Three Caerphilly cemeteries achieve national silver awards
Three cemeteries managed by Caerphilly County Borough Council have achieved Silver Award status in the 2026 BRAMM Cemetery of the Year Awards. Gwaelod y Brithdir Cemetery, Gwaun Gledyr Cemetery and Bedwellty Cemetery each received national recognition, with all three achieving Silver Award status. Organised by the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM), the awards…
Watchdog acknowledges progress at fire and rescue authority but expresses concerns at funding
South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority is making progress following the Welsh Government’s intervention two years ago, but “questions remain about how it will fund further improvements and measure their impact”, Audit Wales has warned. The intervention was launched in February 2024 amid concerns about the authority’s culture, performance and governance. This followed a damning…
Cardiac arrest survivor reunites with volunteer who helped save her life
A woman from Tonyrefail has reunited with the Welsh Ambulance Service volunteer who was first on scene after she suffered a cardiac arrest at home. Jenny Kastrian, 78, who has lived in Tonyrefail with her husband John, 68, since 2023, collapsed at home without warning. Her husband John, quickly realised that Jenny was in a…
Planning consent secured for modern dementia care home in Ferndale
The Council is delighted that planning permission has been granted to deliver a new, 32-bed modern residential dementia care home in Ferndale. This is a key milestone towards a commitment made to provide a first-class care accommodation within the community – which can now be progressed. Members granted full consent for the exciting development at…
Hen Dŷ Cwrdd Trecynon – Reopening Event 5 September
Work on historic building in Trecynon to aid its use as a community asset now completeThe Hen Dŷ Cwrdd Trecynon Project In 2024, Addoldai Cymru | Welsh Religious Buildings Trust received a grant from the National LotteryHeritage Fund. The first part of the project, which coincided with the hosting of the NationalEisteddfod by RCT County…
South Wales composers celebrate 25 years ofsupport for musicians with sight loss
Two composers and musicians with sight loss from South Wales tookpart in a very special showcase performance at London’s GuildhallSchool of Music and Drama.Gareth Churchill, 47, from Cardiff and Lloyd Coleman, 34, originally fromBridgend, joined a group of talented blind and partially sighted musiciansto perform for an audience of music professionals, blind and partiallysighted people,…
Still time for Gypsy and Traveller households to take part in the accommodation survey
There is still time for Gypsy and Traveller households to take part in a survey on accommodation needs. Caerphilly County Borough Council is hosting the survey to help inform its revised Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA), which will be submitted to Welsh Government in April 2027. Results from the survey will help the Council…
Anger and Confusion as RCT Presses Ahead with Demolition of Pontypridd Old Police Station
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCT) is facing a wave of criticism over its decision to demolish the former police station and adjoining car park in Pontypridd town centre — a move residents say has been made with little public explanation, at a cost some fear could run into seven figures. “No Structural Issues”…
Welsh Ministers defend challenge to refusal of permission for 18 wind turbines
A wind farm operator has lost an appeal against a decision by Welsh Ministers to block construction of an 18-turbine facility in south Wales. His Honour Judge Jarman KC heard in the High Court that Y Bryn Wind Farm challenged the Welsh Ministers under section 288 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990. The company wanted…
Government consults on giving power to councils to issue fly-tipping offenders with conditional cautions
The Government has launched a consultation on giving local authorities the power to issue conditional cautions to fly-tipping offenders, requiring them to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid clean-up work. Under the proposals councils will also be able to recover the costs of the clean-up directly from offenders. The Department for the Environment, Food…