Author: Rhys Gregory

A housing association has unveiled a £4.3 million plan to transform a 1970s estate in Llanrwst following consultation with residents. [aoa id=”1″] Cartrefi Conwy is proposing to demolish a block of 30 maisonettes and flats at the Glanrafon housing estate and replace it with 14 zero carbon modular homes – creating jobs and work experience for unemployed tenants in the process. As part of the overall scheme, six nearby blocks of 30 apartments are being given a massive makeover to give them a brand new modern look. Work to improve the apartments began earlier this year and the organisation has…

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) near Machynlleth is seeing huge increases in the number of tourists visiting to learn about sustainable living. Visitor numbers have seen risen by 35% compared to the previous year, with July numbers showing a significant 58% increase on 2018. John Challen, CAT’s Eco Centre head, said: “CAT’s core message of climate and environmental solutions is more important now than ever, so it’s great to see the visitor centre so busy. “There are lots of factors behind the increase – from the increasing attention being paid to the climate emergency, to more people choosing to…

It was trial by combat as 50 heavily-armoured knights wielded swords, axes and spears as they battled for supremacy at a spectacular new festival in Corwen. [aoa id=”1″] Gwyl Y Fflam – Festival of Flame – which celebrates the town’s links with Welsh hero Owain Glyndwr, has been praised by Battle Heritage for its triumphant hosting of the annual British Medieval Combat Championships, held in Wales for the first time ever. Gŵyl y Fflam took over Edeyrnion fields in Corwen for all things medieval, including the opportunity to take a video tour of Glyndwr’s home at Sycharth, near Llansilin, with…

Gareth Jones and Mandy Weston of Town Square Spaces Ltd have been named Startup Entrepreneurs of the year at the Great British Entrepreneur Regional Awards 2019. Now in its seventh year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrates the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs from across the UK. The awards ceremony held on Wednesday (18 September) in Cardiff’s Glee Club, brought together a range of businesses and professionals to recognise the outstanding achievers from across Wales. Town Square Spaces Ltd is an enterprise that builds communities of startups and entrepreneurs across the country through a national network of…

Inspired by her late grandfather and passionate about making history accessible to all, Esta is Rhondda Cynon Taff’s first Heritage Outreach Apprentice, supporting and creating learning and education opportunities as part of the authority’s heritage service. Now undertaking an Apprenticeship in Cultural Heritage delivered by training provider Cardiff and Vale College, she has been shortlisted for the Tomorrow’s Talent Award at next month’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships. The new award seeks to reward a current apprentice who has ‘demonstrated significant personal progress’ and has made ‘a tangible and positive impact on…

Swansea Council is set to save one of the city centre’s architectural treasures. [aoa id=”1″] The historic and much-loved Palace Theatre building, which has been in private ownership for some time, has been left unused for more than a decade and has fallen into dilapidation. This week (Thu, Sept 19) the council’s cabinet approved a plan to breathe new life into the building while protecting its famous facade for generations to come.  Council leader Rob Stewart said: “After many months of behind the scenes work and negotiations our plan is to purchase the building and regenerate it into much-needed high-quality…

Cardiff-based bank, Hodge has announced several new appointments to strengthen its Commercial Lending team. The bank, which provides a range of commercial and residential lending products, welcomes four new appointments to its commercial lending division, following several new products launches across 2019. The new appointments bring more than 60 years’ of collective banking experience to Hodge: Jill Woodward – relationship manager, formerly of Principality Building Society and HBoS Louise Bronson – relationship manager, formerly of Barclays and Bibby Financial Services Jayne Edwards – relationship support manager, formerly of HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland Sharon Morgan – relationship support manager,…

A Grade II listed office building in Cardiff Bay has been placed on the market for residential conversion / redevelopment, subject to planning. [aoa id=”1″] Baltic House is situated in Mount Stuart Square and currently provides 21,000 sq ft (net) of office accommodation over six floors behind an Edwardian Baroque style façade. The property is owned and occupied by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, which has instructed property agent, Cushman & Wakefield, to market the building for sale by Informal tender, with bids (conditional and/or unconditional) to be submitted by noon on 31 October 2019. Cardiff Bay is positioned…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has raised close to £40,000 for its charities Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and the Farming Community Network, following two years of successful fundraising. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease or any other type of dementia, research is desperately underfunded and there are not enough researchers and clinicians joining the fight against dementia. Alzheimer’s Society is committed to spending at least £150 million over the next decade on dementia research to improve care for people today and find a cure for tomorrow. This includes £50 million to develop the UK’s first dedicated Dementia Research Institute. The…

An initiative to foster entrepreneurship amongst young people and boost the use of the Welsh language in business has been launched by Menter a Busnes (MaB) – as part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations. [aoa id=”1″] The independent economic development company offers a wide range of bi-lingual business support and skills development to small, medium and large companies throughout Wales, and business consultancy services wider afield. MaB’s Schools Initiative will see the company working with up to 30 schools in Wales – working with Welsh learners and first language Welsh speakers – providing support and advice to allow schools and pupils…