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GTFM NEWS
From the only radio newsroom in RCT Contact us if you have a local news story by emailing: news@gtfm.co.uk LOCAL NEWS BULLETINS - are compiled in our own newsroom and broadcast hourly from 6.02am on Monday to 6.02am every Saturday morning. UK and WORLD NEWS - is provided in two-minute bulletins by Sky News and broadcast 'on the hour' every hour. NEWS HEADLINES - are broadcast at approximately 20 minutes past and to the hour on weekdays from 7.20-8.40am and 4.20-6.20pm

NEWS ARCHIVE Glyntaff Estate/GTRA 30th Anniversary Celebrations May 2010 Plus Gtfm's 10th Birthday in 2009 Digital TV Switchover is complete! (Click for details) Revitalised Bells Ring-out The bells at St.Catherine's Church in Pontypridd are back in action after more than two decades. See more photo's by clicking here. To hear the bells in action and learn more about them from the Reverend Marcus Green, in conversation with Gtfm's Liz Brown, click here LOCAL FLOODING ON 6TH JUNE 2009 A farmer with a rain guage who lives on the hilllside above Rhydyfelin estimated that 90mm (thats more than three and a half inches) of rain fell in just 4-5hours on the evening of Saturday 6th June! Many other places in the Pontypridd area were also affected, especially Cilfynedd and Treforest. An estimated 40 houses were flooded in Rhydyfelin alone and several families had to be evacuated. 15 people stayed overnight in the Elan Community Centre, while others stayed with friends and relatives, or were sent to hotels as far away as Culverhouse Cross. Click here to see an 'Action Plan' Press Release issued by Jane Davidson AM on Thursday 11th June, following a meeting to discuss what should happen next in Rhydyfelin. The Glyntaff Tennants and Residents Association provided a vital service throughout the crisis, organising hot meals, dry bedding and a whole lot more. They are based at the Elan Centre and can be contacted on 01443 402650 or via email at: gtra@btconnect.com The photo below shows how a huge amount of water cascaded down the wooded hillside across Masefield Way and into nearby houses. Local roads turned into rivers Quite a lot of the problems appear to have been caused when culverts taking the streams which flow down the steep hillside under local roads became blocked by stones and other debris, leading to a build up of water and flooding. As clean-up operations began on Sunday excavators were used to clear the blocked culverts, as this photo shows. And there was heart breaking damage to houses with many valuable possessions lost The photo below shows the 'tide mark' on one house wall, clearly showing the depth of the flood water Stay tuned to GTFM for the latest news of what happens next.


NEWSFLASH We are delighted to reproduce the following announcement, as it appears in a press release from the Welsh Assembly Government: GTFM making waves, thanks to Community Radio Fund Rhydyfelin-based community radio station GTFM is making waves across Pontypridd, after being awarded support from the new Community Radio Fund from the Welsh Assembly Government. GTFM is one of six community radio stations across Wales to share the sixty seven thousand, five hundred pound fund, to support communities until late March 2010. GTFM was chosen for its commitments to the local community in a number of key areas including promoting training and social enterprise for excluded and vulnerable people and strengthening cultural and linguistic identity. Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones said: “The six successful recipients of the Community Radio Fund have demonstrated that they are not only serious about providing entertainment for their audiences, but also in providing opportunities for listeners and participants to improve their lives and the communities they live in. Community Radio provides a voice for communities and an opportunity to showcase talent, stimulate debate and make connections between local groups and individuals. This is also an opportunity for people in the community to develop skills, which can benefit them in the workplace.” GTFM Station Manager, Terry Mann said: “We are very grateful to the Assembly Government's Community Radio Fund for this award towards our general administrative and running costs. This is particularly helpful because the majority of our grant funding is 'ring-fenced' to specific aspects of our operation so can't be used to support the day-to-day operation of our Rhydyfelin offices and studios".