Wales Tredegar News

In April 1988, the small village of Troedrhiwgwair near Tredegar celebrated a victory of huge historic significance. It was one that would change the lives of its residents for good.

Troedrhiwgwair was once a thriving community at the heart of the Welsh coalfield, but after a landslide claimed the lives of 144 children and teachers at Aberfan in October 1966, the community would be faced with huge change.

“...after Aberfan the national coal board were called into account and site investigations were done of all the colliery spoil heaps in South Wales... it became apparent that there was a massive problem in South Wales”

Dr Stephen Bentley, Cardiff University School of Engineering

Soon after these inspections took place, a report was commissioned which would question the safety of the hillside behind the village, and would ultimately threaten the villagers way of life.

Many of the ninety-three families who lived in the village would move on as a result of this report, but those who remained were determined to exercise their right to stay in their homes.

Wales This Week returns to the village twenty five years on, and speaks to those who were at the centre of the story.

Wales This Week, How safe was my valley is on Monday 1st April at 8 o'clock on ITV Cymru Wales

• UK
• Wales This Week
• Tredegar

In April 1988, the small village of Troedrhiwgwair near Tredegar celebrated a victory of huge historic significance. It was one that would change the lives of its residents for good.

Now twenty five years on, our Wales This Week cameras return to the village to speak to those who were at the heart of the story.

Wales This Week, How Safe Was my Valley, Monday 1st of April at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales

• UK
• Wales This Week
• Tredegar

A 26-year-old man from Tredegar who was reported missing earlier this month has been found dead.

Julian Hamblin's death is not being treated as suspicious, Gwent Police said.

• UK
• Tredegar

A 15-year-old girl has been reported missing. Shona Knapman, from Tredegar, was last seen at an address is Ebbw Vale at 10.05pm last night.

She is 4ft 1in tall, of a small build, with short dark brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information should contact Gwent Police on 101.

• UK
• Gwent Police
• Ebbw Vale

£14,000 worth of metal has been stolen from the railway in the New Tredegar area .

The British Transport Police is asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious between the 2nd and 8th of January, when the thefts occurred, to contact them on 0800 405040.

Officers are investigating four separate incidents in and around the Brithdir area.

We will be carrying out directed patrols along the Rhymney Valley line, including officers patrolling on foot, in vehicles and with police dogs, to catch and deter criminals, and will link with Gwent Police to gather intelligence on suspects in the area.

The irony is that the stolen items are of no real value to anyone outside the railway industry, yet the cost to replace them is extremely high. In fact, the thieves will struggle to get any money at all, as scrap metal dealers are highly unlikely to accept them.

• UK
• Metal theft
• Tredegar

The A4048 is clear after an accident between the A4047 Beaufort Road (Tredegar) and Railway Terrace (Hollybush).

• UK
• Tredegar

On the A465 Heads Of The Valleys Road there's slow traffic and it's partially blocked after an accident Westbound between A4048 / Llwyn Helyg (Tredegar Roundabout) and A469 (Rhymney Interchange).

• UK
• A465
• Tredegar

Police say that a man has died in hospital after catching fire outside a house in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent. Officers were called at 4.50am to reports of a man on fire outside a property on Greenfield Terrace in the town. He was taken to Neville Hall Hospital in Aberystwyth where he died.

South Wales Police say they are not treating the death of the 33 year-old man as suspicious.

• UK
• Fire
• Tredegar