Author: Rhys Gregory

Work has started on the expansion of the cinema and the upgrade of facilities at Pontardawe Arts Centre. The upgrade includes the addition of a new 70-seat cinema, alongside improvements to the café and bar, a redesigned ticket office area, and various cosmetic enhancements. This upgrade not only aims to elevate the centre’s facilities but will also enable it to screen the latest Hollywood blockbusters, something it was previously unable to do. The Arts Council of Wales has provided a substantial grant (£600,000) towards this project with an additional contribution (£250,000) from Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme. The remainder of…

FOR Cardiff, the Welsh capital’s Business Improvement District (BID), has appointed Carolyn Brownell as executive director, making Cardiff the first – and only – female-led BID of any Welsh city. Working with FOR Cardiff since its inception in 2017, Carolyn has been in-post as interim executive director since March 2023 and has championed equality and safety for all Cardiffians within her mandate – making it a great place to work, live, and visit. In her year serving as interim executive director, Carolyn has championed all women in Cardiff through launching a range of support programmes for women. From pioneering the…

A wide variety of strong-performing community and high-profile sports people and organisations have been recognised in the 2023 Swansea Sports Awards. There were more than 100 nominations for the council-run scheme – and those shortlisted represent a wide variety of community clubs and activities. The winners were announced at an awards event in the Brangwyn Hall which was attended by more than 400 people, including sporting dignitaries. Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “Our winners – and those shortlisted – show that Swansea’s a city full of sporting champions. “It was a privilege to see the smiles of those who…

The High Sheriff of South Glamorgan, Janey Howell, has chosen City Hospice as her charity of the year. Janey, who is originally from Antigua, is the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan for 2024 to 2025. The High Sheriff is the monarch’s judicial representative in the county and is the oldest secular Office in the United Kingdom after the Crown. In addition to responsibilities such as attending royal visits, ensuring the wellbeing and protection of high court judges and acting as the returning officer for parliamentary elections in the county, High Sheriffs are encouraged to use their year in office to…

The memory of an inspirational primary school headteacher has been recognised five years after her death from motor neurone disease by a donation of almost £3,000 from a Vale of Clwyd choir. Côr Nantclwyd, a mixed choir based in the Vale of Clwyd and with over 100 members drawn from across Denbighshire, Conwy and Flintshire, donated the money from a concert at Theatr John Ambrose in Ruthin in memory of Gwenda Owen for research into the debilitating illness. They joined with Côr Rhuthun to perform a new song, ‘Barcud ar y Gwynt’, Kites in the Wind, specially written in Gwenda’s…

Entrepreneur Dr Ali J. Wright, who is keen to establish an upholstery training academy in Mid Wales, has added a coveted apprenticeship award to her growing collection. Ali’s business, Needle Rock, based in Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth since 2013, was named Small Employer of the Year at the prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2024, held at ICC Wales, Newport. A former UK Government plant health inspector, Ali is now growing her own apprentices after turning her hobby of rescuing old furniture into the award-winning business that creates “unique and remarkable upholstery”. Highlight of the year for apprentices, employers and work-based learning providers…

Neath Port Talbot councillors have given the go ahead for more than £4m of highways engineering, maintenance and other works in all parts of the county borough. It entails bridge strengthening (£300,000), drainage (£300,000), carriageway resurfacing (£1,852,000), footway resurfacing (£143,000), road surface dressing (£260,000), minor works such as traffic signs, barriers, traffic regulation orders (£445,000), delivery of the highway tree management strategy (£170,000) and other highways maintenance and associated measures (£587,000). The Highways Works Programme was drawn up by officers using information including inspection reports from technical officers and other surveys plus local councillors’ surgeries. Some of the funding for…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have partnered with The Jason Mohammad Academy to offer ‘Creative Industry’ workshop sessions to young people keen to explore opportunities in the Creative Sector. Renowned presenter, broadcaster and journalist Jason Mohammad has created his own media academy, providing advice and tips on interviewing, producing the perfect podcast, autocue use and putting together a showreel. Members of the Academy are given an in-depth introduction to media and journalism from one of the UK’s most experienced and sought-after broadcasters, adding crucial skills and experience to their CV that will help them stand out from the crowd. The development…

A scheme to provide support to the carriageway on the B4273 between Glyncoch and Ynysybwl will begin next week – and the existing temporary traffic lights will be removed upon completion. Following a report of cracking in the carriageway, the temporary lights were installed as a safety measure to reduce loading to the adjacent river wall. The issue has since been investigated and a scheme has been designed to resolve the problem – and this will get underway on Monday, April 8, lasting nine weeks. Temporary works will initially take place, enabling two-way traffic to be maintained throughout the scheme,…

Homeowners in the Caerphilly borough can access funding to make their properties more energy efficient, thanks to proposals agreed by its Cabinet. Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet recently approved a new Private Sector Housing Renewal and Disabled Adaptations Policy which sets out priorities for private sector housing, including plans to deliver financial assistance products to help private owners (including private sector landlords) and contract holders (formally known as tenants) to repair, maintain or adapt their homes. Cllr Shayne Cook, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said “Having a safe, warm and secure home should be a fundamental right but we…