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January 2021

Shadow Education Minister reacts to phased re-opening of schools
Commenting on the announcement that the youngest learners in primary school could begin returning to school after the February half term – if rates of Coronavirus continue to fall, Suzy Davies MS, Shadow Minister for Education, said:“The effectiveness of remote online learning across all age groups

Unpaid carers in Wales have saved £33 million every day of the pandemic
Unpaid carers in Wales have saved £33 million every day of the pandemicYet only 7% of adults are aware that carers have legal rightsWith every day of the COVID-19 pandemic that passes, unpaid carers in Wales are saving the Welsh Government £33 million in the care they provide, new research by charit

Latest CJRS and SEISS stats
HMRC’s latest national, regional and trade statistics for the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) have gone live.               The CJRS stats are the first to provide analysis of CJRS extension claims between 1 November and 31 De

Update on our local authority assurance check programme for 2020-21
Care Inspectorate Wales continuing our assurance checks and are engaging fully with each local authority.We recognise the significant pressure local authority services are experiencing and it is essential we continue to work with them during this difficult time.

Wales approves new roads through 'across the board' approach
The Welsh Government’s first major road scheme reappraisal against the climate emergency has backed further road building, on the basis that the increased carbon emissions will be offset by reductions elsewhere.

JAILED | DOMESTIC ABUSE PERPETRATOR |
An Aberdare man has been jailed for 30 weeks for assaulting his partner of 34 years.Wayne Lewis, 56, of Penywaun, was jailed at Merthyr Crown Court on Thursday, 21st January, 2021.The court also granted an application by South Wales Police for a restraining order which prevents him from seeing the v

Slow introduction of Lucy’s Law branded ‘cruel’
The introduction of ‘Lucy’s Law’ – a ban on third-party puppy and kitten sales will be introduced in September, 15 months later than in England.Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs, and Welsh Conservative spokesperson on Animal Welfare Janet Finch-Saunders MS has called it “…

Already struggling Stroke Survivors face more setbacks due to pandemic
Stroke Association calls on Welsh Government to announce new plan for stroke care in Wales ahead of debate in SeneddThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to already struggling stroke survivors and carers finding it hard to get the care and support they need, according to the Stroke Association’s ‘Stroke Rec

Ill-equipped COVID-19 homeworkers “at risk” unless employers recognise duty of care
A new generation of long-term homeworkers created by COVID-19 is at risk physically and mentally through inadequateemployer support. Research reveals employees are already feeling the negative effects of a home environment often ill-equipped for theworking day. The company behind the research, EIZO,

Diabetes UK Cymru launches creative challenge to mark “Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day”
Diabetes UK Cymru has launched a creative challenge, #StrongWithType1 to mark “Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day” on 3 February. The charity is offering free boxes of craft materials and, fun and inspiring ideas to kids living with type 1 diabetes in Wales. Dai Williams, National Director, Wales said

Velindre University NHS Trust to host virtual Board meeting
Velindre University NHS Trust will hold its first virtual Board meeting of 2021 in public on Thursday 28 January. The Trust Executive Team and Non-Executive Directors will hold their virtual Board meeting in public and will continue to use the widely available video conferencing platform Zoom.

Flood alleviation scheme at Granville Terrace Mountain Ash now underway
The Council has begun an important flood alleviation scheme at Granville Terrace in Mountain Ash to carry out repairs and help improve the control of debris in the watercourse – requiring a local road closure at Allen Street.Posted on Tuesday 26th January 2021The £150,000 scheme, which is being whol

Ysgol Llyn-y-Forwyn investment proposals could be progressed
 Cabinet could agree to progress proposals for a new £8.5m school for Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llyn-y-Forwyn – which would deliver 21stCentury facilities and improve the quality of Welsh Medium primary education in Ferndale. Posted on Tuesday 26th January 2021At their meeting on Thursday, January 28,Ca

