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Become a member today A woman has been taken to hospital following a crash on Graig y Fedw alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service at around 10.30am this morning The driver was taken to hospital for treatment although her injuries are not thought to be life threatening or changing Support quality, independent, local journalism…that mattersFrom just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.Become a member today Health bosses have gone back to the drawing board on plans for a new medical centre in Abertridwr after residents objected to the potential loss of their village green had already carried out scoping work for the site known as ‘the green’ – which is regularly used by children from Cwmaber Junior School and the nearby YMCA Around 50% of the green could have been lost if the development had gone ahead When the matter first arose, there was significant opposition to the board’s ‘preferred site’ Minutes of the Aber Valley Communities Partnership Board meeting held in July last year revealed residents felt ‘blackmailed’ over the proposals However the health board has now listened to the community and have scrapped the plans for the green – but a new medical centre is still planned with Abertridwr Park being looked at as a potential location Resident Jayne Jenkins was one of the people who questioned whether the green was the right place for the medical centre She welcomed the turnaround and said: “We need a new medical centre here but we didn’t think the village green was the right place.” A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “Following feedback received from the local community we have determined that the site at Brynhafod Road is no longer a viable option for the construction of a new medical centre “The health board is currently undertaking investigations and surveys on Abertridwr Park site to identify if the site is appropriate for development there has been no specific area identified within the site as this will be pending the outcome of the investigations and public engagement “There will be a public engagement event held on March 20 at the Nazareth Community Centre in Abertridwr in order for us to gather views “Once we are in a position to proceed with the project we will be looking to secure funding from Welsh Government.” The medical centre would replace two existing premises of Aber Medical Centre but would not include the Senghenydd branch surgery of Nantgarw Medical Centre meaning patients living in Senghenydd would still need to travel to the Castle Maen estate Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member Hefin David who had voiced residents’ concerns to the health board last year said: “Following a meeting with the community in Abertridwr and Senghenydd it is good to see that the health board have listened to objections about the initial proposed site “I will continue to work with the health board to ensure that the community is included and informed in developing further plans.” who represents the Aber Valley ward for Plaid Cymru they were quite happy to look at alternatives “I genuinely believe the medical centre in the park is the best place It’s got the transport links and it would uplift the area.” Abertridwr Library, which is under threat of closure, has been mooted as a possible location if the council decided to close its doors, but Caerphilly Observer understands that flooding concerns from Natural Resources Wales would rule out a new building there the site of the old park keepers’ cottage Cllr Bishop said efforts regarding the library building are now focussed on turning it into a community-run wellbeing hub which could complement any new medical centre Residents have questioned whether they are being blackmailed into accepting a proposed new medical centre which could see the partial loss of a village green Early scoping work for the development in Abertridwr has already secured Welsh Government funding with the large green space outside Cwmaber Junior School earmarked as the health board’s preferred site But residents don’t want to lose ‘the green’ which is regularly used by children from the school and the nearby YMCA Aber Valley councillor Charlotte Bishop said a new medical centre is needed but not at the cost of depriving children and the community of green space She said: “There was huge opposition at the last meeting of the Aber Valley Communities Partnership Board but it looks like the health board will continue to spend public money to develop plans for this site.” Minutes of the partnership board meeting held in July reveal residents’ feeling ‘blackmailed’ over the proposals – “Is it this site or nothing?” There is a belief that a covenant on the land might prevent development as it reserves its use for the children of the village evidence of such a covenant has yet to be found Around 50% of the green could be lost to the development such as the Workmen’s Hall and the Coleg y Cymoedd building have been suggested but it is understood the health board will continue with plans for the green According to documents submitted to the Welsh Government by the health board the final cost of the new medical centre could be as much as £11 million with £250,000 budgeted for ‘land acquisition’ Caerphilly’s Senedd Member Hefin David said he will be attending the next meeting of Aber Valley Communities Partnership Board and has called on the health board to fully explain the reasons for its site choice He said: “It is crucial for the health board to have full answers to residents’ questions as to why other sites are deemed unsuitable “I will be finding out as much as I can about the development ahead of this meeting and will do all I can to ensure the community can make an informed decision about this project’s future.” the health board can then apply for further Welsh Government funding before submitting a planning application to Caerphilly County Borough Council The new centre could be ready within two to three years’ time if the scheme progresses A full public consultation is likely to go ahead before any plans are finalised and submitted The next meeting of the Aber Valley Communities Partnership Board is due to take place on Wednesday September 11 A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “We are currently surveying the site to establish whether it is a suitable location for a new Health and Well-Being Centre to serve the local community “We would like to make it clear that no decision has been made and we are still in the very early stages of assessing feasibility “A representative from the health board will attend a community meeting next week to provide an update and to listen to the views of local residents.” Rising boxing star Mark Davies is hoping to get to the very top after recently extending his flawless professional record to seven wins The 26-year-old from Abertridwr told Caerphilly Observer how he’d always wanted to be a boxer having started out in a gym in Penyrheol 13 years ago He said: “I was an amateur for 11 years and have been pro for the past two I think I’m currently ranked 21st in Britain which is pretty surreal.” Davies’ most recent win came against Ukranian fighter Anatolii Burdiian in Denmark where the super middleweight won by unanimous decision Davies continued: “I got cut pretty badly during the fight so I have to wait a bit to go again but I’ve got my eyes on a fight in March with the Welsh title then on the cards.” He did add how he plans to drop down to middleweight in the near future Mark Davies Extends Unbeaten Streak to 7-0 with Gritty Victory in Denmark Caerphilly’s rising boxing talent Mark Davies continued his professional ascent with a hard-fought victory over Anatolli Burdiian in Denmark The bout showcased Davies’ technical skills and resilience as he overcame adversity to secure a unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards The fight started with Davies asserting his dominance using his long jab and excellent footwork to dictate the tempo keeping Burdiian at bay while landing sharp right hands and the occasional left hook to the body Despite Burdiian’s aggressive forward pressure Davies’ precision and movement made it difficult for his opponent to find success allowing Burdiian to have his best moments of the fight landing some shots inside and narrowing the gap But any hopes of a momentum shift were short-lived as Davies regrouped in the fifth once again boxing effectively behind his jab and using clever in-and-out movement to regain control Drama unfolded in the sixth and final round when both fighters threw right hands simultaneously Davies sustained a nasty cut from the collision With blood pouring and one eye compromised the referee called the ringside doctor to assess Davies’ condition Burdiian launched a relentless assault in the closing moments Davies’ defensive savvy and sheer determination saw him weather the storm and make it to the final bell The judges awarded Davies a clear and well-deserved unanimous decision a testament to his earlier dominance and ability to adapt under pressure Davies has solidified his position as a prospect to watch he expressed ambitions of challenging for the Welsh title in the new year with the possibility of moving down a weight class