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Become a member today Contentious plans to extend a quarry in Gelligaer have won approval despite objections from more than 100 nearby residents Caerphilly County Borough Council’s planning committee heard impassioned arguments for and against the new proposals for Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm applicant Bryn Aggregates Ltd plans to extend the quarry northwards and eastwards by 131 metres in an operation estimated to last another 19 years Case officer Anthony Pyne said the council had received objections from more than 100 residents and the St Cattwg ward’s three county councillors – as well as 31 representations in support of the application said the applicant had “listened carefully” to concerns raised when the council refused a previous bid to develop the quarry in 2021 He said the current proposals would “deliver a positive lasting legacy” for the environment and the local community The site will be “returned to plants and peat land” following the quarry operations, and the development – if approved – will include footpaths and a sports pitch as a “major benefit” to the area The committee also heard from three speakers who opposed the quarry extension St Cattwg ward councillor Ann Gair said the site was “encroaching ever closer to people’s homes” and residents “face the prospect of continuing to suffer the effects of this quarry for another 19 years” “What was once a lovely village has now turned into the expansion of an industrial site” adding residents were “left wondering when this nightmare will end” She also branded the addition of the footpaths and sports pitch to the expansion plan a “cynical ploy” Fellow ward councillor Haydn Pritchard raised concerns about the impact of an expanded quarry operation on air quality He told the committee the new application was “essentially the same as you refused in 2021” said an extension would be “detrimental” to villagers who have “serious concerns” about more lorries using the roads Planning applications should “put people before profit” Mr Pyne said council planners had “carefully considered” the application and judged “the principle of the development is acceptable” He said the quarry produced aggregate used in road construction and there is a “significant need for such minerals” Mr Pyne also noted the distance between the quarry operations and the nearest properties would be more than 300 metres which is more than national guidance stipulates the council’s team leader development manager said his department found the “impact of the development can be managed to an acceptable level… in planning terms” Cllr Shane Williams accepted the application had to be considered on planning merits only but said “the idea these residents face another 19 years of this [quarrying] must fill them with pure dread” A vote by committee members ended in a tie with chairman Cllr Roy Saralis using his deciding vote to approve planning permission said: “We are grateful to the Caerphilly planning committee members for recognising the work we have done to address their concerns with our earlier application to extend the quarry “The quarry will continue to meet a much-needed demand for the scarce and strategically important sandstone aggregate found at Gelliargwellt Uchaf while also delivering environmental improvements 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 Gelligaer Young Farmers Club are preparing for their first tractor run this weekend in memory of a “passionate farmer and friend” Lorraine Howells farmed land in Rhymney and worked as part of the council’s countryside team before sadly passing away earlier this October described Lorraine as a “wonderful woman” He and the other 45 members have decided to arrange a tractor run with all proceeds going to a charity “very close” to Lorraine’s heart Speaking to Caerphilly Observer Huw said: “Lorraine was a big supporter of the club so we’ve decided to bring back the tractor run which should see about 30 tractors trek across the borough “It’ll be a Halloween-themed run with a competition for the best dressed tractor taking place before making our way from Nelson through a couple of areas such as Ystrad Mynach and Hengoed before finishing back in Nelson “All of the money donated will be given to the Helping Hands charity in Rhymney has grown rapidly in recent years having almost folded during Covid due to a lack of members Huw continued: “We’re in a really good place at the moment We run a membership model for ten to 28-year-olds which allows you to enter 120 competitions a year in areas such as judging animals “Our mantra is that you don’t need to be a farmer to join the group its just about learning and getting involved where you can.” The tractor run is due to start at around 6pm on Sunday October 27 from Nelson Co-op before making the hour journey around the borough to Colliers Farm back in Nelson Volunteers from HungryHerds have been feeding wild and abandoned horses and ponies on Gelligaer Common since 2017 The not for profit group feed around 130 ponies at least three times a week and are now asking for support to buy more feed so they’re prepared for the difficult winter months Volunteer Shannon Livingstone said the group is funded completely by donations with hopes they can reach their £1,200 goal She added: “These ponies are not managed and their environment is bleak Some mares have two foals feeding from them Most have worm burden and breeding is indiscriminate causing foals to be born in December and later “Our aim is to make life a little easier by giving them one decent meal – this does not stop them foraging or doing what wild ponies do The ponies are feral and it is dangerous so we would not condone anyone taking feed up themselves to give.” Shannon added that the group also litter picks from spring to winter to help keep the common as clean as possible You can donate to HungryHerds online Three horses and their foals have been taken in by the RSPCA The animals were rescued from Gelligaer and Merthyr Common on Thursday November 14 due to concerns for their welfare A chestnut mare with a newborn foal was taken in due to concerns for the foal’s welfare while a grey mare and her grey foal were removed from the common due to an untreated jaw wound another grey mare with dental problems was also rescued from the common along with her steel grey foal RSPCA Inspector Christine McNeil said: “These three mares and their foals were taken into possession by Caerphilly County Borough Council under the Animal Welfare Act and are currently in RSPCA care where they are receiving the appropriate veterinary treatment.  sadly a foal has been euthanised on welfare grounds due to hind leg deformity – which was possibly an old injury – this decision was made by a vet on site.” The RSPCA is now trying to track down the owners of these mares Ms McNeil added: “We don’t know who they currently belong to so we’re issuing an appeal to help with enquiries.” Anyone with information can contact the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018 1390655 – chestnut mare with newborn foal; 1391115 – grey mare and grey foal;  1391030 – grey mare and steel grey foal This month, the RSPCA has launched its Join The Christmas Rescue campaign ahead of what it expects to be another bleak winter for thousands of animals.  