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July 2021

Warning Issued After Batteries Linked to Waste Fires
It is estimated that over 260 fires at waste sites across the UK have been caused by batteries in the last year, and as a result of these issues the way the Council collects and recycles batteries is changing.Household batteries will no longer be collected from the kerbside and should now be taken t

Online mental health support service sees a 46 percent rise in people seeking support as more people access NHS services digitally
An online mental health and wellbeing service has seen a 46% increase in the number of people in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area seeking support as lockdown restrictions ease across the country.SilverCloud Wales is a free online therapy service designed to help people aged 16 and

Cwm Taf Morgannwg patients and clinicians positive about video consultations
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s health professionals have conducted over 17,500 video consultations (VCs) with patients over the past 11 months and, according to new research, both patients and clinicians are very positive about the service.The latest research was undertaken by TEC Cymru

Tighter planning rules to protect communities from flood risk but not in Wales
Councils should ensure all planning applications made in flood risk areas are referred to ministers for approval, under new guidance published today.The Government said that while 97% of planning decisions for residential properties were made in line with Environment Agency (EA) advice last year, 86

Gold For Our Olympian Calum
Rhondda Cynon Taf swimmer Calum Jarvis has won a GOLD Medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the Men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay.Calum, 29, of Ystrad, Rhondda, a member of Team GB, along with fellow Welshman Matt Richards, are the first Welsh swimmers to win a Gold Medal since 1912.

Work starts on a £12.1m facilities at Ysgol Rhydywaun in Penywaun
Work is officially underway to deliver new £12.1m school and community facilities at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun – and the Council’s Cabinet Member for the Welsh Language has visited the site to mark the occasion.The Welsh Medium secondary school in Penywaun will receive their brand new facilities in time

Support Climate Cymru – voices for Wales
Climate Cymru is a campaign working for meaningful, evidence-based and fair action to protect the Wales we love from the climate and nature emergency. The campaign wants to make sure the voices of ordinary people from all over the country are heard by the people in power.

Ombudsman report finds “catalogue of failings” by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board in the care of a cancer patient who later died
A 71-year-old cancer patient died after a Health Board provided her with a “very poor standard of care”, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales has found.The Ombudsman launched an investigation after receiving a complaint about the care given to Mrs X (anonymised) in December 2019 by Cwm Taf Morgan

Teacher Receives Lockdown Hero Award
A Rhondda Cynon Taf teacher has received the UK Lockdown Hero Award for Learner and Community Support at the annual Pearson National Teaching Awards. Neil Topping, 55, a popular member of the staff at Caegarw Primary School in Mountain Ash, said he is deeply honoured to receive the award and to be r

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board meetings

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will be held on Thursday, 29 July 2021 at 10:00 am. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is committed to openness and transparency, and conducts as much of its business as possible in a session that members o

Aberdare incident Saturday

South Wales Police report at around 7.20pm on Saturday 24th July, we attended an incident in which two people were on the roofs of various retail premises in Victoria Square, Aberdare.Whilst dealing with this incident, there was a significant police presence and that area of town was closed off for

Maerdy Mountain Road summer work to future-proof the route
Here’s all you need to know about the Maerdy Mountain Road summer work – including details about the road closure, bus arrangements, the need for the work and why it is being carried out now. The Council has previously given advanced notice of the A4233 road closure, between Monk Street in Aberdare

One week left to renew for 300,000 tax credits customers
More than 300,000 tax credits customers have just over one week to renew their claims before the 31 July deadline, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned. As the deadline approaches, customers are being urged not to leave their renewal until the last minute and risk their payments being stopped.

Company fined for polluting the River Cynon
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has successfully prosecuted Tower Regeneration Limited, the company in charge of the remediation and reclamation of a former deep coal mine near Hirwaun, for repeated pollution of the River Cynon.The company, set up as a joint venture partnership between Tower Colliery

The Freedom of Information Commissioner’s decision is that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has breached regulation 5(2) of the EIR.
Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)Decision noticeDate: 5 July 2021Public Authority: Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough CouncilAddress: The PavilionsCambrian ParkClydach ValeTonypandyRhondda Cynon TafCF40 2XXDecision (including any steps ordered) 1.

