Rhondda Cynon Taf Council provide an Update on the restoration of Mountain Ash War Memorial after vandals stole precious plaques recently…
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has nearly completed temporary restoration plans put in place for Remembrance Day, following the mindless vandalism of Mountain Ash war memorial.
Outrage was caused when the bronze plaque on the memorial was stolen earlier this year, leading to concern and upset about the use of the sacred monument on November 11.
However, Council staff stepped in with a plan that would allow the memorial to be restored on a short-term basis, in time for the remembrance ceremony, with more permanent restoration to follow.
A blank marble plaque was commissioned and installed on the memorial and will remain until a new, bronze one can be...
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council confirmed today that demolition of Maerdy Workingmen’s Hall will begin soon.
Built in 1905, the grand old building was an iconic symbol of Rhondda’s wealth based on the coalmining industry.
The local Council plan to recycle as much of the remains of the building as possible.
Several local organisations have already expressed an interest in reusing the old stone from the venue as soon as it is razed to the ground.
Why not Share your Memories or Photos of the Hall ?
Click here for the Gallery of Photos of Maerdy Workingmen’s Hall...
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A Public Meeting will be held in Aberdare on Thursday 9th October 2008, at the Sobells Sports Centre.
At the Meeting Rhondda Cynon Taf Councillors will decide on the new Gloucesters & Ironworks site planning application.
All Welcome.
A Planning Application has been re-submitted to the local Council. The plans are for 130 houses to be built on the Hirwaun Gloucesters and old Ironworks site. This area is much valued and used by the community as an area for recreation and leisure and home to an abundance of wildlife and flora.
Councillors voted to refuse planning permission in July 2008.
Local Council Planning Officers are trying to persuade Councillors to change their minds and approve this application, despite overwhelming objections from residents over the last 3 years.
The...
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Enjoy a Refreshing Early Swim at your local Aberdare Swimming Pool.
Swimmers who like to make an early start to their day can head for Aberdare Pool, where Early Bird swimming sessions are now available. The sessions are every weekday from 6.30am-9am and cost £2.25 for adults, with discounts available.
Little Dippers swimming sessions for parents and babies are also being held on Mondays from 5pm-6pm and Fridays from 11.45am to 12.45pm.
Health suite opening times at the pool are now :
Monday: Female only 9.30am-3.45pm; male only 4pm-9.30pm
Tuesday: Male 9am-1pm; female 3pm-9.30pm
Wednesday: Female 9.30am-3.45pm; male 4pm-9.30pm
Thursday: Male 9am-1pm; female 3pm-9.30pm
Friday: Mixed 9.30am-2.45pm; male 2.45pm-9.30pm
Saturday: Mixed 9.30am-3.45pm
Sunday: Male 8am-1pm
For more...
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Another day of chaos on the main Aberdare road leading north from the town…
Drivers experienced long delays today on the the A4059 road between Aberdare and Hirwaun due to a traffic collision.
A local grandmother driving home narrowly escaped with her life after being shunted from behind by a lorry.
Closure of the Llwydcoed by-pass road last week due to subsidence problems has seen an enormous increase in traffic on the A4059, leading to traffic tailbacks from Hirwaun to Trecynon during peak hours.
Local residents today expressed their concern that a fatality is inevitable unless Rhondda Cynon Taf Council re-open the Llwydcoed road as to matter of urgency to ease traffic congestion.
Click on the thumbnail to see larger photographs...
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The most popular photos on Aberdare Blog for the past week have been those of Tabernacle Chapel, Aberystwyth.
Sadly the Chapel was destroyed in a great fire and subsequently demolished last Saturday.
This is such a waste. But perhaps we can draw a useful lesson from Aberystwyth by looking at our own communities and considering the empty buildings on our own doorstep!
We draw your attention today to a magnificent building several times larger than Tabernacle Chapel, Aberystwyth… the old school on the outskirts of Aberdare.
It was the old Welsh junior school - Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Ynyslwyd - before this school closed and moved to Cwmdare.
The photos (below) were taken in 2006. Click the photo thumbnails for larger versions.
Today the old school windows are boarded-up.
Are...
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Adrian Shepherd is fighting for the survival of the Allotment Gardens at Trallwng, near Pontypridd.
This is the second allotment site in Rhondda Cynon Taf threatened with closure.
