Author: Rhys Gregory

Barclays and the Development Bank of Wales have awarded a syndicated facility to Bluestone. It’s Barclays’ second sustainability-linked financing to Bluestone and the largest ever strategic funding deal for the Development Bank. The total loan facility will enable Bluestone Resorts, which operates Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire, to continue with a major sustainable investment programme that is already underway, including the ongoing development of the resort and the development of a 5-hectare solar farm that will generate 3.2 megawatts of electricity a year. The new solar farm is expected to provide up to 30% of Bluestone’s annual electricity usage.…

This week, on the first episode of Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session (Mondays, 4-7pm, on BBC Radio 6 Music), Steve was joined by Huw Stephens (Tuesdays – Fridays, 4-7pm) to announce 6 Music’s plans to celebrate Independent Venue Week 2024 – the UK’s annual, seven-day celebration of venues and the people that own, run and work in them. From Monday 29th January – Friday 2nd February, 6 Music once again takes the tour bus around the UK, with Steve and Huw broadcasting their 4-7pm shows from a different independent venue each day, bringing listeners performances from those sites by artists including…

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of Towy Castle Care Home in Carmarthen, Dyfed. Originally built as a residential mansion in the eighteenth century, for the last 35 years Towy Castle has operated as a care home with a strong ethos and a dedicated, well-trained staffing team. The home, which is ideally set on three acres of land and offers spectacular views over the Towy Estuary and surrounding countryside, is registered to provide personal care for up to 60 people over the age of 65. For the last 25 years, the business has been run…

On Saturday night, Drop Bear Beer Co. – the world’s largest LGBTQ+ brewery – celebrated a major achievement with the official launch of its new brewery in Swansea. Founded by wives Joelle and Sarah Drummond, the alcohol-free beer specialist acquired the 16,000 sq ft former Tomos Watkin facility to bring production in-house. The launch solidifies Drop Bear’s status as both the largest LGBTQ+ and female-owned brewery in the UK. After raising £2.1 million from investors, the team has spent months upgrading equipment to produce up to 25 million cans per year of their popular 0.5% ABV brews. “As the world’s…

The Classic Rock Show are all set to kick-off the opening leg of their extensive 2024 world tour next week via a series of new UK live dates, which includes a show at Cardiff Utilita Arena on 17th January. Promising to be bigger and even better and celebrating, once again, the very best of classic rock, the acclaimed band will thrill audiences on their new 27-date run of British shows throughout January & February 2024, in conjunction with CMP Entertainment. The Classic Rock Show perform with note-for-note precision, bringing every rock fan’s favourite original iconic and era-defining recordings back to…

There are scores of free and subsidised activities taking place in Swansea this winter for children and young people and families as well as residents aged over 50. In the autumn groups and organisations were invited to apply to the council for grants under the new Enabling Communities fund. In total 105 were successful and they are offering a huge range of sessions including sport, health and wellbeing, cultural and art activities. This funding is also supporting disadvantaged areas and people struggling with the cost of living crisis including providing food, play schemes, mental health support, substance use issues, young…

Neath Port Talbot Council’s Chief Executive has announced that she will retire towards the end of 2024. Karen Jones has worked for the Council in a variety of senior roles for over 20 years and took up the role of Chief Executive in 2020 where she has led the Council from the height of the pandemic into recovery. Reflecting on her decision Karen said: “I have had a wonderful experience working for Neath Port Talbot Council. It really is an organisation that is committed to serving its communities to the best of its ability and where officers and councillors continually…

Henry Steven Wilson, 59, of Matthew Street, Waun Wen, Swansea pleaded guilty to nine charges, including 22 counts of rape against a child. He must serve a minimum of 10 years in prison before he can apply for parole. He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He was previously made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will remain in place. Between 1994 and 2004 he abused and raped his young victim, who was only five years old when the abuse started. The Officer in the Case, DC Rebecca Williams said: “Henry Wilson’s crimes…

The Mayor officially opened Rhymney Library Hub this week on Monday 8th January, after an exciting refurbishment thanks to funding from Caerphilly County Borough Council and Welsh Government’s Capital Transformation Fund. The new improvements include refurnished and modernisation of both floors of the library, as well as an innovative education, reading and support hub for residents, council staff and partner organisations. Many of the new features and design which the community can now use, were taken from a Community Voice Survey carried out with local residents. The Rhymney Library Hub offers a new holistic support environment allowing our residents an…

A document which sets out key issues and drivers for change has been prepared as part of work on a replacement plan which will guide the scale and location of future new development in the county. Powys County Council is currently in the initial stages of preparing its new Replacement Local Development Plan, which will cover all of Powys excluding the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. The Replacement Local Development Plan will set out the council’s proposals and land-use policies for the future development of land in its area. It will cover the 15-year period up to 2037 and will…