Latest news with #MerthyrTydfilCouncil
ITV News
16-07-2025
- ITV News
Man sentenced for theft of £80,000 candelabra from Merthyr Tydfil's Cyfarthfa Castle
CCTV footage from South Wales Police showed Henry Tyson Wilsher smashing a display cabinet and stealing the candelabra. A man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to theft of a candelabra from Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil in April. Henry Tyson Wilsher, 31, from Bagworth, Leicestershire was sentenced to 32 months at Teeside Crown Court on Thursday. He pleaded guilty to theft, receiving stolen good and criminal damage. The candelabra, which dated back to the time when the castle was owned by the Crawshay family, was taken from a display at the museum on 8 April. South Wales Police said that, on the evening of 24 March, a delivery driver had parked his silver Ford car while he briefly left it to make a delivery, but left the car running with the keys still in the ignition. At some point after the theft of the car, Wilsher ended up in possession of it. On 8 April, Wilsher entered the castle during an event where local primary school children were presenting their projects to judges and guests. He talked to the receptionist, before making his way to the Crawshay Room, smashing the glass of a display cabinet using a brick and stealing the candelabra, which has a value of around £80,000. Merthyr Tydfil Council leader Brent Carter previously told ITV Wales of the "frightening" incident: "It was awful. There were sixty school children here from Cyfarthfa Park Primary. "They were here enjoying themselves, looking around the museum, and a gentleman came in, picked a house brick out of his pocket, and smashed the casing, tore back the glass and stole the candelabra." Wilsher then fled in the silver Ford Fiesta. South Wales Police then launched an appeal to try and find him. Seargent Watts of South Wales Police said: 'This was a brazen theft in broad daylight, that left a group of school children shocked and upset. "Through the work of the investigation team, we were able to identify Tyson Wilsher and bring him to justice, Wilsher's actions show he believed he was above the law and didn't care about how his actions impacted the venue. I'm pleased to see the sentence determined by the courts.'
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
New £100 fines introduced for dog owners who fail to clean up mess
New £100 fines introduced for dog owners who fail to clean up mess Councillors agreed to a public spaces protection order across the county which includes a £100 fine for not cleaning up dog mess RCT Council is considering extending public space protection orders related to dog fouling and dogs on sports pitches for another three years (Image: Copyright Unknown ) People will be fined £100 if they fail to clean up their dog's mess in Merthyr Tydfil. As part of a public spaces protection order (PSPO) approved by the council for all public places in the county borough, dog walkers who fail to clean up dog mess from public land will be committing an offence with the report to full council on Wednesday, July 9, saying the purpose of the order is to improve measures across the county borough to combat dog fouling-related nuisance in public spaces. The council currently has no specific dog related orders in place and so dog nuisance in the county borough is to the greater extent unregulated, it adds. In the two-year period of 2023 and 2024 the council logged 286 incidents involving dogs with the reports of nuisance dog fouling covering all 11 council wards. In 2025, figures up to April show 107 reported incidents of dog fouling. But the report says that anecdotal evidence would suggest that the majority of dog fouling instances go unreported and on the basis that dog-fouling is a county borough-wide problem, it is proposed that the dog fouling element of the PSPO will cover all public spaces throughout the county borough. Article continues below It is proposed that the order is introduced for the maximum period of three years from September 1, 2025. Failure to comply with a PSPO is a criminal offence which can lead to a fine of up to £1000. But a fixed penalty notice can be issued instead and Merthyr Tydfil Council is proposing that a fixed penalty notice of £100 is set. The report says that the response to the consultation shows overwhelming support for the introduction of a PSPO with over 95% of respondents feeling that dog fouling has a detrimental effect on their community and 96% of respondents stating they had seen dog mess in their communities with 83% stating this happens on a frequent basis. The report said there were 243 bins for dog waste located across the county borough which was considered sufficient. The cost of publication, promotion and signs in dog fouling hotspots and public parks is estimated at between £150 and £250. The council currently has Shared Prosperity Fund community enforcement officers who can police any orders up until the end of their funding in March, 2026. To get all the latest Merthyr Tydfil news, sign up for our Merthyr newsletter. Enforcement post 2026 would need extra funding or a different delivery model. Any revenue generated through fines will be kept by the council. At the council meeting, Councillor Geraint Thomas said they all welcomed this and it was well overdue, saying that dog fouling was a blight on communities. He said the PSPO