Latest news with #Torfaen
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Road closures announced for 10K race in Torfaen
Several roads in Torfaen will be closed on July 13 for the Mic Morris Torfaen 10K. Residents and motorists are warned of the closures to ensure the safety of race participants. More than 1,000 runners have signed up for the 10K race, starting in Blaenavon at 9am. The finish line will be in Pontypool Park and runners are expected to complete the race by 11am. All participants will receive a medal and merchandise, with proceeds going to the Mic Morris Memorial Sporting Trust Fund, which supports young athletes in Torfaen. Road sections to be closed at specified times are: Blaenavon to Abersychan (junction of A4043 and B4246), from 8am to 10am; Abersychan Old Road to Hospital Road, from 9am to 10.30am; and Hospital Road to Park Road (Salvation Army), from 9.15am to 10.45am. A full list of affected roads includes: A4043 Cwmavon Road (from Prince Street/New William Street in Blaenavon to Old Road in Abersychan), Old Road, Limekiln Road, Freeholdland Road, George Street, Mill Road, Hospital Road, the northern section of Osbourne Road (up to Riverside), Riverside, and Park Road leading up to Penygarn Road. Side roads will remain open, but no vehicles will be allowed on the race route during the event. The emergency services will have access at all times. Ben Jeffries, event organiser from Torfaen Council, said: "Whether you're a seasoned runner or just starting out, there's still time to sign up and be part of one of the fastest 10Ks around. "We appreciate the public's patience with the temporary road closures. "This year, we've worked to stagger the closure times to help reduce disruption for residents and road users. "Roads will reopen as soon as it's safe—thank you for your continued support." Residents living on the affected roads will be informed in advance, and each section will reopen when safe. If the road closures affect your travel or caregiving responsibilities, contact Torfaen Council on 01633 628936 as early as possible.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Newport legend Parselle recognised in King's Birthday Honours
Newport County have congratulated club legend Norman Parselle for being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King's Birthday Honours list for his outstanding service to sport and the local community.A former player and lifelong County fan, Pill-born Parselle has led the club's County in the Community charity since it began in 2013. He is currently its chief charity delivers sport projects and schemes for people in Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen with a staff of more than 20. "Norman has worked tirelessly to deliver and increase sports participation, improve health and education, social inclusion and the environment," said Newport on their official website. "His work makes a huge difference to the local community, and he is regarded by the club and those in the community he serves as a tremendous ambassador for the football club."If anyone deserves recognition for his tireless and selfless work in the community then it is Norman Parselle." Known affectionately as 'Norm', Parselle has been involved with County for more than 30 years and was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2015.
South Wales Argus
14-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire and Torfaen could use AI Welsh translations
Councils, and other public bodies, are legally required to produce documents and provide services in Welsh. Monmouthshire County Council looked at alternatives to its current use of external translators as part of its budget setting process due to increased demand which has seen spending on translations exceed the allocated budget. Its performance and overview scrutiny committee was told total costs, to the council of providing Welsh language services, was £226,940 last year. But it wasn't clear if that figure only covered translations or also the cost of two officers after equalities and Welsh language manager Pennie Walker described the 'major costs' as translations and her salary and that of the Welsh language officer while ensuring compliance with Welsh language standards is the 'day to day responsibility of all officers'. Nia Roberts, the Welsh language officer, said closer working with neighbouring Torfaen Borough Council is currently 'the most desired option' to save on translation costs and it is already using AI, also known as artificial intelligence. Ms Roberts said Monmouthshire currently uses external translators, who may already be using AI systems, but that wouldn't produce a saving for the council as it currently pays by the word. She said AI would 'never produce 100 per cent accurate translations' and added: 'It will need to have some kind of proof reading to make sure the translation is accurate.' Rogiet Labour member Peter Strong had asked if a favoured option had emerged from the ongoing review that has also considered continuing with external translators and setting up its own in-house translation team. Ms Roberts said joining with Torfaen 'looks the more desirable' and said: 'Torfaen is similar to Monmouthshire in the type of documents to be translated.' She also said Torfaen uses technology that memorises words it has previously translated which would help with the consistency of documents. Torfaen councillors, who were presented with their annual report on how their council is complying with Welsh language standards at their June meeting, were told AI, has helped with increasing translations by 24 per cent on the previous year. Torfaen's Welsh language officer Alan Vernon-Jones cautioned: 'Everything needs to be proof read by a competent Welsh speaker.' Monmouthshire's review of translations has also given 'careful consideration' to the potential impact on small Welsh businesses, quality and timeliness, and the need to maintain full compliance with the Welsh language standards. Conservative councillor for Gobion Fawr Alistair Neill asked Ms Roberts if consideration had been given to working with other public services such as the police and NHS. The officer said Welsh language officers in public services across South East Wales have a working group to share best practice which was 'more broad than just translations.' On AI Cllr Neill, who chairs the committee, said: 'It sounds like AI doesn't speak Welsh very well. The 'tech bros' are going to have to do some more work on it.'
