Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea Council has removed licensing costs for tables and chairs on city centre pavement cafes for the rest of the financial year. The move will help businesses as they battle back from lockdown – and will help bring added life to city centre streets. It has been welcomed by Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) that’s working with members across the city centre to help them secure licenses for offering services on paved areas adjoining their premises. Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism,  said: “Whilst keeping people safe, we want to help business as best we…

The Rhug Estate’s Bison Grill Bistro has been transformed during lockdown into the new Café Rhug, which opened this week. Visitors can enjoy a new, fresh menu and a new layout created with everyone’s health and safety in mind. The new Café Rhug menu will include handmade and fresh sandwiches, toasties, salads, quiches, cakes as well as hot and cold drinks.  The new layout will mean customers will order their meals and drinks from the counter before sitting down in the comfort of the old Bistro. The concept behind Café Rhug is ‘quick and easy’. Visitors and travellers can break…

Leisure centres across Swansea, including the LC, are set to open next week – and the focus of staff will be on welcoming back their customers and ensuring their experience is a good one The centres, run by Freedom Leisure for Swansea Council, closed temporarily in late March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The easing of Welsh Government restrictions means they will start to reopen in a careful phased manner on Monday 10 August. Freedom Leisure Area Manager Nic Beggs said: “Our message to members and other customers is: Your health matters. “We’ll be putting a close focus on their…

The Crowdcube fundraise, only launched this week, has already hit its £300k target at a pre-money valuation of £3.1m, with significant pledges already secured from angel investors and Development Bank of Wales. Through Crowdcube, Rescape now has the opportunity to overfund, giving investors a stake from as little as £11.76 in a fast-moving sector that has really shown its value during the pandemic. Rescape partnered with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and the Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University to demonstrate the very human benefits VR has brought to frontline NHS teams facing COVID-19, and the potential to…

Detectives investigating an aggravated burglary at a home in Porthcawl are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. A family was left terrified after a gang of masked men gained entry to their home on Austin Avenue around 10.15pm on Tuesday, August 4. The burglars searched the address before making off with cash, jewellery and mobile phones. Detective Inspector Emma Hampton said: “This was a terrifying incident which has left a family feeling vulnerable in the place where they should feel safest. “Thankfully no one was physically harmed during the break-in, and such incidents are rare. However we are…

Swimming pools, indoor fitness studios, gyms and leisure centres will be able to re-open from Monday, First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed today (Fri 7th August). Children’s indoor play areas will also be able to open their doors again as part of the latest changes to the coronavirus regulations in Wales. However, areas such as ball pits, which cannot be easily cleaned, should remain closed. The First Minister is highlighting the importance of following the rules that apply in premises that have now re-opened and in workplaces. Welsh law requires measures to be taken to minimise the risk of exposure to…

South Wales Police is appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision that occurred at approximately 04:40 on Thursday August 6thadjacent to the eastbound on-slip at Junction 35 of the M4, Pencoed. A silver Ford Ka was involved in a collision with a Ford Fusion before it carriageway. A Nissan Navara has subsequently collided with the Fusion. As a result of the collision three occupants from the Ka sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital. South Wales Police wants to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision, who stopped to provide assistance, or anyone who may have seen the…

Dragon Taxis Newport has partnered with The Bigger Picture and Newport County AFC to assist with a community initiative, distributing food to families in need in the county. The food parcel scheme is led by The Bigger Picture, was set up by sisters Carys and Rachel Jones in 2018. The organisation is based at the Community Hub in Francis Drive, Pill and prior to the pandemic, hosted weekly activities including baby cafés, arts and crafts sessions, and performing arts classes. Dragon Taxis Newport, a regional hub of the UK’s leading private hire operator Veezu, play a pivotal role in the…

First Bus has announced the appointment of Jane Reakes-Davies as the Managing Director for First Cymru. Jane joined First Bus in 2013 years and was most recently Head of Human Resources for the business in South of England, Wales and Ireland before fulfilling the Managing Director’s role on an interim basis. Jane continued her leadership on a permanent basis from August 1st, 2020. First Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander said: “Jane’s passion, focused determination and leadership style have already proved effective in stimulating the energies of the Cymru team and I am confident that together they will continue to meet…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales is urging farmers to be vigilant following alerts by South Wales Police that there has been an increase in dog thefts across the UK. FUW Glamorgan County Executive Officer Rachel Saunders said: “Whilst recent statistics don’t show an increase in the South Wales policing area and these crimes are extremely rare, vigilance is the best policy. “Dog theft is very distressing for both owner and pet and we urge our members and the public to not just be aware of the problem, but to take active steps to reduce the risk of their dog being…