would deter people and that he hoped they had the money in the future so they could have the teams to enforce it. Councillor Anna Williams-Price also welcomed it saying the message was that it was not acceptable to be an irresponsible dog owner. Councillor Clive Jones said he fully supported it and that it was long overdue. He mentioned the 'sheer frustration' of the public that very little had been able to be done and that the majority of dog owners were responsible but that there was that group that couldn't care less. He said at least the enforcement would be there and would be publicised. Councillor Andrew Barry said he fully supported it and it had been a long time coming, He said he did have concerns about the longevity of it and hoped they could continue funding solutions. Cllr Barry said they needed to look at playing fields which were dangerous areas for dog fouling and that these areas needed considerable signage. Article continues below
Wales Online
07-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Castle in 'significant state' handed £4.5m to save it
Castle in 'significant state' handed £4.5m to save it The £4.5m funding from Welsh Government and the council will go towards preserving Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil (Image: Welsh Government ) A Welsh castle which has been described as being in a 'significant state of deterioration' will see £4.5m spent on it for urgent conservation works as it marks its 200th anniversary. The Welsh Government has announced that its historic environment service Cadw and Merthyr Tydfil Council will each contribute £2.25m to address the deterioration to the oldest part of Cyfarthfa Castle as well as protecting Pont-y-Cafnau bridge which is located to the south of the wider Cyfarthfa site and reputedly the oldest iron railway bridge in the world. In February a council report said the castle was in a 'significant state of deterioration' adding that the condition of the property had continued to deteriorate and that was now fast approaching a state of dereliction, raising serious safety concerns and an increasing cost of rehabilitation. Since the previous council report in July 2023 additional ceilings had collapsed and a tap-test of the ceilings had resulted in certain rooms being isolated from entry. A condition survey identified the need to protect the building and suggested that a scaffold with a roof covering be erected to prevent further water ingress and associated deterioration while giving the building the opportunity to dry out. In April plans were submitted to improve the drainage at the park and castle including a new below-ground level drainage network. Article continues below The castle is home to a museum and art galleries taking up just 20% of the building but the other 80% of the building, which once housed Cyfarthfa High School, is closed to the public. The Cyfarthfa Foundation is a charity established to champion the long-term development of Cyfarthfa aiming to restore the building, expand museum displays and art galleries, and develop the 160-acre park for future generations. To get all the latest Merthyr Tydfil news straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here. It is working in partnership with the council to take these projects forward. The Welsh Government said that this funding, and the work of the council and the foundation, also aims to boost the numbers of visitors who come and explore the castle, gardens, and lake, enjoy the play facilities, and participate in various activities offered throughout the grounds. There will be events to mark the bicentenary this weekend (July 5 and 6) with two days of activities. Cyfarthfa will host free access to the museum and art gallery and a programme of talks on the castle's past as well as the plans for its future. There will also be storytelling sessions, a Victorian portrait studio, nature walks and trails, and an artisan market with produce and crafts from local traders. Standing since 1825 Cyfarthfa Castle was originally constructed as the family residence of ironmaster William Crawshay II. Together with the other Merthyr ironworks – Dowlais, Penydarren, and Plymouth – Cyfarthfa made Merthyr the greatest centre of ironmaking in the world from 1800 to 1860. The Cyfarthfa Industrial Heritage Area contains some of Wales' most important legacy assets including the castle, ironworks, and bridge. Council leader Brent Carter said: 'The Cyfarthfa Castle redevelopment is a priority project for the council and will be delivered in a phased approach over a number of years. 'The funding secured from Welsh Government and the council will have a significant impact in enabling essential conservation work to take place preserving a treasured asset and the jewel in Merthyr's crown. Article continues below 'Cyfarthfa Castle is a special place for many people throughout Merthyr Tydfil and based on feedback from residents we know that this is also a priority project for them. Many people went to school there, including myself, and it holds a lot of wonderful memories so it's great to see these plans start to come to fruition.' Welsh Government minister for culture Jack Sargeant MS said:'Cyfarthfa Castle stands as a monumental piece of Welsh heritage telling the story of our industrial past and cultural journey. As we mark its 200th anniversary it's great to be able to announce this £4.5m investment to help safeguard its future.'