A new football pitch could be built as part of plans to extend a quarry near Gelligaer Bryn Aggregates Ltd is applying for planning permission to increase the size of the existing quarry at Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm submitted by planning agent Joe Ayoubkhani of Highlight Planning the quarry would be extended 131 metres to the north and east with an embankment around the site to provide screening The proposed works could take 19 years to complete Bryn Aggregates also plans to construct a “kickabout” football pitch for training purposes for a local club as well as a circular footpath for public access around part of the site offering “extensive panoramic views across the surrounding countryside” The application is currently out for consultation and can be viewed on the Caerphilly County Borough Council website under reference 24/0525/FULL A pony has been rescued from Gelligaer and Merthyr Common over concerns for its welfare The chestnut mare was removed from the common on Wednesday January 8 following efforts from the RSPCA and Caerphilly County Borough Council as well as the Redwings and World Horse Welfare charities RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil said: “This pony was taken into possession by Caerphilly County Borough Council under the Animal Welfare Act and was taken into charitable care where she is now receiving the appropriate veterinary treatment.” She added: “We don’t know who this mare belongs to so we’re issuing an appeal to help with enquiries “Anyone with any first-hand information can contact the RSPCA Inspectorate Appeal Line on 0300 123 8018 and quote 1391242.” Update: Gwent Police has confirmed Callum Taylor has since been found and arrested Police have launched an appeal to find a criminal who they claim has breached the conditions of his release was handed a 20-month prison sentence in September last year for assault causing actual bodily harm was later released on licence – but Gwent Police say he has breached those licence conditions The force does not disclose what the licence conditions were Anyone with information on Taylor’s whereabouts can contact Gwent Police on 101 Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 a group of local historians came together for the first ever meeting of the Gelligaer Historical Society The society was created to delve into the rich history of the former Parish of Gelligaer which stretched from Ystrad Mynach to Rhymney and included places like Gelligaer Fochriw and Pontlottyn within its boundaries The area’s eastern boundary followed the Rhymney river in modern-day Merthyr Tydfil County Borough It is an area that remained mostly rural and sparsely populated until the late 19th century when mineworkers arrived there from across Wales This history has kept generations of historians busy for the last six decades with the society having published 27 journals since it was first founded – with a 28th expected to be published later this year Group member David Mills told Caerphilly Observer: “We cover all periods of history in the area “We’re looking to do something on the Queen’s Coronation next “Everyone in the society has their own interests but we work together on projects We can even do family research for people who write in and send us photos.” The society has also worked on projects with schools in the former parish area The society holds regular meetings at the 17th-century Llancaiach Fawr manor meetings were held remotely but are now held in a hybrid format The society’s first ever meeting was held on January 10 but the society itself was actually formed at the council offices in Hengoed a couple of months earlier – on November 22 Many of the group’s founding members had worked together to research the history of the area for a book which was published in the late 1950s to mark the 50th anniversary of Gelligaer Urban District Council The society was created so the research could be continued To mark the 60th anniversary of the society’s formation present-day members published a 316-page hardcover book detailing the Parish of Gelligaer during the 19th century Despite the closure of libraries and archives during the Covid pandemic most of the research for the book had already been carried out combined with the wealth of information available on the internet meant research was able to continue throughout Covid while members continued to meet up using Zoom “A lot of our research used to be done in libraries and at archives but now much of it is online,” said Mr Mills “We’ve always been able to access material but the digital age has made things much easier for us if it wasn’t for libraries and archives this info wouldn’t be available online in the first place.” which it commemorated by releasing a 336-page hardcover about the history of Bargoed and Gilfach The journals produced by the society are sent to the Glamorgan Archives and National Library of Wales Mr Mills said the society is looking to set up a digital archive making it easier for people to access their work and research Caerphilly MP Wayne David said: “As a historian by training I recognise the wonderful local history work which the society has done for a long time “The society does a remarkable job at making people aware and proud of their history Gelligaer has a rich history dating back to the Romans forts and to present day with the area making a big contribution to the coal industry “The society has been well established and I very much hope it continues to do a fantastic job The publications they have published and meetings held have proved of immeasurable value and gives the community a firm sense of rootedness.” Gelligaer Common has long been a fly-tipping hotspot – but thanks to the efforts of 17-year-old Daniel Lewis more than 40 tonnes of waste has been removed from the common over the past 18 months decided to take action and began cleaning up litter from the common which straddles the boundary between Caerphilly County Borough and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough With the help of a number of local businesses and donations from the community Daniel has organised numerous litter picking activities on the common – removing waste weighing the equivalent of ten hippopotamuses in the process His work has seen solar-powered CCTV systems set up on the common and he has also designed anti-fly-tipping signs Speaking to Caerphilly Observer Daniel said: “It all started in January last year when I was walking on the common and noticed the amount of fly-tipping “I’ve always liked volunteering, so I started a litter pick and documented it on social media Businesses took notice and helped out.” but he has organised a number of community litter picks – some of which have attracted up to 40 people Daniel paid for his equipment himself and used his own money to hire skips to clear the litter local businesses now help out with the cost of the skip hires Daniel’s efforts have earned him recognition in recent months he was named the winner of the Young Person category at the Welsh Government’s St David Awards an honour he was presented with by First Minister Mark Drakeford He has also received praise from Gelligaer Community Council which gave Daniel an award and a £50 cash gift in recognition of his voluntary work Gelligaer Community Council’s Chair Martyn James, who is also a county borough councillor for Ystrad Mynach presented Daniel with the award and said: “Daniel may be a teenager but he is an inspiration to us all “We are incredibly grateful for his dedication in cleaning up the environment for the benefit of all in the community.” Cllr James continued: “He deserves all the recognition he gets because of