Author: Rhys Gregory

A Bill to give local authorities the option to introduce a small visitor levy in their area to re-invest in local tourism, is today introduced by Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford. The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill proposes that people staying overnight in Wales and enjoying everything the country has to offer will pay a small charge. The money raised will support local tourism activity and infrastructure. The introduction of the legislation marks the delivery of a key Programme for Government commitment and will help to invest in the future of Wales as all visitors staying overnight would…

PureGym, the UK’s largest gym operator, is delighted to be opening a brand-new gym in Neath at 12pm on the 20th of December. Advancing PureGym’s mission to inspire a happier, healthier nation, PureGym’s newest club will supply members with access to flexible, affordable fitness facilities – all through its flagship low-cost, zero-contract memberships. Located on the Vale of Neath Retail Park, near to Halfords, the c. 10,500 sq. ft. gym will provide members with everything they need to unlock their fitness potential and achieve their workout goals, including: Hundreds of pieces of state-of-the-art equipment A functional zone, free weights area, fixed…

Hensol Castle has unveiled two new state-of-the-art conference rooms, developed with versatility and distinctive atmospheres to enhance the Castle’s unique event offerings. Originally part of the Castle’s Old Stable Block, the rooms were designed to provide both a modern, high-spec experience and the charm of the historic setting. Each room has been crafted with its own personality featuring high, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, reminiscent of a classic barn conversion, creating a sense of space and grandeur. Advanced technological features, including 100-inch TVs equipped with HDMI connectivity, ensure presentations are seamlessly supported, and each room provides full Wi-Fi coverage. With…

The meetings and events facilities at the Celtic Manor Resort have been renamed the Ian Edwards Conference Centre to celebrate the memory of the venue’s long-serving Chief Executive Officer, who sadly passed away last month. Ian was the conference centre manager when the Resort Hotel opened in 1999 and, after returning to Celtic Manor in 2008, he played a huge part in attracting and delivering a wide variety of successful events within the facilities that now bear his name. The new name was officially announced at a Celebration of Ian Edwards event held at the conference centre on Friday 22ndNovember,…

OTL Group , founded by ex Welsh International rugby player Iestyn Thomas, has been named as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK and one of the top 50 fastest growing companies in Wales in the UK Fast Growth 50 in partnership with UBS Wealth Management. 350 businesses across the UK have been named as the fastest growing across 7 regions, representing more than £2 billion of turnover and making a significant contribution to the UK economy. OTL has been recognised as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK from an incredible 5.6 million firms representing…

A BBC investigation has uncovered evidence that an informal banking system is being exploited by people smugglers to bring thousands of migrants from the Middle East to Europe. Known as the hawala system, it’s used extensively abroad and also in the UK; and has few electronic or paper trails. It operates mostly on trust and can be used legitimately to transfer funds. But posing as a migrant, an undercover reporter for the BBC found people within that network who were also facilitating Iraqis to travel to the UK illegally. At first, the undercover reporter found a man on TikTok selling…

A man from Swansea has been found guilty of the murder of Kelvin Evans earlier this year. 39-year-old Christopher Cooper, from the Maritime Quarter, punched Mr. Evans once to the head outside The Station Hotel, Gorseinon High Street on May 26. The victim was immediately rendered unconscious and was taken to hospital, but his condition deteriorated, and he later passed away on June 26. Cooper pleaded guilty to manslaughter but has now been found guilty of murder. Cooper’s partner, 54-year-old Catherine Francis, from Llanelli, has also been found guilty of assisting an offender to prevent his arrest of prosecution. Detective…

A man from Church Village has been jailed for drug dealing. David Sharp was at home when officers from the Mid Glamorgan Organised Crime Unit entered his flat in Church Village on September 12, 2023. Officers seized his phone and found evidence on the device that he had been dealing Class A drugs since January, 2023. He was arrested and taken into custody, and subsequently charged with being concerned in the supply of cocaine and crack cocaine. The 38 year-old from Castle Court, Church Village, went on to plead guilty to both offences and was jailed for 30 months at…

Passengers are being urged to check for the latest information before travelling as a number of routes across Wales and Borders will be closed today (November 25) due to the impact of Storm Bert. There will be no rail services between Llanhilleth and Ebbw Vale on Monday 25 November, rail replacement services will be in operation. Rail services are expected to be severely impacted on the Radyr to Treherbert/Aberdare/Merthyr Tydfil line, with limited rail replacement capacity available. The Marches line between Newport to Shrewsbury will be closed until at least midday and rail replacement provision will be extremely limited. The Heart…

A Swansea community is set to come together on Sunday, November 24, to honour and remember the victims of the Killan Colliery disaster a century ago. November 27 will mark the 100-year anniversary of the Killan Colliery disaster, where five miners lost their lives when an inrush of water flooded the Killan Colliery in Dunvant. On Sunday, November 24, at 3.30pm Dunvant’s Ebeneser Chapel is welcoming the community for a special service that will also feature the Dunvant Male Choir. And as part of the commemorations Swansea Council’s Gower National Landscape (GNL) team has joined together with local councillors and…