logo
#

Latest news with #Pontypool

Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach
Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach

Yahoo

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has become the new head coach of Swansea RFC. The 42-year-old played 67 times for Wales and won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008, as well as playing in two World Cups. Advertisement Thomas started his playing career at Swansea before joining Ospreys, playing 188 times and scoring 14 tries for the Welsh region. He then joined Worcester in May 2013 but he retired from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy. Thomas began his coaching career with Bristol in charge of defence and the forwards, before becoming head coach of former English Premiership side Worcester. He left the Warriors in January 2022 and joined Championship side Ealing Trailfinders as a forwards consultant in September that year, before joining the Wales set-up as contact area coach - leaving that role in December 2023. Swansea begin their 2025-26 Super Rygbi Cymru campaign away to Pontypool on 13 September.

Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach
Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach

BBC News

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • BBC News

Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has become the new head coach of Swansea 42-year-old played 67 times for Wales and won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008, as well as playing in two World started his playing career at Swansea before joining Ospreys, playing 188 times and scoring 14 tries for the Welsh region. He then joined Worcester in May 2013 but he retired from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with began his coaching career with Bristol in charge of defence and the forwards, before becoming head coach of former English Premiership side left the Warriors in January 2022 and joined Championship side Ealing Trailfinders as a forwards consultant in September that year, before joining the Wales set-up as contact area coach - leaving that role in December begin their 2025-26 Super Rygbi Cymru campaign away to Pontypool on 13 September.

Pontypool footballer ‘liked by everyone' celebrated in memorial match
Pontypool footballer ‘liked by everyone' celebrated in memorial match

South Wales Argus

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • South Wales Argus

Pontypool footballer ‘liked by everyone' celebrated in memorial match

19-year-old Tristan O'Keefe sadly passed away on Wednesday, June 11. An integral part of the Pontypool side, he played over 100 games for the club and was a huge part in their undefeated league campaign that led them to promotion to the Gwent Premier League. Now the club is holding a memorial match to celebrate his life and help raise funds for Tristan's funeral. Tristan O'Keefe who sadly passed away Wednesday June 11 (Image: Harry Furness) Harry Furness was Tristan's Coach at Pontnewynydd AFC. Speaking of his former player Harry said: 'He was genuinely a nice boy and liked by everyone no one had any issues with him. 'A happy memory we all share of Tristan is when he scored the winning goal against New Inn in our title winning season. 'We were losing two nil and Tristan scored which was a massive step in an undefeated season.' The winning match in which Tristan scored the final goal (Image: Harry Furness) Harry explained how the memorial match would be special. He told the Argus: 'We are trying to celebrate him rather than be down in the dumps and remember all the good things. 'There's going to be a minute's silence before the match and a stop at the 19th minute for an audience applause. 'We've added a tribute to him on our new football kit for this season that's got his name on one of the sleeves. 'An away kit is being presented to Tristan's family before the match and a home kit has been framed at the club.' Coach Harry Furness with Pontnewynydd AFC Tristan's teammates (Image: Harry Furness) A statement from the club reads: 'Pontnewynydd AFC will be holding a special memorial match in honour of our beloved teammate and friend, Tristan O'Keefe, who tragically passed away on June 11th. 'This match is not only a tribute to Tristan's memory, but also an opportunity to come together as a community and raise funds to support his family through Tristan's GoFundMe, helping them with funeral costs during this incredibly difficult time. 'Friends, family, and members of the community are warmly invited to come along, share memories, and help us celebrate Tristan's life.' The match will take place this Saturday, June 28. With kick-off at 2:00 pm.

I went to war with council over ‘illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on
I went to war with council over ‘illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on

The Sun

time25-06-2025

  • General
  • The Sun

I went to war with council over ‘illegal' garden deck & WON thanks to Google Earth – they didn't have a leg to stand on

