Torfaen Talks April 2011 by Torfaen County Borough Council

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April 2011 - Ebrill 2011

Massive investment in Pontypool

A £13.5million investment will help revitalise Pontypool and create better community facilities and more employment opportunities.

A £10million investment by the Welsh Assembly will back Torfaen council’s regeneration plans to breathe new life into Pontypool town centre and the surrounding areas of Garndiffaith and Trevethin. The aim is to improve the attractiveness of the area, providing greater community confidence and increasing economic investment. The Assembly package includes funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Targeted Match Fund and Heads of the Valleys programme. Further funding comes from the council’s own resources, Bron Afon Community Housing, Heritage Lottery Fund and various public and private sector organisations. Councillor Bob Wellington, leader of Torfaen council,

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Frailty programme is launched in Gwent see page 3

Members of Pontypool Regeneration Partnership celebrate the good news welcomed the news stating: “This project will increase economic investment into the area and raise resident and business confidence. “The bid aims to improve links and create greater cohesion between communities, by removing physical barriers,

improving connectivity and providing new services that meet local needs and creating a hub for community activity and interaction.” Among the works in Pontypool will be a revamp of the indoor market to make it more attractive to

customers, improvements to the Life Station in Penygarn and investment into the Corn Bin centre in Garndiffaith. For further information on this programme of works and other substantial investments of European money in Torfaen, turn to pages 6-7.

Council Tax rises by 2.99 per cent in Torfaen Council Tax in Torfaen has increased by 2.99 per cent, to help the council meet the £9.2million of savings caused by cuts to public spending. This increase, which will yield an extra £900,000 in Council Tax towards services, will see a Band D home paying £952.82 a year, an increase of £27.66 from last year or 53p per week. The executive member for resources, councillor Marlene Thomas, said: “There is no doubt that Torfaen, like all other Welsh councils, is struggling to bridge the gap between cuts and the rising cost and

increasing demand for services. “Council Tax only represents 12 per cent of our overall funding, but we are conscious that people in our communities have to make ends meet in their everyday finances. “It’s important we try to minimise the impact on the most vulnerable people in the borough and feel a 2.99 per cent rise will allow us to protect citizens, communities and front-line services.” The Council Tax rise coincides with funding from the Assembly significantly reducing and councils experiencing an increased demand for services and reduced income. (Continued on page 3)

Technology facility opens in Blaenavon see page 5

Summer events will put a smile on faces see page 8

Tom’s ticket for sporting success see page 15

My favourite place

Third national award for cleaner canal volunteers For the third time in four years, Torfaen Canal Volunteer Group was Public Sector category runner-up in the Tidy Wales Awards. Organised by Keep Wales Tidy, the awards ceremony was held in Cardiff Bay in January, where representatives of the group were presented with a certificate and cheque for £50. Formed more than four years ago, the group works one Sunday morning each month, removing litter,

fly-tipping and vegetation from the canal, as well as carrying out woodland management and planting bulbs and hedgerows. So far, it has collected 517 sacks of litter, 132 shopping trolleys and 64 bicycles, plus other items as diverse as a payphone, tent, home safe, cat cage, CCTV cameras, bed and duvet. New members are always welcome to join. To get involved or for further information about the group, contact Hugh Woodford on 01633 648741.

My favourite place is Goytre Wharf. I know it’s just outside Torfaen, but I enjoy going there with my family as it has beautiful views and I love to see the young dapple ducklings paddle along the calm, soothing lake. Tied to the hooks, the long colourful houseboats look like something from a children’s storybook. The history of Goytre Wharf is fascinating. I enjoy seeing the old tatty carts that the horses used to pull, full of the dark dingy coal, and listening to the ancient stories of the workmen’s everyday lives. The flowers and plants are in bloom with their buds ready to burst out with colour, and the mossy tree reflections tower in the lake, which looks magical! The wildlife there is so delightful. The birds happily hop about munching on the green grass, tweeting to each other! The trek takes you from the open areas of Goytre Wharf, to the borders of the grounds, with fields full

New Penygarn playground Work has almost been completed on a £100,000 project to refurbish a popular play area in St Cadocs and Penygarn. The work is improving the existing play area on Mount Road, thanks to funding from the Welsh Assembly’s Heads of the Valleys programme. The play area has been designed by the local community partnership and, when finished, it will include new equipment for toddlers to 12 year olds, new paths suitable for access for all and new boundary railings. The executive member for neighbourhood services, councillor John Cunningham, said: “This is great news for residents who have wanted a refurbished play area for some time. Residents have been kept involved from the start to ensure the new facilities meet the needs of the community.” The project is a result of a partnership between Communities First, Bron Afon Community Housing, Woodlands Field Community Centre, local residents, youth groups and Torfaen council. Duncan Forbes, chief executive of Bron Afon, said: “The best thing about this project has been the involvement of the local community, including young people. We own the park and were keen to make sure the changes were supported by everyone involved in the project. It will give the area a fun and safe place for children to burn off energy.”

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of content, fluffy sheep and food crops. Going deeper into the forest, there are little huts made out of trees. When sat inside, although the huts are very small, your imagination and creativity grows and the hut seems to become larger with pretend furniture and people! After finishing the tiring walk, there is a tempting ice-cream shop full of cool refreshing goodies. Although this place seems like a family day out, it is also a great activity to do with your friends, as there is also a fun play area with a climbing area and a slide!

Sophie Edwards Tell us about your favourite place in Torfaen and you could feature in a future issue of Torfaen Talks. Write to Communications team, Level 5, Civic Centre, Pontypool, NP4 6YB. Don’t forget to include contact details.

Local Welsh learners’ day Nearly 150 Welsh learners attended Coleg Gwent’s Welsh day school at the Power Station, Cwmbran. Welsh day schools are held across Gwent throughout the year and provide learners with opportunities to have more contact with the language and experienced tutors. They can also practise the Welsh language with other learners of the same standard. If you are interested in learning Welsh in September, contact the Power Station on 01633 647647.

All smiles for St David School children from across Torfaen came out singing on 1 March, to celebrate St David’s Day. Concerts were held in the town centres of Cwmbran, Pontypool and Blaenavon, while a special St David’s Day concert was held at the Congress Theatre in the evening. Celebrations were also held in Torfaen schools, with pupils dressing up in traditional Welsh costume and rugby shirts to honour the patron saint.

For an audio version of Torfaen Talks call 01495 766417

Proposals shortlisted for waste partnership A project to change the way Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly councils dispose of residents’ food and green waste has entered its next stage. The Heads of the Valleys (HoV) Organics Project sees the three councils working together to look at options to stop food and garden waste being sent to landfill. This will help them meet Assembly-set recycling targets. The project has completed its ‘Invitation to Submit Outline Solutions’ stage of the procurement process for a long-term contract to deal with food and green waste. Eight participants were invited to submit proposals and the three highest scoring participants have been invited through to the ‘Detailed Solutions’ stage of the procurement process. This will end in the summer. The three participants invited to submit detailed solutions are New Earth Solutions Group, Shanks Waste Management Limited and Viridor Waste Management Limited. The councils aim to reach the preferred bidder stage in May 2012 – at this stage they will know the sites and technologies to be used. Councillor Keith Barnes, chairman of the joint committee and Blaenau Gwent’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “The project has undertaken a broad evaluation of the solutions received. “We need to ensure the remaining participants are able to meet the requirements of the local councils and achieve the relevant Environment Agency standards in order to help us all meet targets set out by the Welsh Assembly.” For more information on the HoV Organics Project, visit www.hovwasteprogramme.org.uk

Council Tax rises in Torfaen (Continued from page 1) Torfaen council will continue to do its utmost to ensure every single pound is put to its best use to make Torfaen a cleaner, greener and safer place for residents to live. Any resident having difficulty paying their Council Tax is urged to get in touch with the council and make sure they claim all of

the benefits to which they are entitled. Help and advice to Torfaen residents having trouble paying their Council Tax is available on the website at www.torfaen.gov.uk or by telephoning 01495 762200. For more information on Council Tax, turn to the back page.

Remain happily independent A frailty programme providing vulnerable people in Gwent with streamlined care in their home or community is now in operation. The Gwent Frailty Programme is helping the most vulnerable people receive care, support and dignity in their homes and community, rather than being admitted to hospital or care homes. It is being supported by £9million from the Welsh Assembly’s Invest to Save fund. A partnership between Aneurin Bevan Health Board and the local authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen, it aims to: • bring professionals together to ensure there is access to the right person at the time needed • co-ordinate communication so people have one key person to guide them through the system and be the main point of contact • deliver the right level of response that can change according to how much support is needed at any

particular time • help people remain happily independent • deliver care in or close to home and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. The chair of the Frailty Programme Board and chief executive of Torfaen council, Alison Ward, said: “The Gwent Frailty Programme brings together staff from health and social services to provide a seamless service to people who do not need urgent treatment in hospital.

“We know too many older people in particular spend longer than necessary in hospital wards simply because of the lack of suitable alternatives.” Andrew Goodall, CEO of Aneurin Bevan Health Board, said: “It is a simple change, but demonstrates a fundamental shift in the system and has the potential to deliver enormous benefits – fewer hospital admissions, shorter stays in hospital, leading to fewer complications and reduced demand for complex care packages.”

Cast your ballot in Assembly election On Thursday 5 May, you will have the opportunity to vote for who you would like to represent you in the National Assembly for Wales. A referendum will also be held on the same day about introducing the alternative vote (AV) system for Westminster elections. Visit www.assemblywales.org/vote2011 for more information. The closing date for people who have recently moved and for new postal vote applications is 14 April. The closing date for new proxy voters is 21 April. If you need to register to vote or have recently moved house, call 01495 762200.

Happy retirement, Joan! Congratulations and happy retirement to school cook Joan Williams, who has retired after 33 years’ service serving the hungry pupils at Croesyceiliog Junior School. Joan said: “I have a lot of great memories. It’s totally different today. It’s really nice seeing the pupils grow up and I will really miss the school.” Simon Bates, head teacher of Croesyceiliog Junior School, added: “Joan has been a fantastic servant, giving over 33 years to the school. I would like to thank her for all her hard work, on behalf of the staff, pupils and governors. I wish her all the best in her retirement.”

If you are not registered to vote, call 01495 762200

Office closures To celebrate the royal wedding on Friday 29 April, the government has declared the day an additional public holiday. Therefore, all council offices will be closed on that day. The council published guidance and an application pack on its website for people wishing to hold a street party, but the deadline for submissions has now passed.

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Torfaen leads digital learning revolution throughout Wales

First Minister opens new state-of-the-art IT centre

A pioneering £14million digital learning project that could revolutionise education across Wales has been approved by the Welsh Assembly. The Torfaen council-led partnership aims to start developing an integrated public education service that could transform the delivery of education in Wales, while improving achievement levels across all schools and councils. The innovative project will see: • Teachers digitally accessing classroom resources such as lesson plans and learning materials, enabling them to digitally share best practice • Parents having secure online access to their children’s education resources and performance, as well as coursework and learning materials • All 14-16 pupils having access to digital learning anytime, anywhere and ultimately having their own laptops • The creation of a single Learning Management System where ideas, innovation and expertise

A flagship public service shared resource centre has been officially opened in Blaenavon.

can be freely accessed and shared. The Assembly has approved in principle a £9.8million contribution towards the project – 70 per cent of the total cost. Already at the forefront of digital learning in Wales, Torfaen and Monmouthshire councils are now working together on the first phase of the proposals, which will then be rolled out across Wales. At the heart of the project’s infrastructure is the landmark Shared Resource Centre in Blaenavon. The centre will host the education data on its servers, while enabling

Pupils pick up prizes

the development of the infrastructure and leading on its implementation and support. Councillor Mary Barnett, executive member for children and young people, said: “We are already seeing the benefits of the digital revolution taking place in Torfaen, with young people in our primary and secondary schools learning on some of the world’s most advanced classroom technology. “Equipping our young people with the skills they will need to thrive in a digital economy is at the heart of the council’s Technology-Rich Learning and Digital Valley strategies.”

