The stories that hit the headlines in 2016: January to June

JANUARY

THE year started with Penarth MP Stephen Doughty resigning from the shadow cabinet.

He did so live on television and cited difference of opinions with the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn

He stepped down from his role as shadow foreign office minister to move to the back benches.

CALLS were made for action to be taken to reduce speeds on a notorious stretch of road in Dinas Powys.

Councillors highlighted a survey which showed that 68 out of 166 vehicles broke the 30mph speed limit in a 45 minute period.

They pointed to a number of crashes which had occurred in the area and called for the authorities to do more.

A DERELICT house which had become an eyesore on a Penarth street was investigated by the Vale council.

Residents complained that the house was uninhabited for over a decade and that there were reports of a rat infestation.

The council was previously successful in two prosecutions of the owner and was looking into further action.

THE HEALTH board apologised to an elderly woman who was forced to wait 18 hours before receiving treatment at Llandough Hospital.

Audrey Jones had to wait six hours in the back of an ambulance and then a further 12 hours in the hospital.

Assembly member Andrew RT Davies said the wait was "unacceptable."

FEBRUARY

A COUNCILLOR from Dinas Powys was suspended for one month for breaking the council's code of conduct.

Vince Driscoll was accused of operating dog kennels at his home without a licence.

The community council suspended him following a report from the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

A NEW state-of-the-art sports arena in Penarth was announced.

The Vale Sports Arena would be coming to Penarth Road and would "change the face" of sport in the town.

The plans involved an indoor 3G pitch, gym and cafes which would transform an unused warehouse.

CAMPAIGNERS warned of "a mess" that would ensue after 50 new homes were approved by Vale planners.

The Dinas Powys Frustrated Residents' Group said the development off Cross Common Road would leave them with congested roads, flooding and a loss of green space.

They said they did not feel they had the opportunity to express their objection due to confusion at the planning meeting.

CONTROVERSY reigned as celebrity singer Charlotte Church's birthday party prompted numerous complaints from neighbours in Dinas Powys.

There were reports the noise went on until 5.30am and could be heard in Sully.

She apologised on social media but hit out at neighbours for not approaching her directly about it.

MARCH

EXCITEMENT was building as it was revealed a Dinas Powys man's horse would be competing in the Grand National.

Buywise, owned by local chemist Hwyel Jones was set to take part in the famous race at Aintree.

Early indications were that he was a 60-1 outsider.

A DISABLED man said people had been let down by a Penarth bus service.

Mike Selby said that the 88 service was notorious for being broken down or not turning up.

The council confirmed they had received other complaints about the service

PENARTH was named the best place to live in Wales.

The Sunday Times guide saw the town top the list of Welsh places and do well in the UK list.

The compiler described the town as a "trendy spa" town in the feature which ranked places based on factors such schools, crime rates and house prices.

A TRAVELLER site which had been designated by the Vale council in their LDP was thrown out by a planning inspector.

Richard Jenkins deemed the proposed site for travellers at Hayes Road in Sully to be "unsound" based on the risk of flooding.

Campaigners against the site expressed their delight saying that the plan was "totally flawed."

DOORS opened at a new £2.7 million medical centre in Dinas Powys.

It was announced it will serve 10,000 people and was funded by the Welsh Government and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Resident Roger Newberry was impressed saying "they've done wonders with the place."

APRIL

THE full line-up for the second edition of Picnic Penarth was revealed.

The event organised by the Vale and Penarth Town councils would take place on the weekend of April 16-17.

James Sommerin, Science Cream, Old Cogan Hall Farm and Umpa Lumpa Sweet Shop were announced as being part of the street food festival.

TRIBUTES were paid to former Cardiff South and Penarth candidate Ben Foday after his death.

The 72-year-old originally from Sierra Leone stood for Plaid Cymru in the 2015 general election.

Plaid's assembly election for 2016, Dafydd Trystan said "our community has lost a legend."

A RESTAURANT based in Penarth was named the best fine dining venue in Wales.

James Sommerin won the accolade at the Foods Awards Wales having opened in 2014.

Mr Sommerin said it was a "real surprise and honour" to have won the award.

DOG owners expressed their anger after their puppy was injured by a speeding cyclist.

They were travelling along the Railway Walk near Cosmeston Drive when the incident happened which left Molly with broken bones in her foot

Rhys and Gaynor Gambling voiced their concern that cyclists were using the path to achieve as high speeds as possible and compete with each other.

MAY

A RESIDENT voiced her concern about the Vale's policy of switching off street lights in Penarth between midnight and 6am.

Faye Williams of Queen's Road said she felt unsafe going out of her house when it was dark.

Residents questioned whether the scheme, which was designed to make savings, was worth it.

VAUGHAN Gething was re-elected as assembly member for Cardiff South and Penarth.

He won 13,274 votes which was a majority of 6,921 at the election on Thursday, May 5.

He said he was privileged to be re-elected and thanked the people of the constituency for renewing their faith in him.

APPROVAL was given for 350 houses to be built on land off Cog Road in Sully.

Protestors from the Saving Sully group joined residents on a march to oppose the plans and were "horrified" at the decision.

The community council and more than 400 residents had objected to the plans based on inadequate road structure, drainage, visual impact and unsustainable development.

FIGURES showed that child obesity rates in the Vale were the lowest in Wales.

The statistics from Public Health Wales showed that 20.9 per cent of four and five year olds in the county were overweight.

The health board welcomed the figures as "encouraging" but said there was no room for complacency.

JUNE

A SPORTS club was struck by vandals who damaged £8000 worth of equipment.

Penarth Cricket Club's new pitch covers were damaged in an act which left future fixtures at risk.

Club captain Jonathan Davies said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the incident.

A YOUNG boy from Dinas Powys got the opportunity of a lifetime as he sung with Bruce Springsteen.

Haydn Craven was handed the microphone by "The Boss" at his Coventry concert during the song Hungry Heart.

Haydn, whose family are massive Springsteen fans described the experience of singing in front of 40,000 people as "bonkers."

A SHOCKING tale of how a conman stole and elderly Penarth woman's life savings was revealed.

Dilys Jones was left devastated when her trusted friend Christopher Owen robbed her of £43,000.

Owen, who stole the money over a nine month period was jailed.

A WIDOW's long struggle to get a memorial in Penarth to her late fiancé looked like it would soon be over.

Sian Woodland has been told previously that her husband Paul could not be included on the local cenotaph because he died on a training exercised and not in conflict.

But the Vale council said it was close to agreeing to a memorial for Paul and other Penarth servicemen and women in Penarth.

A NEW digital hub opened in Penarth Marina which would create 150 jobs.

Tec Marina was described as a "first of its kind" innovation centre which would put Penarth at the epicentre of digital business in south Wales.

The building has the ability to house 21 companies and contains co-working rooms and a gym.