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
£1.4m spent on 'events area' that can't host big events
A new "events area" that cost £1.4million has a weight restriction that makes it unsuitable for large events. The Glebeland site, which used to be home to Merthyr Tydfil bus station, was recently redeveloped into open space for community events. But locals were left perplexed last month when the town's Chilli & Chocolate Festival was held on a smaller space, the nearby Penderyn Square, where some felt "cramped". WalesOnline can now reveal that Glebeland cannot host such events because of the surfacing used. WalesOnline understands mobile caterers like those at the festival would not be able to access Glebeland because of the surface's weight restriction. The site — redeveloped by Merthyr Tydfil council with funding from the Welsh Government — was designed for "the short to medium term" because its use "may change as a consequence of further development within the town centre", according to the council. READ MORE: Restaurant threatened with £2,500 fine in row over its signs READ MORE: Strictly's Wynne Evans suffers fresh blow as 'final BBC show axed' after just one series The council insists the land — which includes paving and green space — will still be able to host the smaller events it was developed for, but did not answer when we asked whether the weight restriction was always part of the plan. Social media users praised the Chilli & Chocolate Festival's organisers for putting together a "lovely" day but some questioned the location. One wrote: "I thought these sort of events would take place where the old bus station was... It's a much nicer area and also closer to the main town to draw people in. The one-way road would not need to be closed so no traffic restrictions through town up to the top." Another added: "We said the same. Could have some stalls etc. there and a link between there and Penderyn Square making it all cohesive. Would feel less cramped too." The council said Glebeland was never intended for "large-scale events" and that Penderyn Square remains the town's "main event space". Its spokesman added: "An events plan is currently being created for the Glebeland site which will host smaller-scale events such as markets, community events and promotional activities, which will bring footfall into the shopping centre and surrounding businesses and complement larger-scale events being held on Penderyn Square, which will ensure the whole town centre benefits from events." The opening of the land to the public was initially scheduled for spring 2024 before being pushed back to last December due to "issues with unknown utilities, ground contamination and surfacing discovered during the construction phase". The council spokesman told us this "resulted in a longer construction period but has had no negative impact on the finished site". Glebeland is already a "well-used open space" for recreation and health purposes, they pointed out, with landscaping and street furniture which "restricts opportunities for larger-scale events". The council said 84% of residents and 83% of businesses surveyed welcomed the introduction of open public space at Glebeland, adding: "Consultation discussions on events were all based on smaller-scale events such as Xmas markets." Elizabeth Bedford, who manages Merthyr Business Improvement District, which organised the Chilli and Chocolate Festival, said: 'Penderyn Square continues to serve as a valuable and well-situated venue for our events, and we are fortunate to have access to it during this period of transition. We are in regular communication with the local authority and fully informed of the progress regarding the Glebeland site. Once that site is fully prepared and appropriate for use, we will give it full consideration for future events. 'The lovely weather brought huge numbers to the recent Chilli & Chocolate Festival and concerns regarding overcrowding on Penderyn Square are being actively addressed. 'In the meantime, the event footprint is being extended by opening up more of the available space and making greater use of the surrounding roads that are already closed to traffic. These adjustments will help to ease pressure on the main square while ensuring events remain safe and accessible for all.' The Welsh Government has been approached for comment.
ITV News
24-06-2025
- ITV News
Man pleads guilty to theft of £80,000 candelabra from Cyfarthfa Castle
A man has pleaded guilty to stealing a candelabra worth £80,000 from Cyfarthfa Castle in Merthyr Tydfil in April. Henry Tyson Wilsher, 31, walked out of the museum with the valuable object back in April after smashing a glass cabinet to steal it, shocking staff and schoolchildren who were on a school trip at the time. South Wales Police launched a manhunt to try and find the thief, and the Leicestershire man has appeared in court in connection with the incident on 8 April. Appearing via video link before Teeside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 24 June, Wilsher pleaded guilty to theft, receiving stolen goods, and criminal damage. He admitted stealing the candelabra from the castle, dishonestly receiving a Ford Fiesta knowing or believing it to be stolen, and criminal damage after damaging a glass cabinet to access the candelabra. The court heard that the candelabra - one of the museum's most prized objects - is yet to be recovered. Wilsher, of Bagworth in Leicestershire, was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced at Teeside Crown Court on 15 July. Merthyr Tydfil Council leader Brent Carter previously told ITV Wales of the "frightening" incident: "It was awful. There were sixty schoolchildren here from Cyfarthfa Park Primary. "They were here enjoying themselves, looking around the museum, and a gentleman came in, picked a house brick out of his pocket, and smashed the casing, tore back the glass and stole the candelabra."
