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 This consultation is to invite views on current progress relating to a major capital transport investment to improve multi-modal accessibility within and through Pencoed Please note: These artists impressions are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation the main railway line between Cardiff and Swansea divides the community between east and west with a level crossing at Hendre Road and a road over rail bridge at Penprysg Road Over the decades the number of vehicles on our roads has increased and with more rail services using the network – the town is affected by significant traffic congestion when the barriers of the crossing are closed to allow trains to safely pass working with Network Rail and other partners to try and find a long-term solution to this problem WelTAG is the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance WelTAG is a framework for thinking about proposed changes to the transport system is to gauge the views of the public and other stakeholders The purpose of this consultation document is therefore to outline the proposed development The outcomes of the consultation will be reported to the Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council that will be the end of this proposal and an alternative proposal may be sought Title: Exciting Week 4 Action Unfolds in Pencoed Monday 6 a side Football LeagueIn a thrilling night of competition week 4 of the Pencoed Monday 6 a side Football League saw intense battles across the Premier League Murder On Zidanes Floor steamrolled over Tondu Vets with an impressive 7-0 victory Bridge United narrowly lost 5-4 to Rasta Ricks Six while The Goonies tipped the scale against VFL BOCHUM ULTRAS with a tight 3-2 win The face-off between Vale Originals and Bryncae Bench Warmers ended with a nail-biting 3-2 result in favour of the Vale Originals.In Division 1 AFC ZIMBABWE secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Matets while Taxi Inflation edged out Real Sosobad 5-4 in a thrilling contest Stella Fellas fell to Pack Fc 2s in a tightly contested game that ended 1-0.The action in Division 2 was equally riveting OnlyKrulsAndHorses galloped past Inter Yamami with a 6-1 victory and Out On Bale triumphed over Club Tropicana Drinks FC 4-1 Stella And Brexit FC secured a narrow win over Brown Ducks and Rodallega Bombs were overwhelmed by Rest Bay Revolution losing 0-5.Along with the heart-stopping action the week also saw the emergence of new top scorers the competition only promises to get more intense Wales Community and Business News from Need To See it Upgrades at Pencoed Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre are helping local communities move more regardless of whether you are a tread water or treadmill type of person Visitors to the centre will be able to step into a revitalised Male and Female Changing Room space featuring new cubicles The refurbished changing rooms offer brighter complete with LED lighting and sustainable ceiling tiles reflecting Halo’s ongoing commitment to customer satisfaction and sustainability Thanks to a partnership between Halo Leisure a leading social enterprise and charity organisation Bridgend County Borough Council and Sports Wales the facility was put through its paces thanks to an investment from the Council and Sport Wales said: “We are so very grateful for the significant investment offered by Council and Sport Wales allowing our partners at Halo to provide the best facilities possible to those residents using Pencoed Pool “The much-needed improvements have transformed the changing rooms offering a high quality experience to the community; the benefits of this investment will continue for a long while to come.” Halo Leisure Partnership Manager said “The facilities at Halo Pencoed are much loved and used by the local community but the changing rooms in particular were looking tired All visitors to the building will now benefit – from people attending family swim to groups working out together in the aqua fitness class right through to people working out in the gym.” To find out what is on offer, opening times, membership packages and prices, discounts for young people and people on certain means tested benefits for our centres in the Bridgend County, please visit https://haloleisure.org.uk Cllr Melanie Evans and Cllr Richard Williams 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 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 Leading Welsh manufacturer Sony UK Technology Centre (UK TEC) hosted a family fun day for its 550-strong workforce to celebrate its anniversary year. The event brought together over 1,000 guests to mark 50 years of Sony in Wales and 30 years of the company’s operations in Pencoed. The celebration, held at Sony UK TEC’s Pencoed site, was hosted by Strictly Come Dancing competitor Wynne Evans and filled with exciting activities and entertainment for all ages, including performances from local Britain’s Got Talent 2024 semi-finalists The Troll Dancers. The day featured a wide range of activities, including a performance by the Sony UK TEC Expatriate Dance Group, a Q&A session with extreme endurance athlete Richard Parks, and interactive indoor activities like coding classes and Japanese calligraphy sessions. Guests had the chance to experience a factory tour, learn juggling from circus performers, and try their hand at racing on an F1 simulator and a giant Scalextric set. Attendees were also treated to a special kagami biraki (sake barrel breaking) ceremony, led by Rob Wilson, Sony UK TEC’s Managing Director, alongside Kevin Edwards, Director of Engineering, and Kimio Maki, President and CEO of Sony Corporation. On the day of the event, guests received commemorative Japanese chopsticks, elegantly engraved with the Sony logo and the Welsh flag. The event concluded with a raffle rounding off a day of fun, reflection, and celebration of its contributions to the local community over the past five decades. Reflecting on the event and the long-standing presence of Sony in Wales, Rob Wilson said: “This milestone is a testament to the incredible dedication of our team. For 50 years, Sony has thrived in Wales, and for 30 of those years, the Pencoed site has been at the heart of innovation and manufacturing excellence. We are delighted to celebrate this legacy with our colleagues, their loved ones, and the community. Here's to many more successful years ahead.” This is the latest event to commemorate the company’s milestone year, following several celebrations including a visit from His Majesty King Charles III and a Charity Golf Day, which raised over £4,000 for the company’s nominated charity, the Princess of Wales Hospital Children's Ward in Bridgend. and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond It's the UK's best-selling single board computer (SBC) with a wide range of uses from education to AI The Raspberry Pi has made its way across the global industrial and commercial ecosystems and you can find the Pi being used in everything from robotics through to the International Space Station and beyond due to their lightweight interchangable modulare technology the aim of the Raspberry Pi was to make computer science and coding more accessible and affordable Its growth in popularity was thanks to the simple design low-cost and versatile nature of the devices Initiatives such as the Raspberry Pi Foundation have secured the SBC as the go-to educational tool for coding they proved to be a huge hit amongst enthusiasts and hobbyists alike The units were originally manufactured in China but within month of launch the production was moved to Wales through a partnership with the Sony UK Technology Centre and to date has produced over 60 million Raspberry Pi units benefiting from the skills base and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that is available at Sony Pencoed it is one of the most successful contract manufacturing partnerships for the European Sony site which is why we moved the bulk of the production of Raspberry Pi here within six months of launch We have a proud tradition of industry and manufacturing in Wales The Sony UK Technology Centre has been based in Wales for 50 years and is known as a manufacturing centre of excellence It's also the home of a business hub of like-minded small and medium size businesses These businesses benefit from Sony's manufacturing capabilities which have grown over time to match the sophistication of the products being produced there Wales has had a long and close relationship with Japan since the first investments in Wales by Japanese companies in the 1970s The enduring partnership between Sony UK TEC and Raspberry Pi highlights the power of collaboration with a dynamic environment of problem-solving and shared innovation that continues to flourish.  