Author: Rhys Gregory

Osprey Charging, the UK’s leading and fastest-growing EV rapid-charging network, has boosted access to public charging in Carmarthenshire with eight high-powered EV chargers installed at Carmarthen Garden Centre in Pensarn, supporting local residents, businesses and visitors with reliable EV infrastructure. The 300kW rapid charge points are compatible with every EV on the market today and can typically add 100 miles of range in just 15 minutes, depending on the model of the vehicle and its battery. Situated at Carmarthen Garden Centre in Pensarn, the chargers are an ideal place to charge an EV whilst enjoying some shopping. Easy to use…

Six pioneering organisations have been awarded a share of over £2 million in funding from Innovate UK — as part of ‘Round 1’ funding to support the impact of their work on the net zero progress of industry in South West Wales. It’s all part of the Net Zero Industry Launchpad for South West Wales — a programme developed by Innovate UK, the national innovation agency, in partnership with Net Zero Industry Wales (NZIW) on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council and Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the Welsh Government. As one of eight Launchpads funded by Innovate UK,…

A plasterer from Bristol will be running the ABP Newport 10K in memory of his twin brother who sadly took his own life in September. Gary Stretton, who has been trying to stay positive since the tragedy, says he used to enjoy running and cycling with his brother Steve. He’s not only taking on the event on Sunday 28th April in Steve’s memory but hopes that in doing so he can help raise awareness of mental health issues too. The 42-year-old said: “On the 16th September 2023 Steve took his own life and it seems both like a lifetime ago…

A director of an eco-toy company that exports across the world told budding entrepreneurs in Gwynedd that all they need to get started is a phone. Peter Barton and his wife, Jolene, launched Babipur (Pure baby) in Porthmadog in 2007 when online shopping was in its infancy and it’s now grown into a £5 million a year business that employs 25 people. The company specialises in environmentally friendly, ethically sourced products for children and families, including mainly wooden toys, organic clothes, reusable nappies and health and skincare goods. As well as having an expanding customer base across the UK, Babipur…

The Dramatic Heart of Wales – the tourism team at Neath Port Talbot Council – recently attended the British Tourism and Travel Show [BTTS] to mark the launch of group travel itineraries designed to welcome more visitors to the region. BTTS ran from 20 – 21st March at the NEC, Birmingham. Taking a stand on the Visit Wales pavilion, the Dramatic Heart of Wales team met hundreds of tour operators, coach operators, group travel organisers, travel agents and travel trade professionals at the largest conference in the UK’s travel trade calendar. Promoting overnight visits to Neath Port Talbot, the Show…

The Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre (DER-IC) South West and Wales opened its doors to industry, academia, and government for its official opening ceremony on Tuesday, 9th April 2024. DER-IC South West and Wales hosted the Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, for the official opening of its advanced packaging facility at the Compound Semiconductor Applications (CSA) Catapult’s Innovation Centre in Newport. DER-IC South West and Wales is part of the wider DER-IC network, which has four centres across the UK and offers open access equipment, facilities, and expertise to the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD)…

Scientists from Aberystwyth and the United States who had travelled to Dallas Texas to study the solar eclipse had to quickly change their plans after cloud cover disrupted them at the last moment. The team, featuring former and current students from the Solar Systems Physics Group at Aberystwyth University had identified three possible locations in and around the Texan city to record the eclipse as part of an international programme to study space weather. This latest eclipse was particularly noteworthy as it coincided with the solar maximum, a once in every 11 year occurrence where the Sun’s surface is at…

Early site investigation works are soon taking place as plans to transform the former St David’s Shopping Centre area in Swansea gather pace. The works will be undertaken by regeneration specialist Urban Splash as part of working up proposals for the site in partnership with experienced real estate company Milligan. The site investigation works are taking place for one day on Thursday April 11 and then for approximately one week from Monday May 13. A section of the grassed area outside St David’s Church Hall will be fenced off while the works are ongoing, with every effort made to ensure…

Neath Port Talbot Council has secured £113,850 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Places initiative to support the development of the Canal Connections/ Cysylltiadau Camlesi project. The council will use the funding to develop a comprehensive options appraisal study examining future uses for the Neath and Tennant Canals, recognising their significance and unique heritage and what they can offer to the people and communities lining their routes. The landowners of these two important waterways play an integral role moving forward in determining a long term sustainable future use for our canals. The study will be part of the phased…

Targeted improvements on a north Wales railway line have been reaping huge benefits for rail customers. Since the introduction of a new timetable in December, the Wrexham to Bidston line has seen more daily trains than ever before running every single day. And over the first 12 weeks of 2024, more than 80% of trains have arrived either on time or within three minutes of their expected arrival time, a massive rise from 2023 where most months saw less than 50% arrive within three minutes of the expected time. “It’s excellent news to see how these targeted changes are making…