Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Tuesday, July 16)

DWP warning for PIP claimants on reporting changes to avoid benefit disruption

People getting Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are being warned that certain changes in their life mean they are obliged to report to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or face a possible suspension or termination of their benefits. While updates such as a new name, doctor, health professional, or address are not required to be reported and do not affect PIP payments or awards, other changes are more significant.

Read more here.

Queuing traffic in Swansea after accident

There is queueing traffic in Swansea due to earlier accident, traffic monitoring Inrix says. The congestion is on the A4216 Cockett Road in both directions near Gower College.

Woman seriously ill in Turkey hospital after solo holiday turns into hell

A 34-year-old care worker is fighting for her life in Turkey after being hospitalised on the final day of a holiday where she was scattering her late husband’s ashes. Cerys Boundford, from Pontypridd, is having regular seizures and in a critical condition as her family anxiously await her return to the UK.

Read more here.

‘Kind, gentle, generous’ dad killed in crash

Tributes have been paid to a “devoted dad” who died after a crash in Abergavenny as his family say their “world is forever a darker place without him.” Christopher Simmonds, 36, from Pontypool died in a road traffic collision near Keeper’s Pond, Abergavenny on Friday July. 12

The crash is believed to have occurred between 7:30am and 8am on Blaenavon Road, between Keeper’s Pond and Govilon and involved one vehicle, a white Vauxhall Vivaro which is believed to have been travelling towards Govilon.

Read more here.

Delays on M4 in Newport

There are delays on M4 at Brynglas Tunnels westbound in the Newport area before Junction 26 A4051 (Malpas Road), reports traffic monitoring service Inrix. Travel time is 40 minutes.

The huge changes announced for Wales’ 20mph speed limit after ‘errors were made’

Wales’ transport minister has admitted “errors were made” in the rollout of the 20mph speed limit. Ken Skates was announcing the types of roads that could return to 30mph after a review of the guidance the Welsh Government distributes to councils about speed limits.

When he took over in Vaughan Gething’s administration, Mr Skates said he would review the guidance given to councils and that he would issue advice about which roads could return to 30mph. The default speed limit across Wales was made 20mph in September 2023.

Read more here.

Strictly Come Dancing considers chaperones for stars after allegations against some professionals

Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly considering the introduction of chaperones to enhance its duty of care protocols. Graziano Di Prima was recently dropped from the BBC Latin and ballroom show following allegations of misconduct towards his 2023 partner Zara McDermott, and Giovanni Pernice has also been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards his celebrity dance partners, leading to his departure from the programme.

A high-ranking TV figure has suggested that chaperones should be present at every dance rehearsal to ensure professional dancers behave appropriately.

Read more here.

Man, 34, reported missing from Cardiff

A 34-year-old man has been reported missing from Cardiff, sparking a police appeal. South Wales Police has shared photos of Simon Turner, from Roath, on social media and has urged anyone who has information about his whereabouts to get in touch.

#HELPUSFIND l Simon Turner from #Roath #Cardiff has been reported missing.
Simon, 34, is 5ft 7ins tall, wears glasses and is described as being a smaller rugby build.
He has links to the #Heath area of Cardiff.
Ref: 2400236080.https://t.co/8e65E8AAkU pic.twitter.com/pRhPdsmTsD

— South Wales Police (@swpolice) July 16, 2024

Police appeal after woman dies in Neath Port Talbot

The coroner’s office is appealing to locate the next-of-kin of a woman who died in Neath Port Talbot. The HM Coroner’s Office is seeking assistance in locating the next of kin for Ann Davies, 79, of Heol y Glyn in Glynneath, Neath Port Talbot.

South Wales Police said Ms Davies died on Saturday, July 13. The circumstances surrounding her death are not suspicious. It is believed that she may have relatives in the Aberystwyth area.

A force statement said: “Anyone with information is urged to contact the HM Coroner’s office on 01792 450 650 or provide information using the South Wales Police occurrence reference 2400231504.”

Vaughan Gething’s act in a lift that shows how he is feeling right now

Vaughan Gething faced questions in the Senedd today after giving a personal statement on his resignation and Conservative group leader Andrew RT Davies chose to reveal that the outgoing Welsh Labour leader had snubbed him earlier in a lift.

South Wales Central MS Mr Davies told the Senedd that he didn’t believe that in their 17 years in the institution they had ever shared a lift together until this morning. He said he offered his hand to Mr Gething to wish him all the best but that the First Minister would not shake hands.

Read more here.

Benefits cheat claimed £20,000 while running marathons

Sara Morris has been found guilty of fraudulently claiming Personal Independence Payments, or PIP, since 2020.

She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2005 but was found to be lying about the extent and severity of her condition while regularly running marathons.

Vaughan Gething remains ‘confident in Labour Party’

Outgoing First Minister Vaughan Gething has said he remains confident in the Labour Party and he is looking forward to seeing who is chosen to replace him.

During First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, he said his party had got on with the job “despite all the noise”. Follow live updates here.

