SIRHOWY VALLEY
NEW BOUNDARY PROPOSAL
January 2012


New proposals are afoot to change existing parliamentary constituency boundaries.
Here are the proposals for a new Sirhowy Valley area.

Newport West and Sirhowy Valley

The existing Islwyn CC consists of the electoral divisions of the County Borough of Caerphilly of Aberbargoed (2,509), Abercarn (3,881), Argoed (1,912), Blackwood (6,168), Cefn Fforest (2,742), Crosskeys (2,445), Crumlin (4,334), Maesycwmmer (1,707), Newbridge (4,685), Pengam (2,681), Penmaen (3,946), Pontllanfraith (6,159), Risca East (4,643), Risca West (3,988) and Ynysddu (2,811) with a total of 54,611 electors which is 29% below the UKEQ of 76,641 electors per constituency and 25% below the minimum of the statutory electoral range of 72,810 electors per constituency.

The existing Newport West CC consists of the electoral divisions of the City of Newport of Allt-yr-Yn (6,555), Bettws (5,452), Caerleon (6,889), Gaer (6,304), Graig (4,620), Malpas (6,041), Marshfield (4,611), Pillgwenlly (4,382), Rogerstone (7,843), Shaftesbury (3,767), Stow Hill (3,079) and Tredegar Park (2,922) with a total of 62,465 electors which is 18% below the UKEQ of 76,641 electors per constituency and 14% below the minimum of the statutory electoral range of 72,810 electors per constituency.

It is proposed that a county constituency is created from: 1. the County Borough of Caerphilly electoral divisions of Aberbargoed (2,509), Abercarn (3,881), Bargoed (4,331), Crosskeys (2,445), Gilfach (1,525), Hengoed (3,671), Llanbradach (3,171), Maesycwmmer (1,707), Nelson (3,482), Pengam (2,681), Pontllanfraith (6,159), Risca East (4,643), Risca West (3,988), St. Cattwg (5,586), Ynysddu (2,811) and Ystrad Mynach (3,553) and, 2. the City of Newport electoral divisions of Graig (4,620), Marshfield (4,611) and Rogerstone (7,843).

This new electoral constituency would have 73,217 electors which is 4.5% below the UKEQ of 76,641 electors per constituency.

The suggested name for the constituency is Newport West and Sirhowy Valley.


TREDEGAR

PARK REOPENS
June 2011


After a two year restoration project, Bedwellty House and Park officially reopens on June 4th 2011.
More info at the new website HERE


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


Don Touhig

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.



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.

nathancleverly (20K)


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
jmorgan (5K)

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


BLACKWOOD

NEW MEASURES TO COMBAT "CAR CRUISING"


January 2009
asda

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>/h4>

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.





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