Pupils create a lasting legacy in Cwmdare
A community art project has been formally unveiled after pupils at Cwmdar Primary School have spent months planning and creating a mural that encapsulates a snapshot of this unique moment in time. Cwmdar Primary School year 6 class were tasked to create the mural, which is situated in the schoolyard

Cure the Care System petition handed-in at Senedd
On the 7th of July, the Alzheimer’s Society Cymru handed in their ‘Cure the Care System’ petition on the steps of the Senedd.The petition, signed by over 135,000 people and over 100 MPs asks all governments in the UK to provide more support for carers of those who suffer from dementia.Though dementi

Medium Term Financial Plan update to be provided to RCTC Cabinet
Cabinet will receive an update on the Council’s three-year Medium Term Financial Plan up to 2024/25 – which is based on a range of modelling assumptions and will help inform and support the Council’s budget setting preparatory work underway for the next financial year (2022/23). A report to Cabinet

Gully upgrades on the A4059 between Abercynon and Mountain Ash
 The Council will shortly undertake significant work to upgrade three drainage gullies on the A4059 between Mountain Ash and Abercynon – to give greater resilience at a low spot which has a history of flooding, including recently in Storm Dennis. The scheme includes converting the existing gully cov

New £7.1m fund to save at-risk community facilities welcomed by Welsh Conservatives
Welsh Conservatives have welcomed a new £7.1m fund which will give people across Wales the chance to become owners of at-risk pubs, theatres, post offices, sports grounds and corner shops. Responding to the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Social Partn

Marking the start of construction for £4.5m YGG Aberdâr scheme
The Council has marked the start of the construction phase for £4.5m works at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Aberdâr – which will introduce first-class facilities and a new childcare setting at the school. Cabinet Member Councillor Ann Crimmings, representing Councillor Joy Rosser, Cabinet Member for Educati

Tesco team put their best feet forward for Cancer Research UK.
Two teams of Tesco colleagues from stores across South Wales and the borders have taken part in an ultra-marathon for Cancer Research UK, raising more than £32,000 to date.The 20-strong group took part in the Race to the Stones, a 100km ultra-marathon from Lewknor in Oxfordshire to Avebury in Wiltsh

Diabetes UK Cymru invites people in Wales to sign up to summer steps challenge
People across Wales are being invited to step it up this summer and raise vital funds for Diabetes UK.The One Million Step Challenge is ideal for anyone who rediscovered their love of walking in the great outdoors during the pandemic, or anyone looking for a way to get more active as lockdown restri

Memorial bench for father and son unveiled at Royal Glamorgan Hospital
A beautiful bench created in memory of a father and his baby son has been unveiled in the grounds of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, outside the department where the baby passed away.   Little George Burke was one year, one week and one day old when he tragically died at the hospital’s A&E followi

Changes to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER)
 HSE will launch a formal 4 week consultation exercise on amendments to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. Please read below for further information Changes to the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPER)HSE is consulting on changes to the PPER 1992.

Wales and the North East of England remain behind on jobs and economic prosperity, according to the Index.
More investment is needed to deliver affordable housing and greater employment opportunities if the Government is to meet its 'levelling up' ambitions, a report has revealed.The latest edition of the 

Summer Reading Challenge 2021 in Rhondda Cynon Taf
The Council is once again supporting the annual Summer Reading Challenge for its younger book lovers, in line with current Welsh Government COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.This year, The Reading Agency, which runs the Summer Reading Challenge, has teamed up with WWF, the world’s leading independ

Maerdy Mountain Road to close for storm repair work this summer
The Council has confirmed that the A4233 Maerdy Mountain Road will be subject to daytime road closures on Mondays to Fridays throughout the school summer holiday, enabling necessary work to rectify storm damage.The mountain route, between Monk Street in Aberdare and Station Road in Maerdy, was damag

Aberdare man to run length of Wales
At the start of August, Gareth Jones from Aberdare will be attempting a 200 mile run from North to South Wales to raise money for charity PTSD UK; a cause close to his heart. Gareth said "I want to do my bit for mental health.

