Get A Golf Handicap UK Golf Guide Golfshake Top 100s Find Golf Travel Deals Golf Competitions Community Forum Completing his tour around Bridgend in Wales, Golfshake Ambassador Andy Picken played a round at Maesteg Golf Club which was among the highlights of a memorable trip This is located within the beautiful Llynfi Valley within sight of the South Wales coast We were treated to an excellent round of golf played on a stunningly beautiful course Maesteg shares some of its origins with Royal Porthcawl as they both had half of an ex-RAF hut that formed the original clubhouse at both venues They had a number of shared memberships with local solicitor Mr A King-Davies being an important member of both clubs His influence on the origins of both venues is clear by his prominence on the Honour’s Boards This hut at Maesteg is long gone but photographs of it exist within the Centenary booklet created to celebrate the building of the new clubhouse building that is in current use My abiding memory of Maesteg is the stunning views that distracted on each hole It is a community-based club that evolved in its layout and design by the membership It is licensed and used for weddings and the restaurant is simply superb Maesteg is a 5,623-yard gem that is well-conditioned despite some of the worst winter weather in memory The greens are true and reasonably paced offering the chance to score well The layout is interesting and challenging in equal measure as it wends its way around the gradient of the valley They use the strapline of a ‘hidden gem’ on the pin flags Wild herds of deer roam the course and its links to nature and wildlife are second to none It is being used as a Centre of Excellence for the study of leatherjackets by a partnership established between the club and eminent universities They have made some interesting breakthroughs in the treatment of greens in a fully sustainable manner that could impact the whole of the golf industry This area of Wales is a mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts and a path that cuts through the course offers a great downhill run that does not impact on the golfers at all Consideration is being given to providing access to the clubhouse for these bikers and accommodation for both is also being considered on site This is a perfect golf society venue if you have mixed-ability players The better ones will be challenged by its style and be tempted to take it on as there are areas that encourage exactly that mindset.   The course starts with a steady walk up a gradient to an elevated green Watch out for vehicles driving to the clubhouse as the road is out-of-bounds for the length of this hole There is no reason to fall foul of this design as there is ample room left for the tee shot.   The next hole follows the same pattern using the road as an out-of-bounds but this feels much tighter due to the trees lining each side of the fairway All the short holes offer distracting views and vistas across the valley with swales and run-offs that require accurate placement of the tee shot to score well Drainage at the site is enhanced by a series of ditches and water hazards that cross the course at its lowest points The 6th is another notable short hole offering extraordinary views across the rest of the course There are several benches at strategic points around this course set in memory of past members Take a moment to use these as they are fixed in some amazing vantage points This is a visually stunning part of the world Prepare to be distracted and delayed by the views on offer The holes returning towards the clubhouse offer some gentle doglegs but require accurate placement of tee shots to have any level of successful scoring Throughout this trip, we were treated as members for the day and one of my overriding memories will be the friendliness of everyone we met and interacted with at every single venue. The Dormy House at Pyle & Kenfig is the perfect venue for a golfing stay.  This area of Wales has some excellent golf facilities to suit every pocket and player ability The welcome and hospitality are second to none and the food offered was nothing short of superb.  If you are considering a UK-based golf trip ensure you review what Bridgend has to offer as I was not in any way disappointed by anything I enjoyed during this all too short four-day golf break If you want to follow Andy's complete journey around in the courses near Bridgend, please click here What do you think? post your thoughts and feedback on the Golfshake Forum: https://forum.golfshake.com/ Tuition Series Golf Forums Golf Course Directory UK Golf Courses Tee Time Search Golf Inspired Search for Golf Courses Tee Time Search Weekly Tour News Industry News Rating & Reviews Get a Golf Handicap Golfscoretracker Handicap Calculations Stat Tracking Cards Golfshake Services Terms, Cookies & Privacy Bank Holiday recycling and waste collections: There will be no collections on Monday 05 May 2025 Collections will take place one day later than normal for the week until Saturday 10 May 2025 There are a variety of events and activities in town centres across the county borough.  A fabulous market filled with independent produce from local artisan food This event is organised by Green Top Markets Join Porthcawl Town Council for VE Day celebratory events Join Gilgal Church for their Community Summer Festival on 27-30 May Dive into an action-packed weekend of beach sports lifeboat displays and bucketfuls of more fun as BeachFest hits Porthcawl’s shores on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June Sandy Bay will play host to the beach sports elite as teams from across the UK compete across beach volleyball Families will be able to get involved in the action with ‘have-a-go' sessions The RNLI will be hosting exciting demonstrations entertainment and fundraising activities with the return of its popular RescueFest event on Saturday 21 June demonstrations and market stalls throughout Porthcawl over the weekend Join Bridgend Town Council for their Armed Forces Day Parade featuring military organisations The Keeper of the Colliery 5K and 10K Run is returning to Maesteg the route will take runners past the great Keeper of the Colliery taking in the scenic views of Nantyffyllon Join Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K which takes runners past famous landmarks and stunning views including Rest Bay the Grand Pavilion and Porthcawl Lighthouse Join Maesteg Town Council for their Family Fun Day in Welfare Park Ageing Well events and activities in Bridgend County Borough which help older adults to stay healthy and socially connected within communities Why not head into your nearest town centre and help support local businesses With a mix of independent shops and traditional markets in both Bridgend and Maesteg they’re the perfect place to pick up any last-minute gifts Bridgend has a lively mix of independent shops you’ll find long established family businesses and new traders.  