A HOMEOWNER has won an ongoing row with the council over his decking, thanks to Google Earth. Gareth Leek, 58, was left stunned after planning officials claimed he needed retrospective permission for a garden decking that had been in place for eight years. 6 6 6 According to councillors, the raised grey and white platform stood too tall at 83cm high, which is half a metre over the limit requiring planning permission. But, instead of backing down, Mr Leek, who lives in Pontypool, Gwent, took to Google Earth to save his beloved decking. If an unauthorised extension has been in place for more than four years without enforcement action you may legally be allowed to keep it. The aerial snap provided by the app showed the decking firmly in place in June 2018. This proof that it had been there for eight years meant that Mr Leek should legally be allowed to keep it. He was also backed up by a neighbour who claimed the decking was in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Mr Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development. According to the MaileOnline, planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Mr Leek, which came complete with a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Mr Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years' and Mr Leek was told he could keep it. This also isn't the first time technology has been used as evidence in planning rows. In 2023, Dorset Council used Google Earth to prove that a resident had illegally built a decking and an extension. Satellite photos were able to prove that Colin Thomas's claims that his decking had existed for more than four years, were false. As a result, Mr Thomas now faces the prospect of demolishing his rear extension and raised decking. Earlier this month, Oldham Council also rejected a retrospective planning application over a porch extension that left neighbours in uproar. While Mr Leek's neighbor seemed to come out in support, The Khanom family faced backlash from the community and a £2,000 fine from the council for building a porch that locals claim resembled the Trafford centre. 6 6 6 A Gloucester businessman was also locked in a bitter row with developers earlier this year, over a two brick high wall which he insisted belonged to him. Roger White, 58, went head to head with the developers of a new housing estate in April, after they revealed plans to knock down the wall to create an emergency access route, required in their planning permission. With both parties declaring ownership, White has been left feeling as if they want to 'bulldoze' the wall that he claims he inherited from his father in 1997. What are your rights in this situation? If the council refuse planning permission you can appeal their decision. Appeals can take several months to be decided. You can only appeal against a decision if the LPA: Refuses your application Grants permission but with conditions you object to Refuses to change or remove a condition of planning permission that has been granted with conditions Refuses to approve something reserved under an 'outline permission' – planning permission for a general idea, not of a specific plan Refuses to approve something that you were told to build by your LPA as part of a previous planning permission – the current development was one of the 'conditions' stated in the previous planning permission Does not make a decision on the application within the deadline and does not get your written consent to change the deadline serves you with an enforcement notice because it thinks you have broken planning permission and you do not agree

Homeowner uses Google Earth to prove he can keep his garden decking
Homeowner uses Google Earth to prove he can keep his garden decking

Yahoo

time25-06-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

Homeowner uses Google Earth to prove he can keep his garden decking

A homeowner who was told the decking in his garden was too high has won his battle with planners by using Google Earth to prove his case. Gareth Leek, 58, was told he needed planning permission for the decking at his home in Pontypool, Gwent, Wales – despite it being built eight years ago. Planning officials told Leek that the decking, that sits 83cm off the ground, was half a metre over the height that required building permission from the council. But rather than simply accepting the decision, Leek went on Google Earth and obtained satellite images that showed the decking had been in place for four years without any challenge. A neighbour also supported Leek, telling officials that the decking – which is 4.84m wide and 3.82m long –had been in place in the garden since at least 2019. A planning hearing heard Leek had retrospectively applied for a certificate of lawful development and he was legally allowed to stop the grey and white decking from being ripped out. Planning officer Simon Pritchard acknowledged the evidence presented by Leek, which included a Google Earth aerial image from June 2018. Pritchard said the council had no evidence or reason to doubt that the decking had not been 'substantially completed for less than four years'. His report confirmed Leek's application to keep his smart decking is now immune from enforcement action. Installing decking in your garden often falls under permitted development, meaning planning permission is typically not required if specific conditions are met. According to guidance from the Planning Portal, decking can proceed without permission if it is no more than 30cm above ground level and, combined with other extensions or outbuildings, covers less than 50% of the garden area. The decking must also not be positioned forward of the principal elevation of the house, typically the front wall facing a road. However, planning permission is necessary in certain cases. If the decking exceeds 30cm in height or covers more than 50% of the garden, an application is needed. Additionally, if the decking is within 20 metres of a highway or impacts neighbours' privacy, such as by enabling overlooking, permission is required. To apply for planning permission, people must submit an application through the Planning Portal website or contact your local planning authority directly. The process requires detailed plans, including measurements and the decking's location on your property, along with an assessment of its impact on the local environment and neighbouring properties. Applications typically take up to eight weeks to process and may involve a fee, around £200. Consulting with neighbours beforehand can help address concerns – their objections could influence the final decision so this is an important step. Click below to see the latest Wales headlines

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store