his work which has been instrumental in keeping the common clean for the wildlife and for us all to enjoy “At the ceremony some lovely messages were played back to him thanking him for his work including one from environmental campaigner and Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams It was all a huge surprise to Daniel.” On top of this, Daniel was presented with a ‘One Big Thank You‘ certificate from BBC Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan recognises people who have gone the extra mile to help in their community Daniel said: “I went up on the common for a litter pick one morning I then went to Gelligaer Community Centre to receive my award “I was lost for words – I only went out for a litter pick “It’s not something that happens every day which will air on BBC One at 7pm on Thursday You can donate to help Dan’s fly-tipping mission by visiting his GoFundMe page A new takeaway has won planning permission to open in Gelligaer Council planners have agreed to a change of use of the former Ashleys Barber Shop premises on Heol Edward Lewis Applicant Raheem Din told Caerphilly Council he planned to open a “vibrant and much-needed” takeaway that would “serve breakfast and lunch” The premises will be renovated to create a “modern and inviting” business as well as a customer serving and waiting area Mr Din said the former barber shop was “unused and has been for many years” – council officers noted the premises had also previously been used by an estate agent The proposed redevelopment of the building will largely be internal Several neighbours lodged objections to the application One told the council that Heol Edward Lewis “does not need litter noise and traffic blocking the road” council planners have imposed a condition on the future takeaway’s opening hours – the business can only open 8am to 10pm Mondays to Saturdays Deliveries will also be limited to the hours of 9am to 7pm Other neighbour objections included fears the new takeaway would be “in direct competition” with an existing fish and chip shop in Gelligaer and that other takeaways in the area “would have to lay off staff” but these were both dismissed by the council’s officers as not being “material planning considerations” Gelligaer Community Council told planners it had no objection to the takeaway proposal but requested litter bins to be provided nearby to stop litter problems in the neighbourhood A man who illegally took a red kite chick from its nest has avoided jail took the bird from its nest in Gelligaer and kept it Later analysis of his mobile phone found he had searched the internet for how to train a red kite to hunt Video footage from Price’s mobile from May 9 showed him up a tree at a red kite’s nest where there were three live chicks and a parent red kite nearby showed Price disturbing the nest again – attempting to give food to two chicks in the nest A further video shows Price giving the chicks food and picking the young birds up There were three chicks seen in the nest.  Price sent a video including footage of what appears to be a man-made nest in a cupboard while a further video shows the chick being fed by Price in the man-made nest Footage from the following day showed the chick being stroked and in the background a radio is being played very loudly During a police search at the Gelligaer property no red kite chicks were found and what happened to the chick is unknown was charged with six offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 He was also charged with a further offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 after he killed a badger in Builth Wells in 2018 and bragged about it on social media with a “trophy” picture attended a property in Gelligaer with a search warrant in June 2019 A fox cub was found in a frightened state before being seized by police The fox had been kept in Price’s bedroom where food Hunting DVDs were found including one called ‘Badger Diggers Dogs’ Price had previously been convicted at Newport Magistrates Court and was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on February 4 He was given a six-month prison sentence – suspended for 12 months He was also banned from keeping dogs for two years and handed a 20-day rehabilitation order Price was also ordered to pay £125 costs and a £25 fine for a breach of a suspended sentence order along with a victim surcharge of £128 The court removed both of Price’s dogs Chief inspector Ian Briggs said: “Wildlife crime is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the RSPCA We’d like to remind people that wild animals such as birds and badgers are protected by law and we’re here to ensure that they are safe in their natural habitats.” Two quad bikes have been seized by police after reports of illegal off-roading on Gelligaer Common Gwent Police received reports of the quads “tearing up the mountainside” and heading towards Bargoed The force sent out its neighbourhood and rural crime officers who intercepted the bikes near Heol Coedcae The two riders were issued with traffic offence reports said: “Our team is committed to tackling illegal off-roading which causes significant environmental damage and can be a nuisance to animals and landowners while also putting motorists and pedestrians at risk “These seizures demonstrate the importance of reporting By giving descriptions of both the vehicles and riders and the direction in which they were heading we’ve been able to act quickly.” Sgt Brooks continued: “As part of the team’s Respect Rhymney patrols we’ve also recently put up ten new signs with the aim of gathering more information on those damaging local land through illegal off-roading.” which direct people to a form on the Gwent Police website allowing the public to pass on details of riders and their vehicles Sgt Brookes added: “We’ve recently seen some mindless acts of vandalism in Rhymney involving off-road vehicles with land ripped up and bus stops covered in mud “I’d encourage everyone who witnesses this reckless and selfish behaviour to report it to us and be reassured that our team will do all we can to identify those responsible seize their vehicles and hold them to account.” The upstairs area of a Gelligaer pub could be turned into new flats if planning permission is approved Alwyn Evans has applied to transform the first floor of the Harp Inn into three apartments Documents lodged with Caerphilly County Borough Council claim the space was “historically used as habitable accommodation” and would therefore not require “change of use” planning permission The application can be viewed on the Caerphilly County Borough Council website under reference 23/0072/COU YYFM has been entertaining hospital patients and bringing people together it is hoping a recent donation can help it reach out to even more listeners was created by Steven Davies in February 2021 as a free and accessible hospital radio station for patients in Ystrad Mynach Now, thanks to a donation from Gelligaer Community Council, accessing the award-winning station just got easier have been donated to hospitals to help patients access YYFM Steven, who works for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, previously told Caerphilly Observer: “One of the beautiful things about it is that you can access it at any time.” and stories – and it can be listened to anywhere in the world Patients at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr can access the radio station anytime of day and listen using the hospital’s free Wi-Fi.  praised the radio station and said: “It’s a fantastic resource for the patients You can tune in from anywhere with the code and they can save it to their phones and use it at any time.” When Steven first reached out to the community council for support it was suggested that QR codes should be displayed throughout the hospital and on each ward The QR codes were printed as large stickers to be more visible and accessible for patients Cllr Parry said: “We wanted to make sure they were visible for everyone It will help provide entertainment when patients feel lonely “Steven is a remarkable person and so passionate about it – you can feel his passion. It’s inspiring “He’s always looking to include more people and their stories We are very pleased with him and the station.” Steven thanked Gelligaer Community Council for its support and said: “We have definitely noticed a rise in people listening “We want people to listen in and get involved from anywhere in the world We want to get YYFM’s name out to a wider audience.”  