The shopping experience here is a friendly one Experience the strong sense of community in the town centre independent shops and an outdoor market clustered around a new market square you’ll find an exciting range of independent shops and cafés This traditional market is home to a number of long-established family businesses and new traders Free Wi-Fi is now available in town centres across Bridgend County Borough with the aim of increasing connectivity among residents Maesteg Market is an open air market in the town centre You can access a Pop-Up Shop Guide to help potential tenants navigate the process of setting up a Pop-Up Shop. We use data collected under licence by Springboard to record the number of people at particular locations within both Bridgend and Porthcawl town centres There are a variety of events and activities in town centres across the county borough Search available business premises in our town centres Bridgend town centre is home to a number of independent 'destination' restaurants offering a range of world cuisine: Residents have reacted to new plans to potentially develop a site with four micro modular nuclear power plants in their area The £300 million project being put forward by US based company Last Energy is earmarked for the site of the former coal-powered Llynfi Power Station in Bridgend which was closed in 1977 It is a proposal that is currently designated as a development of national significance by the Welsh Government and as such will be decided on by ministers over the coming months If approved it could see the creation of a nuclear facility with the first plant becoming operational by 2027 in a project that is said to be able to generate the equivalent annual power needs of 244,000 UK homes per year The new plants are also expected to create over 100 jobs in the area if given the go-ahead along with potentially generating an estimated £30 million worth of economic impact responses to the early proposals for the facility were mixed in the borough of Bridgend with many residents particularly the Llynfi valley area still unsure about the idea David John lives in Bettws just a few miles away from the site and says if done properly he thinks the plans could be beneficial He said: “For me I think it could be a good thing for the area if it can create jobs locally that people will benefit from as we need all we can get in the valleys at the moment “There’s quite a few nuclear sites based around the country and they don’t have any issues and it seems as though this would be a lot smaller than some of those so as long as it is well planned and well thought through then why not.” Sarah Dawe also lives in the village and added: “It can’t be a bad thing in terms of the jobs and investment it will bring but when it comes to the nuclear aspect I’m really not sure For me I’d like to be given more information before anything goes ahead with this and I think both the Government and the company proposing it should be obliged to give us that.” Joanne Davies owns a local pizza restaurant on the high street in Maesteg and said: “I think the plan is something that would concern a lot of people in places like Maesteg because it’s just such an unknown thing I don’t think they would be happy with the potential for health risks or any accidents at the site and there will be a lot of scepticism about it.” Tracy Thomas works in a café in Maesteg and said she also thinks local people would be wary She added: “I wouldn’t think it would be any good for the Llynfi valley to be honest because it’s nuclear and I don’t think that’s any good and I don’t think it will go through as a lot of people would protest it.” Councillor Malcolm James is a member representing the Llangynwyd ward in the Llynfi valley and added: “This announcement came as a bit of a surprise to a lot of people in the area this week and both residents and myself have a lot of questions they want answered “At the moment I’m very concerned because I don’t have enough details about the facility how the fuel will be transported in and out water and land would be monitored once it was up and running and what plans would be in place for the facilty after it closes.” A section on the company’s website for the Llynfi Clean Energy Project said the planning process for the energy plant adding that it intended to engage with the community and authorities throughout It read: “Our community consultation processes will involve online and in-person opportunities for the public to learn more about the project “We will provide comprehensive details of our consultation events and activities here so please continue to check back for updates Last Energy is committed to working closely with authorities and the community throughout this process.” CEO of Last Energy UK said: “Last Energy’s Llynfi project will not only transform a vacant coal site into a hub for clean energy production it will also create economic opportunity for companies throughout South Wales “The benefits of nuclear power speak for themselves so our focus must be on delivering those benefits on time and on budget Last Energy’s emphasis on mass-manufacturability allows us to deliver significantly smaller plants in under 24 months with purely private financing “We look forward to engaging with the public and being an active partner in South Wales’ path towards energy security and industrial de-carbonisation.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" they have a release of radiation it will be over Maesteg in minutes From the north and its over Bridgend in minutes Interesting reading the forward planning requirements for such a plant and it includes local fire brigades up to code to deal with radiation contamination as well has health facilities and includes plans for storage of waste fuel and staging fuel coming into the plant would love to hear what the real requirements are but that read of mine was… Read more » So you admit you don’t understand the technology you don’t understand the the proposed design you don’t understand the regulatory framework in place you’ve just skim read the plans and you admit that you’re not an expert but you proudly state “I will be objecting as soon as I am able.” “South Westerly prevailing winds here they have a release of radiation it will be over Maesteg in minutes.” Erm have you looked at a map Maesteg is in a completely different direction to the prvailing winds If you can explain the framework then crack on would love to know why it is safe especially from a startup company with no working example Only one reason they are building this and that is profit that as yet has built none (Not an energy company) presumably this plan is the result of their inability to find any buyers this shouldn’t come as any surprise given that nuclear power is completely uneconomic (even before you price in the astronomic generations long costs of decommissioning & waste disposal presumably because there