also under consideration achieved in Burdiian’s backyard and under challenging circumstances underscores Davies’ potential as a future champion With his technical prowess and fighting spirit 2024 could be a breakthrough year for the talented Caerphilly fighter One man who knows Davies as well as anyone is Jon Scriven Speaking to Caerphilly Observer about his development he said: “I’ve known Mark since he was about 12 – I was still boxing myself at that point and did corner work for Mark at the Pen Aber The Plaid Cymru councillor added how Davies made the switch to Caerphilly Boxing Club with him and has been the most dedicated boxer at the gym since “I wouldn’t say he was the most natural talent but he’s always been the most dedicated and hard working but the running and extra work he does to keep fit outside it too “I’ve seen so many talented fighters fall away because they didn’t work hard enough Fitness is everything at this level and Mark wins our hardest trainer award every year.” You never really know how things are going to go “It’s still early days for him but if he stays focused in what can be a lonely sport at times Davies recently returned to Caerphilly Boxing Club after winning his fight something Jon said is “huge” for the club: “I didn’t even know a pro boxer growing-up so for him to walk in here and give back to the club is huge for us “The kids look at him like he’s Superman you can tell they’re punching harder when he walks in Just by being there he’s an inspiration and probably doesn’t even know it Caerphilly-born former Wales rugby international Roger Bidgood was also full of praise for Davies He said: “He’s a brilliant lad who’s so down to earth I always come in here and see him working out or in the sauna “Seeing a youngster like that is something special I wish him all the luck in the future.” The death of an Abertridwr man who went missing in Turkey Ben Crook’s body was found on stony ground at the bottom of a drop in Kaleici on his 32nd birthday The inquest opening in Newport heard how Mr Crook had flown to Antalya had been drinking alcohol when he left his home in Graig y Fedw and had continued in the airport and on the plane During the flight there was an argument between Mr Crook and his partner during which he smashed both their mobile phones When the plane landed in Turkey in the early hours he was escorted off the plane and he never made it to the hotel Means of contact had been lost because he had no phone Mr Crook’s body was found at 6.20pm local time on September 24 His father was notified on October 4 and flew out to identify his son which was carried out once Mr Crook’s body was repatriated While the exact cause of death has yet to be ascertained Coroner Ms Farmer said Mr Crook had fallen from a height and had died from his injuries The inquest was adjourned until April 17 next year In the days following Mr Crook’s disappearance his family desperately posted appeals on Facebook asking for information to help find him Once his death was announced by the UK Foreign Office a GoFundMe page was set-up with donations coming in and raising almost £14,000 to help with the cost of bringing Mr Crook’s body home His funeral is due to take place on Friday November 15 at Thornhill Crematorium with a wake at Senghenydd Rugby Club following the service Billy and Brenda Jones from Abertridwr have recently celebrated their platinum wedding anniversary surrounded by friends and family before later getting married in the now closed Eglwysilan Church has five grandchildren and six great grandchildren with Brenda Granddaughter Sarah Kaminski spoke to Caerphilly Observer and said: “They had a wonderful day neither of them are very mobile now but we all went up there with cake and they enjoyed themselves “Seventy years is an amazing achievement I read that the chances are around one in a million.” An appeal to find an Abertridwr man who went missing in Turkey has ended in tragedy after his body was found According to a family appeal posted on social media Ben Crook was reportedly escorted off a plane in the country on Monday September 23 He was then seen at 4am on Tuesday at the airport and then again at 12.30pm that day in Kaleici – on his 32nd birthday A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Turkey and we are in contact with the local authorities.” An Abertridwr man has been reported as missing in Turkey – on his 32nd birthday He was then seen at 4am on Tuesday at the airport and then again at 12.30pm that day in Kaleici Mr Crook was wearing a black Versace t-shirt black shorts and white Nike trainers with a blue tick He is said to have no phone and little money A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities.” The family are urging holidaymakers to keep an eye out for Mr Crook and to call 07580004875 Plans to strengthen ties between two Abertridwr schools are reaching the final stages Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet members are expected to approve a new federation deal for Cwmaber Infants and Cwmaber Junior Schools later this month The arrangements are expected to be in place for the start of the next school term Federation is a type of partnership in which each school would remain separate but share a single governing body The two schools have been “collaborating” informally since September 2020 and share the same headteacher It is hoped the move will “improve performance and narrow the attainment gap for deprived pupils” The governing bodies of each school put forward the federation plan and a public consultation on the proposal was held in the autumn Only a small number of people took part – including governors and Welsh school inspection agency Estyn – and just one of those responses was against the proposal Supporters of the federation deal said the collaboration to date had been “successful and benefits all stakeholders of the two schools” They said it “makes sense to bring everyone together when making decisions” by moving to a more formal federation in which the schools would “work together to improve and enhance the learning environment for all pupils” Estyn said it believed a federation arrangement would “at least maintain the standard of education provision and outcomes for pupils in the area” Caerphilly Council also reported a meeting of the schools’ joint pupil committee concluded they were “in support of the proposal” told the council “both schools should have their own board of governors” The proposal to push ahead with the federation of the two schools has won the support of the council’s education committee and cabinet members are expected to make a final decision on the matter at a meeting on Wednesday December 11 A new community hub will open in Abertridwr later this year for Bryn Aber residents Caerphilly-based United Welsh has won planning permission to convert one of the flats there into a new hub for local services “We’re delighted to be opening a community-led hub at Bryn Aber,” said Sarah James a customer involvement manager at United Welsh “Our team will be available three days a week to help with housing queries volunteering and employment opportunities and to offer rent and money advice “It’s important that the events at the hub benefit the community and are things that residents want to participate in We are encouraging people to get involved and suggest ideas for activities and share any changes they’d like at Bryn Aber.” Work on the new hub is under way and the facility is expected to open in the summer Planning documents submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council show activities will “predominantly” be held during daytime hours on weekdays although groups may also be able to meet there in the evening Activities such as coffee mornings and peer support groups will be aimed at increasing residents’ wellbeing and there are plans for reuse and recycling initiatives for school uniforms and a “library of things” United Welsh plans to provide guidance on housing and employment – and for children possibilities include an after-school homework club Ms James said the organisation had already hosted some pop-up activities at Bryn Aber – such as cake decorating first aid courses and cooking classes – which she said “have been a success” said those pop-up events “have given me confidence to try new activities and talk to the other residents which has helped me with my anxiety” She added: “My children also enjoy the activities and it’s encouraged them to play with the other children on the estate I’ve seen their confidence grow loads “It also helps with the communication between residents and United Welsh and gives us an opportunity to talk about any housing issues or questions we have I love going and I’ve even started volunteering Aber Valley ward councillor John Roberts has also praised the plans for the new hub which he said would have a positive impact on the area “I welcome what they are doing – it should be congratulated,” he said “We should be bringing communities together Hopefully it will take off and the residents will buy into it Bree Cronin’s Olympic dream was left in tatters The injury affected the muscle power and mobility in her leg – forcing her to reconsider her goals But now the discus and shotput thrower is aiming to qualify for