Gwent News

13/03/2024

Newport County edged an eight-goal thriller at Rodney Parade to boost their League Two play-off hopes at the expense of Morecambe.

Newport County beat Morecambe 5-3 in a thrilling League Two encounter at Rodney Parade to remain firmly in play-off contention.

10/03/2024

More than half of Welsh councils could cut bin collections to once every three or four weeks as they grapple with financial pressures.

Eleven councils currently collect general waste fortnightly, but factors including recycling targets mean more could move closer to just one a month.

As councils face financial strains, many are considering changes to how often they collect waste.

10/03/2024

The takeover of the former Newport Wafer Fab factory aka Nexperia Newport has been cleared after years of uncertainty.

The silicon chip plant's buyout by a Chinese-owned company had raised national security fears.

10/03/2024

A Torfaen woman whose family have competed at Crufts for more than 50 years has secured a win at the world-famous dog show.

Keira Martin's family have been competing at the world-famous dog show since 1972.

04/03/2024

Are the winds of change coming to south west Wales.

A meeting of renewable energy developers at Swansea arena recently, signals another step towards what some hope will be a significant new industry for south west Wales.
At the meeting around 25 to 30 developers and consultants found out more about plans by the UK Crown Estate to lease three areas of the Celtic Sea, west of Lundy Island, for floating offshore wind farms. A competitive tender process for bidders is now under way.
“The general atmosphere was quite positive – I think it was a really significant step in the right direction,” said a renewable energy figure who was present.
Offshore wind turbines are traditionally fixed to the seabed. Floating offshore one, as the name suggests, aren’t. While the technology is relatively new, and expensive, floating offshore turbines would operate in deeper water thereby opening up new areas of the sea to generate renewable electricity.

https://nation.cymru/feature/are-the-winds-of-change-coming-to-south-west-wales/

04/03/2024

🎉Rolls Royce Submarines is set to open their new engineering office in St Mellons, bringing a major boost to ’s economy and job market!

With the creation of 130 new jobs, this investment brings long-term skilled, and employment opportunities across our communities. Cardiff Council's commitment to partnership and skilled labour has been key in making this investment possible.
👉 Read in full:

Cardiff Council’s key role in securing Rolls Royce for St Mellons

22/02/2024

The Shaftesbury Castle Hotel and Newport Castle. The Castle Hotel castle just showing through on the corner over the road. Zoom in and you can see more of the hotel behind the castle 📷 Ian Dore

22/02/2024

Vaughan Gething accused of 'appalling judgement' in accepting £200,000 in donations from convicted businessman

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/vaughan-gething-accused-appalling-judgement-28685629

The First Minister hopeful was given money by the company of a businessman convicted of illegally dumping waste on a conservation site

14/01/2024

From : Newport City Council

Due to vegetation clearance Newport City Council will be temporarily closing the canal pathway from Brickyard Lane at 14 Locks through to Barrack Hill.

The closure takes place from January 7th and may last up to 21 days. Unfortunately NCC have advised there is no alternative route being put in place.

13/01/2024

From : Newport City Council

We’re consulting on a council tax rise of 8.5% in 24/25 – we’re currently 10% below the Welsh average so even with a rise, we would still be one of the lowest. Have your say now: www.newport.gov.uk/budget

13/01/2024

From : Newport City Council

Come and have a chat with your local councillor, Ward meetings are being held for residents in Newport.

If you live in the Stow Hill ward, councillor Miqdad Al-Nuami and councillor Kate Thomas will be holding a ward meeting on 18 January, 7:30 - 9:30pm, at The Place, Bridge Street.

If you live in the Ringland ward, councillor Malcolm Linton, councillor Laura Lacey and councillor Emma Stowell-Corten will be holding a ward meeting on 16 January, 7- 9pm, at Ringland Community Centre.

Find out what is happening in your area.

13/01/2024

From : Gwent Police

Attended yet another unnecessary today!

That's now 6 killed, 6 seriously injured, 2 dogs shot dead and 2 more facing destruction so far in January alone!

Imperative that owners keep secure when unattended to prevent escape or roaming.

13/01/2024

From : Safety Wales
If you are putting your bins or recycling out for collection, please be mindful of obstructing the pavement.

We have heard of instances where guide dogs have had to guide their owners into the road to avoid these obstructions.

