Author: Rhys Gregory

Planning consent is now granted for a small kiosk, selling food and drink to take away, to be built within the redeveloped former bingo hall site in Pontypridd – enabling the Council to begin the process of securing a tenant to operate the new amenity. Full permission for the unit was granted by the Planning and Development Committee on Thursday, September 26. The wider site of the old bingo hall and Angharad’s Nightclub has recently been redeveloped into a vibrant and quality public space – while its boundary with Sardis Road was also converted into the new Railway Station South…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing renovations at Newbridge Leisure Centre’s swimming pool. The swimming pool has been closed since July to allow for the replacement of the air handling unit fans, which required custom-made parts that unfortunately are not available within the United Kingdom. The Council is happy to report that the work is progressing well, with the project nearing completion. Alongside the fan replacement, additional maintenance has been brought forward to prevent further closures later in the year. As part of the renovation, the flume has also undergone a full refurbishment,…

Projects costing a total of £12,000 for new signs at Llanidloes and Talgarth have been completed thanks to grant funding secured by Powys County Council. Four new gateway signs on the approaches to Llanidloes have been installed at a cost of £7,000 to ‘welcome’ visitors, while three town maps and information boards have been installed in Talgarth at a cost of £5,000. The Talgarth signs highlight local history and walking opportunities at Pengenffordd, Hay and Brecon Railway, and Talgarth Woodlands. The work was made possible thanks to the 80% grant funding secured by the county council’s Economy and Climate Service…

The next round of a tourism fund enhancing visitor experiences across Wales has been launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans. The Brilliant Basics fund for 2025-2027 will see a further £5 million invested to support local authorities and national parks to deliver improvements to tourist destinations which will benefit both visitors and local communities. The focus will be on improvements in basic but essential visitor infrastructure that improves accessibility at sites and makes tourist hotspots more environmentally sustainable. Previous projects funded by Brilliant Basics have included solar panels and electric vehicle charging points at…

A South Wales three bed end terrace house listed for sale at auction with a guide price of £0(nil) stunned bidders and sellers alike when it sold for more than £100,000. A dozen prospective owners waded into the fray in a bid to secure the dilapidated property in Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. Eventually, after a staggering 230 bids were laid, the empty house with an overgrown ‘jungle’ as a back garden, which was the opening lot in the catalogue of some eighty other properties, sold for a mind-boggling £104,850. Sean Roper of South Wales-based Paul Fosh Auctions said: “Although the terraced house…

Seafood lovers are in for a treat during the upcoming Welsh Seafood Week (14th—18th October 2024), which celebrates the harvest of the sea. Fishmongers and retailers selling Welsh seafood will feature special displays and promote #WelshSeafood to customers in-store and online, highlighting the quality and diversity of the catch from around Wales’ coastline. Also, using the hashtags #BwydMôrCymru #WelshSeafood, fishermen and those in the wider seafood sector will encourage people to seek and enjoy Welsh produce. Food and Drink Wales’ Seafood Cluster manager Chris Parker said Welsh Seafood Week will allow the sector to highlight the wide variety of seafood…

One of the UK’s most successful Garden Railway Festivals will be making a welcome return journey to Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday, June 7.  The Llangollen Garden Railway Festival is one of the UK’s biggest model garden railway events. The event, which has been held since 2021 is once again expected to bring in thousands of garden railway enthusiasts to Northeast Wales.  It is also a great day for families and kids as well as hobbyists and enthusiasts! Over 40 of UK’s leading retailers have already confirmed their attendance at the iconic pavilion on June 7, 2025.  The day-long event will…

The shift to digital learning is transforming the way students access education, creating a more flexible, engaging, and inclusive environment. Traditional classrooms are evolving, and the impact of technology on education has been profound. From online courses to interactive platforms, digital learning is reshaping how knowledge is delivered and consumed. This shift brings unique advantages that redefine the entire educational experience and influence both how educators teach and how students learn. Expanding Access to Quality Education One of the most significant changes digital learning has introduced is the expansion of access to education. Students from all corners of the world…

Powys Business of the Year 2024 is Brecon-based Beacon Foods, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of ingredients and ready-to-eat products. The family-run company, which was established in 1993, collected the coveted accolade, sponsored by Powys County Council, at the annual awards ceremony held at Dering Lines, Brecon on Friday. Earlier in the evening, the company, which has 53,000 square feet of manufacturing and storage facilities, also collected the Growth Award, sponsored by WR Partners. Beacon Foods has grown from a start-up company to an industry leader employing a workforce of 130 in 31 years. Chairman Edward Gough received the…

Narberth-born James, who was one of four players to wear the armband throughout the 2025 UEFA Women’s EURO qualifying campaign following Sophie Ingle’s decision to step down, has now been given the role by head coach Rhian Wilkinson. The midfielder has been captain on three occasions previously having taken the armband for the friendly against USA in July 2023 before leading out Cymru for the 2025 UEFA Women’s EURO qualifiers against Ukraine and Kosovo at Parc y Scarlets. James brings a wealth of experience to the role having won 122 caps for Cymru since making her debut against Scotland in…