wouldn’t ever be another nuclear plant built even with the insanely large government subsidies they usually get NB the smaller the nuclear reactor the larger the radioactive waste problem in terms of contaminated waster… Read more » Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information 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Residents of a Valleys town have been celebrating a decision not to grant permission for an empty building in its central conservation area to be demolished Walters Environmental Ltd had wanted to knock down the building in Commercial Street Maesteg to make it easier to transport wind turbines to a site above the town But Bridgend county borough councillors have sided with objectors who argued it would be “cultural vandalism” to knock down a building that was erected in 1893 In a submission to the council’s planning committee Walters said: “[Taking] into consideration that the building is in a poor state of repair does not meet modern occupier requirements so there is no demand for its use and has ‘negligible’ interest or significance in and of itself its proposed demolition should be considered wholly acceptable “Considered against the above is the enabling opportunity the demolition of the building would offer – its removal would help aid the transportation of turbines to the consented Foel Trawsnant wind farm “The wind farm was approved in April 2023 and proposes the development of eight wind turbines with a generating capacity of up to 35MW – all of which contributes towards the renewable energy targets set out by the Welsh Government “Demolition of the existing building at 145 Commercial Street will aid the transportation of turbines reducing the risk and safety factors of the construction process in delivering turbine components through the commercial centre of Maesteg … This enabling opportunity should be viewed favourably and positively as it brings the prospect for investment the redevelopment proposals for the site include a replacement building that would better meet modern occupier requirements.” those opposed to the demolition made a written submission that stated: “Maesteg town centre is a conservation area and this shop is an integral part of the conservation area Maesteg was designated a conservation area in 2001 and contains a number of listed buildings and a number of buildings of special architectural and historic Interest The former Travella/Joseph Bros building is not listed as one of these but looking at the criteria it appears to have been unjustly overlooked “The architecture along the very wide Commercial Street varies greatly from late 19th/ early 20th century ostentatious inns and public houses…The commercial core consists of a variety of vernacular classical and other architectural styles in addition to an array of detailing creating visual interest “The building was erected in 1893 and established as a furniture shop in the latter part of the 19th century by the Joseph Bros (Barnet Kenneth and Solomon Joseph) who came from Birmingham at the latter part of the 19th/ early 29th century In the 1901 census two of the brothers living at 92 Commercial Street are described as furniture dealers so it is reasonable to assume they were at the forefront of the shopping boom and the creation of the town centre “Maesteg is a post-industrial town and some people would say it has been left behind and the town and wider valley area purveys a sense of existential hopelessness and despair What the town needs is economic regeneration and the current building could have so many uses to play in that “In 2026 Maesteg will be celebrating its bicentenary and one way of celebrating this historic milestone is by investing in our future not knocking buildings down – that is nothing short of cultural vandalism We have lost a number of historical buildings over the years and The Corn Stores is one which once faced the bulldozer but is now a thriving leisure centre and was saved from the bulldozer by a concerted campaign • To lose such an historic building for an erratic wind power station is unjustifiable Give a sense of hope and reject this application.” Councillors voted to reject the proposal to demolish the building Local councillor Ross Thomas said: “The building has stood at the heart of the town centre for more than 130 years and has housed some wonderful businesses over that time it still forms part of the history of Maesteg “The key driver in this application appeared to be the ease of getting wind turbines through the town centre to a recently-approved wind farm scheme in the neighbouring Neath Port Talbot area was having the demolition take place and for this key site in the town centre potentially to be left as a derelict site full of rubble after it has done its job for the developer “While I appreciate buildings are purchased for a variety of reasons and end-goals I think a town centre opportunity like this could prove fruitful for both a proprietor and the local community if it were to be put to good use and redeveloped sympathetically Maesteg has a number of retail premises which have fallen into disrepair The local authority has a generous regeneration grant scheme which has helped spruce up some buildings – my hope is that the owners of this building will take the opportunity to bring it back into use or to sell it to someone who is willing to make the effort.” Numerous local residents have contacted Cllr Thomas to express their pleasure that the building has been saved from demolition The shoreline is home to year-round surfing natural beauty is dotted with historic sites and legends Our curious traditions include the ancient Mari Lwyd at New Year and the world’s biggest Elvis Festival Explore St John’s House – the oldest habitable building in the town Enjoy arts activities and events at Carnegie House Bridgend town effortlessly mixes age-old heritage with modern shopping centres and cafés and plenty of entertainment for people of all ages Maesteg – which is Welsh for ‘fair field’ – developed during the industrial revolution Enjoy panoramic views in the Llynfi Valley walks which start in this former mining town and relax in the idyllic Spirit of Llynfi Woodlands on the site of a former colliery.  