SWANSEA: TV pottery stars Kaz and Angharad to cut the ribbon at new volunteer-run studio opening this Saturday

Two stars of this year’s Great Pottery Throw Down are heading to Swansea this Saturday to officially open a new community pottery studio — one built entirely by volunteers, funded by the National Lottery, and designed to make the hobby accessible to anyone who wants to give it a go.

Kaz and Angharad, both contestants on the 2026 series, will cut the ribbon at the Swansea Pottery Collective’s grand opening at noon on Saturday 23 May. The event runs until 3pm and is open to all.

Kaz, 62, is from Swansea and studied ceramics at the Carmarthen School of Art after a long career as a psychiatric nurse. She became a firm favourite on the 2026 series, with judges and viewers alike praising her infectious passion and joy for the craft.

Angharad, 34, is from Bridgend and works as a communication support worker. She made it all the way to the final of the 2026 series — the ninth in the show’s history — producing deeply personal, body-positive sculptures that won widespread admiration throughout the competition. The series was won by Fynn, 37, from Cornwall.

The 2026 series aired on Channel 4 from January this year and, as with previous runs, appears to have sparked a fresh wave of interest in pottery across the country. Studios across the UK report a surge in enquiries and bookings every time a new series airs, with many newcomers picking up clay for the first time after watching the show.

It is exactly that gap — between inspiration and opportunity — that the Swansea Pottery Collective was set up to fill.

The Collective was founded by four people — Nic, Helen, Claire and Scott — who met while attending an adult evening pottery course at Gower College Swansea. When the course ended, they weren’t ready to stop — but quickly ran into a familiar problem. Without access to a kiln, tools, studio space or ongoing guidance, continuing felt out of reach.

They soon realised they weren’t alone. Many beginner and amateur potters find themselves inspired by a course — or a television show — only to discover there’s nowhere accessible to keep practising. That gap between learning and continuing is where the idea for the Swansea Pottery Collective was born.

What started as four people quickly grew — four became ten, skills were shared, energy spread, and momentum built. With support from National Lottery funding and help from Urban Foundry, the city’s creative regeneration agency, the Collective was able to open its own dedicated studio.

The studio is at Urban HQ, Alexandra Road, Swansea, SA1 5AJ. It is now open to up to 100 subscribers, offering weekly sessions with all clay, tools, glazes and kiln firings included. Sessions are capped at around ten people, which the founders say keeps the environment welcoming and ensures everyone feels seen and supported.

Membership costs £50 a month, covering four hours of studio access per week with everything provided — no experience required, just curiosity. Short courses and one-off workshops are also available for those who want to dip in before committing.

The studio runs entirely on a volunteer basis as a not-for-profit organisation, keeping costs as low as possible and the doors open to as many people as possible.

“While clay is our medium, it’s also the glue that brings us together — sparking conversations, building friendships, and creating a sense of belonging,” the Collective say. “Through shared creativity, we support one another, nurture wellbeing, and find moments of calm and connection that extend far beyond the studio.”

Anyone who wants to find out more or apply for a membership ahead of Saturday can visit potterycollective.co.uk.

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TGJONES: Seven south-west Wales stores at risk as chain announces 150 closures

Seven TGJones stores across south-west Wales are facing the chop.

Up to 150 stores nationwide are set to close under a major restructuring plan announced by the chain’s owner – with hundreds of jobs at risk.

The stores affected by the decision include some of the most familiar names on south-west Wales high streets:

• The Quadrant Shopping Centre, Swansea
• Wind Street, Neath
• Parc Trostre Retail Park, Llanelli
• The Rhiw, Bridgend
• Guildhall Square, Carmarthen
• High Street, Tenby
• Riverside Quay, Haverfordwest

It has not yet been confirmed which individual stores will close.

But the announcement leaves staff at all seven branches facing a nervous wait.

The chain – formerly WHSmith – operates 480 high street stores nationally, with 26 of them in Wales.

Private equity owner Modella Capital said the restructuring was an “essential part” of the company’s turnaround plan.

The firm bought the WHSmith high street business in March 2025 – a £40 million deal that did not include the WHSmith brand itself.

Stores were quickly rebranded under the new TGJones name – a name with no prior public recognition.

Modella Capital is now blaming that “forced” rebrand for damaging consumer awareness.

A spokesperson said the decision to close stores had not been taken lightly.

“While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers,” they said.

