Latest news with #Abertillery
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Gwent woman left without a car after Citroen recall
A Gwent woman says she has been left without a car after her vehicle was recalled for safety reasons. Suzanne Bevington from Abertillery has been left without a car, without clear answers, and without any practical help. She owns a 2016 Citroën DS3, one of the models caught up in the Takata airbag recall crisis. Since being told on June 30 not to drive her car, she's faced confusion, delays, and a complete lack of support. 'We've all been left in the dark," she said. "You can't get information and appointments to do the repair are just cancelled. We're all told contradictory things. 'It would be nice to know why the recall happened. I have asked and had no reply. Was it caused by an accident or are airbags just exploding as the car is being driven? It's vital that we know the answer to these questions.' Her recent appointment at Newport's Spellantis Garage was cancelled, and the garage refused to fit a Citroën C1 airbag to her DS3, despite two other dealers confirming this is possible, Suzanne said. With no courtesy car, no recovery van, Suzanne can't get to work and wonders how she will get her car to the garage. Police have begun actively checking drivers of certain Citroën and DS vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall. Around 120,000 cars are affected. Parkers has reported the recall was triggered by a fatal accident in France involving a 2014 Citroën C3, where the airbag exploded, firing metal fragments into the cabin. Takata airbags are known to degrade over time, especially in humid or hot conditions. Parkers, one of the UK's leading automotive websites, has experienced difficulty in contacting Stellantis' recall line. They further report that one dealer never answered, while another offered a cancellation slot in mid-August. Regular bookings are now stretching into October and beyond. Suzanne has said people in Gwent are chattering about slots in January. Stellantis has now authorised Peugeot dealers to carry out repairs to help ease the backlog. One dealer mentioned that the RAC is offering mobile repairs via though availability continues to remain unclear. If you own one of the affected Citroën or DS models, do not drive the car if advised not to. Risk of injury or death from a faulty airbag is real. Suzanne, who works as a carer, said: 'I want my car and clear answers. I can't afford a hire car and I can't get to work. I'm eft in the dark and no one will speak about what's going on. They've got to sort this out.' Parkers advise staying persistent with dealers or Stellantis customer service. Clarify your insurance status if you've received a stop-drive notice and never assume you are covered. Stellantis says dealers are under pressure, with repairs delayed until 2026 due to limited airbag supply and high demand. They say they are prioritising vehicles based on risk factors and expanding operations across their network: 'Stellantis remains fully committed to acting swiftly, transparently, and responsibly.' Meanwhile, Citroën urges drivers of affected vehicles to stop driving and check details at VIN at
South Wales Argus
26-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Abertillery Learning Community awards evening 2025
The event brought together students, families, staff, and community partners to showcase the compassion, commitment, and community spirit of learners, and thank them for their efforts. Headteacher Tracey Jarvis says: "It was a lovely evening and a powerful reminder of what makes our school truly special, our amazing and inspiring children and young people. "I was so proud to hear all about their achievements which really does remind us of all of what can be achieved when a community like Abertillery comes together. "Well done everyone." The full list of award winners: Volunteer of the Year: Disability Pathway volunteer Cerys Palmer, for her unwavering support and positive attitude while helping children aged 4-12 swim safely and have fun. Special Recognition Award: Niamh Tetley, Lanah-Mai Coles, Ava Staley, Darcie Gallier-Morgan and Amelia Williams, for their compassionate interactions with a local lady with dementia. Act of Kindness Award: Evan Small, for his quiet acts of kindness, including reaching out to support a friend's family member with terminal cancer. Eco-Warrior Award: Lillian Tinker, for transforming her school's recycling efforts and raising awareness about waste reduction. Young Carer Award: Kailen Williams, for balancing school and caregiving responsibilities with remarkable courage. Community Hero Award: Class 10LS, for their teamwork in providing warm meals to families affected by a landslide. Arts and Culture Award: Oliver Harmer, a talented musician who supports community events. Pupil Recognition Award: Isabella Mathelin, for her dedication and leadership in disability swimming lessons. Charitable Champion Award: Archie Williams, for his tireless support of local charities and fundraising efforts. Community Personality of the Year Award: Erin Grote, for her inspiring use of sign language and captivating performances. Chair of governors Darryl Tovey said: 'Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event so memorable - from presenters and organisers to families and friends who joined us in celebration. "And most importantly, congratulations to our award winners, and every pupil who continues to make our school and community such an inspiring place to be.'