Shadow Minister reacts to ‘record high’ Covid mortality figures
Commenting on the figures published today (January 26) that show record numbers of peo

Touchless technology to be trialled at six pedestrian crossings
The Council will begin to install touchless technology at six busy pedestrian crossings, in a trial funded by Welsh Government as part of its support for sustainable transport measures in response to COVID-19.The new setup will allow pedestrians to activate each of the signal controlled crossings by

Morgannwg University Health Board This Thursday, 28 January 2021 (9:30am – 1:00pm)
Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will be held on Thursday, 28 January 2021 from 9:30am to 1:00pm.Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is committed to openness and transparency, and conducts as much of its business as possible in a session th

First report on maternity care provided at Cwm Taf University Health Board published
The Welsh Government has today (January 25) published the first “thematic” report from the Clinical Review Programme looking at the care provided by the maternity and neonatal services at the for

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB responds to IMSOP thematic review
As part of its journey towards rigorous improvements in its maternity services, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB has made an official response to the thematic report published today, January 25, by the Independent Maternity Services Oversight Panel (IMSOP).  

Increasing access on local community routes for all residents
The Council’s important work to make local routes and paths more accessible has been praised by Sustrans – which has shared the story of a resident who is now benefitting from the removal of access barriers near her home. Recently, focus has been placed on assessing local paths and routes at several

Update on actions to increase Welsh Medium education in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Cabinet will receive an update on the Council’s investment and commitment to expand Welsh Medium education in Rhondda Cynon Taf, working towards the outcomes outlined in its Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).

Health minister must urgently clarify over 80s jabs comments
Andrew RT Davies has called on Labour’s health minister to urgently clarify comments made in the Senedd regarding the number of over 80s that had received their first vaccine jab in Wales.On Tuesday, in response to a question from Mr Davies on the number of over 80s that had been vaccinated in Wales

Welsh Government to seek Senedd consent for emergency bill to manage election during pandemic
The Welsh Government has said it will seek the Senedd’s consent next week (27 January) for an emergency bill to be introduced aimed at ensuring the next Senedd election happens safely.The bill would, “as a last resort”, enable the Senedd election on 6 May to be postponed for up to six months, “if th

Abacare helps unemployed get back to work
A WELSH care agency has revealed (January 2021) it is offering re-training to unemployed individuals who are looking for work. The award-winning Abacare is looking to re-train people, who have been made unemployed or redundant due to the pandemic, as carers. Neil Griffiths, Regional Manager at Abaca

Natural Resources Wales 21 Jan 2021 Natural Resources Wales urges caution following Storm Christoph
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is urging people to continue to be alert today (21 January 2021) as a further severe flood warning has been issued for North Wales.

Plaid takes proactive steps to address child poverty
Rhondda Cynon Taff county council has called on Welsh Government to extend Free School Meals to all children who live in poverty in Wales following a Plaid Cymru motion which was supported by Labour and Independent councillors in RCT.  It is seen as a positive, practical, and progressive step toward

Wales paying the price for lack of vaccine preparedness
During First Minister’s Question’s today (January 19), Paul Davies MS – the Leader of the Opposition in the Welsh Parliament questioned the readiness of the Welsh Government for the deployment of a Covid vaccine.Mr Davies referred to minutes of six Welsh Government Cabinet meetings that details topi

Latest Weather Warning For RCT
A YELLOW Weather Warning has been issued by the Met Office, covering the whole of Rhondda Cynon Taf from 00:00 on Tuesday, January 19, until 12:00 on Thursday, January 21.The forecast is for long spells of heavy rain, brought by Storm Christoph, with over 130mm expected over the hills at the top end

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have a duty to investigate and publish reports on flood events that occur within its area to the extent that it considers it necessary or appropriate.
Under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council (RCTCBC), as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), have a duty to investigate and publish reports on flood events that occur within its area to the extent that it considers it necessary or appropri