People who love adventure can take part in a variety of activities at the Watersports Centre or test golfing skills at one of the world’s finest golf courses On the harbour is the RNLI station and Wales’ oldest listed bonded warehouse which is now a bustling waterside spot with cafés and restaurants In and around the Bridgend area there are an abundance of leisure facilities to suit all interests and moods If you are looking for entertainment or cultural pursuits facilities include swimming pools and leisure centres tennis and numerous rugby and football grounds cricket pitches and there are a number of first-class golf courses For those stimulated by more ‘social activities’ the county borough offers an abundance of local pubs For unforgettable walking and biking holidays and Bryngarw Country Park is the ideal starting point from which to explore our valleys the mountain tops offer amazing views from ridgeway routes former railway lines and coal mines have been transformed into traffic-free paths and nature-filled spaces The county borough’s extensive coastline is home to year-round surfing Our curious traditions include the ancient Mari Lwyd Festival which takes place at New Year in the historic village of Llangnwyd to the world’s biggest Elvis Festival Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve Bridgend is home to the highest dune in Wales Parc Slip Nature Reserve itself is an area of 300 acres containing a fantastic mix of habitats such as grassland restored from its previous status as an opencast coal mine Kenfig NNR (includes the area of sand dunes and Kenfig Pool) are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is set on the edge of this beautiful sand dune nature reserve Whether you are a family in search of fun and adventure in the fresh air or a walker who wants to escape to the wonderful Welsh countryside you’ll find it all in abundance at Bryngarw Country Park This historic building erected in 1881 and now a grade II listed building The Town Hall provides a 550-seat theatre as well as housing six of the great Welsh artist paintings Easily accessible from most parts of the UK and Europe the county borough benefits from excellent transport links including three junctions on the M4 motorway stations on the main London - Swansea rail line and a short journey to Cardiff-Wales International Airport It is 246 square kilometres in size and has a population of 145,500 (source ONS) Housing in the area ranges from picturesque stone built cottages full of character to beautifully equipped executive homes in modern housing developments Prices for housing represent exceptional value for money with prices in Wales generally being lower than in other parts of the UK bus routes and other amenities form part of new developments Educational standards in the county borough are high with first class schools achieving excellent results Discover the brands you love at McArthur Glen Designer Outlet There are over 90 high-street and designer brands and plenty of places for a coffee or lunch during your shopping trip the centre offers a wide range of shops from clothing and beauty products to stationery and cookware. Combine that with free parking The cinema and covered children’s play area mean it’s a fun day out for families Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email KEEPING Wales on the move through a sustainable train network has been the driving force behind a pioneering apprenticeship programme… MORE than 60,000 extra journeys have been made on the Ebbw Vale line since the launch of new services to… Great Western Railway will provide 11 extra trains and more than 6,000 additional seats for fans attending Saturday’s Wales v… Bridgend County Borough boasts thriving communities that live and work in the busy market towns of Bridgend and Maesteg and the seaside resort of Porthcawl People in Wales are renowned for their welcoming nature and the county borough offers a home to people of all nationalities with faith groups for all religions and specialist food shops for all cultures Our county borough is a great place to live Bridgend County Borough has excellent transport links between Swansea and London Bridgend to London Paddington can made in just over two hours and Cardiff is only 20 mins by train There are also direct train links to the Midlands from Bridgend train station Cardiff International Airport is only 30 minutes-drive from county borough with over 50 direct flights and more than 900 connections worldwide Conveniently located off three main junctions of the M4 and a 30-minute drive from Cardiff and Swansea city centres commuting to and from Bridgend is quick and efficient The council is one of the county borough’s largest employers we offer a range of benefits designed to attract People living in the Maesteg valley are set to benefit from brand new trains after their introduction this week (19 Feb) Trenau newydd sbon ar linell Maesteg the Class 197 fleet have been cleared to operate on the Maesteg line down into Bridgend and across to Cheltenham Spa via Cardiff The trains are part of an £800 million investment by Transport for Wales to upgrade rolling stock Chief Customer and Culture Officer Marie Daly said the trains would offer a “vastly improved customer experience” She said: “These brand-new trains offer greater capacity and reliability and will be a marked improvement on what customers have had before “The Maesteg line is a key part of our network so I’m delighted that the people along the route will be able to travel on our brand-new trains and enjoy the benefits they bring “Our Maesteg services run through Cardiff Central and across to Cheltenham Spa so getting these new trains on the route is another important milestone as we continue with our vision to create customer focused services and to encourage people to choose sustainable travel options “This will be a vastly improved customer experience and I look forward to seeing customers onboard soon.” The Class 197 fleet began it’s roll out last year with 77 ordered via Spanish manufacturer CAF who have set up a factory in Newport to assemble their UK trains The Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport but communities across Wales are now benefitting from our £800m investment in new rolling stock “We want to make it easier for people to choose rail and these brand new providing a much-improved experience for passengers travelling to and from Maesteg.” They will become the backbone of the mainline fleet and can run in formations between 2 and 6 carriages Following the introduction to Maesteg and Cheltenham we expect the trains to be launched on the Ebbw Vale line and the Pembroke Dock line in time for the summer and on the Cambrian line in 2025 As more arrive they will continue to replace the older trains but customers may see both operating as our transition continues Not a Journalist? Please visit our contact page GOV.WALES uses cookies which are essential for the site to work Non-essential cookies are also used to tailor and improve services Welsh Government is providing £6 million to support WEPA UK’s expansion plans which will see 54 new jobs created and hundreds protected at its site in Maesteg This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government Economy Minister Ken Skates said the funding from Welsh Government’s Economy Futures Fund will be crucial in seeing the firm’s site developed into a fully integrated papermill A new paper machine will enable the company which is one of the leading suppliers of household paper in the UK to produce an additional 65,000 tons a year of toilet paper and kitchen towels for the British market The announcement