Author: Rhys Gregory

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend welcomes Devon-born brand Saltrock. The new store recently opened and offers a broad range of casual womenswear and menswear for those looking to surf in the nearby areas including Porthcawl and Swansea Bay.  The surf-inspired brand was founded in 1988 by brothers, Angus and Ross Thomson using a homemade printing screen to create their range with a focus on induvial graphics and tie-dye techniques. With over 30 years’ experience within the apparel industry, Saltrock’s passion and focus has remained around unique design, functionality, and quality.  Passionate about their surf heritage, the new store is expected to bring the Devon free-loving spirit to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.   Richard Garratt, Centre Manager commented: “We are excited to welcome Saltrock to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend family. Saltrock has…

Pembrokeshire County Council Leader Cllr David Simpson has welcomed the announcement that the planned closure of Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy, will be delayed until 2028. The Barracks, home to 14 Signal Regiment, had originally been due to close in 2024. The extension announcement was made by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace on Thursday, November 25. Cllr Simpson said: “Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire County Council is rightly proud of its long and close working relationship with the Armed Forces and especially proud to be home to 14 Signal Regiment at Cawdor Barracks. “The soldiers of 14 Signal Regiment are very much part of the…

Swansea Arena has been sparkling in recent days as early lighting tests continue at the venue. Over 1,600 gold-coloured panels have now been installed around the outside of the development, complete with 95,000 LED lights. Many thousands of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will have noticed the most recent tests, with thousands of sparkling white lights giving the arena a festive look in the early evenings in the build-up to Christmas. Further preparatory tests will take place in coming weeks and months. The tests will help determine what works best on the arena’s façade to better understand how it can be…

Swimming pools in both Pyle and Pencoed are celebrating 40 years of service this November by offering discounted memberships. The pools, now run by Halo Leisure, both opened in 1981 at a time when no one had ever heard of Zumba, Aqua Aerobics or Boxercise. They have even been used as training facilities for Olympians with one of Britain’s most celebrated triathletes, Helen Jenkins, using the pools on her way to two Triathlon World Championship wins as well as three Olympic Games representing Team GB. Now, both facilities are vital to ensuring more local people get active more often and…

Monmouthshire’s towns and villages are gearing up for festivities this Christmas with a reminder to shop local. This on-going, successful campaign to ‘bring the magic back’ to Monmouthshire’s high streets is being delivered in collaboration with local businesses, town councils, chambers of commerce, schools, Monmouthshire County Council and Visit Monmouthshire. Celebrations begin in Usk, where residents can enjoy a special late night shopping evening on Thursday 2nd December, pop along to find unique gift ideas from independent retailers. Caldicot’s Christmas celebrations begin on Saturday 4th December when locals can enjoy the Christmas market, festive pantomime, and the official light switch-on…

Community groups in the Caerphilly county borough benefitted from £10,633 in grants between July and September this year. Caerphilly County Borough Council administered these grants though its Voluntary Sector Grants budget and the Welsh Church Acts Fund scheme.  The council’s Grants to the Voluntary Sector Panel were updated on this spend during a recent remote meeting. Grants allocated through the council’s General Criteria Awards included support for a range of community groups including Penuel Baptist Church, Blackwood Musical Society and Tredomen Allotment Association. The Welsh Church Acts Fund provided £5,000 of funding to enable the Friends of the Cefn Fforest…

A Blackwood man has been sentenced in relation to charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Companies Act 2006. Local Builder, David Hughes (aged 50) of Pen-y-Cwarel Road, Wyllie, was found guilty of 5 charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Newport Magistrates Court on November 11th. Hughes, who traded as DH Builders, had previously pleaded guilty to 5 charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and 2 charges under the Companies Act 2006 however, no further penalty was imposed for the Companies Act Offences. Hughes was sentenced…

A festive scheme to encourage people to use local businesses in a sustainable way in the run-up to Christmas is being launched by Newport City Council It will be paying for people’s local bus journeys from Monday to Saturday (excluding Sundays) between 1 and 24 December. Free bus travel will be available on all journeys that start and end within the city boundaries on services run by a registered operator. Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader of Newport City Council, said: “This initiative is aimed at providing a boost for our wonderful local businesses as well as encouraging the use of more…

RCT Council has started work to deliver a Welsh Government-funded drainage scheme near Heath Terrace and Llanwonno Road in Ynyshir – to upgrade a culvert inlet and increase its resilience during heavy rainfall. The scheme started on site from Monday, November 29, utilising £127,500 secured from Welsh Government through funding available for small-scale drainage works – complementing the Council’s own contribution towards the £204,000 scheme. The Council has appointed Hammond (ESC) Ltd as the contractor responsible for delivering the scheme, lasting around 12 weeks. Upcoming work will increase the capacity of the existing inlet and improve its resilience – upgrading…

The Welsh Government’s commitment to end homelessness will be made clear in the Senedd later today as Climate Change Minister Julie James launches the Ending Homelessness Action Plan. The Minister, who says that when homelessness occurs it should be ‘rare, brief and unrepeated’, will also announce a new £30million funding pot over five years for local authorities. Under the Private Rented Sector Leasing Scheme, private property owners will be encouraged to lease their properties to local authorities in return for a rent guarantee and additional funding to improve the condition of their property. Local authorities can then use these properties…