Author: Rhys Gregory

The world is their oyster for two Anglesey producers who have combined their skills to launch a new alcoholic drink with a seafood twist. Menai Oyster Gin is the result of a novel collaboration between craft producer Llanfairpwll Distillery and shellfish enterprise Menai Oysters and Mussels Ltd. Over the first lockdown, distiller Rob Laming and oyster producer Shaun Krijnen hatched a plan to create an oyster-infused gin. Now the spirit is on sale ready for Christmas. Llanfairpwll Distillery is a member of Food & Drink Wales Fine Food Cluster, and Menai Oysters and Mussels Ltd is part of the Food…

Pioneering natural microbial and anti-microbial manufacturer, Genesis Biosciences, has won two Wales STEM Awards in the event’s inaugural year. The Cardiff based global biosciences company was among 42 innovative businesses to be named finalists in this year’s highly anticipated awards, which celebrated those making a difference to, and championing, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in Wales. The winners were announced in a virtual ceremony hosted by Sian Lloyd on Thursday November 12th. Genesis Biosciences enjoyed double the success at the inaugural awards, winning the Innovation in Science Award and the STEM Environmental Initiative of the Year for the company’s…

The build of a new housing development on the site of the former Penallta Colliery in the Caerphilly county borough has begun. United Welsh is working in partnership with Caerphilly Council and Morganstone Ltd to build 48 new energy efficient homes, which will include homes for social rent and homes for sale. The construction phase is now underway after Morganstone Ltd, the contractors for the new development, broke ground on the site in October. The Penallta Colliery development will see the creation of 6 one-bedroom apartments, 15 two-bedroom houses and 16 three-bedroom houses. There will also be 10 three-bedroom homes…

Plans to bring two prominent buildings in Mountain Ash and the Tonypandy area back in to use are progressing. Both schemes will each be able to benefit from up to £250,000 of Welsh Government funding from their Transforming Towns and Valleys Taskforce initiatives. This funding provides support for developing and improving underused or derelict properties in bringing them back into use for a range of purposes. Under the proposals, the Council-owned Mountain Ash Town Hall will be redeveloped via a long-term lease into a vibrant co-working hub with an on-site café and events space.  Similarly, the Council is also working…

Refurbishments are underway to transform the former Chapel at Cardiff Royal Infirmary into a vibrant health and wellbeing facility for the residents in the south and east of Cardiff. The iconic grade II listed building, will become home to health and wellbeing information and advice, a new library, meeting spaces, IT suite and an Aroma Café. Despite the ongoing pandemic, work is progressing at a good pace with the building scheduled to open to the public spring next year. Staff, patients visiting clinics at CRI, along with families, young people and adults in the community, will benefit from a range…

Work has started on a number of new sites, with more set to commence before the end of the year, in the Council’s ambitious housing development partnership with Wates Residential, Cardiff Living. The scheme, which will deliver around 1,700 new homes for the city, including more than 700 affordable properties, is now moving to the next phase of development which has seen the start of work on sites in Penylan, Rumney and Heath. Thelargest single Cardiff Living development to date is underway at the former Eastern High School site in Rumney, comprising more than 200 new low carbon homes incorporating…

The largest and most exciting estate redevelopment proposal in Cardiff Council’s new build housing programme is set to take a major step forward, signalling the creation of up to 400 new homes in Grangetown. The proposed regeneration of the Channel View estate represents an investment of around £60m in this part of the city and will deliver a better connected, more attractive place to live for existing and new residents. The redevelopment masterplan details striking modern architecture for the low-carbon, highly energy-efficient homes on the estate, improved access to public transport, local amenities and public open spaces, as well as…

Dylan Thomas Community School is set to become the latest comprehensive in Swansea to benefit from an all-weather pitch. Swansea Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve plans for the £200,000 sports facility that will also be available for community use. It will replace the school’s existing hard standing sports area. Several community sports clubs have already expressed an interest in using the new pitch when it opens. The project, which also includes a multi-use games area, will be funded by the school and council along with grants from the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Johann Cruyff Foundation. In a…

Plans for a new bridge to provide a direct link from Llanrumney to the A48 at the Pentwyn junction have taken a step forward following private-sector bids to deliver the scheme. A report on the proposals – which form part of the East Cardiff Industrial Strategy – will be taken by Cardiff Council’s Cabinet on Thursday, November 19, where it will be recommended the Council agrees to sell land to help fund the development. The proposal would see a new bridge and road link built over the River Rhymney linking Llanrumney to the Park & Ride site and the A48. This…

Abdonoor Ali, 44, from Pentre Street in Grangetown has been ordered to pay over £1,000 at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on November 5thfor fly-tipping waste on land close to Hamadryad Park in Butetown last year. Following a complaint from a member of the public, photos and mobile phone footage were handed over to the Council’s Waste Enforcement team to investigate the dumping of furniture, cardboard, suitcases and green bags that were dumped in the hours of darkness, late at night on February 24th, 2019 Following an investigation that followed, evidence was found in the green bags that was traced back to…