August 2015 Edition of Torfaen Talks

Transcription

www.torfaen.gov.uk
#torfaentalks
01495 762200
TORFAENTalks
A Heart Borough
August 2015 – Awst 2015
‘SKINNY’ BINS ARE COMING
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
There is no need to do anything.
Residents should continue to put
their black wheelie bins out
on their normal collection
day. Between September
and November, the old bin
will be removed and replaced
with a new one.
If a bin is not exchanged
by the end of November,
or residents have missed
the swap for any reason,
contact
01495 762200 to
rearrange.
New ‘skinny’ black bins will be
delivered to homes between
September and November.
The majority of residents will have
their 240-litre black wheelie bin
replaced with a 140-litre purplelidded bin. The new bins, known
as skinny bins, are being introduced
to help the council meet strict Welsh
Government targets for recycling.
Torfaen currently recycles 52 per cent
of its waste and needs to increase
this to 58 per cent in 2015/16, and
70 per cent by 2025.
The council faces significant
fines of about £100,000 for every
one per cent it falls below these
targets.
In Torfaen, most of the waste
produced by the average household,
about 80 per cent, can be recycled
at the kerbside, so not much
actually needs to be
disposed of in the black
wheelie bin.
However, many people
continue to use their
wheelie bins to dispose of
waste that can be recycled.
Reducing the amount of
general waste collected at the
kerbside is a proven way to
encourage residents to make better use
of the recycling facilities available.
The old bins will be collected and
exchanged for the new ones on the same
day, so residents shouldn’t experience
any disruption to their service.
The introduction follows a consultation
in 2014, where residents chose a
fortnightly collection with a smaller bin
over a bag system or monthly collection.
The cost of the new bins and delivery
was originally estimated to be about
£750,000; however, the council has been
able to keep costs to less than £500,000.
The old bins will be recycled and the
money received used to off-set the cost
of the roll out of the new ones.
The executive member for
neighbourhood services, councillor John
Cunningham, said: “Most of the waste
produced by households in Torfaen can
be recycled at the kerbside, so there
should be very little waste going into the
general waste.
“We are confident that these changes
will help us meet our future recycling
targets and, as long as residents are
recycling everything possible, they will
not experience any difficulties under the
new system.”
• Turn to the back page for frequently
asked questions.
OTHER WASTE AND RECYCLING COLLECTIONS
• Black recycling box and brown food caddy recycling collections will remain
weekly. The green waste bin and blue bag collections will remain fortnightly.
• There will be no changes for residents who receive medical collections.
• There will be no changes for residents who live in flats, or who do not currently
receive a full recycling service.
• Residents with assisted collections will continue to receive an assisted collection.
• A fortnightly nappy collection service will be introduced for families that need it.
Residents should contact 01495 762200 if they wish to take part.
• The council will allow for the collection of additional waste at Christmas and
more details will be given nearer the time.
HAVE YOUR SAY IN RESIDENTS’
SURVEY (SEE SUPPLEMENT INSIDE)
FARM EVENTS Grant pays for starter packs
OPEN FOR DEPOSITS!
A new digital project has been launched to unleash
the huge, under-used wealth of wisdom of Torfaen
residents.
The Wisdom Bank, which received almost £250,000 from the
Big Lottery Fund’s (BIG) People and Places programme, is a new
digital project connecting people, businesses and communities in
Torfaen.
This unique online network allows people to share their skills,
knowledge and experiences to provide support and advice to
others.
The site is easy to use, and is particularly suitable for people
with little prior experience of the internet.
Torfaen council is now looking for people who live and/or work
in the borough to join the Wisdom Bank. It’s safe, secure and easy
to use.
Torfaen people have shared everything on the Wisdom Bank, so
it’s local and relevant.
To register, go to www.wisdombank.org.uk. In a few clicks, users
can explore the site and see what others have been sharing. The
site is best viewed in Google Chrome.
For more information about the Wisdom Bank and how you can
get involved, contact 01495 766958 or
matthew.basham@torfaen.gov.uk
Transport routes
Torfaen council has been
granted about £700,000
from Welsh Government
to improve walking and
cycling routes.
The funding has been granted
as part of the Active Travel and
Safe Routes in Communities
initiatives. Projects include:
• £250,000 towards pedestrian
crossings, traffic-calming
measures and footpaths in
Abersychan, including cycle
racks at Garnteg School
• £198,000 to improve
footpaths and cycling links
between residential areas
and industrial estates in
Pontnewydd to help residents
access the town centre, places
of employment and other
services
• £218,608 to provide direct
access from George Street
Primary School to the
National Cycle Network
• £50,000 to support the
Kerbcraft road-safety training
scheme in primary schools,
provide cycle training, and
promote Pass Plus-Cymru, a
Wales-wide scheme providing
further training for new
drivers.
