New Caerphilly Café to help volunteers back into work
A new social enterprise café has opened in Caerphilly town helping adults with past drug problems to get back into work.
Wage subsidies announced for Remploy workers
The UK Government has announced extra financial support for companies interested in buying Remploy sites due to be closed.
The Department for Work and Pensions has said it is willing to offer a wage subsidy to companies which buy the sites and offer employment to disabled workers.
Information event on Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital Community Centre being held tomorrow
Residents of Caerphilly have been invited to an event to find out more on plans to transform the original Caerphilly Miners’ Hospital building into a community centre.
Caerphilly PACT meetings announced
The next round of Partnerships and Communities Together (PACT) meetings for the Caerphilly area will be held over the next couple of weeks.
Bargoed’s Hanbury Chapel library project given award
The regeneration of Bargoed’s Hanbury Chapel into a new state-of-the-art library has won a prestigious award.
Charity Action for Market Towns has awarded the Bargoed Library project with its Social and Community Award in the Welsh region.
Take part in Gwent Police’s online consultation
Residents will be able to chat live online with one of Gwent Police’s top officers.
The web chat, part of its ‘Come and talk to us’ survey, is taking place tonight (May 17) between 6pm and 8pm.
Charity Llamau needs votes to secure £15,000 from People’s Postcode Lottery
Charity Llamau, which helps homeless youngsters and vulnerable women across Caerphilly County Borough is in the running to secure £15,000 from the People’s Postcode Trust.
New dangerous dog guidelines welcomed by Islwyn MP
Islwyn MP Chris Evans has welcomed new sentencing guidelines which could see owners of dangerous dogs going to jail.
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales has said owners that fail to stop their dogs attacking people in a public place should face six months in prison.
Welsh women’s rugby captain swaps scrums for scrubs to become nurse
The captain of the Welsh women’s rugby team, who is from Caerphilly, is aiming to prove she can pass medical exams as well as rugby balls by studying to become a nurse.
Programme launched to raise reading standards in Wales
A programme to drive up literacy standards in schools has been launched by Welsh Education Minister Leighton Andrews.
The National Literacy Programme (NLP) sets out the actions the Welsh Government and its partners need to take to achieve a step change in literacy standards over the next five years.
Crime on Wales’ railways drops by a quarter
Crime on Wales’ railways fell by more than a quarter last financial year, according to latest figures from the British Transport Police.
Ystrad Mynach College students show support for Lesotho children
Eight students from Ystrad Mynach College have returned from a successful trip to Lesotho, Africa, where they helped teach children.
South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle’s blog: May 16
In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Get your heart rate checked during Heart Rhythm Week
Cardiac Rehabilitation staff at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr will be hosting a series of pulse checks for people as part of Heart Rhythm Week – being held between May 21 and May 27.
New political leaders named on Caerphilly Council
The Labour and Plaid Cymru groups on Caerphilly County Borough Council have announced their new leaders following the recent local election.
Two men sentenced for Risca mountain arson
Two men have each been sentenced to 100 hours of community service for setting fire to mountainside in Risca.
Kyle Doughty, 20, of Ty Canol, Cwmbran, and Sean Howells, 20, of Brynonnen Court, Cwmbran, admitted starting the fire in Risca and were each fined £85 by Caerphilly Magistrates in addition to the community service.
Bedwas steel company goes into administration
Bedwas-based building firm Ultimate Steel Fabrications Limited has gone into administration after it accrued debts of £160,000.
Insolvency practitioners SFP has been appointed Administrator to the company, which is based on the Pant Glas Industrial Estate in Bedwas.
Wayne David MP presents petition to save Caerphilly Borough’s police stations
Caerphilly MP Wayne David has presented a petition of more than a 1,000 names in a campaign to stop police station closures.
Labour challenged by Plaid over Blackwood supermarket
The ruling Labour group on Caerphilly County Borough Council must deliver a Morrisons supermarket, according to former local authority leader Allan Pritchard.
Fire extinguished at Ystrad Mynach recycling centre
Updated 7.45pm
Fire crews have extinguished a major blaze at a recycling centre in Ystrad Mynach.
Crews from Cefn Fforest, Pontypridd, Caerphilly and Cardiff Central were called to Amber Services Waste Management and Recycling, on Dyffryn Business Park, at 4.30am this morning.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David’s blog: May 14
A Healthy Democracy
On May 3, the Caerphilly Borough had important elections for its Borough Council and for its Community Councils.
Ystrad Mynach recycling firm fined £112,000 after worker crushed to death
An Ystrad Mynach recycling firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a yard foreman was crushed to death.
Bargoed Library to play host to well-known poet
Bargoed Library is to welcome well-known Welsh poet and author Mererid Hopwood on Tuesday May 15.
As part of the forthcoming Literacy Olympics activities, organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council, Mererid will visit Bargoed on Tuesday May 15 at 5.30pm.
Police promise a “zero tolerance” approach to illegal parking in Blackwood
Gwent Police has promised a zero tolerance crackdown from today on illegal parking in Blackwood.
The action, it has said, is in response to increasing complaints from traders about motorists parking on double-yellow lines and in loading bays along the town’s High Street.
Motorcyclist hospitalised after hit and run in Abertridwr
A 29-year-old motorcyclist has suffered serious injuries after a hit and run incident in Abertridwr.
The collision between a Honda CB 600 motorcycle and a silver Vauxhall Astra happened on Friday May 11 at 11.30pm at Graig Y Fedw, Abertridwr, outside the Quarry Garage.
Blackwood Little Theatre to build community links with Canada
A community theatre company based in Blackwood will be treading the boards at an international theatre festival this month.
Blackwood Little Theatre will be travelling to the Liverpool International Theatre Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada, where they will perform their play Godfather Death.
One mile walk to remember cot death victim taking place in Bedwas
A one mile walk and charity funday is being held on Saturday May 12 to raise awareness of cot death.
Former Caerphilly Council leader Allan Pritchard
The Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly County Borough Council is to elect its new leader next week.
Former council leader Allan Pritchard, who lost his seat in last week’s election, looks back at 25 years as a local councillor.
Caerphilly Plaid Cymru to elect new leader on Monday
Plaid Cymru members in Caerphilly County Borough will on Monday evening choose their new leader following last week’s council elections.
Blackwood youngsters shine at Young Enterprise event
Blackwood Comprehensive students will represent Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen in the Young Enterprise Wales Innovation Awards on June 18 after winning the local event at Bedwellty House recently.