The Shared Resource Service (SRS) is one of the most advanced public sector ICT projects in the UK, and is at the heart of the council’s Digital Valley vision, which aims to make Torfaen communities the most connected in the UK. The SRS has successfully merged three public services IT teams – Torfaen and Monmouthshire councils and Gwent Police – and created a state-of-the-art resource centre, bringing new jobs and a skilled workforce to support the regeneration of Blaenavon. First Minister Carwyn Jones visited the centre to officially opened it. During the visit, he said: “In these challenging financial conditions, collaboration has never been so important.

“It’s something that will become more common, with statutory and voluntary sectors working in partnership with the community to find better and more efficient ways of providing services to citizens. This project in Blaenavon is a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration.” The centre provides a unique public sector digital storage facility for Wales and is attracting interest from organisations from both the private and public sectors looking to host their data safely and securely in Blaenavon. The leader of Torfaen council, councillor Bob Wellington, said: “The Shared Resource Service is the shining light in our vision for developing a digital economy in Torfaen. It is also a superb example of how public services can unite, to share resources and expertise to deliver better and more efficient services for residents.”

Princess Royal opens primary school Torfaen’s newest school welcomed a very special guest recently, when Princess Anne visited Torfaen to officially open Nant Celyn Primary School.

Torfaen pupils were presented with new laptops, after winning a council anti-bullying competition. Pupils were asked to write a story or poem about bullying, as part of Anti-Bullying Week and almost 150 entries were received. Emily Paul (Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw) and Dan Williams (Croesyceiliog School) each won a laptop, while Callum Edwards (Griffithstown Primary School) won a laptop for his school and £80 of vouchers for himself. Runners-up were Jessica Cosslett, Liam Taylor (both Abersychan School) and Lilli Edmunds (Woodlands Primary) who received vouchers for £25. The laptops were donated by Lee Hemani from XMA.

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Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal met with staff and pupils during her visit, before unveiling a special plaque in commemoration. Nant Celyn head teacher Amanda Jones said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome the Princess Royal to our fantastic new school. She said she was impressed with our new building and said our grounds were very attractive. “We couldn’t agree more – we are over the moon with the school. Creating a good teaching environment is incredibly important and the new building is really helping to motivate the pupils. “Our school is designed to get the very best out of our pupils and we are all delighted with what we’re achieving here.” Technology plays an important role at the new state-of-the-art school, with all classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, and most pupils have access to laptops on a one-toone basis.

Nant Celyn also has its own TV and recording studio that allows pupils to develop their presentation skills. This technology-rich environment is helping to ensure the pupils are at the cutting edge of teaching and learning.

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An exceptional partnership is seeing Torfaen residents benefitting from a stateof-the-art IT training facility in Blaenavon.

Planting seeds for success Work to refurbish, remodel and rebuild Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw is progressing well. The school’s new learning plaza was completed last year, while phase two of the refurbishment project – the construction of a new teaching block housing 14 classrooms and a number of other ancillary rooms to the west of the existing main school block – is expected to be finished in July. As part of the work, year-7 pupils have planted bulbs in the school grounds (pictured above). Tools worth £700 and painting materials were also presented to BTEC students and the art department respectively by Kiers, the construction company undertaking the work.

Blaenavon school progressing

The Digital Hub, based in Church View, was formerly an abattoir, but has now been transformed into an IT training facility for individuals and businesses. Developed through a partnership between Torfaen council and Melin Homes and supported by the Heads of the Valleys regeneration fund, the Digital Hub is able to deliver both Microsoft and CISCO training and offers an extensive range of courses. Melin project-managed the refurbishment of the office spaces and Torfaen council’s IT department designed and installed the modern furniture and computer systems. The deputy minister for housing and regeneration, Jocelyn Davies, visited Blaenavon to see, first hand,

the ground-breaking work around digital inclusion taking place in Torfaen. She toured the building and met Melin residents who have benefited from the ‘Getting Connected’ project, which has, so far, provided more than 200 free computers to residents. Ms Davies said: “The Getting Connected project and the Digital Hub are making a big difference to the lives of people in the area by helping them to gain important IT skills. “Whether these skills are used to make their home lives easier or to improve their employment or educational opportunities – they represent an important benefit for the individuals involved and the community as a whole.” Mark Gardner, chief

executive of Melin Homes, explained: “Church View is the feather in Melin’s cap. Not only are we helping to make a real difference to the people of north Torfaen, but the project clearly demonstrates the excellent ‘can do’ relationship we have with Torfaen council.” The council’s Digital Valley strategy aims to make Torfaen the most connected community in the UK and at the heart of this vision is giving residents the skills and confidence to benefit from new technology, both at home and in their professional lives.

Construction work is progressing well on Blaenavon Community Campus and Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School is on target to open in March 2012. The new school will be equipped with the latest education technology, including a state-of-the-art school learning plaza.

Embracing new technology Torfaen ‘tweets’ latest news to residents Social networking and other online methods of communicating are fast becoming a popular means for councillors to engage with residents.

By using Twitter, Facebook, email and blogging, Torfaen councillors are more accessible than ever. Greenmeadow ward councillor Catherine Lewis was recently a finalist for the online councillor of the year award by the Local Government Information Unit, for her use of the internet and social networking sites. Councillor Lewis has a website, blog, email newsletters and uses Twitter and

Facebook. She said: “I let people know what I’ve been doing, what’s going on with council and even the Welsh Assembly. Using online elements really helps me engage with the younger generation. I’m really pleased I was shortlisted for the award.” Torfaen council is leading the way in Wales with this approach, as council leader Bob Wellington explained: “Our Digital Valley strategy aims to make Torfaen the most connected community in the UK. At the heart of this vision is giving our residents the skills to use technology and this includes making it easier for them to conduct their business with the council.”

Torfaen council is using Twitter as part of its commitment to keep residents and businesses up-to-date with council news, events and services. Twitter is a social networking site, where people ‘tweet’ short and snappy messages to followers. You will receive links to upcoming events, latest job vacancies, last-minute information people need to know and press releases by following @torfaencouncil. Residents and local businesses can benefit from this free

service, as local businesswoman Katie Lewis recently discovered. She uses Twitter as part of her business, KTMobilePetShop, a company that specialises in affordable animal products and feeds. She said: “We believe in the use of social media and are active on both Facebook and Twitter. “We like to follow Torfaen on Twitter, as it is very informative, helpful and keeps us up-to-date with what’s going on locally.” You can view Twitter through your home computer or mobile phone. It is free to use, but you must sign up to take part.

If you have already subscribed to Twitter, follow @torfaencouncil for council news.

Follow @torfaencouncil on Twitter for the latest news and events

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Crucial time to secure European funding You only have to look around the borough to see some of the benefits European funding has brought to Torfaen. From improvement works to Blaenavon railway in the north, to substantial investment at Cwmbran Boating Lake in the south, Torfaen council has been highly successful in securing huge amounts of European funding for the benefit of residents.

The council’s European Policy and External Funding Team is constantly working with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to identify and develop projects in Torfaen that could benefit from such assistance. It also helps to ensure Torfaen’s voice is heard at a European level, while securing additional financial resources from the EU. With the demand for European funding extremely competitive, especially given the current economic climate, it has never been

Valleys Regional Park in Cwmbran

more important for organisations to make full use of the grant aid available, whether through local, national or European channels. Specialist European Teams (SETs) help organisations achieve this, by providing free support, information and advice to anyone seeking to benefit from European Structural Funds. On the next two pages are a few examples of how SETs have helped secure European funding and how they have benefitted Torfaen.

Boost for Pontypool

The Valleys Regional Park (VRP) aims to raise the profile of the valleys as a great place to live, work and visit. It does this by improving the quality of the region’s countryside and tourism assets, while raising the region’s profile through the Valleys Heart and Soul campaign. VRP is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund. Torfaen council has recently completed two important environmental improvement projects in Cwmbran using funding secured through Valleys Regional Park.

Down on the farm A series of environmental improvements have been made at Greenmeadow Community Farm.

The boathouse in Llanyravon

Improving a tourism gateway to the valleys Cwmbran Riverside Park is an important tourism gateway into the valleys. It includes the Southfields and Northfields open spaces next to the Afon Llwyd in Llanyravon, as well as Cwmbran Boating Lake and access to the restored Llanyrafon Manor Rural Heritage Centre. The environmental improvements completed at Cwmbran Riverside Park last year included a high-quality new boathouse and improved access to the lake and Llanyrafon Manor. This cost £170,000 and built on earlier work to upgrade the boating lake and its environment. A further £200,000 of work is planned to upgrade land to the north of the boathouse, including the play area and surrounding environment.

The farm in Cwmbran attracts thousands of people every year, offering a hands-on insight into rural lifestyles and sustainable living. It is one of Torfaen’s most popular and well loved attractions, appealing to people of all ages. The Eye Paddock has been improved and completely re-fenced, to create a vibrant arena for hosting regular events. Footpaths have been upgraded and a shelter has been erected to provide protection for visitors from the rain or shade from the sun. The woodland and pond area adjacent to the Eye Paddock has also been upgraded, while works to the Haybarn provide an enhanced visitor experience and improved accommodation for the Gwent Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. An indoor activity room, the LOFT (Learning Outside for Tomorrow), provides hands on opportunities to learn about farming and wildlife. A new hatchery and small animal unit provide incubation facilities allowing visitors to view hatching as it happens. The works were completed in April 2010 and cost £220,000, which was provided by Valleys Regional Park, Welsh Assembly and Torfaen council. To find out more about the farm, visit www.greenmeadowcommunityfarm.org.uk

The Eye Paddock at the farm

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LIFE Statio n in Penygarn

The £9.5million investment into Pontypool, as outlined on the front page of Torfaen Talks, will help revitalise the town and create better community facilities and more employment opportunities. As part of the council’s £13.5million regeneration plans for the town, this substantial investment by the Welsh European Funding Office will help breathe new life into Pontypool town centre and the surrounding areas of Garndiffaith and Trevethin. The Assembly package includes funding from the European Regional Development Fund, Targeted Match Fund and Heads of the Valleys programme. Among the works in Pontypool will be a revamp of the indoor market, which is a Grade-II listed building, to make it more attractive to customers. Security improvements will also be made, including new CCTV, as well as wireless networks, so traders can maximise marketing opportunities. Vacant and run-down buildings in the town will be restored, turning them into premises that can be occupied for commercial use as well as for training and employment schemes. In Trevethin, the Life Station community centre will be completed to include new parking facilities and a garden so local people can learn about healthy eating and grow their own food. There will also be improvements to the environment of the Neighbourhood Centre to make it more attractive for users. The Corn Bin centre in Garndiffaith will also be refurbished to provide local training opportunities for the community. Other improvements include new and enhanced walking and cycling routes to encourage more people into Pontypool town centre. They will also connect district and neighbourhood centres and other key locations.

For information on Torfaen’s SETs, call 01495 742144 or 742143

Bridges into Work

Working Skills for Adults

Bridges into Work (BiW) aims to help people across south east Wales, including Torfaen, to move into work.

