A music video featuring Cwmbran residents singing about wild flowers to the tune of UpTown Funk has received more than 30,000 views and 500 likes in less than 24 hours. 'Urban Buzzz gon' give it to ya' was filmed as part of Cwmbran’s Urban Buzzz, a project in a competition entry to win £120,000 from Kew Gardens and the National Lottery. The project is designed to tell the history of Cwmbran by planting native wild flowers across the town. The video features local residents, businesses, shop keepers, sports clubs, and residents young and old, telling everyone ‘you need to vote’ for Cwmbran’s Urban Buzzz. Click here to vote or call 0808 228 7201 for free. Click here to watch the video.
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This week is National Adoption Week (19-25 October), and the campaign this year is ‘Too Old at 4?’ Torfaen council is backing the campaign by asking residents to consider adopting children aged four and over. New figures released by the National Adoption Service for Wales reveal it takes more than double the amount of time to place children aged four and above than those aged under four. To find out more contact The South East Wales Adoption Service on 01495 355766.
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Torfaen Trading Standards are warning residents of a possible phone scam. Consumers are being asked to be vigilant with regards to receiving phone calls from people claiming to be from BT. The caller claims that the consumer has problems with their internet and that BT need to install firewalls which they will be charged for. They then ask for payment via a bank card. They will also tell you to switch off mobile phones and keep landlines open for several hours which we can only assume is to prevent the banks from contacting you. Under no circumstances should any bank details or other personal information be given out over the phone unless you know what it's for. If you do receive a call or would like any advice call the Trading Standards Team on 01633 647624 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk
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The Minister for Finance and Government Business, Jane Hutt AM has officially launched a new EU-funded project in Torfaen which aims to increase the skills levels of those in employment with no or low skills. Torfaen council have partnered with Caerphilly council, Aneurin Leisure (Life Leisure Trust Blaenau Gwent) and Merthyr Tydfil council to create the Working Skills for Adults 2 project aimed at those who are employed, including self employed participants with no formal qualifications or up to a lower secondary education qualification (ISCED 2).
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A consultation for local residents to have their say on a new play area at Sandybrook Park in Cwmbran is being held today at Nant Celyn School, from 3:45pm until 6pm. Residents can drop in to discuss plans for the park and help decide what kind of play equipment should be installed. For further details contact Lauren Gregory on 01495 766754.
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A fun day is being held in Cwmbran this Saturday (24 October) to celebrate the opening of a new £103,000 play park. The Big Lottery Fund awarded the money to the Friends of Cwmbran Park, a group of volunteers who wanted somewhere for children to play outside with their families. The park is next to the playing fields and bowling green off Henllys Way. The volunteers and Torfaen Council have worked together to finalise the plans and this Saturday a free fun day will take place from 11am to 3pm.
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Pontypool Indoor Market will host its second craft fair this Saturday 24 October. The craft fair is being run by the market traders themselves and the first event in September saw around 17 tables of crafters in the market. For more details contact Deborah Trickey 07535 341290.
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Torfaen Sports Development, working in partnership with Torfaen Leisure Trust have organised Ski tots sessions for children aged between 3-7. Taking place at Pontypool's Ski centre, this is a great opportunity for your child to learn how to ski. Sessions on a Saturday, 24th October between 9.30am - 10.30am and Tuesday, 27th October between 4.30pm and 5.30pm are available on a 6 week course at £30. For more information call 01633 628936 or email christine.philpott@torfaen.gov.uk
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Head4Arts is hosting an ‘Arty Parky’ event at Pontypool Park this Sunday (25 October), 10:30am-3pm. During Arty Parky, participants will work alongside environmental artist Kate Raggett to create a spectacular land drawing made entirely from natural materials foraged in the park, such as fallen leaves, twigs, conkers and seeds. The artwork will be photographed and everyone who takes part will receive postcards of the finished piece. Participants are welcome to join in at any time throughout the day and stay as long as they like. For more information, click here.
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A number of playschemes have been organised to keep your children entertained this October half term. These free playschemes start Tuesday 27 October until Friday 30 October from 10am - 3pm and most are suitable for children aged from 5-12 years old. Click here for the list of playschemes. For more information call 01495 742951.
