Author: Rhys Gregory

Tylorstown is now home to the largest Leisure for Life gym in RCT – and the only indoor International Rugby Board-accredited 3G pitch in the Valleys,  thanks to £1M Council investment at Rhondda Fach Leisure Centre.  With bold ambition, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and its contractors have worked over the past year to deliver a centre of sporting excellence in the Rhondda Fach. Opening on Monday (Jan 14), visitors can enjoy their firsts session at the new gym FREE of charge at Rhondda Fach Leisure Centre. Those who like what they see can also take out Leisure for Life membership,…

The Council will open the formal process to secure a new leasehold tenant for the Muni Arts Centre from Monday (January 14). [aoa id=”1″] The 14-day ‘window of opportunity’ will allow interested parties to formally submit their expression of interest to deliver a sustainable future for the Muni Arts Centre as an artistic entertainment venue. The commencement of this process is another important step to ensure the Muni re-opens its doors. The Council will aim to work with a preferred tenant by March 2019, with a view to completing a leasehold transfer by May 2019 (which may be subject to change depending on the proposals received). [/aoa] Speaking…

People who are eligible and wish to buy their own home must have completed an application form available from their landlord or the Welsh Government website and submitted it to their landlord before the upcoming deadline of 26 January 2019.  Housing and Local Government Minister Julie James said: “We passed the Abolition of the Right to Buy and Associated Rights Act to protect the stock of social housing in Wales from further reduction, so it is available to provide affordable housing for people who need it. This legislation is one of a range of actions we are taking to increase…

Adventure, the great outdoors and culture will be the inspiration for budding young gardeners in this year’s RHS Cardiff Schools Wheelbarrow competition. [aoa id=”1″] The annual competition for primary schools, nurseries and community groups to design and plant a wheelbarrow has been launched by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), in partnership with Bute Park, and this year’s theme celebrates Visit Wales’ Year of Discovery. Primary schools and groupsacross Cardiff, Caerphilly and the Vale of Glamorgan are encouraged to get involved to explore the theme and create a planted wheelbarrow to be displayed at the RHS Flower Show in Bute Park…

Local boy Ellis Wellington went to visit the Amazon fulfilment centre in Swansea for a behind-the-scenes tour to say thank you that the team ran the Swansea Bay 10K to raise money for a cause close to his heart. Tŷ Hafan is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities and offers care to children and support for their families throughout Wales. Ellis benefited from the charity’s services when he was diagnosed with Muscular dystrophy in his early years. 16 members of the Amazon team in Swansea took part in the race and raised a total of £1,120 for Tŷ Hafan.…

After nine years, seven rounds of IVF treatment and the heartache of three miscarriages, the Brynamman couple were overjoyed to find out they were going to be parents at last – and to twins. But it would prove to be the start of a dramatic journey culminating in the babies being delivered by emergency C-section and Emma becoming critically ill. Thankfully, seven months later they are all doing well after a few setbacks along the way – and the family have returned to Singleton Hospital with donations to thank staff for the outstanding care they received. Emma has had type…

Police investigating an assault which has left a pensioner in a critical condition in hospital are appealing for help to identify a potential suspect. The 72-year-old victim remains at the University of Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, after she was found with serious head injuries at her home on Garnswllt Road, Pontarddulais, at around 8.15am on Wednesday, January 9th. Detectives are keen to trace a purse they believe is missing as a result of the attack, and to identify a person seen acting suspiciously in the area around the time of the incident. Detective Inspector Matthew Davies said: “The victim…

It is part of the FAW Trust’s We Wear the Same Shirt programme – which has recently been handed a funding boost of 50,000 euros by the UEFA Hat-Trick Assistance Programme and is designed to improve the mental health of people living in Wales. Bradley Woolridge, Captain of the Men’s Cardiff Met football team said:  “We want to use the power of football with adults who might be struggling with issues such as confidence, low self-esteem and loneliness. A healthy body can help encourage a healthy mind and being part of a team can provide a huge sense of belonging…

Staff from one of Wales’ leading training providers will be putting in the hard yards to raise money for Cancer Research in 2019. The company, which has offices in Welshpool, Llanelli, Builth Wells, Holyhead and Colwyn Bay, has set itself a challenge of running, walking and cycling 1,000 miles, visiting all 22 counties of Wales, during the year. Staff are hoping that apprentices and employers, which the company works with, will join in the fundraising challenge for Cancer Research. Cambrian Training is aiming to raise sponsorship of £1 per mile for the challenge, which will contribute towards the company’s £1,500…

The Mushroom Garden – Snowdonia, has already tasted success in producing fresh and dried Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms for customers including restaurants, hotels and the National Trust. However, as the family-run business has blossomed, so has the need for more growing space. As a result of the formation of a new partnership, the business is set to increase its capacity five-fold, with the weekly production of Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms estimated to rise from 200kg to around 1 tonne per week. [aoa id=”1″] Thirteen years ago, interest in fungi and foraging led Cynan and June Jones to try their…