Author: Rhys Gregory

Wrexham has unveiled a new city-wide public art trail as part of its bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.  Wrexham has officially launched a new trail of striking art installations as part of Wrecsam2029, its UK City of Culture 2029 bid. The project, coordinated by local artist Liam Stokes-Massey, features 14 striking murals across the city centre that form a new ‘open air gallery’. The aim of the trail is to showcase the work of local artists and celebrate Wrexham’s rich heritage, industries and creative identity ahead of the UK City of Culture 2029 bid process opening later…

The outstanding work of a pioneering care organisation that’s celebrating its 40th anniversary is an example to the rest of Wales, says a Welsh Government Minister. The glowing praise for Pendine Park came from Dawn Bowden MS, the Minister for Children and Social Care during a tour of Pendine Park’s Highfield nursing home in Wrexham during a visit to North Wales. Owner Mario Kreft MBE showed the Minister around the site where she met staff and residents and enjoyed some of the activities taking place, including a music concert. The visit comes as Pendine Park celebrates four decades of success,…

A talented singer-songwriter from the Llyn Peninsula is on a mission – to get more people gardening. Meinir Gwilym, who lives near Pwllheli and hails from Anglesey is one of the presenters of the popular S4C gardening series, Garddio a Mwy (Gardening and More). The show, made by Caernarfon-based production company Cwmni Da, has just returned for a 22-programme run and is broadcast at 8.25pm on Monday evenings. The other main presenters are green-fingered social media influencer Adam Jones  and florist Sioned Edwards, whose claims to fame include working on hit TV shows EastEnders and Death in Paradise. Among the…

Occupier and investor demand for commercial property in Wales edged upwards in the first quarter of the year according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Commercial Property Monitor. A net balance of 5% of Welsh surveyors reported a rise in overall investor demand through Q1 2025, which is the highest this balance has been since March 2022. Looking at the subsectors, the industrial sector outperformed office and retail as a net balance of 21% of surveyors reported a rise. Investor demand for office space was said to have fallen flat, and a net balance of -8% of…

Cardiff’s consumers can earn 5p for every paper cup they return to store in new city centre campaign. A groundbreaking AI-based pilot initiative to tackle paper cup waste launches in Cardiff city centre today, as Keep Wales Tidy partners with the National Cup Recycling Scheme and innovative waste sorting app, Bower. The three-month pilot will enable residents, visitors and commuters in Cardiff, to recycle their used paper cups at participating Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, Greggs, McDonald’s and Pret a Manger stores in return for a 5p reward. Customers purchasing drinks in paper cups from these retailers can download the Bower…

A new mental health hospital is set to open in Rhyl in April 2025 with support from HSBC UK. Ty Melyn Limited has secured an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK to purchase a site in Rhyl, Wales, which will become the new Seren Gobaith Mental Health Hospital. Located on Brighton Road in Rhyl, the new hospital will provide 24-hour support, operating across five-wards, it will provide 62 beds for patients with en-suite facilities in every room. The new facility will create 250 new jobs for hospital workers and medical professionals. The privately-run hospital hopes to work closely with the…

The family of the man who died following a road traffic collision on the A55 at Bodelwyddan last week have paid tribute to him. David Emrys ‘Junior’ Williams was 35-years-old and came from the Llandudno Junction area. His family have paid the following tribute to him: “David was the beloved son of Sharon and David, Brother to Gemma and James, beloved Father to Harry, Henry and Hayden and former partner of Jenny. “Words cannot describe how devastated we are, and your family and friends will miss you dearly.” The investigation to establish the cause of the collision is underway and…

Swansea Council has secured more than £3million for transport related improvements in the city. In total, £3.188 million has been allocated to Swansea and will be invested in a wide range of projects. Projects to boost public transport links, flood alleviation works, along with electric vehicles charging points and walking/cycling infrastructure have been included in the successful bid made to Welsh Government earlier in the year. £600k is going towards the development of a strategic transport plan to improve sustainable transport along the Northern City Link (between Penllergaer and the city centre), boosting Some of the funding (£380k) has been…

One of the largest community park redevelopment projects in Wales has been officially completed and opened to the public. Glynneath Miners Welfare Park has undergone a major transformation thanks to a partnership between Glynneath Town Council, several key funders and support from Neath Port Talbot Council’s Project Development and Funding Team. The £817,860 redevelopment project has created a modern, inclusive space for residents of all ages, and was officially opened by Glynneath-born entertainer Max Boyce MBE and Glynneath Town Mayor, Councillor Julian Bulman. The new facilities include a children’s play park on the site of the former bowls green, complete…

Less than five months after construction officially began at the Coed Ely Solar Farm, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, and Vital Energi are celebrating a significant milestone as the last of the 9,400 solar panels are set to be installed just in time for Earth Day which took place on April 22, 2025. The farm plays a significant part in the council’s decarbonisation as it will export 5MW of clean electricity to the grid, but it will also help lower Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s emissions as they will receive 1MW of low-carbon power…