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Residents living alongside the improved A465 in Hirwaun say increased noise pollution and a loss of privacy have significantly affected their quality of life since construction was completed in May 2025. They are calling on the Welsh Government to investigate their concerns and introduce measures, including acoustic barriers, to protect their homes.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys. Anytime you have something you’d like to share, no matter how big or small, email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com):
We all love a new local business, especially when it’s a New York City pizzeria. Harvey’s Pizza has opened in Merthyr Tydfil. It's run by an ex-Savoy employee who wanted to open a a taste of the Big Apple in his hometown. You can find it at 27 Victoria Street to get a slice of pizza (you buy by the slice!). They're open Wednesday to Sunday, but check out opening times on their Instagram before you go. Any time you know of local businesses in the south Wales valleys that you love, please let us know so that we can highlight them! Email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s annual social services complaints report says AI tools are “considered” to have influenced a jump in stage two complaints, from four to 20. It is a concrete local entry in a growing UK debate about AI-assisted demand on public bodies. Stage two is the more formal tier, where an independent investigator becomes involved. Stage one volumes barely moved, at 157 complaints. Some think that tools that make complaining easier may be pushing people further up the process rather than producing more first-time grievances.
Fathers across Blaenau Gwent are benefiting from a growing community group that is helping dads build friendships, improve their wellbeing and support one another through creativity and shared experiences. The Dads Creative Group, supported by Blaenau Gwent Council’s Dads Support Service, provides a welcoming space where dads can come together, reduce social isolation and enjoy peer support while taking part in creative activities. The group has grown from the wider work of the Dads Support Service and the successful creative wellbeing project delivered in partnership with Inside Out Cymru. Through music, creativity and conversation, fathers have been able to develop confidence, improve their mental wellbeing and build lasting friendships.
Hirwaun residents demand action over noise and loss of privacy following A465 improvements
Residents in Hirwaun have raised concerns about the impact of the A465 on their village, claiming that the newly improved road has resulted in a loss of privacy and a substantial increase in noise pollution.
Between May 2021 and May 2025, £1.4 billion worth of work was carried out on the stretch of the A465 between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun, transforming it into a 70mph dual carriageway with six junctions. Several public inquiries were held in the lead-up to construction to “understand how the proposals fit with local priorities, objectives and policies”.
However, residents in Hirwaun are writing to the Welsh Government, saying they do not believe commitments made during the consultation process have been fulfilled.
“Residents during the construction phase and since completion of the works are now living with continuous highway noise throughout the day and night,” Adam Owain Rogers, a Plaid Cymru councillor for Hirwaun, Penderyn and Rhigos, told The Valleys Lead.