Page 2
Don’t forget to enjoy the
‘wonderful Wednesday’
events at Greenmeadow
Community Farm this
August.
On 12 August, the farm will
be ‘Tractortastic!’, with loads
of tractor fun, including ‘tractor
Ted bouncy’! On 19 August,
‘piggy pranks’ returns, while
on 26 August, there will be egg
collecting, pizza making and
more, as part of ‘fun with food
and farming’.
Weather permitting, there
will also be a barbecue every
Wednesday for visitors to enjoy.
Finally, the annual
Greenmeadow Show takes place
on Sunday 13 September.
This family show with classes
for all is the highlight of the year,
with some fantastic main ring
attractions lined up, including
Usk Valley Gun Dogs, Torfaen
Riding Club, Ferretworld, and the
Marcher Stuarts re-enactment!
As a bonus, admission is half
price on the day!
For more information, call
01633 647662 or visit
greenmeadowcommunityfarm.org.uk
Solas Hales House used a grant from Torfaen council
to create starter packs for young people who were
leaving supported accommodation, to move into their
first home.
It used £1,800 of funding from Section 180 (Homeless Grant
Program) funding to pay for the packs. Solas has developed a pretenancy workshop to complement the packs.
BENEFITS PROSECUTIONS
Torfaen council has
prosecuted two people
for benefit fraud.
Beth Rennocks, of Broadway,
Pontypool was fined £585,
ordered to pay costs of £150
and a victim surcharge of £59.
Christopher Price, previously
of Rosser Street, Wainfelin,
pleaded guilty to four charges
and was given a community
sentence of 80 hours unpaid,
ordered to pay costs of £150
and pay a victim surcharge of
£60.
Receive the latest news direct to smartphones and tablets
Thousands of people are receiving
all the latest Torfaen news and
information on their mobile phones
and tablets, thanks to the council’s
growing range of digital services.
Over the past few months, the council has
expanded the number of services people
can access online, from ordering recycling
bins and bags to applying for council tax
discounts, with just a few taps and swipes on
smartphones and tablets.
People can also sign up for all the latest
news, tailored to the issues that matter to
them, by registering for the council’s Stay
Connected service on the council website.
Not only can you receive the latest
Stay Connected
Cadw Cyswllt
jobs, what’s on and news bulletins every
week, you can also get alerts for your area
meaning you’ll always stay up to date with
what’s happening locally.
Over the next few months, the council will
be:
• launching a new website with more online
services, a clearer layout and a better
experience for people using it on mobiles
and tablets. New features coming soon will
include the opportunity for live web chats
with council officers
• increasing the number of services on
its redesigned mobile app to include
payments, the ability to report issues using
QR codes, and new waste and recycling
information
• expanding the online email news
bulletins available through the council’s
Stay Connected service – look out for
your emailed invitation to complete the
council’s residents’ survey.
At the same time, the council is continuing
to work with partnerships such as Get
Torfaen Online to help more and more
residents to use the internet for the first
time.
Figures from the Office for National
Statistics showing that 86 per cent of
residents across the Gwent valleys, including
Torfaen, had used the internet – above the
Welsh average of 83 per cent (ONS internet
usage 2015 bulletin).
DOWNLOAD THE
TORFAEN APP
Download from
Windows Phone Store
WW1 animation
Torfaen pupils made an
animation inspired by
a mineworker who was
awarded a Victoria Cross.
My Dearest Mother
was developed by year-10
pupils at West Monmouth
Comprehensive, Llantarnam
Comprehensive and Fairwater
High School.
It is based on the real life
story of James Henry Finn, an
Englishman who worked as a
miner in south Wales before the
First World War broke out.
Working with professional
artists, the pupils wrote the
script, produced a storyboard,
created the set, characters and
scenery, recorded the soundtrack
and learnt to animate using
stop-frame techniques.
The animation is part of
World War One: A Valleys View,
a project run by Head4Arts
and supported by the National
Lottery through the Heritage
Lottery Fund.
The project in Torfaen was
supported by Torfaen council
and Torfaen Communities First.
The animation can be viewed
on the Heads4Arts Vimeo page.
