Archive

  • Work on Gwent section of coastal path continues

    THE REMAINDER of works to the Chepstow to Black Rock section of the Wales Coast Path will be carried out over the next few months, a report to Monmouthshire council says. A meeting of the Severnside Area Committee is to discuss the project’s

  • Gwent Social landlords tackle growing yob problem

    GWENT social housing landlords dealt with more than 1,900 anti-social behaviour complaints in 2010/11. Figures from three major Gwent social landlord groups show 1,905 anti-social behaviour complaints were received in the last financial year

  • Newport parks get green honour

    NEWPORT’S Belle Vue Park and the grounds of Tredegar House proved they are two of the best in the country after both received Green Flag Awards. The award is a sign that the park is well-maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities

  • Kate Humble's vision for Gwent farm

    WILDLIFE presenter Kate Humble wants to turn a Monmouthshire farm into a centre for excellence for rural skills. The Springwatch and former Animal Park presenter and her TV producer husband Ludo Graham are also inviting the council, which owns

  • All-star cast at Caerphilly’s Big Cheese

    AN EBBW Vale man will be taking part in one of Caerphilly county’s biggest events – which last year attracted 80,000 people and is to be staged next weekend. The Big Cheese takes place around the grounds of Caerphilly Castle, with a host of famous

  • Hundreds enjoy Abertillery Blues Festival

    HUNDREDS of blues fans thronged to the Valleys at the weekend for the annual Abertillery Blues Festival. The event was staged in a marquee in Abertillery Park and featured some of the best in British and International Blues on Friday and Saturday

  • Blaenau Gwent MP blasts care boss

    BLAENAU Gwent’s MP criticised the boss of collapsed care home provider Southern Cross for cancelling a meeting with politicians. Nick Smith said CEO of Southern Cross Jamie Buchan’s decision to cancel an MPs’ briefing call on Thursday morning

  • Looking for Australian great-grandfather

    I AM trying to find information about my great-grandfather, William James Roberts, born in Australia in 1880. He was a marine fireman in the Australian Merchant Navy and married Margaret Jane Fitzgerald (b. 1885 Newport Union Workhouse) in

  • Pontypool library marks a new chapter

    CHILDREN and adults joined in the festivities at Pontypool Library on Saturday to celebrate its re-opening after a £300,000 makeover. Visitors to a celebratory fun day enjoyed story telling and live music, and some even had their portrait drawn

  • SMS – Spam Messages Suck!

    This might not have been the original meaning but it’s perfect for today’s onslaught of unwanted texts, clogging up mobile phones. And sadly, in many cases the convention ‘just text STOP’ is damaging, not helpful. Spam texts blight our

  • Pals' concern over Newport man in Thai prison

    FRIENDS and relatives of a Newport man in prison in Thailand on suspicion of conspiring to supply drugs are anxiously awaiting news on whether or not he is to be released. Marcus Parker, 45, was arrested in Phuket, along with German national

  • Abergavenny breeder scoops Royal Welsh honours

    LIVESTOCK owners from Gwent came away with championship rosettes from this year’s Royal Welsh Show. Abergavenny Welsh cob breeder Jonathan Batt was the most successful of the home-grown talent, picking up three titles with star broodmare Abergavenny

  • Hundreds support Thornwell school benefit gig

    HUNDREDS of people packed out a Chepstow bar to raise more than £500 for a fire-devastated school in the town. ThornAid, on Friday, brought lovers of all kinds of music to the Smirnoff Bar, in aid of Thornwell Primary School which was gutted

  • ‘Delay merger of social services’ - councillor's plea

    A CAERPHILLY councillor is calling on the authority’s leader to delay plans to share the running of its social services with Blaenau Gwent council pending the outcome of a Wales Audit Office investigation. Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix says

  • Newport in bloom winners show their flower power

    A HOTEL, a dental practice, a care home and a community centre proved they were blooming marvellous after scooping top prizes in this year’s Newport in Bloom Competition. Overall winners of the competition, who took the top honour in the champions

  • Gwent Police’s fuel costs soar

    GWENT Police’s fuel costs have risen more than a third over the past five years, according to new figures released by South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle. The figures obtained by Mr Whittle under the Freedom of Information Act show the force

  • Cwmbran youngsters say farewell to nursery

    YOUNGSTERS in Cwmbran said a fond farewell to their nursery days as they prepare to go off to primary school. Three and four year olds at Henllys Village Nursery donned caps and gowns on Friday for their annual graduation ceremony. This is the

  • Plea for employment laws shake-up

    Business leaders urged the Government today to 'fundamentally rethink' its approach to employment law to foster better relations in the workplace. The CBI said job losses in private firms had been minimised during the recession because of good communication

  • Business owners sacrificing holiday

    One in four owners of small businesses will not have time to go on holiday this summer for the second year in a row, according to a new survey today. A poll of 1,000 businessmen and women found that the continuing tough economic climate was also affecting

  • Firms 'still wary of investment'

    Economic prospects remain 'fragile' as firms still lack the confidence to invest for growth, according to new research today. A survey of 1,800 companies by Lloyds TSB Commercial found a continued lack of domestic demand, leaving the outlook for profits

  • EDITORIAL COMMENT: Winehouse sorrow

    MUCH has been made over the death ofAmy Winehouse at the weekend and the outpouring of grief from her so-called celebrity friends. Winehouse’s death sadly seemed inevitable as her life spiralled out of control, all of it in the public eye.

  • County have Big shoes to fill

    DEPARTED County ace Paul Bignot has set the template in boss Anthony Hudson’s mind as he looks to complete his squad recruitment in time for the new season. The Exiles once again had a number of trialists in their ranks as they beat League

  • Newport tots splash out for charity

    LITTLE swimmers in Newport had a splashing time last week raising money for baby charity Tommy’s. Youngsters taking part in their swimming lessons with baby swim school, Water Babies, last week took part in a national fundraising event aiming

  • New delay to city-valleys rail link

    NO DECISION will be made over the much-delayed project to run rail services between Ebbw Vale and Newport until at least the autumn, leaving local politicians renewing calls for urgent progress. Transport Minister Carl Sargeant has ordered

  • Yakubu strike keeps Exiles on track

    County 1 Cheltenham 0 WHILE County boss Anthony Hudson rightly plays down the importance of pre-season results as he seeks new recruits to his squad, Exiles supporters will be far more ebullient as the big kick-off approaches. It

  • Probe launched after Ebbw Vale man dies at oil plant

    AN INVESTIGATION is underway after an Ebbw Vale man died at an oil refinery in Hampshire. Anthony McGowan, 57, of Ebbw Vale, died at Southampton General Hospital on Thursday after suffering injuries in an incident at Fawley Refinery in the New

  • "£8m cost of rejecting homes" - Torfaen council leader

    THE leader of Torfaen council fears the decision to reject plans for 1,200 homes to be built in Sebastopol will cost the council £8 million. Councillor Bob Wellington last week supported the outline planning application by a consortium of developers

  • Dragons duo up for English test

    NEWPORT Gwent Dragons duo Dan Lydiate and Luke Charteris will have English fans cheering them on if they make the Wales side for their showdown with Martin Johnson’s men at Twickenham next week. Mid Walian Lydiate’s father is from Salford in Greater