Caerphilly Observer

New Caerphilly Café to help volunteers back into work

Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:26 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:00:33 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:49 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:00:38 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:46:36 +0000

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

Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:35:34 +0000

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

Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:37:09 +0000

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

Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:36:30 +0000

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

Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:17:07 +0000

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

Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:09:35 +0000

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

Editor — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:50:49 +0000

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

Editor — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:39 +0000

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

Editor — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:09:33 +0000

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

Editor — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:11 +0000

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

Editor — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:00:17 +0000

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

Editor — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:49 +0000

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

Editor — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:01 +0000

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

Editor — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:51 +0000

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

Editor — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:34 +0000

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

Editor — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:10:52 +0000

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

Editor — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:17 +0000

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

Editor — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:21:07 +0000

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

Editor — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:52 +0000

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

Editor — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:19 +0000

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

Editor — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:43:48 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:00:18 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:44 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:58 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:59:59 +0000

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

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:15 +0000

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.

Cardiff City ditch plans to change to red after fans’ anger

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:07:06 +0000

Cardiff City FC has dropped plans to change their playing strip from blue to red after fans vented their anger at the proposals.

Blue Peter Big Olympic Tour coming to Caerphilly

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:05 +0000

BBC TV children’s programme Blue Peter has announced that it be broadcasting live from Caerphilly town for the Olympic Torch relay on Saturday May 26.

Plaid calls for devolution of Remploy following Tory’s comments

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:03:43 +0000

Plaid Cymru’s South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle has reiterated the party’s call for the Welsh Government to take real action to protect the interests of Remploy workers by bringing factories under its control.

Cwmcarn Primary School pupils demonstrate artistic talents with poster competition

Editor — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:33 +0000

Pupils at Cwmcarn Primary School showed their artistic talents to Islwyn MP Chris Evans and senior management of packaging firm Smurfit Kappa as they took part in a poster competition to promote European Safety Day.

Caerphilly and District Twinning Association to stage photographic exhibition

Editor — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:41 +0000

Everyday life in Wales and Brittany is to be showcased in a photographic exhibition at Caerphilly’s Tourist Information Centre next month.

Caerphilly AM Cuthbert welcomes Assembly Asbestos Bill

Editor — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:17 +0000

Caerphilly’s Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert has welcomed a proposed to allow the NHS in Wales to recover the cost of treatment for asbestos-related diseases.

Rogue trader jailed after conning blind Nelson pensioner

Editor — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:00:22 +0000

A rogue trader who drove a blind pensioner to a bank to pay for work that didn’t need doing has been jailed for 14 months.

Caerphilly man sets off on 1,000 mile trek in memory of late father

Editor — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:00:14 +0000

A Caerphilly man is trekking 1,027 miles around Wales in memory of his late father who helped establish the new coastal pathway.

Cross Keys RFC captain Robert Nash named Principality Premiership Player of the Month

Editor — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:31 +0000

Cross Keys captain Robert Nash has been awarded the Principality Premiership Player of the Month award for March after some excellent performances for his club.

Digger stolen from Butetown Reservoir in Rhymney

Editor — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:23 +0000

Thieves have managed to steal a digger worth thousands of pounds from Butetown Reservoir in Rhymney.

The digger is a Kubota KX36-3, similar to the one pictured, and has an orange arm and white cabin without glass.