Group’s good old fashion fun
Language and Play is
a Welsh Government
scheme for parents and
carers with children aged
0-4 years old that is
accessible and free.
It delivers groups across
Torfaen and also supports
families in their homes. The
groups are fun and stimulating
for the children and give
parents and carers tips and
advice on playing together to
develop children’s speech and
skills.
Pontnewydd Primary School
has been delivering well
attended
groups during this school year.
The most recent group
running at the nursery was the
‘outdoor language and play
programme, which took the
children outside to have ‘old
fashion fun’ and it got the
parents/carers involved too!
Carmel Hall has attended the
sessions since they started at
Pontnewydd Primary. She said:
“They are really good. They
build on what you’re doing
at home and really help the
children get on. The sessions
encourage you to play with
your children and I would
definitely recommend them
to others.”
The children learn in
all weathers about den
building, treasure hunts,
potion making and much
more messy fun. This takes
the learning outdoors, which
the children thrive on. It also
gives the grown-ups ideas
to use at home for the long
summer holidays to stop the
little ones getting bored!
Donna Whitcombe added:
“The staff are friendly, it’s
really fab. Mrs Robinson does a
fantastic job and we really look
forward to coming. The children
make lots of things, like musical
instruments, and enjoy teddy
bears’ picnics and stories. You
also get to know the other
mums and we all get on.”
For more information, visit
and like the Torfaen Language
and Play Facebook page, call
01495 742539 or email
kate.pike@torfaen.gov.uk
Reading challenge for pupils STRESS SUPPORT AVAILABLE
This summer, children
can take their reading to
new heights with Record
Breakers!
Organised by the Reading
Agency and Torfaen libraries,
Record Breakers is the Summer
Reading Challenge 2015.
This year, the Summer Reading
Challenge has teamed up
with Guinness World Records
to celebrate some awesome
achievements from all over the
world.
The challenge is great fun and helps ensure reading skills don’t
dip over the long summer break. Taking part is easy and free.
The aim is for children to read six or more library books of their
choice over the course of the summer and into September. They
can read any books they like: fact books, stories, joke books, picture
books, audio books and e-books too! As long as they are borrowed
from the library, they all count.
Children sign-up at their local library and receive a free poster
to start them off. There are scratch-and-sniff stickers and other
rewards to collect along the way, all for free!
Children who complete the Summer Reading Challenge in Torfaen
also receive a free DVD loan, medal and certificate and entry into a
prize draw to win a Samsung Galaxy tablet!
Going on holiday? Just take the books with you or download some
of the free e-books from welshlibraries.org onto your e-reader or
mobile device.
For more information, go to www.recordbreakers.org.uk
Stress affects thousands of people within Wales.
Research suggests one in four adults will have a mental health issue
at some point in their life, and stress plays a big part in this. Help for
stress is now more accessible than ever before thanks to the ‘road to
well-being’ programme launched by Aneurin Bevan University Health
Board. The programme includes the installation of computer kiosks
in public areas across Gwent, and a series of self-help classes that are
free to the general public. The kiosks aim to make access to self-help
cognitive behaviour therapy programs available to the general public.
Dr Luke Jones, a clinical psychologist with Aneurin Bevan University
Health Board, said: “About 100,000 people across Gwent currently
experience common mental health problems such as anxiety and
depression. Many people feel self-conscious about seeking help in
traditional ways like going to see their doctor or a counsellor. These
free courses use an informal accessible lecture-style format.”
For dates of classes, visit www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/866/news/37096
Allotments shop officially opens
Coed Eva allotments’
shop has been officially
opened, following a
refurbishment.
The association used £500
grants from the Welsh Church
Fund and Torfaen council to
improve the shop and install
1,000-litre water tanks. South
Torfaen Allotment Group also
donated money towards the
improvements.
Association secretary Mike
Watkins said: “Through the
winter months, the shop was
gutted, insulation put into
the walls and roof, and a new
floor was laid. I
would like to
thank Floorx,
Cymru Kitchens,
Torfaen Salvage
and Dave
Simmons
for their
donations.”
Don’t forget to recycle Torfaen Talks – pop it into your black box
CEMETERY
RULES ARE
REVISED
The rules and regulations
for cemetery users in
Torfaen have been
updated.
The revised guide has been
written following an extensive
period of consultation and sets
out the rules around cemetery
use in a manner that is clear for
cemetery users.
It also addresses issues
of grave personalisation to
ensure consistency across all
cemeteries in the borough.