The company also blamed rising operating costs “as a direct result of government policy” and recent “geopolitical events.”

“The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come,” the spokesperson added.

Modella Capital said no final decisions had yet been made about the impact on staff, and the company was aiming to preserve “as many jobs as possible.”

“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles,” the spokesperson said.

The TGJones restructure comes hot on the heels of another high-profile Modella Capital collapse.

The private equity firm shut all 154 UK and Ireland Claire’s stores last month – putting around 1,300 staff out of work.

Modella Capital placed Claire’s into administration after what it called an “alarmingly” low Christmas trading period.

It has now committed more than £35 million for the TGJones restructuring effort.

For Swansea shoppers, the timing is grim.

The Quadrant store sits within a shopping centre already undergoing significant change. The Quadrant’s former Debenhams anchor unit was bought by Swansea Council after the chain’s collapse, stripped out, and recently sold to the centre’s new owners Centurion Group, with three major new tenants expected to be confirmed.

And Swansea’s flagship Marks & Spencer store on Oxford Street is due to close on 30 May – meaning the city centre will lose yet another major retailer in the same month TGJones announces its restructuring.

The Carmarthen store on Guildhall Square is similarly prominent in the town’s main retail area, while the Neath, Llanelli, Bridgend, Tenby and Haverfordwest branches all anchor parts of their respective high streets.

The full list of which TGJones stores will close is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

BRIDGEND: Prolific shoplifter jailed for ten months — and banned from every store she targeted

A Bridgend woman who spent eight months repeatedly stealing from shops across the town has been jailed – and banned from ever entering the stores she targeted again.

It is not the first time Emma Faulkner has faced the courts for shoplifting. She was jailed for four weeks in December after stealing £927 worth of beauty products from The Cosmetic Company at McArthurGlen – the very same store she would go on to target again for £1,500 just months later.

Faulkner, 48, was sentenced to ten months in prison after appearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

She was convicted of multiple shoplifting offences after targeting businesses across Bridgend over the past eight months.

Among her offences was the theft of £1,500 worth of items from The Cosmetic Store at McArthurGlen Bridgend – one of the town’s busiest retail destinations.

She also stole £40 worth of goods from Poundland on Adare Street and £30 worth of candles from the Yankee Candle shop, alongside numerous other shoplifting incidents.

Faulkner was also sentenced for being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

As well as the prison sentence, officers applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order lasting two years – prohibiting Faulkner from entering the stores she repeatedly targeted.

In a further penalty, her dog has been taken away from her and she has been banned from keeping animals for five years.

The case was investigated by the Bridgend Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Sergeant Daniel Parry said persistent retail crime had a direct impact on communities and local businesses. “We want to be clear – those who choose to repeatedly offend will be identified, targeted, and dealt with robustly,” he said.

Parry said officers would continue to pursue repeat offenders. “Our officers will relentlessly pursue those responsible and use all available powers to bring them to justice,” he added.

The sentence follows a wider effort by South Wales Police to tackle retail crime across the Bridgend area, with neighbourhood policing teams increasingly using Criminal Behaviour Orders as a tool to protect businesses from prolific offenders.

Retailers suffering from shoplifting are encouraged to report every incident to South Wales Police on 101 to help build the intelligence picture needed to pursue repeat offenders through the courts.

Anyone with information about shoplifting or retail crime can also report anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

PRISON PLAN WARNING: HMP Parc expansion ‘risks lives’ after 17 deaths in one year, warn MPs

The Welsh Affairs Committee is demanding a halt to the controversial expansion, which would see an extra 345 prisoners crammed into the already troubled jail. They fear the rush to create more prison places could derail fragile improvements being made at the facility.

This bombshell report comes after two years of intense scrutiny into HMP Parc, following a tragic year in 2024 when 17 men lost their lives – the highest number in any prison across England and Wales. Issues of violence, suicide, and rampant drug misuse have plagued the category B/C prison.

Inspectors from HM Inspectorate of Prisons painted a grim picture in January 2025, finding the prison’s performance “not sufficiently good” or “poor” in every area, including safety and respect.

They highlighted high levels of violence, widespread illicit drug use (including deadly nitazenes), and a shocking rate of self-harm. Mental health and substance misuse services were found to be under-resourced, and staffing levels inadequate.