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A holiday camp has been organised to keep your children entertained throughout half term at Pontypool Active Living Centre. There are full day (9am - 3pm) camps for children aged 8-12 available filled with sporting activities including swimming, football, dance and much more. Half day (9.30am - 2.25pm) camps are also available for children aged 6-7. An option to extend the duration of the camp until 5pm is available for the older children where they will be taken up to the ski centre for skiing activities. Booking forms are available at Pontypool Active Living Centre where they will also take payment or for more information call 01495 742222.
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The first meeting of a newly formed friends group for cemeteries in Torfaen takes place on Monday 26 October from 11:30am until 1pm at Llwyncelyn Cemetery. The group will work with council officers to improve the cemetery service for users and will be consulted on any future changes to the service. Anyone wishing to attend the meeting should contact the cemetery office on 01633 871786.
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All residents currently receiving single occupancy discounts were sent a letter at the end of September requesting that they confirm the discount is still applicable. Residents need to complete and return their form as soon as possible to ensure their discount continues. If no response is received before the end of October, the discount will be cancelled and a new bill will be issued. The review of single person discount entitlement form can be completed online or using the Torfaen council smartphone app. It can also be returned by post.
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Changing Gearz is holding a bike sale on October 31, from 10am-4pm at Unit 12, Panteg Industrial Estate, Griffithstown. Changing Gearz is a cycle project which aims to train young people in bike maintenance and repair and cycle training. The project is part of Torfaen council and initial funding came through the Lift/Codi programme which is funded as part of the regional collaboration funding from Welsh Government. The refurbished and serviced bikes range from £50-£250 and include children's bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids & cruisers and BMX bikes. For more information - 01495 750338 or info@changinggearz.co.uk
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Donations are needed for this year’s Santa appeal.
The annual Torfaen council appeal helps young people in Torfaen who are experiencing poverty and have little or no contact with their families. If you would like to participate, call 01633 647545 or 647539 after 26 October to be given the first name and age of a child, plus a reference number. (Names are only given from the 16+ team). Gifts should not be wrapped, but a donation of wrapping paper would be greatly appreciated. Donations need to be made by 7 December. Once your gift is ready, you can drop the gift off at TYPSS in Old Cwmbran, Customer Care Centre in Cwmbran Library, or Citizens Advice Bureau in Pontypool.
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Torfaen’s third Women in Business event takes place at the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran on Thursday 19 November at 5pm. Organised by Torfaen council, it’s an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the contribution that women make to the business community. There will be trade stands, music and entertainment and a high tea. Delegates will also hear from the key note speaker, journalist and broadcast Sarah Dickens. Tickets (£10) and trade stand bookings (£30) are available. This year the event supports the British Heart Foundation. For more information click here.
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A Christmas shopping trip to Cheltenham has been organised in aid of the mayor of Torfaen's charities. A bus will leave civic centre, Pontypool on Saturday 21 November at 8.30am and return at 5.30pm. Tickets cost £15 each and can be purchased by contacting chris.slade@torfaen.gov.uk or 01495 742578. The cost includes a glass of Buck's Fizz and a mince pie or shortbread. All funds raised will go to councillor Giles Davies' nominated charities, which are the Alzheimer’s Society, British Heart Foundation, the Llanerch Memorial Fund and Pancreatic Cancer UK.
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Join in the festive fun at Llanyrafon Manor’s Victorian Christmas Market on Sunday 29th November. The Manor will be transported back in time to the festive season during the 1800s. There will be local food and a craft market, a Victorian sweet stall, live music and choirs, and a Victorian Santa. There will also be workshops run by theatre company Theatr Silures. The event will take place from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free. For more information call 01633 648562 or 01495 616330.
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Torfaen Sports clubs are being reminded they may be eligible for a community chest grant. The scheme is open to any group wishing to organise activities aimed at getting more people, more active, more often, regardless of age. The maximum grant available is £1500 and deadline for applications is 30 November. Sport Wales is introducing a new Online Grants Management System (OGMS) which is to go live on 26 October. From this date, all applications will need to be completed online using Sport Wales’ website. For further information call 01633 628926 or 02920 338218 or email christine.philpott@torfaen.gov.uk.
