#maesteg — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #maesteg, aggregated by home.social.
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‘Devoted’ father dies after alleged assault in Turkey
A man who died after an alleged assault in Turkey was a “devoted” father who “touched countless lives”,…
#Canada #Bridgendcounty #CommonwealthandDevelopmentOffice #FamilyPhoto #Maesteg #ScotJames #Turkey
https://www.europesays.com/canada/151152/ -
Welsh rugby player dies after alleged attack in Turkey
Scot James was on holiday in Turkey when he was allegedly attacked earlier this month 15:00, 30 Jul…
#NewsBeep #News #Rugby #Maesteg #rugby #Sports #UK #UnitedKingdom
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/719328/ -
Second Llangynwyd housing development approved #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/07/second-llangynwyd-housing-development-approved/
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Second Llangynwyd housing development approved #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/07/second-llangynwyd-housing-development-approved/
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Second Llangynwyd housing development approved #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/07/second-llangynwyd-housing-development-approved/
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SWANSEA: Boys of 14 among seven arrested as police pull six bikes off the streets
Police have released dramatic footage of their crackdown on anti-social and dangerous driving in Swansea — targeting motorbikes, e-bikes and car drivers.
Boys as young as 14 are among seven people arrested as police stripped six illegal bikes off the city’s streets.
The crackdown threw everything at the problem, from drones overhead to armed officers on the ground.
One dramatic car chase featured showed police pursuing a car tearing through streets in Mount Pleasant, Brynmill and the city centre at speeds hitting almost 60mph — all in a 20mph zone.
The fleeing car squeezes past parked vehicles on Harcourt Street in Mount Pleasant, near the Londis on the Norfolk Street junction. Image: South Wales PoliceThe driver, James Holt, 45, from Gowerton, was already on the radar of a knife crime operation when he refused to stop for police. He has since admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and uninsured, and drink driving.
In a separate incident in Gorseinon, officers chased down a bike running on false plates — and the two riders arrested turned out to be boys of 14.
Two riders, no helmets: the scooter filmed on a residential street before the arrests. Image: South Wales PoliceTwo 17-year-olds, from Bonymaen and Plasmarl, were arrested after a motorbike was snatched in the city centre. Police got the stolen bike back, and footage of the arrests shows officers recovering a Sur-Ron electric bike in an underpass.
A suspect is led away in handcuffs in the underpass. Image: South Wales PoliceIn Pontarddulais, two unregistered bikes ignored orders to stop from armed officers. A stinger ended the argument, and both were seized.
One suspect tries to scramble over a bridge wall to get away. Image: South Wales PoliceSouth Wales Police have also charged 36-year-old Matthew Davies, from Maesteg, with driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance.
Temporary Chief Inspector Andrew Hedley said the arrests demonstrated “the impact of our ongoing targeted work to tackle illegal and anti-social use of vehicles across Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot.”
He said that the police were using specialist teams to identify offenders, “disrupting criminal activity and taking dangerous vehicles off our roads”.
He added that the force would keep acting on tip-offs from residents. “We will continue to act on information from our communities and take robust action against those who put others at risk,” he said.
The arrests are the latest scalps for Operation Akalat, the force’s rolling campaign against illegal bikes, stolen vehicles and the drug dealing that often travels with them.
Its biggest single haul came in April, when a police plane circling above Swansea guided officers to sixteen bikes in one day: eight in Penlan, three in the city centre, three in Townhill and two in Morriston. Several turned out to be stolen.
The same plane caught an extra target that evening. Callum Payne, 18, of Port Tennant, was tracked from 1,500ft as he sped a Sur-Ron over the SA1 pedestrian footbridge, weaving past drinkers and traffic. Officers found him inside a nearby house; he is now banned from the roads for two years and doing 200 hours of unpaid work.
Gorseinon’s riders have been playing hide and seek with police for months. Officers previously found five motorcycles stashed in woodland near the town, believed to be the machines behind a long run of complaints.
The Sur-Rons turning up again and again in these seizures are not toys. In law they are motor vehicles, needing registration, insurance and a licence to ride on a road or public path — unlike pedal-assist e-bikes, which are capped at 15.5mph.
And the bikes police take may never come back. Under powers proposed by the UK Government, vehicles used anti-socially could be crushed within 48 hours instead of the current 14 days, with no warning needed before they are taken.
Police and Crime Commissioner Emma Wools has backed the tougher line, saying such machines are often used to facilitate drug dealing and serious violence.
Swansea knows the cost when it goes wrong. In 2023, a child was seriously injured and airlifted to Morriston Hospital after being hit by an off-road motorbike yards from a Mayhill primary school.
South Wales Police say that anyone with information about illegal riding can contact them on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
SWANSEA: Sixteen bikes seized as police operation targets illegal off-road riders
A fixed-wing police aircraft guided officers to sixteen bikes in one day in April.Police seize five motorcycles linked to anti-social behaviour in Gorseinon
The machines were found hidden in woodland near the town.SWANSEA: Tracked from 1,500ft — Sur-Ron rider banned from the roads
Callum Payne sped across the SA1 pedestrian footbridge with a police plane overhead.Police to crush e-scooters and off-road bikes used anti-socially within 48 hours
#Bonymaen #Gorseinon #Gowerton #Maesteg #Pontarddulais #SouthWalesPolice #SurRon
Proposed UK Government powers would slash the current 14-day wait. -
MAESTEG: Dad’s extraordinary fortnight — cancer surgery, a first grandchild and a walk down the aisle
In the space of eleven days, Lee Brain had a six-hour operation to remove a cancerous tumour, became a grandfather for the first time — and walked his daughter down the aisle.
