Latest news with #SouthWalesArgus
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What parents think about Newport school plagued with reports of violent incidents
CRISIS-hit Lliswerry High School has been in the national headlines recently after a pupil at the school was allegedly assaulted by multiple youths and an adult. The South Wales Argus decided to gauge parental confidence in the school, following concerns about safety. Only two respondents would openly give their name and both gave favourable or somewhat neutral opinions of how the school has been coping in recent years. Those remaining anonymous tended to express unhappiness at the alleged violence and disruption at the school. "It's horrible. There is just too much social media footage and gossip about behaviour problems and fights. There seem to be gangs and we don't need that on social media,' said an anonymous father of a Year 11 pupil. The worried dad added that social media makes things worse and people are copycats who will 'live up to the hype.' A mother of a year nine pupil said: 'I didn't want this school. It was kind of forced on us. However, there haven't been any issues for us, but there's always worry.' Worries about instability and violence seemed to crop up all the time when parents spoke to us. However, we had no specific reports of disorder or violence. The main issues raised were alleged gangs, social media posts, alleged bullying and alleged revenge attacks and concerns about lack of support for parental complaints. A more positive response came from mum, Jana Powca, who said: 'We are happy with the school. It hasn't let us down. The school is good for us. We are happy with it.' Local lunchtime legend, Uday Patel, who runs the Nash Stores, opposite the struggling school, was very positive about its tradition of good education. 'My two boys went there and it was a good school and it gave them a good education. They turned out well and both my boys have Masters in engineering. 'Two Masters, I think that says a lot about Lliswerry. Things have got more difficult, especially in the last five years. However, they (pupils) will respond to good and clear instructions. In my shop, there are rules which I apply and they can't come in if they don't follow them.' Mr Patel insisted that he must respect the pupils and the pupils must respect the shop. There can be no swearing, fighting and only four in the shop at a time. The Nash Stores boss argued that many behaviour problems can be traced back to 'stupid laws about softness and rights that have caused bad behaviour. There are simple solutions for a lot of bad behaviour.' Responding, the school said: "The description of Lliswerry High School as 'crisis-hit' because of one incident is extremely misleading. Although it took place outside school grounds and hours, it was taken extremely seriously by the school, the governors and the council. Pupils who were involved have faced disciplinary action in line with Welsh government guidelines. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the police investigation is ongoing. None of the people spoken to for this report could provide specific details of other incidents. Some of the views appeared to be based purely on unfounded social media speculation. Perpetuating negative stereotypes is damaging in so many ways, not least for the majority of pupils who are hard-working and well-behaved. Lliswerry will continue to support all pupils and is committed to ensuring that they reach their full potential. Any parent with concerns can contact the school to discuss them."
South Wales Argus
03-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Parents react to alleged violence at Lliswerry High School
The South Wales Argus decided to gauge parental confidence in the school, following concerns about safety. Only two respondents would openly give their name and both gave favourable or somewhat neutral opinions of how the school has been coping in recent years. Those remaining anonymous tended to express unhappiness at the alleged violence and disruption at the school. "It's horrible. There is just too much social media footage and gossip about behaviour problems and fights. There seem to be gangs and we don't need that on social media,' said an anonymous father of a Year 11 pupil. The worried dad added that social media makes things worse and people are copycats who will 'live up to the hype.' A mother of a year nine pupil said: 'I didn't want this school. It was kind of forced on us. However, there haven't been any issues for us, but there's always worry.' Worries about instability and violence seemed to crop up all the time when parents spoke to us. However, we had no specific reports of disorder or violence. The main issues raised were alleged gangs, social media posts, alleged bullying and alleged revenge attacks and concerns about lack of support for parental complaints. A more positive response came from mum, Jana Powca, who said: 'We are happy with the school. It hasn't let us down. The school is good for us. We are happy with it.' Local lunchtime legend, Uday Patel, who runs the Nash Stores, opposite the struggling school, was very positive about its tradition of good education. 'My two boys went there and it was a good school and it gave them a good education. They turned out well and both my boys have Masters in engineering. 'Two Masters, I think that says a lot about Lliswerry. Things have got more difficult, especially in the last five years. However, they (pupils) will respond to good and clear instructions. In my shop, there are rules which I apply and they can't come in if they don't follow them.' Mr Patel insisted that he must respect the pupils and the pupils must respect the shop. There can be no swearing, fighting and only four in the shop at a time. The Nash Stores boss argued that many behaviour problems can be traced back to 'stupid laws about softness and rights that have caused bad behaviour. There are simple solutions for a lot of bad behaviour.' Responding, the school said: "The description of Lliswerry High School as 'crisis-hit' because of one incident is extremely misleading. Although it took place outside school grounds and hours, it was taken extremely seriously by the school, the governors and the council. Pupils who were involved have faced disciplinary action in line with Welsh government guidelines. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the police investigation is ongoing. None of the people spoken to for this report could provide specific details of other incidents. Some of the views appeared to be based purely on unfounded social media speculation. Perpetuating negative stereotypes is damaging in so many ways, not least for the majority of pupils who are hard-working and well-behaved. Lliswerry will continue to support all pupils and is committed to ensuring that they reach their full potential. Any parent with concerns can contact the school to discuss them."