While some progress has been noted, particularly in tackling drug smuggling via drones and improved leadership, a follow-up inspection in January 2026 revealed “insufficient progress” against more than half of the original concerns. This included ongoing issues with violent incidents, self-harm, and access to vital healthcare and education.

Ruth Jones MP, Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, did not mince words:

“Every preventable death is a tragedy and it is therefore vital that improving the safety and wellbeing of men serving sentences at the prison is at the forefront of any decisions made both by management and the government.”

She added that expanding the prison now would be an “unwanted distraction that could put progress at risk and, crucially, the safety of prisoners and staff.”

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, had previously stated in May 2025 that he was “very concerned” about the safety of men at HMP Parc.

Even with recent improvements, he warned that without enough staff and a proper daily routine, “the prison will continue to struggle to achieve the necessary improvements in outcomes for prisoners.”

The UK Government’s 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy aims to create an extra 14,000 prison places, with 345 of those earmarked for HMP Parc. Bridgend County Borough Council formally approved the expansion plans in November 2025, which also include an increase of around 160 staff.

However, the committee’s report concludes that given the scale of the failings exposed in 2024, the government must reconsider whether the expansion can be achieved without putting lives at risk.

“Prisoners deserve safe environments that are conducive to rehabilitation, not violent settings that pose a risk to their physical and mental health.”

This latest warning casts a dark shadow over the future of HMP Parc, raising serious questions about the rush to expand capacity at the expense of inmate and staff safety. The committee’s recommendation to pause the expansion is a stark reminder that some improvements cannot be rushed.

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‘GAME CHANGER’: Council swoops to buy shopping centre amid fears over collapse risk

In a move being hailed as a potential “game changer”, Bridgend County Borough Council has bought the 2.27-acre site — raising hopes of major regeneration, new facilities and a fresh future for the heart of the town.

But the deal comes after serious concerns about the building’s condition, with dangerous RAAC concrete previously forcing the closure of the indoor market hall in 2023 — as reported in our earlier coverage.

From crisis to comeback?

For years, the future of the Rhiw has been hanging in the balance.

The discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) left parts of the ageing complex facing costly repairs — and sparked fears the entire site could eventually shut or be sold off in pieces.

Now, council bosses say they’ve stepped in just in time.

Leader Cllr John Spanswick revealed the authority had been working “behind the scenes” to secure the deal — preventing the centre from being broken up or falling into further decline.

“This has the potential to be a game changer for the future of Bridgend town centre,” he said.

What happens next?

Despite the dramatic takeover, shoppers won’t see immediate changes — with the Rhiw set to stay open while new plans are drawn up.

But behind the scenes, a major rethink is already underway.

The council says the site could eventually be transformed into a much broader destination, with the potential for a new market at its heart, alongside a mix of retail units, community facilities and modern public spaces. There is also the possibility of new accommodation being introduced, signalling a shift towards a more mixed-use town centre.

The scale of the opportunity is huge — and officials say it will require close collaboration with both public and private sector partners to turn those ambitions into reality.

Traders ‘will be supported’

Existing businesses have been told they won’t be left in the dark.

The council has pledged to consult traders on future plans and offer support throughout any redevelopment — a key concern given the uncertainty that has surrounded the site in recent years.

Cllr Neelo Farr said the purchase was an “invest to save” decision — warning the building was already nearing the end of its life.

“None of us are prepared to watch the structure fall into decline,” she said.

Bigger picture for Bridgend

The Rhiw deal is just one piece of a wider transformation taking place across Bridgend.

The town centre is already seeing significant investment, with major developments including a new Bridgend College campus at Cheapside, new housing and headquarters for Valleys to Coast in Dunraven Place, and a health and wellbeing centre preparing to open at Sunnyside.

Council leaders believe that bringing the Rhiw into public ownership — given its size and central location — could unlock even greater opportunities and help tie these projects together into a wider regeneration story.

Funded by public cash

The £5.37m purchase has been funded through a mix of sources, including £2.45 million from Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns fund, £1.8 million from the council’s revenue budget, and just over £1 million from its capital programme.

Welsh Government minister Jayne Bryant welcomed the move, saying it could deliver “long-lasting improvements” and help revitalise the town centre.

A long road ahead

While the headlines promise transformation, the reality is this is just the beginning.

The council now faces the challenge of dealing with structural issues, reshaping the site — and convincing the public that Bridgend town centre can bounce back.

But after years of uncertainty, one thing is clear:

The future of the Rhiw is no longer out of the council’s hands.

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