The 47-year-old school caretaker, who lives in Caerau near Maesteg and works at Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen in Tondu, was diagnosed with sarcoma earlier this year.
It began in February, when he felt a pain in his shoulder while organising the staging for a school concert — a small lump had developed, and he thought nothing of it.
But by April it had doubled in size, and his wife Emmaleen insisted he saw his GP. Scans and a biopsy followed, and the diagnosis was confirmed.
“When the doctor told me, I thought he was wrong,” Lee said. “Then it sunk in and I started crying.”
Sarcoma is an uncommon cancer of the body’s connective tissue — fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels and bone — accounting for fewer than two per cent of adult cancers. In south and mid Wales, patients are supported by the South Wales Sarcoma Service, hosted by Swansea Bay University Health Board and based at Morriston Hospital.
Consultant plastic, reconstructive and sarcoma surgeon Thomas Bragg operated on Lee on 2 June. “It was rapidly growing so we did the operation within a few days,” he said.
“He had a microsurgical reconstruction, taking soft tissue from his thigh and placing it onto his shoulder. This involved suturing blood vessels into his shoulder using a microscope.
“Because we operated so quickly we hope we have managed to save structures in the shoulder to not only clear the tumour but also maintain function. Next step will be recovery, physiotherapy, and radiotherapy.”
Four days after the operation, on 6 June, Lee’s youngest daughter Bethan and her husband Ben had a little boy — Cian Lee Joseph Page, his first grandchild.
Lee with newborn grandson Cian Lee Joseph Page. Image: Lee Brain / Swansea Bay University Health BoardA week after that, on 13 June, his older daughter Cody married her partner Sean — and Lee was determined to walk her down the aisle. “It was a bit of a struggle and I was in a lot of pain, but I did it,” he said.
“I can’t just go and sit in the corner and try not to think about it,” he added. “I had some incentives.”
Proud dad: Lee walks daughter Cody down the aisle. Image: Lee Brain / Swansea Bay UHBLee’s shoulder, where the sarcoma developed. Image: Lee Brain / Swansea Bay UHBLee is now recovering from two large surgical wounds, which need time to heal before radiotherapy and physiotherapy can begin — and he says he is grateful to Mr Bragg and the Morriston team who cared for him.
He has told his story to mark Sarcoma Awareness Month, which runs through July — and he credits Emmaleen with catching it in time, saying that without her insistence, “I would have just let it drag on.”
Lee with surgeon Mr Thomas Bragg and sarcoma cancer support worker Lucy Whiddett. Image: Lee Brain / Swansea Bay University Health BoardMr Bragg’s advice is direct: “The message is a very simple one. If you have a lump which is growing rapidly, or is bigger than five centimetres, or feels deep, or is painful, go and see your GP.” Most lumps turn out to be benign, he said — but the earlier a sarcoma is diagnosed, the better for the patient.
The South Wales team has worked with the charity Sarcoma UK to organise the Rare But Real walk in Swansea on Saturday 22 August, which Lee will be involved with. “Get it checked out if you have any concerns,” he said.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
BRIDGEND: ‘You are not alone’ — the woman making Bailey’s Bags of chemo essentials for strangers starting treatment
Another Bridgend county story of kindness in the face of cancer.Swansea leads Wales with rollout of life-saving bleed control kits
Health equipment reaching communities across the region.Councillor saves man with CPR in Llanelli town centre
#Caerau #Cancer #ColegCymunedolYDderwen #Maesteg #MorristonHospital #PlasticSurgery #Sarcoma #SarcomaUK #Tondu
The quick thinking that saved a life in Llanelli. -
BRIDGEND COUNTY: A crematorium’s 17-year streak leads seven Green Flag wins — as Bryngarw joins an exclusive heritage club
A crematorium has one of the longest-running Green Flags in Bridgend County. Coychurch Crematorium has now held the award for 17 consecutive years — one of seven green spaces across the county borough recognised by Keep Wales Tidy this year.
Bridgend County Borough Council says the streak reflects the standards maintained at the site, and the peaceful, well-kept environment it provides for bereaved families and visitors.
The Green Flag is the national benchmark for parks and green spaces, judged on upkeep, environmental management and community involvement.
Last year’s Green Flag flying at a winning site — 330 Welsh green spaces have been recognised in the 2026 round. Image credit: Keep Wales TidyBryngarw joins an exclusive club
Bryngarw Country Park has gone one further. It now holds Green Site Heritage Accreditation — recognition of work to protect and promote the park’s history — making it one of just 14 sites in Wales to hold the status.
Two more of the 14 are next door. Gnoll Country Park earned its first heritage award this year, joining a second Neath Port Talbot site on the list.
Bryngarw is managed by Awen Cultural Trust in partnership with the council.
The volunteers behind the flags
Maesteg Welfare Park also kept its Green Flag. The council manages the park with the support of the Friends of Maesteg Welfare Park voluntary group.
Four community-run spaces retained their Community Awards: Spirit of the Llynfi Woodland, Ogmore Vale Fire Station, Tremains Wood and Coed-yr-Hela.
The council says those awards recognise the local people who look after the spaces themselves.
Cabinet member for climate change and environment Cllr Eugene Caparros said the awards reflected the quality and range of green spaces across the county borough.
“To see Coychurch Crematorium achieve its 17th consecutive Green Flag Award is a fantastic accomplishment and reflects the dedication of the staff who work so hard to maintain such an important site,” he said.