Working Skills for Adults aims to help 13,000 people with jobs in south east Wales, who have low qualification levels.

It focuses on providing generic, transferable skills, for example IT skills, as well as some more vocational skills training for the economically inactive and unemployed. It also provides one-to-one support, CV writing, job searches, interview practice and other help tailored directly to assist people into work. To date, it has helped more than 11,000 people in south east Wales, with 7,000 people gaining qualifications and 1,434 gaining work. BiW won the JobMatch partner of the Pontydd i Waith Bridges into Work year award this year.

It is a joint initiative between three councils, including Torfaen, and three further education colleges. The scheme offers training to people to support employment, career progression and greater opportunities for mobility in the labour market. Working closely with the Basic Skills in the Workplace scheme, it will help to provide basic skills provision to employed people across the same regions.

Courses boost resident’s taste of learning Blaenavon resident Karen Dando has been a committed participant of Bridges into Work and Working Skills for Adults courses since September 2009. Having attended many courses, including driving test theory and family literacy, Karen is currently studying to be a teaching assistant at Pontypool Education Centre. She is also studying for her level 2 City and Guilds numeracy qualification at Church View, Blaenavon. Karen said: “I was very wary of attending, but I was assured it wouldn’t be intimidating or scary. “Having had poor experiences of maths in school, I really didn’t like the subject, but the family literacy and numeracy course I completed with my children really gave me a taste for learning again. “I’ve grown to enjoy maths and my skills have improved considerably. I’ve since gained City & Guilds level 1 maths and level 2 literacy, thanks to my involvement

in the Bridges into Work and Working Skills for Adults schemes.” Karen has been working in St Peters Church in Wales Primary School, helping small groups of children with their numeracy and literacy skills. Head teacher Sue Hughes said: “We are delighted with the positive and industrious attitude demonstrated by Karen. She is clearly experiencing the joy, which we all still feel, that comes from working closely with Course children. She has much to offer and has used her artistic talents to the full and to great effect.” Karen is a good example of how Bridges into Work and Working Skills for Adults can help local people. The projects offer opportunities for members of the community to access free courses and academic training to increase

participant Karen Dando employability or train for a certain field of employment. For more information on Bridges into Work and Working Skill for Adults, contact 01633 647743.

One of the many projects to benefit from substantial European investment is the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway (PBR).

l and Blae navon Rail way

The South East Wales Community Economic Development Programme is a flexible grant scheme that supports social enterprise projects. Available in Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Torfaen, it aims to build sustainable and vibrant communities by increasing economic activity. A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives, whose surpluses are principally reinvested into the business or the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners. Community-based organisations with a legal structure and social objectives are eligible to apply for grants up to £80,000 (up to 70 per cent) of the eligible project costs. Eligible projects could include: • Purchase of equipment, land and buildings • Building refurbishment

Substantial investment in railway

Pontypoo

Supporting social enterprises

The Heads of the Valleys programme has secured European funding for both the extension of the railway to Blaenavon High Level, which brings visitors to within walking distance of Blaenavon town centre, as well as the ‘rail over rail’ link to Big Pit. Work on this is nearing completion and will include a new railway station at Big Pit. In addition to this, the Varteg Road bridge is

currently being replaced as part of the extension to Blaenavon High Level project. The railway project will be completed by the end of 2011. During 2010, the PBR received the ‘small groups’ award by the Heritage Railway Association. This award recognises the achievement in extending the railway and the professionalism of the operation. Passengers using this popular tourist attraction have increased by 35 per cent.

• Business planning, feasibility studies and marketing strategies • Staff costs • Project running costs. A support package is also available to provide a business development service of advice, guidance, mentoring, training and development initiatives. For further information on the South East Wales Community Economic Development Programme, contact: 01633 647493 or emma. davies3@torfaen.gov.uk 01633 648637 or samantha.thomas@torfaen. gov.uk

Social enterprises can apply for grants - call 01633 647493 or 648637 Page 7

Events to put a smile on faces this summer Get ready for a summer you’ll never forget. With the nights growing lighter, Torfaen is to a host a series of great days out for all the family.

Cwmbran Big Event, a massive week-long celebration of physical activity and culture, will be kick-started on Saturday 9 July. People of all ages and abilities will be given the opportunity over a week to take part and try a wide range of free sports and activities, in a fun and non-competitive

setting. It could be anything from free running or street dance, to raft racing or coarse fishing. The event will culminate with the ‘Big Event’ at Cwmbran Boating Lake on Saturday 16 July. Most of the events will be free and designed to be fun for the whole family. Torfaen council will be inviting every sports and community group in the borough to either participate in an event, hold a free taster session or develop their own event under the Cwmbran Big Event banner. Meanwhile, kids of all ages will be in their element in Pontypool on Saturday 9 July, as earth, fire, wind and water are celebrated at this year’s carnival.

Come along, dress up, and take part in the popular walking procession and light up the streets of Pontypool with vibrant colour. Visitors to Pontypool Park in the

afternoon will enjoy a range of activities, including fairground attractions, arts and crafts, stalls, a mini zoo, children’s area and youth area with live music, dance workshops and games. In Blaenavon, preparations are under way for the annual World Heritage Day on

Cwmbran paint scheme’s got it covered A Cwmbran-based community scheme has prevented more than 1,000 litres of paint from going to landfill. Community Repaint CoStar collects unwanted and unused paint from local businesses, before giving it back to Torfaen residents and community organisations. More than 400 local people and groups have already benefitted from the scheme,

which is part of a national network known as the Community RePaint scheme. CoStar partnership manager Lorraine Hicks explained: “Unused paint is diverted from local and national retailers and delivered to the RePaint store. “We sort the paint and make sure it’s ok to go back out to the community. We ask for a donation of £1 per litre, to help us cover the cost of operating the scheme.” The paint covered by the scheme is emulsion, gloss, masonry, exterior and wood stains. CoStar’s RePaint is located at the 3D Bit Community Centre in Fairwater. It only accepts paint from paint retailers or the transfer site. For more information, contact CoStar on 01633 869227, email lorraine.hicks@torfaen.gov.uk or go to www.costarcwmbran.com

Cancer support at Blaenavon library

A new Macmillan Cancer Support drop-in service has started at Blaenavon Library.

The sessions will take place every Tuesday at 2pm-4pm, organised by Norah Williams – the dedicated Macmillan Cancer information and support officer at Cwmbran Library. The service at Cwmbran has been in place since November and Norah hopes she can reach even more Torfaen residents by holding the drop-in sessions in Blaenavon. She said: “We offer good quality information on a wide range of areas for people who have had a cancer diagnosis, are going through treatment or have survived cancer. We also provide information for families, friends and carers and I can help people access other local services.”

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Saturday 25 June. An exciting day of live music and street entertainment will follow, including the fantastic Heritage Costume Parade. With dazzling costumes, dancers, brass bands and samba drumming, the parade is a spectacle that is enjoyed by everyone. Don’t be afraid, come and join in the parade, everyone is welcome! Following on from the festivities in the town centre, enjoy a day in the countryside on Sunday 26 June at the Garn Lakes Country Fayre, which is open from 10.30am until 5pm. Activities this year include kayaking on the lake, fishing, a climbing wall, archery, orienteering, a dog show and cycling.

Younger children can enjoy story-telling, facepainting, trampolines and a bouncy castle. To take part in any of these events or for sponsorship opportunities, call 01495 748329. The council’s website, www.torfaen.gov.uk, will also include the latest information on each of these events and more.

Music night for young folk A new folk music initiative for young people has been launched in Torfaen. In an attempt to recreate the ambience of a traditional music session, open workshops are being held in the Blaenavon Heritage Centre cafe every Wednesday evening between 4.30pm and 6pm. The Celtic Cafe sessions are organised by Head for Arts, in partnership with Torfaen council and specialist tutors from Gwent Music Support Service. In keeping with the informal style of the workshops, the cafe will be open for refreshments and parents are invited to come along as well to relax with a coffee and enjoy the music – or even to join in. The offer is also extended to local musicians with an interest in sharing traditional music skills. The workshops are suitable for young people over the age of eight. All abilities are welcome – you

just need to bring an instrument if you have one. There is no fee, but donations will be welcomed. Kate Strudwick, Head for Arts’ creative project manager, said: “Everyone knows that traditional music flourishes in the right venue where aspiring musicians can learn informally from experienced players. “An adult group would naturally meet in a local pub, but hopefully the attractive Heritage Centre cafe will provide a similarly welcoming setting for younger participants.”

Get involved in Torfaen’s summer events, call 01495 748329

safer gwent

policing summary edition

Protecting and Reassuring

Torfaen

The year ahead I am delighted to have this opportunity to set out how policing in Gwent will be further improved and developed over the next year. Our highest priority will be to continue maintaining the effective local policing of our communities. I am pleased to report that work to increase conﬁdence, satisfaction and our response to the public has led to improvements across many areas of provision.

Challenging ﬁnancial decisions combined with the likely replacement of police authorities with Police and Crime Commissioners provides us all with a period of uncertainty. In spite of this, we are committed to ensuring that however these challenges are answered, your local police service will continue to make Gwent a safer place to live, work and visit.

We have also been actively progressing arrangements with other agencies on joint Thank you for your continuing support. collaborative working to provide a more effective and ﬁnancially viable service for the Cilla Davies, people of Gwent. Chair - Gwent Police Authority

To contact the Police Authority you can phone us on (01633) 642 200, or e-mail: policeauthority@gwent.pnn.police.uk You can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook – just search for Gwent Police Authority.

Burglary team make 45 arrests in three months A team of six detectives and police residents on how to prevent themselves constables are dedicated to dealing from becoming a victim of burglary. specifically with burglaries in the Crime figures show that the recent Torfaen area. The team was set up in November last year. In just three months their work led to the arrests of 45 suspected burglars. Twelve have already been charged with specific burglaries where jewellery, laptops and other items were stolen. The others have been bailed pending further enquiries. The officers investigate burglary crimes in the area, target known offenders and educate

Serving the people of Gwent I’m Carmel Napier, the new Chief Constable of Gwent Police. I feel privileged to serve the people of Gwent. My priorities as Chief Constable will be: to continue to keep you safe, provide visible and accessible local policing services and provide excellent value for money in what will undoubtedly be difficult and challenging times ahead. Already, during my service as your Deputy Chief Constable, we have saved £11.6 million. Our goal is to save at least £24 million in the next four years. I am confident this is achievable, working with you and our partners in the community. Last year we reduced crime in Gwent by 10%, that’s 4000 fewer victims of crime, and there were 8,000 fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour. Please get to know your local officer, and don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for help or advice. Carmel Napier, Chief Constable

arrests, combined with targeted patrols, have signiﬁcantly reduced the number of burglaries happening in Torfaen. Detective Inspector Leanne Brustad, who is leading the operation, said: “We would urge all householders to be vigilant in securing their homes. No one wants the distress of being a victim of burglary.”

Superintendent Peter Keen Hello my name is Peter Keen, I am the senior police ofﬁcer for Torfaen. We have been focussing on tackling the local problems that you have told us matter the most – tackling burglaries, car crime and solving problems in areas affected by anti-social behaviour. We work closely with Torfaen County Borough Council and a range of partners.

This year we want to bring down levels of crime Have a safe year. We will be working hard to and anti-social behaviour even further. We’ll also protect and reassure you. continue to keep people who are victims of crime, We look forward to seeing you at one of our forthcoming or affected by anti-social behaviour, informed about PACT meetings or community events – for more details please visit: the things we are doing to deal with their cases.