Learn more about the Raspberry Pi Pico skills courses and funding avenues are helping to push Wales' gaming industry to the next level A new facility in the Welsh capital is hoping to revolutionise the drug discovery industry Meet Ashli Todd and find out the secret to success when running the world's oldest record shop Find out about Wales' rich history of innovation and the thriving culture of enterprise By answering a few questions we'll give you the chance to win one of three £100 prizes By doing so you will help us improve this website and better serve your needs has congratulated learners who have received their GCSE Welsh Baccalaureate and Vocational Qualification results today The Cabinet Secretary met with students at Pencoed Comprehensive School in Bridgend who were collecting their results and said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to everyone who is receiving their results today You will have no doubt been impacted by the pandemic but receiving your results today is a big milestone You should all be very proud of the hard work “This year is our final step back towards pre-pandemic exam arrangements and today’s results are where we expected them to be with outcomes similar to 2019 “I would also like to thank our teachers and education workforce who have worked incredibly hard to support our learners to succeed “I hope you got the grades you wanted but remember there are many different choices for your next step into learning or employment Cookie Settings Powered by Onclusive PR Manager™ In last night's action-packed Pencoed Monday 6-a-side football league and Division 2 divisions battled it out in what was the third week of the competitive season.In the Premier League division Vale Originals displayed a dominant performance taking home a 5-1 victory against Tondu Vets VFL BOCHUM ULTRAS also showed their prowess on the field leaving Bryncae Bench Warmers scoreless with a 5-0 win The Goonies and Bridge United delivered a tense match putting up an impressive 11 goals against Dolly Blues' 3 securing a 7-2 win over Murder On Zidanes Floor.The Division 1 match-ups also provided plenty of excitement AFC ZIMBABWE outplayed Stella Fellas with a final score of 4-1 Taxi Inflation managed a commendable 6-3 victory over Pack Fc 2s Real Sosobad narrowly edged out Inter Yanan 1-0 while La Luna United secured a close 3-2 win over Peroni.In Division 2 Rest Bay Revolution managed a tight win against Stella And Brexit FC with a score of 2-1 The match between Brown Ducks and Club Tropicana Drinks FC resulted in a 1-1 draw while Out On Bale scored 2 goals to Inter Yamami's nil OnlyKrulsAndHorses emerged as the top scorers in the division with a 5-2 win over Munter Hunters FC This week's matches have definitely set the stage for an exciting season ahead The Young Carers’ Group at Pencoed Comprehensive School is leading the way for good practice in relation to young carers being the first secondary school in the county borough to claim the Young Carers in Schools Plus Award The accolade allows schools to gain recognition from leading charities for their good practice and ability to meet the needs of young carers Championing the young carers attending the school staff member Mrs Bishop and her wellbeing team have adopted several strategies to ensure that members feel seen Since the group was established in 2017 with initially just five members the young carers have contributed to the planning and delivery of lessons to raise awareness about their situation; designed their own logo for their school uniform to identify themselves as well as had the opportunity to experience social activities such as surfing or visiting local theme parks with pupils empowered to refer themselves to join if they wish the meetings are designed to create a safe environment where learners can talk openly with others who are experiencing similar challenges the sessions can also offer extra academic support if needed One young carer at the school said: “The group helps me because I can have a break from work and do something fun.”  Another learner added: “Being a young carer can be challenging sometimes  I enjoy attending the meetings because I meet with other young carers.” said: “We are delighted to have achieved the Young Carers in Schools Plus Award we hope that we are at the forefront in adopting a whole school approach to supporting young carers “The work put in place by our Wellbeing Hub to help our young carers is testament to the partnership between the group and staff  The award very much belongs to the Young Carers’ Group - it goes without saying that every school community should have a Mrs Bishop!” PECOED MONDAY LEAGUE WEEK 6 UPDATE: FIERCE COMPETITION IN PREMIER LEAGUE DIVISION 1 & 2Pencoed Monday football fans were treated to another captivating week of football as week six of the competition unfurled saw exhilarating matches that continued to display the prowess of local teams.In the Premier League's spotlight fixture Bridge United outplayed Tondu Vets with a decisive 4-1 win Clwb Brewers edged Stella Fellas 4-2 in a goal-filled encounter while Spud FC narrowly beat Rustler Burgers 3-2 in a nail-biter The Premier League top scorer’s position was claimed by an outstanding forward from Bridge United who scored a hat trick to lead his team to victory.The Division 1 league was equally thrilling Dolly Blues and Inter Yanan fought to a 3-3 draw while Vale Originals squeezed a 1-0 win over Real Sosobad Rodallega Bombs delivered the standout performance of the week with VFL BOCHUM ULTRAS also earning a 3-0 victory over La Luna United The top scorer's title in this division was snatched by the lethal striker from Rodallega Bombs who scored an impressive five goals.Division 2 was not short of action either The Goonies and OnlyKrulsAndHorses played out an intriguing goalless draw while Stella And Brexit FC triumphed 3-2 over Out On Bale Rest Bay Revolution couldn't hold off Bomb Squad and Taxi Inflation ran riot against Inter Yamami with a 6-1 victory The top scorer of Division 2 was a standout player from Taxi Inflation who scored four goals to power his team to victory.As the Pencoed Monday League crosses the halfway stage With teams battling for supremacy and players vying for top scorer’s glory fans can look forward to more thrilling football in the coming weeks Ageing Well events and activities in Bridgend County Borough which help older adults to stay healthy and socially connected within communities There was a return to rugby for the great Gavin Henson this weekend as the former Wales and British and Irish Lions playmaker stepped out in front of an exuberant crowd to play for his childhood