properties across Wales. The £2.2 million scheme has been part-financed by a £1 million social housing grant from Welsh Government. The completed three-story development consists of five small retail units on the ground floor, and two 1-bedroom apartments and ten 2-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors. The residential…

New images show how the inside of the major new office development at the former Oceana nightclub site will look once it’s open. The images show features of the building including its reception area, a flexible work space, a breakout area for businesses and an event hall. Swansea Council is developing the scheme, with main contractor Bouygues UK having now started foundation work on site. Due for completion in the summer of 2023, the five-storey scheme will be carbon zero in operation and worth £32.6 million a year to Swansea’s economy when finished. It will include 114,000 square feet of…

Thousands of city families are being urged to apply for their winter fuel support payments without delay after the Welsh Government doubled to £200 the amount it will pay to eligible applicants. It’s been estimated around 30,000 households in Swansea can claim the payment to help deal with the rising cost of on-grid gas and electricity this winter. The Welsh Government’s decision means that anyone who has already been paid an initial £100 towards their fuel bills will get another £100 automatically and will not need to apply again. The Council aims to make the £100 top up payment in…

Work is about to begin on transforming the Council’s Neighbourhood Learning Centre at Gurnos into an innovative training and accommodation centre for the county borough’s young residents. The building, which has been used as an educational base to help unemployed young people and adults get jobs in a range of vocations for the past 25 years, will continue to offer training alongside five self-contained apartments in one of the three blocks. The aim is to help address a shortage of good quality affordable homes in Wales, while also supporting our young people who require accommodation to live independently while looking…