and has worked with the University of South Wales (USW) communities and local schools – with both Hengoed and Ystrad Mynach primary schools having set up their own radio stations.  Cllr Parry said: “We plan to involve more schools Steven continued: “We want to get involved with more local schools for kids who have an interest in journalism Lots of people who have been involved with YYFM have gone on to do great things.”  Journalism students from USW have created content for YYFM Mr Johnson previously told Caerphilly Observer that projects like YYFM are “massively important” in 2024 “It’s about bringing people together and rather than living in silence,” Mr Johnson said “We live in communities which communicate with each other.” The donation of QR codes to promote YYFM has been so successful that Steven plans to get more codes printed and spread more widely The Grange University hospital is among those interested in displaying the codes for their patients as well as Ebbw Vale’s Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan Doubt has been cast over whether a GP surgery can continue after two of its doctors decided to hand back their General Medical Services contract Dr Angharad Bevan and Dr Sara Wilson will resign their Gelligaer Surgery practice on April 30 2023 and patients will receive care until then Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has told Caerphilly Senedd Member Hefin David it will advertise the practice locally and nationally for doctors to take over until November 28 Hefin David said: “The health board have told me that they are committed to the ongoing provision of services from the surgery in Gelligaer and gave assurances that nobody will be left without a GP.” GPs are independent contractors to the NHS to provide primary care GPs are self-employed and have responsibility for running the surgery and providing care under the General Medical Services contract there are widespread issues regarding the recruitment and retention of doctors willing to do this In Caerphilly town for example, Lansbury Park Surgery and its branch at Troed y Bryn Surgery in Penyrheol were forced to close in April 2020 The doctor running the surgeries decided to retire and the health board failed to recruit anyone to take over the contract Almost 4,000 patients were transferred to other practices in the area If the health board again fails to attract new doctors patients could be transferred or the health board itself could run the surgery directly Gelligaer Surgery made a successful application to the health to close its Gilfach branch surgery and consolidate care at its main site At the time this was blamed on staff shortages Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has been asked by Caerphilly Observer whether it would be taking over the surgery if new doctors can’t be found The current Gelligaer Surgery building was opened in 2012 at a cost of £1.25 m A controversial plan to increase storage at a rural recycling site has been approved by Caerphilly Council’s planning committee More than 100 objections had been lodged against the proposals for Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm over fears the project would lead to more waste ending up at the site The Materials Recycling Facility on the farm “processes and recycles waste” for reuse in materials such as woodchip and soil said the proposal would “improve the operations of the existing facility” and “contribute positively to sustainable waste management by enhancing processing of waste and recycling rates” At a meeting of the council’s planning committee the firm sought retrospective planning permission to carry out further engineering works at the site said Bryn Recycling “provides an essential service to the community” He said the application had been “rigorously assessed” and had won general support from statutory consultees The work would be carried out “a significant distance from any residential properties” and the applicant “doesn’t seek an increase in the amount of waste handled at the site” But objectors have raised concerns about an “intensification of activity at the facility leading to detrimental effects on the lives and health of residents of Gelligaer and Penybryn” Residents also said they feared any works could lead to the “contamination of the surrounding fields” and impacts on a nearby woodland representing those objectors at the meeting told the committee the application site was “once a dairy farm surrounded by beautiful green landscape” but had become a “massive” industrial operation She said “a lot of residents” had complained about noise dust and the site “encroaching ever closer to their homes” People living near the site had been “left wondering when this nightmare is going to end” Committee member Andrew Whitcombe was one of several councillors who criticised the applicant for starting work and then applying for retrospective planning permission He said he was “quite disappointed” by the move and alleged this was not the first time the applicant had brought matters to the committee retrospectively “I’m deeply concerned about the fact that organisations… are not adhering to the planning process,” he told colleagues adding that he “cannot support this application” reminded the committee a retrospective proposal was “itself… not a reason to oppose the application” and doing so could leave the council open to a court appeal after a majority of committee members voted in favour of the application said: “The expanded yard will see an even greater proportion of materials that are sorted on site being returned to use in manufacturing and production processes.  “I’m proud of the role we play in boosting local recycling rates and preventing recyclable materials from unnecessarily being wasted “Our ongoing investment in facilities and technology sees us continue to succeed which secures more than 100 jobs for local people and allows us to support local community groups and grass-roots sports teams.”  He added: “We have taken a long-term view of recycling needs for the county borough and will continue to invest and improve our operations to help Caerphilly residents and businesses reduce reuse and recycle as part of Wales’s world-leading circular economy.”  