Author: Rhys Gregory

Now in its fourteenth year, Cowbridge Music Festival has established itself as one of the most exciting music festivals in Wales, bringing world-class musicians to the community. With a mission to make classical music approachable and enjoyable, the festival also boasts an extensive community programme, which over the years has engaged over 11,000 local pupils and care homes. Cowbridge Music Festival is proud to celebrate and preserve Welsh cultural heritage through performances in both Welsh and English, and featuring numerous artists with Welsh roots. Festival Co-Artistic Directors Joseph Fort and Rosalind Ventris comment: “We are delighted to present such a…

Richard Sullivan was arrested by plain-clothed officers while they were on patrol in Ely, Cardiff. The officers witnessed a suspected drug deal near Gough Road between a man on a pushbike and the occupants of a car. The car was stopped in Wheatley Road and the occupants were found to have a wrap of heroin. The cyclist was seen to enter and then leave a block of flats in Ogmore Road, Caerau. Sullivan, 44,  was arrested and a search of his flat revealed clear evidence that the property was being used to prepare crack cocaine. Cash and weapons were also…

howcase Nantgarw has reduced its family ticket price to just £25, valid throughout the school summer holidays. The new reduced ticket price means a family of four can now watch all the biggest blockbusters at a cost of £6.25 each. And as if that wasn’t enough, family ticket holders can also claim a large sweet or salted popcorn per family, completely free of charge! The offer is valid from Monday 22 July to Sunday 1 September, so children and parents alike can kick back and relax, with blockbuster films such as Despicable Me 4 and Inside Out 2 showing now,…

Business leaders want Sir Richard Branson to come to rescue after an investigation revealed over 20% of direct trains between North Wales and London get cancelled. The North Wales Business Council is calling on the legendary entrepreneur to launch an “open access” rail path on the route operated by Avanti West Coast. According to the Business Council, it would be a case of going back to the future because Sir Richard’s Virgin Group successfully ran the service for 20 years before the contract was awarded to Avanti in August 2019. In the meantime the Business Council’s Chief Executive, Ashley Rogers,…

Coleg Sir Gâr’s sustainability skills project, Green 24, has surpassed its ambitious targets to upskill 350 individuals in Carmarthenshire by the end of the year. Just six months after launching, over 370 individuals have already completed Green 24 training courses, with high demand seeing a further 290 signed up to join the programme in the coming months. Delivered by Coleg Sir Gar’s Green Skills Academy, Green 24 equips people and organisations in the county with the vital knowledge and skills they need to reduce their carbon footprint become net zero by 2030. Those receiving training represent individuals as well as…

Bridgend County Borough Council and its partners at Awen Cultural Trust have provided an update on the progress of the £20m redevelopment project at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. The 1932, Art Deco building is currently undergoing enabling works, which started in early June, forming an essential part of the preparation of the building in readiness for the main renovation work later this year. Prichard’s Demolition were appointed as the contractor to undertake the enabling works inside the Grade II listed building, which involves stripping out all the building’s plasterboard and suspended ceilings to take the building back to its concrete…

Close to 1,000 more workers are set to be located in Swansea city centre in a boost for traders and the local economy. The workers would be located at a proposed new public sector hub, which is being considered for the area of the former St David’s shopping centre. The public sector hub is proposed to accommodate hundreds of council staff, along with workers from other public sector organisations and both private and commercial tenants. Set to be delivered by Swansea Council in partnership with Urban Splash, a report on the public sector hub will be considered by the council’s…

A NEATH PORT TALBOT teacher has won a top award at the sixth Professional Teaching Awards Cymru. Rhian Thomas, from Catwg Primary School in Neath, was awarded ‘Teacher of the Year in a Primary School’, in recognition of her enthusiasm for outdoor learning. Rhian creates engaging learning experiences in Catwg Primary’s Forest School, from running pre-school playgroups, to weekend learning sessions for the local community. Rhian was one of a number of the most inspiring educators in Wales to be announced as winners of the sixth Professional Teaching Awards Cymru at a special ceremony held at Soughton Hall in Mold…

Members of the public are being asked to provide feedback on Council Tax premiums in Pembrokeshire. Pembrokeshire County Council is carrying out a consultation on the premiums that apply to second and long-term empty homes. The consultation seeks views on: ·       Current Council Tax premiums for second homes ·       Current Council Tax premiums for long-term empty homes ·       Whether the Council should use its discretion following Welsh Government’s reform to self-catering holiday accommodation thresholds, to be in non-domestic rates. The consultation provides context and background information on the current Council Tax premiums and housing locally. It also provides the definitions…

Work to construct the next phase of the Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route – the section that stretches across Ferndale – will begin from this week. There is expected to be minimal overall disruption to the community throughout. The Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route will create a 10km pedestrian and cycle path between Maerdy and Tylorstown, and will be delivered across five phases of work. Phase one was completed in late 2023, from a location north of the Maerdy industrial estate to a point near the Gateway Memorial. Phase two has been completed recently. It resumes the route through Maerdy,…