comes as Welsh Government this week launched its economic resilience and reconstruction mission which sets out how it will work to rebuild Wales’ post coronavirus (COVID-19) economy so that it values and prioritises wellbeing and helps every person in Wales to realise their potential “WEPA is a vitally important employer in the region and the £6 million Welsh Government is investing will be crucial in supporting the local economy at what continues to be an incredibly difficult time “I am delighted that our investment will help the business create good-quality jobs as the volume and variety of products produced by the business increases I launched our Economic Reconstruction and Resilience Mission which sets out how we will rebuild and reconstruct the Welsh economy post pandemic We are clear that supporting businesses like WEPA to innovate and make maximum use of cutting edge technology will be key to Wales’ future economic success “Today’s announcement further demonstrates our determination to pursue prosperity for all and help our firms to succeed and thrive “WEPA UK Ltd has worked with Welsh Government on this major project since the concept was first considered and we are grateful for the continuous support we have received this is a fantastic development for our UK business particularly for the local community in which we operate our UK-wide customers and our employees who can now plan for the future with increased confidence “This investment provides state of the art additional production capacity with an important quality upgrade to our product offering; it will also drive our site operations to the leading edge of sustainability in our industry “The project offers employment protection for our existing workforce of over 270 Bridgend employees and also creates more than 50 additional jobs at the site “WEPA has also engaged a local principal contractor based in South Wales for project construction "Our willingness to invest in state-of-the-art technology is an important part of our future-oriented Group strategy UK remains an important growth market for us in Europe despite COVID-19 and Brexit With the planned investments we will be able to meet our customers' expectations in terms of product quality and sustainability even better in the future It is important to us to produce for our customers in the UK in their own country For the Bridgend site this means a doubling of production capacity Earlier this month saw the first patients arrive at Maesteg Community Hospital’s brand new Glaucoma clinic Comprising of two refurbished clinical rooms kitted out with state of the art ophthalmology equipment offering patients from the Maesteg area and beyond an opportunity to have the same level of glaucoma care as they are used to at The Princess of Wales Hospital Members of the Princess of Wales Glaucoma Team The clinical information collected at Maesteg is sent electronically to senior staff at The Princes of Wales to review making the service both safe and economical to run The first patients were appreciative of the calm and airy surroundings ease of parking and professionalism of the staff said “It is so good to see this lovely local hospital being used for services like this It’s very convenient for me and much easier than getting into Bridgend.” was the first patient to be seen at the clinic earlier this month Cookies are small text files saved on your phone tablet or computer when you visit a website These cookies enable core functionality such as page navigation and access to secure areas The website cannot function properly without these cookies and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences Consent for some third party cookies can not be automatically revoked Please follow the link below if you want to opt out of them We may use third party tools such as Google Analytics and similar to help us anonymously measure how you use our websites This allows us to make improvements based on our users\' needs These tools set cookies that store anonymised information about how you got to the site we will be continuing positive engagement with organisations politicians and residents of the Llynfi Valley as the next phase of our exciting Heathy Futures Maesteg programme gets underway In early January, we gathered extensive views on ways to better meet the health and care needs of the local population, including a future plan for developing Maesteg Community Hospital. Here are the top five health and care priorities identified for the Llynfi Valley A public information event is planned for Thursday 25th May (6.30pm-8pm) at Maesteg RFC. Please register here Join our conversation on social media #HealthFuturesMaesteg Neath and Maesteg served up some decent pre-Christmas entertainment for a small crowd of wet-weather supporters were comfortable winners by 4 tries to nil – hooker and captain for the day Aled Morris and scrum-half Chris Morgans crossing for first-half tries both converted by Ed Howley who thus passed 100 points for the season the full back scored a try which he converted himself and after wingers Aaron Grabham and James Williams both lost the ball in the act of touching down in the wet two young Neath players making their first starts showed distinct promise – Callum Jones at tight head prop was the fulcrum of a very powerful scrum while Swansea University student Tom Hayward roved the field to great effect Matthew Pearce and Rory Morgan-Williams were threatening runners while young Tom Sadler (Crynant) and centre Richard Cunniffe showed good skills in difficult conditions never gave up the ghost and acquitted themselves well and the good feeling between the clubs was underlined afterwards when Neath touch judge for the day John Roberts was re-united with Maesteg great Ray “Chico” Hopkins – the pair played together in the first-ever Wales ‘B’ game in Paris in 1970 “We were encouraged by Wednesday evening’s 40-23 win against Cardiff and to score six tries in the rain was a good effort We still have a lot to work on and need to keep playing so Maesteg will be a good challenge for us “Neath’s Former Players are gathering pre-match for their Christmas get-together and they will testify that Maesteg have always been a robust side “The current team is very well coached by Matthew McCarthy and Karl Hocking and they are capable of causing us problems Several of their players have Premiership experience too so it should be a keen game.” Matthew Pearce comes in at centre with James Williams (Neath Athletic) on the wing and Chris Morgans takes over at scrum-half Callum Jones gets the nod at tight-head prop after several promising shows from the bench and he will have Aled Morris alongside him at hooker as captain Rhys Jones and Lyndon Bateman come into the second row with Tom Hayward in the back row Crynant’s Tom Sadler re-appears and is joined by Bonymaen’s Richard Cunniffe and Neath Athletic’s Joseph Williams Under-16’s free) is one of few games on locally