Wales First Minister has admitted on Radio 4’s Today programme that the vaccination scheme in Wales is not fit for purpose
The First Minister has admitted on Radio 4’s Today programme that the vaccination scheme in Wales is not fit for purpose.He said that Wales is not using all its available Pfizer vaccine to vaccinate people as quickly as possible and give them increased safety against the virus because he does not wa

CRIME ALERT | TELEPHONE SCAM
The public are being urged to be vigilant following a telephone scam which duped an elderly man into handing over thousands of pounds.The victim who is from Cardiff was contacted by somebody claiming to be from a police force in England.He was told that he had been the victim of fraud and that count

Practical Tips on Living with Dementia
51 Tips To Help You With Your Daily Living if You Live With DementiaA helpful infographic that breaks down lots of really helpful tips, across all aspects of life to help you or a loved one that is living with Dementia.The infographic covers a range of topics; including:
  • Topic 1 – Mental Heal

Shadow Education Minister says students and teachers must have certainty and clarity over assessments
The Shadow Education Minister – Suzy Davies MS – has said that each day that passes shortens the odds for externally set and marked assessments for students in Wales, and will do little to allay students’ fears over inaccurate or unfair assessments.Mrs Davies said:“Simply relying on teachers’ grades

The family of a man who died following a road traffic collision on the A465 on Monday evening (January 11) have paid tribute to him.
Jac Williams, from Treherbert, died after the white Ford Fiesta he was driving left the carriageway as he headed northbound between Glynneath and Hirwaun at approximately 4.50pm.Paying tribute to the 19-year-old, his family said: “There are no words to describe how much Jac meant to us as a family,

Do you own the land? at: Corner of Manchester Place / Longfield Cresent, Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF44 9QE
Town and Country Planning Development Management Procedure Wales Order 2012Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 10 APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION The proposed development at: n/a, Corner of Manchester Place / Longfield Cresent, Hir

Every household to receive vaccination information say Welsh Government

2020 was a very difficult year for everyone.https://gov.wales/every-household-receive-vaccination-informationSo many of us have lost family members and close friends to coronavirus.All of us have had our lives turned ups

CRIME ALERT | RHONDDA | BOGUS CALLER IN VACCINE SCAM
Police in Rhondda are warning residents and urging people to be vigilant following a report from an elderly resident who was targeted by a bogus caller offering a Covid-19 vaccine.The incident occurred at 11pm on Tuesday, 12 January, in Pentre - the woman, who is 89 year-old, realised it was a scam

Stroke risk for Welsh adults could be reduced through starting one small change
Welsh adults could take steps to avoid having a stroke if more people knew the top risk factors for stroke and made one small change to their lifestyle, the UK’s leading stroke charity says.

Tudur's Tv Flashback delves into South Wales Valleys archive footage
Comedian and presenter, Tudur Owen is back to delve into the BBC archives for another episode of Tudur’s TV Flashback.  This week, Tudur heads to the most recognisable location in Wales, the south Wales valleys, in search of some of the most unforgettable characters and features in the area. In 1976

Surge in lockdown running inspires new campaign Run Wales sees 18% of adult population running during lockdown
During the 2020 lockdown over 350,000 people in Wales* (18%) stepped outside their front doors to run for their daily exercise.

Council Opens New Emergency Control Centre
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has officially opened its new Emergency Control Centre, to be used in the event of major incidents which affect the County Borough and the safety of its residents. The facility, in a central location, is in addition to the Council’s 24/7 out-of-hours contact centre and is d

Worrying discrepancies over vaccination figures
There are worrying discrepancies in the speed of the Covid vaccine rollout between Wales and Northern Ireland, despite the programmes beginning on the same date (December 8, 2020).