South Wales Argus
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Severn Bridge weight limit sign confusion agency error
The clarification came after a haulier pointed out that the Agency had caused confusion on the Severn Bridge by leaving an old 44-tonne weight restriction sign on the slip road of the bridge. Frustrated trucker Ray Bashman said: 'Truckers call them (the National Highways Agency) wombles, because all they ever seem to do is pick stuff up that people have left behind. They don't really seem to do anything else. This time they couldn't even pick up their own stuff!' The National Highways Agency responded by saying it is working hard to clear up any confusion over weight limits on the Severn Bridge. The ageing bridge saw a weight restriction of 7.5 tonnes introduced on Tuesday, May 27. Truck drivers complained that the 44-tonne weight limit sign on the slip road of Junction two had not been covered up or replaced on the Welsh side of the bridge. It has also been alleged that continental trucks would not show up on the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera, which is used to enforce the weight limit. Unlike UK trucks, continental lorries have separate systems for registering trucks and trailers and these will 'trip the ANPR system.' Angered trucker Ray Bashman told the South Wales Argus: 'British drivers must do long detours across to Gloucester or over the Prince of Wales Bridge. This can add hundreds of miles to journeys and endless hours, often in gridlock. 'They (foreign truckers) already benefit from cheap Russian diesel and we find it difficult to compete with those prices. Competing with cheap fuel is bad enough, having to add extra driving hours to our time when they can go freely over the bridge is just ridiculous. This must be cleared up!' A National Highways Agency spokesman said: 'Recent high winds and heavy rain did mean a few signs were blown down and we weren't able to paint over all the necessary signage. But that is being rectified as quickly as possible. 'The numbers of vehicles breaching the ban is small and police are in the area to advise drivers of the new weight restrictions which only came into force yesterday.' The Agency clarified that there are a couple of outstanding signs, but these will be updated tonight, Wednesday, May 28, under a lane closure.
South Wales Argus
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
John Osborne's Newport links discovered in theatre research
The Monmouth-based Off Centre Theatre group is set to stage The Entertainer by John Osborne. During research, the play's director, Martin Newman, discovered that Osborne's family had deep ties to Newport and this newspaper. Osborne, a key figure in the 1960s 'kitchen sink theatre' movement, made little of these connections in his life. However, he did recall his grandmother, Queenie, taking great joy in reading the South Wales Argus, especially the births, marriages, and deaths section. Osborne's Newport roots trace back over 200 years. His great-great-grandfather, a carpenter named Philip Osborne, settled in Newport during the industrial revolution. Philip's son, Henry, initially a domestic servant at the King's Arms pub on Commercial Road, eventually became the landlord, turning it into a thriving business. The family also ran a local jewellery business, but by the 1920s, the business failed, and they moved to London, where John Osborne grew up. The King's Arms, located at 133 Commercial Road, was demolished in 2015. The Entertainer will be performed at the Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, for three nights on June 19, 20, and 21. Tickets are available from the theatre box office.
