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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Magor and Pontypool fouled by water company
Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, pleaded guilty to two offences of knowingly permitting the discharge of poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into inland fresh water. The offences involved raw sewage and took place over one day in Pontnewynydd, Pontypool and over a 12 month period, in Magor. Welsh Water, the not-for-profit utility, allowed sewage to leak into a sensitive area on the Gwent Levels at Magor and at a brook in Herbert's Wood, north of Pontypool. The brook is a tributary of the Afon Lwydd, a river that flows through major population centres before entering the Severn Estuary. Newport magistrates heard that Welsh Water allowed a broken sewer line to discharge raw sewage into a reen and salt marsh near Magor, over a whole year. Natural Resources Wales had to take enforcement action at the sensitive site, the court heard. Welsh Water had repeatedly failed to repair essential plant and effectively manage the site. The offences occurred between January 2023 and January 2024, the court was instructed. The Magor area contains a delicate salt marsh environment and has several areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Furthermore, the wider area has a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA). Welsh Water was fined £90,000 for the Gwent levels incidents and £160,000 for the Pontnewynydd incident, which was caused by a spillage from a foul sewer chamber in February 2023. They were also ordered to pay more than £18,000 in costs. Welsh Water had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges. Of the damage in Pontnewynydd, Natural Resources Wales said sewage was visible over ground and throughout approximately 400m of the tributary. Speaking of the Magor incidents, they said: 'For over a year, our officers recorded a pattern of recurring sewage pollution incidents in the same area, impacting a highly protected habitat which is rich in plants and wildlife, including a saltmarsh. 'Time and again we were assured that necessary repairs had been made, yet the pollution persisted. 'As well as causing considerable harm to the local environment, we found Welsh Water's response to the incidents to be inadequate. Communication was at times poor, and there were unnecessary delays to their incident response procedures such as pumping and tankering away the pollution, which could have lessened impact."
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Horror as elderly woman left bleeding after attack in park by ‘gang of girls'
A police investigation is underway folllowing an alleged attack by a group of girls on a pensioner in a popular park - reports say a woman was left with a bleeding head A pensioner was hospitalised with a head injury following an alleged attack by a group of girls. A woman was found by cops and paramedics 'bleeding' on the floor at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, on Wednesday. The incident, reports say, took place close to a play area with the girls allegedly involved inside the play area at some point. A 'group of aggressive girls' were seen hitting an 'old lady' at around 7.30pm on June 18, a witness said. Another witness said they saw the incident unfold and called it 'disgusting', Birmingham Live reported. 'Shouting in front of my daughter, and other children,' they said. 'Disgusting behaviour.' They added: 'Saw the older women on the floor at one point. I saw the women holding her head with tissue, think it was bleeding. Know police got called though hope she is okay.' The incident is now being investigated, West Midlands Police has confirmed. The Mirror has approached the force for an update, along with West Midlands Ambulance Service, which was reported to have no record of the alleged incident. An earlier statement by West Midlands Police said: 'We were called to reports of disorder involving a group of women close to Banners Gate Lodge, Sutton Park, on Wednesday [June 18], shortly after 7:40pm." 'One woman, in her 70s, was taken to hospital with a head injury. We are investigating and people with information should contact us via 101 quoting crime number 20/278984/25.' Sutton Park is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, according to Birmingham City Council. It is a National Nature Reserve and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The council said the park has "open heathland, woodlands, seven lakes, wetlands, and marshes - each with its own rich variety of plants and wildlife, some rarely seen in the region". Cattle can be seen grazing on the land along with wild ponies.
