The Jayne’s Baby Bank Blackwood Market store, located at 13–15 The Market Place Shopping Centre, Blackwood, NP12 1AU, has now officially closed. This was confirmed publicly weeks prior, and on 6th July 2025, Carrie-Anne Ridsdale, alongside a small team, cleared out the store. Remaining stock was reportedly sold for £1 before being given away to members of the public.
Across multiple livestreams and Facebook posts, Ms Ridsdale has attributed the store’s closure to the following reasons:
- Alleged disputes with a security guard
- A claimed “window tax” introduced by the landlord(s)
Window Tax Claims
Date: 09/07/2025 — Source
I’ve given it back because the landlord was getting on my nerves and the last straw was trying to charge us window tax…
Date: 08/07/2025 — Source
If I get another… landlord, right… Window tax? Really? … Fuck off.
Security Guard Issues
Date: 17/06/2025 — Source
…environmental health, turning up at our shop today in Blackwood… because a report had come in. And I know for a fact that that was the security guard…
Date: 09/07/2025 — Source
I took the barrel lock out last night because I knew the security guard would try and obstruct us…
Landlord Disputes
Date: 07/07/2025 — Source
…they just sold us a load of false promises to get us in here… they started trying to blackmail us to stay… threatening to put us all over Facebook…
Date: 13/06/2025 — Source
…I’m not happy that the landlord wouldn’t fix electric. Luckily National Grid has done it…
All of these statements illustrate a breakdown in communication between Ms Ridsdale and the landlord, with allegations ranging from ignored maintenance to verbal intimidation. It is unclear from available public documents whether these statements are factually accurate, but they do form a consistent narrative repeated by Ms Ridsdale across platforms.
We previously published a Food Safety and Council Report regarding the Blackwood location, which included issues relating to sanitation and toilet access. In response to this report, Ms Ridsdale livestreamed a rebuttal, which ironically focused on the very toilet she later highlighted as one of her main complaints at the Pontypool site.
…They told me that was my personal toilet… But it wasn’t. It was for the whole block. So I’m not cleaning the toilet.
In Closing
One of the reasons we archive and transcribe material is precisely for this reason: contradiction. On 10/06/2025, Ms Ridsdale stated the following regarding toilet responsibilities:
For example if we had a shite fountain coming out of the toilet… I’d rod it anyway… We got rods. Been there, done that.
Yet on 03/04/2025, she had stated in a video:
…I actually contacted the head of public protection because the landlord was refusing to unblock the toilet and it was a serious issue…
This contradiction underscores the persistent confusion surrounding accountability at the Blackwood site. The local council noted sanitation concerns, which contributed to regulatory scrutiny. Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, adequate toilet and washing facilities must be provided to all workers—including volunteers.
As for the self-proclaimed “Blackwood Superstore,” her physical activity during shop clearance seems inconsistent with public claims of being unfit for work due to chronic illness. A concerned member of the public submitted the following:
To search additional transcripts mentioning the Blackwood premises, please use our searchable archive: Search Transcripts.
UPDATE:
Following the eviction, Ms Ridsdale continued posting online about the landlord:
…He now wants more compensation. I own the locks and have receipts… I haven’t signed the shop back over yet. He bought it with a leased tenant. If he wants to alter the lease or end it he has to pay us compensation…
Landlord response via email (screenshot):
You left the shop completely insecure, with no locks in place, and decimated the interior… I will be pursuing this through every possible legal channel…
According to Ms Ridsdale, the lock was removed intentionally:
I took the barrel lock out last night because I knew the security guard would try and obstruct us…
Notably, she had previously acknowledged the shop was formerly leased by the Wales Air Ambulance—undermining her claim of landlord neglect or mismanagement post-tenancy.
Legal Assessment
From a civil law perspective, the removal of a barrel lock without replacement, and leaving the premises unsecured while inviting the public to collect leftover goods, may constitute a breach of lease and/or negligent disposal of property. If it can be proven that any landlord-held goods were disposed of, this may open her up to a conversion claim under tort law.
Additionally, publicly accusing the landlord of blackmail—without evidence—may risk a defamation claim if it can be shown to have caused reputational harm or business loss. This is particularly relevant if other commercial tenants are discouraged from leasing due to her statements.
Unless criminal damage or theft can be proven, this remains primarily a civil dispute. However, the pattern of behaviour and language used could increase legal exposure for Ms Ridsdale should the landlord pursue action.
In sum, this episode highlights ongoing issues surrounding premises management, professional conduct, and the importance of accurate public communication—especially when tied to charitable branding.
Sherlock