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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It's not often initiatives we launch as Ministers get to be the subject of the Radio Four Today programme's Thought for the Day, but thanks to the Rev Roy Jenkins our Valleys Homecoming Initiative in 2010 has done so.You can read Roy's words here, or listen here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
The Communities First Team in Clydach Vale has a new website with details of local activities. You can access it here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
There can be few better outdoor venues than the amphitheatre on Penrhys looking down into the Rhondda Fawr.It was the setting for the concert on Saturday to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Penrhys estate - and the 470th anniversary of the destruction of the shrine of Penrhys at the command of Henry VIII in 1538. You can find a clip of the concert on Rhondda TV .You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Just seen that Valleys Kids now has a Youtube site.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
A clever bit of photoshopping ages a generation of Rhondda Fach footballers by 30 years instantly on the S4C's lleaethpawb siteYou are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
The HLF has been funding a project on the history of the Rhondda. Some interesting old photos here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Belated congratulations to Margaret Jervis, Chief Executive of Valleys Kids, on her award of the People's Fellowship at Cardiff University, though I think the Echo got her age wrong!You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
In case there is any doubt, I agree with my colleague Huw Lewis that this is a daft idea, as I told the Chair of the Institute of Welsh Affairs on the Maes today. I see that the Western Mail managed to take one of my sentences from the foreword to the IWA publication and make it look like I welcomed the idea. Well, I welcome all discussion on the future of the Heads of the Valleys, but I don't think this is an idea that will go very far.Just a quick note on Huw's comments. The original budget for the Heads of the Valleys was £10 million per annum: last year under Huw and I between us the programme spent over £16 million and in the previous year under Andrew Davies the programme spent over £15 million. So we are well ahead of the original budget.But Huw must remember that the Heads of...
The Co-operative Party blog picks up on the launch of RCT Homes as a community mutual, the Co-operative Party's model for public housing.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
We launched RCT Homes yesterday, the community housing mutual - or housing cooperative - which tenants in Rhondda Cynon Taff voted to set up. Its £170 million investment programme will involve the installation of an estimated 5,000 new kitchens, 4,000 new bathrooms and 6,000 energy-efficient boilers. Other improvements will include extensive re-wiring, the installation of new central heating systems, improved security measures and work on roofs, chimneys and walls as well as a promised £1m a year on environmental enhancements.The Community Housing Mutual model was developed by the co-operative movement in Wales with the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.Earlier this year I launched a report that highlighted the unprecedented opportunities the introduction of the Welsh Housing...
The Rhondda Leader has a good summary of the excellent public meeting held to discuss the future of the Fernhill Colliery site last week at which Chris Bryant MP and I spoke.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
The BBC has some of the photos displayed in the AM's photographic exhibition in the Senedd, including this rose from my garden in Llwynypia.I also displayed a moodier picture I took on Pen Pych in the New Year.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
At last night's Rhondda Labour GC we paid tribute to Emrys 'Emmo' Thomas, who died recently after an illness which had lasted for some months. Emmo's funeral halted the traffic in Treorchy just over a week ago, following a moving service at his home, conducted by the Rev. Cyril Llewellyn, with Allan Rogers, former MP for the Rhondda, giving the tribute.Emmo was one of the first people I met in the Rhondda when I was seeking selection for the Assembly seat. He was a great supporter not only of me and Chris Bryant MP, but of every Labour candidate at all levels. The top pictue shows him working on my 2003 campaign. As a letter in the Rhondda Leader said, he was behind every Labour Councillor who ever won election in Treorchy. He never wanted to stand himself, even though the affection for...
Congratulations to former Labour Councillor Ron Bundock, still carrying the regimental banner at Royal British Legion events, who is 90.Ron has been active in a whole series of issues, including crime prevention.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
I was pleased to welcome members of the Maerdy Archive Group to the Assembly - not for the first time - a couple of weeks ago, for the launch of the Community Archives Wales online records project. You can find the Maerdy Archive Group material here.The project has been supported by Communities@One, the Assembly's digital inclusion project, which is funded from my Ministerial budgets in the Assembly and from Objective One monies, as well as by the Heritage department in the Assembly.CAW is a 15-month pilot project to enable eleven groups within Communities First areas throughout Wales to create their own digital archives and share them on the CAW website. The project employs 4 members of staff. It started in January 2007 and the current phase will end in September 2008. Digital community...