A former accountant is the new priest-in-charge of the Parish of Gelligaer was licensed at a special service recently by the Archbishop of Wales He takes over from Rev Tony Stevens who has retired after serving four years in the parish Rev Powell is returning to the Llandaff Diocese from the Diocese of St Davids where he has been vicar of the parish of Dafen in Llanelli for the past four years before going on to work as an accountant until he was ordained at the age of 32 He said: “I started to go to church in Bridgend and became more and more involved until it reached a point when I thought it was something that I would like to do full-time.” After being ordained in 1995 at Llandaff Cathedral Gary was assistant curate at Roath for just over five years and then vicar of Briton Ferry for nine years feels like it’s a double home coming for him He added: “My heart has always been with the Llandaff Diocese so I am really happy to return as it feels like I am coming home “I plan to build on what is already happening here in this parish The buildings are in good order so I will concentrate on the pastoral side and be involved in the wider community as much as possible I want to put the church at the centre of life in the community and ensure that it doesn’t exist on the margins of community life “As a Welsh speaker I would be happy to do some services in Welsh such as harvest or carol services for the two Welsh schools in the parish.” Gary will be responsible for looking after St Catwg’s Church in Gelligaer and St Margaret’s in Gilfach he likes to travel and frequently takes his holidays abroad Archbishop Morgan said: “I am delighted to welcome back Gary Powell to the diocese since he is a hard working You must be logged in to post a comment The RSPCA has appealed for information after a horse was found impaled on a metal post on Gelligaer Common The young stallion was found dead by volunteers from the Welsh Pony Rescue and Rehoming Charitable Trust on Friday The trust was created by Ann Keating 25 years ago with the aim of caring protecting and hopefully rehoming wild horses in and around Gelligaer Common Volunteer Paige Speed, who was first on the scene, told Caerphilly Observer: “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen “It was completely heartbreaking to see what happened to that poor horse he must’ve had an agonising death.”  “None of us at the charity believe this was an accident We think the horse was spooked and jumped onto the pole when trying to run away.” This isn’t the first tragedy the group have experienced however with several other horses having died under “unusual circumstances” according to the charity Paige added: “We’ve seen people in the field on quad bikes and motorbikes “It’s a full-time job looking after these horses we’ve rehomed hundreds over the years so when something like this happens it’s not a great feeling.” “We rely completely on public donations and our own fundraising to look after the horses we spend £750 a week on hay alone.” Said Paige Pony Rescue cares for around 380 horses at the moment across Caerphilly County Borough and Rhondda Cynon Taf with many having been abandoned by their owners Volunteer Lorraine Czaja described the horse’s death as “horrendous” and suggested some people were “unwelcoming” to the horses on the common Gwent Police and Caerphilly County Borough have been made aware of the incident An RSCPA Cymru spokesperson said: “We are very saddened to hear about this incident and would urge anyone with any information to contact the police A 16-year-old Gelligaer boy and a 16-year-old Risca boy are the latest to be handed Antisocial Behaviour Orders because of their bad behaviour was given a two-year ASBO by Caerphilly Magistrates while Shaun Thomas Both boys got their unrelated ASBOs as a result of their unruly behaviour in their respective communities Cook’s ASBO bans him from the following: The conditions of Thomas’s ASBO are as follows Community Safety Manager Howard Rees said: “I hope the gaining of these orders will act as a deterrent to others who feel it is acceptable to behave in an anti-social manner and have a detrimental impact on residents’ quality of life We will not allow the behaviour of a small minority affect the lives of the majority and will use the powers available to us to ensure that this remains the case.” Shaun Thomas now lives in Blackwood and has been terrorizing his neighbour’s attacking them yet Blackwood police continue to turn a blind eye You must be logged in to post a comment A decision to expand and extend operations at a quarry in Gelligaer has been deferred Caerphilly County Borough councillors have deferred the decision and asked planning officials to provide reasons for refusal described the application as “one of the most controversial” ones he had seen applied to expand the quarry on Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm and extend operations for another 24 years An online petition opposing the application received 1,116 signatures and another petition received by the planning authority included 495 objections Residents protested against the expansion in September and again on October 30 dust pollution and lorry movements as their main concerns the agent  representing the Bryn Group said: “The application is much needed It has been thoroughly assessed and scrutinised.” Cllr Carmen Bezzina,  who represents the St Cattwg ward where the site is located residents will have to face the effects of this quarry for another 24 years “The residents have no confidence when it comes to planning complaints about the Bryn Group.” Cllr John Bevan said: “The people of Gelligaer have suffered long enough.” Planning officer Ryan Thomas said there were no outstanding complaints in relation to the Bryn Group Cllr John Ridgewell said he was “deeply concerned” about the application He said he wanted to defer the decision because it was a “significant expansion” of the quarry and he felt he needed more information Cllr Elizabeth Aldworth said she thought the application was a “big ask” and was not fair said the company is “frustrated” by councillors decision to “ignore advice of their professional planning officers” Mr Price said: “While we appreciate the pressure that councillors are under from protesters we are nonetheless disappointed at the lack of technical discussions and debate at the planning committee meeting.” said: “It is the wrong application at the wrong time and councillors were right to defer it at this stage.” a former councillor for the St Cattwg ward described the report presented to the committee as “poor” because it had a lot of unanswered questions But Mr Price said: “This comprehensive application addressed all policy and strategic points fully and demonstrated both the strategic importance for Wales and the UK of the sandstone seam at the Bryn but also the measures being taken to minimise the impact of working the quarry and the plans for its restoration that would lead to a net improvement in biodiversity and the ecology of our land “The wide-ranging conditions stipulated in the officer’s report to committee provided strong protections for the community as well as an opportunity for regulators to influence operating procedures and policies that are developed once planning has been granted.” Cllr Bezzina has asked the Welsh Government to look at the application The application will be brought to the next council planning committee meeting the Bryn Group has said it will appeal at the earliest opportunity The future of a GP surgery looks secure after the health board found a new lead doctor to take it over There had been doubt surrounding Gelligaer Surgery after it was announced Dr Angharad Bevan and Dr Sara Wilson would resign their General Medical Services contract from April this year Aneurin Bevan