SIRHOWY VALLEY
NEW BOOK ON SIRHOWY VALLEY
July 2010
Valley readers will be familiar with the works of Ewart Smith - local author and historian.
His many books include the popular "Blackwood Remembered" series.
Ewart's latest publication is titled: Sirhowy Valley - Through Time
The book features a number of Valley scenes with a "Then and Now" theme.
Each picture from the past is accompanied by an up to date full colour version of the same scene - taken from the same viewpoint and annotated with a relevant commentary.
Wherever you live in the Valley there will be something of interest - the photographs range from scenes of Tredegar in the northern end to Wattsville in the south.
More details HERE from Amberley Publishing Plc.
OAKDALE
JOBS BOOST FOR OAKDALE
MARCH 2010
The Ministry of Defence have announced a £4 billion contract is to be awarded to American company General Dynamics, based at Oakdale and Newbridge.
The investment, intended to produce a range of armoured military vehicles for the British Army, will bring 200 new jobs to the area.
Argus story here
BLACKWOOD and ISLWYN
TOUHIG TO STAND DOWN
FEBRUARY 2010
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Labour M.P. Don Touhig has announced he is to stand
down at the next election.
Touhig has represented Islwyn since replacing Neil Kinnock as M.P. for
the area in 1995.
In a statement he said: "I have been active in politics for over 45 years and had the privilege of serving for 35 years - 15 years as MP for Islwyn and 20 years before that on Gwent County Council.
"After 35 years I think it is time to move on. I am associated with a number of voluntary organisations and I hope to continue this work.
"I owe a great debt to the Labour Party and the people of Islwyn who have placed their confidence in me to represent them in Parliament.
"It has been a huge privilege to represent Islwyn in the House of Commons," he added.
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CEFN FFOREST
NEW BRITISH BOXING CHAMP
JULY 2009
22 year old Nathan Cleverly from Cefn Fforest has
added the British Light Heavyweight title to the Commonwealth Title he
already holds.
His opponent, Danny Mckintosh, was comprehensively beaten by the
promising youngster at Bethnal Green's York Hall.
After three knockdowns within the first three rounds, the Norwich
fighter managed to survive until the seventh round but Cleverly's
superior punching power finally forced the referee to step in and award
a TKO to the Cefn Fforest man.
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BLACKWOOD
JAMIE PUGH WOWS "BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT" JUDGES
MAY 2009
Blackwood's
Jamie Pugh stunned the judges and audience on the popular TV talent
show "Britain's Got Talent" with an empassioned and emotional rendition
of "Bring him Home" from "Les Miserables"
Confessing he had been "Crippled by fright", Jamie pulled off an
amazing performance which brought the audience to its feet at his
audition at the New Theatre,Cardiff.
Pugh, 38, who is a pizza deliveryman, panicked before his audition and
wanted to walk out, but his loyal partner Donna Davies, 35, persuaded
him to stay.
"I wanted to go home," the Mirror quoted him as saying.
"I didn't sleep for three days before and I'm now on 40 fags a day."
"This is going to sound really weird - I fear success but I don't fear
failure. I've failed at a lot of things and I fear success because I'm
Jamie. I've got to appear on a TV show and I'm dreading it."
"I'm a wreck - I'm not a star," he exclaimed.
"If you had asked me to sing any other song I wouldn't be able to,
because I don't know many songs," Jamie said.
"But Bring Him Home comes from my heart. It's about what I might have
lost through choices I've made.
"Believe me - if I'd not sung that song I would have gone to pieces,"
he added.
See Jamie's performance here
on YouTube
TREDEGAR
TOWN GUIDES
April 2009
A team of Town Guides has been appointed
to provide information to visitors on Tredegar's rich industrial history
South Wales Argus News Item here
BLACKWOOD
ASDA CARPARK UPDATE
April 2009
A
suggestion by a Blackwood councillor to deal with the long standing
problem of "car cruisers" has been rejected by Asda management.
Local councillor Kevin Etheridge has proposed the store close for
business on Thursday evenings on which, every week, hundreds of
vehicles congregate in the store's carpark and adjoining areas.
