Author: Rhys Gregory

Phillip Thompson pretended to be delivering food but instead burgled homes and communal areas of buildings across Cardiff and Penarth. After he was arrested, he admitted burgling a total of 79 properties. Officer in the case Detective Sergeant Andrew Coakley, from South Wales Police said: “Phillip Thompson used different tactics to gain access to properties. “As well as sometimes forcing entry and taking advantage of an open door or window, he also turned up at student hall of residence with a paint pot claiming to be a decorator and acquired a Just Eat bag pretending to deliver food. “Unfortunately for…

A new community garden, exercise area, and social space will be introduced to Clare Gardens in Riverside, alongside meadow planting, and a range of other improvements. Funded byWelsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme and the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, theworks are due to begin in June andwillinclude: A new community garden. A new table tennis table. New picnic tables. A new bodyweight/calisthenics exercise area. A new social space with seating. Re-surfaced paths and walking loop. New meadow area and other new planting. Two new gate entrances, one on each corner of Clare Street. New tree planting and existing mature trees…

Neath Port Talbot Council is holding drop-in events to give town centre business operators valuable information on grants, business support and other resources to help their ventures thrive. The Town Centre Business Engagement events will give operators the chance of face-to-face meetings with council officers and key services such as Town Centre Support, Safer NPT and the Business and Economic Development team. The Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Cllr Steve Hunt, will also be at the three events discussing the challenges faced by those running our town centre shops, cafes, pubs and other vital businesses – and the opportunities…

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning, Julie James, has visited the Grade II listed building, Yr Hen Farchnad (The Old Market), in Llandeilo. The market was a key part of Llandeilo’s history before becoming disused and falling into a state of disrepair. It was then placed on the ‘buildings at risk register’ having been classified as vulnerable in 2007. Now, there is no longer a trace of that ‘vulnerable’ building as the iconic market space has been completely renovated and revitalised, by Carmarthenshire County Council, bringing employment opportunities and event space to the heart of the town.…

AN historic multi award winning south Wales valleys pub at the centre of its community for decades which has hosted stars of screen and politics has a new starring role. Treorchy’s imposing Pencelli Hotel, reputed to have been a favoured haunt of Hollywood megastars Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, could have a glittering future after being sold at auction. The  Rhondda valley pub, which can trace its history back to the eighteenth century, listed with guide price of £173,000 sold for £180,000 after attracting a total of five bids from three bidders. The former hostelry, on Pencai Terrace, next to…

Two South Wales businesses enjoyed double success at a leading Welsh work-based learning provider’s annual awards dinner. The Celtic Collection, a group of business and leisure brands including the iconic Celtic Manor Resort in Newport and The Green Giraffe Nursery, Cardiff collected two awards each. In addition to winning the Large Employer of the Year accolade, The Celtic Collectioncelebrated employee Kieran Ray, who works at the Celtic Manor Resort, being named Apprentice of the Year at Cambrian Training Company’s annual Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards. John Eagle, The Celtic Collection’s learning development manager, said: “We are very proud to win…

Dame Shirley Bassey returned home to Cardiff last week to attend the premiere of the Royal Welsh College’s Musical Theatre students’ production of ‘Sweet Charity’. The show features the song Dame Shirley made her own, ‘Hey Big Spender,’ and after seeing the show she ‘spent a little time’ with the students backstage, chatting to the cast and crew. ‘It was a fabulous show and I want to congratulate everyone involved,’ said Dame Shirley.  ‘Whenever I see the Royal Welsh College students perform, I feel happy that I can support training that was not available to me when I was young.…

St David’s Cardiff is hosting what it hopes will be the city’s biggest friendship bracelet kit giveaway on 8th June, ahead of Taylor Swift’s visit to the capital on the 18th. Swifties visiting the city shopping destination during the day will be gifted one of 2,000 free friendship bracelet-making kits in the St David’s Friendship Bracelet Lucky Dip to celebrate The Eras Tour coming to Cardiff. The bracelet kits have been designed and commissioned by St David’s and feature Taylor Swift’s song titles from her 11 studio albums. A select number of the kits also feature song titles translated into…

The 12th Montgomery Canal Triathlon has been declared a success, having attracted 175 entrants from across Britain and as far away as France and Holland. The entrants covered the 27 miles from Newtown to Crickheath, near Oswestry by cycle, canoe and on foot, with most of them attempting all three sections. The event is organised by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal to raise money for the restoration of the canal and is supported by the Canal & River Trust. Councillor Mike Childs, deputy mayor of Newtown, set the entrants on their way on bicycles and they changed to canoes…

Jane Byrd, Managing Director of Compass Cymru has been announced as a 2024 Role Model by WiHTL as part of their groundbreaking ‘2024 Role Models for Inclusion in Hospitality, Travel, Leisure and Retail Index.’ WiHTL & Diversity in Retail is the only Collaboration Community dedicated to advancing EDI in the Hospitality, Travel, Leisure, and Retail sectors. Produced in partnership with The MBS Group, the Index shines a spotlight on champions from across the industry. Jane was among 75 champions from around the UK, recognised for their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.  Jane is a strong advocate for equity, diversity…