Author: Rhys Gregory

A children’s bike maker from South Wales, whose customers include the British royal family, is set to increase its headcount by more than a third in anticipation of significant growth through export sales, following a strong year of international orders thanks to support from the Welsh Government. Pontypool-based Frog Bikes, a market leading manufacturer of lightweight, affordable kids’ bikes, has developed an extensive international portfolio since the business was formed eight years ago, with its products being sold in over 50 countries across four continents, including the USA and Hong Kong. The Welsh firm has made a global name for…

A top-class rowing coach at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools has been reunited with two familiar faces in a Great Britain training camp this week. Louise Hart was invited to join the GB Under-23 training camp at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. Louise leads the Strength and Conditioning training at Monmouth School for Boys Rowing Club and she gathered with the GB coaches to further her knowledge and expertise in this field. It has been a special time for Louise because she was reunited with former Monmouth School for Boys’ rowers Iwan Hadfield and Robbie Prosser-Wrench. Both Old Monmothians are making excellent…

Gower-based coffee company FabFour Coffee, which is run by four Welsh rugby legends, is supporting enterprise education in Wales by partnering with primary schools to deliver ‘The Bumbles of Honeywood’ skills programme. Created by 2B Enterprising Ltd, it is a suite of bilingual resources mapped to the national curriculum to help primary schools embed enterprise skills into their day-to-day learning.  Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips and Lee Byrne have each selected a school to support and are looking forward to sharing their own experience of enterprise development with young people in Wales. The schools they are supporting are: Bancyfelin…

If you have a huge DIY project to pull off, you might have been put off by the cost. However, one savvy family has proven you really don’t need to spend a fortune to completely overhaul a space. Cerys Hopkins, 42, a mum of four from South Wales, transformed a dull caravan into a classy, stylish, Pinterest-perfect space using budget materials such as sticky vinyl and flooring offcuts. Cerys, who works in the Welsh government, worked with her husband and son to totally renovate the space in three months. Cerys told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: “My husband and I loved holidays at…

The recent Awel y Môr offshore wind farm public consultation received a fantastic response from members of the public across north Wales. Following the exercise, RWE has carefully considered all feedback from stakeholders and members of the public and, as a result, amended key aspects of the project. With concerns raised about the visual impact of the wind farm, the offshore array area has been reduced further on its western side, resulting in a 26% reduction from the original project design in 2020. In addition to this, the maximum number of turbines that can be built has been significantly reduced…

Tafarn yr Heliwr in Nefyn is to benefit from a long-term tenancy agreement with Rhug Estate which will allow them to grow fresh produce for the community pub. Lord Newborough, who owns land in and around Nefyn, has let a field on Stryd y Plas to the owners of Yr Heliwr to help them in their endeavour. Lord Newborough, Owner of Rhug Estate said, “I’m pleased to be able to support the local community in this way and play a small part in what they are trying to achieve. The group’s efforts to reduce the community pub’s food miles must…

Swansea Council’s cabinet agreed to a smart new concept for the city centre Castle Square Gardens – one that introduces more greenery, fun and reasons to visit. Public consultation this year saw 95% of people back a council concept for a space with more trees, grass and other greenery. A detailed design has since been drawn up – and this was presented to the cabinet today. Members agreed to commit capital finance funds to support the development over the next two years. The plans will now go through a formal planning process next summer. This will be another chance for…

Pupils and staff at a Swansea Valley Welsh medium school are about to move into new £9m facilities which include a concert hall, canteen and kitchen, extra classrooms, a music and drama centre and modern sports pitches. The project carried out by Port Talbot based contractors Andrew Scott Ltd on behalf of Neath Port Talbot Council is the third phase of work which completes the modernisation of the Ystalyfera Campus of Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera Bro Dur. Funding for the third phase has come through the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme (65%) with the remainder provided from the council’s own…

Merthyr County Borough Council is consulting residents on the planned introduction of a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to prevent street drinking and drug taking in a town centre exclusion zone. On breach of the Order, police or Council enforcement officers could issue a fixed penalty fine of £100, and failure to pay this could result in prosecution and a court fine of up to £1,000. The Council is seeking public views to gauge the impact intoxicating substance related anti-social behaviour is having on the public in the proposed exclusion zone. The consultation is running until 10 March 2022, with…

Powys residents are being reminded that Rapid lateral flow test (LFT) kits are available to collect from many locations across Powys, the county council has said. With the testing criteria being expanded so anyone can qualify for an LFT test, Powys residents are being reminded that they can be collected from many of Powys’ libraries. About one in three people with coronavirus do not have symptoms but can still infect others. Residents are being encouraged to get test kits before libraries close on Christmas Eve at 4pm and re-open on January 4, 2022. Getting tested regularly is one way to…