University Health Board advertised for a new GP to take over the contract and has now appointed Dr David Kaushal who will take over the running of the contract from May 1 said: “This is excellent news and I know it will be a great relief to the local communities “I’d like to offer my support to Dr Kaushal in his new role as lead GP and to say a big thank you to Aneurin Bevan University Health Board who worked very hard to ensure a positive result for the surgery and its patients in what are extremely challenging times.” Aneurin Bevan Health Board has been asked to comment More recently, Bedwas Health Centre could become latest GP surgery to close because its main practice A worker from a waste and recycling company was taken to the burns unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea yesterday after he was engulfed by a fireball The incident happened at Bryn Group’s Gelliargwellt Uchaf Farm near Gelligaer According to a statement on the company’s website the employee was carrying out routine maintenance at one of the firm’s biomass buildings when an “unexplained ignition” caused a fireball The fire was put out and did not spread to any other building The company processes and recycles green waste and food waste in addition to having an aggregates business through its quarry According to the company the worker was treated immediately by on-site first aiders before the Wales Air Ambulance was called He was then taken to Swansea’s specialist burns unit at Morriston Hospital via road ambulance In its statement he company said: “The injured colleague is experienced and had conducted that same maintenance task countless times before Both the Health and Safety Executive and Natural Resources Wales have been notified and we will participate fully in a thorough investigation That is why Bryn Group enjoys a good health and safety record and why we have never before had a serious incident like this We are keen to find out what happened…and to ensure it cannot happen again “We would like to praise and thank our on-site first aiders and the emergency services crews who attended today Their efforts made a huge difference to our colleague We send him our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.” A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue said the fire was out before crews from Aberbargoed got to the farm Firefighters then monitored hotspots and secured the area They added: “The suspected cause of the fire was determined to be accidental.” Gwent Police is appealing for information to find 27-year-old Logan James who they believe could help with an investigation into a report of public order offences in Caerphilly The incidents in question happened on Sunday July 23 at around 4.40am Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Gwent Police on 101 or through direct message on Facebook or Twitter Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 RSPCA Cymru is appealing for information after finding an “extremely thin” pony on Gelligaer Common The animal has since been taken into RSPCA care RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil said: “This pony was found to be in extremely thin condition and also had some dental issues “Anyone with any information should call us on our inspector appeal line 0300 123 8018 and ask to leave a message for me.” A school in Gelligaer has reported increased attendance for two years in a row thanks to a Welsh Government-funded Pupil Development Grant (PDG) Greenhill Primary School has used its PDG funding to hire a Family and Community Engagement (FaCE) Officer whose role is to strengthen links between school and home and to maximise opportunities to involve parents in their children’s learning Emma was also tasked with developing links with the wider community A number of successful projects have since been launched including a scheme where parents can attend classes held at the school FaCE Officer Emma Gould said: “The engagement projects the PDG has funded has increased opportunities for parents to come into school and thereby feel a valued part of the school community All it takes is for someone to dedicate time to fostering these relationships and I’m very happy to be a part of it.” Headteacher Lisa Jones praised Ms Gould as “the essential link between the school “Since we identified the need for a FaCE Officer the PDG funding has allowed us to develop a number of different projects “Parents are remarking on how friendly and happy the school is and that atmosphere is an integral part of the partnership between us and them.” You must be logged in to post a comment A cheque worth £600 has been handed to Trinity Fields School after fundraising efforts from the Gelligaer Masonic Lodge which is for pupils with special educational needs was presented with the cheque on Friday October 6 The funds were raised during the lodge’s annual children’s Christmas parties warm welcome and we hope our donation will help provide some additional sensory resources for the pupils.” raises money for a variety of local and national charities and causes Anyone interested in joining the organisation can visit the South Wales Freemasons website for more information The country’s only A+ energy rated school has won a national award for its low impact on the environment which has the highest energy rating for any school in England and Wales recently achieved the ‘Low/Zero Carbon Award’ at the annual ‘Constructing Excellence in Wales 2011’ awards The school is carbon negative for electricity and it is thought to be the most energy self-sufficient school in the UK deputy leader of the council and cabinet member responsible for sustainability said: “The accolades really do just keep on coming for Greenhill Primary School I am delighted that our commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency has been recognised on such a national scale and illustrates clearly what can be achieved when attention is placed on energy matters.” The school generates more electricity than it uses while rainwater is collected to flush toilets Rainwater will also be harvested and will be used to flush toilets and over half of the water used by the school will be recycled Greenhill Primary School was built with £4 million funding from the Welsh Government You must be logged in to post a comment An amateur boxing club which saw Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price MBE come through its ranks has been given a new lease of life after a refurbishment which comes thanks to £9,000 Sport Wales funding and a further £2,000 from the National Postcode Lottery with around 150 members now part of the club The £9,000 went towards a new ring and equipment with the £2,000 being used to get new jigsaw mats to improve safety club secretary Brian Martin said: “The appearance of the gym has improved a lot we put the pictures out there via social media and instantly got a lot more attention “I decided to run a couple of taster sessions on two weekends to get some numbers in and everyone loved it We had 60 show up and we are now at a point where we have around 150 members from all abilities and ages.” The club is in a completely different position to where it was two years ago Brian said: “At one point the pandemic forced us down to 14 members I was seriously worried about the future of Welsh amateur boxing “Even when training resumed there were no crowds or competitions so financially it was difficult too.” The gym has been running out of the current building since 1991 the building suffered roof damage