Under the new guidelines,
items that move, light up
or make a noise will not be
permitted.
Full details can be found
within the cemetery guidelines
on the council’s website.
The executive member
for neighbourhood services,
councillor John Cunningham,
said: “Our new rules and
regulations have been
developed following an
extensive consultation process,
and we have engaged directly
with the petition group that
raised concerns about grave
personalisation.
“Their main concern has
been that rules are applied
consistently and this will now
be addressed under the new
process.
“I would like to thank
members of the group, and all
others who have been part of
the consultation process, for
taking the time to engage with
us on this very sensitive subject.
“We have also taken the
opportunity to make the guide
itself more user friendly and
easier to follow, and to update
other processes and procedures
that have changed since the
rules and regulations were last
reviewed in 2011.”
The council is seeking to
create a friends group, made
up of users of all cemeteries,
to work together to improve
the service for all users. The
group would be consulted on
any changes to the service
and feedback ideas and
suggestions.
Anyone interested should
contact the cemetery manager,
Tony Crewe, on 01633 871786.
Page 3
Council agrees forward facing plan
Improving services in education, social care
and waste continue to be the key objectives
for Torfaen council this year.
Councillors approved the priority short-term focus
for improving the quality of life for people living and
working in the borough on 21 July.
The council’s forward facing improvement plan sets
out the key issues (known as improvement objectives),
activities and targets for improving services in the year
ahead. A year ago, the council’s focus narrowed in
response to the pressures of budget cuts and increased
demand for services. These three areas
Ensure learning
for all children
and young people
is inclusive and
accessible
continue to be the council’s primary focus during
2015/16.
The council’s budget continues to protect schools and,
although not to the level as in previous years, provides
some relative protection to social care and waste services
despite an overall like for like reduction in funding of 4.1
per cent. The plan sets out in detail what the council will
be doing to improve services in these three areas during
2015/16 and how it will measure success.
Torfaen council leader Bob Wellington said: “We
continue to be honest with residents about the
unprecedented scale of the challenge facing local
government. Each year, millions of pounds are cut from
our budget, while demand for services continues to
grow. We will continue to focus on the same narrow
set of priorities we defined last year, affording as much
protection as possible to the key services of social care,
education and waste. This plan sets out in detail what
people in Torfaen can expect us to be doing in these
areas for the year ahead and how we will demonstrate
our progress in achieving our objectives.”
Progress in delivering the improvements will be
published next year in the council’s annual performance
report. Go to www.torfaen.gov.uk/improvingtorfaen
to find out more. The ten key areas the council will be
focusing on are listed below.
Ensure the range and quality of social care Transform
services is appropriate to meet
educational
people’s needs
provision for
young people
• Promote development of lower level
aged 14-19
services to ensure the council has a range
• Undertake a pilot with
schools to trial the direct
allocation of additional
learning needs funding.
• Develop a primary strategy for behaviour and
the reduction of exclusions.
• Continue to monitor individual targets set by
schools for all looked after pupils.
• Further develop our ability to monitor and
report upon the progress of vulnerable groups
together with any additional provision that is
made available to them.
of support options outside traditional care
packages.
• Prevent unnecessary admissions into
hospital, residential or nursing care
through use of intermediate care beds.
• Maximise the use of intermediate care
beds to help assess the needs of people being discharged from
hospital or to prevent admission to hospital.
• Promote service users’ independence through lower level
interventions.
• Expand the number of people supported to live at home by the
use of assistive care solutions.
Improve access to social care services
Raise standards of educational attainment
• Make improvements to adaptation services so
people receive a more timely quality adaptation
promoting independence in their home.
• Use day activities to promote independence, social
inclusion and positive risk taking.
• Ensure people are supported to live independently in
the home of their choice through facilitating early
discharge and preventing hospital admission.
• To ensure that young people are supported through
transition into adulthood allowing seamless planning of care
throughout the service user’s life.
• Raise standards across all phases of education, with a particular
emphasis on key stage 4 outcomes (GCSE pupils).
• Develop a school to school led partnership strategy for improvement
• Implement a robust and accurate assessment and testing policy in
partnership with head-teachers to ensure our results and tracking of
pupil progress is effective.
• Make timely interventions in schools categorised as amber or red to
raise standards across the school.
Deliver efficient and effective waste and recycling services
Promote people’s independence
•Maximise independence through reshaping
and increase the accommodation options
available to support people outside of the
traditional models of residential care.
•Offer ‘direct payments’ to each service user,
so they can make choices about their support.
