Shhhh please… for the Library Luvvies!
Staff from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Library service – aka ‘the Library Luvvies’ – perform the radio play The Minor Mysteries by Marie Arnold at Ton Pentre Library on November 11th 2009.
It was a fantastic night!
See the Full Set of Photos on Flickr here …
Congratulations to the 84 pioneers who took part in Rhondda’s first Macmillan Walk today raising vital money for this cancer charity.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Mayor Robert Smith cut the starting line ribbon at 9.10 am at Tonypandy where charity walkers began the 11 mile trek to the finishing point at Rhondda Heritage Park.
Enjoy exclusive photos from the day here.
Funding secured by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, as part of the Heads of the Valley Regeneration Programme, will be used to provide improved facilities for passengers at each bus stop between Hirwaun – Aberdare – Glynhafod.
These include new bus boarders to assist passengers with boarding and alighting, new signage and service information and, at the busiest bus stops, new shelters.
This investment will raise the overall quality of public transport services in the area and coincides with the introduction of a fleet of modern, easy access buses along the route by the operator – Stagecoach.
During this year, the Council will also be carrying out improvement works to a number of other bus stops in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area as part of further investment secured through the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership and from within the Council’s own budget.
147 A Club players Danny Williams, Colin Williams, Ian Griffiths, Darren Baker and Dale Roberts were named division two champions at a presentation evening in Aberaman. Colin and Danny Williams were also runners-up in the doubles tournament. 147 C players Duane Jones, Daniel Norris, Delme Norris, Nicky Driscoll, Ieuan Jones and Christian Godden were division one champions.
Things got a bit ‘daffy’ in Pontypridd, when two giant stilt-walking daffodils visited Taff Street.
The delightful daffs were planted in town to entertain shoppers during the Six Nations weekend. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Town Centre Team arranged the unusual entertainment to encourage everyone to celebrate all things Welsh during the rugby championships.
Amarjit Singh Padda, aged 27, the proprietor of Mon and Shams on Canon Street, Aberdare and his employee Captain Peter Grewal, aged 47 of Seymor Street, Aberdare, both pleaded guilty to offences under the Licensing Act 2003.
On January 25th 2008 Trading Standards officers carried out a surveillance exercise at Mon & Shams supermarket following information from South Wales Police. During the evening officers identified that staff at the shop had sold alcohol to youngsters under the legal age of 18 on three separate occasions.
Appearing at Aberdare Magistrates’ Court on March 9th 2009, Padda pleaded guilty to three offences under the Licensing Act 2003 of underage sales and four offences of breaching licensing conditions. Grewal pleaded guilty to three offences under the Licensing Act 2003
Padda was fined £700 for the seven offences with £468.49 costs and a victim surcharge of £15. Grewal was fined £50 for each of the three offences, costs of £227.91 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Ydych chi, neu rhywun chi’n adnabod yn ystyried addysg Gymraeg i’ch plant neu eisiau gwybodaeth am eich Cylch Ti a Fi neu’ch Cylch Meithrin lleol. Croeso i chi ddod clybiau anffurfiol newydd i rhieni ardal Rhondda Cynon Taf. Rhedir gan Menter Iaith Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Mae Clwb Cloncan yn rhedeg yn wythnosol ar hyn o bryd yng Nghanolfan yr Urdd, Stryd y Gwynt, Aberdâr sy’n cael ei chynnal rhwng 1.30 a 3.00 bob Dydd Llun
Os hoffech mwy o fanylion am eich Clwb Cloncan lleol, cysylltwch â Vicky Pugh ar 07500 878289 neu swyddfa’r fenter ar 01443 407570.
Several thousand people braved freezing temperatures on New Year’s Eve for the Nos Galan Races in Mountain Ash – and they were delighted to discover Olympic legend Linford Christie was special guest at the event’s 50th anniversary.
Christie – Europe’s greatest ever 100m sprinter – was the mystery runner at the 2008 Nos Galan in Mountain Ash. He lay a wreath at legendary runner Guto Nyth Bran’s grave in Llanwonno graveyard before running the route from Llanwonno to Mountain Ash town centre.
Crowds who lined the street to welcome him were given 50th Nos Galan flags to wave when he reached Oxford Street. After lighting the Nos Galan beacon, Christie said how much he had enjoyed the event: “Enjoyment is an understatement – it’s been brilliant!” he said.
On the night, he also presented a special Outstanding Contribution award to Richie Gardiner of Aberdare, who has been involved with Nos Galan as a runner and, more recently, as an organiser, since he was a child.
The famous Nos Galan Races commemorate the Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran and his legendary athletic prowess. Held annually on New Year’s Eve in Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley, South Wales, the Races follow a 5km route around the town.