which is currently being repaired “We as a club are focussed on being inclusive so it’s important that the facilities allow all abilities access,” Brian continued “It started with the ring which we had lowered so that the elderly and disabled could use it more easily The showers and changing rooms too are being built with access in mind so it can be a space for everyone.” Brian said the club is also looking to set up women-only classes “We already train members from the age of eight to 70 but we can always do more.” As part of efforts to boost its presence in the community the club held a competition to design its new logo which was won by 17-year-old Olivia Underwood who returned to the club at the time after a spell away “Things are going well at the moment and we are still looking to grow But at some point we won’t be able to grow any further “The long-term plan is to move to a new building within the next ten to 15 years but for now we would love to get some more volunteers and trainers to help with the project.” An injured pony with a “nasty untreated abscess on his hoof” has been rescued from Gelligaer Common The skewbald stallion had to be sedated with a tranquilliser dart before being taken away for treatment on July 28 RSPCA Cymru have since launched an appeal to find out how the injured pony The charity worked alongside Redwings Horse Sanctuary the British Horse Society and Caerphilly County Borough Council to rescue the animal RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil said: “This skewbald stallion has a very nasty untreated abscess on his hoof “Safely taking this stallion from Gelligaer Common was a complex The British Horse Society and Caerphilly Council for their support “If anyone has any information about this pony we urge them to contact us on 0300 123 8018 “We’re hopeful information may help detect an owner or explain why this equine was found on the common with an abscess in such urgent need of treatment.” These ponies are not belonging to anyone they are wild ponies not abandoned by people they live freely upon the mountain yes some volunteers are trying to give them a better life help them but they are and always will be FREE please publish the truth yes this pony had problems as many of them do suffer from worms lack of food in winter etc but lot of kind people give to local rescue ie horse pony aid and hungry hurds to help these ponies There is no native herd on Gelligaer and Merthyr Common 95% of them dumped on the common by foolish irresponsible owners who no longer want them and won’t go to the expense of either trying to re home them or have then euthanized Surely this pony belongs to the wild herds of Welsh mountain ponies and probably doesn’t have an actual owner I hope he will be returned to his herd once his foot is better It’s nice that the various charities have helped him by giving him medical treatment I think it’s an eye opener that these ponies need support and I believe that there are indeed a group of volunteers who have been looking out for them Maybe you could highlight the fact that some locals have actually been harassing these poor ponies and driving them away from their watering holes The ponies are part of Wales heritage and should be protected in living their natural wild existence he was born and lived there until taken off he is a feral pony as no owner of which they all know and are going to dispose of him in three days and very sadly will never return back to his herd and place of birth of home and his ancestors before him our Welsh horse and Ponys need to be protected and saved for future generations being driven away from drinking holes purposely which grace our commons as they have done for generations are up against lot they harm no one and do a for biodiversity of the land they grace the commons and make it a wonderful place give peace of mind and solice in these troubled times too The local charity that looks out for these ponies 24/7 has been trying to find out if this boy is safe but unfortunately none of the three agencies mentioned will confirm he has not been euthanised Are you able to obtain any current information for us @caerphillyobservor Picasso is not an abandoned horse he is a feral stallion who was born on the common as the RSPCA well know They are only trying to hide the fact that the local charities had they been informed would have caught him and treated him without such a mob-handed… approach and waste of peoples donations .The poor pony is now on death row because no owner can claim him….he is owned by the Welsh people and as such I call on the RSPCA to return him to the local charities where a home awaits him Picasso the feral pony is one of many feral ponys born on the Gelliager Commons We all want him returned back to his herd family there where he belongs but alas it will never happen so we all want to be told of his outcome as soon the deadline of the Athourities of keeping and caring for Picasso will soon be up and he will be disposed we ask to know his fate wether it be good or bad he deserves to live free where he belongs in nature and in his homeland The pony is called “Picasso” by thousands of us and he came to be on the commons because that’s his homelands and born there He lives with his herd from the area seized and he has old welsh pony bloodlines in his ancestry however like many in this region some coloured ponies have been introduced and kept by graziers Picasso is a small hardy welsh hill pony loved by so many of us in Wales ?????? in fact he is even known overseas as far as Australia Canada America and beyond Our WHPA volunteers and supporters give their time free and raise funds every year to help Picasso his herd and many other herds in winter and help watch over them We all want Picasso to be helped and given sanctuary to save his life he is def NOT ABANDONED HE IS MUCH LOVED BY THOUSANDS OF US AND MANY IN OTHER LOCAL VOLUNTARY CHARITIES #SavePicasso #homelands #OurWales #Landofmyfathers ##biodiversity #LoveWales #conservationgrazer as the pony who is known by many as Picasso was actually born on Gelligaer Common and has lead his own herd for a number of years now He is a native pony but colored because the breed has crossed with colored ponies put on the commons by graziers over the years Picasso was not abandoned he and the many herds on the welsh hills and commons in this area are devotedly fed every day all winter and watered in the summer by volunteers in WHPA often at their own expense does not permit him to be allowed to return to his homelands to look after his herd The very best he can hope for is to be allowed to go to a sanctuary WHPA was at the scene when Picasso was treated and removed and offered help using their expertise and knowledge of the commons and its ponies They also asked to be kept informed regarding Piccasso but unfortunately the RSPCA and Redwings have not been very forthcoming The thin bay pony also in the article was removed by the RSPCA in January and they left her young 8-month-old filly to fend for herself You must be logged in to post a comment A new £1.25m medical centre has opened its doors in Gelligaer was built by construction firm Opco and developers LSP Developments on behalf of the Aneurin Bevan Health Board and backed by the Welsh Government which developers say was completed on budget and on schedule involved the demolition of a primary school and the construction of the new 10,075 sq ft surgery and medical centre Opco regional director Nigel Coulter said: “We’re proud to have