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans to convert storage unit at service station into takeaway
Plans have been submitted to convert a storage unit into a new takeaway. The proposal involves changing the vacant unit at Penybont Service Station, Abertillery, from storage use to a takeaway. The plans detail the erection of a single-storey cold room and the installation of high-level extraction ducts on the building's side elevation. The takeaway would operate from 11am to 11pm every day. The planning application was submitted in June 2025, but no decision date has yet been confirmed. The unit, currently vacant, is situated on the north-eastern side of Victor Road and is surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential properties. The application has been assessed under the Wales Spatial Plan, Planning Policy Wales (PPW), and associated Technical Advice Notes (TANs). It also considers the Blaenau Gwent Local Development Plan (LDP) to 2021, specifically policies SP4, SP6, DM1, DM2, and DM5. Read more New café to be created at city park transforming 'eyesore' derelict building Multi-million pound investment to 'breathe new life' into two high streets Newport property to be transformed into community and social club The proposal reportedly aligns with the five objectives of good design, namely access, movement, character, environmental sustainability, and community safety. The location of the unit supports both foot and vehicle access and includes level thresholds for accessibility. The reuse of the existing commercial unit is viewed positively in terms of community activity and crime prevention. The principle of development is supported by both national and local policies for urban development and the reuse of commercial units. The proposal is said to align with the mixed-use nature of the area, with minimal visual impact expected from external additions. No undue impact on neighbour amenity is anticipated, with odour and noise control measures available as conditions. The unit is served by bus routes and pedestrian links, with existing on-street parking. No significant increase in traffic is anticipated. The development is presented as sustainable, policy-compliant, and beneficial for the reuse of the property. The application explicitly requests planning permission in accordance with policy compliance.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Batchelor ready 'to show the world' on PFL debut
Pontypool's rising MMA star Levi Batchelor will make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut on 5 July against unbeaten Tunisian prospect Fahdi "The Gladiator" Khaled in bantamweight bout pits two undefeated fighters against each other, with both men boasting 2-0 professional records and looking to make a statement on one of the fastest-growing stages in mixed martial 23, said: "He's a dangerous opponent. It just goes to show once you get to this stage, you can't pick and choose who you fight."The event marks the PFL's first major card in Belgium and continues the organisation's European expansion, building on its growing global profile with stars such as former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and British standout Dakota Ditcheva among its Batchelor, the opportunity represents a major step in his young career and one he is a bit surreal," he added. "The PFL was never something I thought too much about - it always seemed so big and glamorous in the MMA world. "As soon as the opportunity came, I jumped at it. I know I'm ready, I'm grateful to be here, and I'm going to put on a good show. It's the start of something special." Training out of the renowned Shore MMA gym in Abertillery, south Wales - the same camp that has produced Jack Shore, Oban Elliott, and Brett Johns - Batchelor has an impressive pedigree. The Welshman enjoyed a decorated amateur career with a 9-1 record, capturing titles in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions on the Cage Warriors Academy Wales circuit."They've all said to me 'You're more than ready for this step,' even before I turned pro," said of Batchelor's professional wins have come via TKO, underlining the striking ability that has made him one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from the Welsh MMA scene in recent years."I'm more than ready for this level," he added. "I'm going to shock a lot of people on the night. It's going to be an interesting match-up - but I'm looking forward to it."Now, with the eyes of the MMA world turning to Brussels, the Welshman is embracing the moment and the chance to make his mark on the international stage."I've never been in a more perfect position to take this chance and show the world who I am," he said.
Wales Online
27-04-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
I didn't think I'd walk again after waiting two hours for an ambulance, but something extraordinary happened
I didn't think I'd walk again after waiting two hours for an ambulance, but something extraordinary happened Teacher Dewi Jones, who had to learn to walk again after an accident, is running the London Marathon (Image: Dewi Jones ) A teacher who had to learn to walk again after an accident at home is running this weekend's London Marathon. Dewi Jones from Cardiff fell 15 feet from a ladder while painting the front of his house in Cardiff. He fractured the ball of his femur, smashed up his wrist and it was a slow and painful recovery with "many dark times". He said: ' I was painting the outside of my house in Cardiff with a friend and was on a ladder at the first floor window - the ladder was on the deck and slipped and I came down 15 feet. I should have wedged the ladder in place. "I landed on my right foot and you could see the bone on my right shin. I broke the ball on the end of my femur - so I broke my hip. It was awful. I was trying to get an ambulance for two and a half hours. I was just lying on the deck." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Article continues below Dewi has always been a runner and wanted to get back to it as soon as he could after his accident in 2017 Dewi smashed his left wrist in the fall too and was in a considerable amount of pain while his friend Mike Flemming, who was painting with him, called for an ambulance to take him to the University Hospital of Wales. Eight years after his accident and at the age of 57, Dewi is aiming to complete the London Marathon in under four hours. "I had a series of operations and was really worried I would never walk again because I could not put any weight on it at first. These things take such a long time and I had a lot of dark times - you don't know what will happen." Dewi, who is head of the secondary computing and design technology faculty at Abertillery, 3-16 Learning Community, had two major surgeries to repair his hip and wrist. He was then "back and fro" for more surgeries and visits to the fracture clinic and physiotherapists and couldn't even begin to try to walk again for six weeks. "I had to learn to walk again and was back and forth to the hospital after surgery. It was one step at a time" "I am good now but there will always be a weakness there. I had to sit and wait for it to heal before I could put pressure on it again and that took six weeks. 'It was a pretty nasty recovery. I had to go through the whole process of learning to walk again and it was slow. I was on crutches for a long time. "I have always run and when I was able to start running again, I must have looked comical because I still had a bad limp. But I kept going and gradually built my strength again. 'My limp improved the more I ran and in 2019 I joined a team of four runners to tackle the Classic Quarter in Cornwall, a 44-mile endurance run along the South West Coast Path from the Lizard to Lands End." The Brighton Marathon followed a few months later and now Dewi is heading to the London Marathon. "I've been within four seconds of four hours previously so I'm feeling confident of hitting my target. I will just be making sure I keep away from ladders now." Dewi , who has decided to get decorators in the next time his house needs paining, has has already raised more than £2,000 for Barnardo's Cymru and hopes to raise more on Saturday. He said: " I see first hand the importance of giving every child the opportunity to succeed, no matter their background. I am running the London Marathon to raise money for Barnardo's because they work tirelessly to support vulnerable children who face challenges like poverty, neglect, and mental health issues. Article continues below Contrbutions to Dewi's fundraising for Barnardo's can be made here