Torfaen

http://www.gwent.police.uk/about_us/nhp/torfaen/ torfaen_npteams.htm

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We are interested in your views on crime and antisocial behaviour. Visit our website where you’ll see details of the meetings arranged in your area, or give us a ring, the numbers are in this edition of Torfaen Talks.

www.gwent.police.uk

Swyddogion Torfaen yn atafaelu alcohol er mwyn lleihau ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol Ar un nos Wener ym mis Ionawr ymgasglodd tua 150 o bobl ifanc yn Abersychan a bu rhai yn cyﬂawni troseddau ac yn ymddwyn yn wrthgymdeithasol. Atafaelodd swyddogion tua 50 litr o alcohol yn ystod y noson ac arestiwyd dau berson ifanc yn eu harddegau - un am drosedd trefn gyhoeddus ac un am ymosod.

Meddai’r Rhingyll Clive Elliot, o Dîm Plismona Cymdogaeth Pont-y-p◊l: “Rydym yn mynd i’r afael â’r mater hwn o bob Wedi ymateb yr heddlu, ni cyfeiriad posibl, gan dargedu nid yn dderbyniwyd yr un galwad yn riportio unig y bobl ifanc a ddaliwn gydag ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol yn alcohol yn eu meddiant ond yr un ardal Abersychan. mor bwysig yr oedolion hynny sy’n Yn ystod yr haf diwethaf cynhaliodd cyﬂenwi’r alcohol iddynt.” swyddogion Cwmbrân ymgyrch Bydd patrolau wedi eu cydlynu fel i dargedu pobl ifanc yn gadael yr hyn yn parhau i ddigwydd ar draws ysgol, a chanlyniad hyn oedd atafaelu Torfaen. dros 100 litr o alcohol oddi ar bobl ifanc mewn un noson.

Torfaen officers confiscate alcohol to reduce antisocial behaviour Around 150 youths gathered in Abersychan one Friday evening in January and some were committing crime and anti-social behaviour. Officers confiscated around 50 litres of alcohol during the evening and arrested two teenagers – one for a public order offence and one for assault. After the police response, not one call reporting anti-

social behaviour was received from the Abersychan area. Last summer Cwmbran ofﬁcers carried out an operation to target school leavers, which resulted in more than 100 litres of alcohol being seized from youngsters in one evening. Sergeant Clive Elliot, of Pontypool Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We tackle this issue from all possible angles, targeting not just the young people found in possession of alcohol but just as importantly those adults who are supplying them.” Co-ordinated patrols like this will continue to take place across Torfaen.

Eich Tîm Lleol / Your Local Team Mae Timau Cymdogaeth Heddlu Gwent yn gweithredu ledled y rhanbarth i ddelio â’r materion sydd o bwys mwyaf i’r cymunedau lleol.

Gwent Police Neighbourhood Policing Teams are working right across the area to deal with issues that matter the most to local communities.

Mae’r

Police Ofﬁcers and Police

Swyddogion Heddlu a’r

Community Support Ofﬁcers who work on the teams

Swyddogion

are assigned to wards.

Cymorth

Together with

Cymdogaeth sy’n gweithio i’r

partners, including the local council

timau wedi’u dynodi i wardiau. Ynghyd

and community safety partnership,

â’n partneriaid, yn

they work to

lleol a phartneriaeth diogelwch cymunedol, maent yn mynd ati i ateb pryderon lleol ac i wella safon bywyd preswylwyr. Cefnogir y timau yma gan swyddogion adweithiol, sydd yn darparu plismona 24 awr y dydd er mwyn delio ag argyfwng, ynghyd â thimau ymchwiliol ac arbenigol eraill. I ddarganfod pwy yw eich swyddog lleol a beth yw’r blaenoriaethau presennol ar gyfer eich cymdogaeth, ewch i’n gwefan: www.gwent.police.uk a nodwch eich cod post ar ein hafan.

Gallwch hefyd dilyn ni ar: / You can also follow us on:

facebook.com/gwentpolice twitter.com/gwentpolice youtube.com/gwentpolice

www.gwent.police.uk

address local

cynnwys y cyngor

concerns and improve the quality of life for residents. These teams are supported by response officers, who provide 24 hour policing responding to emergencies, as well as other investigative and specialist teams. To find out who your local officer is, and what the current priorities are for your neighbourhood, please visit our website: www.gwent.police.uk and enter your postcode on our homepage.

Torfaen

Tîm Plismona Cymdogaeth Cwmbrân / Cwmbrân Neighbourhood Policing Team vWardiau a wasanaethir / Wards covered: 1 Coed Eva 2 Gogledd Croesyceiliog / Croesyceiliog North 7

Gogledd Llanyrafon / Llanyravon North

Cwmbrân Uchaf / Upper Cwmbrân

De Croesyceiliog / Croesyceiliog South

De Llanyrafon / Llanyravon South

Pontnewydd

Fairwater

Llanﬁhangel Llantarnam / St. Dials

Pob ward / All wards ebost / email: cwmbran@gwent.pnn.police.uk

Pob / All

Greenmeadow 11

Llantarnam

Two Locks

Ffôn / Tel: 01633 642 088

ALLWEDD / KEY: AC/NI = Arolygydd Cymdogaeth/ Neighbourhood Inspector, RT/TS = Rhingyll y Tîm/ Team Sergeant, SLTAA/CADRO = Swyddog Lleihau Troseddau ac Anrhefn/ Crime and Disorder Reduction Officer, WT/TW = Warden Traffig/ Traffic Warden, SC/NO = Swyddog Cymdogaeth/ Neighbourhood Officer, SCC/CSO = Swyddog Cymorth Cymdogaeth/ Community Support Officer

Pob /All Richard Blakemore AC/NI

SC/NO

Sian Wigley

Pob /All Scott Thomas RT/TS

SCC/CSO

Ceri Bailey

SC/NO

6 Mark Ruddick

SCC/CSO

11 Andy Rowlands

SCC/CSO

SC/NO

RT/TS

Pob /All Sarah Taylor

SLTAA/CADRO

2 3 Andy Hill-Jones

SCC/CSO

SC/NO

7 8

SC/NO

Laura James

Mark Gazzi

11 Kimberley Latimer

SC/NO

2 3 David Reynolds

WT/TW

7 8

SCC/CSO

SC/NO

SCC/CSO

SC/NO

Garry Davies

Kimberley Davies

SC/NO

Mark Conant

Catrin Page

Rhodri Parry

10 Jordan Williams SC/NO

Zaihd Rouf

5 Matthew Cameron SCC/CSO

SCC/CSO

Rob Jarrett

Richard Fleet

Kate Regan

Diana Davies

Pob /All Judith Sainsbury

Pob /All

David Dewar

Tîm Plismona Cymdogaeth Pont-y-p◊l / Pontypool Neighbourhood Policing Team Wardiau a wasanaethir / Wards covered: 1

Abersychan

St. Cadoc & Penygarn

Blaenafon / Blaenavon 10

Snatchwood

Brynwern

Cwmynyscoy

Trefethin / Trevethin

New Inn

Waunfelin

ebost / email:

Pob / All

Panteg

Pontnewynydd

Pont-y-p◊l / Pontypool

Pob ward / All wards

pontypool@gwent.pnn.police.uk

Ffôn / Tel:

01495 232 450

AC/NI

Pob /All Nick McClain

RT/TS

Pob /All Mike Pheasant

RT/TS

1 Paul Richardson

SC/NO

1 Gareth McSherry

SCC/CSO

SC/NO

Pob /All

Clive Elliot

Euan Powell

Pob /All Andrew Cleaton SLTAA/CADRO

1 Amanda Roberts SCC/CSO

2 Graham Middle SC/NO

4 8 3 7 10 SC/NO 3 7 10 SC/NO 3 7 10 SCC/CSO 3 7 10 SCC/CSO Claire Maddox Hywel Davies Helen Warrender Andrew Parker Caroline Leonard SC/NO

SC/NO

5 6

Marc Johnstone

SC/NO

5 6

Stephen Prosser

SCC/CSO

5 6

Daphne Jones

Torfaen

SCC/CSO

5 6

Hannah Gillum

9 11 Matthew Edmunds SC/NO

WT/TW

Pob /All Judith Sainsbury

Swyddog Tirluniau Golledig / Forgotten Landscapes Ofﬁcer

2 Claire Morgan

SCC/CSO

SC/NO

4 8

SC/NO

9 11

Stephanie McGregor

Leon Jenkins

Robert Maddocks

2 Pauline Lohﬁnk

SCC/CSO

4 8

Hayley Fairclough

SCC/CSO

4 8

Alan Hard

Aimee Goodwin

9 11 Roger Shearn SCC/CSO

www.gwent.police.uk

gwent saffach rhifyn crynodeb plismona

Amddiffyn a Thawelu Meddwl

Torfaen

Y flwyddyn i ddod Rwy’n falch o gael y cyfle hwn i nodi sut y bydd plismona yng Ngwent yn cael ei wella a’i ddatblygu ymhellach dros y flwyddyn nesaf. Ein blaenoriaeth bennaf fydd parhau i gynnal y gwaith o blismona ein cymunedau lleol yn effeithiol. Mae’n bleser gennyf adrodd bod gwaith i gynyddu hyder, boddhad a’n hymateb i’r cyhoedd wedi arwain at welliannau ar draws nifer o ddarpariaethau.

Mae penderfyniadau ariannol heriol ynghyd â’r tebygolrwydd o Gomisiynwyr Heddlu a Throsedd yn cymryd lle awdurdodau heddlu yn golygu cyfnod o ansicrwydd i bawb. Er gwaethaf hyn, rydym wedi ymrwymo i sicrhau, sut bynnag y caiff yr heriau hyn eu hateb, bydd eich gwasanaeth heddlu lleol yn parhau i wneud Gwent yn lle diogel i fyw, gweithio ac ymweld ag ef.

Rydym hefyd wedi bod yn weithgar wrth ddatblygu trefniadau ag asiantaethau eraill Diolch am eich cymorth parhaus. ar gydweithio i ddarparu gwasanaeth mwy Cilla Davies, effeithiol a hyfyw yn ariannol i bobl Gwent. Cadeirydd – Awdurdod Heddlu Gwent

I gysylltu ag Awdurdod yr Heddlu ffoniwch (01633) 642 200, neu e-bostiwch: policeauthority@gwent.pnn.police.uk Gallwch hefyd ein dilyn ni ar Twitter neu Facebook: – chwiliwch am Gwent Police Authority.

Tîm byrgleriaeth yn arestio 45 mewn tri mis Mae tîm o chwe ditectif a chwnstabliaid heddlu wedi ei sefydlu er mwyn delio’n benodol â byrgleriaethau yn ardal Torfaen.

byrgleriaeth yn yr ardal, yn targedu troseddwyr y gwyddir amdanynt ac addysgu trigolion ar sut i atal eu hunain rhag dod yn ddioddefwyr byrgleriaeth.

Sefydlwyd y tîm ym mis Tachwedd y llynedd. Mewn dim ond tri mis mae ei waith wedi arwain at arestio 45 o rai yr amheuir eu bod yn fyrgleriaid. Mae deuddeg eisoes wedi eu cyhuddo o fyrgleriaethau penodol lle dygwyd gemwaith, cluniaduron ac eitemau eraill. Mae’r gweddill ohonynt ar fechnïaeth yn ddibynnol ar ymholiadau pellach.