A record year across Wales
The awards come in a record year. Keep Wales Tidy chief executive Owen Derbyshire said 330 places were recognised across Wales in 2026, as the Green Flag scheme marks 30 years.
“Green spaces play a vital part in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities across Wales,” he said, thanking the staff and volunteers behind them.
Bridgend’s seven join winners across the region — nine parks and green spaces kept their flags in Swansea, alongside 13 volunteer-run community spaces there. The full list of winners is on the Keep Wales Tidy website.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
NEATH PORT TALBOT: Gnoll earns first-ever heritage award — as 15 parks and green spaces fly the Green Flag
Two of Wales’ 14 Green Heritage sites are now in Neath Port Talbot.SWANSEA: Nine parks and green spaces named among the best in Wales — as Botanical Gardens marks its centenary
From Clyne Gardens to Cwmdonkin Park, Swansea’s flags flew for another year.Gnoll Country Park wins prestigious biodiversity award for innovative ‘Gnollywood’ project
The park’s Countryside & Wildlife Team took Best of the Best at last year’s Green Flag Awards.SWANSEA: A green jewel turns 100 — how Singleton’s Botanical Gardens grew from kitchen plot to city treasure
#AwenCulturalTrust #Bridgend #BridgendCountyBoroughCouncil #BryngarwCountryPark #CoychurchCrematorium #GreenFlag #KeepWalesTidy #Maesteg #MaestegWelfarePark
A century of the free, much-loved corner of Singleton Park. -
Llynfi nuclear project: Meetings to be held over the coming weeks #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/06/llynfi-nuclear-project-meetings-to-be-held-over-the-coming-weeks/
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Llynfi nuclear project: Meetings to be held over the coming weeks #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/06/llynfi-nuclear-project-meetings-to-be-held-over-the-coming-weeks/
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Llynfi nuclear project: Meetings to be held over the coming weeks #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/06/llynfi-nuclear-project-meetings-to-be-held-over-the-coming-weeks/
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https://www.europesays.com/uk/982442/ Man charged after incident in Garth area of Maesteg #Britain #Crime #GreatBritain #Maesteg #SouthWalesPolice #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales
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MAESTEG: Family firm converts old Boxing Gym into £150,000 showroom — and plans to create ten new jobs
A family business with 34 years of history in south Wales is making its biggest investment yet — transforming the old Boxing Gym on Maesteg high street into a 5,000 sq ft showroom, with plans to create up to ten new local jobs once it opens.
MPN Windows, Doors and Conservatories, run by Melanie Webster and her son Nathan, is spending nearly £150,000 on the renovation. The new space will allow customers to see and touch products in person — including composite doors and UPVC windows — and use CAD software to design and visualise their own projects before committing to an order.
The official launch is planned for the end of June. Melanie Webster said the showroom would be a boost to Maesteg’s high street at a time when private investment in the town centre is gathering pace. “The new showroom should be ready for an official launch at the end of June and will be a big boost to Maesteg’s bustling high street,” she said.
“We’re in the process of renovating the old Boxing Gym to create a modern and welcoming place for people to come in and chat with our experts about doors, windows, conservatories and, increasingly, our popular range of living spaces,” she added.
Melanie and Nathan Webster of MPN Windows, Doors and ConservatoriesThe MPN investment arrives as Maesteg is experiencing a broader regeneration moment. Maesteg Town Hall reopened in November 2024 after a multi-million pound redevelopment — one of the biggest investments in the town in decades. Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme has also recently awarded funding for a shopfront improvement scheme on Talbot Street.
A £41.8 million housing and retail development on the former Ewenny Road industrial estate — on the site of the former Revlon factory — is now under construction, with homes expected to begin being handed over by the end of 2026. Against that backdrop, a family business choosing to invest £150,000 in a high street showroom is exactly the kind of private confidence the town needs.
MPN currently employs ten people across its retail and installation teams, with the installation side completing more than 1,000 jobs every year. Once the showroom is trading and sales increase, the firm expects to launch a recruitment drive that could see the workforce double.
MPN say they are the only retailer in south-west Wales and along the M4 corridor with exclusive access to the ‘Forte’ composite door and ‘Extreme’ UPVC window ranges — product lines that offer more colours and styles than conventional collections, and which will form a central part of the new showroom’s offer.
Nathan Webster said the family approach was what made MPN stand out from larger competitors. “There’s a real personal approach that can only be generated by a family-run business. That’s what makes us so special and accounts for all the repeat business we’ve enjoyed over the last 34 years,” he said.
“In some instances we’ve had three generations use us,” he added — a claim that speaks to the loyalty the firm has built across the area over more than three decades.
MPN Windows, Doors and Conservatories, which is led by Melanie Webster and her son Nathan, is investing nearly £150,000 into transforming a 5000 sq ft building on the high-street into a state-of-the-art showcase for its wide range of products and living extensions.The investment coincides with MPN joining the CO Retail Network — a group of around 30 independent home improvement retailers that pool resources on marketing, digital tools and product development. As part of the arrangement, MPN will receive a new website, branded brochures, and support with digital advertising designed to extend its reach beyond its traditional customer base.
Greg Kane, CEO of CO Manufacturing, said south-west Wales had been on the network’s radar for some time. “South West Wales was an area we’d looked at for a while, so to get a company with the local reputation of MPN is a big coup for the network,” he said.
“In Melanie and Nathan, we have two people who are hugely committed to delivering exceptional service to existing and new clients and share our values of always going beyond the norm to make sure the perfect install is completed,” he added.
