Author: Rhys Gregory

Residents and visitors to Swansea are being urged to take their seats this weekend for a three-day free celebration of all things music, set to take place at the recently updated Swansea Amphitheatre, located between the Marina and LC2. This exciting event is part of Swansea Council’s ongoing efforts to enhance outdoor performance spaces, following the successful acquisition of £180,000 in funding from the Welsh Government. Taking place from 16th – 18th August, there will be a fantastic lineup of music-themed entertainment, featuring beloved film viewings and live performances from some of the area’s most talented artists. Best of all, this incredible…

Archaeologists working on a coastal protection scheme have explained some of their finds to local history archivists. The guests – from the Story of Mumbles website – enjoyed a tour of the Mumbles sea defences project which is making the community safer against the threat of storms and rising tides. The project, due to be completed next year and largely funded by Welsh Government, is being driven by your council. Main contractors Knights Brown are working closely through the scheme with experts from independent specialist firm Archaeology Wales. Council cabinet member Andrew Stevens said: “We appreciate the careful, meticulous and expert…

More than 2,500 children, young people and families enjoyed a day of fun, creativity and community spirit at Playday Pembrokeshire at Llys y Frân earlier this month. The national day celebrating the importance of playing to children’s’ development was coordinated by Pembrokeshire County Council and supported by community organisations and groups from all over the county. Children enjoying archery, circus skills, crazy bug racing, fun football, house building, climbing, craft, art and much more. “We are thrilled with the success of Playday Pembrokeshire 2024. It was uplifting to see so many families enjoying themselves and embracing the spirit of play.…

RCT Council and Linc Cymru (Linc) have provided an update on the positive progress being made to construct a new extra care housing scheme for Porth. Project contractor Intelle Construction resumed site activity in February 2024, to build a state-of-the-art development containing 60 extra care apartments. The four-storey building will include a dining area, a hair salon, an activity room, a day care centre and offices, plus an external car park. The exciting scheme will bring the former Dan y Mynydd Care Home site back into use. Initial work in the earlier weeks on site focused on key infrastructure –…

A 30-year-old woman from the Rhondda was sentenced to prison for six years at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday August 9 2024. Jodie Lee Beer, 30, of Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taff, was working as a prison officer for Parc Prison, Bridgend, when she was arrested in the prison car park in February 2022. Beer was found to be in possession of concealed drugs and was subsequently charged with misconduct whilst acting as a public officer, possession with intent to supply, and possession of class A and class C drugs. She resigned her role following the charges. The investigation was…

A new Welsh Government policy sets out how learning and skills will be improved in Welsh prisons. Better Learning, Better Chances: prison learning and skills provision in Wales sets out, for the first time what the delivery of learning and skills will look like. The policy aims to inspire and engage with prisoners and help them get ready for employment, gain independence and contribute to wider society.  Prisoners who find work on release are less likely to re-offend than those who do not. Investing in learning and skills is key to promoting and developing a culture of rehabilitation in our…

Exciting plans are underway for Bangor’s High Street as City Sports and Cocktail Bar announces the submission of a planning application to transform the former H&M building into a dynamic new venue. This ambitious project aims to rejuvenate the local economy by offering a unique blend of entertainment, dining, and nightlife that appeals to residents and visitors. City Sports and Cocktail Bar will feature an array of amenities, including pool tables, electronic games, and an American-style dining experience focusing on indulgent, “dirty” food such as loaded fries and other comfort classics. The venue will serve food throughout the day and…

Aberglasney is set to indulge all your senses in September when it combines its successful Food & Music Fair with the Welsh Orchid Festival in the beautiful surroundings of the Gardens. The weekend-long event, which takes place on 7 & 8 September 2024, will be a celebration of beautiful orchids, locally produced food and drink and the entertainment will be provided by music artists from around west Wales. The 16th Welsh Orchid Festival, organised by the Orchid Study Group, will be an opportunity for visitors to learn about rare species and popular hybrid orchids. Visitors will also be able to…

A new supported employment programme from Bridgend County Borough and delivered by Whitehead Ross Education has seen businesses from across the region come together in a collaborative effort to help boost employment across the county. Quickstart is a 22-week paid work placement funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund aimed at supporting local people aged 16+ who are unemployed. The programme, being delivered by Whitehead Ross Education, is designed to help local people gain valuable experience, enhance their employability skills and increase their chances of securing permanent employment. The programme will support up to 100 participants over the next…

Swansea-based Lyte Ladders (Lyte) has secured additional funding from Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance to support its ambitious sustainability initiative. Its current facility will be expanded by £275,000, taking the overall Group facility to £6.35m. Specialising in premium-grade aluminium and glass fibre ladders and other access equipment, Lyte previously secured funding from Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, firstly in 2019 to support an investment by private equity house BREAL. More recently it secured funding to support its merger with leading ladder manufacturer, LFI. Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance provides facilities to businesses at a set Loan to Value ratio of…