side On a beautifully sunny afternoon in the town of Pencoed the former Wales star rolled back the years as he stepped in at flyhalf to dictate proceedings Henson is remembered fondly in the mid-2000s for his spikey hair Sporting his red Nike boots and a suspiciously good tan the playmaker rolled back the years alongside teammates much younger than he The Division Two West Central league clash had over 500 people turn up to see the 42-year-old who had last played rugby over five years ago well-exceeding the average spectator count at previous matches Club president Terry Rees told Wales Online afterwards: “It’s amazing Obviously the percentage he has put on this crowd… I wouldn’t like to think He went on to win Wales and British and Irish Lions honours and we are extremely proud of that.” Treasurer Will Jones previously told WalesOnline: “It’s down to having such a strong club structure with a team at every level running from ages four and five to the seniors there’s always a chance you’ll unearth someone special the two Gareths and Gavin making the Lions but we’ve had a number of other boys who’ve also played for Wales We’re immensely proud of every one of them.” Despite Henson knocking over a couple of kicks the scoreline would sadly go against him and his teammates with visitors Heol y Cyw RFC eventually taking the spoils please visit the Wales Online article here: Images Here Pencoed Fach Farm has been home to the Davies family for over 110 years During that time it’s seen many changes and is constantly evolving Today it boasts some more ‘unusual’ offerings than days gone by.  The core of this family farm has always been its herd of dairy cows and it’s no different nowadays their organic milk is pasteurised and then sold in The Littlest Dairy that same day However it’s not just milk that’s available in the small farm shop more than 20 different flavours of milkshakes or during one of the many events at the farm you can even get a tasty pizza or nachos cooked in their woodfired oven From the spring to the autumn you can visit some of the farm’s animals in The Little Meadow The best thing is it’s completely free and a great way to spend some time outdoors You can even buy some feed in the dairy and feed the animals yourself.  The farm hosts a range of different events throughout the year including pumpkin picking Santa’s grotto and you can even meet The Grinch.  For nearly a decade now they’ve been growing pumpkins and this year is no different Over 20 varieties of pumpkins are grown at the farm and during October you can visit the pumpkin field or the pumpkin barn to find the perfect pumpkins for Halloween There’s always plenty of fun to be had and lots of fun things to keep the kids entertained.  In August the sunflower field is in full bloom and is a beautiful sight to see with winding paths leading you through the mass of golden flowers You can also pick sunflowers to take home with you There are tractor rides around the fields as well There’s a new event being held at the farm for the first time this year Wonder Cinema are hosting a fortnight of outdoor films and there will also be entertainment at each showing such as dancers and singers Tickets need to be pre-booked and are selling quickly so get them while you can.  Another new addition to the farm is Tân A Rhew Boasting a wood burning sauna and cold dipping tanks it can host up to ten people at a time and specialises in contrast therapy sessions These last roughly 45 minutes and combine a sauna session with cold water dipping to leave you feeling totally refreshed.  Pencoed Fach Farm is fast becoming a wellbeing hotspot with regular group sessions run by Zala Wellbeing in their beautiful bell tent You can also join a yoga or breath-work class at the farm and there is a men’s mental health day being held on July 7 with loads of different classes and activities taking place (booking is essential) Plus if you’re looking for somewhere safe to take your dog then fear not…they’ve got that covered too The farm is always dog friendly so you can bring your dogs (on leads) to visit You can also hire the new private dog walking field You’ll have the field all to yourselves and with 6ft high fences you can be confident your dog is safe There’s a paddling pool for hot days a wash station for cleaning muddy dogs and a toy box filled with dog toys.  • You’ll find Pencoed Fach Farm just outside Cefn Fforest five minutes from Blackwood • Find us online at Facebook.com/PencoedFachFarm A bland, grey corridor, nestled between the business and art departments at Pencoed Comprehensive School, has been transformed into an inspiring space through an artistic collaboration between pupils and local graffiti artist, Tee2 Sugars. Along the corridor, now aptly named ‘Aspiration Alley’, the iconic faces of Anita Roddick, Aneurin Bevan, groundbreaking Mexican artist, Friday Kahlo, and others, are on display as shining examples of what can be achieved in the wider world outside of school, if learners aim high. The artwork also challenges stereotypes and glass ceilings through the vibrant imagery of Wonder Woman, the Black Panther, and female director, Greta Gerwig. Tee said: “One purpose of the artwork is to encourage the pupils to start a conversation, to raise questions.” Art lead at the school, Shelley Davies, supports this idea. Shelley explains that the area is used as a means to complement, enrich, and enhance the curriculum; to encourage a dialogue between learners about the themes explored in class. She said: “The figures within Aspiration Alley are ones which we use in our schemes of learning and the space has become an extension to our classrooms.” “It was important that the pupils had a space which reflected what it is to be a learner in Wales in the 21st Century. Hopefully, by creating spaces that reflect the pupils and the world they live in, we are helping to develop the next generation of creative practitioners and entrepreneurs.” Through introducing colour and culture to the environment, Tee also hopes to inspire learners to choose creative routes; to illustrate that these paths are accessible. He said: “School is the start of our art careers. I believe every child deserves to be in an environment that is filled with creativity and imagination.” One pupil said of the space: “It’s beyond my expectations. It is very thought provoking - displaying many figures to inspire us. It makes me proud that I was part of it.” With the success of the initiative, Headteacher, Edward Jones, plans to incorporate more of Tee’s graffiti art throughout areas of the school to continue to uplift and inspire pupils. