The shop has just opened and boasts a massive array of TV Related goodies such as Star Wars, Dr Who, James Bond, Wallace & Gromit and numerous other great TV gems of yesteryear as well as modern items. The new business also has a vast range of both American and British comics as well as a neat DVD Selection. “Its totally unlike anything seen before in Tonypandy and the adults and children love it!” Says Store owner Paul Mohamed.

Not only can you find yourself transported into a place full of dinky toys, figures, model kits and so much more but you can also see close up a real full size dalek you can take photos with. And, if that’s not incentive enough to visit, why not have one of South Wales most delicious ice creams right next door at the Dairy?D

Visitors can look around craft stalls, see animals and birds and enjoy entertainment in the main area including duck driving, a falconry show and performances from the Top Lodge Dancing Dogs.

This year’s Activity Zone will feature an armed forces assault course and climbing wall. Rhondda Cynon Taf 5×60 officers will be hosting cycling activities along with staff from Halford’s of Pontypridd, including free bike safety inspections.

One of the highlights of the weekend, the annual Mayor’s Harnessed Horse Parade, will set off from the park at midday on Sunday, August 2. The parade which features around 50 horses and carriages, will travel through Pontypridd, Trehafod and Trallwn. It will raise money for the chosen charities of Mayor, Cllr Robert Smith – MacMillan Cancer Relief, Help for Heroes and Diabetes UK (Cymru).

Cllr Paul Cannon, Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Housing, said: “We’ve had a week of poor weather in the run-up to the Big Welsh Bite, but the event’s new location on the park tennis courts means everyone can come along and enjoy a fun-packed weekend.”

Gates open from 10.30am to 5pm each day in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park and admission is free.

There are lots of Early Bird tickets available, which means you get the best seats in the house and save lots of money too – just make sure you book your tickets before Wednesday, September 9!

At the Coliseum Theatre, Early Bird tickets are available for singing sensation Corinne West, the hilarious comedy musical The Bankrupt Bride, stand-up comic and satirist Jeremy Hardy, the ever popular opera Figaro, the West End all-singing all-dancing extravaganza Gotta Sing Gotta Dance, the hard-hitting drama Beauty Queen of Leenane and the rocking and shocking brand new show from The Circus of Horrors.

Events at the Muni Arts Centre include Chris Corcoran’s hilarious Committee Meeting, the acclaimed singer/songwriter Slaid Cleaves, Eric Bell, the legendary rock guitarist with Thin Lizzy, and Dead Ringers impressionist Jan Ravens.

At the Park & Dare you could save money on the enchantingly beautiful How Green Was My Valley by Independent Ballet Wales, the children’s favourite Tales Of Peter Rabbit and the brand new comedy musical by Mal Pope, Cappuccino Girls.

And don’t miss and Frank Vickery’s hilarious new comedy Tonto Evans at all three theatres.

So book your tickets for any of these fantastic shows before Wednesday, September 9, 2009 to save yourself pounds.

For more details of these outstanding shows call the venues’ box offices – The Coliseum Theatre 01685 881188, The Muni Arts Centre on 01443 485934 or The Park & Dare Theatre on 01443 773112

This preparatory work to identify underground supplies is critical to any successful town centre scheme and must take place in order to secure future funding for investment in the area. Work began in Mill Street on July 28 and could continue for the coming months.

While disruption and inconvenience is, regrettably, unavoidable, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council are confident that the techniques used by this highly innovative company will benefit all in terms of reduced noise, nuisance and disruption compared to traditional techniques.

Rather than creating huge trenches in the pavement and public spaces in order to identify supply lines, Airex carry out techniques such as “vacuum excavation” to back up the underground measurements they record by radar.

This method involves the creation of narrow trenches through vacuum techniques and once the underground pipes, cables and cellars have been recorded the excavated material is returned to the trench by pumping from a holding tank.

This unusual approach used successfully in Newport town centre will reduce the impact this work has on businesses and shoppers in the town centre as well as reducing risks to those carrying out the works.

This work is critical to assist the Council in gathering the supplementary information needed to support a bid for Convergence funding that, if successful, will enable the dramatic regeneration of the town centre streetscape.

Once completed, these underground investigations will provide the Contractor with a clear picture of the unforeseen risks inherent with town centre schemes and will allow work to begin immediately , as soon as the funding is approved next April.

A taste of the future and just how important such future improvements are, was highlighted to residents and businesses during the opening of the streetscape enhancements at the Crossbrook /Taff Street Junction earlier this month.

Cllr Paul Cannon, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Housing, said: “The completion of this underground work is crucial if we are to be in a position to take full advantage of the Convergence funding opportunities next April.

“Carrying out the work now enables us to be in a position to begin high impact regeneration work in the town centre immediately after funding is approved.

“This work really is important and we hope residents, businesses and visitors can bear with us and the Contractor as this work continues.

“We have worked hard to minimise disruption and the appointment of Airex has enabled us to use a unique form of excavation and recording that will reduce the impact on the town centre.”

Residents or businesses with questions or queries about the work can contact Paul Sullivan at the Glamorgan Engineering Consultancy on 02920 820655.

There will be free parking after 10am on Monday, December 24 at the following car parks:

Pontypridd – Gas Road, Goods Yard, Millfield, Berw Road multi-storey, Sardis Road and the Precinct.

Aberdare – Crown Buildings, Green Street, Library, Duke Street, Gadlys Pit, High Street, Nant Row and Rock Grounds. (Rock Grounds is closed on Sundays.)

Disabled people can continue to park free at all times in designated disabled bays when they display their ‘blue badge’. Other drivers are not allowed to use those bays.

Councillor Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Better Public Services and Transport, said: “We hope many residents will take this opportunity to park for free and enjoy shopping in our town centres.”

