REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2016: January and February

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FLAGSHIP plans for a new Welsh medium secondary school in Newport - and a major revamp of the existing school with which it would share a site - were thrown out by the planning committee of the city council that drew them up.

The £17 million plan proposed the creation of Welsh medium secondary school on part of the existing Duffryn High School site, through a mix of newbuild and the revamp of one of the Duffryn blocks

Duffryn High meanwhile, would be subject to complete refurbishment and the building of a new block.

The project was seen as a way to meet growing demand for Welsh medium education for older children, while also overhauling the existing Duffryn High premises.

The committee's decision was based on the recommendations of city planners following objections raised by Natural Resources Wales over the potential flood risk, but it was greeted with a mixture of fury and dismay by parents and teachers.

The decision was made to shouts of "shame on you" from the council chamber's public gallery and amid much comment on the Argus website and across social media, the council was labelled a "disgrace" for not supporting Welsh medium education.

Duffryn High headteacher Jon Wilson called the decision "a devastating blow" for his school, adding that he felt "very let down."

Elin Maher, chairwoman of the governing body of the proposed Welsh school, warned: "If we don't fight for this school today, we will never get it. It's about our children and our children's future."

The anger continued at an emergency meeting for parents at Duffryn High on February 4, the day after the decision.

Mr Wilson told the audience that the previous day had been the worst in his 35-year career.

It was revealed that the council had been aware of the issue since November 2015, and that since the school opened in 1959, it had never flooded.

Council chiefs were left in no doubt about the sense of anger at the decision. Education director James Harris said the decision meant a funding agreement for the schemes agreed with the Welsh Government had been lost, and the council was now "in a difficult place" as it had no plan B for a Welsh school site.

On February 5, the council pledged at a public meeting that a Welsh medium secondary school would be provided in Newport by 2018, but that the planning committee's decision could not be appealed.

However, on February 16, the council announced that the plans would be resubmitted, with all councillors given a chance to vote on the issue. Mr Wilson said he was surprised, but pleased.

"In view of the significance of this application in terms of educational need and the wider strategic development of the Duffryn area, it was considered appropriate and more democratic for all councillors to take collective responsibility for this decision," read a council statement.

It was expected the planning application would be discussed again in the spring.

January 1

A PREGNANT woman was reunited with the good samaritan who comforted her after a road crash.

Civil servant Emma Louise Skinner, of Cwmcarn, launched a Facebook appeal to find the man who helped her after the crash, which happened shortly before Christmas 2015 in Wattsville.

Ms Skinner did not know the name of the man who stopped, rang the emergency services, and let her sit in his van with the heaters on until they arrived.

After the appeal she got to say "a massive thank you" face-to-face with Graham Williams, from Bettws, Newport, who had been driving to work when he came upon the scene.

Ms Skinner said several vehicles simply sped past her as she was left standing by her car crying in the cold, but that when Mr Williams stopped, he "couldn't do enough to help."

January 1

Head teacher Gill Ellis with the damage caused by a fire at Coed Eva Primary school, Cwmbran.

The early hours of the New Year saw fire rip through the infants building at Coed Eva primary school in Cwmbran.

The blaze, described as "devastating" by the school's headteacher Gill Ellis, reduced the building to a mangled heap of metal framing.

At its height, 55 firefighters from several stations across south east Wales, were at the site.

Mrs Ellis pledged the school would reopen on Monday January 11 - it did, though around 100 of the 510 pupils could not return because temporary accommodation had not been completed - but warned that rebuilding could take two years.

Later in the month, chairman of governors Peter Friswell praised the efforts of staff and the community, which included a fun run to raise funds, in helping get the school running again.

January 2-3

GWENT was battered by heavy rain, causing disruption for many drivers, with more weather-related misery forecast.

Flood water caused problems in the Brynglas Tunnels of the M4, closed Heidenheim Drive in Newport for a period, and also severely affected main roads in Usk, Llanellen and Monmouth.

Sporting events were badly affected with whole football and rugby fixture lists wiped out.

January 12

DOZENS of traders called for buses to run down Newport High Street once more, claiming the it was "deserted" since Newport Transport buses began running straight through to the new bus station at Friars Walk in December 2015.

Services stopped following an increase in traffic and parked vehicles, but many at a public meeting claimed their takings were down, and it was time for a rethink.

Newport council leader Bob Bright wrote to Newport Transport express his concern and the New Adventure Travel (NAT) bus company expressed an interest in the route.

In February Newport Transport announced the reintroduction of some services, on a lighting-only basis and NAT said it was in talks to take some services onto the High Street.

January 14

The horse drawn hearse arrives at St Mary's Church in Newport for the funeral of Dylan Brook​

MORE than £2,000 was raised to ensure that six-year-old Newport boy Dylan Brooks - who died after a lifelong battle with periventricular leukomalacia - could have a Monsters Inc-themed funeral.

The condition caused part of his brain to die and fill with fluid, and he was also blind, and had cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Brave Dylan defied the odds to live as long as he did, and his love of the Monsters Inc film prompted his family to plan a themed send-off. His mum Hannah Cohen called him "the strongest little boy you will ever meet."

The money was raised by through a crowdfunding appeal.

