THESE are some of the stories which made the headlines in the South Wales Guardian in the week ending Thursday, May 5, 1983.

Betws Colliery, Britain's most successful anthracite mine, has received a much-needed lifeline of £12m from the National Coal Board to ensure they have a viable future in the 21st century. It is the largest capital development scheme for any mine in South Wales for four years. The money will enable Betws to extract 7.5m tonnes of anthracite from the eastern side of the colliery.

The Welsh Development Agency, which has backed plans to develop a Polish-owned light bulb factory in Amman ford, has come under attack from more than 200 businesses in Wales. The agency has been accused of wasting taxpayers' money by giving Dragonpower a grant of £500,000 to take over the former Ormond Engineering Company premises, Park Street, Betws. The company estimate that they will create 90 jobs, making up to one million light bulbs a month.

DOZENS of Ammanford residents have complained about the procedures for surveying property at risk of damage from opencast mining. Householders in Hendre Road, near Rhos Colliery, have written to the Glyn Tai liaison committee criticising the way consultants are appointed to survey private property.

THE future of Mynydd Mawr Hospital, Tumble, and Amman Valley Hospital, Glanaman, have been secured, following an announcement by East Dyfed Health Authority. Mynydd Mawr, which has 58 beds, will continue to provide geriatric care while the future of Amman Valley Hospital will be decided in the near future.