Author: Rhys Gregory

A North Wales haulage and vehicle servicing and repairs business has changed hands and its new owners have unveiled plans to invest for growth. NPC Commercials, based at a two-acre site on the Llay Industrial Estate in Wrexham, operates a fleet of tipper wagons, box trailers and curtainsiders that carry out haulage across England, Scotland and Wales for construction, landscaping, retail and industrial clients. Its garage provides servicing and repairs for cars, vans and heavy goods vehicles. The £1.5m-turnover business has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by NPC Billington, a newly-formed company led by Gary Billington and including his…

A man from Swansea has pleaded guilty to the murder of 47-year-old Leanne Williams earlier this year. 33-year-old Matthew Battenbough, of no fixed abode, appeared at Swansea Crown Court today (Monday August 18). He will be sentenced on Friday September 26. Leanne Williams’ body was found by officers at her home on Gomer Road, Townhill on Thursday, February 27. A Home Office post-mortem identified significant injuries consistent with an assault. Detective Inspector David Butt said: “The news of Leanne’s death was devastating to her family and to the wider communities of Townhill and Swansea. “Leanne’s family are being supported by…

Two Ukrainian sisters who came to Wales to escape the war have partnered with the lady who sponsored them in the UK and opened a new cafe offering a fusion of Ukrainian and Welsh experience. Coffi Kava (coffee in the Welsh and Ukrainian language combined) opened at Caerphilly Railway Station in late July, offering a menu that blends traditional Ukrainian flavours with Welsh ingredients. Hanna and Liudmyla arrived in Wales from Ukraine three years ago and now proudly call it their second home. Sian, a retired NHS worker sponsored the sisters when they first arrived and through their shared passion…

Efforts to increase Welsh language use in workplaces need to be strengthened, according to a new report. The report by Dr Elin Royles from Aberystwyth University lists 13 recommendations on how to improve good practice in the relationship between the economy, the language and the workplace across different sectors. The study was commissioned by research firm Wavehill as part of an evaluation of the Arfor II programme – a Welsh Government-funded initiative funded which brought together local authorities in Gwynedd, Anglesey, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire to develop plans to promote economic development, and in turn, boost the prospects of the Welsh…

Work to complete the upgrade of a popular coastal walking route on Gower is set to take place in the autumn. Swansea Council has been upgrading sections of the Gower coast path between Rotherslade and Limeslade. A brand new 450 metre section of path was created in March this year, and is in addition to a previous section, stretching for a further 270 metres, which was completed in 2022. Both new sections were created as a diversion away from the original path which was affected by coastal erosion. The upgrades were funded via the Welsh Government’s Wales Coast Path grant…

Construction has started on a new development which will bring 103 affordable homes to Sanatorium Road in Canton, Cardiff. Delivered in partnership between United Welsh, Cardiff Council and Welsh Government, the development will include a mix of 71 apartments and 32 houses to the area. Of the apartments, 50 will be designed specifically for people aged 55 and over, supporting independent living. The homes will be available for social rent and allocated to people from the Cardiff Council Common Housing Waiting List. Located in the heart of Canton, the site offers excellent access to parks, shops, and local amenities, making…

Churchill Way has been transformed into a burst of colour and creativity thanks to FOR Cardiff’s latest public art commission. FOR Cardiff is the Business Improvement District (BID) of Cardiff city centre – a private, not-for-profit membership organisation voted for by the businesses of Cardiff city centre in June 2016. The vibrant new ground mural in the city centre – complete with swirling patterns, blooming flowers, and a classic game of hopscotch – has been designed to bring joy, play, and family fun to the area throughout the summer. Created by designer Suzanne Carpenter of Patternistas and brought to life with the support of Bethan Richards Illustration, the installation turns an…

A PORTHCAWL optician is marking 20 years of serving the community by launching a specialist clinic to support local residents with sight loss as part of the NHS funded Low Vision Service. According to the UK’s leading sight loss charity, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, around two million people are currently living with sight loss in the UK. The charity also predicts that by 2050, one person will lose their sight every three minutes. The low vision assessment service is funded by the NHS and will be overseen in Porthcawl by Specsavers director, Louise Whiffin. The service aims…

A Newport man has transformed the setback of redundancy into a fresh start, launching an independent coffee shop with help from Business Wales. The Rich Bean Coffee, founded by Richard Collins, is now open at Caerleon RFC Club and is already showing strong signs of growth. Formerly a sales manager, Richard Collins turned his long-standing passion for coffee into a business venture in 2024. Motivated by a desire to take control of his future, he used the opportunity to create a welcoming, community-focused space that offers sustainably sourced coffee and locally produced goods. With guidance from Ian Harvey, a Business…

South Wales Police received a report from the ambulance service stating that they had encountered an unconscious man who appeared to be suffering from an overdose. Upon administration of Naloxone, 28-year-old Jordan Wright from Treherbert woke up and became volatile towards paramedics and members of the public and it appeared that he was in possession of a knife. When officers arrived, they were made aware that Wright had threatened to kill two members of the public. Officers have removed Wright from the ambulance and arrested him on suspicion of threats to kill and being in possession of offensive weapon. A…