South Wales Police have asked drivers to avoid Cross Common Road and Cardiff Road in Dinas Powys. There is heavy congestion in the area, due to a broken down vehicle.
All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Martyn Jones.
The Pitt is the series that everyone is talking about right now. This award-winning drama follows the staff of an emergency department as they attempt to get through a single 15-hour shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Centre. The team navigates staff shortages and underfunding, as well as their own personal turmoil, leading to a realistic portrayal of healthcare workers that had been praised by the medical community.
The cast is full of well-known names from other silver screen escapades, but one face will be more recognizable than others to the people of Barry.
Gerran Howell, 35, stars as the gentle, yet naïve, Dr Dennis Whitaker in the series, bringing a little piece of the Vale to fictional Pittsburgh.
Howell grew up in Barry, where he attended Barry Comprehensive School, before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Some readers might recognise him best from his roles as Private Parry in 1917, or as Vlad in the CBBC series Young Dracula. The series followed a family of vampires and their move from Transylvania to a rural Welsh town – a far departure from the chaos of the emergency department at The Pitt.
Howell’s work has the stamp of approval from one of the biggest names in Hollywood, with his recommendation for the role of Dr Whitaker coming from George Clooney, with whom he starred in TV miniseries Catch 22.
Star of medical drama ER Noah Wyle leads The Pitt as Dr Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, offering the perfect guidance for someone like Howell who is making the first foray into the world of the emergency department with this series.
Those who want to watch The Pitt will need a subscription to HBO Max, with subscriptions to the service starting at £4.99 per month. A subscription to the service without ads costs £9.99 per month and their premium tier costs £14.99 per month.
Its won Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and was named as one of the ten best television programs of 2025 by the American Film Institute – and now it is helping a Barry boy make even more of a name for himself.
With a third season of The Pitt already on the horizon, fans will be able to see even more of Gerran Howell in the near future.
A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has highlighted the need for stronger programme management and better housing options.
Sites in the Vale are playing a direct role in supporting the national programme.
The Holiday Inn Express in Rhoose is currently being used as transitional accommodation for Afghan families, who can stay for up to nine months while they await permanent housing.
A UK Government spokesman said: “The report clearly sets out the scale and complexity of Afghan resettlement, and recognises the progress that has been made, with around 38,000 Afghans already settled in the UK, and we remain committed to our target of completing Afghan resettlement by the end of this parliament.”
Another site, East Camp in St Athan, is housing families under the ARAP scheme.
This scheme is designed for those who worked alongside UK forces in Afghanistan and are awaiting long-term resettlement.
Both sites now fall under the unified Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), launched to streamline and improve the process on 1 March 2025, and bring together the previous ARAP and ACRS schemes into a single programme.
The ARP aims to bring all eligible Afghans to the UK by March 2029, with plans to move all individuals out of transitional accommodation by December 2029.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Afghan Resettlement Programme, introduced by this government, brings all schemes into a single pathway to deliver better outcomes for eligible Afghans and stronger value for money, with work continuing across government to ensure the programme is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
The spokesperson said steps have already been taken to improve the system.
They said: “We have also recently introduced new key performance indicators to improve case handling times and provide greater transparency for applicants and their supporters – alongside an online ARAP eligibility self-checker.”
However, the NAO report warns that significant obstacles remain.
These include insufficient data on individual needs and a shortage of suitable housing, which has contributed to higher rates of homelessness among resettled Afghans.
The NAO has called on the government to complete essential programme management tasks, carry out scenario planning, and better monitor the impact of the nine-month limit on transitional accommodation.
It also recommends using pilot programmes to identify and share effective approaches and to define clear measures of integration success for resettled Afghans.
Vale of Glamorgan Council and the UK Government have both identified the Rhoose site as part of Wales’ regional contribution to the ARP for 2025–26.
Transitional accommodation was formerly managed under the ACRS and ARAP schemes, but as of March 1, 2025, all households in such accommodation are now classified under the ARP.
The government continues to estimate that the entire resettlement effort will cost between £5.5 and £6 billion, with spending subject to ongoing review.
Afghan families in the Vale are among more than 37,950 people who arrived in the UK under resettlement schemes between April 2021 and December 2025.
South Wales Police have asked drivers to avoid Cross Common Road and Cardiff Road in Dinas Powys. There is heavy congestion in the area, due to a broken down vehicle.