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE ALLEN STREET, MOUNTAIN ASH
RHONDDA CYNON TAFF COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL(ALLEN STREET, MOUNTAIN ASH)(TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE) ORDER 2021 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, intends, not less than 7 days from the date of this Notice, to make an Order under Section 14 of the Road Traffic Regula

New Covid vaccination strategy published
All eligible adults will be offered a Covid vaccine by the autumn, under ambitious plans published by the Welsh Government. It comes as the latest figures show more than 86,000 people have received the vaccine.

Flood Risk Management – public engagement exercise underway
The Council is asking residents and businesses affected by flooding last year to complete a survey which will help Officers collate local knowledge, storm event data and historical information about flooding. 

Thieves have been targeting vehicles in Bridgend, stealing catalytic converters from the exhausts.
Two thefts have been reported to police in the past week and officers believe there are other victims out there.Vehicle owners need to be vigilant.They are urged to take the following simple measures to lessen the risk of being targeted.•Keep vans in a well-secured garage wherever possible, and if n

Abacare supports virtual ‘Brew Monday’ campaign to help tackle loneliness
AN AWARD-WINNING care agency is supporting The Samaritans’ ‘Brew Monday’ campaign and is urging the people of Wales to have a virtual brew with their nearest and dearest this month (January 2021). The initiative encourages people across the country to get together virtually on January 18, with frien

Shadow Education Minister comments on extension of school closures
Suzy Davies MS – the Shadow Education Minister – has said that while the announcement that Welsh schools will remain closed until half-term, unless Covid infection rates drop – is a sensible safety-first measure, it is disappointing for learners and parentsMrs Davies said:“Safety of course must be t

School opening arrangements – Welsh Government announcement (January 8)
Welsh Government has this morning announced that all schools and colleges in Wales will remain using online learning until Friday, January 29, at least – and that this could be extended until the February half term if there isn’t a significant reduction in Coronavirus cases. Please see this morning’

GOOD NEWS FOR THE WELSH MUSIC SCENE:
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Have your say on Active Travel in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Residents can now have their say on the current walking and cycling routes in Rhondda Cynon Taf, as well as their aspirations for future improvements, by taking part in the Council’s latest Active Travel consultation. In October 2020, Cabinet agreed for the Council to undertake a further extensive p

Another blow for the Welsh wool industry as major depot set to close
In another blow to Wales’ wool sector – which, like the rest of the UK industry, has seen its fortunes weaken further during the pandemic and lockdowns – one of the country’s major depots for wool clip is to shut next month.Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rura

Mountain Ash Comp YEAR 11 INFORMATION AND NOTICES FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD
Dear Parent/Carer,I’m aware that yesterday’s announcement (Monday 4th) by the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, that blended learning will continue until at least the 18th January may have caused some anxiety for pupils and for you as parents/carers.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB vaccinates its first patients with the new Covid-19 vaccine
Patients in Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend are among the first in Wales to have received the new Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in their own doctors’ surgeries.Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB began its latest vaccination rollout today (Monday 4th January) in another turning point in the fight against this p

Self Assessment deadline: less than one month to go
Around 5.4 million Self Assessment customers have less than a month to complete their tax return, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) announced today, ahead of the deadline on 31 January. HMRC expects 12.1 million tax returns to be filed this year.

Covid pandemic could lead to tens of thousands more liver disease cases in 2021, warns charity
The British Liver Trust is calling for every person in the UK to consider their liver health and take a simple quiz to assess their risk during January after adults across the UK admit to making unhealthy lifestyle choices in 2020.Over a million adults in the UK may currently have the early stages o

Concerns raised over vaccination availability for medical students
Welsh Conservatives are today (January 5) calling for clarification from the Education Minister following reports from medical students concerned about the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine.Sources have told Welsh Conservatives that students – including those on medical, occupational therapy, and spee

Welsh Conservatives support calls for teacher vaccination
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Education, Skills and Welsh Language, Suzy Davies MS, has called on the Welsh Government to review the vaccine rollout to teachers in Wales.Suzy has written to the Welsh Government’s Health Minister making it very clear that the most vulnerable along with healt