Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

Sherifa Actie, 27, from Beauchamp Street, Cardiff, was ordered to pay £300 and received a Conditional Discharge for 12 months at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday (September 7) for fly tipping a large number of black bags in a back lane close to her property. On Tuesday May 5th, 2020, the council received a complaint about fly tipping in the back lane of Beauchamp Street and Plantagenet Street. When the enforcement officer arrived on site, a large number of fly tipped black bags were found – full of top soil – with evidence found linking the waste back to Miss…

The Cardiff Bay Barrage will close this week due to a ticketed events taking place at Alexandra Head. The Barrage site will be closed to non-ticket holders from the Porth Teigr roundabout to the Penarth end of the Barrage on: Thursday 16 Septemberfrom 4.30pm – midnight Friday 17 Septemberfrom midday – 12.30am Saturday 18 Septemberfrom midday – 12.30am Sunday 19 Septemberfrom midday – midnight Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said: “The Barrage will be open to everyone until 4:30pm on Thursday and until midday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “From these times until midnight on…

The Welsh Government has opened the recruitment for the role of President of the National Library of Wales from January 2022 This is a high-profile, strategic and influential role in the cultural sector in Wales. The new President will join the National Library of Wales during a period of change as the findings of the 2020 tailored review are addressed and as the Library moves to implement its new five year strategic plan for 2021-2026. The President is accountable to the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport for the National Library’s performance and for the delivery of strategic priorities. Until…