MORE than 1,200 people have joined a Facebook group protesting the proposed closure of Brynmawr's Market Hall Cinema. Angry Blaenau Gwent residents have also created an online petition to keep the cinema open, which already has more than 450 signatures
THE replacement sculptor for the commission of the statue of Ken Jones has shown her model to the committee for the first time. Laury Dizengremel was chosen for the commission after offering to undertake the project at a fraction of the original
A DEBATE on how to regenerate a town centre in Monmouthshire will be chaired by Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay. The debate, organised by Abergavenny & District Civic Society, aims to look at how Abergavenny can retain and enhance its competitive edge
TELEVISION rugby pundit Rick O’Shea is the new patron for St David’s Hospice Care. Mr O’Shea, who has been a key figure within the world of rugby for many years and is also a newly qualified doctor, will support the work of the Newport-based charity
A MONMOUTH-based ambulance campaigner is gaining support in his calls for a cross-party scrutiny inquiry into the Welsh Ambulance Service. Matthew Davies, whose mum, Jacqueline, died in January 2011 following a more than 40-minute wait for an ambulance
TWO tremendous letters on the 5th from Dr Mike Thomas and A Bond regarding the Welsh language. A Bond brings breath of suggested accuracy to the critics. Dr Mike Thomas reflects a sense of passion that I support, and is so badly lacking in so many
THOUSANDS of people voted Labour in the last Welsh Assembly election because of a manifesto promise to introduce annual checks for the over-50. Now all they are offered is an internet health check to people aged over 50 by the Welsh Government.
I READ with interest the announcement of the creation of the new quango, the city regions organisation. In this time for austerity, do we want or need this group? Can we afford it? What is the purse set aside to fund it? And whose purse is it coming
I THINK that a return of Clause Four into the Labour aims would be a good thing. The way that businesses are run seems skewed in favour of the richest in society. I cannot think of any business that gives the working class so little and the investors
TORFAEN council has appointed a private company, XFOR, to patrol the borough and issue fines for littering, dog fouling and smoking illegally. XFOR is a private fines-for-profit company that exists to make money. The more penalties they issue the
MAY I take issue with the clip about the demise of Echo, Stow Hill, in February 4 Grassroots. A certain splinter group by that name is closing down, but Everyone Counts Here On Stow Hill (ECHO) was the name of the SH Community-First (C1) organisation
HOW disappointing! No-one, but no-one has written in support of Mr Johnston’s comments regarding the ‘policing minister’s’ fast- track entry plans. The new commissioner sums up this situation perfectly. Those who are running, and so called ‘managing
A DOG on the M4 between J26 and 24 is causing a hazard to drivers, reports say. The eastbound section of the motorway is affected.
CALLS were made yesterday for more 20mph zones on Welsh roads in an effort to save lives. Jocelyn Davies, Plaid AM for South Wales East, was one of four Assembly members who backed a debate into the issue at the Assembly yesterday. She hopes
A PROPOSAL is set to go before Newport City Council to charge all street traders for doing business in the city. The initial proposal also comes with a condition that street traders would not be able to trade within 250 metres of any school’s gates
A FORMER health care worker yesterday admitted theft of more than £13,000 from the Aneurin Bevan Health Board after an administrative error led to her receiving nearly double her wages for two years. On the second day of her trial at Cardiff Crown
TATTOOED officers could be forced to cover up while on duty as part of plans that Gwent’s new Police and Crime Commissioner has to boost people’s confidence in the police. Speaking to the Argus, PCC Ian Johnston said he thought it was “wholly inappropriate
Wales captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Paris. The Cardiff Blues flanker has a stinger injury, a problem which normally affects the shoulder. Ryan Jones takes over as skipper and wears
A MAN was fined £4,000 after pleading guilty to depositing and keeping scrap metal on land in Newport. Mark Cutter, 45, was prosecuted by the Environment Agency Wales after it discovered a quantity of scrap metal on land he owns at Greenacre Farm
A CHEPSTOW councillor who gave up his job to care for his late brother-in-law’s son feels he is being punished by a controversial benefit change. Cllr Dale Rooke moved into his brother-in-law’s house in Bulwark to nurse his relative before he died
A MAN who subjected his then-partner to a “frenzied attack” and stabbed her in the back was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Lawrence Roberts, 29, pinned Deon Morgan to the floor, stabbed her leaving a three-centimetre wound and repeatedly
FRANCE v WALES (Saturday, KO 5pm) France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has made two changes to the team beaten by Italy last weekend for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales in Paris. Powerful Toulon centre Mathieu Bastareaud replaces
HOLLYWOOD star Michael Sheen has thrown his weight behind the fight to save Newport Art Gallery’s temporary exhibitions. A statement from Newport-born Mr Sheen, who opened the new Chartist exhibition at the gallery in 2012, said: “I am hugely disturbed
AN ANTI-M4 tunnel expansion campaigner said news that there may have to be another consultation on proposals to improve the motorway was an “absolute joke”. Last year the Welsh Government held a consultation exercise into options to reduce congestion
FRANCE v WALES (Saturday, KO 5pm) THE return of “world class” Adam Jones has been hailed by Rhys Thomas who is tipping his ex-Scar-lets teammate Sam-son Lee as the great tighthead’s successor. Three-times Grand Slam winner Jones was back in
WELSH Assembly presiding officer Rosemary Butler, pictured, has been shortlisted for a top award. The Newport West Assembly Member joins two other leading UK female politicians up for the Devolved Parliament or Assembly Member of the Year, in the
FEARS that neonatal services at the Royal Gwent Hospital might be downgraded have been raised during public consultation on proposals to reorganise key NHS services across South Wales on fewer hospital sites. Health reporter Andy Rutherford reports
THE success story of Andrew Coombs is another timely reminder of the importance of club rugby. It was a remarkable tale when Lloyd Burns went from bricklaying captain at Cross Keys to Wales hooker at the World Cup. Less than two years later
ITALY’S win against tournament favourites France showed the much-lauded unpredictability of the Six Nations, if only we could expect the unexpected with Wales in attack. Conservatism reigns when it comes to the national side; conservatism of selection
WHEN it comes to having highways and byways named after them, men are streets ahead of women - but in Torfaen, at least, that may start to change, thanks to Torfaen councillor Jessica Powell. Gender equality in street naming is now firmly on the
DRAGONS v TREVISO (Tomorrow, KO 7.30) THE BOOTS of Wales ace Toby Faletau are big ones to fill but Newport Gwent Dragons rising star Ieuan Jones is having a damn good go. The Wales Under-20s number eight has been flung in at the deep end over
COULD an empty warehouse in Chepstow be the start of what could become a flourishing TV career for the town? That’s the hope of a London-based production company that wants to use the former Tesco cold store building on the Newhouse Farm Industrial
NEWPORT County AFC have rejected claims that one of their matches is part of the Europe-wide investigation into match-fixing in football. Sky Sports News reported this week that the Blue Square Bet Premier clash between Tamworth and County in Tamworth
FRANCE v WALES (Saturday, KO 5pm) FORMER Wales openside flanker and captain Terry Cobner has backed Justin Tipuric to be given his country’s No 7 shirt ahead of skipper Sam Warburton. And the Pontypool great and ex-Welsh Rugby Union director
DRAGONS v TREVISO (Tomorrow, KO 7.30) NEWPORT Gwent Dragons comeback kid Steffan Jones is set to be offered a new deal amid praise for the fly-half for his match-winning exploits with the boot. The 22-year-old is out of contract at the end
