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Find out more 21-year-old Freya Curtis has opened the first LGBTQ+ themed bar in Merthyr Tydfil with the help of a £35,000 loan from the Development Bank of Wales to part-fund start-up costs.  Sparkles is already proving popular with the local community Four part-time jobs have been created.  As the daughter of Marnie and Matthew Curtis who run Merthyr Tydfil Labour Club Freya has grown-up in the hospitality industry She worked for her parents before deciding to start her own business venture.  Freya said: “I’ve learnt so much from my parents about how to run a successful hospitality business They inspired me to set-up on my own and as a member of the local LGBTQ+ community I knew that there was a real gap in the market for a themed bar in Merthyr and I am very grateful to everyone for their support.  “I might only be 21 but having the backing of my parents and the Development Bank has given me the confidence to go it alone I hope my story inspires others to start their own journey as a young entrepreneur.” Jessica White is a Senior Investment Executive with the Development Bank She said: “Our flexible funding is available for young entrepreneurs to help them start up successful businesses in Wales we have supported over 100 young people aged 18-30 years old in the last year who have a strong business plan and plenty of passion to turn their self-employed dream into reality Ambitious young entrepreneurs like Freya are an important part of our economy so we’re pleased to support this new business ventures and wish her every success.” The loan for Sparkles Bar came from the £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund the Fund is for deals between £25,000 and £10 million and equity investments are available for Welsh businesses with terms of up to 15 years Please don't include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details 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 Councillors in Merthyr Tydfil have voiced their support for a “once in a lifetime” £300 million ski slope development – going against the advice of council officers The Rhydycar West development includes plans for an indoor snow centre The plans also include up to 418 hotel rooms Marvel Ltd has submitted the planning application which covers land to the south west of the A470/A4102 roundabout At Merthyr Tydfil Council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday March 12 councillors voted against planning officer recommendations to refuse the plans It means the development will now go to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) to consider whether to call it in Those behind the project have said it could create 842 jobs when up and running and bring around £300m of investment into the local area The site has historically been used for industrial activities canal and railway features still present on site There are some Scheduled Ancient Monuments and a Grade II listed building – and the site forms part of the Merthyr Tydfil Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest The site also includes the Cwmglo and Glyndyrus site of special scientific interest (SSSI) the Rhydycar West Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and some woodland which is covered by a tree preservation order. A network of public rights of way also crosses through the site and extends into the surrounding area Blaencanaid Farm has been proposed as an area to mitigate for any ecological loss that cannot be provided within the site The applicant has submitted what’s called a sequential site search to justify the choice of Rhydycar West as the location for the proposal There were 141 public letters of support and 23 objections submitted to the local authority related to the application At the committee meeting it was confirmed a further 282 letters of support and two letters of objection had been submitted and there had been a petition in favour Those supporting the development highlighted the potential economic benefits to the area Councillor Clive Jones said it is by far the largest application that has come before the committee for decades and he has had more representations of support for this than any other application in 21 years those opposed highlighted the possible negative impact on the landscape Other concerns included potential ground movement and damage to existing mineshafts in the area as well as the impact on drainage and watercourses planning officers cited the loss of part of the Cwm Glo and Glyndyrus SSSI They also raised concerns over mitigation measures against the impact on the Rhydycar West SINC as well as the scale of the project – which it argues would cause an “unacceptable adverse visual impact on the landscape setting of the county borough” Their report concluded: “On balance the potential economic and social benefits including employment creation and enhanced leisure facilities would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site.” In March 2024 the council received a letter from Welsh Government advising that “Welsh Ministers have been asked to call in the application… The council was therefore directed to “not to grant planning permission” for this or “any development of the same kind… which is proposed on any site forming part of or includes the land to which the application relates without the prior authorisation of the Welsh ministers” This direction prevents the authority only from granting planning permission it does not prevent the authority from continuing to process or consult on the application and neither does it prevent the authority from refusing planning permission 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 Cranes have been brought in to stabilise the chasm on Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, which emerged on Sunday It has now grown to about 17ft (5.2m) wide and is believed to be as deep as 50ft (15.2m) Footage from drones flying over the street show the Nant Morlais stream flowing through the gap There were plans to return evacuated residents to their homes today but that has now been put on hold ShareSaveCCTV shows head attacking love rival teacher with wrenchAnthony Felton is jailed for attacking his friend and colleague in his office at school. Man recalls moment car turned into 'ball of flames'Tony Johnson pulled a driver from a burning car after a crash with two vehicles in Bodfari. Watch: Labour MP criticises gender ideology 'damage'Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi says Welsh government and others were "captured" by LGBT charities. Race Across the World 'much harder than we thought'Sioned Cray and Fin Gough thought they were prepared for the challenge of the reality TV show. Party time in Merthyr as Martyrs clinch promotionThe fan-owned club won the Southern Premier League South title with victory at Penydarren Park. Paddleboard tour victims' families pay tributeFour people died after paddleboarding in "extremely hazardous conditions" on the River Cleddau. Judge sentences river death paddleboard firm ownerWatch as a judge sentences Nerys Bethan Lloyd for the gross negligence manslaughter of four people. Footage shows firm owner at paddleboard death sceneWatch as Nerys Bethan Lloyd tells police what happened during a fatal paddleboarding incident. 