Author: Rhys Gregory

The transformation of a boarded-up former electrical shop near one of Swansea’s best-loved parks is turning heads. The store, close to the entrance to Brynmill Park, has been turned into a café that’s become a welcoming gathering place for local people. To seal its place in peoples’ memories, there’s a huge mural of flying ducks on the new-look building. The building, owned by Swansea-based property developer Peter Loosmore is being operated as the Duck & Dough café and community hub by proprietor Max Freitas. Upstairs, there’s new residential accommodation. The transformation was supported through Swansea Council’s Transforming County Anchor Placemaking…

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet has adopted and published a five-year vision for ensuring local people make more journeys on foot, bicycle or using other “wheeled” modes of active travel. At their meeting on Wednesday, October 23rd, Cabinet members approved the council’s Active Travel Development Plan (2024-2029). Its aims are: •    Making walking, cycling and wheeling (for example wheelchairs, scooters and prams) the first choice for a cleaner, safer, healthier and more active Neath Port Talbot. •    Expanding the active travel network and improving facilities to enable all to walk, cycle and wheel. •    Encouraging behaviour change by promoting active…

Pembrokeshire Archives was delighted to host the Legal Wales Conference 2024 this month, the first time the event has come to west Wales. Organisers praised the role played by Pembrokeshire County Council and its team in making the event a “huge success.” Special thanks was given to Legal Services Manager Kelly Byrne for her contribution to the work of the programme committee along with Claire Orr and the team at the Archives for putting on a display of material of legal interest. The Legal Wales Conference, now in its 21st year, provides a platform for significant contributions to the continuing…

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet has agreed an additional £1.4m of capital funding, alongside grant funding, to support a Milford Haven Public Transport Interchange. Subject to confirmation of further funding contributions from Welsh Government, work could start to begin on site next year and be completed in 2026. Cllr Paul Miller, Deputy Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council said: “We have been working closely with Welsh Government, Network Rail and the train operating companies for some time now and am delighted to be able to bring these proposals forward. “This project is important in its own right but it’s also a key…

Following the installation of drainage infrastructure, the main work to create 52 car park spaces at Treorchy Railway Station will get underway shortly – with minimal local disruption expected, as the facility is being built on unused land. RCT Council is supporting Transport for Wales to create the new Park and Ride facility on land off Clos Ystradfechan. This site is located south of Cae Mawr football pitch and south-east of the railway station – beyond the small existing car park which is pictured. The site is owned by Transport for Wales and was most-recently used as a compound for…

The Caerphilly 2035 Placemaking Plan outlines bold and ambitious plans to enhance and regenerate the area of Caerphilly and Caerphilly County Borough Council has received significant investment from the Welsh Government to identify opportunities encourage growth and improve their town centre offer. More than £350,000 has been provided from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme to support the commissioning of the Caerphilly Vision 2035 Placemaking Plan and bring together the necessary skills and expertise to help deliver a range of projects. Transforming Towns provides support to revitalise town and city centres across Wales, creating a sense of place and community…

A man has been jailed for 24 years for sexual offences dating back to the 1970s. Peter David Long, 66, pleaded guilty on August 21, 2024, to six counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 years and 13 counts of indecent assault. The 19 offences were against four girls who were all aged between seven and 14 at the time of the offending. On Friday, October 25, Long was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to 24 years’ imprisonment with one year on licence, a life-time restraining order for all complainants. Officer in the case, Detective Constable Georgia Davies,…

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing the Vale of Rheidol Railway’s historic steam train journey from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge, and here’s our take. The UK, and Wales in particular, has a rich heritage of steam-powered travel, yet opportunities to enjoy this unique mode of transport are becoming increasingly rare. While Wales offers several spots where visitors can ride a steam train, these journeys are often reserved for festive or special occasions. However, for those interested in exploring Mid Wales from a fresh perspective, the Vale of Rheidol Railway is well worth considering. Spanning over 12 scenic miles, the…

Brains Brewery’s CEO Jon Bridge has announced he will be stepping down in December following four years in post, where he has successfully led the business from its perilous position during the Covid pandemic to the debt-free brewery and brands business it is today. He will be handing over to newly appointed Managing Director (MD) Nick Payne, who will take the helm of the iconic Welsh brewer in January 2025. As part of a long-term succession plan, Jon will leave his role after navigating Brains through some of its most challenging times, including the Covid 19 pandemic, which saw the…

Business confidence in Wales rose three points during October to 39%, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Companies in Wales reported higher confidence in their own business prospects month-on-month, up three points at 49%. When taken alongside their optimism in the economy, up three points to 30%, this gives a headline confidence reading of 39% (vs. 36% in September). Looking ahead to the next six months, Welsh businesses identified their top target areas for growth as investing in their team, for example through training (41%), evolving their offering, for example by introducing new products or services (36%) and…