Dengys fﬁgurau trosedd bod yr arestiadau diweddar, wedi’u cyfuno â chynnydd mewn gwyliadwriaethau, wedi lleihau’r nifer o fyrgleriaethau yn Nhorfaen yn sylweddol.

Gwasanaethu trigolion Gwent Fi yw Carmel Napier, Prif Gwnstabl newydd Heddlu Gwent. Mae’n fraint gennyf wasanaethu pobl Gwent. Fy mlaenoriaethau fel Prif Gwnstabl fydd: parhau i cadw chi’n ddiogel; darparu gwasanaethau plismona lleol hygyrch a gweladwy, a darparu gwerth am arian rhagorol yn y cyfnod anodd a heriol hwn sydd o’n blaenau. Yn barod yn ystod fy ngwasanaeth fel eich Dirprwy Prif Gwnstabl rydym wedi arbed £11.6 miliwn. Ein nod yw arbed o leiaf £24 miliwn yn y pedair blynedd nesaf. Rwy’n hyderus bod hyn yn bosibl, trwy weithio gyda chi a’n partneriaid yn y gymuned. Llynedd wnaethon ni leihau trosedd yng Ngwent 10%, sef 4000 yn llai o ddioddefwyr trosedd, yn ogystal roedd 8,000 yn llai o ddigwyddiadau o ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Dewch i adnabod eich swyddog lleol, ac mae croeso i chi gysylltu â ni am help neu gyngor. Carmel Napier, Prif Gwnstabl

Meddai’r Ditectif Arolygydd Leanne Brustad, sy’n arwain yr ymgyrch: “Rydym yn annog pawb i fod yn wyliadwrus wrth ddiogelu eu cartreﬁ. Nid oes unrhyw un eisiau’r trallod o Mae’r swyddogion yn ymchwilio troseddau fod yn ddioddefwr byrgleriaeth.”

Yr Arolygydd Peter Keen Helô, fy enw i yw Peter Keen. Fi yw’r uwch swyddog heddlu ar gyfer Torfaen. Rydym wedi bod yn canolbwyntio ar fynd i’r afael â’r problemau lleol yr ydych chi wedi dweud wrthym sydd yn fwyaf pwysig i chi - taclo byrgleriaethau, troseddau ceir a datrys problemau mewn ardaloedd yr effeithir arnynt gan ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Rydym yn gweithio’n agos gyda Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Torfaen ac ystod o bartneriaid eraill.

Eleni rydym eisiau gostwng lefelau troseddu ac ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol hyd yn oed ymhellach. Byddwn hefyd yn parhau i hysbysu pobl sy’n ddioddefwyr trosedd, neu sy’n cael eu heffeithio arnynt gan ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol, ynglÿn â’r hyn yr ydym yn ei wneud i ddelio â’u hachosion.

www.gwent.police.uk

Blwyddyn ddiogel i chi. Byddwn yn gweithio’n galed i’ch amddiffyn a thawelu eich meddwl. Edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld yn un o’n cyfarfodydd PACT sydd ar y gweill neu ddigwyddiadau cymunedol - am ragor o fanylion ewch i: http://www.gwent.police.uk/about_us/ nhp/torfaen/torfaen_npteams.htm

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Mae gennym ddiddordeb mewn clywed eich barn am droseddu ac ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Ewch i’n gwefan i weld manylion y cyfarfodydd a

drefnir yn eich ardal chi, neu ffoniwch ni, mae’r rhifau yn rhifyn cyfredol Torfaen Talks.

Torfaen

We’re ‘reedy’ to go Bring back the good times When you have a lung condition, particularly a long-term one, you can find it difficult to move around or do your normal daily activities without getting breathless.

More than 11,000 reeds were planted at Garn Lakes Local Nature Reserve (LNR), to start an ambitious project to create a reed bed at the popular landmark. Staff and volunteers working on the Forgotten Landscapes project braved the cold to plant reeds in the ponds and scrapes dug by contractors at Garn yr Erw, south of Garn Lakes LNR. A total of two hectares of reed bed habitat will be created by the time another 13,000 reeds are planted at a summer event. The reed beds will attract a whole range of interesting wildlife to the area. This scheme is one of many projects being

undertaken by the Forgotten Landscapes Partnership, made possible by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund with support from a number of other funders, including the Welsh Assembly. The Forgotten Landscapes Partnership relies on volunteers to carry out projects like this. Robert Gillard (44), who has volunteered for the last seven years, said: “I’ve always been interested in the environment, in birds and other animals, so this kind of volunteering is perfect for me. I would recommend it to anyone, it is brilliant being able to see you are making a difference – it is very rewarding.” To volunteer in similar projects, call Sarah Lewis on 01495 742335.

You may also find that you get very tired, very easily and often feel exhausted. Pulmonary rehabilitation is designed to help you cope with your breathlessness and feel stronger and fitter at the same time. “Rehabilitation is the best thing that can happen to anyone. It’s given me selfconfidence and has changed my life completely,” said Keith Bown, 63, from Pontypool. Keith (pictured right) was cynical when his specialist referred him to the sixweek course in January 2009: “I’d had a lung condition for about eight years. “I had problems walking uphill or more than 50 yards, or going up the stairs,” he said. Despite his initial doubts,

Keith attended the course and hasn’t looked back since. “Instead of running to my doctor frightened all the time, I’ve learned to self-manage my condition,” he said. “I now know things that used to frighten me aren’t necessarily life-threatening and understand that I’ll have good days and bad days. “It’s about learning to pace yourself, knowing what you can and can’t do.” With his condition better-managed, Keith is now chairman of Torfaen Breathe

Remember Forgotten Landscapes

Torfaen Talks feedback

Work has started on a £2.47million project to enhance and conserve Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site.

In the last issue of Torfaen Talks, you were asked to let the council know what you think of its community newspaper.

The Forgotten Landscapes Project aims to increase visitor numbers, while improving the social and economic regeneration of the area for local people. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is providing 60 per cent of the funding, with the rest coming from bodies including the Welsh Assembly’s Heads of the Valleys programme, Valleys Regional Park, Environment Agency and the Countryside Council for Wales. A number of archaeology projects have already been completed, including the excavation and reconstruction of the Pwll Du tunnel entrance. The tunnel ran for one and a quarter miles through the mountain, forming a vital link in the tram road that moved pig iron from Blaenavon to Garn Ddryrys Forge, and later to the canal. Ecological surveys have discovered the presence of great crested newts, a host of rare butterflies and dragonflies, longeared owls and even otters. Work has also begun on habitat management, invasive bracken is being removed from moorland sites and a new reed bed is under construction. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with practical conservation work by joining the volunteer ranger programme. To get involved or for further information, visit www.forgottenlandscapes.org.uk, call 01495 742794 or email steven.rogers@torfaen.gov.uk

The results are now in and they are overwhelming positive, with more than 77 per cent of respondents rating Torfaen Talks as very good or fairly good. The newspaper is popular with residents, with 68.2 per cent saying they always read Torfaen Talks. The majority of people (58.4 per cent) would like to see Torfaen Talks continue to be published six times a year. Only 8.1 per cent of respondents said they’d like to see it published less often, while 33.5 per cent of people would like to see it published more often. More than 77 per cent of people strongly agreed or agreed that they found the information in Torfaen Talks useful, with 57.9 per cent of respondents saying they felt well informed about council services. The vast majority of people (69.2 per cent) said they prefer to read Torfaen Talks in newspaper format. Only 22.5 percent of people have read Torfaen Talks online. The current issue, as well as all back issues, can be viewed at www.torfaen.gov.uk/ CommunityAndLiving, where recent issues can also be read in Welsh. A thorough analysis of the survey’s findings will now be used to help make Torfaen Talks even more relevant to residents.

Easy group and he also trained as a tutor on the Expert Patient Programme. “I’ve come full circle from a good life to despair and then a good life again,” Keith said. Pulmonary rehabilitation courses take place at Canalside Resource Centre in Cwmbran. They are aimed at those with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); however, they can also benefit those with asthma or other long-term conditions. For more information, telephone 01495 332165.

Support group helps people Breathe Easy Are you a carer for someone with a lung condition? If so, there’s a group in Torfaen that may be just right for you. The Breathe Easy group is one of 22 across Wales supported by the British Lung Foundation. The groups give people with lung conditions, their families and carers the opportunity to get together. It’s a chance to share experiences, socialise and get helpful advice from guest speakers such as respiratory nurses or pharmacists. The Torfaen group meets at Canalside Resource Centre, Pontnewydd, at 2pm-4pm on the second Tuesday of the month. Email wales@blf-uk.org.uk or call 01792 455764 for more information.

Volunteer for the Forgotten Landscapes project on 01495 742335

Page 9

New council member elected A new councillor has been elected to Torfaen council representing the Pontypool ward. A by-election was held last month, following the resignation of former councillor Fred Wildgust. The seat was won by John Killick (Labour). The full result was as follows: • Sarah Ann Bousie (independent), 25 votes • Michael John Harris (independent), 161 votes • Nigel Bertie Harris (independent), 46 votes • Gaynor Elizabeth James (independent), 12 votes • John Ernest Killick (Labour), 178 votes • Adrian Robert Lang (Conservative), 18 votes • Paul Valente (Plaid Cymru) 50 votes • Ian Michael Williams (independent), 80 votes. The turnout for the byelection was 39.5 per cent. Councillor Killick’s contact details are shown below.

Catering company champions support available to businesses One of the major challenges to new businesses is where to find expert and impartial advice. Torfaen council’s business support team knows what businesses and social enterprises need and offers a range of services, including business planning, premises location, funding, marketing and a whole range of other support. Business grants are also available through the team. Sebastopol-based Cariad Catering was set up by Angela Jones and Ellen Payne in November 2010. Angela explained: “We were pondering about how we could reorganise our working lives to accommodate our families’ needs and, hopefully, reduce our stress levels. “We decided to start with the talents and skills we already had – a willingness to work hard, fantastic camaraderie and a real ability to simply get on with people. Most of all – we could cook! “We have a passion for creating food people love to eat and we wanted our catering service to provide those extra special touches.” To help launch the business, the budding entrepreneurs contacted Torfaen council’s business support team. Ellen said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support and advice provided by the council and fellow local business owners. To those

Meet your councillor ABERSYCHAN Councillor Gwyneira Clark Councillor Ray Williams Councillor Wayne Tomlinson

FAIRWATER 01495 773737 01495 774723 01495 774953

BLAENAVON 01495 792335

Councillor Brian Whitcombe

01495 790704

Councillors Evans and Whitcombe share a surgery on the first Monday of the month at 7pm, alternating between Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall, Garn-yr-Erw Welfare Hall and Forgeside Community Hall. 01495 791822/ 07980682669

01495 757288

07881 855553

Councillor Cross holds surgeries on the second Saturday of the month 10am - 12pm Coed Eva & Hollybush Community Centre

Councillor Richard Clark

01633 480083

Councillor Sarah Richards MBE

01633 485495

Councillors Clark and Richards share a surgery on the second Saturday of every month 11am - 12pm in Glaslyn Court CROESYCEILIOG SOUTH

Councillor Thomas holds surgeries on the second Saturday of every month 10am - 11am Woodland Road Social Centre, Bowls Annex

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07517 467262

Councillor Rees holds surgeries on the last Saturday of every month 10am - 12pm Fairwater Leisure Centre

Councillor Catherine Lewis Councillor Bob Wellington

01633 868402

Councillor Wellington holds surgeries on the first Saturday of the month 9.30am - 11am Greenmeadow & St Dials Community Hall, 11am -12pm Thornhill Community Centre

Councillor Maria Graham

NEW INN 01495 758559

Councillor Raymond Mills

01495 750327

Councillor Graham Smith

07527 963774

The three New Inn councillors share a surgery on the first Saturday of every month 10am - 12pm Learning Centre, The Highway.

