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Llanelli construction firm Morganstone Ltd has given the popular Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre a facelift.
The forest park is one of the leading tourist attractions in the Neath and Port Talbot area, catering for walkers, leisure cyclists and expert mountain-bikers.
Its a hugely popular venue and we were delighted to win the contract with Neath Port Talbot Borough Council to carry out the refurbishment and extension of the visitor centre, said Morganstone managing director Ian Morgan.
There is a great deal of pride in the area about the forest park and it is widely recognised as one of the leading mountain-biking attractions in the UK.
The works we carried out are very important to the future success of the forest park.
The renovation was part of Cognation mtb trails South Wales, an exciting new partnership project between Neath Port Talbot CBC, Caerphilly CBC, Merthyr Tydfil CBC and Forestry Commission Wales.
It was funded by the EUs Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, with match funding coming from the Welsh Government and partner organisations.
The caf area at the visitor centre has been transformed, with folding glass doors overlooking the valley, leading out onto a covered terrace and creating an inviting outside seating area.
The foyer has been redesigned as a more open and appealing space, giving visitors a warmer welcome, better access to the South Wales Miners Museum and new toilet facilities.
A spokesman for Neath Port Talbot Borough Council said: The improvements will further enhance what Afan Forest Park offers locals and visitors alike. Cognation mtb trails South Wales has already built new sections of mountain bike trail in Afan Forest Park and more will be created over the next few years aimed at families and beginners.
The refurbishment work to Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre shows our continued support for the tourism industry in Neath Port Talbot.
Council Leader Councillor Ali Thomas said: Spectacular views across the Afan Valley can be seen from the visitor centre and the splendid glass feature will bring a new chapter to its history.
The renovations to the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre will result in great improvements to one of Neath Port Talbots main tourist attractions.
Morganstone MD Mr Morgan added: We were delighted to work with Neath Port Talbot Council on this exciting project to rejuvenate such a great visitor attraction.
For visitor information during the renovation works, visitors to the Afan Forest park should contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01639 636674 or visit www.afanforestpark.co.uk
Photo above:
Morganstones Mervyn Dowrick (Contracts Manager) and Chris Weaver (Site Manager) discussing the roofing works at the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre
Weblinks
http://www.morganstone.co.uk/
http://www.afanforestpark.co.uk/
http://www.npt.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=2482&pr_id=4618
On Facebook, search Morganstone Ltd.
On Twitter, look for @MorganstoneLtd

Kevin will be working as small works manager with Morganstone.
He will be working with Chris Weaver, the Carmarthenshire Housing Standard site manager, pictured left with Kevin outside Morganstone's Llanelli HQ.

27th August Bank Holiday Monday Chapterhouse Theatre Company present Sleeping Beauty at 7:30pm
Adults 13.50
Students & Children 9
Families (2 adults and 2 children) 40
10% discount for parties of 10 or more
Grounds open for picnics from 6:30pm. Please bring your own rugs or low-backed seating.
To book tickets please ring the ticket office on (01558) 667958.
Come along in your favourite fancy dress outfit and join the fairytale parade during the performance!

Sign to National Botanic Garden of Wales in Llanarthne.
Whoops!

Solicitors Lucy Morris and Dymphna Powell have both been made Associates with the firm.
Managing Partner Luke Smith said he was delighted to announce the promotions.
We are a growing West Wales business keen to encourage and develop all our staff to fulfil their potential. The promotions to Associate level are well deserved for Lucy and Dymphna.
Lucy is a solicitor specialising in all aspects of commercial property transactions, including leases, sales and purchases of business premises, agricultural matters, mortgages and guarantees.
She also has broad experience in commercial and business affairs and in employment law.
She acts on behalf of a wide variety of clients, including sole traders, partnerships, limited liability partnerships and limited companies.
She joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2006 after studying at Cardiff University and Swansea University. She qualified as a solicitor in September 2008. She is from Carmarthenshire and speaks Welsh. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, spending time outdoors and keeping fit by running and cycling.
Dymphna joined the firm in September 1999 and qualified in March 2001.
She now specialises in Civil Litigation, including Professional Negligence claims, Chancery Business, Contentious Probate, Partnership Disputes, Cohabitee Financial Disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Landlord and Tenant disputes.
She regularly acts for a wide range of private and commercial clients in Civil Courts and Alternative Dispute Resolution forums including mediation. She is from Carmarthen.

