Twm Owen

Listed building consent has been approved for alterations to the former British Nylon Spinners factory at Mamhilad Park Estate near Pontypool. Owner Johnsey Estates can retain two existing steel extraction flues and install three more for a vehicle paint and modification workshop. Torfaen County Borough Council’s heritage officer, Ross Cannon, assessed the changes as causing relatively minor harm, justified by the need to secure the building’s viable and sustainable use. A condition requires removed glazing materials to be stored for possible future reinstatement. A separate proposal for a 900-home village on the site remains unresolved after an earlier planning approval was quashed following a legal dispute.

Monmouthshire County Council approved plans to convert the former Santander branch in Agincourt Square, Monmouth, which had been vacant since the bank left in May 2019. The ground floor will change from financial services to retail, while the first and second floors will become two self-contained residential apartments. The property is owned by Gay Rogers’s Barry Island Cottage Company Ltd.

Monmouthshire County Council voted 26–17 to ask the Welsh Government to adopt a presumption against large-scale solar farms on prime agricultural land and to prioritise rooftop installations. Conservative councillor Fay Bromfield argued that productive farmland, landscapes, biodiversity and local communities need stronger protection, citing the proposed Candwr, or Court Farm, solar farm across Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen. Deputy leader Paul Griffiths opposed the motion, defending the council’s case-by-case renewable-energy policy and noting that most of Monmouthshire’s land is agricultural or forestry. Catrin Maby stressed that large-scale ground-mounted solar is among the cheapest electricity sources to build and operate. The motion passed despite opposition from the minority Labour and Green administration.

Two seats in the west ward of Blaenavon Town Council are vacant. Candidates must submit nomination papers by 4 p.m. on August 20, with an election scheduled for September 17 if more than two candidates stand. Residents must register to vote by midnight on September 1.

Torfaen County Borough Council earned £1.434 million in interest during the 2025/26 financial year, including £764,000 from money market fund investments and additional income from lending £15 million to councils in England and Scotland. Council leader Anthony Hunt praised the finance team’s management of funds, while the authority used internal borrowing and loans from other councils to avoid more expensive commercial borrowing. External debt fell from £131.626 million to £123.437 million, although the council paid £4.8 million in loan interest.

Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent councils have approved a joint local development plan intended to guide housing, employment and other development through 2041. The councils plan to consult on the preparation framework in November, invite candidate sites from January 2027, agree a strategy in January 2028 and submit the plan to the Welsh Government by July 2029. Subject to independent examination and public hearings, the councils aim to adopt it as formal planning policy in June 2030. Torfaen has also appointed seven councillors to a joint planning policy panel, which will oversee and comment on the plan’s development but will not make decisions.

Torfaen council leader Anthony Hunt identified investment in school facilities including 3G pitches, play areas and roads as three visible improvements for residents. He defended the council’s spending priorities and rejected criticism from Reform UK councillor David Thomas over neglected public spaces, poor roads and anti-social behaviour. Hunt cited financial pressures, cooperation with Blaenau Gwent, the Marmot approach and investment in frontline services, while defending reduced grass cutting under the council’s biodiversity strategy. The council also confirmed an additional £500,000 for pothole repairs and £235,000 for play-park improvements.