Could you support an elderly family member, friend or neighbour to get online?
Become a Digital Companion and help Wales’ most vulnerable re-connect with the communities around them

Letter to the Editor - Get your sunnies on
Letter to the Editor sent on behalf of RNIB Cymru’s Director Ansley Workman:

Evan Pryse, a 12-year-old boy from Mountain Ash, is raising funds for Tenovus Cancer Care, and donating 16 inches of hair to The Little Princess Trust.

Evan’s Great Aunt Jen, Jenny Gorwill, was diagnosed with a terminal Glioblastoma brain tumour in April 2021.

Improvement works to the Cefnpennar Road inlet in Cwmbach
The Council will undertake culvert inlet improvements at Cefnpennar Road in Cwmbach, using Welsh Government funding to carry out headwall and lining improvements to improve the system’s capacity in heavy rainfall.The work will take place just north of Springfield Close and will begin from Monday, Ju

Why did it take so long for RCT Council to remove vehicles?
The Council’s enforcement team has taken action to bring Cwmbach Park and Ride back in to use following a number of complaints from residents and Transport for Wales.

A response to local authorities calling on Welsh Government to review NRW
A year on from the Rhondda flooding, there are calls for a review of Natural Resources Wales. Could the blocked culverts lead to a court battle?Did anyone look at Sharp End last night?

The oppositions response to latest Labour Wales coronavirus briefing
Responding to the Welsh Labour Government’s latest coronavirus briefing, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister, Russell George MS said: 
“It’s long been clear we would have to learn to live with this virus, and it’s encouraging Labour ministers are starting to be up front and honest w

Park and Ride Schemes within Rhondda Cynon Taf and the parking of commercial vehicles in a car park in Cwmbach

Old Photograph 21 April 2021 AberdareOnline contacted Transport for Wales Ref: parking of commercial vehicles in Cwmbach the car park reserved for park and ride facility the response we received today from TFW Chief Executive Officer is below.Thank you for getting in touch to let me know of your con

Welsh Conservatives call for immediate action on flooding events
Following the Section 19 report by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council on the flooding in Pentre in February 2020, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Climate Change has called for immediate action on flooding incidents and the creation of a National Flood Agency for Wales.Commenting, Janet Finch-Saunders

Limited Spaces For FREE Defibrillator and CPR Training
Would you know what to do in a First Aid emergency? Your swift actions could help save a life, as was highlighted at the Euro 2020 game played in June.Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is offering FREE Defibrillator and CPR training courses at venues across the County Borough in July.

Overview Report details and analyses the impact of Storm Dennis
Overview Report details and analyses the impact of Storm DennisCouncil votes down call for an independent inquiry into flooding in Rhondda Cynon Taf

The Rhondda Fawr village of Pentre was hit by flooding on five separate occasions in 2020
Section 19 report statement from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council As the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Council has today published a Section 19 report following its investigation into the causes of severe flooding in Pentre during the unprecedented weather of Storm Dennis. The Rhondda Fawr village of Pen

CJRS & SEISS stats are live
 HMRC’s latest national, regional and trade statistics for the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and fourth iteration of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) have gone live.          The CJRS stats provide analysis of claims made up to 31 May 2021, as submitted to

Vale of Clwyd MS, Gareth Davies secures support for older people's bill
Welsh Conservative and Vale of Clwyd MS, Gareth Davies, has tonight won Senedd support for a Bill on a rights-based approach to services for older people. Davies’ Member’s Legislative Proposal was debated in the Welsh Parliament this afternoon and was officially passed this evening in a vote by Memb

Listening to parents about neonatal services in Cwm Taf Morgannwg
During July 2021, the Independent Maternity Services Oversight Panel (IMSOP) is conducting a survey to understand the experiences of women and families using maternity and neonatal services in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area.This is part of the continual improvement work that we are supporting the Health