Glasgow Times
05-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Green light for A737 works with no full impact review
The Scottish Government has decided that resurfacing work on the A737, northwest of Paisley, can go ahead without needing the detailed assessment. To view the full public notice, go to Read more: Paisley football fan to bring Hampden atmosphere to life for visually-impaired fans Paisley teen's hospital volunteering fuels dream of being a doctor Hunt for answers after lorry crashes into bridge near M8 The decision follows a determination under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, which considers the potential environmental effects of public and private projects. The project has been classified as a "relevant project" under the Act, as it falls within Annex II of Directive 2011/92/EU, which deals with the environmental assessment of certain projects. However, the authorities have concluded that the resurfacing work will not have significant effects on the environment. This conclusion was reached after considering various factors, including the use of natural resources, waste production, potential pollution, and risks to human health. The authorities also considered the potential impact on areas protected under national legislation, such as the Black Cart Special Protection Area and the Inner Clyde RAMSAR site. The determination was made based on the results of an environmental screening assessment and an assessment under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994. The assessments concluded that there would be no significant effects on the Black Cart Special Protection Area, the Inner Clyde Special Protection Area, and the Inner Clyde RAMSAR site. The Record of Determination, dated April 22, 2025, contains more details about the decision. The main reasons for not requiring an environmental impact assessment are: the assessment under the 1994 regulations concluded there would be no significant effects on protected areas; there will be no impacts on the Black Cart Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Inner Clyde Site of Special Scientific Interest; and any potential impacts of the works are expected to be temporary, short-term, non-significant, and limited to the construction phase. The project has been designed to avoid or prevent significant adverse effects on the environment. Mitigation measures and best practices will be implemented to ensure no short-term or long-term significant negative impacts. Containment measures will be in place to prevent debris or pollutants from entering the surrounding environment, and appropriate removal and disposal of waste will be ensured.
ITV News
30-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
Aqua Park to be installed at a popular beauty spot despite opposition from more than 2,000 people
An inflatable water park is set to be installed at a popular beauty spot despite opposition from more than 2,000 people. Vale of Glamorgan Council has approved the use of the eastern lake at Cosmeston Country Park, Penarth, to pilot the new Aqua Park attraction ahead of the school summer holidays. It follows the announcement that Aqua Park Cardiff won't be re-opening this summer in Cardiff Bay due to poor water quality. It is expected that the Aqua Park will open in its new location on Saturday 5th July 2025, and will remain open until mid-September. It will feature an inflatable obstacle course, including climbing walls, trampolines and giant slides. Cllr Bronwen Brooks, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable Places, said: 'The Aqua Park will be another great addition to the already fantastic offer at Cosmeston Country Park as the Council continues to promote sustainable tourism and leisure activities in the area. 'Consultation with residents through the Council's placemaking work has shown there is appetite locally - particularly among young people - for more varied leisure activities, and the re-introduction of water-based activities at Cosmeston will help us to ensure that our Country Parks are for everyone. 'Trying new things is at the heart of what we do as an ambitious Council, and this pilot could also enable further income opportunities for our Country Parks – especially in supporting the re-wilding and conservation work already underway at Cosmeston. Locals previously raised concerns and started a petition. Rachel Morgan, who started the petition, said: 'For years, Cosmeston Lake has been officially deemed unsafe for swimming, raising serious concerns over the safety measures underpinning the Aqua Park's proposal. 