Nicholas Thomas Journalist Profile

Articles

The small Welsh village where 119 people are fuming about one house

2 weeks ago | walesonline.co.uk | Nicholas Thomas |Conor Gogarty

Some locals claimed the HMO conversion could 'ruin' the areaMore than 100 villagers unsuccessfully objected to a three-bedroom house becoming a four-bedroom house. Caerphilly council has approved planning permission for the village of Maesycwmmer to get its first HMO (house in multiple occupation). These are typically properties for single, unrelated adults who have their own bedrooms but share other communal areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and living room.
19 homes cut off since a bridge closed won't get a new one for another year

3 weeks ago | walesonline.co.uk | Jonathon Hill |Nicholas Thomas

Residents of Forge Mews in Bassaleg have been cut off by road since the summer of 2021 when inspectors closed Bassaleg Bridge over safety concernsConstruction of a new bridge in Newport which promises to reconnect cut off residents is now set for a start date no earlier than April 2026. Newport City Council confirmed the £1 million grant acquired from a Welsh Government fund falls short of "the full amount it needed to progress with the construction phase of the project".
Giant battery to store solar and wind energy to be created on site of coal-fired power station

4 weeks ago | walesonline.co.uk | Jonathon Hill |Nicholas Thomas

The proposed battery energy storage plant would be one of the largest in the UK and will be located at the old Uskmouth power stationThere are plans for a disused old power station in Wales to become one of the UK's leading battery energy storage plants. The former Uskmouth B coal-fired power station in Newport which is near the village of Nash had been mothballed after operating for around 50 years.
There are plans to scrap a busy city roundabout and people are livid about it

1 month ago | walesonline.co.uk | Jonathon Hill |Nicholas Thomas

A proposed revamp of Newport's Old Green Roundabout could lead to "serious difficulties" for motorists and negatively affect local businesses, a councillor has warned. The potential changes have sparked concerns about the lack of funding for the project despite the Welsh Government stating it has provided "significant funding" for development work and will collaborate with councils on "final investment decisions".
Plans for primary school to be replaced by bigger site

1 month ago | walesonline.co.uk | Nicholas Thomas |Conor Gogarty

A primary school could be replaced by an "impressive" site with capacity for more pupils. Caerphilly council's plans would see a new-look Plasyfelin Primary School built in place of the existing facilities in Caenant Road. If the proposal goes ahead the new school would welcome 420 pupils and 60 nursery learners. According to council papers this would amount to 26 more pupils than the current capacity allows.
Fears quarry could be contaminated with toxic waste harming people's health

1 month ago | walesonline.co.uk | Jonathon Hill |Nicholas Thomas

The future status of a quarry in Wales is uncertain as it might be classified as contaminated due to allegations that chemicals were dumped there years ago. A draft assessment by Caerphilly County Borough Council suggests the land doesn't fit the legal criterion for contaminated land but national environment and health bodies are currently reassessing this stance, a discussion in the Senedd revealed.
Hundreds of trolleys keep getting dumped in city estate and locals have had enough

1 month ago | walesonline.co.uk | Jonathon Hill |Nicholas Thomas

Hundreds of shopping trolleys keep ending up dumped on a city estate and locals have had enough. In Lliswerry in Newport, Councillor Andrew Sterry has told the city council he keeps receiving reports of dumped trolleys which he claims are not only an eyesore but a danger. The trolleys are increasingly being dumped in drainage channels in the ward which Cllr Sterry says poses a flooding risk.
Car crashes into health centre building

1 month ago | walesonline.co.uk | Jonathon Hill |Nicholas Thomas

Vandals have targeted a newly-opened health centre in Newport according to a health board report. The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has reported a "number of incidents" at the 19 Hills Health and Wellbeing Centre in Ringland since its opening in January. Incidents have varied from "trespassing and vandalism by young people in the area to a car crashing into the building", according to a spokesman for the health board.
Villagers fume as quarry to ramp up activity

2 months ago | walesonline.co.uk | Nicholas Thomas |Conor Gogarty

More industrial recycling will be allowed in a village despite locals' anger over dust, noise, and traffic. Caerphilly council's planning committee has approved an application for Heidelberg Materials UK to increase its recycling operations at at Machen quarry. The firm plans to process construction and demolition waste in addition to its current road plannings operation.
Brother accuses sister of 'vendetta' in public row over new extension at shared property

2 months ago | walesonline.co.uk | Lucy John |Nicholas Thomas

A Newport man has won the right to keep a new extension and wall at his home – after his sister, who co-owns the property, objected. A city council committee heard claims that George Michalatos's application was "misleading" and "flawed", but despite the family argument, officers found no planning reasons to reject the completed project. Case officer Emma Brinkworth said the property in Ridgeway Avenue was a mixed-use building comprising two flats and a retail space.