For Nathan, the combination of the new showroom, the network membership and the exclusive product ranges represents a step change for a business that has built its reputation one installation at a time. “2026 is going to be a really big year for MPN and one where we build on over 34 years’ experience in the trade,” said Melanie.
“The relationship with CO Retail Network will help us extend our reach outside of our traditional customer base. We’re going to be receiving a brand-new, industry-leading website, custom-designed branded brochures and lots of support across digital marketing,” added Nathan.
The new showroom is expected to open at the end of June. Further information is available at mpnwindows.com.
#Business #CORetailNetwork #Maesteg #MPNWindowsDoorsAndConservatories #retail #UPVCWindows -
Llangynwyd housing development approved #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/05/llangynwyd-housing-development-approved/
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Llangynwyd housing development approved #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/05/llangynwyd-housing-development-approved/
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Llangynwyd housing development approved #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/05/llangynwyd-housing-development-approved/
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MAESTEG MEAT THIEF: Serial shoplifter jailed and banned from town’s stores after six raids in six weeks
A Maesteg woman has been jailed after admitting six thefts from two of the town’s shops — walking away with meat, alcohol and coffee during a brazen spree that spanned just six weeks.
Samantha Jones, 41, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Monday, March 30, 2026, after pleading guilty to all six counts of theft.
The offences took place between February and March 2026, with Jones targeting two stores in the Maesteg area in a run of raids that left local businesses counting the cost.
Four of the thefts were carried out at Asda on Castle Street in Maesteg, where Jones made off with meat and spirits worth a combined total of around £300.
The remaining two were carried out at Filco Stores on Hermon Road in Caerau, where she stole coffee and meat valued at approximately £80.
In total, Jones stole goods worth more than £380 across the six incidents.
The case was investigated by South Wales Police‘s Maesteg neighbourhood policing team, who built the case that led to Jones’s guilty pleas and sentencing.
As well as the custodial sentence, Jones has been made subject of a Criminal Behaviour Order — commonly known as a CBO — lasting two years.
The order places strict restrictions on where she is permitted to go once released. Jones is banned from entering any retail premises on Talbot Street and Commercial Street in Maesteg, as well as Asda on Castle Street, B&M Bargains on Llynfi Road and Filco Stores on Hermon Road in Caerau.
The conditions are designed to prevent Jones from returning to the areas and premises where she offended, offering some reassurance to local businesses that were targeted during the spree.
Maesteg Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Danielle Burton welcomed the outcome, saying the case demonstrated what the team could achieve for local traders.
“This was a thorough and in-depth investigation run by our neighbourhood policing teams,” she said. “Businesses in our community deserve to be able to trade without worrying about theft.”
Sgt Burton added that the consequences for Jones would continue well beyond her release date.
“Not only will Jones now serve a short sentence, but she will also be under conditions from the CBO when she is released from jail,” she said.
Shoplifting has become a growing concern for retailers across the region. South Wales Police have repeatedly urged businesses to report theft offences rather than writing them off, insisting that neighbourhood policing teams can and do take action — as this case demonstrates.
The CBO conditions mean that Jones faces further legal consequences if she is found in any of the banned locations after her release.
It is not the first time Bridgend County courts have dealt with repeat offending of this kind. Across the wider area, neighbourhood teams have increasingly turned to CBOs as a tool to protect businesses after shorter sentences fail to deter persistent offenders.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Uplands man jailed just two days after car theft
Another swift result for South Wales Police as a repeat offender is put behind bars in record time.Fuel theft fears: Rural Wales on alert as prices rocket and criminals circle
Retailers and farmers across the region count the growing cost of opportunistic theft.British Transport Police accused of “writing off” bike thefts as Welsh commuters left exposed
Questions raised over whether police forces are doing enough to tackle everyday theft in Wales.Swansea man jailed after disgraceful car theft
#ASDA #FilcoStores #Maesteg #SouthWalesPolice #theft
Courts across south Wales continue to hand down custodial sentences for persistent offenders. -
Maesteg Hospital future still undecided as £30m health centre plans move forward
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board met with elected representatives and members of the Maesteg Hospital League of Friends last week to discuss the future of healthcare in the Llynfi Valley. The meeting followed growing concern over the hospital’s long-term role and the potential relocation of services.
Huw Irranca‑Davies MS, who requested the meeting, said it was “frank and honest and robust,” with all sides agreeing that the £30m funding available must be spent locally and not lost to the area.
“We made very clear in the meeting that the people of Maesteg and the Llynfi Valley are passionate about improving the healthcare of the area, and they must be part of the way forward,” he said.
The Health Board confirmed that Maesteg Hospital remains open and that no decision has been taken to close or sell the site. However, it warned that the building faces a multi-million pound maintenance backlog and cannot support the expanded services being proposed.
Maesteg Hospital’s historic main building, which currently houses outpatient services, remains open as health board planning continues.CTM UHB says it wants to deliver more services for more people, including urgent care, outpatient clinics, mental health support, GP provision and diagnostic imaging. These would be housed in a new Llynfi Valley Health and Wellbeing Centre, with a business case due by March 2027.
While the hospital currently offers limited services, the Health Board says its configuration and condition make it unsuitable for modern healthcare delivery. Feasibility studies suggest that upgrading the existing site would cost more than £40m — well above the available budget.
A new site at Ewenny Road is now being considered, with early assessments indicating it could deliver the proposed services within budget. If chosen, Maesteg Hospital would remain open until the new facility is ready.
The Health Board has ruled out building new hospital beds, citing international evidence that prolonged hospital stays can harm older patients. Instead, it plans to expand “hospital at home” services and secure intermediate care beds in local care homes.