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Technology giant Sony welcomed the King to its site in south Wales where he jokingly described it as “my factory” Charles’s visit to the Sony UK Technology Centre on Thursday marks 50 years of the company being based in Wales He had visited the Senedd with the Queen earlier in the day As he was shown around he was presented with pictures of visits he and other members of the royal family had made and joked that seeing a picture from his first visit in 1974 was “making me feel so old” The King described the site as “my factory” to staff, having encouraged Sony to set up a site in Wales in the early 1970s while on a trip to Japan. Charles showed a keen interest in the staff and their wellbeing, asking them how they liked working for the company, and saying he hoped they were getting enough holiday. As he was shown around he finished the production of the 30,000th high-definition camera produced at the site, placing a sticker on the camera before boxing it up. Charles also took an interest in sets of robotic arms, which were placing components on Raspberry Pi circuit boards – modular credit card-sized computers – and packed the fifty millionth produced. Kimio Maki, representative director, president and chief executive of the Sony Corporation, told the King it was an “honour” to have him join them in celebrating 50 years in Wales. He said: “This achievement is a testament to the enduring relationship between Sony and the Welsh Government and, indeed, the unwavering support from the royal household. “Your Majesty, I am reminded of your previous visit in 2014 when you remarked, ‘this is my factory’. “Such an endearing comment speaks volumes and continues to inspire us to this day.” Speaking after the King’s visit, Rob Wilson, Sony UK Technology managing director, said: “He was really, really interested about who was here 10 years ago when he last visited and what they were doing. “Then the third thing he was interested in was how they were feeling, and their wellbeing. “It was really, really encouraging, really lovely to see.” Mr Wilson had also shown the King around on his previous visit. He described the King’s claim that the factory was his as “tongue in cheek”, but said it was a “lovely link to our relationship with the royal family since we started”. As he left, the King was presented with a flagship Sony Alpha camera, and Mr Wilson said he hoped he would take lots of pictures. We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology a wagon with severe wheel flats on one of its wheelsets fractured two rails within a mile of each other between Pencoed and Llanharan The wagon was part of train 6A11 which was travelling from Robeston oil terminal The wheel flats occurred because a wheelset had stopped rotating (locked) while the train was moving during the journey The investigation found that the wheelset had probably locked during braking in an area of very low railhead adhesion when the train was travelling along the recently reopened Swansea District line The rails on that line were rusty as it had not been used for several months The environmental conditions were such that the rails were also wet and it was the combination of rust and moisture which created the very low adhesion experienced by the train Network Rail had not taken any specific precautions to ensure that an adequate level of adhesion was available when reopening the line This arose because Network Rail’s focus when managing low adhesion was on the autumnal leaf fall season and it had not acted on the advice provided by a cross-industry working group on the adhesion- related precautions to take when reopening an unused line In light of the findings of this report, RAIB considers that very low adhesion may be an alternative potential causal factor of relevance to the Ferryside accident (RAIB report 17/2018) An addendum has been added to the Ferryside report discussing this potential causal factor This update does not alter the safety recommendations made in the earlier version of the report RAIB has made one recommendation to Network Rail to review its processes in light of the existing industry guidance to manage all occasions outside the leaf fall season which could result in very low levels of wheel/rail adhesion RAIB has also identified one learning point for signallers to remember that they must arrange for a train to be stopped and examined if they become aware of an unusual noise coming from a wagon The sole purpose of RAIB investigations is to prevent future accidents and incidents and improve railway safety While our investigations are completely independent of the railway industry we do maintain close liaison with railway companies and if we discover matters that may affect the safety of the railway we make sure that information about them is circulated to the right people as soon as possible and certainly long before publication of our final report Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Sam Costelow is hoping to become the ‘lucky 13th‘ Wales international cap from Pencoed after being included in Wayne Pivac’s Welsh squad for the Autum Nations Series The 21-year-old Scarlets outside half is hoping to follow in some pretty illustrious footsteps by playing for Wales on the full international stage having won caps at age-grade level The 21-year-old Scarlets outside half is hoping to follow in some pretty illustrious footsteps by playing for Wales on the full international stage having won caps at age-grade level and this summer Tommy Reffell have all progressed from the community club on the outskirts of Bridgend to represent their country Reffell made the grade in South Africa this summer and is a former teammate of Costelow’s during his days progressing though the Leicester Tigers Academy while Costelow is in his second season at the Scarlets We grew up together in Penoced and he lived just down the road from me,” said Costelow “We’re both very proud to come from Pencoed and we both played through the mini and junior section of the village club Playing together for Wales would be the ultimate dream and coming from Pencoed is a big part of who we are – we owe the club a great deal of thanks “Tommy is a couple of years older than me and was a familiar face when I went to Leicester I asked him about the club before I went there and it helped knowing he had had a good time there “There are a lot of great players who have come through the Pencoed club and hopefully I can follow in their footsteps.”  Costelow admitted to being “over the moon” when he received the email confirming he was in the Autumn Nations Series squad but didn’t have much time to celebrate attending a Zoom press conference ahead of the URC clash with Connacht and then had to go to Trimsaran RFC to inspire the Mini and Junior section at that club They know how much this means to me and hopefully it makes them feel proud,” added Costelow “They have been with me in the good and bad days I always used to go to the Principality Stadium with my Dad and Grandad – we loved a day out in Cardiff with all the big match atmosphere “I remember seeing Stephen Jones playing but I can’t remember anyone else I’ve got some good memories and it is everybody’s dream to play for Wales “Now I need to be a sponge and try to learn as much as I can when I’m with the squad I just have to go out there and enjoy it.”  Email: info@wru.wales Telephone: 02920 822 000 Officials and WRU Hub Officers who contributed to the success of the inaugural Pencoed Anniversary 7's During an INSET day at Pencoed Comprehensive School in 2022 staff members were asked to think of ideas of how best the school could celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2023 was eventually tasked with the job of organising the inaugural Pencoed Comprehensive Invitational 7s The plan was simple – bring local schools together and devise a format for the day which would allow maximum playing time for participants – a simple but effective way of celebrating not only 50 years of the school The day itself turned out to be a huge success With well over 200 year 7 pupils involved from sixteen comprehensive schools in attendance Thirty-eight games of sevens rugby were played to determine the Plate and Andy Rea Cup winners for 2023 Visits from Pencoed Comprehensive School alumni Gareth Cooper along with ‘The Rugby Trainer’ former Osprey meant there was a real carnival atmosphere to the event The event involved the whole community which pleased the organisers Ian Poley said: “It was always our intention to show that the school is at the heart of the local community It was great to see so many parents and guardians of so many young rugby players absorbed in an event that was supported by Pencoed RFC and Pencoed Town Council who allowed the school to use the rugby pitches and clubhouse for the day “As much as the education