due to the WRU Plate and four Maesteg School learners arrived at Buckingham Palace to meet His Majesty in recognition of them winning The Prince’s Trust Community Impact Award The award honours young people who have demonstrated significant personal growth and overcome barriers to improve their future through a Prince’s Trust education programme celebrating UK and international winners of The Prince’s Trust shone a light on the efforts of the teenagers and their classmates  As part of The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme the group had set up a sustainable project - recycling and packaging school uniforms that could be returned to the community for free and packaged more than 50 pieces of uniform and repackaged the unclaimed items so families in need could collect them as part of a uniform swap shop The pupils learned how to work as a team through the project using different ‘stations’ another pupil was always ready to step in and help said: “The project showed that by working together we could help others in our community It has given us even more confidence and encouraged us to think about developing new ideas for our community.” The Prince's Trust gives young people the skills and confidence needed to thrive in life Three in four young people helped by The Prince’s Trust around the world move into work TK Maxx and Homesense have been partners of The Prince’s Trust since 2013 presented the Maesteg School students to His Majesty who is Founder and President of The Prince’s Trust Ryan and their classmates at Maesteg School are exceptionally worthy of this award  Their idea to help their fellow students and the wider community with the recycling of school uniforms is ingenious They have shown that as a team their hard work and imagination can make a real difference “Their project has enabled them to increase their confidence I’ve no doubt their families and school community are very proud of their achievement said: “We are humbled by the success of Ethan “I am exceptionally proud of this remarkable group of young people who have created the Uniform Swap Shop where they provide recycled school uniform to help with affordability to support our community during these hard times.  “Their resilience and determination have made this community project a huge success and earned them the title of The Prince’s Trust Community Impact Award Winners nothing less than what these exceptional young people deserve “They should be proud of their achievements and for putting Maesteg School on the map who continue to go above and beyond for our students with their time and support Wales Community and Business News from Need To See it Maesteg Division proud to host celebrations for St John Ambulance Cymru 100 year anniversary St John Ambulance Cymru is celebrating 100 years of Cadets in Wales The celebrations kicked off at St John Ambulance Cymru’s Maesteg Division the location of Wales’ first ever St John Ambulance Cymru Cadet group The St John Ambulance Cymru Cadet programme not only aims to teach the young people of Wales vital first aid skills required to save a life but it also provides young people with wider skills which they can take into their professional and personal lives Since the first Cadet Division was formed in Maesteg on 12th March 1923 the Cadet programme has given young people across Wales a chance to give back to their communities by being there for people in times of need The celebrations took place earlier this month at the Division’s hall in Maesteg town centre Attendees looked through the various historical artifacts on display from vintage first aid kits to letters and photographs of Cadets in the past the Prior for Wales and 16-year-old Mali Stevenson the St John Ambulance Cymru National Cadet of the Year Both reflected on the history of the Cadet programme and its importance today Mali spoke about her experiences being a Cadet: “Being a St John Ambulance Cymru Cadet has massively helped to increase my confidence and communication skills I have had the privilege of meeting many other young people as part of my journey and wouldn’t be the person I am today without my experiences with them.” “We can all be thankful to everyone here today who have allowed the Cadet community to flourish and expand over the past 100 years” “You have all made being a Cadet such a rewarding experience and I’m sure I can speak for all Cadets when I say that we are very grateful for your efforts St John Ambulance Cymru is a vital service and what this organisation does to inspire participation from young people is incredible Young People’s Development Officer for St John Ambulance Cymru helped to arrange the reception “The event helped us to showcase the Division and thank our current volunteers for their dedication to our organisation.” “Without the hard work of past and present volunteers the Maesteg Cadet unit wouldn’t have been able to continue We’re so looking forward to the rest of our centenary year celebrating the hard work of our adult volunteers and the achievements of Cadets across Wales.” The reception marked the start of a whole year of celebration for the Cadet centenary. To find out more about the Cadet programme, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/cadets we do not ‘recommend’ or endorse any business or products shown on this site We would like to thank our image providers: Canva Storyblocks Deposit Photos Freepik Pixabay Pexels Unsplash As well as the many talented photographers whose work is shared by storytellers and credited in the story Want us to cover your news?  We ask for a small admin fee to cover our costs.  Please email: laura.lewis@newsfromwales.com For advertorial or guest post services, please contact: guestpostservices@newsfromwales.com You are welcome to send news releases to news@newsfromwales.com If you need to contact our admin/management team about something other than news, please email premium@newsfromwales.com The information provided by this news site is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for appropriate professional or legal advice All information on the Site is provided in good faith however we make no representation or warranty of any kind availability or completeness of any information on the Site We use Javascript to set most of our cookies Unfortunately Javascript is not running on your browser so you cannot change your settings using this page To control your cookie settings using this page try turning on Javascript in your browser We use essential cookies to make this website work and additional cookies to optimise functionality and experience We use industry-standard web analytics tool to measure how you use the website so we can improve it based on our user needs These tools set cookies that store anonymised information about: For the promotion of our services we may use retargeting cookies They may be set by ourselves or third parties These cookies allow us or the third parties