the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in India – and eventually the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles Last year, 21-year-old Bree was ranked number two in the F44 classification for discus throwing at 1kg She was also ranked 23rd in the under-23 level for discus in 2024 F44 is lower limb competing without prosthesis affected by limb deficiency impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement Bree said: “I am nearly at the stage of competing where I used to be before my accident I’ve represented Cardiff Armchair Athletics Club since I started in 2018 “I’m on a British Athletics program as a non-funded athlete where there are stages to get there – the higher you go the more chance you have to get selected for the team “It would help to get to the world championships in India by the end of this year My goal is to qualify for the world championships – it would be cool to compete on that stage and I am optimistic that I will be selected to be on the team.” who currently holds a personal best of 41.79 metres for discus at 1kg has started training with the Wales Paralympic team This has helped her make new friends and gain more confidence having faced both physical and mental difficulties due to her disability she is actively working on overcoming these with the support Bree has pursued a career in the care sector Bree began working at Abermill care home in Abertridwr – a career path inspired by her mother Aber Valley councillors have called for action after two serious motorbike crashes in Abertridwr The three councillors representing the area are demanding Caerphilly County Borough Council introduce traffic calming measures along the main road through the village On Thursday May 30, a 29-year-old motorcyclist, who has been named locally as Arran Lester, was killed after his motorbike collided with Volkswagen Tiguan on High Street On Saturday June 1, two men were taken to hospital after another collision It involved a black KTM 390 Duke motorbike and a white Ford Kuga and John Roberts said they had been pushing Caerphilly County Borough Council to take action before these incidents They said calming measures are needed to prevent another death on the road through Abertridwr who is also deputy leader of the council’s Plaid Cymru group said numerous residents had contacted the councillors expressing serious safety concerns “These accidents have been absolutely devastating for families of the riders,” said Cllr Bishop “I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the family that lost a loved one in the accident on Thursday “As local councillors we’ve been disappointed that there has not been action up to now from the highways department to introduce traffic calming such as road humps “The council needs to take action as a matter of urgency to reduce the chances of another fatal accident.” Cllr Bishop also highlighted the problems that are caused when the “one main thoroughfare out of the Aber Valley” is closed due to accidents In an email to the council and Gwent Police her colleague Cllr Taylor said: “Over the years we have asked for traffic calming to be considered on this road but this has not been forthcoming “Aber Valley Community Council has also raised concerns over the years regarding road safety on this road “Urgent consideration now needs to be given to find ways to improve road safety on the main road through Abertridwr a risk assessment could be carried out for this road Would extra patrolling by police officers help?” A spokesperson for Caerphilly Council said: “We need to await further details from Gwent Police to determine the causes of the recent collisions officers intend to arrange a meeting with the local councillors and representatives from Gwent Police to discuss concerns raised by the community.” Community groups could be called on to take over the running of some libraries in Caerphilly County Borough The council is carrying out a review of its library services and believes it can save money by narrowing its focus to six sites A dozen other locations could potentially close down under the plans, which are currently out for consultation.  Members of the public have until December 3 to have their say on the proposals said the council wanted to provide a “sustainable and resilient library service for the future” She said the service had faced cost increases in recent years and the council had previously had to make staffing and hours reductions to keep all of its sites open Speaking at a joint scrutiny committee meeting, on Wednesday November 6, Cllr Andrews said the recently refurbished Rhymney Library had more than doubled its annual footfall since becoming a community “hub” for public services The site will serve as a blueprint for proposed “hub” facilities at the five other sites the council is intending to focus on in future No decision will be made on the future of the council’s other libraries – in Aberbargoed and Pengam – until the consultation period has ended and will be based on the outcomes of that public survey If any of those sites are recommended for closure then a Community Asset Transfer could be a path towards their survival the local authority would “pass responsibility onto a community organisation” for the ownership and running of a library But this process is complicated and can take time and would also depend on the council already owning a site – as well as any interested community members finding the money to run the service Visit the council’s website to learn more about the council’s proposals for its library service The website also lists a series of informal drop-in sessions on the plans to be held at various libraries throughout November Rising boxing star Mark Davies will be looking to extend his flawless professional record to eight wins later this month The 26-year-old from Abertridwr recently beat Ukrainian fighter Anatolii Burdiian in Denmark and will now head to Gloucester on Saturday March 29 looking to continue his fine form he continues to give back to the sport that helped shape him – dedicating four nights a week to train youngsters at Caerphilly Boxing Club where he himself used to fight as an amateur Balancing his own preparation with training the youngsters takes dedication however His day usually begins with a morning run at 5am before heading to work he heads straight to the gym for his own intense training session – with no rest in between He then takes a shower before helping coach Jon Scriven with the amateur class he takes part in a strength and conditioning class before heading home at around 7pm Davies eats his dinner and grabs an early night ready to do it all over again the next day Davies said: “I love doing what I do “Giving back to the youngsters and knowing that I inspire them I’m so in love with the sport – it feels like when I first started out years ago “I’m excited to get to the gym every day and a huge part of that is down to my coach and kept me grounded and level-headed.” who in another life is a Caerphilly County Borough councillor has played a big part in Davies’ development over the years “Mark has been an absolute pleasure to train – he’s a coach’s dream,” Coach Scriven said “I’m so proud of the way he’s turned out He’s not only an inspiration inside the ring but also outside of it “The way he works with and inspires the younger boxers at the club is something special He even gives up his weekends to come and support them in their own fights “I wish him all the very best for his fight on March 29.” Tickets to see Davies’ fight are available and can be bought by contacting Davies directly through social media or by visiting Caerphilly Boxing Club – which is open after 4.30pm from Mondays to Thursdays Two men were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a motorbike crash in Abertridwr – the second to affect the village in a matter of days Police received a report of a collision on Thomas Street were taken to hospital with serious injuries Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash or anyone with footage of the area 9.15am to 10am to get in contact either by calling 101 or via social media DM quoting log 2400179486 The crash on Saturday followed another motorbike crash which happened on Thursday May 30 A 29-year-old man from Llanbradach died after his motorbike collided with Volkswagen Tiguan on High Street who has been named locally as Arran Lester was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service which attended alongside Gwent Police officers A 29-year-old man from Llanbradach has died following a crash in Abertridwr which happened on High Street at around 8.45pm on Thursday May 30 involved a Volkswagen Tiguan and a motorbike The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service and will be supported by specialist officers can contact Gwent Police on 101 or through direct message on social media Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 Plans for two Abertridwr schools to enter a federation agreement could save money and help with staffing Cwmaber Infants School could strengthen ties with Cwmaber Junior School under the plans – the two have been cooperating under an “informal agreement since 2020” A federation is a formal arrangement which allows schools to share a single governing body and other