system evolves and curriculum changes see schools having to adapt sport and physical activity in terms of young people remains consistent We need them happy and active and judging by the way the day unfolded we are grateful to everyone who helped make the day a success teachers and WRU Hub Officers from the schools who took part” The school intends to create an annual even and to provide opportunities for more schools to get involved in the future  Pencoed Anniversary 7s Awards and Winners Cynffig Comprehensive and Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen © 2025 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union A police firearms training facility which is described as “critical to national security” has been approved by the two local authorities which the site straddles The application for the use of land for a police tactics training facility at Pencoed Technology Park on the border between Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend has been approved by RCT’s planning committee Separate planning applications were submitted to each authority with approval being needed from both Bridgend had already approved it and now RCT’s planning committee did the same last week The plans will see the change of use of a series of open fields currently used for grazing to an external police tactics training area the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has said that the proposed tactics facility is of both regional and national importance being critical to national security as it will ensure that all firearms officers which attend are properly trained in tactics and firearms for the variety of incidents that may arise While the facility would be used mainly by South Wales Police Dyfed Powys Police and Gwent Police allowing officers of these forces to train locally it would also be available for use by any other constabulary from across the UK as necessary There are currently only six existing facilities of this nature across the UK and this development would provide a much needed addition The external training area within RCT would be used in association with an indoor police tactics training centre that is proposed at the adjacent open fields within Bridgend and as well as the main facility the Bridgend area of the wider development site would also include most of the development’s associated infrastructure such as access The planning report to RCT planning committee said there is a limited amount of physical development proposed within RCT with no permanent buildings or structures proposed within the RCT site and the fields would only be used for outdoor training exercises in association with the adjacent main indoor facility within Bridgend enabling officers to practice the skills learnt on tactical training equipment and outdoor areas No live ammunition would be used at the outdoor training area within RCT and live ammunition would only ever be used within one of the dedicated internal live fire ranges at the indoor facility within the Bridgend area of the site The wider development could not go ahead unless both the Bridgend and RCT applications were approved The report said that some limited out of hours opening may be necessary if emergencies arise that require urgent tactic training before officers are deployed (instances where there is a major threat to life) but that this would likely be less than six times a year based on previous events and that both councils would be advised of any event like this within 72 hours of it occurring for monitoring purposes There were five objections to the plans which raised concerns including the general use of firearms in close proximity of residential properties significant noise disturbance to the nearest residential properties and concern over the noise assessments carried out officers said in their planning report: “While greenfield in nature and outside of settlement limits the application site lies within the employment land bank for Pencoed Technology Park and has a long history of planning permissions for employment use the proposed tactics facility is of both regional and national importance It will ensure that all firearms officers which attend are properly trained in tactics and firearms for the variety of incidents that may arise and can do so within the local area generating economic growth and a number of employment opportunities “The principle of development is therefore considered acceptable.It is accepted the proposed use will inevitably result in a degree of impact to the amenity standards currently enjoyed by occupiers of the closest neighbouring properties it is not considered any potential impact would be significant enough to warrant refusal of the application subject to appropriate conditions/mitigation while the works would result in an alteration to the current character and appearance of the greenfield site the development would be suitably contained from the open countryside to the north/east and would form an appropriate rounding off of the industrial estate in this location “It is also considered the impact of the scheme upon ecology and land drainage can be properly mitigated.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" less safe with more guns in the hands of the police So the FIBUA facilities on the Epynt is good enough for EU and UK military training but not for the police The more important question is can the police be trusted to be armed 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 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CloseThe assembly's health committee has said there is still a long way to go to develop clusters of doctors' surgeries across Wales The 64 clusters bring local GPs together with pharmacies One of the most successful ones is Pen-y-Bont in Bridgend and Pencoed which sees a network of six surgeries and more than 35 GPs said the surgeries could also pool expertise think about doing more and take advantage of economies of scale Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreGP clusters 'think big' in terms of work 00:00:50GP clusters 'think big' in terms of work 0:50Up Next 3:00Boost GP services - medical chief 0:34US doctor happy training as GP in Wales 00:00:59US doctor happy training as GP in Wales 0:59Editor'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 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 Caerphilly Athletic have suffered yet another defeat in the South Wales Alliance League Premier Division It was a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon in Ystrad Mynach Caerphilly nabbed a goal through Dafydd Pearce after 30 minutes The visitors responded well in the second-half a good finish from Thomas Powell brought things level and a deflected goal from Cian Goldsworthy sealed the points for Pencoed on Saturday October 7 Although it was a sunny day at the Centre for Sporting Excellence meaning their was no excuse for the slow start both sides made Everything felt like a walking pace from both sides as Caerphilly defender Nicholas Hill tried his best to galvanise his side into action The first real chance of the game came for the visitors who sit second in the league on goal difference only Marc Turner got down the right well and crossed a great ball in-between the keeper and defenders Jack Delve was the closest but he didn’t manage to prod home with 20 minutes played giving both managers a chance to wake their players up Half an hour played and neither side were stringing more than a few passes together Pencoed maybe just about edging it but posing no real threat A clearance on the halfway line from Caerphilly captain Jonathan Davies looped over Pencoed captain Evan Price Price tried to nod the ball back to the keeper but didn’t get enough on it and