Author: Rhys Gregory

Growing the Welsh food and drink industry’s value to £8.5bn and increasing the number of employees in the sector who receive the Welsh Living Wage to 80%, both by 2025, are at the heart of a new Welsh Government vision. Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths will make the announcement today as she visits the Royal Welsh Winter Fair which returns after being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. A Vision for the Food & Drink industry from 2021 will build on the sector’s success in Wales with the key aim of helping ensure a flourishing food and drink…

New anti-social behaviour rules will help Swansea city centre become a more welcoming place to live in, work in and visit from December 1. A city centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) will apply to behaviour such as drug-taking and drunkenness – and everybody will be asked to comply. People who are vulnerable due to circumstances such as homelessness will be treated sensitively; housing and outreach services will be involved. The PSPO – part of a broader and coordinated Swansea approach to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and street vulnerability – is designed to boost the city centre which is already…

Bridgend County Borough Council has released artist impressions of how an all-new luxury spa waterfront hotel could look on Porthcawl’s seafront. The hotel is one of several potential opportunities the council is showcasing as part of consultation organised in line with the Placemaking Wales Charter, which seeks to bring organisations, businesses and communities together in order to deliver effective, sustainable development. Following two well-attended public sessions held earlier this week at the Grand Pavilion, display panels are being erected at Cosy Corner to highlight how the council wants to explore improvements such as modern multi-storey car parking at Hillsboro Place,…

Hundreds of job vacancies will be promoted at two social care jobs fairs in Bridgend County Borough next week. Supported by Employability Bridgend, the events in Porthcawl and the Ogmore Valley form part of Bridgend County Borough Council’s social care recruitment drive. The first jobs fair takes place on Monday 29 November between 10am-1pm at Hi-Tide, Porthcawl followed by the second on Tuesday 30 November between 12pm-3pm at the Ogmore Valley Life Centre. Each fair will have hundreds of jobs on offer as well as support and guidance for those interested in working in the social care sector. Enquiries from…

All 18 libraries will reopen for open access without the need to make an appointment. To ensure your safety library staff will continue and customers are encouraged, unless exempt, to wear face coverings or visors in the library as per Welsh Government guidance. Perspex desk screens, barriers to reinforce 2m social distancing and COVID-19 safety notice will remain in place at all libraries. Libraries are no longer required to quarantine library stock on their return or loan. However, we will continue to provide antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser at all our libraries if you wish to clean the items before…

On Sunday 5thDecember, the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay will open for a day full of festive cheer in celebration of a Norwegian style Christmas. The event, which celebrates the twinning links between Cardiff and Vestland, Norway, will be attended by The Rt. Hon. Lord Mayor of Cardiff who will officially switch on the Christmas lights as part of the tree-lighting ceremony. Also in attendance will be the Lady Mayoress alongside Dr Tyra Oseng-Rees, Chair of the Welsh Norwegian Society,Dr Martin Price Chair of Norwegian Church Cardiff Bay, as well as representatives from the Norwegian Embassy in London and Vestland…

The Welsh Government has issued a direction for the closure of Cinema & Co in Swansea on public health grounds. Under the Coronavirus Act 2020, the Welsh Minsters have powers to take action against specific premises where they consider the premises to present a risk to public health. To support Swansea Council and to protect public health, Welsh Ministers have issued a direction under the Act for the closure of Cinema & Co in Swansea. Recently the Local Authority identified a series of breaches of the Coronavirus Regulations at the premises. The premises was previously served with a notice requiring…

Unfortunately, the current yellow weather warning for high winds on Saturday means that Caerphilly Council have no option but to cancel the event due to safety concerns. The market stalls have a maximum wind speed limit and the forecast is near double this. The Council have left the decision as late as possible and looked into alternative options to keep the event going, but regret that they have now had to make a final decision.

Christmas 2021 is officially underway in Wales after its biggest ever festive lights trail opened its doors to the public. Special guests including the face of GoCompare and radio presenter Wynne Evans, broadcaster Jason Mohammed, TV and film actor Steve Speirs, TV host Lucy Owen and Welsh artist Nathan Wyburn were among the first to glimpse the magic of the trail for themselves. Now, more than 130,000 visitors are expected to follow in their footsteps during the trail’s five-week run in Wales’ capital city, after a team of 25 technicians spent more than two weeks installing over one million twinkling…

The Silver Mountain Experience, a popular visitor attraction based just outside Aberystwyth, is preparing for the return of its popular Christmas event. The Elves’ Workshop and Santa’s Grotto at the attraction, located near Ponterwyd, will be opening a weekend earlier this year, due to sell-out success last year. Running on selected dates from December 11 to 23, visitors will be able to set foot in the busy elves’ workshop, as they prepare for the big day and meet Santa, who will have a present included for all children on the ‘good list’. There will also be a range of other…