CTM UHB said:
“We could not countenance missing out on the potential for £30m to be spent in a community with significant health challenges.”
Local representatives raised concerns about bed provision, transport access, and the need for clearer communication. CTM UHB acknowledged these concerns and committed to more proactive engagement, including in-person events supported by Llais, the independent patient voice body.
A like-for-like comparison of site options is expected by Easter 2026, with further public engagement to follow. The next meeting between the Health Board and elected representatives is scheduled for early March.
#CwmTafMorgannwgNHS #EwennyRoad #HuwIrrancaDaviesMS #LlynfiValley #Maesteg #MaestegHospital #MaestegHospitalClosure #MaestegHospitalLeagueOfFriends -
Maesteg Hospital's Future: What we know so far #Maesteg
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/02/maesteg-hospitals-future-what-we-know-so-far/
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Maesteg Hospital's Future: What we know so far #Maesteg
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2026/02/maesteg-hospitals-future-what-we-know-so-far/
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Labour accused of dirty tricks as row over future of Maesteg Hospital intensifies
Concerns about the hospital have been building for months as Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board develops plans for a new Health and Wellbeing Centre for the Llynfi Valley. The board says it has access to around £30 million of Welsh Government funding to expand local services, but that the existing hospital site cannot be redeveloped within that budget. That position has fuelled fears about the loss of beds, the future of the building and whether the community is being properly consulted.
The latest flashpoint came after Labour representatives claimed that protest organisers, including Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate Dean Ronan, had “declined to engage” with the health board. The allegation appeared in a series of letters signed by Huw Irranca‑Davies MS, David Rees MS, Stephen Kinnock MP and local councillors, who accused some campaigners of “politicising” the issue.
Huw Irranca Davies MS outside Maesteg Community Hospital, alongside protestors calling for transparency and opposing the potential closure or sale of the site.Labour representatives wrote:
We now understand that you have indeed reached out to the main organisers – including a candidate for the Liberal Democrats – and they have declined to engage with you.
They also warned that the £30 million investment must not be put at risk.
Labour representatives wrote:
We certainly do not want to lose the £30m which Welsh Government have already put forward… this matter is of such huge importance it should be well beyond party politics.
Dean Ronan has rejected the claim outright, saying he has never been contacted by the health board and could not have refused a meeting that was never offered.
Dean Ronan, Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate, said:
Not once have I been contacted about the future of Maesteg Hospital. I could not have declined a meeting that was never offered. If Labour or the health board have evidence to the contrary, they should publish it immediately.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats say the campaign to protect the hospital has always been community‑led and cross‑party, involving the League of Friends, independent councillors and Plaid Cymru candidates. They argue that the focus should be on the future of services, not political point‑scoring.
Dean Ronan, Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate, pictured at a Maesteg Hospital protest calling for transparency and community-led decision-making over the future of local healthcare services.David Chadwick MP, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson, said:
This looks like a classic dirty tricks operation — brief against local campaigners, make untrue claims, and hope nobody challenges them.
On Sunday, Dean Ronan issued a new public statement confirming that he had been invited to meet Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies to discuss the future of healthcare in Maesteg. He said he was open to meeting, but only if a public apology was issued for what he described as “false statements” made about him earlier in the week.
Dean Ronan, Liberal Democrat Senedd candidate, said:
I informed Huw that I would be open to meeting with him and sharing my views, on the condition that a public apology was issued by himself and the local councillors who attached their names to false statements made about me earlier this week. I was told that Huw would not issue a public apology, as he did not wish to focus on ‘politics or personalities’. As a result, I have declined the meeting.”
He said the issue was not political, but personal.
Mr Ronan added:
Morally, it does not sit right with me to allow lies to be told or left unchallenged. These are my values as a person, not a political position. The people of Maesteg deserve representatives who are honest and transparent at all times. Integrity and honesty matter more to me than any party policy.”
He added that he remained open to dialogue if a public apology was issued.
The full stone frontage of Maesteg Community Hospital, a landmark building at the centre of the debate over future health services in the Llynfi Valley.
(Image: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board)What the health board says it is planning
Behind the political row sits a much larger debate about what the health board is proposing for the Llynfi Valley.
The board says it wants to deliver a wider range of services locally, including urgent care, expanded outpatient clinics, mental health support, integrated community teams and space for third‑sector wellbeing organisations. It argues that these improvements cannot be delivered within the existing hospital buildings, which would cost at least £42 million to redevelop and potentially up to £48 million if further structural issues are uncovered.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said:
We have not taken any decisions to close Maesteg Hospital or sell the site. Whatever the future holds for this important, much‑loved building will take into account the views of local people and the heritage of the site.
The board says it is exploring a potential new site near Ewenny Road, close to Maesteg town centre and the railway station, because it offers better access and can accommodate the size of building required for modern services. It also says it is considering alternatives to hospital‑based community beds, including block‑booking beds in local nursing homes for rehabilitation, reablement and palliative care.
The health board said in its latest update:
Maesteg nestled in the Llynfi Valley, where plans for a new health and wellbeing centre have sparked debate over access, investment and the future of local services.Local people who are anxious about the future deserve the facts. We will continue to meet with representatives and provide information through other means.
(Image: Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board)Calls for transparency and engagement
Labour representatives say they share concerns about the future of the hospital building and have urged the board to protect the site’s heritage. They argue that the building is iconic and must not be left “empty or unloved”.
Labour representatives wrote:
There is no‑one in these communities who would allow this iconic building to lie empty or unloved or unused.