to display promotional material (for example advertisements) to you on other websites you visit to measure the performance of promotional material and content and derive insights about those who viewed them These cookies do things like remember your preferences and the choices you make to personalise your experience of using the site Find out more about cookies of developmentbank.wales Important update: changes to online applications - If you haven’t started or completed your application yet, please review the updated information to avoid any disruptions. Find out more Maesteg Care Home in Mountain Ash has a new owner With micro loan funding from the Development Bank of Wales a mortgage from Barclays Bank and personal funding Doctor Neelanjan Bhaduri has purchased the business which is home to 11 residents over the age of 65 The detached property is set in extensive mature grounds on the southern side of Aberdare Road Having been a residential care home for over 20 years, Maesteg Care Home is managed by Melanie Cryer and employs 17 local staff. The team provides 24-hour care, convalescent care and respite. Doctor Neelanjan Bhaduri has acquired the business from Linda Ackroyd with immediate effect. He said: “Maesteg Care Home gives residents a home for life in their local community. Melanie and her team work hard to provide support and personal care with a caring and warm approach that is appreciated by the residents and their families alike. “This  offers me the perfect opportunity to focus on providing high standard residential care for local people with best possible quality of life in an environment that is clean, comfortable, safe and welcoming.   “I am very grateful to Rhiannon and the team at the development bank for their invaluable help and assistance. It is their flexibility and understanding that has enabled me to take advantage of this great business and lifestyle opportunity. ” Rhiannon Brewer is a senior investment executive with the micro loan team at the Development Bank of Wales. She added: “We can help professionals like Doctor Bhaduri to invest in business opportunities with flexible loans that are tailored to meet exact needs. “The role of care is central to strong communities which is why Welsh Government has made care one of the foundation sectors supported by the Economic Action Plan.  It is always particularly rewarding to support businesses with social purpose as they play an important role in growing our economy inclusively, spreading opportunity and promoting well-being. We wish Doctor Bhaduri every success.” The Wales Micro-business Loan Fund is backed by Welsh Government. Loans between £1,000 and £50,000 are available for small businesses and sole traders based in Wales with repayment terms ranging between one to ten years. Get in touch with our dedicated investment team to find out more or if you think you're investment ready apply today.  Please don't include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Pupils from Bridgend County have been recognised for giving used school uniforms a new lease of life Children at Ysgol Maesteg have been working on a sustainable project turning old clothes into good as new leading them to win a prestigious Prince’s Trust Award folded and packaged more than fifty pieces of uniform and repackaged the unclaimed items The aim then is that the clothes can be returned to the community for free to help families through the cost-of-living Crisis “It's really important because some people struggle more than others and people will struggle to get uniform and people will be struggling for other stuff such as food and paying bills” This project is part of The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme which Ysgol Maesteg has been running since 2018 The programme supports young people referred to the course The course includes a community project unit where the young people come up with an idea to work together build their skills and support the local community Jack Said: “We were aware that some people in our community could not afford to replace their child’s school uniforms regularly because they’re struggling with the cost of living "So we thought that might be a good way to help - by recycling the uniforms and offering them to students who needed them We wanted the uniforms to look new and something that a student would be happy to wear.” surprised her students by announcing they won the National Award of the Prince’s Trust on top of the award they already received for Wales: I'm so happy to see their faces of how proud they are of the work that they've done” we have lots of like lost property that has been here for years over time instead of just being donated to charity shops or thrown away "I thought that I could teach some of the pupils some life skills as well as being able to give back to their community "So it's been a really nice project to run with them They've massively built their confidence while doing it as well as being able to look after themselves when they leave school” The group learned how to work as a team through the project with different “stations” and if one pupil was ever struggling Ryan another student on the project said: "I like helping others who don't have uniforms and I also enjoy working together as a team using communication and helping friends when they are stuck on anything” The Group will be going to London soon to pick up their National Award Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know.. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has announced plans to upgrade and invest in both inpatient and outpatient facilities at Maesteg Community Hospital Essential maintenance will start on the roof of the inpatient building in coming weeks and will be followed by a significant upgrading of Llynfi ward in the summer Llynfi ward was closed late last year with staff and patients being accommodated at the Bridgend based field hospital This has opened up a unique opportunity for the Health Board to carry out major improvement works at the Maesteg Community Hospital site It is proposed that the estimated £1.6m investment into inpatient facilities will ensure that the ward is brought up-to-date with modern standards and bed spacing in line with latest infection control guidance and creating a much improved and safer environment Ysbyty’r Seren will continue to retain dedicated bed spaces for Bridgend patients who would have been cared for in Maesteg Community Hospital while the work to Maesteg Hospital is undertaken The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fantastic outpatient resource available to services within the Maesteg and Bridgend area in addition to the work to the inpatient areas will also be investing in expanding the outpatient area of the hospital of the improvement works The development will include an increase in size and capacity of the current outpatient facility and will allow more specialist services to provide access