13/01/2024

From : Newport City Council

From Monday 15 January, the council will be carrying out essential vegetation clearance work in the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

The work may last up to four months, depending on things like weather conditions etc, but every effort will be made to complete it as soon as possible to minimise inconvenience to residents.

The works will affect two sections of the canal towpaths, which are:

• The section from the bottom of Fourteen Locks, near Brickyard Lane, to Barrack Hill, and
• The section from the M4 underpass at Junction 26, up through Malpas and Bettws, to our boundary with Torfaen.

Closures and diversions along these towpaths will be put in place as and when they are required. We are hopeful that large sections of the two towpaths will remain open during the works.

We thank residents and visitors in advance for their patience and understanding while we carry out this necessary work.

Funding for this work has been provided by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.

The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

13/01/2024

From : Blaenau Gwent CBC

Our gritters will be out later tonight as road temperatures fall below zero.

Please take extra care when driving overnight and early morning.

Stay Safe.

31/12/2023

Large-scale cannabis factory' discovered at major gig and wedding venue

Police discovered a “large-scale cannabis factory” at a well-known Newport events and wedding venue. A police presence was visible outside The Neon in Clarence Place, Newport, over successive days while a band had to cancel a show at the venue scheduled for December 30.

Passers-by reported seeing a large police presence outside The Neon on Friday morning and later the same day the band Jump Underground, who were due to play the venue on Saturday, posted on Facebook: “It is with very, very heavy hearts that we have to let everybody know that tomorrow’s reunion show at the Neon will have to be postponed for a (not too much) later date. There is currently a police incident at the venue with heavy police presence. We were informed of this as we were rehearsing just a couple of hours ago.... We have no idea what has happened, we just hope nobody has been hurt. Unfortunately this is out of our hands.”

The 2,000-capacity venue, which was formerly the old Odeon cinema, posted on social media on December 27 a video of what appears to be two burglars who broke into the venue. The venue’s website says it “offers a wide variety of rooms catering to all needs from small gatherings to conferences, hen and stag dos, weddings, engagements, raves, memorials, and much more”.

See : tinyurl.com/2k7x6pyz
via : WalesOnline

Police say they discovered a 'large-scale' cannabis cultivation at The Neon in Newport. The 2,000-capacity venue hosts concerts, weddings, and parties

31/12/2023

Married couple reopen Usk Vale Restaurant in Newport…

A married couple have reopened the Usk Vale Restaurant in Newport.

31/12/2023

Neon nightclub on Clarence Place behind police tape.

Will the Neon nightclub be open for the NYE event tomorrow (Sunday, December 31)?

31/12/2023

Caerphilly woman denies assaulting mum outside school…

Woman accused of assaulting fellow mum outside school gates

31/12/2023

Newport Railway Station is second busiest in Wales.

NEWPORT Railway Station saw more than two million visits last year, new figures show.

31/12/2023

Tornado alert issued as Storm Henk swoops across Britain just days after whirlwind ripped through houses…

The warning comes just days after houses were ripped apart in Manchester

31/12/2023

The Observer view on abolishing inheritance tax: a handout to the wealthy…

If enacted in Jeremy Hunt’s spring budget, the move would provide a windfall for the richest at the expense of less affluent people

31/12/2023

Golden Star is best takeaway in Pontypool on Restaurant Guru…

THE CHINESE takeaway has earned recognition - here we look at their most recent win (and what people have said in reviews).

31/12/2023

Watch: The Welshman who turns rugby shirts into bucket hats…

Jack Wiles is something of a rugby wizard. However it’s not on the pitch he excels, but off it. The budding entrepreneur has launched clothing brand Rugby Buckets, where he custom creates stylish bucket hats from used rugby jerseys. We all know how popular bucket hats are with Welsh football fans ...

31/12/2023

Dame Shirley Bassey ‘humbled’ as honour recognises music career spanning decades…

Dame Shirley Bassey has said she is “truly humbled” to be made a Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours list. The Welsh singer, 86, is recognised for her services to music this year after previously becoming a dame in the 1999 honours list. Wonderful Dame Shirley said in a statement to the ...

31/12/2023

Before the general election, let’s have some political honesty about the dire state of the Welsh economy…

Martin Shipton How many politicians will have the honesty to tell us that we’re entering a general election year at a time when the economic prospects for Wales are, frankly, dire? Not many, I imagine. The Conservatives in particular like to pretend that the outlook isn’t as bad as it actually i...

