Author: Rhys Gregory

Good weather and calm seas have helped Porthcawl’s all-new sea defences to make great progress during the summer heatwave. More than 116 of the 185 new terraces have been set in place and the £3m project is running according to schedule. Intended to protect 260 seafront properties and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion, the £3m initiative is replacing ageing sea defences at the town’s famous ‘tarmac beach’. When complete, the terraces will be joined by a sand-coloured hard surface to create an attractive, all-new look for the popular location. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Residents and visitors will be able to find…

Newport City Council’s annual Jobs Fair takes place this year on Thursday 23 August at Pill Millennium Centre, from 10am to 1pm. Many jobs will be on offer once again from a wide range of businesses. Organised by the council’s Work Based Learning Academy (WBLA), it is run in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. [aoa id=”1″] Last year businesses were delighted with the number of people who attended and the quality of potential candidates. Companies looking for recruits this time include Dean Close Nurseries, Amberport/PortSec Security, The Gym Group, United Living, Newport Norse, Allied Healthcare, Q Care, Liberty Steel, Wastesavers, Cordant…

Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s Planning and Development Committee has approved a planning application for the new HQ of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Treforest – which will bring more than 1,500 jobs to the area. [aoa id=”1″] At the Committee meeting on Thursday, August 16, Members considered two separate applications relating to the scheme. The first was for a 14,844sq/m Class B1 office building development which includes 252 car parking spaces and 170 cycle parking spaces. The second was for a change of use of land to a car park, to provide an extra 192 car parking spaces to…

Talented Welsh chefs eager to make a name for themselves are being encouraged to put their skills to the test in two prestigious competitions. [aoa id=”1″] The quest to find the best chefs in Wales has begun with the launch of the National and Junior Chef of Wales contests. Chefs must get their entries in to the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) by the September 30 deadline. Entry forms may be downloaded at: http://www.welshculinaryassociation.com/index.php/competitions/ From the entries, which must include the chef’s own creative menu, a panel of judges will select regional finalists who will be given three hours to…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co has completed on the freehold sale of the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, situated in a prominent town centre position in Carmarthen, to Compass Hospitality Holdings (UK) Limited. [aoa id=”1″] The traditional period property dates from the 18th century, with later modern additions providing substantial letting accommodation with 70 en suite guest rooms. Sitting in 1.5 acres, the hotel also includes a range of bar, restaurant and private function spaces, ideal for weddings as the venue is registered for civil ceremonies, plus leisure facilities such as a gym and sauna. The outdoor space comprises…

To mark the start of its Big Weekend celebrations, Pride Cymru will be proudly hanging flags on and around Cardiff Castle. [aoa id=”1″] The iconic rainbow flags are a staple over the weekend, but this year, transgender flags will be included on the castle for the very first time. Taking place on 24 – 26 August 2018, the Big Weekend is a celebration of equality and diversity in Wales, and this year, it looks to be bigger and better than ever before. With 40,000 attendees expected over the 3 days, one of the many highlights includes a public parade (Saturday…

Aberystwyth University is one of the main sponsors for Pride Cymru’s Big Weekend which takes place in Cardiff on 24 – 26 August 2018. [aoa id=”1″] Voted one of the UK’s top 100 employers for inclusivity in the workplace according to Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, Aberystwyth University is sponsoring the event for the third year. The University’s presence at Pride Cymru comes as part of a full programme of events involving its LGBTA network Enfys Aber over the summer. Working with community group SpringOut, Enfys Aber have been taking Aberration, which stages LGBTA arts events, on tour. With support from…

Richard Smith runs a business where visitors literally sit back and enjoy the view. He gets to places often far off the beaten track that celebrate the wild tranquillity of Wales and includes a local history lesson along the way. [aoa id=”1″] Motivated by a passion to share the hidden delights of “the biggest undiscovered secret in Britain”, Richard set up his tour business, Cambrian Safaris, in rural Mid Wales six years ago. Cambrian Safaris offers guide-driven tours of some of the most spectacular countryside anywhere in Great Britain. In today’s fast-paced world, Mid Wales is an area where visitors…

Newport City Council and Newport Live are delighted to announce that Geraint Thomas MBE has accepted our invitation to rename the city’s Wales National Velodrome in his honour. [aoa id=”1″] It will become the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in recognition of his fantastic success and his close links with Newport’s key cycling venue. In July, Geraint became the first Welshman, and only the third UK rider, to win the world’s most famous cycling road race, the Tour de France. Next month he is heading to Newport as part of Team Sky in the Tour of Britain when the…

Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas and Giro d’Italia winner Chris Froome will ride together in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain for the first time since 2009, Team Sky have announced. [aoa id=”1″] Newport hosts the finish of the first stage of the prestigious and high profile event on the afternoon of Sunday 2 September. For more info visit www.newport.gov.uk/events The British pair, who placed first and third in July’s Tour de France, will both be on the start line of Britain’s biggest annual sporting event in Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire. They will be joined by Dutchman Wout Poels, himself…