Author: Rhys Gregory

Euro 2020 is on its way and countries are busy making their final preparations. Squads are being announced and the final set of friendlies being played. On June 2, Wales travel to Nice to take on the current world champions, can they beat the odds and get a win? Wales had a tough qualifying group but eventually made their way into their second European Championship finals in a row. It looked as if the play-offs might be needed but no one will forget the 2-0 home win over Hungary that confirmed second spot behind Croatia. There are odds available at…

Gareth Bale has impressed during his loan spell at Tottenham this season. Bales was originally in and out of the squad due to a combination of injuries and falling out of favour under Jose Mourinho. But the Welsh international has taken his chances late in the 2020/21 season. In 32 appearances, Bale has scored 14 goals and made three assists in all competitions. He recently put in a man of the match performance in Spurs’ 4-0 win against Sheffield United in the Premier League, proving he still has the capabilities to perform at the top level. With his pending return…

A NEW restaurant will bring a contemporary flavour to Wrexham and help train the next generation of hospitality workers.  Ial Restaurant at Coleg Cambria Yale will open its doors for the first time on Tuesday (May 25). The venue forms part of a ‘commercial village’ which also includes a hair and beauty salon, florist, and coffee bar within the college’s £21m Hafod building. General restaurant manager Matt Alexander joined the college from the award-winning Horseradish Group and says their ethos will be centred on the ‘farm to fork’ initiative, with almost all produce being sourced locally. “We have recruited industry…

A Swansea company which began life trading from a market stall is investing £3.2 million to purchase 157,000 sq ft of warehousing units and offices at Morriston. Leading giftware designer and importer Something Different Wholesale is purchasing the 61,000 sq ft Building H it currently leases on Swansea Enterprise Park and also purchasing the adjacent buildings, totalling a further 96,000 sq ft.  It will spend around £1 million renovating and remodelling the units to suit its growing business. Founder Jane Wallace-Jones has grown the business steadily since it was established 25 years ago to a current turnover of £12 million,…

Ground-breaking GLL Sport Foundation from Social Enterprise GLL keeps sporting dreams alive as 58 time capped Wales Rugby player Elinor Snowsill heads list of 112 talented Cardiff athletes receiving training awards 112 talented young athletes from Cardiff including Welsh Rugby star Elinor Snowsill will benefit from a cumulative £44,800 worth of free gym and swim memberships – thanks to leisure charitable social enterprise GLL, which manages centres across Cardiff Better Leisure Centres on behalf of Cardiff City Council. The local athletes will be supported through the GLL Sport Foundation, the largest independent athlete support programme in the UK, which this year marks…

Swansea Council has deployed extra resources to the Mayhill and Waun Wen area of the city following Thursday night’s disorder (May 20). Council teams have been on site to lead the clean-up operation and help make people’s properties safe and secure. This includes helping with repairs to damaged doors and windows. Council officers will also be removing any burned-out cars and repairing damaged areas of roads and pavements. Bollards removed during the disturbances will be replaced with temporary concrete bollards for the time being. Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We are here for the community of Mayhill and…

More than 132,000 doses of coronavirus vaccine have now been given to Bridgend County Borough residents. Across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, 80% of people have had one dose and one in three are fully vaccinated. A total of 421,277 vaccines have been given, which is made up of 291,479 first doses and 129,798 second doses. The total number of doses for Bridgend County Borough now stands at 132,905, with 40,009 residents fully vaccinated. The health board has announced that from next week, extra clinics will be held for people over the age of 40 who have…

SWANSEA Council is to drive through its ambitious plans to deliver on the priorities of the people of the city as it emerges from the pandemic. A reshuffle of the Council’s Cabinet is aiming to further strengthen leadership with the appointment of two Cabinet members to the education and adult services’ posts. They are Cabinet newcomer Cllr Robert Smith, who will look after the education portfolio, and Cllr Mark Child, who returns to the Cabinet to lead adult services after his year as Lord Mayor. Cllr Andrea Lewis, joint deputy leader and currently Cabinet member for Homes, Energy and Service…

Bridgend County Borough Council has further extended its concessionary rent scheme for market traders and occupiers of small industrial units. The 50 per cent discount will now be in place until 31 August 2021. It forms part of a phased series of concessionary rent rates which were originally introduced to support small and medium-sized businesses as they reopened following the initial pandemic lockdown. Having already received an initial 75 per cent reduction and a 50 per cent reduction in September 2020, traders were set to benefit from a 25 per cent reduction in October last year. Instead, the council agreed…

Councillor Jane Mudd, Leader of Newport City Council, has applauded Newport Transport for becoming the first bus company in Wales to receive official Dementia Friendly accreditation. The company worked with the Regional Partnership Board, the council and Alzheimer’s Society to make all staff dementia aware and highlight how drivers can support people living with dementia and their carers to use transport around the city. “Well done to everyone involved as it means people with dementia and their carers will be able to use Newport Bus in confidence to travel in the city, especially as the pandemic restrictions ease,” said Councillor…