'He was a great listener to everyone'Bishop of Wrexham Peter Brignall and Mark O'Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, pay their respects. Watch as stranded dog rescued from cliff edgeEmber became stuck after chasing after a ball while out walking along a coastal path with her owner. Dangerous driver involved in 'shocking' crashSwansea Crown Court heard that Peter Gilmore had 44 previous convictions for 104 offences. Watch: Life raising a toddler with 'butterfly skin'Protecting Albi's skin is a daily battle for parents as it can blister or tear from any friction. Watch: 'Disgusting' vandalism of owl sanctuaryOwl sanctuary toilets targeted by vandals. Watch the moment thieves take charity truckOasis Cardiff, which supports refugees and asylum seekers, says the truck was crucial to its work. Watch: Can you spot a fake football shirt?Vintage football shirt expert, Daniel Rees, explains how to keep your money safe from fakes. How a Welsh uni helps F1 star reach top speedFormula One season favourite Lando Norris is put through his paces at Swansea University. 'Blaring' wildfire burns close to homes Crews have been battling wildfires across Wales, with firefighters described as "on their knees". Watch: E-bike riders caught using police drone Police in Newport use a surveillance drone to spot a group of e-bikers on city streets. Rugby fans react to Cardiff administration newsThe Welsh Rugby Union is in line to take over the regional side. Watch: Massive wildfire filmed from aboveFirefighters are striving to get a huge blaze under control after it started four days ago. Cameras caught the moment the wall disappeared into the hole which appeared on the driveway of a bungalow on Nant Morlais Estimated to be 30-40ft (9-12m) deep and five metres (16ft) wide it also swallowed up part of the pavement and road About 30 homes had to be evacuated and one local described the situation as "very scary" now 17ft (5.2m) wide.","thumbnailUrl":["https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1920x1080/p0k9dc7b.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1232x1232/p0k9dc7b.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p0k9dc7b.jpg","https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/400xn/p0k9dc7b.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2024-12-06T16:52:04.178Z","duration":"PT58S"}Cranes work to stabilise growing sinkholeThis video can not be played CloseWork to stabilise the expanding sinkhole in Merthyr Tydfil is ongoing as Wales prepares itself for a weekend of storms Cranes have been brought in to stabilise the chasm on Nant Morlais in Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, which emerged on Sunday Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreCranes work to stabilise growing sinkhole 00:00:58Cranes work to stabilise growing sinkhole 0:58Up Next Watch: Wall falls into sinkhole as man interviewed 00:00:43Watch: Wall falls into sinkhole as man interviewed 0:43Sinkhole swallows driveway outside home 00:00:19Sinkhole swallows driveway outside home 0:19Watch burst drain during Storm Bert tear road open 00:00:15Watch burst drain during Storm Bert tear road open 0:15Editor's recommendationsWatch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:40Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:40Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released CloseThis striking footage shows the sinkhole that opened on a housing estate in Merthyr Tydfil About 30 homes were evacuated after the sinkhole appeared on a cul-de-sac in Pant on Sunday One resident said he heard "rumbling and collapsing" and feared he could lose his home Those evacuated have now been told they may not be able to return to their homes until after Christmas Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionEditor's recommendationsSinkhole swallows driveway outside home 0:19Up Next Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz JavaScript is not enabled on this browser. For best viewing experience of this website, please enable JavaScript. Sorry, we cannot find your current location. Please enter a place name in the search bar. After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK, higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend, with cooler weather and isolated s… Fine and settled under the influence of high pressure. Widely dry and fine after a chilly start. Plenty of sunshine for all, though eastern counties turning cloudier later in the afternoon. Feeling warm in the sunshine with light winds, though a little cooler in coastal communities. Maximum temperature 17 °C. Remaining dry and settled tonight, with cloud clearing to leave a rather chilly night. Some frost in rural spots, but not as widely cold as previous nights. Minimum temperature 3 °C. Another settled day bringing a mixture of cloudy skies and sunny spells. Feeling warm, especially in any brighter breaks, with light winds and temperatures a little above the early-May average. Maximum temperature 19 °C. The remainder of the week will see high pressure dominating. It will stay dry with sunshine at times. Though a breeze develops again, temperatures will be on the warm side. Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period. Overall, fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers, with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places. Overall, temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average. CloseWork has started to fill a sinkhole which forced about 30 homes to be evacuated their homes in Merthyr Tydfil The sinkhole opened up on Nant Mortlais in Pant on 1 December, after extensive flooding and rain caused by Storm Bert The first residents returned home on Wednesday when the hole was estimated to be at its largest at 40ft (12m) deep and 33ft (10m) - but engineers reiterated the site was now safe Merthyr Tydfil council said it was hopeful all homeowners would be home by the middle of next week once the hole is filled and utility is restored in the remaining homes Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionEditor's recommendationsRepair work begins after sinkhole nightmare 00:00:31Repair work begins after sinkhole nightmare 0:31Up Next The sinkhole opened up on Nant Mortlais in Pant on 1 December, after extensive flooding and rain caused by Storm Bert The first residents returned home on Wednesday Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council have partnered with Sustrans Cymru to deliver the E-Move project to local businesses and people Credit: Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Thanks to a new partnership between Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and Sustrans Cymru e-bikes are now available to borrow for free to businesses and people in the Merthyr Tydfil area Originally a pilot project delivered in other parts of Wales E-Move has now been rolled out to Merthyr Tydfil with businesses and individuals able to borrow an e-bike for free Speaking on the launch of E-Move in Merthyr Tydfil "This e-bikes project will help businesses provide a sustainable mode of transport for their employees and work towards reducing their carbon footprint supporting the Council's commitment to becoming net zero by 2030 "We hope that this project will also support the reduction of traffic in the area "It's not just businesses who will benefit from this either - people living in Merthyr Tydfil can also borrow one of the ten e-bikes available "Sustrans' project officers will also give you training to make sure you're confident in using the e-bike before you borrow one." This initiative has been fully funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) which is administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council The aim of the SPF scheme is to support the levelling up of all parts of the UK and its has committed over £2.6bn funding for local investment across Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland by the end of March 2025 restore sense of community and empower communities Local businesses like The Butchers Arms in Ponsticill can now borrow an e-bike for free through E-Move "The e-bikes give us a unique opportunity to provide services to our community whilst maintaining our decarbonisation pledge "It allows us to add a raft of facilities to our business allowing us to offer food delivery services - possibly even grocery services - to our small "It's fantastic that we're able to bring E-Move to Merthyr this is a real hub in the south Wales valleys that will benefit from a project like this "E-Move gives people the chance to try an e-bike for free it gives them the freedom and space to try them out for themselves "We're really proud to be working in Merthyr Tydfil sustainable and cheap mode of transport - you can charge the batteries at home or at work and get around quickly and easily they can take you further than a standard bike and they make it so much easier to deal with hills." Previous E-Move users have consistently reported improvements to their fitness as well as increased independence and confidence Individuals can borrow an e-bike for a period of four weeks while businesses and organisations can borrow them for 12 weeks E-Move e-bike borrowing project comes to Abergavenny Analysing the success of the E-Move community e-cycle project Rhyl community bakery benefits from E-Move project E-Move: Piloting e-bike and e-cargo bike loans in Wales 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 Plans for a new restoration scheme for the Ffos y Fran opencast coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil have been revealed has applied for a revised scheme for the final restoration of 285 hectares of land after Merthyr Tydfil Council refused an application to extend the time of operations there The license to extract coal from Ffos y Fran expired in September 2022 local residents reported that the mine was still operating – illegally – many months after this before the site was finally closed in November 2023.  around 11 million tonnes of coal was extracted from the site Merthyr (South Wales) Ltd says it has adopted a more sustainable approach to the restoration The company said the traditional approach to bulk earthworks in the restoration process was now considered outdated and unsustainable and more pragmatic alternatives involving less earthworks were also more affordable Bulk earthworks is a process which involves moving This process is used to prepare land for construction projects It also said that fewer bulk earthworks reduced the use of carbon and potential risks to air quality In the firm’s green infrastructure statement it said fewer bulk earthworks could present an opportunity to restore and create a “more interesting and naturally biodiverse landscape” It explained that many areas of the site had already been progressively restored or remained dormant and undisturbed for some time adding that these areas were starting to show signs of nature recovery The green infrastructure statement also said that wetland habitats had developed in and around ponds and watercourses on the site – with great crested newts recorded in more than half of the ponds Peregrine falcons had also been seen flying over the area while southern marsh orchids had grown in some of the wetlands The statement said: “To implement the original and consented scheme would require significant bulk earthworks the removal of existing ponds and wetlands and inevitable potential disruption to the local environment “The alternative final restoration scheme presents an opportunity to change and improve the approved scheme by implementing a pragmatic and sustainable alternative with significantly less adverse environmental effects and more opportunities for biodiversity enhancements.” The statement argued that implementing the approved scheme would “see the destruction of waterbodies and wetland habitat” – but says the new strategy’s negative impacts are “significantly less” Anthony Lewis – Local democracy reporter Council tax for Merthyr Tydfil residents