Author: Rhys Gregory

The popular Aqua Splash attraction for children and families will re-open at Aberavon Beach on Monday (July 5th) with a range of more than 30 exciting new water features including fountains, jets, “waterfalls” and a tipping water bucket. The new Aqua Splash facilities have replaced the old paddling pool and its water features will be spread over a large central play area. Work on the new Aqua Splash began on February 1st this year and has now been completed, the design including new seating and other facilities surrounding the site. The work was carried out by Ustigate Ltd which has extensive…

This Saturday 3rd of July, will see Newbridge Leisure Centre open its doors for one day as a Walk in Vaccine Centre. The service will operate between 8:30am and 1:30pm, for those aged 18 and over, who have not yet had their FIRST dose of the Covid Vaccine. Residents of Gwent are permitted to attend provided they bring photo identification, nothing else will be required. This Service is NOT for those seeking a second dose, for second dose enquiries please call 0300 303 1373

RCT Council has delivered a full refurbishment of the swimming pool building at Ferndale Community School, which is now open to the public having been transformed into a first-class facility for the community. The Ferndale Swimming Pool has undergone an extensive £1m programme of works, including a complete internal remodelling with new changing rooms, shower and toilet facilities – along with a new fitness suite, viewing gallery and offices – all delivered as part of the Council’s Capital Programme investment. The existing pool hall has also been improved with a new vapour control stretch ceiling, resin floor system and channel…

The first ever all-Wales Wildlife and Rural Crime Coordinator will outline his priorities today after being appointed to the position. The role is the first of its kind in the UK. The coordinator post has been created by the Welsh Government, along with Wales’ police forces, to strengthen the response to Wildlife and Rural Crime across the country. Rob Taylor, who was responsible for establishing the current North Wales Police Rural Crime Team, brings a vast amount of experience to the role, in particular in regards to wildlife law and investigations including the horrific chainsaw attack on the Ospreys nesting…

Jeremy Miles has outlined further plans to introduce contact groups for adult learners in Higher and Further Education. Following news from the coronavirus press briefing on Monday, where the Minister for Education and Welsh Language set out plans for education settings in the autumn, today he provided more information on plans to minimise disruption in post-16 education and training. The measures, part of the new framework approach, would be applied in Higher and Further Education, work-based and community learning settings. The plans aim to align adult education contact groups with the most current social restrictions set by Welsh Government. Based…

The Welsh Government is reminding retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in Wales they won’t have to pay any rates until April 2022 as full discounts in England come to an end today (1st July). In March, the UK Government announced its 100 per cent retail, leisure and hospitality rates relief holiday would reduce on June 30, with a 66 per cent discount coming into effect for the rest of the financial year. In Wales, the Welsh Government has extended the full 100 per cent discount for all businesses and charities in the leisure and hospitality sectors until April 2022. Retailers…

The first glimpse of the oculus staircase, the first of its kind in the UK, can be seen following its installation at Cardiff Innovation Campus’ sbarc | spark building. The finishing of the staircase is a pivotal moment in the construction of the Innovation Campus. The sbarc | spark showpiece starts at the ground floor as a social stair and forms breakout zones to each level which are curated differently, becoming destinations to users on other floors. Bouygues UK, the construction company building the £300 million state-of-the-art Campus, worked with Taunton Fabrications to design and install the staircase, which was…

Bernard Ward has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Acorn Recruitment, one of the UK’s leading recruitment firms, member of the international leading recruitment group Synergie. Mr Ward will lead Acorn through the next stages of its expansion, as the company continues to break into new markets and drive further growth. Multi-specialist Acorn is the leading recruiter in Wales and is in the top 1% of all recruitment firms across the UK, with offices and business operations UK-wide and a turnover of over £100m. Previously the Regional Director (South West, Wales & Midlands) for Blue Arrow, Mr Ward…

Cardiff-based TV, film and theme park model makers Wild Creations has more than doubled its production capacity following a move to an industrial unit on Portmanmoor Road Industrial Estate in Ocean Park. Wild Creations – founded in 2010 by Matt Wild – designs, fabricates and installs bespoke creations from a sculpture or large model to a piece of scenery or theming for TV, film, theme parks, exhibitions or brand activations. Clients include BBC, Universal and JCDecaux and the company works with clients in the UK and internationally having recently exported to the USA, Japan, Mexico, China and Malaysia. Now it…

Two Cardiff-based chartered accountancy firms have merged to form one of the largest independent accountancy practices in South Wales. Roblins, a family firm dating back almost 70 years, has merged with BPU Chartered Accountants, which was founded more than 55 years ago. The merged business, BPU Chartered Accountants Incorporating Roblins, will continue to offer a wide range of accountancy and business advice services to businesses and individuals across South Wales and beyond. With around 2,000 clients and more than 40 employees, the firm is now one of the largest remaining independent accountancy businesses in the region. Huw Palin, director of…