to patients in the Llynfi Valley and surrounding area The plans for the development of Maesteg Community Hospital will be developed in conjunction with the local community and involve the Maesteg Hospital League of Friends This will ensure that hospital facilities meet the future needs of the communities in Maesteg and the wider Bridgend area and we work together towards a longer term development of a health and well being park Chair of CTM UHB Marcus Longley commented: “We are committed to investing in and reshaping our facilities at Maesteg Hospital The Hospital is a valued asset to everyone in the community and we want to ensure that it provides a safe and modern environment for the future We will be engaging with the local community to ensure that the developments in outpatients in particular reflect their needs.” On the pitch he is still in the early stages of mastering the dark arts of the front row while off it he is studying for a Master degree in Opera This week he made a permanent transfer from Pontypridd to Maesteg Harlequins and head coach Dean Ronan is hoping he will be able to find the time to play in today’s WRU Championship Cup clash with Neath at The Gnoll The Quins have proved mighty opponents to date this season winning their two games to top the Pool C table They opened their account with a 32-23 home win over Neath and then went to Tata Steel and triumphed 17-7 A hat-trick of wins would see them handily placed in Pool to progress to the knock-out stages and continue their rise through the ranks Jenkins hopes to help in that process and then raise a tune to celebrate “We are delighted to announced that Rhydian has now joined us on a permanent basis from Pontypridd He is no stranger to the club having played nine matches on permit over the past four seasons,” said a club statement “He holds a unique record in never having lost in a Quins jersey and long may that continue He has also had experience of playing in the Premiership with Cross Keys.” A Tenor who is currently studying MA Opera at the David Seligman Opera School at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff under the tuition of Adrian Thompson and John Fisher he is building a big reputation for himself on the stage he played the roles of Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte) and Basilio (Le Nozze di Figaro) in the college’s Winter Opera Gala and followed that with the roles of Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville) and Basilio (The Marriage of Figaro) in the socially distanced Spring Opera productions Earlier this year he also worked with the Wales National Opera at the Millennium Centre It is all a step up in the singing world from his earliest performances at both Wales’ Urdd and National Eisteddfods where he achieved notable success earning over 80 national prizes He has also been a TV regular on S4CV shows such as ‘Heno’ ‘Noson Lawen’ and ‘Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol’ Now he hopes to be able to add The Gnoll to a list of impressive venues at which he has previously performed “It’s great that Rhydian has joined us full-time and he’s clearly a quality player He will add strength in depth at hooker for us where he will be fighting it out with Jay and Cam for the jersey,” said Quins coach Ronan “Obviously he has other commitments alongside his rugby with his singing but we are hoping he is going to be able to manage that to allow us to see a lot more of him in a Quins jersey.” Neath recovered some poise in a friendly at Gilfach Goch The starting line-up for this weekend shows several changes Alun Jones returns to the back row to pack down alongside skipper Owain Morgan Cross keys will have to be at their best to challenge unbeaten Bargoed in Pool A while Ystalyfera will be hoping it is third time lucky when they head to Narberth in Pool D © 2025 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union It will hopefully be a case of “third time lucky” when Neath and Maesteg Harlequins try again at The Gnoll on Tuesday evening (kick off 7.15pm) the fixture having been postponed twice – last week and earlier in December when frost intervened A bonus point win against Maesteg Harlequins would see Neath on equal points with Pontypool at the top of the WRU Championship again-  if only for a short tenure – and the Blacks know that they must keep winning (with bonus points) to keep Bargoed at bay Maesteg Harlequins were well beaten 11-49 at Beddau on Saturday but they always do well against Neath who will need to be on their guard as they expect the Quins to strengthen with a few permit players Neath make three changes from the side named for last week’s postponed game Regular skipper Ryan Evans returns with Owain Morgan fit again in the back row where he is joined by the third Kneath brother Fergus who starts alongside Evan and Morgan for the first time – a case of “Kneath Neath are still awaiting Ystrad Rhondda to agree a date for the re-arranged fixture the full list of remaining fixtures is now :- Sat     Apr    29      Maesteg Harlequins         A        2.30pm        Championship Sat     May      6      Glamorgan Wanderers     A        2.30pm        Championship Wed   May    10      Cross Keys                       H       7.15pm        Championship Wed   May    17      Cross Keys                       A        7.15pm        Championship Sat     May    20      Beddau                           A        2.30pm        Championship This section of the route is a mixture of off and on-road the route largely follows the line of the Ogmore River taking you to the small village of Aberkenfig Here it joins with Route 4 which travels west to Port Talbot or east to Pontypridd follow a short on-road section before taking a left at the bridge towards Maesteg Comprehensive School where you’ll pick up the traffic-free trail you will find the wonderful new land artwork which has been designed to attract new wildlife into the area You’ll also discover an impressive hand-carved oak bench and the first of a series of 10 stone waymarkers both inscribed with extracts of poetry written by children from Maesteg Comprehensive School about the beautiful Valleys landscapes Continue towards Caerau taking in the stunning views and six more stone waymarkers which have been subtly dotted along the trail You can also stop off at the BMX centre – one of the few national-standard BMX tracks in the UK The route connects with the Afan Valley Route at Croes Erw where you can travel to the Afan Forest Park Visitor Centre over a few short hills We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes Walking and cycling routes change over time Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability experience and confidence levels of those in your group Route 885 is part of the National Cycle Network Your donation today will help keep the Network safe and open for everyone to enjoy Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square