In the photograph : Guto Nyth Bran sculpture which is situated in Mountain Ash Town Centre. See photos of his grave at Llanwonno Church here.
Pontypridd could be the first plastic bag free town in Wales this week!
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is supporting Pontypridd Women’s Institute and Friends of the Earth in their campaign to make Pontypridd plastic-bag free with a special awareness day taking place this Friday.
Shopkeepers and market traders throughout the town are being encouraged to stop giving out plastic bags to shoppers in an effort to reduce the quantity sent to landfill. Pontypridd is the first town in Wales to date to launch such an exciting scheme.
Plastic Bag Free Pontypridd will take place in the town centre on Friday December 12th.
When will it be Aberdare’s turn to ban throwaway plastic shopping bags ?
Around 3,000 people enjoyed the winter parade in Mountain Ash on Tuesday (December 2, 2008).
People of all ages flocked to the town centre on a bitterly cold night to see the town’s Christmas lights switched on, after Santa arrived on a sleigh pulled by six reindeer.
Children enjoyed visiting Santa’s grotto and funfair rides, and festive character Jack Frost entertained the crowds.
The event was organised by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and assisted by Darran Las Communities First. Local ward member and Chairman of the Communities First Partnership, Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “This annual event in Mountain Ash continues to draw thousands of spectators to see Santa with his reindeer.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council provide an Update on the restoration of Mountain Ash War Memorial after vandals stole precious plaques recently…
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has nearly completed temporary restoration plans put in place for Remembrance Day, following the mindless vandalism of Mountain Ash war memorial.
Outrage was caused when the bronze plaque on the memorial was stolen earlier this year, leading to concern and upset about the use of the sacred monument on November 11.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council confirmed today that demolition of Maerdy Workingmen’s Hall will begin soon.
Built in 1905, the grand old building was an iconic symbol of Rhondda’s wealth based on the coalmining industry.
The local Council plan to recycle as much of the remains of the building as possible.
Several local organisations have already expressed an interest in reusing the old stone from the venue as soon as it is razed to the ground.
Click here for the Gallery of Photos of Maerdy Workingmen’s Hall
A Public Meeting will be held in Aberdare on Thursday 9th October 2008, at the Sobells Sports Centre.
At the Meeting Rhondda Cynon Taf Councillors will decide on the new Gloucesters & Ironworks site planning application.
All Welcome.
A Planning Application has been re-submitted to the local Council. The plans are for 130 houses to be built on the Hirwaun Gloucesters and old Ironworks site. This area is much valued and used by the community as an area for recreation and leisure and home to an abundance of wildlife and flora.
Councillors voted to refuse planning permission in July 2008.
Local Council Planning Officers are trying to persuade Councillors to change their minds and approve this application, despite overwhelming objections from residents over the last 3 years.
The people of Hirwaun are not opposed to building new houses.
They are opposed to inappropriate overdevelopment at the expense of the whole community.
Hoo-bloody-rah! for Hirwaun people fighting for their own Community.
Enjoy a Refreshing Early Swim at your local Aberdare Swimming Pool.
Swimmers who like to make an early start to their day can head for Aberdare Pool, where Early Bird swimming sessions are now available. The sessions are every weekday from 6.30am-9am and cost £2.25 for adults, with discounts available.
Little Dippers swimming sessions for parents and babies are also being held on Mondays from 5pm-6pm and Fridays from 11.45am to 12.45pm.
Health suite opening times at the pool are now :
Monday: Female only 9.30am-3.45pm; male only 4pm-9.30pm
Tuesday: Male 9am-1pm; female 3pm-9.30pm
Wednesday: Female 9.30am-3.45pm; male 4pm-9.30pm
Thursday: Male 9am-1pm; female 3pm-9.30pm
Friday: Mixed 9.30am-2.45pm; male 2.45pm-9.30pm
Saturday: Mixed 9.30am-3.45pm
Sunday: Male 8am-1pm
For more information on the health suite or swimming sessions, call Aberdare Pool on 01685 874252
Photo Credit : Photo by MaHidoodi under a CC License
Another day of chaos on the main Aberdare road leading north from the town…
Drivers experienced long delays today on the the A4059 road between Aberdare and Hirwaun due to a traffic collision.
A local grandmother driving home narrowly escaped with her life after being shunted from behind by a lorry.
Closure of the Llwydcoed by-pass road last week due to subsidence problems has caused an enormous increase in traffic on the A4059, leading to traffic tailbacks from Hirwaun to Trecynon during peak hours.
Local residents today expressed their concern that a fatality is inevitable unless Rhondda Cynon Taf Council re-open the Llwydcoed road as to matter of urgency to ease traffic congestion.
