Author: Rhys Gregory

The West Cross Woodland is the green heart of the community and now youngsters have officially opened its play area – one of more than 60 to have been created or upgraded under an £8m Swansea Council scheme. Swansea Council has been hard at work improving community play areas across the city, and even more neighbourhoods will see improvements in the coming months, including Parcwernfadog in Morriston where construction work started this week. West Cross Woodland’s play area features a package of equipment including swings, a seesaw, multiplay units for toddlers and junior and a witch’s hat style roundabout. The…

An improvement scheme to the footbridge at Harcourt Terrace in Penrhiwceiber will take place from August 22, requiring a closure of the structure (excluding the Bank Holiday weekend). The footbridge is located between the residential area and Cwm Cynon Business Park, spanning the River Cynon and the railway line. Please note, the upcoming improvement work will take place to the older, Council-owned section of the footbridge. The work will reinstall the anti-slip surfacing on this section, to increase safety for pedestrians. The Council has appointed Thortech Ltd to deliver this scheme. Work starts on Friday, August 22, as the contractor…

Housing associations residents across Wales are gaining new independence and confidence, thanks to support from the Welsh Government’s Minimum Digital Living Standard grant pilot. The Minimum Digital Living Standard sets out the ‘minimum’ digital access, equipment and basic digital skills people need to take part fully in modern life. Developed with input from citizens and organisations, the standard has been piloted by Monmouthshire Housing Association and North Wales Housing Association. Following the success of these pilots, the Welsh Government has extended the grant to more housing providers across Wales. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice recently visited Monmouthshire Housing Association…

Brecon and Radnor Railway Club will unveil an eight-metre working OO gauge model of Llandrindod Wells as it appeared in 1906 at the town’s Automobile Palace from August 19 to 23. The launch is timed to coincide with this year’s Llandrindod Wells Victorian Festival and the nationwide Railway 200 celebrations, marking two centuries of railway heritage. The event is hosted by the Heart of Wales Community Rail Partnership (CRP). Although famed for its Victorian architecture and spa-town heritage, Llandrindod Wells is depicted by the model as Edwardian in the early years of the 20th century. Beginning life as a generous…

A North Wales haulage and vehicle servicing and repairs business has changed hands and its new owners have unveiled plans to invest for growth. NPC Commercials, based at a two-acre site on the Llay Industrial Estate in Wrexham, operates a fleet of tipper wagons, box trailers and curtainsiders that carry out haulage across England, Scotland and Wales for construction, landscaping, retail and industrial clients. Its garage provides servicing and repairs for cars, vans and heavy goods vehicles. The £1.5m-turnover business has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by NPC Billington, a newly-formed company led by Gary Billington and including his…

A man from Swansea has pleaded guilty to the murder of 47-year-old Leanne Williams earlier this year. 33-year-old Matthew Battenbough, of no fixed abode, appeared at Swansea Crown Court today (Monday August 18). He will be sentenced on Friday September 26. Leanne Williams’ body was found by officers at her home on Gomer Road, Townhill on Thursday, February 27. A Home Office post-mortem identified significant injuries consistent with an assault. Detective Inspector David Butt said: “The news of Leanne’s death was devastating to her family and to the wider communities of Townhill and Swansea. “Leanne’s family are being supported by…

Two Ukrainian sisters who came to Wales to escape the war have partnered with the lady who sponsored them in the UK and opened a new cafe offering a fusion of Ukrainian and Welsh experience. Coffi Kava (coffee in the Welsh and Ukrainian language combined) opened at Caerphilly Railway Station in late July, offering a menu that blends traditional Ukrainian flavours with Welsh ingredients. Hanna and Liudmyla arrived in Wales from Ukraine three years ago and now proudly call it their second home. Sian, a retired NHS worker sponsored the sisters when they first arrived and through their shared passion…

Efforts to increase Welsh language use in workplaces need to be strengthened, according to a new report. The report by Dr Elin Royles from Aberystwyth University lists 13 recommendations on how to improve good practice in the relationship between the economy, the language and the workplace across different sectors. The study was commissioned by research firm Wavehill as part of an evaluation of the Arfor II programme – a Welsh Government-funded initiative funded which brought together local authorities in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to develop plans to promote economic development, and in turn, boost the prospects of the Welsh…

Work to complete the upgrade of a popular coastal walking route on Gower is set to take place in the autumn. Swansea Council has been upgrading sections of the Gower coast path between Rotherslade and Limeslade. A brand new 450 metre section of path was created in March this year, and is in addition to a previous section, stretching for a further 270 metres, which was completed in 2022. Both new sections were created as a diversion away from the original path which was affected by coastal erosion. The upgrades were funded via the Welsh Government’s Wales Coast Path grant…

Construction has started on a new development which will bring 103 affordable homes to Sanatorium Road in Canton, Cardiff. Delivered in partnership between United Welsh, Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, the development will include a mix of 71 apartments and 32 houses to the area. Of the apartments, 50 will be designed specifically for people aged 55 and over, supporting independent living. The homes will be available for social rent and allocated to people from the Cardiff Council Common Housing Waiting List. Located in the heart of Canton, the site offers excellent access to parks, shops, and local amenities, making…