Dafydd Pearce alertly intercepted before finishing past the onrushing Brad Borge 1-0 out of nothing but the hosts were more than happy to take it who was soon sent to the side lines for ten minutes after being shown a ‘blue card’ The blue card is part of a trial campaign from the Football Association of Wales where players are sent to the sideline for ten minutes if they use offensive language Caerphilly didn’t really do much with the extra man however and the half ended much like it started with sloppy passes from both There was definitely some more energy out there to start the second-half Nick Hill was caught in possession by Delve who quickly squared the ball to Thomas Powell in the centre of the box Powell’s left footed strike beat the keeper into the bottom corner and brought things all square The game was on a knife edge now with an hour or so played It should have been advantage Pencoed shortly after when Cian Goldsworthy fizzed in a great cross down the right which beat the keeper at the near post and fell to Turner It looked easier to score than miss from Turner who couldn’t have been more than two metres out he got completely under the ball and sent it over the bar Only minutes later did Goldsworthy decide to do the job himself – but did need the help of a wicked deflection A shot from the edge of the Caerphilly area by the striker hit a defender and sent Marsden the wrong way who had just seen a great effort from Christopher Crane saved superbly by Borge down the other end They couldn’t get anything going when attacking and the space they were leaving meant a third from the visitors was looking ominous Rhys McCarthy found himself in the book for pulling back Goldsworthy on the break The pair got into a pushing contest and Goldsworthy also saw yellow The whistle went and it felt like Caerphilly lost in their own minds after that second goal went in some 20 minutes before That defeat puts Caerphilly Athletic in dangerous territory down at the bottom end of the table but they’ll need some sort of reaction in their next game against Llanrumney on October 14 that one won’t live long in the memory but they’ll be happy with the win and three points which keeps them hot on the heels of Treherbert 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 STONE WOOL insulation manufacturer, Rockwool UK has been granted permission by Bridgend County Borough Council to develop a new 20-acre storage area at its Pencoed site in South Wales Planning permission has been given for the development of the land to the south of the existing factory site The works will increase on-site capacity to store and distribute the wide range of stone wool insulation products manufactured at the site It will also improve traffic management thanks to a new access road and loading area for hauliers The new logistics centre will enable ROCKWOOL to utilise capacity created by a factory extension This expansion responds to trends in urbanisation and high density which have driven year on year growth in demand for sustainable insulation products that perform across thermal “We are delighted to have already created 50 new permanent jobs this year This development will result in 65 more jobs at Rockwool as well as providing opportunities for other businesses through our commitment to working with local suppliers on these works The new facility comes at a great time when Rockwool will be celebrating 40 years of business in Wales in 2019.” Issue 117 - March 2025 Sign up now to get news by email from Roofing Today Osma StormLine: Designed to weather the storm Unlocking roofing potential: Onduline & Northstone Partnership Traditional Roofing spring 2025 faces several allegations of inappropriate or derogatory behaviour towards pupils An Education Workforce Council (EWC) fitness to practice hearing on Tuesday March 28 heard that between March and May 2021 Ms Wheeler is alleged to have been inappropriate or derogatory towards pupils including calling them "d***heads" "b*****ds" and "f*****g b******s" and shouting in their faces Ms Wheeler is also accused of referring to a staff member as a "d***head" inappropriately photographing or filming pupils in the classroom making inappropriate comments to pupils about her own relationships and writing the word "b*tch" next to a pupil's name on a mark sheet Ms Tobin told the hearing she had interviewed most of the pupils and that the allegations were "the first time [she] had heard anything like it" during her 30 years in education. She added that she believed what the pupils had told her was true. "They were using words and language they would never, ever use" in a normal situation, she explained, adding that she didn't feel what the children were saying was "to be antagonistic or nasty." The hearing heard the allegations were put to Ms Wheeler in July 2021 and she was sent a letter that a disciplinary meeting was to take place. However, in February 2022, before the meeting happened, an agreement was reached to end Ms Wheeler's employment at the school. When questioned on the possibility that students waiting to be interviewed by Ms Tobin about Ms Wheeler's conduct could have "colluded", Ms Tobin admitted that was a possibility but said she believed the children on the basis of what they were saying, adding: "We all know children can make up stories, but in my experience of teaching at Pencoed, they've never commented about teachers using language." Eve Piffaretti, legal advisor, read a response from Ms Wheeler to the mark sheet allegation, saying it was "never intended" to go any further than her and the colleague who gave it to her. But Ms Tobin said that the language used was "offensive" regardless of this, adding that "as an English teacher" she would have expected Ms Wheeler to use another adjective than "b*tch", such as "challenging." Pencoed Phoenix produced a near perfect team performance to cruise to a triumphant 97-0 victory against Gorseinon in the Women's Division 1 competition Pencoed Phoenix produced a near perfect team performance to cruise to a triumphant 97-0 victory against Gorseinon in the Women’s Division 1 competition Three goals in the first half saw Llanrumney United pick up three points against Pencoed Athletic in the only game of the day in the South Wales Alliance League Premier Division Cole Jarvis gave the host the lead in the 17th minute after Pencoed had started brightly The goal turn the game into Llanrumney’s favour Anthony Robins added a second after 40 minutes and Justin Pilapil got the Stags third on 43 minutes elevating them four places higher whilst Pencoed remain in third but miss out on the chance to close the gap with the top sides Pencoed started the better of the two sides moving the ball around and creating openings David Martin-Lavers sent an early cross across the box for Pencoed but there was no one able to get on to it Soon after Adam Carpenter tried a long-distance effort but he put the ball wide Martin-Lavers soon had another chance for Pencoed Working his way across the box he hit a shot on the turn which went just over Ben Stitfell’s goal Pencoed were looking to be the more likely side to get the opening goal Martin-Lavers hit another shot just wide as the visitors looked to control the game The opening goal came after 17 minutes a little against the run of play Shaquille Harris-Reffell sent a high cross into the box Martin Grover came to collect but the ball went over him for Cole Jarvis to head in The momentum of the game swung after the goal with Jarvis almost making it 2-0 Jarvis met it at the far post and headed downward at goal Grover stuck a leg on the line to put the ball away from goal The second did come before the break with Anthony Robins latching on to the ball after Grover had spilled