Tappers Garage, Treherbert, was demolished with money form the Welsh Assembly Government's Heads of the Valleys programme and it will become a community facility.Treherbert resident Sharon Morris has sent me these pictures o the murals designed by local children. I thought they deserved a wider airing.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
I have written before about the proposals for development at the Fernhill Colliery.Residents have now called a public meeting for the 24th July at the Top Club, Blaenrhondda.The developers' site is now up - you can find it here.Meanwhile one resident has a blog here and the Conservation Group's Facebook group is here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Until recently a number of my constituents were working at Tower - now some have moved to Aberpergwm.Tower's achievement is a shining example of the cooperative ethos of popular power and workers' control - and I was delighted to attend the reception held by the First Minister last night to commemorate the workers' achievement.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
A good turnout for the launch of the Rhondda Trust on Friday.After a suggestion from Cllr Cennard Davies of Treorchy, I am changing the Welsh version to Cronfa'r Rhondda.When Burberry closed its factory in Treorchy last year, the GMB led campaign successfully secured an investment of £150,000 a year for ten years to further the education and training opportunities of people in the Rhondda. The total will amount to £1.5 million. The Rhondda Trust has been founded to receive this money from Burberry and to make grants to individuals and organisations in the Rhondda.Local charities and community groups can apply for this funding, as can national organisations for work carried out in the Rhondda. Individuals who live in the two Rhondda Valleys can also apply for funds. In particular, the...
Today we are setting up the Rhondda Trust - or Cronfa Rhondda as I am calling it in Welsh. This is based on the money received from Burberry following the closure of the Burberry factory in Treorchy last year.A website for the Trust is under construction and application forms will be available from today.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
A local resident has now set up a blog for news on the proposed Fernhill development.The developers' site is still not ready.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
I went to see the exhibition Cofton's were running on their plans for the Fernhill Colliery site at the Blaenrhondda Social Club on Saturday. I am keen to hear from local people about their thoughts on the plans. I think 800 homes are too many.The developers are planning their own website here, though it is not functioning yet.Some local residents have set up a Facebook group here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
On Thursday I attended the launch of the brilliant DVD by young people at Tonypandy Community College on the subject of the Powerhouse in Llwynypia.I was pleased that First Minister Rhodri Morgan was able to attend the launch. Rhodri was stunned by the DVD and the professionalism of the filming. You can find more on this here.There is more on the plans for the Powerhouse's development here.The Powerhouse Trust's website is here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
From September, the Assembly Government is pioneering our early years initiative, the Foundation Phase. Last week Education Minister Jane Hutt announced an additional £5 million this financial year, on top of the £25 million grant already secured in 2008/09.The Foundation Phase for three to seven year olds is designed to give children in Wales the best possible start in life. It is based on learning through play, active involvement and practical activities which enhances their creativity, knowledge, skills and understanding which are invaluable for future learning.The scheme has been widely supported by teachers and head-teachers. One head-teacher has written to me to say:I constantly praise (the) Welsh Assembly Government and in particular our Welsh education system to English...
Terry regularly returns to Clydach Vale where his mother grew up to support the Cambrian Village Trust. There is some footage of his most recent visit here.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Local organisations wishing to apply fro support from the Rhondda Calendar should now get in touch.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
An anonymous comment has drawn my attention to this post about the Tory elecetd in the RCT ward of Llantwit Fardre - which is not, as I ahve said before, in the Rhondda.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
The Cory Band were crowned European Champions this weekend for the first time in 28 years, following a tough two day competition in Stavanger, where the band achieved an amazing 99 out of 100 in the set test piece competition on the Friday.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
Yesterday's Guardian leader claimed there is now a Tory councillor in the Rhondda.No, there isn't.There is a Tory on RCT, representing Llantwit Fardre.The Guardian's journalists should get out more.You are subscribed to an RSS Feed from Leighton Andrews. You can send your views direct to Leighton via...