It defies common sense that in a time of rapidly rising energy costs, places to grow food locally are being stolen from communities in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Read the full story on Green Drinks, Rhondda Cynon......
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Principal Librarian Norma Jones based at Aberdare Library has vowed to catch up on her reading after retiring from the job after 42 happy years.
Staff at Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council’s Libraries and Museum Service gave their favourite colleague a magical send-off in a special retirement party this week.
Gill Evans, Head of Libraries and Museums said: “Norma’s warmth and keen sense of humour made her a firm favourite with staff and users alike and her enthusiasm and commitment enabled the Library Service to deliver a wide range of special projects in addition to day to day normal services.
“As a published poet herself, she was responsible for producing the hugely popular library poetry anthologies, while her musical interests also led to the creation of the recently...
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have confirmed that around 100 trees are to be cut down in Aberdare Park… “for safety reasons”.
According to RCT Council, the elderly Leylandii conifers have been shedding branches across busy Cemetery Road, adjacent to the park.
They will be replaced later this year with a mixture of trees which will have brightly-coloured spring flowers, summer berries and vibrant shades in the autumn. These trees will attract wildlife and enhance the overall landscape of the park.
Staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf Parks division will begin removing the conifers in early......
Children with disabilities in Rhondda Cynon Taf will have more opportunities to play sport this year in new football, swimming and badminton schemes, according to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.
A new swimming initiative for children with mild learning disabilities will start in Aberdare next month. The 10-week block of disability swimming lessons begins at 4pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 in Aberdare Pool.
If you would like an application form to enable your child to take part in the lessons, please contact Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Disability Sport Wales Development Officer, Shelley Coster, on 01443 490242
Aberdare Badminton Club is holding an open day for people with disabilities at Aberdare Leisure Centre on Saturday, February 16, from 10am-midday.
The club will open its doors to anyone over...
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Want to get out and get more active in 2008? Then come along to Dare Valley Country Park, Aberdare, on Wednesday, January 23, where there will be guided cycle rides and walks for all ages and abilities - with bikes provided free of charge - from 10am-1pm.
Activities lined up include:
· A guided bike ride to Cwmaman along the old tramway - six and a half miles there and back along the flat - which will take up to an hour and a half.
· Short bike rides around the lake, with people on hand to help those who haven’t been on a bike for some time and would like to try again. Go around once, or as many times as you like.
· A walk of about a mile and a half around the park with an experienced ranger who can tell you all about the history and natural features in the park. This will take...
We have prepared a collection of Aberdare Grot Spots using photos from a variety of locations across Aberdare and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
One of the ugliest grot spots is perhaps at the top of the Mountain overlooking Aberdare. Hereabouts people dump their fast-fast flotsam.
Visitors coming to Aberdare via Maerdy in the Rhondda are greeted by the sight of wrappings from the local junk food merchants.
In fairness to Aberdare’s local Council, they clean up the mess left by other people pretty soon, but perhaps, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council should prosecute a few more litter-bugs to ‘get the message across’.
Local recycling mascot Rhyscycle does an excellent of educating young people about the importance of recycling. Maybe it is now time to invent a similar cartoon character to...
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Member of Parliament Ann Clwyd officially reopened the children’s room in the Library which has been revamped amidst much excitement for the many thousands of children who use it every year.
The Library on Green Street, Aberdare opened in 1963 and has remained virtually the same until recent refurbishments to improve access to the building.
A lift has been installed to the reference and local studies department upstairs to allow better access for members of the public, the foyer has been remodeled with a first-class reception area and a new teenage area has also been created.
The children’s room itself has been transformed with a bright and colourful underwater mural painted on the walls, which has delighted youngsters and parents alike.
The Cynon Valley MP also presented prizes to...
Hirwaun Con Club has been fined following a police operation responding to complaints about underage sales.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Trading Standard officers and South Wales Police organised a test purchase operation at the Brecon and Radnor Conservative Club in Hirwaun to check staff were following the law and license conditions.
The operation last October resulted in [...]...
Aberdare Caradog School were crowned the Champions at a gruelling schools challenge held recently at Rhondda Heritage Park.
The pupils were all finalists in The Construction Skills Challenge with each team set a challenge to build a bridge with a 50cm span using K’NEX.
Of the 10 schools who participated, Caradog Primary School, Aberdare were crowned the Construction......
