Author: Rhys Gregory

Six potential operators have submitted proposals to breathe new life into the Grade I listed Llancaiach Fawr Manor House, located near Nelson. Caerphilly County Borough Council appointed agents Avison Young to help create an exciting new future for the site after the venue closed its doors to the public at the end of last year. Following a series of open days held at the Manor, six parties submitted business cases followed by interviews to determine who will take over the running of this historic site. The full and final bids have now been received and the council will evaluate the…

Attainment in Numeracy, Welsh Reading and English Reading has improved in 2023/24, new statistics show. English Reading saw attainment levels improve across all year groups compared to 2022/23. Learners in Year 3 showed sustained improvement with levels in English Reading being higher than in both 2020/2021 and 2021/22. Welsh Reading presented some improvement across Years 3 to 9, compared to 2022/23. Younger years have shown the greatest degree of improvement in Numeracy (Procedural), whilst Numeracy (Reasoning) has remained relatively stable. These statistics were published today using anonymised data from the national personalised assessments. Personalised assessments are adaptive online assessments in…

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles today announced a £120m package to fund Wales’ ambitious plans to continue cutting waiting times and the waiting list this year. The new funding will support the NHS to build on the progress made to date to reduce the longest waits for planned treatment. The new Planned Care Recovery plan sets out our ambition to: Reduce the overall size of the waiting list by 200,000 Eliminate all two-year waits Restore the diagnostic wait times to be reduced to under 8 weeks by March 2026. Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said: “Tackling waiting times is our number one…

The benefits of businesses being bought out by employees are being celebrated – as the number of employee-owned businesses in Wales nears 100. Today is Employee Ownership Day and research shows that employee-owned businesses perform particularly strongly, with employees demonstrating greater engagement and commitment. The commercial benefits are also becoming increasingly popular with entrepreneurs creating new businesses, to help attract and reward talented employees and drive business growth. The number of employee-owned businesses in Wales now stands at 95, far exceeding the Programme for Government commitment to double the number in Wales and reach 74 by 2026. The Welsh Government’s…

Thousands of Prestatyn residents will benefit from enhanced protection against coastal flooding following the completion of a major £26 million coastal defence project which has completed nine months ahead of schedule. Homes and businesses in the area will now benefit from reduced risk of coastal flooding thanks to the innovative flood defence scheme which includes a new embankment to store storm surge waters and reduce the risk of them reaching Prestatyn town centre The new coastal defences, delivered by Balfour Beatty on behalf of Denbighshire County Council, will safeguard 2,297 homes and 86 businesses from the increasing threat of storm…

Whoopi Goldberg, one of the most iconic and beloved figures in global entertainment, returns to the UK stage this September for two exclusive live shows. Whoopi Goldberg: Live marks her first UK appearances in almost ten years. Audiences are invited to experience an intimate evening with the multi-award-winning actress, author, and producer as she reflects on her extraordinary career and trailblazing journey, delivered with her trademark wit, warmth and razor-sharp candour. Complete with an audience Q&A segment, this is a rare and unmissable opportunity to witness a living legend up close. Whoopi says: “I’ve always loved performing for UK audiences. I…

Major plans for a new office development that will help further boost Swansea city centre footfall are set to take another step forward. Planned for land in the area of the former St David’s Shopping Centre site, the office scheme is aimed at accommodating up to 800 workers. The five-storey building will be a mix of high-quality office accommodation on the upper floors with commercial accommodation including food and beverage on the ground floor. Swansea Council’s cabinet is now being asked to approve funding to enable detailed designs and other work-up costs to take place. The appointment of a main…

A leading civil engineering firm has played a key role in the multi-million-pound expansion of one of the world’s largest ferry operators’ freight business on the Wirral. Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK was appointed by Stena Line to provide two additional parking areas for commercial trailers, prior to cargo being shipped between Birkenhead and both Dublin and Belfast. Work carried out by the civil engineering firm at 12 Quays Terminal include the creation of 200 additional spaces for freight, international ship and port facility security (ISPS) fencing, and four 30-metre-high lighting columns. Cambrian, sister company of Jones Bros, undertook the…

The Grade II listed Mansion House in Cardiff has been brought to the market by real estate advisors, Savills. Its prospective sale represents a unique opportunity to convert a landmark property in a prime location, and play a crucial role in securing its future. Set within approximately 0.83 acres, Mansion House is located north-east of Cardiff city centre, with the city’s main amenities and attractions within circa one mile. Mansion House – known locally as the Lord Mayor’s House – holds a notable history. It was originally built as a family home in 1896 for Cardiff luminary, James Howell, the…

A builder who disregarded established safeguards in relation to the deposition and handling of asbestos has been fined by Magistrates at Aberystwyth Justice Centre. Mr Ashley Ciminera, 37, of  Lampeter had been replacing the roof of Harvst at Teifi Warehouse, Morgan Street, Cardigan SA43 1DF in June 2023 when he dumped fragmented and broken corrugated asbestos roofing sheets into a carpark that had open public access, and adjacent to the pavement. During the process of removing the sheets, fragmented parts had fallen and damaged cars parked below in the car park. Where asbestos sheets are removed, the individual handling the…