is set to rise by 5.5% next year The budget and full council tax increase was voted through by full council on Wednesday It means that the amount paid to Merthyr Tydfil Council for a band D property will be £2,083.21 for 2025-26 an extra £108.60 next year or £2.09 per week The budget report said that 84% of the properties within the county borough were valued at bands A to C so a significant proportion of council taxpayers would pay less than £2,083.21 The report added that there would be a range of increases from £1.39 per week at the lowest band A to £4.87 per week at the highest Band I The council’s budget for next year will be worth £172.51m The Welsh Government settlement resulted in a funding increase of 4.9% for Merthyr Tydfil next year Adjustments made in 2024-25 and the 4.9% increase for 2025-26 means there is additional funding of £9.65m for Merthyr Tydfil The council was previously looking at an £8.77m budget gap but this was then reduced to £5.28m taking into account the impact of the revenue settlement and a contribution to the general fund reserves The budget approved by councillors said that no additional savings were required from schools during 2025/2026 but added that due to the ongoing financial challenges faced by local government the budget did not provide the funding required to fully support the schools funding formula due to previous efficiency savings required from the schools delegated budget There will be a standard 2.5% increase in non-regulated fees and charges in line with the rate of inflation on January 1 The budget includes £3.27m of savings from council departments made up of £130,000 from education £637,000 from economy and public protection and £55,000 from governance and resources A savings target of £354,000 is also included through the council’s transformation programme The budget includes the use of £1.5 million of earmarked reserves to help deal with the budget deficit and this will be funded from the surplus in 2023/24 and there is no proposal to use general reserves Councillor Andrew Barry of the Independent group He said: “This for me is the dose of reality in terms of where nationally we stand with a defence budget about to increase to 2.5 and some calls in Europe for 3%.” He said the former administration started its deliberations in May last year and they ended up with an 86 point plan Cllr Barry said: “Transformation doesn’t happen with conversation it happens with action and we’ve missed an opportunity.” He said he didn’t see in the efficiencies anything other than the use of grants and some cuts saying “that’s not good enough Cllr Barry said: “This was a good settlement That next settlement is nine months away in December and it’s going to be catastrophic for this authority if we use the same methods that we’ve used to set this budget.” said the 86-point plan was not their plan and they were not the things they thought they should be implementing going forward but there might be some points they could pick and choose he said they all knew it was unsustainable but the previous administration also used grants independent cabinet member for regeneration and housing said: “We should’ve been working together from the start There should’ve been co-productivity between the groups in what was going on.” He said they were happy to take recommendations on and listen to ideas but they had plans of their own that they wanted to put in place He said he didn’t think it was fair that since they’d only been in administration since September for people to throw fingers and say that this was ridiculous when the current administration had had to pick up the slack because of the failure of the previous one Councillor Geraint Thomas of the Independent group said: “There’s a lot of things in the report which for me are very unclear “Our residents are still living in a cost-of-living crisis He said the things that were unclear for him were the £500,000 plus in terms of additional demands in leisure services and about £300,000 in national insurance contributions for commissioned services He said when you added that up you were talking about £800,000 which was getting close to 3% in council tax so it was about choices He said: “This Labour administration here has chosen to put stuff in the budget which is quite unclear and increase council tax to 5.5% “They could have made different choices and taken some of that away and perhaps put a council tax in around 3% He said the Independent group would not support the budget said: “This is not about cutting services it’s about making them work better for people who rely on them “The team remain committed  to protecting social services and ensure the most vulnerable in our community continue to receive the support they need “Through your tireless efforts we’ve continued to protect essential services while ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently.” said there had been uplifts across the board for each and every department across the local authority which was a positive But he said one swallow didn’t make a summer and one good settlement from Welsh Government would not unravel 14 years of austerity but a 4.9% increase in the revenue settlement grant was “hugely welcome.” He said he was particularly pleased that they’d requested no money from schools to plug the budget deficit as had happened in previous years under the Independent administration Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" 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 provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. CloseA section of garden wall has fallen into a massive sinkhole just as one concerned resident was being interviewed nearby Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreWatch: Wall falls into sinkhole as man interviewed 0:43Up Next 00:00:57What causes sinkholes - in 60 seconds 0:57Editor's recommendationsWatch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz Just 23 miles north of Cardiff sits Merthyr Tydfil - which was the first true iron town in the world The once prosperous town was the source of 40% of Britain's iron exports during the 1820s and even exported iron rails to railways in Russia and South America recent history has not been kind to the historic town The decline of the sprawling ironworks forced the area into a social and economic decline Brighter times may be on the horizon as Merthyr Tydfil moves on from a past of heavy industry to being a