Trecynon will get a good spring clean in the latest round of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s street care ‘blitzes’.
Cleansing teams will be in Trecynon on Thursday December 6th with a range of equipment - including chewing gum removal machines, road sweepers and graffiti removers.
The street blitzes were launched three years ago, as part of the campaign to make Rhondda Cynon Taf a cleaner and safer place to live, work and......
Aberdare Police show their Community Spirit and help make the Santa Parade events in Aberdare run smoothly this week.
Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers from Aberdare and surrounding villages were at the event to help ensure everything ran smoothly.
Although it was cold, it wasn’t wet and many, many people came to line the route, see the procession with reindeers and the Town Christmas Lights being switched on by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Mayor Jane Ward.
There was an old-fashioned Town Cryer with bells and a horn, and Scooby Doo too!
In the photograph : Aberaman South PCSO Samantha Llewellyn Jones joins in the fun...
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have confirmed their festive Santa parade for Aberdare town as part of the Council’s winter events programme.
Reindeer will replace camels this month as the camels cannot travel in to Rhondda Cynon Taf from Oxfordshire following the recent blue tongue outbreak, so reindeer will lead the festive parades through Aberdare town centre on Thursday, November 22.
So that’s a date for Aberdare for your diary : Thursday, November 22, 5-7pm Aberdare. A Reindeer parade through the town centre, accompanied by Scooby Doo; switch on of Xmas lights, plus Santa’s Grotto and children’s funfair rides.
In the photograph : Cheerful staff at Les Golden Kitchen,......
Aberdare MP Ann Clwyd (Labour, Cynon Valley) came to Aberdare Town today November 11th 2007 for Remembrance Sunday to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Aberdare, along with representatives from other groups in the Community and several hundred of her constituents.
Photo : Laying the wreath at Aberdare Cenotaph - Ann Clwyd MP and Rhondda Cynon Taff Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Anthony......
It is exactly a year since we wrote about the forgotten people of Hirwaun. In our report we tried to convey the basic facts which went unreported by Trinity Mirror, publishers of the Cynon Valley Leader.
The willingness of working people to respond to the challenge of overdevelopment in Hirwaun was a story we could not ignore.
Events have moved on swiftly since then : the English housing developer seeking to build several hundred homes in the last remaining green space in Hirwaun (the Gloucester site and nearabouts) had their planning application rejected by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council. They have since appealed against that decision, and this has led to the decision being reviewed by the Welsh Assembly.
There will therefore be a public inquiry at Hirwaun on Tuesday 23rd October 2007, held...
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As part of International Older Persons Day Roy Noble and Mountain Ash Author, Elaine Morgan officially opened a day packed with information and events at the Aman Centre in Aberdare.
The day was free for anyone over 50 to go along and see what there is on offer for them in and around the County Borough to help keep them mentally and physically fit.
There was lots to see and join in with from the Cofio Dance Troope to Indian Head massage, belly dancing and chair based exercises.
Councillor John David, Older Persons Champion and Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services said, “I hope that everyone who went along enjoyed themselves and took the opportunity to get involved in the activities on offer.
“It is extremely important to remain healthy and active throughout our lives and I...
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St Catherine’s Church in Pontypridd will echo this weekend to sounds inspired by the town’s historic railway line to Barry.”Tirwedd Soniarus”, a sonic installation created by artist Abby Sohn, can be experienced at the church in Gelliwastad Road on Saturday, September 22.
The work is the result of Sohn’s research into the industrial remains of the disused railway line from Trehafod to Barry Pier.
“I located the stations and signal boxes along the route using historical railway atlases and Ordinance Survey maps. The musical composition includes samples from interviews, railway signal bells and bell ringing. Chords and melodic phrases were formulated by relating these locations to the notes of the eight bells of St Catherine’s Church,” said...
Glynhafod School lies at the foot of a mountain.
It was closed last year. The Local Authority, Rhondda Cynon Taff Council, claimed there were too many spare places.
They gave the usual marketing mumbo-jumbo excuses about “rationalising”.
It was reported in the Cynon Valley Leader that the property was sold in an auction in London.
The buyer was one Ian Roberts, a local man who is manager of Cwmaman Institute.
There is a brief ‘walk-around’ video clip on Glynhafod School on Youtube.
The development at Glynhafod is reminiscent of what happened to the site of the old Aberdare Boys’ School : an old school site was sold off in a questionable manner by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council only to be developed for...