01633 485067

01633 770349/ 07875 120491

Councillor Cynthia Beynon MBE

01495 751740/ 07806 617156

Councillor Norma Parrish

01495 763067

Councillors Beynon and Parrish hold surgeries on the second Saturday of every month 11am - 12pm Griffithstown Labour Hall alternating with Sebastopol Labour Hall

01633 863189

Councillor Aneurin James

01633 864736/ 07980 682478

Councillor Brian Mawby

01633 484948

The three councillors share a surgery on the first Saturday of every month 10.30am - 12pm Mount Pleasant Hall PONTNEWYNYDD

LLANYRAFON NORTH

Councillor Gould holds surgeries on the third Saturday of every month 11am - 12pm Emmaus Chapel, Pontnewynydd

Councillor Veronica German

01495 753778

Councillor Peter Cathcart

Councillor Williams holds surgeries on the second Monday of the month at the Three Blackbirds Public House at 6pm-7pm, second Friday of the month at Our Lady of the Angels Church Hall at 4pm-5pm, second Saturday of the month at St Michael's Church Hall, Llantarnam at 11am-12pm, second Saturday of the month at Court Farm and Oakfield Community Hall at 12.30pm-1.30pm, and the second Saturday of the month at Cwmbran Band Hall at 2pm-3pm.

Councillor Ron Jones

01495 750238

PONTYPOOL Councillor John Killick

01495 750866

07957 995603

15 April

19 April 20 April 20 April 21 April 21 April 10 May 11 May 17 May 24 May 31 May

Councillor Neil Mason

01495 750019

Councillor Julianna Biggs

01633 864902

Councillor Elizabeth Haynes

01633 870119

Councillor Haynes will hold a surgery on Saturday 21 May, 2pm-4pm, at St Dials & Greenmeadow Community Hall (Cockerel).

Councillor John Marshall

01495 755812

Councillor Lewis Jones

01495 756950

TWO LOCKS Councillor Ron Burnett

01633 874157

Councillor Alastair Cunnington JP

01633 874631

Councillor Colette Thomas

01633 482104

Councillor Thomas holds surgeries on the first Saturday of every month 10am - 11.30am Hollybush Community Centre and 12pm 1.30pm Henllys Village Hall Last Friday of every month 2pm - 3.30pm Cocker Avenue Community Hall UPPER CWMBRAN Councillor Mary Barnett

01633 484002

Councillor John Cunningham MBE KSG

01633 862050

Councillor Robert Jones

01633 838658

The three councillors share a surgery on the first Saturday of every month 10am - 12pm Thornhill Community Association (1Cllr) West Pontnewydd Community Hall (2 Cllrs) WAINFELIN

SNATCHWOOD Councillor Tom Gould

12 April 13 April

TREVETHIN

PONTNEWYDD

Councillor Graham holds surgeries on the first Saturday of every month 11am - 1pm Llantarnam Leisure Centre

Agendas and minutes are available on the website at www.torfaen.gov.uk/ CouncilAndDemocracy

ST DIALS

Councillor David James

Councillor Kathleen Williams

07817 609419

weekly.

ST CADOCS AND PENYGARN 01633 482685

PANTEG

01633 766557/ 07948 373090

Councillor Paul Williams

CROESYCEILIOG NORTH

Councillor Marlene Thomas

Councillor Seabourne holds surgeries on the first Saturday of every month 10.30am - 12pm Fairhill Methodist Church

LLANTARNAM

COED EVA Councillor Fiona Cross

01633 863744

Councillor Margaret Pead

GREENMEADOW

BRYNWERN Councillor Brian Matthews

Councillor Phil Seabourne

Councillor Jeff Rees

Councillor Stuart Evans

Councillor Tom Huish

01495 757738/ 07964 792732

01495 757165

P S

The meeting dates and times given below are correct at the time of publication and may be A subject to additions or a change. a An updated list is posted in S the foyer of the Civic Centre s

Council Resources and corporate business O&S committee Greater Gwent Pension Fund management group Cabinet Ethics and standards Cleaner communities O&S committee Licensing committee Healthier communities O&S committee Planning committee Policy co-ordination and development committee Council Annual council Planning committee LLANYRAFON SOUTH

CWMYNYSCOY Councillor Doug Jones

who are thinking of starting their own business but haven’t quite got around to it, go for it! All the help you need is out there and you’ll love it!” Since April 2009, the business support team has also helped more than 520 businesses with advice. For more information on the business support team and how it can help you, call 01633 648644 or email info@torfaenbusiness.co.uk

Diary dates

Councillor Mike Jeremiah Councillor Jeremiah holds surgeries on the first Saturday of every month 10am - 11am St Johns 11.10am - 12.10pm Tranch Hall

Contact the business support team on 01633 648644

01495 755830

Plans submitted for South Sebastopol

An updated and amended planning application for the South Sebastopol site has been submitted to the council.

The proposed development includes up to 1,200 dwellings, a village core area, sustainable transport links, formal sport pitches and changing facilities, play areas, and cycle and leisure trails within an extensive green infrastructure. It would also feature landscape buffers, including areas of retained and enhanced woodland and conservation grassland, plus the incorporation of existing Public Rights of Way within the development. In June 2001, an outline planning application was submitted to the council by the Welsh Development Agency, Crest Strategic Properties and Barratt South Wales, accompanied by an Environmental Statement. Following extensive consultation, this planning application was presented to council in July 2004, where it was resolved to grant planning

permission subject to a Section 106 legal agreement. This legal agreement was not completed for a significant length of time and therefore this planning application wasn’t determined. New and additional information has now been submitted to refresh and update this planning application, including an amended master plan and an updated Environmental Statement. The updated and amended application details are available for inspection at County Hall and at www.planapps.torfaen.gov.uk/ south_sebastopol To comment on the plans, write to Planning and Public Protection, County Hall, Cwmbran, NP44 2WN or planning@torfaen.gov.uk quoting reference number 01/P/05525(A). Any previous representations made to the council will not be considered when deciding this application. All comments must be received by 21 April.

Learning and live music at libraries Visitors to Cwmbran Library will be dancing in the aisles next month, as a local band rocks out on stage. To prove you don’t need to keep quiet all the time in libraries, The Venture will perform at the library on Saturday 14 May, as part of Adult Learners’ Week (14–20 May). Cwmbran Library will also host a job fair on 16 May, while further events will be held in all three Torfaen libraries throughout the week. For more information, contact 01633 647676 or rosie.bradley@torfaen.gov.uk

Sporting youngsters net new club A new netball club has been created in Pontypool for primary school children aged between six and 11. Pontypool Dragon Sport Netball Stars was created in September 2010 with only five members. With help from Dragon Sport and local sports development officers, the club has grown and now boasts 35 regular players. Boys and girls attend the sessions at Pontypool Active Living Centre on Tuesday evenings. The netball club has five coaches – Emma Chalk, Kate Edwards, Stacey Parker, Jolene Beddis and Sarah Williams – who give up their time to help develop these young stars of the future.

It is hoped a youth team will also be developed shortly and this will mean that all ages will be able to participate. The club has been aided by two local businesses – Regis Fashion and Watkins and Gunn Solicitors. For more information on the club, call 07988 812195 or email sarah.williams@ watkinsandgunn.co.uk

Finding affordable homes Torfaen council has teamed up with Charter Housing Association (CHA), to launch a service to help people access affordable private sector homes. Through Charter Options, CHA sources privately rented homes in Torfaen and manages these on behalf of private landlords. It is working with the council to identify people who are at risk of homelessness or who are in housing need to help them. The director of housing at Charter Housing, Scott Sanders, said: “We have created a specialist service tailored for the private sector to provide a flexible, competitive service for landlords, while increasing the number of people we can help in housing need. “Charter Options provides landlords and tenants with free set up and admin fees, as well as free access to specialist staff such as surveyors, welfare benefit specialists and legal services.” Charter Options operates in Torfaen, Newport, Monmouthshire and Caerphilly. For more information, call 01633 678545 or visit www.charteroptions.co.uk

Bid to be the Carnival Queen The Pontypool Carnival Queen and Court competition will be held on Saturday 7 May at Pontypool Active Living Centre. Entrants are invited to apply for the positions of Carnival Queen (aged 1619), Attendant (aged 12-15), Flowergirl (aged 8-11), Rosebud (aged 5-7) and Pageboy (aged 5-7). Entries are invited from young people who live in and around the Pontypool area and who will be within their chosen age category on carnival day. Registration is required by 5pm on the day and proceedings start shortly afterwards. Winners will be awarded a cash prize and an outfit of their choice for carnival day on Saturday 9 July. Pontypool Carnival is organised and funded by Pontypool Community Council, Pontypool Regeneration Partnership, Torfaen council, the Valleys Heart and Soul campaign and supported by local businesses within Pontypool. For more information, contact 01633 628991.

Recycle Torfaen Talks - pop it into your black recycling box

IN BRIEF Trustee vacancies Torfaen Women’s Aid (TWA) is seeking committed women to apply for a role as trustee. TWA is a local charity based in Pontypool that provides services and support throughout Torfaen to women and their children experiencing domestic abuse. It is seeking motivated women to give 6-10 hours per month to actively help shape its future and attend monthly meetings. Experience is not necessary. For an application pack, call 01495 742052.

Help for carers Up to a quarter of a million people in the UK caring for an ill or disabled friend or relative could be missing out on a top-up that protects their basic and second state pensions in later life. ‘Hidden carers’ are unlikely to be receiving Carer’s Credit, even when they are eligible for it. The problem is, many people do not think of themselves as carers. For details, visit www.direct.gov.uk/carers or call 0845 608 4321.

Ballroom dancing Ballroom dance classes take place on Mondays between 2pm-3.30pm at Cwmbran Stadium and 7.30pm-9pm at Pontypool Active Living Centre. Classes cost £3.35 or £3 with a leisure card – over60s £2.50. No experience is necessary, come alone or with a partner and wear something comfortable on your feet. Contact 01633 628991 for more information.

Guide to Torfaen The 2011 Visit Torfaen Guide is now available. With information on attractions, activities and events in the borough, the guide is perfect for planning a day out for all the family to enjoy. Pick up a copy at council offices, libraries and the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre or visit www.visittorfaen.co.uk. For more information, call 01495 742333.

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Have

say your on

Torfaen’s Deposit

Local Development Plan

Torfaen council is presenting its Deposit Local Development Plan (LDP) for residents’ and other stakeholders’ views.

The plan builds upon the LDP Preferred Strategy, which was consulted on in 2008, and identifies a range of opportunities for investment, conservation and regeneration. It outlines the policies and proposals for the future development and protection of land in Torfaen up to 2021, including the provision of new homes, jobs, community facilities and transport infrastructure. It also includes proposals to protect features of biodiversity, heritage or landscape importance that will enable Torfaen to become a better place

in which to live, work and visit. The Deposit LDP was approved for consultation by the council on 15 February, with consultation lasting until Friday 13 May. The council considers the Deposit LDP to be a sound plan to guide development and investment in the county borough up to 2021. Following consultation, the LDP will be examined by an independent inspector next year to test its soundness, so it is important stakeholders are involved in the process.