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Traders who want to be part of this year’s Winter Wonderland in Blaenavon are encouraged to book a stall. The event takes place on Saturday 5 December from 11am until 4pm. Stalls are £15 and can be booked via Stacey Grout at Flowers by Stacey on 01495 792878 or Kate Fitzgerald on 01633 648319. As always there will be a Christmas market, fun fair, festive music from the Blaenavon Town Band, and the Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School Choir, and Santa will be making a return with his reindeer.
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More than 160 primary school pupils took part in a cross country event at Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School on 15 October. Organised by Torfaen sports development, the event saw pupils from Blaenavon Heritage VC, Croesyceiliog, Cwmffrwdoer, George Street, Griffithstown, Maendy, Padre Pio RC and Ysgol Bryn Onnen primary schools compete across a 1,400m course. The event was held as part of the Torfaen council’s active young people programme.
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A new scheme to create a Dementia Friendly Community in Pontypool was launched at Pontypool Museum on 16 October. A Dementia Friendly Community focuses on improving the lives of those with dementia, and their carers, by raising understanding and awareness of the condition with local residents and businesses. Pontypool town centre is piloting the new approach, and staff and volunteers at Pontypool Museum, and traders at the indoor market, have undertaken training to become Dementia Friends. For details on becoming a Dementia Friend please contact phil.diamond@torfaen.gov.uk
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The Your NHS Wales - Choose Well campaign is calling on people to think carefully about how they use their NHS and find the right health services for their needs. It is the responsibility of all of us not to put lives at risk and instead think and choose well what NHS services we really need. The vast majority of medical conditions do not need emergency care and there are a range of easy to access services that can help people get the right care at the right time. Making the right decision will not only help people get treated faster in the most appropriate way, but also means our health service resources are being used in the most efficient way.
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A section of Lower Harper’s road in Abersychan will be closed until Saturday 21 November to allow Wales and West Utilities to carry out essential work to the gas main. The road will be closed between Viaduct Road and Victoria Road, and signs advising of diversionary routes will be in place. Access for the emergency services and residents whose properties are immediately adjacent to the works will be maintained at all times as far as is reasonably practicable. Residents wishing to discuss access issues should contact Wales and West Utilities’ customer services team on 0800 912999 or 02921 678455.
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Stagecoach service number 10, which runs between Pontypool and Garndiffaith, will be temporarily postponed by the operator during this period as no suitable diversions for buses are available.
Other services that may be used are:
• X24 Blaenavon - Pontypool – Cwmbran
• 23 Varteg - Pontypool – Cwmbran
• 30 Blaenavon - Pontypool – Cwmbran
For advise on planning a bus journey during this period contact Traveline Cymru on 0300 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.cymru
In some circumstances, Torfaen Community Transport can offer a pre-bookable, door- to- door service for registered users. Contact Mrs Megan Rosser Davies on 01633 874686 for further details.
Thank you to everyone who has responded to their voter registration forms which were sent out in July and September. If you haven’t responded yet, please look out for one of our canvassers over the next couple of weeks. They will be knocking on your door to help you fill in your form if you haven’t done so already. They will have a form with them, for you to fill in on the doorstep. It will only take a couple of minutes and it is very important to complete the form. If you find a form on your doormat, a canvasser would have delivered it. Please respond as soon as possible to save further reminders and ensure you are correctly registered to vote.
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The Mayor has launched a charity competition for local artists to enter a piece of artwork or photography of a scene in Torfaen. Those who come 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be invited to attend a presentation by the Mayor. Entry is £5 and proceeds will go to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal Fund, which is supporting the Alzheimer’s Society, British Heart Foundation, Llanerch Memorial Fund and Pancreatic Cancer UK. For more information contact chris.slade@torfaen.gov.uk. Closing date for entries is 29 April 2016 at 4.30pm.
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It is now illegal to smoke in your vehicle with someone under the age of 18 present. For more information about the new law click here. You can find out what the change to the law means for you by visiting the Fresh Start Wales website.
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Most of the waste produced by the average household in Torfaen can be recycled at the kerbside. Not sure what waste can be recycled? A handy guide to what can be recycled in each container is available on the council’s website.
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