Redkite team was this year delighted to be chosen as the only law firm in Camarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to join QualitySolicitors. Redkite was established in 2011 through the merger of two long-established law firms in South West Wales Lowless & Lowless and Morris Roberts.
The team at QualitySolicitors Redkite can be contacted on 01267 239000 and 01437 763332 or through the website at www.qualitysolicitors.com/redkite
The firm has 15 partners and a total headcount of 120, with seven offices spread across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Contacts for Lucy and Dymphna
Lucy Morris 01267 239 018 email: lucy.morris@qs-redkite.com
Dymphna Powell 01267 239 011 email: dymphna.powell@qs-redkite.com

South Wales entrepreneur and millionaire Kevin Green is to top the bill at a ground-breaking South Wales business show.
Green, currently in the news for the new Channel 5 show Secret Interview will be the keynote speaker at the first Introbiz business show at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, September 27.
Introbiz founder Tracey Jenkins said: We are delighted to be able to announce Kevin Green as our main speaker for the event.
The business show has already attracted huge interest across South Wales. Kevin Green is known as an exceptional business and motivational speaker. He is a big draw in his own right and we are very excited to have him on board as our keynote speaker.
Theres a real buzz in the business community about this event and more than 60 trade stands have already been booked for the day.
Green said he was looking forward to the event.
The Introbiz team are building an excellent reputation for providing successful platforms for business networking. It should be a great event, he said.
Greens TV CV includes being featured on Channel Fours Secret Millionaire and Skys The Devils Dinner Party, in addition to his appearance on the Secret Interview.
The business show will run from 10am - 3pm and occupy two floors at the stadium.
There will be a networking breakfast from 8am - 9.30am before the opening.
The cost is 10 per person. To register and book your place, email info@introbiz.co.uk
The event will be attended by Welsh sporting celebrities and will help raise money for the Autism Directory and Mencap Cymru.
Weblinks
http://www.kevingreen.co.uk/
http://www.introbiz.co.uk/keyevent/Introbiz%20Business%20Show,%20Cardiff%20City%20Stadium.html
Twitter - @kevingreenwales

Kevin Green is a self-made multi-millionaire and social entrepreneur. He is one of the UKs largest residential property landlords and a multi-business owner.
The 48-year-old dyslexic, who featured on Channel 4s Secret Millionaire, was homeless in 1984. Today his property portfolio runs into the hundreds.
He has a wealth of experience in the property investment world and heads a number of successful companies and other non property related businesses.
He is also involved in coaching under his own brand of Kevin Green Wealth (KGW) and is a Dynamo role model for the Welsh Government, inspiring young people in schools and universities to set up businesses.
Before making his fortune in business, he was a successful dairy farmer.
In 1999 he won a Nuffield Scholarship in agriculture and studied the attitudes and personalities of high achievers. He interviewed Bill Gates and Sir Richard Branson.
The wealth guru loves to educate, motivate and inspire others and his passion and enthusiasm is quite infectious. His down to earth approach is often referred to by those who know him as exactly what it says on the tin. These qualities have catapulted him into worldwide demand as a speaker at conferences, dinners and seminars.
He has helped launched the new Entrepreneurship Academy Wales for the business leaders of the future.

The countdown is well on truly on to a special concert planned to give a boost to the Royal British Legions Poppy Appeal in South West Wales.
The Royal British Legion Charity Gala Concert will be staged at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen on Saturday, October 27.
It will feature Cr Godrer Aran (above), the celebrated male voice choir from North Wales, and the renowned Richard Williams Singers from Tonyrefail.
The driving force behind the concert is Cerith Owens, the director of Loud Applause Productions, a firm which devotes a lot of energy to charitable causes.
This has been a summer of notable events and great celebrations, with everything from the Queens Jubilee to the Olympics.
But October will be the time when our thoughts turn towards Remembrance Day and this concert will be a moving and stirring tribute to the fallen, said Mr Owens.
The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal is a cause very dear to all our hearts and I hope the people of Carmarthenshire lend their support to such a worthy charity.
Hopefully, the concert will also attract visitors from outside Carmarthenshire as we have a very attractive concert programme.
The venue is very central in Carmarthen and I am sure the people of Llanelli will appreciate a stirring concert during an unusual lull while the town is without a major theatre until the new Ffwrnes takes over from the old Theatr Elli.
The guest soloist for the evening will be soprano Adele ONeill.
The evening will also feature the 215 City of Swansea Squadron Corps of Drums.
The MC for the evening will be Monro Walters, known to many as the stadium announcer at Parc y Scarlets, home of the Scarlets rugby region, and Stebonheath Park, home of the Llanelli Reds football team.
The evening will close with A tribute to the fallen.
Tickets are available from the Lyric box office on 0845 2263510. Prices are 11, 13 and 15, with a 2 child reduction.

Weblinks
http://www.corgodreraran.org.uk/
http://www.richardwilliamssingers.com/
http://www.215squadron.org.uk
http://www.adeleoneill.net/
http://www.carmarthenshiretheatres.co.uk/
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
Tickets - https://carmarthenshirelyrictheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/126523357/events