it Looking to go down and make a routine stop Grover spilled the ball and Robins was quick to get the ball and put it in the net Justin Pilapil picked the ball up on the right and curled a shot towards the top corner Grover looked to get fingers to it but it went in off the inside of the crossbar Pencoed came out in the second half and were able to put some pressure on Llanrumney Jordan Burrows sent a shot straight at Stitfall Pencoed were able to pull a goal back as Cian Goldsworthy scored Pencoed won a free-kick out on the right that Martin-Lavers sent across goal low Llanrumney part cleared the ball but it came to Goldsworthy who fired home Richard Lewis was in on goal and shot but the ball came back off the chest of Ben Stitfall taken by Declan Howe the ball came off Rhys Thomas’ back and towards goal but came back off the crossbar This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Pencoed Comprehensive had sent a letter to parents before half term saying they would be checking pupils’ uniform met the school’s policy for what was acceptable parents claim that most of the pupils who were given detentions were girls who were told their skirts were too short The Bridgend school confirmed that about 20 pupils had been taken to the school hall and spoken to but denied skirts had been measured and did not confirm how many had been given detentions The school's rules state that skirts should be no shorter than 5cm above the knee "No measuring took place or was carried out by staff at any time," the school said some parents claim that their children's skirts were measured and have written to the school to complain who said her daughter was given a detention as her skirt was judged to be too short claimed so many children were given detentions that they had to be sent to the school canteen Parents said they felt the school was unfairly targeting girls and going against Welsh Government guidance by insisting on tops with logos and shorts bought from a uniform supplier A letter from acting assistant headteacher Matthew Thompson after a period of monitoring we have identified that our high uniform standards are not being met by an increasing number of students robust approach to ensure we meet our high standards we will increase the monitoring and identification of where the uniform policy is not being met student’s presence during break times and lunch times will be reduced where they are not meeting the expectations parents will be contacted and requested to bring in the correct uniform your child may be asked to go home and change.In preparation for September please ensure that any items purchased adhere to our school uniform policy." A mother who has two daughters at the school said: “My younger daughter was part of a group yesterday who were lined up and told that they were checking skirt lengths "Then the male teacher asked them all to turn around and visually checked all the skirt lengths It was at this point that my daughter refused to participate had a panic attack and was sent to pupil reception I try to raise my children as aware of women’s rights and gender inequality and this is not the message I want them to learn it is totally against my (and our family’s) beliefs." The mother of a year seven pupil said she felt "very angry" and had a letter of complaint to the head She said: "This is 2023 and to have their clothes inspected in this way is not right." "This only seems to be an issue with girls No one is checking boys’ trousers to check if they are too tight It is inappropriate."A spokesperson for Pencoed Comprehensive said: "Due to concerns regarding school uniform standards carers and guardians of all 917 pupils to advise them that after the half term break we would be checking compliance with the school's expectations on uniform "This was in reaction to a noted increase in the number of pupils who had started to wear hoodies inappropriate footwear and other non-uniform items around 20 pupils were recently asked to gather in the school hall on Monday and Tuesday for a brief reminder about uniform expectations "While appropriate skirt lengths were discussed as part of this 15 minute conversation no measuring took place or was carried out by staff at any time "Maintaining a consistent school uniform remains an important part of our efforts to raise aspirations and standards among our pupils and the school will be carrying out further work to support this." The school's website says the graduated response to uniform breaches includes restricting pupils' movement on the school site It warns: "Where breaches of the uniform expectations are persistent and in open defiance of the school’s uniform or appearance policy and where all other avenues for resolving the uniform dispute have been exhausted then the school may consider exclusion as a last resort depending on the circumstances of the case." Essential upgrade work to improve the road surface over Pencoed level crossing will be taking place during the Christmas period as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan The road over the Bridgend crossing in South Wales will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles from 22:00 on Saturday 24 December to 04:00 on Thursday 29 December 2016 the level crossing will be fenced off but pedestrians will still be able to cross over the railway using the footbridge at Pencoed station A diversionary route for vehicles will be in place during this time which will be fully signposted and the work will see only the road over the crossing closed with access maintained to nearby properties and side-streets Less able pedestrians will be able to cross the railway using the nearby Programme Manager for Network Rail Wales said “We would like to thank the local community and road users for bearing with us whilst we undertake this essential work We understand that closing the road over the Christmas period is not ideal; however the work has been carefully planned in at the time when no train services are scheduled to run on this section of track to minimise disruption.” Cabinet Member for Communities at Bridgend County Borough Council added: “This work will benefit motorists and every effort is being made to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum.” Alongside the work at Pencoed Level Crossing Network Rail Wales is undertaking major upgrade work in the South Wales area commissioning the £300m Cardiff area signalling renewals project to modernise the Cardiff and Valleys network-the largest signalling project of its kind to be commissioned on the rail network Mr Stanbury continued: “This essential work is all part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan and is taking place while the railway is closed for the final phase of the Cardiff area signalling renewal scheme There are changes to rail services in the South Wales area over the festive period so we strongly advise passengers to plan their journeys ahead.” Passengers can find a breakdown of how their journey may be affected by visiting nationalrail.co.uk/Christmas and following #ChristmasWorks on Twitter The Cardiff Area Signalling Renewal scheme will help to reduce congestion and deliver a more reliable railway across the Cardiff and Valleys network as Network Rail prepares the railway for the arrival of a new fleet of bigger Temporary closures of Pencoed level crossing will begin at 22.00 on December 24; Level Crossing                      Closed until: Hendre Road      4.00am on 29 December Description: As part of a £300m scheme to modernise the railway in South Wales – the biggest investment in the Welsh network for more than 100 years – CASR is a congestion-busting scheme that will also help to deliver a more reliable railway across the Cardiff and Valleys