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The life of an inspirational writer who bought the countryside and scenes of Rhondda Cynon Taf to life has been celebrated at the annual Cordell Literary Festival.
RCT was one of six south Wales councils that worked together to organise the event, which is held every year to mark the achievements and contribution of Alexander Cordell.
It is 10 years since the famous author died, but his memories live on in his writings, tourism trails across the countryside featured in his novels and, of course, the festivals.
Song of the Earth, one of Sri Lankan-born Cordell’s novels, is partly set in Aberdare while This Sweet and Bitter Earth featured Tonypandy, Tylorstown and Pontypridd.
This year’s festival saw visitors bask in the sunshine while enjoying Tredegar Town Band, Kids r Us, Dawson...
In the photograph : Two Rhondda Cynon Taff Council workers offer some helpful advice today to a member of the public.
They were in the middle of a gardening job and perched on top of a raised flower bed in Green Street, opposite Aberdare Library.
Nowadays Rhondda Cynon Taff Council is perhaps the biggest employer in Aberdare.
aberdare, Aberdare Town, economy, Green Street, photos, Rhondda Cynon Taff...
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council respond to a Freedom of Information Request concerning the site of Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen at Glyndwr Avenue, Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd.
The original Freedom of Information request is available here and the Response is available here. To access these documents registration is required, then you may login freely.
Please note that Rhondda Cynon Taff Council have declined to provide details concerning any risk posed to residents of the nearby houses in Rhydyfelin, or indeed to any site workers. Asbestos causes many types of disease including several forms of cancer. They have also omitted to clarify if the Police have been involved.
In November 2006, James Hodgson working for Trinity Mirror Newspapers, wrote a story for the Pontypridd Observer, entitled...
Keen recyclers at Park Lane Special School, Aberdare, gave a warm welcome to Rhondda Cynon Taf’s recycling mascot, Rhys Cycle, and staff from the Council’s Streetcare Recycling Team.
Pupils and staff at the school recycle a wide range of items, including mobile phones, and the school has its own compost-maker.
Teacher Rowena Gulhan, who looks after recycling projects, said: “The visit was very successful. Recycling is a big thing here and the children really enjoyed their recent visit to Bryn Pica, the Council’s recycling facility.”
Rhys Cycle and the team regularly visit schools across Rhondda Cynon Taf to promote and encourage recycling.
· Everyone in Rhondda Cynon Taf can recycle from home through the kerbside recycling scheme. Recycling bags can be...
Meet Cathy Lisles of Hawthorn - who is promoting recycling as one of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s ‘Recycling Champions’.
The mum-of-two, a research assistant at the University of Glamorgan, has been a keen recycler for years and is supporting the Council’s Streetcare Recycling team to spread the message.
Cathy and husband Micky and children Bethan, eight, and Alfie, five, recycle paper, tin, glass, plastic and green waste at home in Laurel Avenue, Hawthorn, through the Council’s kerbside recycling scheme.
Cathy even used to send Tetra packs off for recycling before Rhondda Cynon Taf added them last year to the range of items that can be recycled.
She is currently collecting cans for recycling, to raise money for new metal equipment for the local playground and was...
Looking for something different to do this half-term holiday? Why not pay a visit to your local pool and take advantage of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Free Swimming scheme?
If you are aged 16 or under, you can swim for free during all public session at local authority pools over the school holidays. Swimming is a great way to keep fit and healthy, and it can be really good fun as well.
Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport, Alun Pugh is encouraging young people to make the most of the scheme this half term:
The Free Swimming scheme means that it’s never been easier for children and young people across Wales to enjoy swimming. There are no boundaries in swimming, anyone can take part, whatever their age or physical ability.
Swimming offers a significant number of...
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council has introduced a new scheme to help boost recycling. It is being trialled in Brynna, near Llantrisant, where around 600 homes have been given special caddies for vegetable peelings, meat and other food scraps.This waste will be collected weekly by Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Streetcare Recycling staff and put in a composting facility. If the trial scheme is successful, it will be expanded to other areas.
Children from Brynna Primary School are taking part in the scheme, which parents and children are promoting around the village, along with local councillor Roger Turner.
“I’m delighted that Brynna has been selected to take part in this new kitchen waste initiative. Residents are very excited about it and I’m sure the trial will be a...
