Author: Rhys Gregory

Occupier demand for commercial property in Wales fell flat through the final quarter of 2024 according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Commercial Property Monitor, but there has been an improvement in the outlook overall, driven by optimism for the industrial property sector. Whilst overall occupier demand is flat, there is variation in the sub-sectors. Occupier demand for industrial space rose (a net balance of 7%), demand for office space was reported to have fallen flat, and a net balance of -7% of Welsh respondents reported that demand for retail space had fallen, an improvement from -23%…

Wales’ largest building society has unveiled plans to boost access to cash provisions in Buckley, Flintshire with a cash kiosk in partnership with shared banking innovator OneBanx. The first of its kind in North Wales, the Buckley presence follows two installations in Principality’s Cowbridge and Caerphilly branches – fulfilling the building society’s ongoing commitment to its branch presence and loyalty to customers, by making cash more accessible in communities affected by recent bank closures. The OneBanx service, facilitated by Principality colleagues, represents a significant milestone for the Buckley community. Following the high street’s final bank closure in 2019, local councillor…

Due to overwhelming public demand, THERE’S A MONSTER IN YOUR SHOW will head out on a third major UK theatre tour, playing 47 venues through to 1 June 2025. The critically acclaimed production will play at Ffwrnes Theatre from Wednesday 26 to Thursday 27 February 2025. Tom Fletcher’s interactive adventures for big imaginations, based on the beloved ‘Who’s in Your Book?’ series, leapt from page to stage in October 2023 and quickly became a must-see family musical theatre show, with Mother & Baby Magazine calling it, ‘The perfect toddler theatre show’. THERE’S A MONSTER IN YOUR SHOW has now been…

The principle member of the ‘Omari’ drug line has been jailed. Amara Harris, 22, took orders for crack cocaine and heroin and met with his customers to hand over drugs, who he targeted with bulk messages between April, 2024 and July, 2024. Forensic phone data analysis led officers to a shop in Pontcanna, Cardiff, where Amara topped up his phone on June 14. Officers sourced CCTV footage of the event and identified Harris as the man topping up the device. The CCTV footage also captured him pulling up outside the shop in a black Audi – despite him not having…

Transport for Wales (TfW) is thrilled to announce the opening of a new Men’s Shed at Milford Haven Station. A great use of one of TfW stations, providing a new base for community support. Men’s Sheds are community spaces where individuals come together to make, repair and repurpose, all while supporting projects in their local communities. These spaces host mainly ‘grassroots’ community activities that respond to shared needs within the local area. Sheds bring several health benefits, including improved wellbeing by providing communities with a way to stay social. Members (or Shedders as they’re known) reported a 96% reduction in…

An historic Corwen monument is supporting work to help future generations of local nature and communities. Denbighshire County Council’s Climate Change and Clwydian Range & Dee Valley National Landscape teams are working to provide a new area of support for nature and visitors to enjoy underneath the watchful eye of the Caer Drewyn Iron Age Hillfort monument. Over 1,500 trees have been planted on the lower slopes below the hillfort to help create new diverse species-rich habitats to support local nature. A 190-metre hedgerow has been created with the help of Ysgol Caer Drewyn pupils, containing over 1,000 whip trees…

Work to improve active travel routes in Pillgwenlly and Malpas started earlier this month. A new active travel bridge is being installed over the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal at Gwastad lock in Malpas. The new structure will be a manually operated bascule bridge and will be installed alongside the existing bridge. The existing bridge is not being removed, it will remain in place next to the new bridge, providing two crossing points at the lock. The new bridge is designed to remove the risk of bottlenecks along the canal path at the lock. It will feature a counterweight lift which…

Conservation areas are distinct areas of special architectural or historic merit. Ceredigion County Council is required, from time to time, to review conservation areas in the County and formulate proposals for their preservation and enhancement. The Council is preparing or updating our Conservation Area Appraisals in order to identify the things that make these areas special and any opportunities or problems that may exist. The Appraisals form the basis for more detailed Management Plans. The Management Plans set out appropriate responses to address any opportunities and issues. Draft Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans have been prepared for the following…

RUGBY LEGEND, Sir Gareth Edwards, had his sights set on helping Specsavers in Porthcawl to officially launch its new look store this week [Monday 27 January], following a £50,000 refurbishment. The former Wales international was on hand to cut the ribbon and unveil the store’s upgraded facilities, as part of a launch event to mark the completion of the first phase in the store’s modernisation programme. The refurbishment includes the addition of upgraded store displays to create a brighter and more welcoming environment for customers. It complements the new test room, which was added just last year, to accommodate the…

An ability to focus on the bigger picture is needed for an investor willing to grab the challenge to revitalise an end of terrace South Wales House with a £35,000 price tag. The cost of buying the three-bedroom property at auction may well be low but the effort and imagination needed to transform the place could well be quite high. Sean Roper, of South Wales-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “This end terrace property in the South Wales valleys village of Treherbert is ideal for those looking for a solid project to renovate for themselves or to resell. “Having previously been…