Author: Rhys Gregory

Wildmill Community Centre, Bridgend, was a hive of activity on 12 August to mark International Youth Day – an event established by the United Nations in 2000 to celebrate the qualities of young people, recognise the challenges that they may face, as well as encourage their participation in shaping a better future. A collaboration between Bridgend County Borough Council’s Youth Support Services and Community Safety Partnership, the event offered a range of activities including football, art, BMX biking and DJ workshops provided by Bridgend Youth Matters and Youthworks. Matthew Rowlands, Youth and Community Project Worker with Bridgend Youth Matters, said:…

The work of legendary skateboarding photographer Skin Phillips is returning to his home city of Swansea next week for a four-month exhibition of his talents. The city is home to one of Wales’ strongest skateboard and wheeled-sports communities and Phillips is internationally-renowned for capturing some of the defining moments in skateboarding history alongside contemporaries like Tony Hawk. Glynn Vivian Art Gallery is delighted to present an exhibition of the work of artist Skin Phillips, a photographer who has been at the heart of the skateboarding scene as it evolved from an underground movement to a multi-billion-dollar industry. This exciting exhibition…

Members of Neath Port Talbot Council were advised at a meeting of the full council on 4th September 2024 that the Council will play a key role in supporting businesses and people affected by changes at Tata Steel UK Ltd following a significant funding announcement made by the Secretary of State for Wales at the 8th meeting of the Tata Transition Board. Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Steve Hunt, Leader of the Council, welcomed the release of the initial £13.5m from the fund and said: “Our business support, employability and wider services have been supporting a growing number of businesses…

Pembrokeshire County Council has underlined its commitment to prevent anti-social behaviour from adversely impacting the lives of others and harming the environment. Last month the Council secured a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) against Gavin James of 18 Vicary Crescen, Milford Haven, after the defendant repeatedly ignored orders to remove household waste and refuse which was attracting rats and vermin. The piles of rubbish had been classed a genuine public health concern. The indefinite CBO prohibits behaviour which causes harassment, alarm or distress by failing to remove the waste from the property. It is the first CBO secured by the Council’s…

Geshmak is a local café, bar and bistro that moved into Caerphilly town from Newport into an empty premises on Clive Street. Cllr Jamie Pritchard and Adam Sadler, CCBC’s Principal Business Development Officer, dropped by to see the new premises and to chat to owner Francesca Keirle. Francesca Keirle was previously a semi-finalist on the 2015 series of BBC MasterChef. The bistro is open throughout the day offering delicious Welsh breakfasts, light lunches and lovingly prepared fresh evening dining. The business started in Newport in February 2022, but Francesca soon needed better premises to expand. Looking at various sites within…

Growing Mid Wales has collaborated with mobile analysts Streetwave to map mobile coverage across the region using waste collection vehicles. Mobile network quality is now being surveyed across every road in the area on a weekly basis. Growing Mid Wales is making the results available to local residents and businesses with a groundbreaking coverage checker. In June 2024, data-capturing devices were installed in waste collection vehicles across Powys and Ceredigion. These devices have been making weekly mobile coverage surveys across every address in Mid Wales. Network coverage has been continuously analysed across the four main mobile networks in the UK:…

The Welsh Government is providing a further £5 million to support and protect Wales’ culture and sport arm’s length bodies and Cadw. Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip Jane Hutt will make the announcement today on a visit to the National Library of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales in Aberystwyth, both are amongst the organisations benefiting from the funding. The Cabinet Secretary says the Welsh Government has listened to concerns regarding the financial pressures facing cultural and sporting institutions and acted to help them mitigate against the difficulties…

The third round of funding has been awarded to 13 projects supporting the creation of 16 new Coetiroedd Bach (Tiny Forests) across Wales. The funding, worth more than £500,000, has been provided by the Welsh Government and is being administered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Roughly the size of a tennis court, Coetiroedd Bach have low management and maintenance requirements after the first two years. Grants of up to £40,000 were available to applicants per site, with a maximum of £250,000 for multiple sites in a single application. Organisations, communities and individuals who wanted to create new small woodlands in collaboration…

One of Wales’ most recognisable brands has taken the next step in its decarbonisation journey, with green loan backing from the Development Bank of Wales. Set up by couple David and Alison Lea-Wilson in 1996, Halen Môn is an internationally recognised business, which has gone on to make waves worldwide as a foodie’s favourite. Its products were served at the London 2012 Olympics and have been on menus at some of the world’s top restaurants, including The Fat Duck. Halen Môn sea salt carries Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status in Europe and the UK, recognising the unique nature of…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has been instructed to market Hafan Artro, a guest house with a pub and restaurant in Llanbedr, Gwynedd. Situated in Llanbedr, Hafan Artro is a thriving guest house within the Snowdonia National Park and is highly popular among tourists and locals alike. The business has been put on the market as the current owners plan to retire. The boutique style guest house features seven double bedrooms, a bar and dining room with capacity for 76, and a spacious outdoor seating area with capacity for an additional 84 customers.  Also included in the sale is…