A network of integrated communities

Strategic action areas

The strategy aims to: • Ensure a network of integrated communities focusing particularly on Cwmbran and Pontypool, to ensure they are successful and function as service hubs for the surrounding areas

The LDP proposes the following key areas to deliver major mixed-use developments : • East of the town centre, Cwmbran

• Ensure growth is focused in places where wider regeneration benefits are likely to occur

• Canalside, Cwmbran

• Promote the tourism potential of Blaenavon

• Llantarnam, Cwmbran

• Create effective transport links to and from jobs and services that are not available locally

• Mamhilad

• Expand settlements to allow for strategic developments to be achieved.

• South Sebastopol

• The British, Talywain • Llanfrechfa Grange

Housing provision and affordable housing The LDP plans 5,000 new homes to be built in Torfaen between 2006 and 2021. They will be distributed as follows: • North Torfaen – 675 dwellings • Pontypool – 1,925 dwellings • Cwmbran – 2,400 dwellings. The LDP aims to deliver 891 affordable homes within Torfaen between 2010-2021. In addition to certain strategic action areas, other strategic housing sites are: • County Hall and Gwent Police HQ, Llanyravon

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Retail • Major retail and town centre leisure and culture developments will take place in, or as an extension to, the major shopping centre of Cwmbran • The shopping centres of Pontypool and Blaenavon will be protected and enhanced, to ensure they meet the needs of local communities • Local shopping centres will be protected and enhanced to provide services and facilities for the local community • A new food store is identified for land to the east of the town centre in Cwmbran, as part of the comprehensive redevelopment of this site.

Transport

• Former police college and adjacent land, St Dials

• Former Trevethin School, Penygarn

• Animal pound and adjacent land, Wainfelin

• Pontypool College, Cwmynyscoy.

The LDP aims to safeguard land for the construction of the following proposed major transport improvement schemes: • North Torfaen highway and public transport improvements (mainly A4043 and B4246 corridors) • Pontypool and New Inn park and ride/share facility • Cwmbran town centre improvements • Llanfrechfa Grange Link Road. It will also safeguard former railway lines and the canal so they can be re-used in the future. The plan will safeguard land to improve the walking and cycling route networks.

For more information on the LDP, telephone 01633 648805

Heritage

Biodiversity/Geodiversity

The LDP will ensure the continued protection and enhancement of: • Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site

Leisure and recreation

• Pontypool Park

• Aims to improve the provision and protection of allotment areas, formal and informal recreation space, children’s play areas, amenity open space and important urban open space.

• Existing conservation areas and listed buildings. It will also aim to promote protection of buildings of local importance.

• 43hectares of land for general employment purposes and 35hectares of land for strategic employment opportunities have been identified • Existing key employment areas will be retained for these purposes, while allowing for appropriate redevelopment and diversification • A key requirement is to ensure a choice and range of sites allowing opportunities throughout Torfaen • Redevelopment in Pontypool and Cwmbran town centres will provide opportunities for new employment development as part of these schemes.

The LDP identifies green wedges, to protect important areas of countryside between: • Cwmbran and Newport

• Protect and enhance key ecological corridors.

• Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

Employment and economy provision

Countryside

• Protect and enhance the diverse wildlife habitats and species in Torfaen and its geological heritage, including locally designated sites

Sustainable development and climate change

• Achieving sustainable location, design and construction in development proposals • Promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy generation as part of development proposals.

Minerals • Safeguarding sandstone, limestone and coal resources from being sterilised • Identify Coal Working Exclusion Areas (CWEA) where coal working in general will not be allowed • Land at Tir Pentwys is allocated as a preferred area of search for aggregate extraction.

Health and education • Identification of land at Llanfrechfa Grange for a new specialist and critical care centre hospital

It also identifies new Special Landscape Areas in Torfaen and promotes opportunities for rural development and farm diversification schemes.

• Safeguarding of land at Blaenavon Leisure Centre for a new primary care resource centre

• Provision of a primary school as part of the Mamhilad development plans • Education provision as part of the South Sebastopol development plans.

• Prioritising the development of brown-field sites

• Maximising the use of existing community infrastructure

• Mamhilad and New Inn, Pontypool.

• Safeguarding of land at Panteg Steelworks site for a new primary school

The LDP will promote sustainable development and help to tackle climate change by: • Not building in areas at risk from flooding or land instability

• Prioritising well connected and accessible sites

• Ponthir and Caerleon

Gypsy Travellers • The LDP will allocate land at the current Rose Cottage Gypsy Traveller Site for approximately an additional 10 pitches

Waste and recycling The LDP aims to cut landfill and to reduce, reuse and recover waste. It will also ensure all allocated, permitted and existing general industrial sites and premises, and waste sites are identified as possible locations for new waste management facilities, to meet the estimated land requirement of up to 3.5hectares.

• Other permanent site(s) may need to be identified once the future of the councilowned Sheppard’s Hill site has been clarified.

Further information The council is consulting on the Deposit LDP and supporting documents, including the Sustainability Appraisal Report and the Habitats Regulations Assessment Report. It is also consulting on Draft Development Frameworks for development proposals at Llantarnam, the former Centrex Police College and adjacent land, Mamhilad, and County Hall and Police HQ.

Comments Any representations on the LDP should be submitted on the appropriate form by 5pm on Friday 13 May. Copies of the LDP and supporting documents are available for inspection at www.torfaen.gov.uk, the Civic Centre in Pontypool, County Hall in Cwmbran and all public libraries during their normal opening hours. A series of public exhibitions will also be

held around Torfaen during the consultation period, where officers will be available to deal with enquiries. They include: Tuesday 5 April Tuesday 5 April Wednesday 6 April Saturday 9 April Friday 15 April Saturday 16 April

Blaenavon World Heritage Centre Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall Pontypool Indoor Market Pontypool Indoor Market Cwmbran Library Cwmbran Library

10.30am5pm 5.30pm7.30pm 9.30am3pm 10am2.30pm 10.30am6pm 9am4pm

Full details of the other exhibitions are to be held are available at www.torfaen.gov.uk/LDP or by contacting 01495 762200.

For find out more, visit www.torfaen.gov.uk/LDP

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Love Food Hate Waste Did you know that in Wales, people throw away a staggering 410,000 tonnes of food and drink each year? Some of this waste is made up of things like peelings, cores and bones, but the majority is, or once was, perfectly good food that should have been eaten. That is why Torfaen council is supporting Waste Awareness Wales in promoting Love Food Hate Waste, to help reduce the amount of good food we all throw away. The environmental costs of food waste are enormous. The amount of food we throw away is a waste of resources. Just think about all the energy, water and packaging used in food production, transportation and storage. This all goes to waste when we throw away perfectly good food. It is estimated that more than 20 per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food production, distribution and storage.

If this isn’t shocking enough, then consider the financial implications. In Wales, we buy, and then waste, about £600million every year on food and drink that could have been eaten. That’s an average of £420 per household per year and for households with children it’s even more at around £610 a year! Over the next few months, Torfaen council will be bringing you tips on cutting down on the amount of food waste we produce – these tips will include tasty recipes you can make from leftovers. If you have any tips that you would like to pass on and share with others, email lovefoodhatewaste@torfaen.gov.uk

Top tips to keep food fresher for longer • Potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place – keeping them in a vegetable bag retains freshness. They can even be stored in a bag in the fridge if you have room. • Keep tomatoes in the fridge to keep them firm and fresher for longer. Try keeping them in a loosely tied bag to keep them even firmer. • A fruit bowl isn’t the best place for apples – keep them in the fridge. Those with sensitive teeth may want to bring them to room temperature before eating. • Always store broccoli in the fridge – otherwise it tends to soften and go yellow quickly. Keeping it in a vegetable bag will help it stay fresher for longer. • Lemons and peppers are best kept in a bag in the fridge – this way they retain more moisture so stay fresher for longer.

Great grub from leftover lunch

Torfaen council is looking for your help in supporting its Love Food Hate Waste campaign.

Understanding what date labels mean Display until\Sell by

Use-by

Best before

Date marks such as ‘display until’ or ‘sell by’ often appear near or next to the ‘best before’ or ‘use-by’ date. They are used by some shops to help with stock control and are instructions for shop staff, not shoppers.

This is the key date in terms of safety – never eat products after this date and observe storage instructions. Check if the food can be frozen if you need to eat it at a later date. Use-by dates are usually found on chilled products such as cooked meats, soft cheeses and dairy-based desserts.

Best before dates are usually on longer shelf life foods such as frozen, tinned or dried goods and refer to quality rather than safety. So, with these things, it’s best to use your judgement. It should be safe to eat food after the ‘best before’ date, but food may no longer be at its best. One exception is eggs – never eat eggs after the ‘best before’ date.

Some food for thought People in the UK throw away a huge amount of perfectly good food. Every day people throw away: • 7million slices of bread • 5.1million whole potatoes • 4.4million whole apples • 2.8million tomatoes • 1.3million unopened yogurts • 1million slices of ham. Of all the avoidable food waste, half is thrown away because it is not used in time (ie before the food date expires) or is no longer wanted. In addition, one in seven of these items are thrown in the bin still in their packaging.

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If you have any tips for cutting down on food waste or any recipes for leftovers, email them to lovefoodhatewaste@torfaen.gov.uk A selection of these will be published in the next edition of Torfaen Talks. This bubble and squeak recipie by Caroline Marson can be made with any vegetable leftovers from the Sunday lunch. Serve with a poached, fried or scrambled egg and crispy bacon or with poached smoked haddock fillets or grilled trout. This recipe serves four people.

Ingredients • 1 red onion, finely chopped • 4 rashers streaky bacon, cut into small pieces

until soft. Add the bacon and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until it begins to turn a golden colour. 2. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the bacon and onions into a large bowl. 3. Add the mashed potato and cooked vegetables, season well. Add the cheese, mix well and divide the mixture into six portions. 4. Using your hands, shape each portion into a cake. Put a little flour on a plate and coat each cake in flour on both sides. 5. Put onto a greased baking tray and brush with a little melted butter. Bake in a preheated oven (200°C/400°F/ mark 6) for 25 minutes or fry on both sides until golden brown.

• 450g leftover mashed potato • 300g leftover mixed cooked vegetables - roast parsnips, green beans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli or peas, chopped into small pieces • Black Pepper • Salt • 25g hard cheese, grated • 25g butter, melted • Plain flour

Instructions 1. Heat the oil in a frying pan and cook the onion for 4-5 minutes

Send your tips to lovefoodhatewaste@torfaen.gov.uk

Tom’s ticket to sporting success For more than ten years, Dragon Sport has been encouraging young people throughout Torfaen to discover how fun playing sport can be. Throughout this time, thousands of Torfaen pupils have been inspired, including sixteen-year-old Tom Norton from Abersychan. An athletic man who also plays rugby, Tom is a successful javelin thrower with Cwmbran Harriers, having discovered the sport through Dragon Sport. Over the last five years, he has won numerous regional and Welsh championships after taking up the sport aged 11. He said: “I’ve enjoyed the javelin since an early age, after discovering I was good at it through Dragon Sport. It’s a really enjoyable sport and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone.” A Sport Wales initiative funded by the National Lottery, Dragon Sport offers 7-11 year olds enjoyable sporting opportunities and is taken up in every primary school in

NEWS IN BRIEF Help for people with an autism spectrum disorder To find out more about the services available in Torfaen to children and adults with a diagnosed autistic spectrum disorder, visit Pontypool Active Living Centre on Thursday 14 April, 10am3pm. For more information, contact 01633 647630 or email cheryl.deneen@torfaen.gov.uk

Torfaen. It is making a dramatic impact on sports participation in the borough, by broadening the sporting interests of children who already take part in sport and involving children who currently lack opportunities outside of their school PE lessons.