South Wales Police responded to a collision involving two cars shortly after 7.30am. The road was closed in both directions between Forage Farm and the Pentre Meyrick turn off while police attended the scene. Police later confirmed the road reopened at around 10.15am, but some congestion remained, particularly near Pentre Meyrick.
A police spokesperson provided an update. South Wales Police said: “Officers were called to a collision involving two cars on the A48 Cowbridge bypass just after 7.30 this morning (26 March). There were no serious injuries reported.”
Local drivers experienced delays throughout the morning as congestion built up due to the closure and subsequent reopening. Authorities have not provided further details at this time.
Thursday will see any early showers soon ease, leaving it dry with sunny spells and some areas of cloud for much of the rest of the day. It will cloud over again after dusk. Despite the brighter weather, there is a chance of some pockets of frost and icy patches early on but there will be less wind chill than Wednesday. The maximum temperature will be 11°C.
Friday will be dull and damp with outbreaks of rain, though also briefly milder. It will be a cloudy day, with spells of rain falling heavy at times. Rain and cloud will clear by the end of the day, leaving it clear and dry. Friday night will see isolated showers, falling wintry on the higher ground. The day will see a maximum temperature of 12°C.
Saturday is expected to be brighter. After a morning of patchy cloud and showers, it will clear up, leaving the rest of the day bright and dry. Temperatures could reach 10°C.
Sunday is set to be cloudy, wet, and windy, with further rain pushing in. The maximum temperature on Sunday will be 11°C.
Monday looks to be similarly cloudy, but there is less chance of rain than over the weekend. There is, however, a chance of a brief spell of sunshine during the late afternoon, with the day’s maximum temperature predicted to reach 13°C.
The A48 in Cowbridge was shut due to a ‘serious’ crash Congestion remains in the area
The clocks spring forward this Sunday, meaning lighter evenings and warmer days ahead, but a potential £5000 fine might sully that.
While lighter evenings are welcomed by many, the loss of an hour’s sleep, combined with changing light conditions, can catch drivers off guard.
It is especially possible during those early morning commutes.
So, with that in mind, you might want to pay attention.
The 5 key risks to drivers when the clocks change
1. Sleep disruption can slow reactions
Losing an hour of sleep may not seem significant, but feeling fatigued can affect concentration and slow reaction times behind the wheel.
Lee Morley, AA Patrol of the Year, explains: “Even mild fatigue can reduce concentration and reaction times, particularly during early morning commutes when traffic is at its busiest.
“In fact, Rule 91 of the Highway Code, which relates to fitness to drive, specifically warns against driving when tired and suggests a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours.
“To reduce tiredness, motorists should try to go to bed an hour earlier on the Sunday night and take extra care in the days following the clock change, allowing plenty of time for journeys and journey breaks for the longer commutes.”
2. Adjusting your car clock on the move can put you in danger
Many vehicles do not update the dashboard clocks automatically when the time changes.
However, drivers should not attempt to adjust their car clock while driving, as doing so can be distracting and potentially dangerous.
This could result in a fine of up to £5,000 for severe cases.
Lees suggests: “Motorists should only make adjustments once the vehicle is parked safely. Or set yourself a reminder before you leave the house to reset it before you need to leave.”
3. Checking the time on your phone could cost you
As most mobile phones can auto-update to the time change, quickly checking your handset whilst driving for a time check may be tempting.
However, briefly picking up a phone to check the time still counts as illegal handheld use, which can result in a £200 fine and six penalty points on a driving licence.
Lee adds: “This law still applies to you if you’re stopped at traffic lights, queuing in traffic or if you have an automatic stop-start and the engine’s cut out briefly, so do not use the mobile for any reason at all when the car is in use.”
4. Rushing because you feel rushed
We’ve all been there – forgot the clocks jumped forward, slept in and now running late.
Rather than try and make up the time by speeding, it’s better to accept what’s happened, tell the people you’re meeting you’re going to get there a little later and drive sensibly.
Lee said:“Rushing, speeding or driving aggressively to make up time can put everyone on the road at real risk.
“If you’re running late, the safest option is simply to accept the delay and continue driving carefully. Or, find somewhere to park and call someone at your destination to let them know you’ll be arriving later, if it will help put your mind at rest.”
5. Sun glare danger increases
The daylight shift also means more motorists could face low sun and glare during peak commuting times, which can significantly reduce visibility, making it difficult to see pedestrians, cyclists, traffic lights or hazards ahead.