resources Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet members agreed on Wednesday June 5 to open a public consultation seeking the views of the schools’ communities the council’s sustainable communities for learning service manager told the cabinet meeting there were already “a number of schools working collaboratively” in the county borough and the Cwmaber governors were on board with the federation proposal A deal could allow staff to “work across both sites” and any new employees would be expected to do so Cabinet member Philippa Leonard asked if the schools could pull out of the federation in future if it proved “unsuccessful” Ms West explained the schools would have to go through the same consultation process but this time for “defederation” Council deputy leader Jamie Pritchard noted the schools’ “informal” ties over the past four years and said a federation deal “would seem the logical way forward” Ms West said the proposals could help both schools “build on the success of the collaboration” to date Two schools in Abertridwr could enter into a federation agreement Caerphilly Council is expected to launch a consultation on Cwmaber Infants School and Cwmaber Junior School strengthening ties federating the two schools enables them to “work together through a formal structured process by sharing a governing body that will make decisions in the best interest of all the schools staff and pupils in that federation” It could provide “a foundation for sustainable long-term development and improvement” Each school can maintain its own delegated budget uniform and “ethos” but would be allowed to share resources including facilities Any new staff could be appointed on the basis of working across both schools The council has acknowledged several “challenges” to federation arrangements including “building trust” between school communities and the “need to ensure [the] full commitment from all schools involved” Each school should feel “equally valued” in any new arrangement and there is also the risk that experienced governors could be lost under a merger Any federation is still a long way from completion and will need to go through a lengthy process before coming to fruition The first step will be to receive the endorsement of Caerphilly Council’s education committee which will meet on May 20 to debate the proposals have walked a landmark 300 miles since forming more than a year ago The Abertridwr-based walking group was set up by Shaun Cook in January 2023 and has since held more than 60 walks across south Wales The walks have proved popular with men in the community pulling in as many as 40 on the weekly treks started the group following a difficult lockdown experience Shaun came to a low point after losing a family member spending too much time lying in bed scrolling through social media and heading for the fridge constantly I then started walking and within days my mental health improved drastically.” It was after losing a good friend at work however that made Shaun start the group for other men in similar positions Shaun continued: “I needed to set something up to help the men in the local area and end the stigma of men not being able to speak about their mental health “I turned to my wife and said what a fantastic thing this sounded like and then messaged a few family and friendship groups and they all encouraged me to start a similar group up in the Caerphilly area.” Shaun went on to say that he didn’t expect much of a turnout but now the walks – which are held every Sunday – regularly attract as many as 40 men “The group has grown more than I ever imagined and I feel proud every single day of what we’ve started from Pontypool to Barry and from Cwmbran down to Cardiff and all of Caerphilly Skirrid Fawr and every blade of grass around the Aber Valley.” I was hit with the sudden death of my sister and I needed something to take my mind off what was now normal life for me with her son coming into my care “Joining Men Talk Walk has been the best thing for me as well as all the many members we’ve had has been massive I feel proud to say that I’ve been heavily involved with it “I’m also proud to call Shaun one of my closest mates who has supported me through some really tough times I will always be appreciative of what he’s done.” The men’s wellbeing group now starts several walks a month with a free coffee morning beforehand in Abertridwr Park to provide a welcoming space for newcomers and even a midweek evening walk with the longer Summer evenings said: “My partner saw on Facebook the Men Talk Walk group and suggested I should go along “I have always struggled with numerous issues involving mental health so I thought it was a good idea to try it out Since joining the group I have met some amazing people who have been very welcoming It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made.” The group walk every Sunday at 9.30am with more details available online Councillors have approved plans for a major housing development in Abertridwr A proposal by United Welsh for 152 new homes was approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee at a meeting on Wednesday August 16 The development will take place on the site of the former Windsor Colliery and will consist of both market housing and social homes A new access road will be built alongside the school as well as 52 two-bedroom and 71 three-bedroom properties Planning documents show neighbours sent 29 letters of objection to the council outlining their opposition to the development including fears around traffic and pressure on local services Council planners noted “local residents have raised significant concerns” about the impact of the development on neighbouring properties ranging from a loss of privacy to “possible instability from disturbance of the old coal tip” Planners said a report “acknowledges an increase in traffic flows at the junctions closest to the application site” but said junctions further afield “would equate to [a traffic increase of]less than 4%”.  Privacy concerns were dismissed because the distance between the proposed new homes and existing properties in nearby Ty’n y Parc were “considered sufficient” to avoid any “overlooking overshadowing or overbearing impacts” Council documents also showed the proposed site was “heavily infested with both Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam” and was “currently being treated with herbicide as part of the [council’s] programme to address invasive non-native plant species” planners pointed to a need for more housing in Caerphilly They noted a target of 575 new homes set in the authority’s local development plan had been missed “and is forecast to continue to be below this requirement for most years up to 2026/27” The Windsor Colliery site is currently council-owned and has been set aside for housing The land is currently “covered by rough vegetation including grass and gorse bushes” and committee member Cllr Shane Williams asked for a guarantee some green space would be protected Planning officer Carwyn Powell said his department was “satisfied” the developer would provide some green space and told Aber Valley councillor John Taylor an existing cycle path and footpath around the proposed development would also remain the planning application detailed a proposal for 153 homes on the site but Mr Powell clarified to the committee the correct number of properties was 152 Caerphilly County Borough Council’s use of a hotel as emergency accommodation has angered villagers who say they were kept in the dark about who was using it started being used by the council in December 2023 residents say they have seen a spike in antisocial and suspected criminal behaviour with vehicles being targeted This includes the arrest of a 20-year-old man on Tuesday February 6 on suspicion of vehicle interference and shoplifting Under the Housing Wales Act councils have a legal responsibility to help any homeless person find a home and to help people threatened with homelessness This can include offenders and ex-offenders released from custody – including those convicted of violent crime Many residents have taken to social media to voice their concerns over safety and express anger at the council for not notifying them about the use of the Royal Hotel Councillor Charlotte Bishop represents the Aber Valley on Caerphilly Council for Plaid Cymru and has questioned the council on why residents weren’t consulted She said: “I’ve been made aware of serious antisocial behaviour linked to the emergency housing provision at the old Royal Hotel “In recent days this has included incidents of car thefts and money stolen .This is obviously causing great concern to people in Abertridwr because of the impact it is having on the village We cannot allow a situation where this sort of anti-social behaviour continues “A major issue is that no one in the community knew about this hostel opening and that includes all the local councillors We have always supported the emergency housing teams but along with ward councillors John Roberts and John Taylor we’re concerned about whether or not risk assessments of individuals were carried out before putting places were allocated in this accommodation “I appreciate the need for this type of accommodation for vulnerable people but there must be much improved