'Contained within this park are some of Penarth's most diverse and fragile ecosystems, home to numerous species of wildlife. The recent proposal to introduce an Aqua Park this coming summer poses a significant and direct threat to this refuge.' Cosmeston Lake Country Park contains areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), protected by law against damage from development or damaging management practices due to the rare and diverse plants and animal species found there. Home to swans, mallards and otters among other waterfowl, 25.6 hectares of the lake also hold SSSI status to protect the endangered starry stonewort plant. And in 2019, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) completed a four-year reintroduction project of water voles to the lake, which are a protected species in the UK. While the east side of the lake has been used in the past for water-based leisure activities such as boating, paddle boarding and canoeing, local residents fear that relocating the aqua park there will threaten public health, swimmer safety, as well as the wildlife and habitats in and around the lake. The Vale of Glamorgan Council says it has worked with a number of partner agencies to ensure that the lake is safe for Aqua Park visitors to enjoy – including a detailed programme of water testing work - and there will be on-site security to reduce any opportunities for anti-social behaviour – including unauthorised camping, lighting of fires, vandalism, fly-tipping. Connor James, founder of Aqua Park Cardiff, said: "The Country Park is a fantastic venue for our exciting watersport experience, perfect for supervised adventure and family fun. With an exciting new course of obstacles, we can't wait to welcome visitors to our incredible new home. "We are also really excited to be playing our part in giving people and families much-needed access to active outdoor experience, in a controlled and supervised environment to help boost their physical and mental well-being. "With household budgets likely to be limited again this year, we've got an amazing offer on our Aqua Park Season Passes, which means people can book up to twice a week for the whole summer giving families an easy and cost-effective way to keep the kids active throughout a staycation summer.' All visitors to Aqua Park Cardiff will be provided buoyancy aids, but must be aged six and over, 1.2m tall and able to swim 25 metres unaided to take part.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Man faced with 'appalling scenes' after visit to popular beach
Tim Healey, 64, has said he visits Red Rocks Nature Reserve in Liverpool most days - but when he arrived at the popular seaside spot he was greeted with shocking scenes A man has described the "appalling scenes" he encountered after a trip to a local popular beach - including discarded GCSE exam papers and broken glass. Tim Healey, a regular visitor to Red Rocks Nature Reserve in Hoylake, was shocked to find the area littered with debris on his visit today, Saturday, May 24. Red Rocks Marsh, a coastal reserve spanning 10 acres of sand dunes, reedbeds and marshland, is crucial for various bird species and is home to the rare natterjack toad. The reserve is part of the Red Rocks Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). But the 64-year-old resident was greeted by approximately 50 glass bottles strewn across the beach, many shattered, and even torn GCSE exam papers. He said: "I go down to Red Rocks on most days to walk the dogs and check out the wind conditions for wing foiling and today was no different. I, and others down there, were confronted with appalling scenes of litter and broken bottles of beer and vodka. "If they were going for a world record for broken glass on a beach, they've smashed it - there is glass over a huge area and it will be impossible to pick it all up, although we'll try.", reports the Liverpool Echo. Tim further discovered GCSE papers, lamentably without names, but deduced: "We also found GCSE papers, unfortunately without names on them, but it seems clear that after their exams these kids, who presumably are 16-years-old, decided to celebrate by throwing bottles at the rocks." Tim highlighted the risk that shattered glass poses to dogs, fearing it could gash and harm their paws. He questioned: "Who is selling them this alcohol, the vodka, how are they getting hold of it? This is a fantastic environment by the sea, it's beautiful and we are really lucky to be able to enjoy it. "Young people are supposed to be caring for their environment, but this lot weren't. I may be of a different generation but when I was a kid, I wouldn't even dream of dropping any litter never mind this orgy of smashed bottles." Radio 1 DJ Greg James, who was in town for Radio 1 Big Weekend at Sefton Park, paid a visit to Red Rocks on Friday and praised the beauty of the area. Tim's friend Jon Caswell, a Hoylake local, believbes that such loutish behaviour from teenagers might ruin the spot for families planning a bank holiday outing there. He remarked: "Yesterday Greg James from Radio 1, up here for the Big Weekend in Liverpool, was posting pictures on social media saying how beautiful this area is, because it is. And now this degenerate behaviour is likely to have spoiled any chance of enjoying Red Rocks over this bank holiday weekend. "We regularly come here for walks and to soak in the vistas, and we take our grandson to have fun on the beach but now we'll need to give it a miss as will many others. Cleaning up glass from sand isn't exactly straightforward. "I have no doubt many people and dogs will suffer cuts. It's hooliganism, it's shocking and those who did this obviously just don't care. I am appalled." Tim, along with other locals, subsequently took action to clean up the litter-strewn area.