31/12/2023

The transport challenges facing the new First Minister in 2024…

Professor Stuart Cole, CBE. Emeritus Professor of Transport Economics and Policy, University of South Wales By March we will have a new First Minister (FM) who will have to face several transport challenges, for example, reduced bus service levels, the 20-mph speed limit backlash, delays in completi...

31/12/2023

The village that lost its Welsh name overnight…

Stephen Price (Article first published 9 April 2023) Back in January 2015, with the Heads of the Valleys Road widening in full swing, few communities were hit so hard as the two small Monmouthshire villages of Clydach and Llanelly Hill. Caught in the middle, we found ourselves landlocked, polluted b...

27/11/2023

Welsh Government; It is now illegal to sell or supply some single-use plastic products to consumers in Wales.

If your business has been affected by the change in law, find out more about non-plastic or reusable alternatives here 👇:

www.gov.wales/singleuseplasticban

Together, it’s our business to clean up Wales.

29/09/2023

NEWS RELEASE MARSHFIELD COMMUNITY COUNCIL ON THE GWENT LEVELS

Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival is in a Field of its Own!

Gwent Levels community is brought together through creativity and festive fun.

John Lennon, Mary Poppins, Lily Savage and the Hulk are some of diverse famous characters being hand-crafted into Harvest-time scarecrows as part of village festival on the Gwent Levels.

Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival is a 3-day event (September 29 - October 1) where youth, community and social groups make and display traditional and alternative scarecrows around the village.

Coordinated by Marshfield Community Council and sponsored by Greenmoor Nurseries of St Brides, scarecrow-makers of all ages are meeting the community-wide ‘’build a scarecrow challenge.’’

Toddler groups, pupils at Marshfield Primary School, Marshfield Scouts and Brownies, members of Marshfield Women's Institute, Marshfield’s churches, pubs and local residential homes are all creating scarecrow characters and joining in the Festive fun.

Flamboyant and surprising scarecrows
Local residents have also crafted traditional pumpkin-headed scarecrows. Others have created more flamboyant and surprising scarecrows ranging from 1960s hippie pop idols, John Lennon, Jack Sparrow and Dolly Parton to Marvel super heroes, sporting champions and legendary wizards. The largest scarecrow towers to over 8 feet tall.

Festival Highlights

Weekend highlights of the Festival are focused on the Masons Arms pub in Marshfield where events include a scarecrow fancy dress, Morris dances performed by the Isca Morris Dancers and a Things You Never Know About Scarecrows charity quiz.

Scarecrow burgers, corn-on-the-cob and ‘scarecrow fingers’ chips are being served throughout the Festival.

Cllr Cath Davies Chair of Marshfield Community Council, said: “This is the first time Marshfield has turned its creativity to a
Scarecrow Festival”.

We’re delighted by the way community groups and residents have entered the collaborative and light-hearted spirit of the event.’’

Phil Thomas of Greenmoor Nurseries said:
‘‘We’ve had a horticultural association with the Council for some time, but we wanted to broaden that support to a Festive event that can be enjoyed by Marshfield residents of all ages”. We wish the first Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival every success.’’

Pupils at Marshfield Primary School made 8 scarecrows for the Festival as part of their art and craft lessons. Headteacher, Lisa Lewis, said: “Our pupils enjoyed the Festival’s creative scarecrow-making challenge”.

They worked together using their imaginations to craft amazing scarecrows. The Festival was also a way of learning more about Harvest
time and the countryside around our village.’’

Residents and staff at Pentwyn House Residential Home in Marshfield created a scene from the tv series ‘’Casualty’’ featuring scarecrows.

Andrew Lawence, Assistant Manager at Pentwyn House, said: “We wanted to create something that was focused on sharing and caring, but still had a comic side to it”.

The festive scarecrow atmosphere has
been a real tonic for our residents.’’

Marshfield Community Council’s Community Scarecrow Festival Sponsors and
Supporters

Main sponsor: Greenmoor Nurseries of St Brides and Tony Borg from Trade Price Tyres Newport, Simpson Estates, Blue Diamond Cardiff, The Masons Arms in Marshfield. Kk

More information is available from Cllr Patrick Legge, Marshfield Community Scarecrow Festival Coordinator on: 07547 433122

Note on photography:

Written permission has been gathered by staff at Marshfield Primary School and Pentwyn House for the attached photos to feature
pupils and care residents.