security if the current use of the Royal Hotel is to continue Residents of  Abertridwr must have the confidence that immediate action is being taken to address the issues that have been raised.” the council has promised to consult with communities when they use establishments for emergency housing and improvements to security have since been made Similar use of the Windsor Hotel and The Leigh in the Aber Valley were both consulted on by their owners (who are not the same as the Royal Hotel) as they needed to go to planning a change of use for the Royal Hotel was not needed – as it already had established planning permission for use as hotel accommodation A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesperson said: “The number of people affected by homelessness remains high so we need to expand our current temporary accommodation options The council is reliant on the owners of hotels and bed and breakfast units coming forward and being willing to allow us to access their accommodation facilities “We do not have any contractual agreement in place for any of the hotels/bed and breakfast units as demand for these can fluctuate and change.” security is now onsite 24/7 and support staff are there Monday to Friday The spokesperson added: “In addition to this the local authority temporary accommodation coordinators visit twice weekly as part of their standard visits to all temporary accommodation units and the hotel itself also has its own staff in attendance There is also CCTV and cameras in the communal areas of the hotel.” Cllr Bishop has asked for a public meeting for residents of nearby streets to attend and regular meetings are to be established so councillors can be kept updated If Caerphilly Council decided not to use the Royal Hotel for emergency accommodation it would likely be used by another local authority for the same use a Newport company called Highmore Investments bought the Royal in November 2022 for £140,000 Companies House records state that its director and owner also owns a string of other companies whose names suggest they also provide emergency accommodation These include ‘Halfway Hotel’ in Cwmbran and Isca Property Group April 7 marks the tenth anniversary of the disappearance of Abertridwr man Trevor Elias The well-known resident was reported as missing on Saturday April 7 and was last seen outside the Leigh Club in Senghenydd between 11.15pm and 12.15am on Thursday he had visited The Buffs Club on Abertridwr Square Gwent Police released CCTV footage of Mr Elias walking down Commercial Street in Senghenydd towards Abertridwr at 12.23am Trevor was aged 77 at the time of his disappearance and was known locally for his love of horse racing and unique sense of humour Since first being alerted to reports that Mr Elias was missing police have conducted several searches to find him aiding foot searches in the immediate weeks of him being missing while Brecon Mountain Rescue lent their help in searching the surrounding mountains Gwent Police posted leaflets detailing events through local residents’ doors scoured CCTV footage and conducted door-to-door enquiries The local community have also contributed with their own searches A candlelit vigil held a week after Mr Elias went missing was attended by over 300 residents Villagers also distributed their own posters and raised money in honour of Mr Elias have turned up no further information as to his whereabouts members of the Candles for Trevor Elias page organised a remembrance walk That same year police officers were seen searching the verges and stream along the cycle path between Senghenydd and Penyrheol which used to be a railway track Mr Elias is described as being approximately 1.8m (6ft) tall Gwent Police’s investigation into Mr Elias’ disappearance remains active A police spokesperson said: “We would urge anyone with any information to contact us so we can follow up any new lines of enquiry.” Police have said enquiries into a man’s death are ongoing after they were called to a property in High Street Gwent Police said it received a report that a man had been found unresponsive at an address in High Street at around 3.30pm on Sunday January 21 who confirmed that a 44-year-old man had died The force said the death is currently being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing Detective Inspector Stephen Davies said: “Officers will be making further enquiries It is possible that you may see ongoing police activity in the area as part of this work “If you have concerns or questions then please do stop and talk with us.” A memorial commemorating the former Windsor Colliery in Abertridwr has finally been unveiled – replacing the deteriorating memorial which once stood in its place redesigned memorial was meant to happen in March 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic organised by the Aber Valley Heritage Group September 20 – with around 200 people in attendance closed in 1972 when it was merged with Nantgarw Colliery There were a number of disasters during Windsor’s existence claiming the lives of 155 men and boys in total Former Windsor Colliery worker Noel Griffiths who helped with the research for the memorial unveiled it alongside broadcaster Roy Noble who is a former teacher in Senghenydd and is the patron of the Aber Valley Heritage Group Nant y Parc and Cwmaber schools sang at the ceremony Among those attending the service was 89-year-old Mary Morris The memorial is really outstanding – I want to thank everyone who gave money to build this It’s lovely to see his name on there and the family is so pleased “It’s lovely to see so many people here and especially the children singing – it’s moving.” Plaid Cymru councillor Lindsay Whittle, who is the chair of the Aber Valley Heritage Group, spoke at the event. He later told Caerphilly Observer: “It was a pleasant day The valley came together after what has been a depressing ten days following the death of the Queen.” He also spoke about his personal connection to the colliery and said: “My uncle Billy was one of the 155 who didn’t come home.” also spoke of his personal connection to the colliery and said: “My family came here because of the colliery My great-grandfather was one of the sinkers.” said the memorial is “a fitting tribute to the men who lost their lives” She added: “Having them recognised makes a big difference to the valley.” He praised the “excellent” turnout and said: “Clearly a number of people have made a tremendous effort to make this memorial what it is – a real tribute to the men who worked in the colliery and gave their lives.” Sunday December 17 will see the final service at Eglwysilan Church in Abertridwr A Christmas Carol service will be held at the medieval church at 11am The decision to close the building to services was taken by the Ministry Area Council (MAC) earlier this year The Reverend Emma Rees-Kenny explained: “Approximately two years ago the MAC agreed to give the church two years to see if it could ‘bounce back’ from the ravages of the pandemic “The closure of the pub and the loss of the car park has meant that we can no longer safely hold large gatherings such as weddings and funerals and the regular Sunday congregation remains small in number with the responsibilities of maintaining the building falling on fewer and fewer people the MAC requested that investigations be made into what options were available to them and last week unanimously concluded that the only option available to us was to close the building and seek redundancy.” She added: “Please can I stress that this decision has not been made by the diocese or the archdeacon but by our MAC who have prayed long and hard about what was a very difficult decision The decision was unanimous and our thanks go to them for their bravery and courage.” For years the former Panteg Hotel on Abertridwr Square was a derelict it has reopened as a post office and convenience store – bringing a “new zest” to the Aber Valley The store opened its doors to customers for the first time on Friday January 28 following the move from the Londis store on Thomas Street after what postmaster Shabaz Akram described as a “back-breaking” four years Mr Akram said he wanted to “give something back to the community” and employed local tradesmen to work on the refurbishment of the village’s historic building – which dates back to 1890 when the Panteg Cottage was extended to become the Panteg Hotel Mr Akram said there was still “a long way to go” but said the building will now “be here for years after we’re gone” The downstairs area houses a post office and Nisa Local store while the upstairs of the building has been turned into flats Caerphilly County Borough Council approved plans to demolish the building and replace it with flats Plans to convert the old pub into a shop and flats were first submitted to the council in 2013 Mr Akram submitted an application to turn the building into what it is today believes its opening will “lift the spirits” of residents in the valley He said: “People won’t have to travel so far to get the products because we got it all here It cuts out the necessity to go to Caerphilly.” Mr Yandle praised the postmaster’s efforts and said: “The courage to take a project on of this magnitude “It just speaks volumes of the man and the character with all the hours he’s put into it and the blood “I don’t think you’ll see the likes of this refurb again by a one man band it will change the village completely and will bring a new zest of life back to the village.” said: “I’m so happy it’s turned out as it has It’s been four years of hard work.” said the new store “will be good for the community” and bring people into Abertridwr from further afield The post office will be open between 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and between 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays Some post office products and services will be available from the Nisa counter between 9am and 10pm Monday to Sunday said: “These new premises look amazing The longer opening hours will make it easier for customers to get their cash send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents “We are confident that this vibrant new-style post office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.” Welcome to housingtoday.