South Wales Argus News Item here
TREDEGAR
NEW TOWN HISTORY PUBLISHED
January 2009
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A new book detailing Tredegar's rich industrial and
social history has been written by Town Mayor John Morgan.
The book is available from Bedwellty House and "In the Pink" shop,
Commercial St., Tredegar.
Book sale profits are going to charity.
South Wales Argus News Item here
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BLACKWOOD
NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT "CAR CRUISING"
January 2009
New
technology to deter "car cruising" has been installed at the Asda store
car park at Blackwood.
An automatic number plate recognition system as used by police forces
will enable persistent offenders to be identified and fined.
South Wales Argus News Item here
TREDEGAR
BEDWELLTY HOUSE - MAJOR RENOVATION PROJECT
November 24 2008
A
major refurbishment plan is announced for historic Bedwellty House at
Tredegar
BBC News Item here
TREDEGAR
TOWN CLOCK - 150 HISTORIC YEARS
June 21 2008
Tredegar celebrates its famous clock's 150th anniversary with a weekend
of celebrations planned to commemorate the event.
BBC
Video Link
POISON
ALGAE AT PEN-Y-FAN
October 2007
SW
Argus News item HERE
CLASSICAL MUSIC DETERS
YOBS October 2007
The Pontllanfraith Co-op shop has installed a new system to combat the
problem of anti-social behaviour outside its store.
Four external loudspeakers broadcast a selection of classical music by
Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi.
Store manager Paul Martin said:
"The youths hang around under the canopies outside and they are very
intimidating to customers.
In every store we have installed this it's actually worked in
dispersing the youths.
We have seen a positive improvement."
NEW CLAMPDOWN ON BLACKWOOD
JOYRIDERS October 2007
Police at Blackwood have promised another clampdown on the long running
problem of young motorists congregating in Blackwood car parks and
"cruising" through the town to the annoyance of local residents.
Police claim as many as 400 vehicles have descended on the town on
certain nights with people coming from as far away as Manchester and
London to display their "wheels".
The council has approved a new dispersal order giving police the powers
to break up groups of more than 2 people.
Non compliance with notices served can lead to a fine of £2500 or 3
months imprisonment.
NEW PUB FOR
BLACKWOOD? 06/07/2007
Caerphilly
CCB have received the following application for planning permission:
Location:
Land at Blackwood Gate Retail Park
Proposal:
Erect public house/restaurant (Class A3), car parking, landscaping and
associated works to neighbouring retail car park.
Applicant:
Marstons
POLLUTION
IN SIRHOWY RIVER
BBC
News item HERE
SIRHOWY
VALLEY ON TV
Tuesday
14th February - 7:30 pm BBC2 Wales
Huw Edwards' excellent Valley series features the Sirhowy Valley.
BLACKWOOD
Chartist
Bridge.....
A
Valley landmark...It's open.. and looking good - 3 months early!!
TREFIL
Trefil
- On the furthest reaches of the Galaxy?
The
movie version of Douglas Adams' "Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
premieres this week in London.
Starring Martin Freeman from TV's "The Office", the film features
Trefil Quarry in some of its location shots.
See
this link
(April
20 2005)
BLACKWOOD
Sirhowy
Enterprise Way - New Valley landmark.
Work
in progress on the northern section of the Sirhowy Enterprise
Way/Blackwood by pass project.(Feb 2005)
This cross valley suspension bridge is destined to be a major landmark
feature.
Completion is scheduled for early 2006.
NEWBRIDGE
BBC
Restoration Programme
So
they lost "narrowly" - but how narrowly?
The B.B.C. have been extremely coy about making public the actual vote
count.
Read On...
Memo Lost By Just 0.3%.
Pressure from the Argus forced B.B.C. bosses to finally reveal just how
close the Newbridge Memo came to winning the Restoration programme. But
programme makers are still refusing to say whether a rule allowing them
to discount votes was used during Sunday's public poll.
A few days after requests from the Argus, the B.B.C. said the Memo had
won 14.8% - not 14.9% as we (the South Wales Argus) were told yesterday
- of the vote and Birmingham won 15.1%.