They also said they have pressed the health board to meet urgently with the League of Friends and all elected representatives, and that the board has now agreed to do so.
The health board says it has already held engagement events and will carry out further public consultation once more detailed work on both the existing site and the potential new site is complete. A decision on the preferred location is expected in early 2026.
For now, the political row continues to overshadow the process, with both sides accusing the other of misrepresenting the facts. What remains clear is that the future of Maesteg Hospital — its services, its beds and its building — has become one of the most contentious local issues in years, and the community is demanding answers.
#CwmTafMorgannwgNHS #DavidChadwickMP #DavidReesMS #DeanRonan #HealthAndWellbeingCentre #HuwIrrancaDaviesMS #LlynfiValley #Maesteg #MaestegCommunityHospital #MaestegHospitalClosure #StephenKinnockMP #WelshLabour #WelshLiberalDemocrats -
https://www.europesays.com/uk/718212/ Deputy First Minister joins protest against local hospital closure #Health #Healthcare #HuwIrrancaDavies #Maesteg #NHS #UK #UnitedKingdom
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Maesteg dad who “hit rock bottom” turns to boxing to rebuild his confidence
A 28‑year‑old dad from Maesteg has spoken about how taking part in an Ultra White Collar Boxing event helped him regain confidence and find a sense of community after a difficult period in his life.
Anthony Trubridge, an HGV driver, took part in the charity boxing event at the Vale Sport Arena in Cardiff to raise money for Movember, which supports men’s mental health as well as prostate and testicular cancer.
Finding a turning point
Anthony says his mental health had declined following the end of his marriage, leaving him feeling isolated and overwhelmed. A panic attack while driving earlier this year became the moment he knew something had to change.
Anthony Trubridge said:
“At the start of this year, my mental health took a bad turn. I felt like I had pretty much hit rock bottom. I was a complete shell of myself. But after the panic attack, something suddenly clicked. I had a burning desire to take action and become someone with a zest for living life to the fullest — and I’ve honestly not looked back since.”
He began searching for ways to improve his wellbeing and came across Ultra White Collar Boxing online.
Anthony added:
Anthony Trubridge in action during his Ultra White Collar Boxing bout at the Vale Sport Arena in Cardiff.“As soon as I saw Ultra on Facebook, and started reading the great testimonials on their website, I knew it was going to be the perfect route for me. I felt boxing could help me channel my energy, teach me how to improve my health, and ultimately stay accountable to myself. Now, I can safely say that I was absolutely right.”
Building confidence through training
Anthony joined the eight‑week training programme, which brings together first‑time boxers preparing for a charity bout. He trained at Gracie Barra Cardiff under coach Rik Swaine, supported by his personal trainer Briannon.
Anthony said:
“After months of isolation, I finally felt like I had met a group of people I could open up to. I didn’t realise how physically challenging the training was going to be, but the relationships I started forming and the confidence I started to gain made me want to keep going back.”
He said the structure of the programme helped him focus on his wellbeing.
He continued:
Anthony Trubridge during a close‑fought round at the Ultra White Collar Boxing event, where he faced his training partner Tyler.“The sessions were tough, but designed to be inclusive so no one gets left behind. The whole process encourages you to think about your own well‑being and learn self‑discipline. I changed my diet and stuck to it, because I wanted to feel good and perform at my best.”
Raising money — and spirits
Anthony chose to raise funds for Movember because of its focus on men’s mental health.
Anthony said:
“They do so much for men’s mental health, and I know first‑hand how difficult it can be to speak up as a man. But when you do and other people say they have felt the same way, it makes you feel less alone.”
He said the sense of community he found through Ultra made a significant difference.
He added:
“After the separation I felt I was on my own. But Ultra gave me a community. It really was a life‑changing experience for me.”
Anthony raised more than £300 — well above the £50 minimum.
Fight night and “The Phoenix”
On the night, Anthony faced his training partner Tyler in a close contest he lost on points, but says the experience meant far more than the result.
Anthony said:
“My mum gave me the idea of The Phoenix, as I always come back stronger like a phoenix rising from the ashes. She was really chuffed that I chose it, and had some custom shorts created to match my vest.”
He walked out to Rising from the Ashes by The Reveal Inc.
He said:
“The lyrics summed up my life — what I was going through, how I was feeling, and then the journey to getting back to where I am now.”
“You will never regret the person you become”
Anthony says he would encourage anyone considering the programme to take the step.
Anthony said:
“For anyone considering signing up, I understand how daunting it can be — but trust me when I say, it is 100% worth it. Training is tough, but you will never regret the person you become and the friends you make along the way. It is such a fantastic process to go through — I loved it so much I am doing it all over again.”
Ultra Events, the company behind Ultra White Collar Boxing, has raised more than £41 million for charity, including over £500,000 in Cardiff alone.
The next Cardiff event takes place on Saturday 28 March 2026, with training beginning on Monday 2 February.
#boxing #GracieBarraCardiff #Maesteg #mentalHealth #Movember #truckDriver #UltraWhiteCollarBoxing -
https://www.europesays.com/uk/658245/ ‘I sued Amazon over an injury then men started following me’ #Amazon #Bridgend #Britain #Courts #employment #GreatBritain #Health #Maesteg #MentalHealth #Swansea #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales
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Sunday lunch horror: 43 struck down at Welsh pub
More than 40 people were left sick and rushing to the loo after eating Sunday lunch at the Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd, near Maesteg.
The pub shut its doors for a deep clean after customers reported stomach cramps and diarrhoea just hours after their meals.