South Wales Argus
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Wanderlust exhibition by West Monmouth School pupils
The Wanderlust exhibition, currently on display in Cardiff Bay, features photographs and poems created by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils from West Monmouth School in Pontypool. The exhibition is sponsored by Torfaen MS Lynne Neagle, a long-time supporter of the school's Traveller Unit. Ms Neagle said: "I understand this exhibition first came about following discussions with Torfaen Museum that highlighted that the Traveller community were not among visitors to the museum, so they came up with the idea of doing an exhibition of the traveller community. "Art has to speak to people's lives otherwise it is not relevant." The exhibition, held at The Futures Gallery in the Pierhead, will be open until Thursday, August 28. Ms Neagle said: "I was really proud to sponsor the amazing display of photographs and poems by the pupils and to support the excellent work of the Traveller Education Service at West Mon school." The exhibition uses portraits, documentary-style photographs and poetry to explore and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities in Torfaen. The project aims to challenge stereotypes and promote greater understanding through creative expression. Pupils developed their work in collaboration with photographer Jon Pountney, photography graduate David Harrhy, and poet Patrick Jones. The Pierhead will also open on Sundays during the summer holidays, starting from July 20.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Big Pit charging mine admission is 'wrong'
It is wrong to charge people to enter the Big Pit National Coal Museum, a Senedd report museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, has started charging £8 per person, with some concessions, on a trial basis until July the culture and sport committee says access should remain free on principle and not be a luxury for those who can afford it, calling for better funding for Welsh museums so collections remain free for Welsh government said it was committed to keeping entry to all seven museum sites free, as well as to the national collections, and would consider the report's findings. Tours of Big Pit, one of Amgueddfa Cymru's seven museums, are led by former miners and explore original mine shafts and museums.A sign outside the entrance now states: "Due to financial pressures and funding cuts, from 5 April we will be charging for the underground tour." But Delyth Jewell MS, chair of the Senedd's culture and sports committee, said the tours are "a fundamental part of our national collections, they are part of our national story, and that shouldn't be limiting if people can't afford to access them".The report says the Welsh government has "not fulfilled its responsibility in funding museums adequately", citing a 17% cut in real terms to funding for culture and sport in Wales in the last decade. "We appreciate that it is expensive for Amgueddfa Cymru to provide access to the underground workings at Big Pit," it says."However, we think this is an argument for the Welsh government to provide an adequate level of funding, not for Amgueddfa Cymru to charge for access." Visitors gave a mixed response to the charge, with Deborah Clubb from Merthyr Tydfil saying: "I think [the fee] would make it something that I wouldn't visit as often, definitely, because it was always a free attraction before and something that you could do as a family without thinking about."Mother-of-six Amy Hughes, from Aberdare, said she took the underground tour several times when it was free. She said: "[The admission fee] does make me not want to take all my kids down there but I do feel it's such good value to be able to go underground and see an actual mine."It would be good if they did a family ticket." Savannah Knox, visiting from Southern Ontario, said she didn't mind paying because she is used to doing that back home in said: "If it's historical or a museum it's usually charged. It helps with the upkeep, right?"Showing her around Wales was Lauren Price from Risca, who said she didn't mind paying the fee "if the money's going back into keeping it up and going". Amgueddfa Cymru said the Big Pit experience extends "far beyond" the underground tour, and the rest of the site remains free. It said it looks forward to continuing working with the Welsh government as they consider the report's findings.