property hotspot This is because Merthyr has been identified as an area where house prices are increasing the most in the UK This is a jump from £171,007 in 2023 to £183,550 READ MORE The UK's incredible new £120mn train station set to transform capital city Express.co.uk took to the streets of Merthyr to try to understand why property prices are shooting up Upon walking into the buzzing Haystack cafe it is immediately clear that this is a place where people in the area flock to enjoy good food and a good natter Despite it being a rainy Wednesday afternoon the cafe was buzzing with laughter and chatter Interestingly general manager Kealy Stewart notes that “only 6% of their customers are Merthyr-based” with a lot coming from Cardiff and Swansea Kealy and her fiance recently bought a house in the sought after area of Heolgerrig in Merthyr Thanks to the area's rising house prices the couple were forced to up their budget from £180k to over £200k She said: "My fiance and I struggled to find something within our budget “Some of the houses are not worth what they are being put up for We looked at a new build in the process of being built We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy “We went above £200k, new builds for two beds are starting at £320k. People are coming from outside areas to buy the new affluent houses. “We are a main travel link to Cardiff, you see them all at the train station waiting to commute into the city. The general manager is concerned that rising house prices will be unachievable for locals. “Residents are struggling to get jobs, people here don’t have £40k sitting in their bank here to buy those houses”, says Kealy. She continues: “Merthyr is not up with the cities for wages and job opportunities. “The town itself is forgotten about. Homelessness is a problem here and the derelict buildings may put people off. “However, it has been bustling here throughout January and there are some really good schools here so getting a good education is not an issue." Fernando Freitas, owner of The Portugalles, shares concern that rising prices will cause more homelessness. He says: “There will be more homeless people as they won’t be able to afford the houses because they don’t earn enough money. “Here is somewhere everyone comes, we hold small parties and it is nice to see the locals coming together.” The rising house prices are preventing people like Diana Pais, supervisor at The Crown Inn and a University of South Wales student, from getting on the property ladder. Greeting me with a welcoming smile as soon as I stepped foot in the homely pub, the student expressed that jobs in Merthyr itself are not well paid. “People like me will struggle to buy here now. I don’t see myself moving out anytime soon. The majority of jobs here are minimum wage", says Diana. Diana added that money has been invested into the town and there is “plenty to do” with the area having a “friendly social atmosphere”. This is something Councillor Geraint Thomas, leader of the opposition, agrees with. As we sit in the Anchor Inn, a specialty coffee shop by day and a local watering hole by night, it is easy to see why this may be the case. Hums of friendly hellos and how are you’s fill the air and it is evident that there is a real community aspect to the town. Whilst sipping a coffee Geraint says: “Most people who come in here I know who they are. In some of the cities that are gone and you don’t know who your neighbours are. It is a different way of life. “You can see a change that more people are coming here and I hope that when they do come to Merthyr that they get involved in our society and our cultural roots. It would be a tragedy if we lost that. “Airbnbs are going through the roof here, I think we have more airbnbs than anywhere. When people come to them they use the local businesses and have meals out.” The councillor notes that Merthyr is “lacking in affordable housing”. “We have the highest council tax in Wales and we are lacking in both affordable and affluent housing, says Geraint. He adds: “We need better paid jobs. There are plans for another college campus which would hopefully bring another 500 students into the town centre and create jobs. “The retail parks, such as Cyfarthfa Shopping Park, gobble up the town centre trade. We need people to spend more on the high street.” This is something that Elizabeth Bedford, BID manager, is striving to do. Elizabeth beams as she embraces Geraint in the Anchor Inn making it clear that the pair just want want what’s best for their town. BID, a business-led and business-funded organisation, aims to improve Merthyr Tydfil town centre. In just the five years Elizabeth has hekped attract thousands to the town centre through events such as the hugely popular Chilli & Chocolate Festival and the mouth-watering Merthyr Food Festival. And now Elizabeth has her sights set on creating an app to encourage people to spend in Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre. She says: “We have an event on March 1 to promote the ‘We Love Merthyr app - a loyalty scheme. I want it to become a one stop shop for people coming to the town. “For some of our bigger events we have people coming from a 25 mile radius. I can tell when walking around Chilli & Chocolate Festival that people came here that are not from here. “Everything we do is to get people into the town. We launched the gift card which can only be spent in our town centre. Retail parks don’t do any favours, they’re hugely popular. And they have free parking and there is no free parking in the town centre.” She believes people are realising what “a good investment Merthyr is”. “We’ve got such beauty on our doorstop like Cyfarthfa Castle, we’re on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, and within 45 minutes you could be at the beach", says Elizabeth. Elizabeth adds: “We are hardworking, proud people. There are masses of good but we do have anti-social behaviour problems - this is no different to the cities, it's just more condensed here and is looked at more.” The area’s pride cannot be overlooked - one of the first things I noticed upon arriving in the town centre was a huge iron heart which is around four metres tall and designed by artist David Appleyard. The leaning heart depicts that although Merthyr Tydfil’s heart could have been broken in the past it remains propped-up by the town’s sense of pride. order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated Discount supermarket Lidl has revealed a list of 43 towns and communities across Wales where it would like to open new stores. The retailer is planning a £500 million expansion and has earmarked locations in Powys among “areas of interest” which are desirable for new stores. The company has published its 2025 site requirements brochure, which outlines potential areas for expansion, though the list represents a selection of desirable sites, not confirmed plans for new stores. The three locations in Powys are listed as Brecon, Ystradgynlais, and Builth Wells/Llandrindod Wells - the latter grouped together a single entry. Merthyr Tydfil and Abergavenny are also included on the wish-list. “Our latest site requirements brochure reinforces the scale of our ambition for the future. New Lidl stores mean new jobs, new opportunities for British suppliers, and continued investment into local economies. We’re proud to be one of the fastest-growing supermarkets in the country, and with this investment, we’re taking another big step in our journey.” Comments Tel: 01874 610111[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 05 December, 2024 By A collapsed 19th century culvert that has caused a significant sinkhole in a south Wales village has raised questions over the resilience of ageing infrastructure in the face of climate change is believed to have collapsed after two landslides triggered by Storm Bert last month sent debris crashing through it Households from the Nant Morlais estate in Pant reported hearing “rumblings and bangs” at around 6am on 24 November Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council leader Brent Carter said The residents initially thought this was thunder but it was later understood to be the noise of the culvert collapsing a large ground collapse on the estate was reported to emergency services on Sunday (1 December) The hole has since enlarged and swallowed a sizeable part of the road and a driveway Residents from 29 properties on the estate have been evacuated and roads in the area have been closed as a safety precaution “We have now completed the culvert inspection and no further issues have been identified within the culvert so the collapse is localised to the area of the sinkhole,” the council said in an update yesterday (4 December) Carter said that the sinkhole resulted from the “sheer volume” of material that was washed down from the mountain to the east of the estate during the storm, which caused several landslides and widespread flooding across Wales and other parts of the UK Aerial images of the sinkhole show the stream continuing to flow through the base of the collapse The culvert provides a route for the Morlais brook – also known as the Morlais stream – which flows through several other culverts The earliest part of the culvert was constructed in the 19th century a second phase was added between 1900 and 1910 and a final section was constructed between 1910 and 1957 Emergency work to stabilise the ground collapse has included forming a dam on the brook so the council’s engineering team can install pumps to over-pump the water and stop it flowing through the culvert The council has appointed Edwards Diving Services to carry out the stabilisation work The council is also continuing to use drones to inspect the culvert carry out ground penetration radar surveys to identify further voids and dropping the water level of the New Pond reservoir to the south east of Nant Morlais to stop overflowing water going into the culvert The council has said it aims to have properties at the lower end of the estate’s cul-de-sac back home by the end of this week “We are working with Welsh Water on getting the supply of water back to those properties,” it said yesterday a spokesperson for the British Geological Survey (BGS) confirmed that the ground collapse appeared to be a “collapse sinkhole” They said: “It is likely that the high water levels during Storm Bert (and indeed previous storms) have caused damage to the base of the masonry culvert potentially exposing the foundations to the arch structure itself “The resulting void then propagated up through the overlying unconsolidated fill eventually reaching the surface over a period of days The bangs heard by the residents was the overlying fill and possibly the tunnel lining collapsing The stream has washed some of the material out of the culvert creating space for more material to collapse.” The spokesperson noted the ongoing risk to property and infrastructure if the sinkhole continued to enlarge They observed that the stream at the base of the collapse is “actively eroding and undercutting the fill on the south side of the sinkhole so further damage to the road is likely as the sides slump in” the sinkhole will widen until the sides reach a stable state,” they said Pant’s location on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil caused some to speculate that the ground collapse could be due to a shaft collapse or abandoned workings But ground stability geohazard specialist Clive Edmonds noted that the site is not directly affected by past coal mining beneath as its underlying geology comprises “glacial boulder clay over Carboniferous age Millstone Grit strata” Warren Geotechnical Associates director Colin Warren with extensive engineering geology and ground investigation expertise said that further investigations would be required into the geology and the nature of the underlying soil and strata at the hole location to confirm the cause of the collapse “Investigations should also look into the surrounding groundwater conditions any artesian water or zones of preferential groundwater flow,” he said whether there was a local problem or breach at the culvert location allowing water to escape into and erode the surrounding ground also needs to be investigated who has more than 40 years experience in ground investigation and geotechnics said it would be advisable for the council to undertake a CCTV survey of the culvert to determine if other sections are at risk It should “also consider ground probing radar of the area to determine other possible cavities under formation” Council records show that the mid-section of the Pant culvert beneath the Nant Morlais estate was previously damaged in 2009 A survey conducted by the council’s engineering department in October 2009 revealed “extensive erosion damage to the base of the masonry culvert exposing the foundations to the arch structure