Bug behind the outbreak
Public Health Wales confirmed 43 cases of food poisoning, blaming the bacteria clostridium perfringens. The bug is known to lurk in meat and poultry left out too long.
Officials said the risk to the wider public is low, but admitted the outbreak was one of the largest seen in Wales this year.
Pub vows honesty
In a Facebook post, the Corner House Inn said: “We contacted environmental health ourselves… we will be honest throughout and will continue to do so.”
The owners promised to keep working with inspectors to protect staff and customers, insisting the restaurant remains open.
Not the first time
It comes just weeks after a similar outbreak at the Cwrt Henllys Bar and Restaurant in Cwmbran, also linked to Sunday lunch.
The Food Standards Agency warns spores from the bug can survive cooking and multiply if food is cooled too slowly or left unrefrigerated.
Children, pregnant women, older people and those with health conditions are most at risk of severe illness.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Lidl pulls smoked fish after Listeria outbreak
Food Standards Agency issues warning over contaminated ready-to-eat fish products sold in Lidl stores.Cockroach infestation shuts Singleton Hospital kitchen
Swansea Bay Health Board forced to move food preparation off-site after hygiene breach.#clostridiumPerfringens #EnvironmentalHealth #foodDrink #foodPoisoning #Llangynwyd #Maesteg #pub #PublicHealthWales #SundayLunch
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Plans for giant Y Bryn wind farm near Port Talbot refused after landscape concerns
The Y Bryn Wind Farm would have seen up to 18 turbines, each rising to 250 metres from base to tip, constructed on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate northeast of Port Talbot. At that scale, the turbines would have been more than twice the height of Swansea’s Meridian Quay Tower, and visible across much of South Wales.
A project promising power for thousands of homes
Developers Coriolis Energy and ESB argued the scheme could generate enough electricity to power more than 85,000 homes each year, offsetting over 137,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. They said the project would contribute towards Wales’ 2030 renewable energy target, while also offering a £1 million annual community benefit fund and opportunities for local ownership.
Concerns that the turbines would dominate the skyline
Despite those potential benefits, the inspector concluded the turbines would cause “unacceptable adverse impacts” on the landscape and visual amenity. Both Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend councils warned the sheer size of the structures would dominate the skyline and affect historic sites.
The inspector acknowledged the climate and energy security advantages but ruled that the harm to the landscape outweighed them. The decision noted that while the impacts would eventually end when the turbines were decommissioned, they would be felt for decades.
Relief for campaigners after years of opposition
Local residents in Bryn and nearby communities, who had opposed the plans since 2021, welcomed the refusal.
Resident Rhodri Williams said:
“We’re over the moon with this decision and so happy to see that common sense has prevailed. After fighting it for years, we’re pleased to have saved our local landscape so that future generations can enjoy what we have now.”
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) also praised the outcome, describing the project as “industrial‑scale in an entirely inappropriate landscape” and warning it would have threatened valued forests, wildlife and community wellbeing.
Developers say Wales has missed an opportunity
Project manager Trevor Hunter said Coriolis and ESB were “bitterly disappointed” by the refusal, calling it a setback for Wales’ renewable energy ambitions. He highlighted the inspector’s concerns about long‑distance impacts on the Gower National Landscape and cumulative effects on heritage assets.
Hunter added that the developers would review the decision with legal and technical teams before deciding on next steps, but stressed the project had promised significant community benefits and investment.
What happens next for Y Bryn
For now, campaigners say they are relieved the project has been halted, while developers consider whether to appeal or resubmit revised plans. The debate over how Wales balances renewable energy targets with protecting sensitive landscapes is likely to continue.
#Bryn #CoriolisEnergy #energy #ESB #landscapeImpact #Maesteg #planning #PlanningPermission #PortTalbot #renewableEnergy #WelshGovernment #windFarm #YBrynWindFarm -
https://www.europesays.com/uk/468146/ Missing teen thought to be long way from home #Bridgend #Britain #Cardiff #GreatBritain #Maesteg #MissingPeople #NorthWales #Swansea #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales
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Housing association buys new Caerau development #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2025/07/housing-association-buys-new-caerau-development/
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Housing association buys new Caerau development #Maesteg #Bridgend
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2025/07/housing-association-buys-new-caerau-development/
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New round of nuclear power station public meetings #Bridgend #Maesteg
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2025/07/new-round-of-nuclear-power-station-public-meetings/
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New round of nuclear power station public meetings #Bridgend #Maesteg
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2025/07/new-round-of-nuclear-power-station-public-meetings/
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New round of nuclear power station public meetings #Bridgend #Maesteg
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2025/07/new-round-of-nuclear-power-station-public-meetings/
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New round of nuclear power station public meetings #Bridgend #Maesteg
https://oggybloggyogwr.com/2025/07/new-round-of-nuclear-power-station-public-meetings/
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Sundays pictures from my Ramblers and Love2Walk Bridgend Walking Festival Slow Ways walk: Maesteg - Sarn. Leading 17 starting at Sarn, jumping on the train and walking back. Excellent route, excellent company and excellent weather!
📷: John Saunders
#Ramblers #Love2Walk #Bridgend #Maesteg #Sarn #Wales #Cymru #Train #Trail #PenybontYrOgwr #Cerdded #Tren
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Sundays pictures from my Ramblers and Love2Walk Bridgend Walking Festival Slow Ways walk: Maesteg - Sarn. Leading 17 starting at Sarn, jumping on the train and walking back. Excellent route, excellent company and excellent weather!