Jay Slater’s cause of death confirmed

A body found in Tenerife on Monday has now been identified as that of missing British teenager Jay Slater. It had been reported that the body was found with Jay’s documents and possessions.

Now, the Canary Islands Higher Court of Justice has confirmed that the body is that of the 19-year-old. The court added that his death was caused “by trauma consistent with a fall in a rocky area”.

Temperatures set to rise

The Met Office says that high pressure in the east will draw up warmer air form the continent over the next few days with temperatures peaking at around 30°C in parts of the southeast of the UK by Friday

A frontal system pushes the warm air away through Sunday where temperatures will fall towards the low 20s. See the temperatures in Wales here.

Prime Minister thanks Vaughan Gething

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has thanked Vaughan Gething for his service as leader of the Welsh Labour Party and as First Minister of Wales following his resignation.

You can follow all the live updates on this fast-moving story with our political editor Ruth Mosalski here.

Man mowed down road workers

A motorist got fed up with queuing in traffic and mowed down road workers who were holding signs telling him to stop.

A sentencing hearing at Mold Crown Court on Monday heard there was no reason Richard Pierce, 54, decided to jump the queue on the road between Ruthin and Clawddnewydd other than ignorance. Read more here.

Welsh Government publishes evidence on phone leak

The Welsh Government has released evidence it says shows a message from a ministerial thread, which was subsequently leaked to the media, came from the phone of a government minister.

There has been weeks of speculation after Vaughan Gething sacked his minister for social partnership, Hannah Blythyn, saying it was “vital” cabinet colleagues had confidence in each other. Read more here.

Southgate quits England job

Gareth Southgate has also announced he is stepping down as England manager after eight years in the role.

The 53-year-old has resigned just two days after missing out on Euro 2024 glory, with the Three Lions losing 2-1 to Spain in the final in Berlin. Southgate was on the receiving end of plenty of stick from England fans throughout the tournament, but took his side to their second successive European Championship final. Read more here.

First Minister stand down

Breaking news that Vaughan Gething has quit as First Minister of Wales.

His resignation has come after four members of his cabinet this morning quit his government saying the First Minister had to resign. Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles have all resigned from the Welsh Government. Counsel general Mick Antoniw has said he will also quit and due to the nature of his role is writing to the King to resign. Live updates here.

The planned new village by the M4

A new village of 800 homes which was meant to have got under way in Swansea is still on the drawing board, six years after the Welsh Government first submitted plans for it.

The land adjacent to a businesses park north of the M4, near Felindre and Tircoed, was one of a handful of “strategic development areas” which was earmarked for growth by Swansea Council in its planning blueprint for the county. Read more here.

Welsh Government ministers quit

Four Welsh ministers have quit the government in protest at First Minister Vaughan Gething’s leadership, telling him they cannot get on with the job “without you standing down”.

Mick Antoniw, Julie James, Lesley Griffiths and Jeremy Miles resigned on Tuesday morning, posting separate letters on social media in which they called for Mr Gething to go. Live updates here.

Third child dies after fire

A third child has died after a house fire in east London on Saturday.

Five people were taken to hospital following the blaze at an address on Napier Road, East Ham, with those involved believed to be members of the same family.

One child was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday morning while a second child died overnight in hospital.

A third child died in hospital on Monday, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

M4 delays after car breaks down

There are delays on the M4 this morning as a car has broken down close to a busy junction.

The A449 is partially blocked at the junction 24 Coldra with congestion back to juncti on 25 Caerleon. Car is in the dedicated lane for the A48.

All Black’s death announced overnight

Former All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt has died, aged 55.

The hugely popular and well-known player had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, his family said in a statement. Read the rugby morning headlines here.

Football and fake tan shape UK grocery spending

Falling inflation, football and fake tan dominated grocery shopping this month as rising consumer confidence and Euros excitement was dampened by the relentlessly wet summer, figures show.

Grocery price inflation continued its fall to 1.6%, down from June’s 2.1% and its lowest figure since September 2021, according to analysts Kantar.

Horse rescued after getting stuck in mud

Firefighters rescued a 20-year-old horse from a 4ft bog after it got stuck in the mud.

The Animal Rescue Team from Pontardawe and a crew from Brecon fire station were involved in the rescue operation. Read more here.

Royal Mail bidder vows to maintain six-day service

Royal Mail’s prospective new owner has vowed to maintain the service’s requirement to deliver letters six days a week throughout the UK.

The postal service’s owner International Distribution Services (IDS) agreed to a £3.57 billion takeover offer from Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group in May.

The move will see it taken off the public markets and into the hands of Mr Kretinsky’s firm, which already has a 27% shareholding in the business.

Met Office forecast for Tuesday

The good news is, it is to become brighter and drier. Here is the full forecast for Wales today:

Largely cloudy through the morning with showery outbreaks easing. Brighter by the afternoon with increasingly frequent sunny spells and the odd chance of a shower in the east. Rather breezy. Maximum temperature 20 °C.

Any showers easing through the evening with cloud continuing to break and provide late sunny spells. Remaining dry overnight with prolonged clear periods. The odd mist and fog patch possible. Minimum temperature 11 °C.

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