|
|
|
|
|
The annual Blaenavon Winter Wonderland takes place tomorrow from 11am until 4pm.
As well as the usual fun fair and covered Christmas market, Santa and will be welcoming guests to visit his Christmas grotto, and meet his reindeer.
A Kids Cookery Academy will be held at Bethlehem Court, where children can create dishes from a Christmas menu. Entry for the cookery classes are £1 a session.
There will be music from the Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School Choir, Blaenavon Town Band and local musician Lily Skyrme, while Disney fans will be in for a treat as Frozen Princesses Elsa and Anna will be performing songs from the film, and meeting and greeting their fans.
|
|
|
|
Pontypool Indoor Market is hosting its first record fair tomorrow (Saturday 5 December). Run in association with Saving Vinyl Music and The Dragonffli, entry is free and refreshments will be available. If successful, it is hoped that the fair will become a more regular event. Opening hours are 10am until 3pm.
|
Pontypool Park Friends are welcoming Santa and his reindeer to the Shell Grotto in Pontypool Park this Sunday (6 December). Santa will be welcoming guests to the grotto from 11am-3pm and entry is free. There will be activities for children and refreshments will be available. The grotto can only be accessed on foot and involves a steep climb over uneven ground. For this reason it may be unsuitable for those with significant mobility issues, wheelchair users and for children in pushchairs.
|
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 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.
|
Pontypool Community Council is encouraging traders and businesses in the town to dress their windows or stalls ready for Christmas. The competition is open to any businesses in the town, including market traders, and there will be a first and second prize awarded to the two judged to be the best. Anyone interested should register with Pontypool Community Council on 01495 742805 by Friday 11 December. The winner will be announced at Pontypool Indoor Market on Wednesday 16 December.
|
Torfaen council has published a plan that sets out how it will manage flood risks in the borough for the next six years. The flood risk management plan was completed following engagement with relevant agencies such as the emergency services, Welsh Water, and Natural Resources Wales. Residents were also given an opportunity to have their say on the plan. The plan can be viewed on the council’s flood pages.
|
The Local Housing Market Assessment (LHMA) has been produced for Torfaen residents to learn about and better understand the current housing market in Torfaen, and to show what needs to be addressed in the forthcoming years. The findings show that based on current trends and anticipated projections, Torfaen will need approximately 200 additional affordable units of housing a year until 2021, to meet the current shortfall. A copy of the Local Housing Market Assessment - June 2015 can be downloaded here.
|
West Monmouth Comprehensive is the first secondary school in Torfaen to sign up to Gateway Credit Union’s school savings scheme and open a 'school bank' run by pupils. The Pontypool-based credit union is working with local schools to get kids, staff and parents saving for a rosy future. Gateway is the savings and loans co-operative serving Torfaen and Monmouthshire and currently has more than 3,000 adult members and more than 700 young savers. For more information, call 01495 742500, visit a Gateway office or email info@gatewaycu.co.uk.
|
Glynneath-born comedian, singer and entertainer Max Boyce MBE will be performing in Blaenavon Workmen's Hall on Friday 19 February 2016. Tickets are on sale for £25 plus £1 booking fee at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran and the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre. For information about tickets call the Congress Theatre on 01633 868239 or Blaenavon World Heritage Centre on 01495 742333. For more information about the tour visit www.maxboyce.co.uk
|
This winter police will be targeting drivers who risk their lives and the lives of others by driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Gwent Police will lead the month-long campaign, running from 1 December 2015 to 1 January 2016, on behalf of the four welsh police forces. During this time police forces will be conducting roadside breath tests 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
|
An exhibition of images taken by photographer and camera maker Dafydd Williams runs at Pontypool Indoor Market on 10 November–7 December. Using his homemade 8” x 10” large format camera and Harman Direct Positive Paper, Dafydd photographed buildings from the late 19th and early 20th century that still survive in the area. ‘We Are Ghosts’ is an Arts Council of Wales funded project, supported by Torfaen council. For more information, call 07858 384379
|
The work on a section of Lower Harper’s road in Abersychan has been extended and will be closed until Friday 11th December 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.
|
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
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.
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