worked with LSP Developments to construct this modern medical centre for the Aneurin Bevan Health Board the Welsh Government and the wider community of Gelligaer through successful delivery of this project is rapidly becoming a recognised specialist in the design and construction of centres of this sort and gaining ever wider respect for its expertise in the niche sector.” said: “The surgery team is delighted with this crucial building project This development will support the expansion of healthcare in the area for decades to come.” You must be logged in to post a comment Caerphilly constituency Labour Party is facing calls to pay for a community council by-election after failing to put a candidate forward to contest the seat who is a member of Gelligaer Community Council and represents St Cattwg on Caerphilly County Borough Council accused Labour of wasting time and public money Labour called for an election when its member Rhiannon Stone stepped down but when nominations closed last week the only candidate put forward was Plaid Cymru’s Adrienne Wood Plaid Cymru councillor Judith Pritchard said: “I’m annoyed that Labour should call for an election and then not even bother to put a candidate up It is the second time in under two years this has happened after the Ystrad Mynach by-election debacle in May 2021.” Plaid Cymru now holds 12 out of 13 seats on Gelligaer Community Council the Hengoed seat is vacant and is set to be filled by co-option Cllr Judith Pritchard said: “Caerphilly Council staff have put up the notices of an election up printed polling cards in anticipation of an election and arranged for the ballot papers to be printed once nominations closed All the costs will be passed onto Gelligaer Community Council to pick up the bill “The failed Ystrad Mynach by-election cost the authority £2,229 and the bill will be even higher this time.” She added: “The community council could have co-opted a community-spirited individual without the waste of more than £2,200 of the public’s money by Labour The local Labour Party should really come forward and offer to pay the bill.” Deputy leader of the Labour-led Caerphilly County Borough Council we call a by-election and don’t put a candidate up Plaid Cymru and other parties do struggle to find candidates sometimes.” became paralysed from the waist down while having a bath Credit: BPM Media / Media WalesA Gelligaer woman said she felt like her 'life had been taken away' after becoming paralysed from the waist down while having a bath Jessica Ennis had to be pulled out of the bath by her mother and taken to hospital by paramedics on the morning of 21 June The 30-year-old told her two daughters just minutes before that she would be having a bath before taking them to nursery Mrs Ennis was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) a sudden condition which causes problems with how the brain receives and sends information to the body FND can cause serious arm and leg weaknesses According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes around four to 12 people in every 100,000 will get FND "I felt completely numb when they told me – like my life had been taken away," Mrs Ennis said of finding out her diagnosis who is now confined to a bed at Ystrad Mynach Hospital said she is now suffering at least two seizures a day and that doctors say she could spend the rest of her life as a wheelchair user She says she began to feel unwell last August with an 'unexplainable pain' "Then in the November overnight I’d gone blind in my left eye which the doctors diagnosed as optic neuritis I began to adapt to life with that but then my skin also began almost burning in a horrific pain," Mrs Ennis said."I began to have splitting migraines my limbs began to feel very heavy – almost too heavy to move – and most days I could barely stay awake "I had various tests but nothing showed up I was then told I had fibromyalgia and life continued like this for another six months." Jessica had turned 30 just days before becoming paralysed she told her two daughters she would be having a bath for 10 minutes I got in the bath and by 7.20pm I was paralysed from the waist down I couldn’t move my legs at all," she said I called my mum who came around and dragged me out of the bath before an ambulance got to us That was the last time I saw my own home." Jessica says her symptoms have since worsened and that she now stutters has spasms in her right arm and is unable to feed herself due to her hands shaking she said she’s been "overwhelmed" by the support of those who have helped her fundraise to have her home modified in time for her eventual discharge from hospital to begin a new life So far, a GoFundMe has raised more than £1,100 She added: "I can’t thank everyone enough for what they’ve done for me to raise that money "I can’t even think about it without crying All the money raised will help me get home we can’t afford the work that needs to be done to make the house accessible for me now and a bedroom downstairs so I can be back with my kids and my husband."Mrs Ennis added that the "only thing" keeping her going is the need to get home to her family She said: "We’ve never been apart before and I’ve already missed out on so much "Saying goodbye to them after they visit is the hardest thing about this situation – much harder than accepting I’ll likely never walk again." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know… Gelligaer’s Greenhill Primary School has been officially opened by Education Minister Leighton Andrews and Caerphilly County Borough Mayor Vera Jenkins which is the first in Wales and England to be awarded an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A+ received £4 million of funding from the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools Programme The new school features an array of energy-saving features including four wind turbines to take advantage of the school’s elevated location and a large number of photovoltaic panels More electricity is generated on or within the school than the school actually uses and the surplus is exported to the grid Rainwater is also harvested and used to flush toilets and over half of the water used by the school is recycled The construction of Greenhill school also provided a boost for businesses in the area worked with many local subcontractors from Caerphilly The Education Minister unveiled a plaque marking the opening and was taken on a tour of the new facilities and classrooms The Minister said: “The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that every child in Wales is educated in an environment that is conducive to learning for the 21st Century I announced a £1.4 billion investment in our schools through our 21st Century Schools Programme “Greenhill Primary shows that previous investment is delivering real results for our schools and communities “This state of the art school not only meets the needs of pupils and teachers but is a shining example of sustainability and energy efficiency – an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A+ is an excellent achievement “I am sure that the facilities will have a lasting impact on the educational achievements of pupils and provide an inspirational environment for teaching and learning.” The School won a ‘Sustainability Award’ at this year’s Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales (CLAW) Awards 2011 The honour closely followed the ‘Low/Zero Carbon Award’ at the recent Constructing Excellence in Wales 2011 awards You must be logged in to post a comment