Recommended reading:
Motorcyclists are also particularly vulnerable when they are approaching with the sun behind them.
“Wearing sunglasses can help to reduce glare, but drivers must ensure their eyewear is suitable for driving and not too dark.
Lee adds: “Although poor sunglasses choice is not a fineable offence, do choose lenses that allow sufficient light transmission and remove them when conditions darken, such as when entering tunnels or driving in poor weather to follow Highway Code Rule 97.”
“Drivers should also make sure their windscreens are clean inside and out. Even a thin film of dirt can make glare far worse when the sun is low.”
What’s your favourite part of the clocks going forward? Let us know in the comments
The charity is resuming patrols along UK coastlines as the Easter holidays begin and has announced that lifeguard cover will return to three beaches in the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6.
The patrolled beaches will include Whitmore Bay in Barry, Coney (Sandy Bay), and Trecco Bay.
Peter Dawes, RNLI lifeguard general manager, said: “Thanks to RNLI lifeguards our beaches are safer places, so we can enjoy our time at the coast and return home safely at the end of the day.
“Around 95 per cent of a lifeguard’s work is prevention.
“They keep beachgoers safe by educating them about water safety and spotting the dangers before accidents happen.”
This year marks 25 years since the RNLI launched its lifeguard service, which began in response to high numbers of beach fatalities.
Back in 2001, lifesaving clubs were already patrolling beaches, but not at a national scale, and the RNLI set out to create a coordinated service that would make UK coastlines safer.
In the first year of piloted patrols, 20 lives were saved, prompting the formation of a formal lifeguard service.
Since the introduction of RNLI lifeguards in Wales in 2008, 315 lives have been saved and more than 45,000 people aided through water rescues, first aid, and reuniting lost children with their families.
Tom John, a lifeguard supervisor in Swansea, said: “Since the service began we’ve seen more people visit our beaches each year wanting to have fun and enjoy the water.
“The fundamentals of lifeguarding are still the same as they were back then, however, we are now a much more proactive service.
“Our RNLI training and equipment is fantastic and we have a brilliant team.
“I love this time of year when the lifeguards are returning after their winters away, they bring awesome energy and we are all wanting to get back out onto the beaches for an amazing spring and summer season.”
The RNLI’s lifeguard service now covers more than 245 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands, with at least 35 in Wales.
As lifeguards prepare for the season, they undergo intensive training, including fitness tests, and practice using rescue boards, jet skis, and quad bikes, along with refresher courses in casualty care and first aid.
The safety charity is urging the public to choose lifeguarded beaches this Easter and to follow key advice: swim between the red and yellow flags, check tide times and weather conditions, and always read local hazard signage.
If in trouble, the charity advises to follow its float to live guidance and to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard in an emergency.
Plans have been filed to create a new lake at Pwll Y Darren Farm in Welsh St. Donats.
According to the planning application, the lake will span approximately 980sqm and has been designed to serve multiple functions including biodiversity enhancement, recreation, landscape improvement and drainage capacity.
The application reads: “The lake edges will feature a naturalistic profile with gradual graded embankment/slopes to support a range of aquatic and marginal planting, thereby improving ecological connectivity and creating a range of wetland habitats.”
New nesting islands are proposed within the lake and “high-quality” landscape feature are proposed around the lake to “enhance the visual character of the site”.
According to the application, “this will significantly improve the current existing position of the site which is unsightly given the excavated stone and material which has been stored at this area.”
Access and circulation around the lake has been planned around informal walking paths, viewing points and areas “designated for environmental education and/or passive recreation”.
That said, the lake will be non-navigable and primarily designed to assist with drainage and for “ecological and visual purposes”.
The application reads: “The design of the lake incorporates a naturalistic form, with irregular edges and a varied depth profile to replicate natural waterbody characteristics.”
It continues: “Shallow marginal shelves will be introduced around the perimeter to support emergent and marginal vegetation, providing critical habitats for a variety of species and supporting local biodiversity objectives.”
The maximum depth of the lake will be approximately 4m with shallower zones “designed for ecological enhancement and improved water quality management”.
Water for the lake will be sourced and managed through a combination of natural rainfall, surface water collection, a borehole (sustainable groundwater inputs), and surface water drainage.
Overflow and drainage infrastructure will be incorporated to ensure that water levels remain stable and do not pose any risk to the surrounding area.
Newer Posts