📷: John Saunders
#Ramblers #Love2Walk #Bridgend #Maesteg #Sarn #Wales #Cymru #Train #Trail #PenybontYrOgwr #Cerdded #Tren
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Sundays pictures from my Ramblers and Love2Walk Bridgend Walking Festival Slow Ways walk: Maesteg - Sarn. Leading 17 starting at Sarn, jumping on the train and walking back. Excellent route, excellent company and excellent weather!
📷: John Saunders
#Ramblers #Love2Walk #Bridgend #Maesteg #Sarn #Wales #Cymru #Train #Trail #PenybontYrOgwr #Cerdded #Tren
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Sundays pictures from my Ramblers and Love2Walk Bridgend Walking Festival Slow Ways walk: Maesteg - Sarn. Leading 17 starting at Sarn, jumping on the train and walking back. Excellent route, excellent company and excellent weather!
📷: John Saunders
#Ramblers #Love2Walk #Bridgend #Maesteg #Sarn #Wales #Cymru #Train #Trail #PenybontYrOgwr #Cerdded #Tren
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Sundays pictures from my Ramblers and Love2Walk Bridgend Walking Festival Slow Ways walk: Maesteg - Sarn. Leading 17 starting at Sarn, jumping on the train and walking back. Excellent route, excellent company and excellent weather!
📷: John Saunders
#Ramblers #Love2Walk #Bridgend #Maesteg #Sarn #Wales #Cymru #Train #Trail #PenybontYrOgwr #Cerdded #Tren
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Completed the recce of the Slow Ways route from Maesteg to Sarn in the glorious sunshine. I’m due to lead a rail to trail Ramblers and Bridgend walking festival walk on 23rd June. Hopefully the weather stays with us! #Ramblers #WalkingFestival #Bridgend #Sarn #Maesteg #SlowWays #PenybontYrOgwt #Cymru #Wales #Cerdded #Walking
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Completed the recce of the Slow Ways route from Maesteg to Sarn in the glorious sunshine. I’m due to lead a rail to trail Ramblers and Bridgend walking festival walk on 23rd June. Hopefully the weather stays with us! #Ramblers #WalkingFestival #Bridgend #Sarn #Maesteg #SlowWays #PenybontYrOgwt #Cymru #Wales #Cerdded #Walking
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Completed the recce of the Slow Ways route from Maesteg to Sarn in the glorious sunshine. I’m due to lead a rail to trail Ramblers and Bridgend walking festival walk on 23rd June. Hopefully the weather stays with us! #Ramblers #WalkingFestival #Bridgend #Sarn #Maesteg #SlowWays #PenybontYrOgwt #Cymru #Wales #Cerdded #Walking
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Completed the recce of the Slow Ways route from Maesteg to Sarn in the glorious sunshine. I’m due to lead a rail to trail Ramblers and Bridgend walking festival walk on 23rd June. Hopefully the weather stays with us! #Ramblers #WalkingFestival #Bridgend #Sarn #Maesteg #SlowWays #PenybontYrOgwt #Cymru #Wales #Cerdded #Walking
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Completed the recce of the Slow Ways route from Maesteg to Sarn in the glorious sunshine. I’m due to lead a rail to trail Ramblers and Bridgend walking festival walk on 23rd June. Hopefully the weather stays with us! #Ramblers #WalkingFestival #Bridgend #Sarn #Maesteg #SlowWays #PenybontYrOgwt #Cymru #Wales #Cerdded #Walking
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started a #wikipedia article on Welsh folk singer Esme Lewis, who appeared on the #ITV show "Gwlad y Gân" in the 1950s and 1960s, and toured in North American with a Welsh male choir in the 1970s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esme_Lewis @wikiwomeninred #Wales #Cymru #BBC #WomeninMusic #Maesteg Article still needs birth/death dates with a source; anyone?
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started a #wikipedia article on Welsh folk singer Esme Lewis, who appeared on the #ITV show "Gwlad y Gân" in the 1950s and 1960s, and toured in North American with a Welsh male choir in the 1970s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esme_Lewis @wikiwomeninred #Wales #Cymru #BBC #WomeninMusic #Maesteg Article still needs birth/death dates with a source; anyone?
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started a #wikipedia article on Welsh folk singer Esme Lewis, who appeared on the #ITV show "Gwlad y Gân" in the 1950s and 1960s, and toured in North American with a Welsh male choir in the 1970s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esme_Lewis @wikiwomeninred #Wales #Cymru #BBC #WomeninMusic #Maesteg Article still needs birth/death dates with a source; anyone?
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started a #wikipedia article on Welsh folk singer Esme Lewis, who appeared on the #ITV show "Gwlad y Gân" in the 1950s and 1960s, and toured in North American with a Welsh male choir in the 1970s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esme_Lewis @wikiwomeninred #Wales #Cymru #BBC #WomeninMusic #Maesteg Article still needs birth/death dates with a source; anyone?
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started a #wikipedia article on Welsh folk singer Esme Lewis, who appeared on the #ITV show "Gwlad y Gân" in the 1950s and 1960s, and toured in North American with a Welsh male choir in the 1970s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esme_Lewis @wikiwomeninred #Wales #Cymru #BBC #WomeninMusic #Maesteg Article still needs birth/death dates with a source; anyone?
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Two eagle-eyed police officers on the beat in Caerau who spotted suspicious activity at an innocuous terraced home, have led to the seizure of over £100,000 of cannabis plants and the arrest of a 28 year-old Leeds man.
https://swanseabaynews.com/2022/11/09/police-in-maesteg-uncover-huge-cannabis-farm/ #cannabis #Maesteg #SouthWalesPolice