We worked out that the Memo picked up 111,015 votes against the winners
113,334 out of the 750,000 votes the B.B.C. said had been polled.
Therefore the Memo lost by just 2,319 votes. Ever since the programme
final the B.B.C. claimed that it could not release the voting figures
for "logistical reasons".
The silence of the B.B.C. was met with reports from across South Wales
that Memo supporters were unable to register their votes. The B.B.C.
and
B.T. have denied any problem with the telephone lines.
On Thursday 12th August 2004 the Argus revealed a rule, never
publicised on television, which allows programme producers to discount
block viewer
votes "designed to affect the result."
But a B.B.C. spokeswoman refused
yesterday (Friday 13 August 2004) to comment on whether the rule had
been used.
(Taken from a report By: Lisa Stevens - South Wales Argus - Saturday =
14th August 2004)
BLACKWOOD
A
"sign" from the past
Recent
shop renovations in High Street Blackwood revealed this shopsign which
has not seen the light of day for almost half a century.
Longstaff's Penny Bazaar had operated in the High Steet for many years
before closing in the late 1950s.
At one time any item in the shop could be purchased for one old penny -
the forerunner of today's "Pound Shops"
Longstaffs
- open for business
NEWBRIDGE
BBC
Restoration Programme - Update
26 July 2004
After
supporters waged a vigorous campaign, Welsh television viewers voted
Newbridge Memo into first place after featuring in the BBC
"Restoration" programme on Tuesday 20th July.
The Memo now goes forward to the national final to be held in August.
More details here
NEWBRIDGE
BBC
Restoration Programme - 16 July
2004
O.K.
- It's not strictly Sirhowy Valley but Newbridge Memo features in the
BBC "Restoration" programme on Tuesday 20th July.
Please tune in and give your support to a worthy local cause.
More details here
BLACKWOOD
St.
David's Wood - 24 March 2004
The
12 year old fight to save St.David's Wood came to an end this week when
police and bailiffs moved in to evict protestors who had been encamped
at the site for several weeks.
As the protestors were being escorted from the site, residents who had
supported the long running campaign stood by and applauded their
efforts.
St.
David's Wood - 09 Feb. 2004
A
"last-ditch" effort is being made to halt the destruction of the
historic and picturesque St. David's Wood at Blackwood.
Contractors have already started clearing the site but protestors have
moved in to try and protect the older trees which the chainsaws have
not yet reached.
Main contractor Costain has drafted in extra security staff but appeals
have been circulated via the internet for more volunteer protestors to
attend the site.
Update: Friday 13 Feb.2004
The discovery of a colony of dormice has halted clearance work at
St.David's Wood.
Developers Costain have been restrained from further work until a
license to relocate the dormice - a protected species - has been
granted by the Welsh Assembly Government.
OAKDALE
Tudor
House Pub - 17th Oct. 2003
Oakdale
residents are 'up in arms' regarding plans to demolish the Tudor House
Pub - one of the oldest buildings in the area.
The pub, previously known as the 'Ivy Bush', is believed to date from
the 17th century and is due for demolition to make way for a private
housing development.
Local councillor Alan Pritchard has descibed the plan as "an act of
gross vandalism"
A spokesperson for CADW has stated the pub cannot be designated as a
'listed building' due to significant alterations having already been
undergone .
BLACKWOOD
/ PONTLLANFRAITH
'Beefy'
in Pontllanfraith - 10th Oct. 2003
Ian
Botham and Daley Thompson pictured at the Crown Roundabout,
Pontllanfraith, during the Caerphilly to Cwmbran stage of Ian's charity
walk in aid of the 'Noah's Ark Appeal'
Also
accompanying Ian and Daley on this leg were Rupert Moon and Mike Hall,
along with other local walkers raising money for the charity.
BLACKWOOD
New
jobs for Blackwood area - 17th Sept. 2003
Aircraft overhaul and repair specialist, Nordam Europe Ltd. has
announced it is to double its number of production workers.
The new £8.4 million expansion programme will create 220 new jobs, to
be phased in over the next three years.