network The work over Christmas will see the biggest commission of remodelling and re-signalling in Wales ever starting on Christmas Eve until 3 January Impact: There will be no train services late on Christmas Eve between Cardiff Central Newport and the Valleys and there will be bus replacements and diversions in place between Cardiff Central Newport and the Valleys from 27 December until 3 January Work on this major project will begin on Christmas Eve this year This is because Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday so we expect many people to have completed their journey on Friday Pencoed Phoenix produced a near perfect team performance to cruise to a triumphant 97-0 victory against Gorseinon in the Women’s Division 1 competition. Principality Stadium, Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1NS © 2025 Content Copyright Welsh Rugby Union, Statistical Data © Opta Julia Wheeler, who was employed as an English teacher at Pencoed Comprehensive School in Bridgend faced several allegations of inappropriate or derogatory behaviour towards pupils A hearing by the Education Workforce Council (EWC) ruled that between January and May 2021 Wheeler shouted a range of words at her students' faces including "d******ds" "b******s" and "f*****g b******s" Wheeler was also found to have used an offensive word to describe a staff member made inappropriate comments to pupils about her own relationships and wrote the word "b***h" next to a pupil's name on a mark sheet Wheeler's behaviour was described as amounting to unacceptable professional conduct and fell below the standards expected of a registered person said evidence from pupils and staff was "consistent and corroborative" He said pupils had even been reduced to tears by Wheeler referring to one pupil who reported: "She once shouted at me so much I cried." Mr Powell said that Wheeler defended herself in this regard by saying she did shout but that she "used to teach drama" and was a "very loud personality" He added that Wheeler had left her desk and shouted in pupils' faces in the classroom despite Covid safety measures on social distancing being in place during the period of the allegations.Wheeler was also found to have made inappropriate comments to pupils about her personal relationships This included repeatedly referring to a "friend with benefits" in front of pupils Mr Powell said it was "not appropriate to discuss personal relationships with pupils" and that this would have "negatively impacted or caused embarrassment" to young learners Only two of the allegations towards Wheeler – that she threw chairs off tables in a classroom and took pictures of her class to send to her daughter – were found not proven.Presenting officer Sara Lewis said Wheeler's conduct had negatively affected pupils and there had been "no expression of genuine regret" from Wheeler She said the incidents had occurred over a period of months and were "not an isolated lapse" and that there was a risk of repeating similar offences.Mr Powell said Wheeler had not expressed any regret or apology or demonstrated she could comply with safeguarding guidelines He said her behaviour had shown a "deliberate and reckless disregard" for pupils and colleagues and had had a "direct impact on some pupils" He noted her previous clean reputation but said the seriousness of her actions meant only a prohibition order would suffice Wheeler has been banned from teaching for two years after which she will be allowed to apply to re-join the register subject to a final decision from Education Workforce Council (EWC) Plans for a new tactical training facility near Pencoed have gone before Bridgend council’s planning committee this week after being submitted by South Wales Police which are based on land at the border of Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf would be made up of a two and three-storey building with offices as well as an indoor firing range and tactical training area landscaping and tactical training facilities such as a tower and a block work street scene The report outlined that if the proposals were given the go-ahead by council bosses the facility would replace an existing one at Waterton Industrial Estate highlighting how its development was of “critical importance to national security” The report read: “The application seeks full planning permission for the development of a tactical training facility to be used for the training of officers of police constabularies in Wales and throughout the UK “The facility will be used primarily by South Wales Police but will be available for use by other constabularies from across the UK as necessary “There are only six facilities of this nature across the UK and they are used to train all UK police officers in tactics and firearms for incidents that may arise.” The earmarked land near Pencoed is based in open countryside where several scattered residential and commercial properties are said to be located The Ewenni Fach river also runs through the centre of the site and forms the administrative boundary between Bridgend county borough and  Rhondda Cynon Taf Some points of concern were raised over the development of the facility such as the potential noise impact for nearby residents with the use of firearms at the site as well as ecological impacts that could be had on nesting birds officers informed members that the site layout had already been amended to include additional acoustic bunds and fencing which would improve noise suppression adding that the ecological impact of the development has been deemed acceptable by ecology officers at both county borough councils and Natural Resources Wales While plans for the site were approved unanimously by Bridgend councillors they will now have to go before Rhondda Cynon Taf’s planning committee as well as they must gain approval from both of the local authorities before any work can begin with officers clarifying that both of the applications relied on each other Maesteg Park and Pencoed Athletic have been crowned champions after the Welsh football season ended early due to the coronavirus crisis The awarding of titles was confirmed this week following a Zoom meeting organised by the league All three clubs will have to wait from a decision from the FAW on whether promotion will be implemented from their success Pencoed have been awarded the title by possessing a better points-per-game average than leaders Porthcawl Porthcawl led at the top of Premier Division by three points with 11 games left to play when it was suspended as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 They dropped to third however after points-per-game was brought i to conclude the season After news filtered through of Pencoed’s success manager Mark Powell said: “It’s a very proud moment tonight for myself and all associated with Pencoed.  “Respect to the sides challenging as it was edging towards a nail biter of a finish between at least five of us “It’s a shame we couldn’t finish it properly to be fair my lads been superb this season.” Aber Valley won the Division One title after finishing ahead of Cardiff Corinthians and Llanrumney United Their final fixture of the season was a 3-2 win over the Corries which boosted their position in the table It is their first league success since 2005 when they won the South Wales Amateur Division Two title Commenting on the decision to end the season Aber Valley boss Rhys Whatley said: “It’s not the way we would have wanted and we would have liked to have played the season out but we agree with the decision Maesteg Park were crowned champions in their first season in the Alliance League the Llynfi Valley based side won promotion from the Bridgend & District League last year (Featured Image: Jordan Forster)