Author: Rhys Gregory

A vacant and derelict former public house in Tonna has been given a new lease of life and will open its doors to the public again having been fully renovated thanks to a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Previously known as the Old Railway Tavern, the building has been empty for the last few years and had suffered flood damage before being acquired by the Booth family who lovingly restored the building to its former glory. It has now been transformed into a family run Artisan Café, with two self-contained holiday apartments on the first floor. Located alongside…

Rural towns and villages in South West Wales are set to benefit from UK Government’s Project Gigabit, which aims to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity to hard-to-reach premises across Britain by 2030. The programme is a key component of the Government’s Plan for Change, designed to stimulate economic growth and remove barriers to opportunity, with a goal of achieving  as close to 100% gigabit coverage by 2030 as possible. This latest rollout will ensure that harder to reach communities benefit from some of the fastest broadband speeds available, providing better access to essential services such as healthcare , remote education, and video…

Good progress continues on the project to transform one of Newport’s most loved icons, the Transporter Bridge. Last month, just before Christmas, the contractors working on the new state-of-the-art visitor centre, John Perkins Construction, officially handed that site back to the council. The experience at the visitor centre tells the story of the bridge and the site it sits on through the personal accounts of those who worked on its construction, as well as from those who used it to cross the river every day. The visitor centre is currently undergoing some internal finishing touches, which is being carried out…

Blaenau Gwent councillors have this week unanimously approved the appointment of Stephen Vickers as the permanent Joint Chief Executive for both Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen County Borough Councils. This follows approval by councillors in Torfaen earlier in the week. The reports received by both councils follow a 7 month ‘discovery phase’ during which both councils agreed to share the Chief Executive role, while exploratory work took place to understand the opportunities and risks of closer working. The review supported by Local Partnerships concluded following engagement with councillors, senior officers, and staff, as well as representatives of Welsh Government, the Welsh…

St Mark’s Church in Caia Park, Wrexham, is being transformed into a hub for sports, drama, lunch clubs, and more, thanks to £300,000 from the Welsh Government’s Community Facilities Programme. The funding has supported major renovations, including a new roof, heating system, accessible toilets, ramped access, a kitchen refit, and reworked meeting spaces. These improvements will allow St Mark’s to expand its activities while continuing to host essential services such as the Trussell Trust Foodbank and a regular clothing exchange. Reverend Canon Jonathan Smith, project lead at St Mark’s, said: “St Mark’s has always been at the heart of life…

Professor Isabel Oliver has been appointed as’ the new Chief Medical Officer for Wales. Professor Oliver will be joining the Welsh Government from her role as Director General of Science and Research and Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). As Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Prof. Oliver will provide clinical leadership and  be responsible for providing independent professional advice to the Welsh Government about health and public health matters. She will also work with organisations across Wales to reduce health inequalities and lead the medical profession with the aim of improving the quality of healthcare and…

Careers Wales has announced nine winners of its Valued Partner Awards 2025 at an award ceremony held in Cardiff on Wednesday 15 January. The winners were revealed live by event host Sian Lloyd at The Neuadd, within the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. The prestigious Valued Partner Awards celebrate businesses that have gone above and beyond to inspire and support pupils across Wales over the last year. The awards are a chance for Careers Wales to recognise the vital role employers play in empowering young people with careers and work-related experiences. 2025 Valued Partner Awards winners: Outstanding Achievement Award:Hywel Dda University…

If you’re training for a race, you’ll be filling up your diary with weekly training runs and strength sessions to ensure you’re in top condition on the start line. While it might seem counterintuitive when you’re trying to get faster and stronger, it’s just as important that you’re putting some rest days into your schedule too. Run 4 Wales Race Director, and double Olympic marathoner, Steve Brace, explains why they’re a vital component of any training plan. Recovery: Taking a break will allow your body to rest and recover from the stress of training. Rest days slotted into your schedule…

British astronaut Tim Peake will will bring the awe and wonder of space travel past, present and future to Cardiff when his latest tour blasts off across the country. Astronauts: The Quest To Explore Space sees Tim sharing extraordinary archive footage bringing to life the adventures of astronauts in a celebration of the historic human endeavour of space exploration. Back by popular demand following its debut last autumn, this latest leg of the tour includes a date at Cardiff’s New Theatre on Monday October 6. Tickets go on sale on Friday January 24, from nothird.co.uk/live-shows/tim-peake or direct from venues. “’It…

Leading private medical service provider iGP has launched its services at the Medispace centre at Parc Dewi Sant. iGP offers GP, nurse, occupational health, counselling, physiotherapy, and cosmetic treatments across south Wales, as well as tests, screens and vaccinations. It currently has sites in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, as well as providing online services. In addition to its expansion into Carmarthen, iGP celebrated 20 years of providing high quality medical services in 2024. After purchasing the historic Carmarthenshire site in May 2024, Parc Dewi Sant Ltd announced its plans for redevelopment, with health and wellbeing benefits for the local community…