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy Trusted media brand of the Chartered Institute of Housing Not-for-profit housebuilder United Welsh will offer a “signifcant proportion” of the development as affordable housing Plans to build 152 new homes on the site of the former Windsor Colliery in Abertridwr The proposals by housing association United Welsh were approved by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee at a meeting this week It was joined with the Nantgarw Colliery in 1974 Development proposals include 29 one-bedroom flats as well as 52 two-bedroom and 71 three-bedroom houses and apartments A new access road to the site just south of Ysgol Ifor Bach is included in the proposals Councillors recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions stating that it “would make an important contribution to the provision of housing” and noting that “a significant proportion of the dwellings would be provided as affordable units.” executive drector of United Welsh said: “This will be a multi-tenure development that includes affordable homes for rent and purchasing opportunities for first-time buyers and people wanting to own a home again.” “All the homes will also be off-gas and built to high levels of energy efficiency as part of our commitments to reduce our carbon footprint and provide homes that are more cost effective for residents to live in “We are excited to help meet the demand for more quality homes within the borough and we look forward to starting work on site.” Council planners note that “local residents have raised significant concerns,” with 26 letters of objection to the plans received >>See also: Gove ‘shames’ major social landlords for letting down tenants Among these were fears of possible instability from the disturbance of the old coal tip loss of privacy to residents in the nearby Ty’n Y Parc estate transport and road facilities wouldn’t cope with more residents the proposals looked at mining legacy issues.  Council documents state that The Coal Authority “is satisfied that an adequate assessment of the coal mining risks associated with this development has been carried out” and that “the proposal is considered to be acceptable from a mining risk perspective.” The Invasive Plant Species Officer noted the location plan includes a section of the Nant Llan watercourse an area “heavily infested with both Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam.”It will be treated with herbicide later this year No objections were raised by the councillors consulted and the plans were approved subject to the usual conditions.  United Welsh has a turnover of £40m and plans to build 1,300 more homes over the next five years It manages 6,300 homes for people across 11 local authority areas.  Caerphilly County Borough Council has been approached for comment Abertridwr development street scene - United Welsh Aug 2023 tenant engagement and the pros and cons of mergers attendees at TAI 2025 in Wales this week heard vigorous debates on many topics Newport City Homes and Melin complete amalgamation £437m capital investment “falls well short” of amount identified by Audit Wales to deliver 20,000 social homes by 2026 Deal goes through two years after Berkley named preferred bidder on £2bn scheme  DESNZ will boost green skills under its Warm Homes Plan through financial awards  Developer also wins grant funding from London mayor  Site powered by Webvision Cloud Aber Valley residents will release the second volume of poetry made for and by the local community.   Tatws Siôn Cent: Volume 2 will be launched at two events in Senghenydd on Sunday May 19.  The first includes poetry reading and will take place at the Old Noddfa Chapel site on Stanley Street at 3pm The festivities will then move on to the Ex Servicemen’s Club on Gwern Avenue from 3.30pm to 5.30pm Free copies of both volumes will be available The poetry booklets are named after Siôn Cent a 14th-century Welsh poet who lived in Abertridwr Legend has it that Siôn Cent tricked the devil into helping him harvest potatoes The first edition of the book was launched in 2023 at an event in the Aber Hotel School inspectors have praised Ysgol Ifor Bach in Abertridwr as a “successful learning community that celebrates Welshness courtesy and respect and pupils’ achievements” The school was inspected by education watchdog Estyn in December last year praises the school’s acting head as providing “clear and wise guidance” It states: “All staff are committed to ensuring a high quality of care and wellbeing for pupils across the school in a homely and supportive learning environment “This has a strong influence on pupils’ attitudes towards each other and towards others both inside and outside the school “Teaching staff and assistants model language purposefully and enthusiastically which has an effect on pupils’ oracy skills from a young age Staff work together successfully to plan a range of stimulating and relevant learning and play experiences for pupils Pupils’ pride in their local area and the history of the coal mines is clear.” The report does note that many pupils’ literacy numeracy and social skills are below what is expected for their age when they start at the school but that good development progress is made by the end of Year 6 The report recommends the school helps pupils to develop their independent writing skills Aber Valley councillor John Roberts said: “I’m so pleased for them This comes at a time when there’s a new management team “Headteacher Sarah Edmunds is on secondment to the authority and has been for a while now She’s more than set the foundations and acting headteacher Dian Morris and team have done a grand job of moving things on Acting headteacher Ms Morris said: “I couldn’t be more proud of our amazing pupils “To be recognised by Estyn as an inclusive school that celebrates Welshness that has wellbeing at its heart is amazing “Our school motto ‘Ymdrech a Lwydda’ (Effort breeds Success) is definitely celebrated in the report.” A deteriorated memorial commemorating the former Windsor Colliery in Abertridwr is being replaced with a new A ceremony to unveil the new memorial was meant to happen in March 2020 The ceremony will now be held at the memorial said: “We are so pleased that the previous deteriorated Windsor Colliery Memorial has been re-designed and replaced “This would not have been possible without the generosity and financial support from the miners and their families who worked or had connections with the Windsor Colliery along with Caerphilly County Borough Council the Coal Industry Social and Welfare Organisation and other Community Groups of the Aber Valley to all of whom we are incredibly thankful.” but attendees are asked to arrive no later than 1.15pm Car parking is available at Senghenydd Rugby Club with a park and ride minibus transporting people with walking difficulties Refreshments will be available at the rugby club after the event there will be a showing of the 1967 film The Masters Singers the Aber Hotel in Abertridwr has offered three of its rooms for use as a foodbank run by Aber Valley Football Club The foodbank has provided hundreds of parcels to dozens of families with demand currently higher than ever due to the cost of living crisis according to club committee member Andrew Hart Andrew told Caerphilly Observer how he is struggling to cope with all the requests: “Last week we set a record for parcels requested at 30 I haven’t even opened up next week’s book yet and I’ve already had 14 orders “The type of people we’re talking about here aren’t who you expect They’re working class families with jobs and mortgages the cost of living crisis is also threatening the pub – and therefore the food bank – which could be forced to permanently close its doors This comes after SSE Energy Supply hiked what was on average a £650 monthly electricity bill to more than £4,100 said she “didn’t know whether to laugh or cry” when opening her energy bill If this is the future…we’re finished “We’ve already begun difficult conversations about the possibility of shutting we sat in the pub and turned all the lights off After contacting SSE and confirming the figure Lucy explored the option of moving from a variable rate to a fixed rate “They wanted a £7,000 deposit up front,” Lucy said We feel like we are being held to ransom.” SSE said: “Wholesale gas and power prices have reached unprecedented highs due to a combination of global factors over the last twelve months we have had no choice but to pass some of these increases through to our customers.” Speaking about what the pub’s closure would mean for the food bank I’d probably try and run it from my own house but it would be impossible “The great thing about the Aber Hotel is that they let us have the rooms for free If we had to add in the cost of rent it just wouldn’t work.  