itself “A substantial portion of these foundations had also been damaged and a considerable length was missing entirely almost certainly washed away during repeated storm flows,” it said The report also raised concerns about the unpredictability of the culvert’s stability during extreme weather and warned of the likelihood of damage to infrastructure should the culvert collapse “A study of plans dating back to 1900 reveals that the culvert lies in the bed of a now filled valley the fill being of unknown nature and quality The effects of a failure within the culvert during storm conditions cannot therefore be predicted with accuracy as this would depend on depth nature of the fill and of course the extent of the failure itself.” The report stated that any sizeable failure would affect dwellings and infrastructure These repairs were carried out on the culvert in 2010 Additional work was carried out on the culvert in 2015 further north of the sinkhole location A report to the council in 2012 raised further concerns about the state of other ageing culverts across the county borough “Many of these older culverts within the county borough have already reached the end of their serviceable life expectancy and whilst I’m confident that many will remain in good order for years to come it is reasonable to assume that some will not,” the report said “Determining the potential risk of a failure occurring and its likely impact on this authority is not an easy task given that any industry recognised objective analysis (based on life expectancy) of the systems would indicate that the majority of culverts should have already failed.” The geotechnical experts that GE spoke to confirmed that ground collapse sinkholes like the one in Merthyr Tydfil are more common following extreme rainfall events They noted that these events could become more frequent due to climate change and are having a worsening impact on ageing infrastructure – such as Victorian built culverts several culvert collapses have been reported in south Wales over the years During a major flooding event in south Wales in 1979, 146 houses were flooded in the village of Troedyrhiw in Merthyr Tydfil and a major culvert collapsed. In Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, there were two fatalities as a result of a culvert collapse More recently, a collapsed culvert caused a sinkhole to appear beneath a social club in Swansea in August 2023 The sinkhole started as a small void in August 2023 and has grown to around 10m deep It is continuing to cause problems for utility providers Commenting on the recent ground collapse in Nant Morlais Edmonds said: “I think that this is another event that raises questions over the resilience of infrastructure in the face of climate change.” The BGS spokesperson said: “Increased incidences of extreme rainfall will cause more incidents of this nature or infrastructure not designed to cope with extreme flood flows or rainfall events.” They added that heavy rainfall is also a trigger for natural sinkholes that occur when types of rocks below the land surface are naturally dissolved by groundwater circulating through them Want to read more? Subscribe to GE’s enewsletters and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn The British Geological Survey (BGS) has launched a new free-to-use tool designed to aid coastal engineers in managing the increasing risks of coastal erosion and flooding Ground investigations are continuing to determine the cause of a large void in Godstone after surveys detected subsurface “anomalies” near the hole that could be “a series of tunnels” Network Rail has completed a £33M project to stabilise a “large and complex” active landslide that has been disrupting a railway line in County Durham for 150 years WSP has been appointed to a £50M engineering consultancy services contract to support three south Wales councils deliver major infrastructure projects Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion The development of a long-planned £300m indoor snow centre for Rhydcar West near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales currently looks uncertain after local council officials recommended the plans be rejected The development of a long-planned £300m indoor snow centre for Rhydcar West near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales currently looks uncertain Local councillors are due to vote on whether the project should be allowed to go ahead or not this Wednesday but planning officers have recommended that the planning committee refuses the application That advice has surprised locals who seem to overwhelmingly see the plans which would bring lots of jobs and leisure opportunities to the region which has been blighted by declining heavy industry in the region for decades The full plan includes what would be the UK’s new largest indoor snow slope at 300 metres long up to 30 units of woodland lodge accommodation The planning officers are recommending refusal because they say it would result in the loss of part of an area of special scientific interest (SSI) and also does not provide appropriate mitigation and compensation measures in relation to an additional Site of Importance for Nature Conservation  and The planning report adds: “On balance the potential economic and social benefits including employment creation and enhanced leisure facilities would not outweigh the harm identified to the important ecological and landscape value of the site the following recommendation is made to refuse.” “We have worked collaboratively with stakeholders and carefully listened to their feedback The quality of our planning application is both a reflection and testament to the support we have received from so many to bring the development proposals to life Merthyr Tydfil Council’s planning department have been unable to accept the economic case and the benefits the scheme would bring to Merthyr and the surrounding area “It is important for the public to know that NRW do not object to the planning application on ecology or landscape grounds We have agreed and committed to comprehensive ecology mitigation and compensation measures for the land with NRW Despite this the Merthyr planning team do not agree The officer’s report flags the impact to Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) having worked closely with Cadw for many years and they have stated that the development will create net benefit in heritage terms  “The thoughtful approach of the development proposals has helped to integrate and protect the SAMs and to tell their story We have worked with Cadw to create a heritage trail so people can experience and understand the historic importance of the land; its role within the wider history of Merthyr Tydfil and the nationally important story of Wales in the industrial revolution and support and connect with the Cyfarthfa Plan There is overwhelming public and organisational support for the development from the community of Merthyr Tydfil and across the South Wales region We have received many letters and messages of support including those from Dawn Bowden MS it appears that whether Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council refuse or approve the plans on Wednesday their decision may be overruled by the Welsh Government anyway A year ago in March 2024 the Government wrote to the council saying that the project had been “called in” and that whilst the planning process could continue if approved by the council work could not commence until also approved by the Welsh government.  Wales Community and Business News from Need To See it Around 350 pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) from 24 secondary schools and special units across south Wales attended an interactive careers event at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre Choose Your Future” event brought together 24 local employers and further education institutions to help pupils explore future career paths and opportunities pupils took part in a range of activities designed to broaden their understanding of the world of work a Careers Wales business engagement adviser said: “Our careers events are crucial because they allow young people to explore their potential and learn about pathways that suit their abilities and aspirations we can help ensure that every pupil has the chance to build a brighter future.” visitor centre and community benefits officer at Viridor are a vital avenue for young people with additional needs to communicate their skills We relish these opportunities to examine our offers and to make sure we are providing the right support for anyone looking to enter the engineering sector.” business development officer for The Military Preparation College added: “We believe in empowering young people Our presence today highlights our dedication to helping all pupils.” A teacher from Abertillery School said: “The event has been informative and interactive and has allowed our students to think about careers and independent living.” The event featured a diverse range of employers and training providers Pupils gained valuable insight into career pathways developed their understanding of the skills employers are looking for and learned about further education and training options The full list of employers in attendance at the event:  For more information about future career events and resources, please visit the Careers Wales website 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 A motorcycle club in Merthyr Tydfil have shown they are true ‘angels’ by volunteering to transform the overgrown gardens at The Salvation Army Church in the town.  Bikers from the Unsanctioned Motorcycle Group roared up at the church in Glebeland Place in Merthyr earlier this year clad from head-to-toe in black leather with an unusual request: “How can we help?”   Group member Connor Tudor explains: “The Salvation Army is a big part of the community here We asked if we could do something to help as a thank you for their great work They wanted us to work on their overgrown gardens I’m only 5’7 and the grass came up to my chest Some of the boys are ex-landscapers and ex-farmers so they have some experience in this area.”  The group spent weekends cutting back the overgrown gardens to the front and sides of the church to transform the wild patch into a beautiful area.   says the way motorbike gangs are portrayed in films and on TV can give people the wrong impression of their club: “There's a lot of motorbike clubs out there who want that hard We want to give back to community and help people in the same way The Salvation Army does It’s brilliant that they are celebrating 150 years in Wales and it’s good we can help them.”  This group of bikers have proved with their good work to be heaven sent When they offered to help with the grounds I asked if they could work on our gardens as I was shocked by how overgrown they’d become We bought them tools such as a bush cutter and a hedge trimmer The members of Unsanctioned Motorbike Group will return every few weeks to keep the gardens neat and tidy.   Join team Sally Army and help us to continue to be there for people in their hour of need Copyright © The Salvation Army 2025 The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity in England (214779) Scotland (SC009359) and the Republic of Ireland (CHY6399) The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters The family-friendly event takes place on February 22 By NOTICEBOARD · 14 February 2025 A brand new event is coming to Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre next week the Merthyr Tydfil Comic Con and Toy Fair is a family-friendly event and is a haven for collectors and fans of pop culture A spokesperson said: "A must for all fans of popular TV and film it’s a chance to see the ever-popular Lightning McQueen on display a retro re-re-re-rewind with our classic gaming consoles in the Retro Gaming Zone "Join us in our costume competition; with the chance to win amazing prizes enjoy meeting characters in costume and more "With tonnes of stalls selling all sorts of geeky and so many other fantastic goodies such as artwork toys and more - there will be plenty to see and buy!" WeR3 Events is a company formed through a wonderful friendship run by a trio who hope to plan events that are not only inclusive but with something that everyone can enjoy The intention is to bring friendly events to cities and towns that would appreciate the fun that comes with a comic con style event *The event opens at 9.30am for anyone who has additional needs and feels that a quieter event would benefit them. It doesn’t matter what that need is, just that it would enable them to enjoy the event more and partake in all it has to offer. In order to arrange this after purchasing a ticket please email info@wer3.co.uk to request early admission LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}}