January 19

Tata Steel proposed more than 100 job losses at Llanwern

NEWPORT'S Llanwern steelworks was expected to share the pain inflicted by Tata Steel's proposals to shed 750 jobs in south Wales amid a downturn for the industry in the UK.

More than 100 job losses were expected to be announced at Llanwern as part of the plan, which involved a further 300 jobs at sites in England.

The situation prompted the Welsh Government to set up a task force to try to limit the impact and support the industry further, though buying a partial stake in it was rejected.

January 19

PLANS for the UK's first proton beam radiotherapy centre - at Newport's Celtic Springs Business Park - were launched.

A multi-million pound investment will see the centre start treating patients next year.

Proton beam therapy targets radiotherapy to very specific areas and can be used to treat difficult-to-reach cancers, including in the head, neck and spine.

January 22

Firefighters at the site of the fire at the Alexandra Docks at the weekend (picture by Natural Resources Wales)

The Argus reported that a huge fire at a recycling deport at Newport's Alexandra Docks, involving 20,000 tonnes of wood chippings, was out after burning for more than two months.

Smoke and a foul smell from the fire had assailed the nostrils and lungs of people across a wide area of the city and beyond.

South Wales Wood Recycling - the chippings were stored at their depot - had previously been served an enforcement notice by Natural Resources Wales to clear the chippings pile due to concerns that it posed a fire risk.

January 23

PATIENTS and politicians united in praise of the "fantastic" work carried out by St David's Hospice Care across Gwent, as work began on its £5 million, 15-bed inpatient unit at its Newport headquarters.

The project, to be completed next summer, will enable the expansion of the charity's inpatient palliative care service for patients with life-threatening or terminal illnesses.

Then-health minister Mark Drakeford formally cut the turf to start a project funded by Welsh Government, the Big Lottery, and a range of other grant-making bodies.

February 3

A FRESH planning application by Glamorgan Power Company to allow opencast mining at Varteg Hill near Blaenavon, was labelled a "farce" by campaigners opposing it.

The application was an amended version of one submitted in November 2014, 10 years after the company first proposed a scheme there.

Tony Kinsella, chairman of the campaign to prevent the proposal going ahead, said the plan's details had not changed greatly from its predecessors, and Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle, also opposing the scheme, called it "almost identical."

February 3:

NEWPORT would benefit from a share of an investment fund of £1.28 billion through plans for a City Deal - part of the Cardiff Capital Region project - which would see councils from Monmouthshire to Bridgend work alongside the UK and Welsh Governments to promote the region in a bid to boost the economy of south east Wales.

The 20-year City Deal was subsequently signed in March, with the aim of creating up to 25,000 jobs, improving transport links, and encouraging investment.

February 4

PLANS for a new crematorium to be built in Langstone were approved by Newport city council's planning committee, despite fears from residents of the village over the impact of traffic on the area.

The aim is for the new facility to ease pressure on Gwent Crematorium near Cwmbran - but villagers believe the proposed parking capacity will not be sufficient.

February 6

EBBW Vale's £15 million sports centre was forced to close its doors after part of its roof collapsed following heavy rain.

The ceiling of the centre's reception area fell in, and water cascaded down flights of stairs. Structural engineers and firefighters were called in to make the building safe.

The centre reopened on February 22 after repairs, and health and safety checks.

February 10

Pupils and parents protest outside Pontypool Civic Centre over closures of two Abersychan Schools

TORFAEN council's cabinet voted to approve closure plans for Victoria primary and Abersychan Brynteg nursery schools in Abersychan, despite a concerted campaign of opposition by parents.

Campaigners claimed the closures would tear the community apart, and fears were expressed about highway safety in relation to the route to Garnteg primary school, one of those to which children would be relocated.

February 12

PLANS were unveiled for £60 million Knowledge Quarter in Newport, in a joint development between the University of South Wales and Coleg Gwent.

The scheme would involve a major investment at the university's city campus on the banks of the River Usk, and may involve the relocation of Coleg Gwent's Nash campus.

Formal funding was yet to be confirmed, but potential sources included money from the sale of the university's Caerleon campus, and investment from the Welsh Government, the private sector, and the two institutions themselves.

February 13

Shoppers at Newport's Friars Walk

SHOPPING footfall increased by 17 per cent during the three months after the opening of the £100 million Friars Walk development in Newport in November 2015.

That was compared to the same period the previous year, and meant footfall in the city centre was at its highest since 2008.

The figures came as it was announced that the city council would be repaid the £90m loan - plus interest - it had given developers Queensberry to ensure the shopping centre was built.

February 23

They call him Doctor Harvey at school after Harvey Price aged 4 from Newbridge saved the life of a classmate who was choking on her food at Pantside school

FOUR-year-old Harvey Price came to the rescue of a schoolfriend who was choking on a sandwich, jumping from his seat to clap her on the back after seeing she was in distress.

Harvey's actions in helping Aniya Williams earned praise from his teachers at Pantside primary school in Newbridge, teacher Kira Watkins saying that staff were "very proud" of his quick thinking.

His mum Kay Price said the first she knew of her son's heroics was when he came out of school with a present the dinner ladies had bought for him.