It would kill me if we had to stop.” questioned the steep increase in the bill and said: “It’s ridiculous The pub doesn’t even open until 5:30pm on weekdays Just last year, Aber Valley FC were awarded the Community Club of the Year award by the Football Association of Wales thanks to the work they’ve been able to carry out at the Aber Hotel This included a boot room and a ‘Gift a child’ scheme where the community could donate presents before Christmas to help struggling families “We’re out here trying to do our bit then we’re getting stung with stuff like this It makes you think,” Dean concluded.  A murder investigation is underway after the death of a 27-year-old man in Abertridwr over the weekend The man was found unresponsive inside a property on Cefn Ilan Road at around 9.45am on Sunday April 2 Police attended alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service Gwent Police said his next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers A 28-year-old man from the Caerphilly area has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody said: “Officers will be making further enquiries at this time and will remain at the scene as the investigation progresses “It is possible that you may see ongoing police activity in Caerphilly as part of this work as we have two scenes guards established – one in Abertridwr and another in Caerphilly town centre – so please do not be alarmed “If you have concerns or information then please do stop and talk with us.” Gwent Police has urged anyone who was in White Street who saw an altercation between two men between 8pm and 10pm on Saturday April 1 Anyone with information can contact Gwent Police on 101 Gwent Police can also be contacted through direct message on Facebook and Twitter A 29-year-old who battles long-term mental illness has landed his first ever job at a cafe in Abertridwr Sean Snaiham now works at the not-for-profit Oasis Coffee Shop on Thomas Street after being supported by the Abertridwr-based Ty Bryn Bach service for four years The service supports people with a range of mental health issues and learning difficulties said: “It’s lovely working at the café “I am enjoying getting more responsibility every day and I enjoy working with the other volunteers.” The cafe is run by members of the Abertridwr Community Church and local volunteers said: “Sean has been very loyal and consistent since he started working with us “He is always very happy and polite towards all of the staff and never fails to put a smile on our faces with his sarcastic humour “He is very driven while working and makes sure all the jobs he completes are done to the best of his ability He always gives things a go and is always eager to help where he can “He is always a pleasure to work with; he can stay for as long as he likes.” Ty Bryn Bach service manager Tina Fishburn said she and her staff were “so proud” of Sean’s progress She said: “Sean has always been a generous kind and outgoing character – he just needed encouragement and support to reach his full potential.  The Ty Bryn Bach service is part of Cwmbran-based Expanding Horizons which provides personalised support to adults with complex needs across south-east Wales has worked closely with Sean for the last 18 months He said: “Getting this job really was a huge step and a dream come true for Sean “On one of our trips into town I noticed a sign in the café asking for volunteers and the management teams of both the café and Expanding Horizons “Before we knew it Sean was warmly welcomed into the team and started his training which included food safety training.” He added: “Sean started at the Oasis Coffee Shop with two days a week for three hours He has progressed so much that he has been invited to work an extra day Sean is now up to nine hours a week and is participating in taking orders washing and drying the dishes and taking money with assistance Sean and the other volunteers sit down for a breakfast and chat Two men who attacked a woman as part of a gang rape at a house in Abertridwr have been jailed known locally as ‘Micky’ and Kuchar Rahim had denied the attack claiming the sexual activity between them and the victim was consensual Two other men were said to have also taken part in the “degrading and humiliating” attack although no charges were brought against them Newport Crown Court heard how the victim went to Salimpirik’s house in High Street at around 11pm on Saturday expecting to have a sexual relationship with him Salimpirik had four other men at his house Salimpirik said the other men were going soon and offered the victim a drink The victim accepted a Jack Daniels and coke which the prosecution argued was laced with a drug which incapacitated her She was semi-conscious throughout the attack but was “paralysed” and couldn’t move The court heard how she was left with bruises and abrasions following the attack She repeatedly told her attackers she did not want sex She told the court: “I felt I had to get out I did not have consensual sex – they treated me like a dog.” The victim left the house at around 2am and police were called the other men at the house included two from the Bolton area The five men had earlier spent part of the day in Cardiff together with Salimpirik’s young son and daughter then travelled to Abertridwr to look at some dogs that Salimpirik had bred Salimpirik said that while he had arranged to meet the woman at his address he assumed the other men would have left by the time she had got there the victim had consensual sex with Salimpirik while Salimpirik’s young children were upstairs But a jury convicted Salimpirik and Rahim  and they were sentenced to 17 years and 15 years respectively and must register as sex offenders for life The court heard how Rahim has very poor English and has lived in the UK for the last 15 years after being granted political asylum from Iran Judge Jeremy Jones said Salimpirik’s longer sentence reflected his role as the orchestrator of the “degrading and humiliating” gang rape The pair will serve half their sentence in prison and the remainder on licence Two other men arrested in connection with the attack were released without charge said: “This was a challenging case and the investigating team have worked tirelessly to bring these defendants to justice if it were not for the courage of this young lady then these dangerous offenders would not have been convicted “Not only has she had to endure a harrowing experience but she has had to re-live this through a difficult court case It is thanks to her that justice has been served and it is only through her strength that this positive result has been possible “Gwent Police endeavours to support all victims of crime – we hope this case demonstrates that ongoing commitment.” Bones found in a search for missing man Trevor Elias are animal remains was prompted by claims from an online medium of information regarding Mr Elias’ whereabouts Australia-based Rochelle Lindsay Beattie showed a drawing she had made of an area of Senghenydd In the video she claims to have psychic knowledge of two young men attacking Trevor and running off The video sparked intense local interest once again in the case with people heading out to search the area Gwent Police said it received a report of bones being found at around 6.25pm on Friday July 28 In a statement, DI Matt Clarke told Caerphilly Observer the bones were examined at the scene and were ruled out as human remains No further examinations are planned at this stage It has been more than a decade since the disappearance of Abertridwr man Trevor Elias A candlelit vigil held a week after Mr Elias went missing was attended by over 300 residents Gwent Police said its investigation into Mr Elias’ disappearance remained active Abertridwr resident Shaun Cook discovered a love for walking – and is now using it to help men improve their mental health decided to set up a walking group where men can open up about their mental health as well get outside and enjoy the benefits of exercise The Men Talk Walk group meets every Sunday with around ten to 15 men taking part each week – some coming from as far as Machen The walks mainly take place in and around Abertridwr with a few walks around Caerphilly Castle too – each lasting between an hour and three hours Shaun said there are plans to go further afield with walks in places like Abergavenny and along the Wales Coast Path in the pipeline Explaining the motivation behind starting the group Shaun said: “During Covid my nan passed away We were in lockdown and I didn’t really know what to do an old friend of Shaun’s took his own life This left Shaun feeling the need to do something to help others going through tough times Shaun saw a post about a Sunday walking group and it sparked an idea in his head “It was a Wednesday night and I was posting something on Facebook about starting the group,” Shaun explained “I must have deleted it several times but in the end I just posted it “The Sunday after I had ten men turn up for the first walk It’s being growing ever since.” Shaun added: “The men who have been attending are a real friendly bunch of guys.” Anyone interested in joining the group can contact Shaun on mentalkwalk@gmail.com for more information A woman who fell in the road and was thought to have been struck by a car waited more than an hour for a “rapid response” from the Welsh Ambulance Service The woman fell while crossing the road on Aberfawr Road Police and the ambulance service were called after receiving reports the woman had been hit by a car A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called to the Aberfawr Road area of Abertridwr on Sunday December 20 at 1.45pm to reports of a person lying in the road having potentially been struck by a vehicle “We sent a rapid response car to the scene One person was assessed and treated on-site and discharged from our care.” The service confirmed they arrived at 2.49pm Gwent Police told Caerphilly Observer the woman had fallen and that no car was involved in the incident A Gwent Police spokesperson said: “We received a report of a woman who had fallen on Aberfawr Road in Abertridwr on Sunday “Ambulance service were in attendance The Welsh Ambulance Service is currently in ‘REAP Level 4’ – which means it is under “extreme pressure” As a result, Armed Forces personnel have been brought in to drive ambulances over the Christmas period Moving from primary school to comprehensive school can be a daunting time for many children and even their parents But it can be even more daunting for those who have been unable to get a place in their chosen school Eleven-year-old Hollie-Mai Williams was hoping to have started comprehensive school this week but is instead being home schooled while stuck on a waiting list which is within the catchment area for St Cenydd Comprehensive School has tried to appeal the decision not to give Hollie-Mae a place at her chosen school Speaking to Caerphilly Observer Hannah admitted she was late sending the application for a place at St Cenydd but this was due to the fact her mother was ill in hospital at the time “She’s seeing all her friends excited about starting comprehensive school but she’s feeling withdrawn,” Hannah said “Our appeal for a place at St Cenydd was unsuccessful We were offered a place in St Martin’s but Hollie-Mai begged me not to send her anywhere else “She’s been feeling anxious and wasn’t eating or sleeping She’s settling down a bit now though.” the new Year 7 cohort visited St Cenydd for an induction day but Hollie-Mai was unable to attend because her place at the school had not been confirmed This meant that while her friends were visiting their new surroundings and preparing for life in comprehensive school Hollie-Mai was missing out and feeling uncertain over whether she would even be going to the same school as her friends “We’re just on the waiting list at the moment We’re fourth on the list but can’t see much change.” Hollie-Mai is one of 11 children on the school’s waiting list The situation has also caused issues for Hannah who was due to start a college course this month but has since had to pull out due to home schooling commitments School placements are managed by Caerphilly County Borough Council the criteria the council follows is set nationally A spokesperson for the council said: “The council’s Admissions Policy must be applied consistently Places are allocated up to the school’s admission number with those in catchment being offered a place first for all on-time applications “We are unable to discuss individual cases however we can outline that we aim to offer parents a place at a preferred school as standard practice All children are offered a school place.” The spokesperson continued: “There is a right to appeal to the Independent Appeals Panel and the outcome of the appeal hearing is binding upon the school and the local authority “Popular and strongly performing schools are very attractive and often receive applications from pupils from outside of catchment which generate a waiting list the council utilises a published oversubscription criteria to manage these waiting lists.” An up-and-coming country singer from Abertridwr has clinched yet another award stateside – and could win more later this month has won the EP of the Year category at the Josie Music Awards in Nashville which are one of the largest independent music award shows in the world saw more than 50,000 nominations across a number of categories with the winners chosen by a panel of industry experts The event was held on October 23 at the Grand Ole Opry – an iconic country music stage in the heart of Nashville’s Music Valley district She attended the ceremony with her mother, Helen Nedahl, who spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the experience Helen said: “We were really surprised to win “Caitlin Mae has been nominated in previous years but with Covid affecting international travel this was our first year attending We were ecstatic when they read out that she had won – it was a bonus to our trip.” Caitlin Mae also performed at The Listening Room Cafe in Pigeon Forge – something which was on her bucket list which is just a few miles away from Dolly Parton’s home town impressed – and she has been invited back to perform there again Caitlin Mae and her mother will be heading back across the Atlantic this month to attend the Who’s Hoo Awards in Columbus Caitlin Mae will be performing at the awards and is also nominated in four categories – Female Vocalist; Songwriter of the Year; Video of the Year; and Song of the Year It follows on from recent success for Caitlin Mae in the USA, having won at the International Singer Songwriter Association Awards she won the gold award for the Female Vocalist of the Year category as well as winning the International Music Video of the Year award for her song Take my Demons Caitlin Mae’s music journey began at a young age In 2019, Caitlin Mae performed on stage with her idol American singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood Helen said: “It’s gone crazy lately Caitlin Mae performed in London last weekend after flying back She had a good reception and absolutely loved it We’re tired after all the travelling but it’s been well worth it.” Visit caitlinmae.com to keep up to date with Caitlin Mae’s journey A kebab shop in Abertridwr has won the ‘Best Kebab House in Wales’ category at the British Kebab Awards – for the third time won the award at a ceremony in London on Tuesday February 28 said: “We would like to say a big thank you to our community here in Abertridwr and Caerphilly and finally to our hard-working staff.“We will try to keep up the good work and quality.” Also nominated as a finalist was Abertridwr kebab shop Sam’s Grill – which is on the same street as Wales Kebab Sam’s Grill won the coveted award in 2020 said: “Kebab eateries are a key part of the local community and it’s great to see so many entries at the end of a year that has tested every business operating in the hospitality sector “Winning the Kebab Awards is a huge achievement given the competition across the country and all outlets should be rightly proud.” A community has rallied together to help a man whose home was severely damaged by fire Robert Wells was taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation when a blaze ravaged through his mid-terrace house on October 25 Firefighters were at the scene for more than 16 hours before it was declared safe – but the fire caused severe damage to both floors and the roof of the property were also damaged and in response a Facebook page was set up to help Mr Wells and his neighbours Well-wishers are donating much-needed items to Mr Wells and have set up a Just Giving page to raise money Aber Valley councillor Lyndon Binding explained: “It’s a great response that’s being led by a number of key individuals to help this chap “The whole community is coming together and offering things like furniture and clothes and even toiletries as we are looking at what will be needed in the longer term.” The Facebook page ‘Help for Robert Wells (and affected neighbours)’ shows people have donated televisions and even offered whole bathroom suites and free scaffold Organiser Debby Daniels said: “I don’t even know Robert I just thought it would be nice to get something going for him as I know the two villages [Abertridwr and Senghenydd] are brilliant and now it’s just overwhelming I can’t believe it myself and Caerphilly Asda and Carpet Castle have offered to help “I’m getting choked up to be honest with the donations of furniture and electrical goods and the Just Giving page has already raised more than £500.” The response is also being coordinated by Annmarie Boucher Aber Hotel has opened a room for storage of items which can betaken to the premises after 5pm on weekdays and after 12pm on the weekend To donate money to help those affected visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/tony-diblasi This is what community is mr Cameron/Blair not the forced and fragile 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