Author: Rhys Gregory

Aldi is set to open a brand new store in Swansea on Thursday 30th September at 8am. The new store will be run by Store Manager Jo Scanlon, along with a team of 28 colleagues from the local community. As part of Aldi’s investment in local communities across the UK, the Parc Tawe store will offer more customers access to Aldi’s high quality, low-price products. The new store will offer fresh, Welsh meat products with weekly offers, Aldi’s award winning ‘Specially Selected’ range – which was recently voted ‘Favourite Premium Supermarket Range’ by readers of Good Housekeeping magazine for the…

Simon Wright, restaurateur, broadcaster, food writer, and consultant has been appointed to the role of Professor of Practice by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). The title of Professor of Practice is awarded to acknowledge an individual’s academic and/or professional distinction in a field which is aligned to the University’s mission and strategic direction. Professor Simon Wright’s expertise will be pivotal in assisting the University to develop initiatives which aim to deliver economic, social and cultural growth linked to local food and hospitality, sustainability, agriculture and rural entrepreneurship. Professor Wright is a renowned champion of Welsh food and…

Hollywood star Gerard Butler today congratulated the charity Mary’s Meals for reaching the milestone of feeding two million children every school day but urged its supporters not to stop there. The Scottish-born actor sent his message of support to the global school feeding charity, which recently announced the landmark achievement of providing 2,058,099 children in some of the world’s poorest countries with life-changing meals every school day. Gerard, 51, is a long-term supporter of the charity’s work, having visited its projects in Liberia and Haiti in recent years and has seen for himself how the meals it provides are helping…

The award winning creators of stylish and affordable baby products have secured their third investment from the Development Bank of Wales to help fund their relocation to Swansea Enterprise Park. Established in 2013 by husband and wife team Fran and Veronica Vaughan, Ickle Bubba has achieved consecutive triple digit growth for each of the last four years. The latest support from the Development Bank follows two earlier investments made in 2017 and 2019. These loans complemented existing facilities and were used to boost the growth of the business and the creation of 56 jobs over the last four years. The…

A University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Sport Management is working as a coach at a Soccer Team Academy in Dallas, Texas, using his expertise to identify new talent as part of the role. Rhys Surringer from Neath had always wanted to travel and work abroad. Soccer is a growing sport in the USA, and Rhys said USA academies are looking to hire more British and European coaches. Rhys has completed his coaching qualifications and graduated with a Sports Management degree from UWTSD, He has now been able to secure a long-term visa, which has opened this golden opportunity…

Motorists will soon have a smooth new surface on a key Swansea road as one of the city’s main gateways gets a smart new look. Contractors will resurface part of Oystermouth Road near the LC and emerging new arena – and will create entrances and exits for two new car parks. It will mean a better driving experience for the thousands who use the main road every day, and a better first impression for visitors. Drainage will be improved and the access works will be a major step forward for the two Copr Bay car parks due to open this…

NPTBuyLocal, set up by Neath Port Talbot Council to link communities with businesses providing much needed deliveries and support during the Covid-19 pandemic has won a prestigious national award. The innovative council scheme – centred around an online directory – won the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) Award for the Best Public/Private Working Initiative in Britain during 2021. As well as the win for NPTBuyLocal, Neath Port Talbot Council also came close to winning the Overall Council of the Year Award being one of just seven British councils shortlisted for the accolade which was won by Telford and Wrekin…

At a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 8th September 2021 a presentation was shared with all elected members on a proposed bid to obtain City Status for Merthyr Tydfil. There was overwhelming support for potentially making the application and Council requested a further report to be brought back at the end of the month with feedback from our residents and businesses on what they think. Having shared some information on the bid earlier this week, we have already had comments from residents. Some people have questioned whether we are large enough to be a city – the answer, yes.  Some…

Merthyr Council is holding two public consultation events to ask residents their opinions on its plans for the former bus station site at Glebelands. The sessions are taking place outside the old H Samuel Shop in St Tydfil Shopping Centre on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 September, from 10am to 4pm. Proposals for the site include the possibility of turning it into a park with a street market, permanent food and drink stalls, children’s play areas and a multi-use community space. County Borough Council officers will be at the consultation events to answer any questions you might have, and there’ll…

The Welsh Government-funded refurbishment of the Canolfan and play area at Cyfarthfa Park is complete, with the reopening taking place this Wednesday, 15 September. The redevelopment has seen the construction of a new café, decking area with outdoor seating, the creation of a community meeting space, resurfacing of the play area and better access to the site through the construction of new paths, steps and a footbridge. The £900,000 project is being funded through Welsh Government’s Valleys Regional Park ‘Discovery Gateways’ programme.  The grant is also providing new toilets and changing rooms at the Splash Pad, which will not open…