Radio station for carers available online Tune into a special radio station to learn more about developments in policies and services for carers. Carers World Radio doesn’t just want carers to listen to its programmes – it wants them to take part in them. Visit www.carersworldradio.com

Social enterprise grants available in Torfaen A new Community Economic Development Grant (CED) has been launched. Social enterprises are able to apply for financial aid to develop and become sustainable. For more information contact 01633 647493 or email emma.davies3@torfaen.gov.uk

Tom’s mum, Clare, said: “Dragon Sport exposes the children to sports that they perhaps wouldn’t otherwise have come across. “It allows them to try as many sporting activities as possible, in a safe and controlled environment. They also learn how to warm up and cool down – it is an excellent programme. “From an athletic perspective, Dragon Sport and Cwmbran Harriers offer inclusive sporting programmes and welcome children and young adults with disabilities.” The primary focus of Dragon

Volunteers needed to help cancer charity

Sport is improving sports provision for 7-11 year olds, but it also recruits volunteers to support the development of after-school and community sports clubs. For more information on Dragon Sport in Torfaen, call 01633 628962.

Website for home seekers A new website of housing information in Torfaen has been launched.

Pupils show a lotta bottle Pupils at Brynteg Nursery built an igloo using old milk bottles recently, as they learnt about recycling and winter. The pupils took four weeks to build the impressive structure, which is made up of 379 four-litre milk bottles and is now used for nursery activities. “We wanted to do something with the children that would get the whole community recycling with us. Everyone really got behind us and we would like to thank everyone who donated used milk bottles – particularly the residents at Ty Bryn nursing home,” said acting head teacher Lynda Ryan.

Torfaen Homes has been designed to help people access advice and information on housing products and services. The executive member for housing, planning and public protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, explained: “We want the website to be as informative as possible and will be continually updating and improving the website based on feedback. It includes information about shared home ownership schemes, new housing developments, renewal areas and grants, environmental health, homelessness prevention and how to access housing. In the long term, the site will allow people to selfassess their housing needs and provide products to address housing requirements for people in Torfaen.” Visit www.torfaenhomes.co.uk

Marie Curie Cancer Care is appealing for volunteers who can commit half or a full day a week, to help with fundraising campaigns and general administrative support. The volunteers would be based at Mamhilad Park Estate. For anyone who wants to help the charity but cannot make a long-term commitment, groups of people are also needed to help put together information packs on a more temporary/short-term basis. Call 0845 305 2195, visit www.mariecurie.org.uk or email VolunteeringMidlandsWalesWest@mariecurie.org.uk for details.

Show your skills at talent competition Are you a dance group, singer, pop group, musician or magician? If so, auditions for Cwmbran’s Got Talent are being held on Saturday 25 June. The finale show will be at 6pm on Saturday 6 August. Tickets £2. For tickets or audition information, call 01633 870119 or email cwmbransgottalent@hotmail.co.uk

Drop-in sessions provide fibromyalgia support If you, or anyone you know, suffers from fibromyalgia, there is support and information available. The Torfaen and Newport District Fibro Support Group holds a drop-in session from 10am12pm on the last Wednesday of every month at Glan-yr-afon Leisure, Edlogan Way, Cwmbran, NP44 2JJ. Each session costs £2.50 and light refreshments are provided. For more information, email cwmbranandnewportfibrosupportgroup@hotmail.co.uk

Blooming good time to be had at flower festival A flower festival will be held at St Mary’s Church, Croesyceiliog in May. Arranged by the Pontypool and District Floral Art Society, the event takes place on 20-22 May. Entry is £5 and this includes light refreshments. For details, contact 01633 860546.

Helping the potentially vulnerable If you’d like to help potentially vulnerable people during an emergency, call 01495 762200 or complete a form at the Do It Online section of www.torfaen.gov.uk. Also, if you think you may need extra support during bad weather or any extreme situation, call 01495 762200.

Day trips and talks for active seniors in Torfaen The Pontypool Senior Active Support Forum meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Trosnant House, Clarence Street, Pontypool. It has regular speakers discussing a variety of topics and also enjoys trips to the theatre. For more information, call 01495 762896 or 01495 756586.

Fun activities at youth club in Trevethin The Bowden Centre in Trevethin hosts a series of fun activities, including football and dance, every Monday evening for people aged 14-20. Meanwhile, a youth club is held at Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw on Monday to Thursday evenings for 11–25 year olds. For further information about the sessions, or youth centres in general, contact 01495 742141.

To contact Dragon Sport in Torfaen, telephone 01633 628962

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PAY BY CASH OR CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS: These are accepted at any of the council’s Customer Care centres or by telephoning Call Torfaen: 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday on 01495 766002 or the Automated Telephone Payment Line: 08458 500855. This service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week. PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT: This is an easy way to pay your bills. If you would like to pay by direct debit, contact Customer Care. PAY BY INTERNET: This is a totally secure method of payment that is quick and easy to use. Go to www.torfaen.gov.uk and select pay online. PAY BY CHEQUE OR POSTAL ORDER: You can pay by cheques and postal orders, which you must cross and make payable to Torfaen County Borough Council. Please write your reference number on the back of the cheque or postal order. Send your cheque or postal order to Civic Centre, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 6YB

The big picture Value pledge The council’s 2011/12 budget reflects its vision to deliver highquality services at the best possible value. It has restricted this year’s council tax increase to 2.99 per cent – an increase of 53p a week or £27.66 a year for a Band D property.

Meeting the Challenge of Change The government’s public spending cuts have meant the council has had to find £9.2m of savings. It has achieved this, while still protecting essential frontline services such as schools and social care, by: Transforming services to make them better and more efficient

Sharing staff and resources with other public services

Improving its use of assets, such as buildings and vehicles

Reducing bureaucracy

Workforce changes and remodelling

Reducing services and, in some areas, increasing charges

Tough choices

Help paying Millions of pounds of Council Tax benefit go unclaimed every year. If you are on a low income you may be eligible for Council Tax benefit. To see if you are eligible, call free on 0800 652 5422. If you think you may be eligible for a Council Tax discount, visit one of the council’s Customer Care centres, email revs&bens@torfaen.gov.uk or call 01495 762200.

How the budget is made up 12% Total to be

met from Council Tax

24%

Government Grants Customer and Client Receipts

Other funding and contributions

42% Revenue Support

Grant 8%

National NonDomestic Rates

Expenditure on services £

Income from services £

General Fund Services

2010/11

2011/12

82,918,954

81,108,119

(17,867,426) (16,520,385)

65,051,528

64,587,734

Social Care and Housing

55,190,361

54,269,996

(16,012,649) (14,519,302)

39,177,712

39,750,694

Neighbourhood Services

32,571,922

30,755,871

(14,732,344) (13,155,991)

17,839,578

17,599,880

3,567,533

3,453,348

(1,019,983)

(1,013,772)

2,547,550

2,439,576

8,723,889

8,640,297

(4,868,312)

(4,571,173)

3,855,577

4,069,124

Resources

44,663,385

43,067,990

(37,494,437) (36,562,236)

7,168,948

6,505,754

Community Services

12,630,214

11,647,195

(10,154,866)

2,475,348

2,369,491

Planning and Public Protection PSSU / Technology-Led Transformation

Deputy Chief Executive’s Capital Financing and other costs SERVICE TOTAL

2010/11

Net expenditure £

Education Services

2011/12

2010/11

(9,277,704)

2011/12

5,425,085

5,200,875

(711,482)

(775,574)

4,713,603

4,425,301

20,331,732

20,167,366

(3,512,393)

(2,863,543)

16,819,339

17,303,823

266,023,075

258,311,057 (106,373,892) (99,259,680) 159,649,183 159,051,377 Plus precepts from:

Capital programme It is estimated that a base level of £28.237m will be invested in the county borough in the form of capital works in 2011/12, which is hoped to be supplemented by additional grant assistance during the course of ? w no k the financial year and any funds e t you , was on remaining from 2010/11. e i t g Did s c s a r e le ave col sts l On osal, g co week, n p dis ecycli 0 per g r 2.5 lin d n a an £ dwel r h t pe

Gwent Police Authority

Community councils

1,196,519

1,207,393

Gwent Police Authority

5,588,136

5,804,457

166,433,838

166,063,227

(25,343,783)

(21,200,831)

Torfaen budget requirement Sources of funding National Non-domestic Rates Revenue Support Grant Funded by Council Tax

£ Amount precepted 2010/11

£ Amount precepted 2011/12

35,287,909

36,415,875

A ‘precept’ is an annual sum that organisations charge for their services and Torfaen council collects on their behalf. This is added to your Council Tax bill.

% Increase comparison 10/11 to 11/12

5,588,136

5,804,457

3.87%

Cwmbran

493,611

0.00%

Pontypool

515,230

526,104

2.11%

Blaenavon

63,200

0.00%

Henllys

24,381

0.00%

Croesyceiliog & Llanyrafon

85,000

0.00%

Community Councils

Totals

(105,802,146) (108,446,521)

Precept requirements

Ponthir

The decisions made in the budget are aligned with the council’s Corporate Plan, which sets out the outcomes that Torfaen people have said they want to see from their council services. If a service helps to deliver these outcomes, such as protecting the most vulnerable, the council will aim to continue them during these challenging times with the finances it has available. In many areas, the services the council delivers are required by law and it must continue delivering them. However, tough choices may still be required on how much of the service it provides and who delivers them.

Page 16

The estimated cost of council services 2011/2012

15,097

0.00%

1,196,519

1,207,393

0.91%

£6,784,655

£7,011,850

3.35%

w? kes kno u ma e o y y l h Did ax on t of t T cen et l i dg unc er Co 12 p cil bu p n u cou Did you Cou kno ncil w? oth er s Tax als e o go rvic the es i poli nc es to c and e, fire luding s er coro ner vice s

Council Tax demand

The total amount demanded in Council Tax by each community area in each band is shown below Band

Band

Band I

Cwmbran

788.73

920.19

1,051.65

1,183.11

1,446.03

1,708.95

1,971.84

2,366.22

2,760.60

Pontypool

789.28

920.83

1,052.38

1,183.93

1,447.03

1,710.13

1,973.21

2,367.86

2,762.51

Blaenavon

784.54

915.30

1,046.06

1,176.82

1,438.34

1,699.86

1,961.36

2,353.64

2,745.92

Henllys

775.29

904.51

1,033.73

1,162.95

1,421.39

1,679.83

1,938.24

2,325.90

2,713.56

Croesyceiliog & Llanyrafon

777.54

907.13

1,036.73

1,166.32

1,425.51

1,684.69

1,943.86

2,332.64

2,721.42

Ponthir

774.54

903.63

1,032.73

1,161.82

1,420.01

1,678.19

1,936.36

2,323.64

2,710.92

Financial standing The council needs to keep reserves and provisions to supplement its funding over financial years – these funds can be called upon in unforeseen circumstances, such as severe weather, or set aside for a specific purpose such as asset management. This table sets out the authority’s actual and anticipated positions.

31/03/2010 (actual) £m

31/03/2011 (estimate) £m

31/03/2012 (estimate) £m

General fund (including former HRA)

6.81

5.04

4.73

Service specific reserves

6.96

3.18

2.87

Insurance

3.62

3.32

2.83

Job evaluation

2.15

1.36

0.89

Reserve

Revenue contribution to capital Total School balances

1.30

1.70

20.84

14.60

11.32

2.32

2.40

2.4

See if you are eligible for Council Tax benefit – call 0800 652 5 422