During the closure bus services X6 and 25 will be re-routed for the day.

Bus service X6 when travelling towards Pontypridd will be diverted via Pryce Street, High Street and Darran Road and bus service 25 when travelling towards Pontypridd will divert via Pryce Street, High Street and Llanwonno Road.

When travelling towards Fernhill and Aberdare, service X6 will be diverted via Darran Road, High Street, Graig Street and Dyffryn Street and service 25 will divert via Llanwonno Road, High Street, Graig Street and Dyffryn Street.

There won’t be any specific stops along the diverted roads, so passengers will be able to ‘hail and ride’ where it is safe for the bus to stop.

Councillor Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Better Public Services and Transport said, “Throughout the regeneration of Mountain Ash we have continued to ensure the public transport has been disrupted as little as possible.

“We understand that this may cause inconvenience to some residents, but we hope that the buses are still able to serve everyone who wishes to use them.”

On January 1st the Department of Health announced an increase in age limit on cigarette sales, meaning it will be illegal for you to buy cigarettes or tobacco products if you are under 18 and retailers can no longer sell these products to under 18s.

Trading Standards understand it can be very difficult for retailers to judge the age of a young person, and it is hoped that increasing the legal age of smoking will significantly assist retailers in coping with the law, making it easier to spot underage smokers.

Retailers are advised to adopt the ‘no proof of age – no sale’ motto. If retailers do sell age-restricted products to someone who is under the specific age they are committing a criminal offence.

Councillor Paul Cannon, Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Chair of the Community Safety Partnership said, “It is easy for young people to look older than they actually are these days, that’s why we are encouraging retailers to only serve people who have ID on them.

“This message is for everyone, young people and retailers. If you are currently 16 or 17 and regularly buy cigarettes or tobacco you will no longer legally be permitted to do so and retailers will be quite right to ask anyone for identification.

“We want everyone to be fully aware of the change in law and the consequences of breaking it.”

If you are a retailer and would like more information on how the legislation will affect you and what you can do, please visit www.tobaccoagechange.co.uk

If you need information on how to obtain a proof of age card then contact Maria Richards on 01443 484481.

Anyone wanting support in stopping smoking can call the National Public Health Service for Wales for free on 0800 085 2219.

The works are being funded from a variety of sources including the Arts Council of Wales, Visit Wales, Art and Business, Pontypridd Town Council, Pontypridd Market Company and Macob Construction as well as the Council.

Public Art Wales /Celf G C have this week announced that artists Andy Hazell and The Jason Bruges Studio will carry out the work.

Andy Hazell, a sculptor from Knighton Powys, was selected from 77 national and international artists and is currently designing a landmark feature for the roundabout adjacent to the A470 in Pontypridd

Andy Hazell’s ‘Wheel of Drams’ has become a popular landmark in Hengoed and his giant ‘Thumbprint’ sculpture attracts attention outside the Swansea police headquarters.

The Jason Bruges Team won both commissions to light William Edwards’s Old Bridge and Brunel’s Newbridge Viaduct. Artists in the team are now developing designs for these exciting projects.

Jason works with a team of 12 artists, developing and delivering interactive projects worldwide. Recent works include art installations for Tate Britain, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Cyberport, Hong Kong and Guanghou, China.

Members of the Public will be invited to work alongside the artists and attend design presentations at various points during the commissioning process.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Skills Cllr Robert Bevan explained: “I am delighted with the announcement that both artists have now been selected to carry out these exciting projects.

“Once again this displays our commitment to the regeneration of Pontypridd town centre. Residents, shoppers and workers in Pontypridd are already witnessing our determination to make Pontypridd a more prosperous town with the massive project being undertaken at St Catherine’s Corner.

“Shortly they will also benefit from a new traffic management scheme of Taff Street in an effort to make Pontypridd an even more attractive shopping experience.

“The association between famous physical features and their respective towns and cities is an important part of promoting the identity of a place, often acting as an enticement for people to come and visit as well as cementing a strong sense of local pride and confidence.”

“The decision to enhance two of its most iconic landmarks – the Brunel Viaduct and William Edwards Bridge, along with the creation of a new iconic sculpture at the A470 entrance to the town is yet more visible evidence of our commitment to investing in Pontypridd.”

Public Art Wales, the new organisation for placing art in the public realm in Wales, is managing the artists’ projects.

Director Creative Development Stephen West said: “ We are really pleased to be working with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to enhance these busy sites with contemporary artworks. The artists selected are extremely experienced and have worked all over the UK.

“This complex transport interchange just outside the town of Pontypridd will soon hold a magnificent landmark sculpture. The Newbridge Viaduct and William Edwards Bridge will soon be an interactive art experience with light works to be enjoyed by traveler and local alike.”

The Council’s Consumer Advice service set up the Motor and Building Trade Charters to improve fair trading within these two sectors. Members agree to trade over and above their legal obligations and adhere to the charter’s terms and conditions.

The Local Authority Assured Trader Scheme Network (LAATSN) run by the Office of Fair Trading seeks to recognise local trader schemes that achieve the strict national standards laid down.

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Motor Trade Charter has 42 members and has been in operation for nearly 10 years, while the Building Trade Charter is in its infancy at the moment, with four members.

Councillor Paul Cannon, Cabinet Member for Communities, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: We are committed to protecting the consumer and are delighted that our trading charters have received this recognition.”

Saracen Windows of Llantwit Fardre is one of the members of the Building Trade Charter. Rob Baker from Saracen is pictured with Andrew Addicott and Peter Pask at the Council’s Consumer Advice office in Pontypridd.

Anyone wishing to become a member of either of the charters should contact Andrew Addicott or Peter Pask on 01443 484469