• Monitor the number of community meals
delivered to ensure the service remains cost effective.
Support and protect vulnerable children
• Review post-16 education
arrangements in line with 14–19 agenda
and reach agreement on provision in Torfaen.
• Work with former and currently looked after children
to develop ways of improving their opportunities to
progress into education, employment and training.
• Ensure all young people leaving school have a
sustainable, appropriate education, employment or
training destination and to support those that are
NEET or at risk of becoming NEET.
• Increase the number of apprenticeships for 16-24
year olds
•Deliver reduced bin capacity by replacing the existing 240-litre black bins with
140-litre ‘skinny bins’ to help reduce the amount of waste thrown out and
encourage more households to take part in recycling services.
• Deliver an enforcement policy to support service standards and reduce capacity
to ensure residents are following council waste policies and utilising services
available to them.
• Work with other councils to procure long term food and residual waste contracts.
Ensure people’s needs
are assessed in a
timely manner and
care is appropriate
• Carry out looked after children
reviews, adoption placement reviews
and review pathway plans.
• Undertake medical
• Review all care packages provided
assessments of looked-after
to ensure service users’ on-going needs
children.
are effectively met while promoting independence.
• Participate in the delivery of child • To use EmergencyCare@Home to facilitate timely and
care plans.
safe discharge from hospital or prevent admission
• Identify, assess and meet the
• Use a single point of access to screen referrals
needs of young carers to safeguard and promote their
and deal with them at the first point of contact,
welfare.
signposting citizens who do not meet our social care
• Ensure children and their families receive appropriate services eligibility criteria to other services aimed at promoting
based on assessment, bespoke to their individual needs.
independence and community resilience.
Page 4
Ensure children are safe
• Undertake motivation to change interventions,
helping families accept the need to alter behaviours
to improve the effectiveness of preventative services
to vulnerable children and their families
• Support school governors to review safeguarding
procedures.
• To put an online anti-bullying recording tool in
place for the reporting of bullying incidents.
• Safeguard and promote the welfare of children
assessed as being in need.
• Manage case transfer processes to ensure care
planning meets the needs of the
young person/adult.
• Support schools to carry out
their statutory role of
reviewing, refreshing
and reporting on their
strategic equality plans.
For more information, visit www.torfaen.gov.uk/improvement
TESCO FINED Torfaen bakery fine for contaminated water
A New Inn bakery firm
was fined for using
contaminated borehole
water.
Tesco was fined £21,000
after pleading guilty to
giving false information
about the weight of
peanut packs in the run
up to Christmas last year.
Newport Magistrates heard
how Tesco stores in Torfaen
and Blaenau Gwent displayed
incorrect weights for various
packs of Walkers Sensations
flavoured peanuts.
Tesco pleaded guilty to
five charges of breaching the
Consumer Protection from
Unfair Trading Regulations
2008, in that Tesco engaged in a
commercial practice that was a
misleading action.
Following a consumer
complaint from a Pontypool
resident, trading standards
officers from Torfaen council
visited a number of stores in
December 2014 and alerted
store staff to misleading
descriptions as part of a reduced
price promotion.
The court heard that although
the pack weights in the
Sensations range had decreased
in size, the supermarket continue
to declare incorrect weights on
the product’s promotional labels.
The company was fined
£21,000 and ordered to pay a
£500 victim surcharge. Torfaen
council was also awarded costs
of £5,149.
Tesco stated in court that
charitable donations of £15,000
and £5,000 would be paid to
demonstrate that Tesco had not
profited from the mistake.
Senior trading standards
officer Matthew Bartlett said:
“Consumers often look for deals
when doing their family shop,
however these deals may not
always provide customers with
the best value for money.
“When we receive consumer
complaints we will challenge
stores to rectify their mistakes.”
Newport Magistrates heard
a prosecution case against
New Inn bakery Easibake Food
Ltd and managing director
Morris Evans for the use of
contaminated water in products.
Torfaen council’s
environmental health officers
visited Easibake Food Ltd in
January 2014 to sample water
taken from a private borehole
supply located on the site.
It was contaminated by the
chemical Trichloroethene.
The water was being used as
an ingredient in some bakery
products produced at the firm,
including four part-baked bread
products ready to be supplied to
multi-national food retailers.
Easibake Foods Ltd pleaded
guilty to two charges for the
unlicensed abstraction of
water and failure to ensure an
adequate supply of potable
water was used to ensure food
was not contaminated. Morris
Evans also pleaded guilty to
the charge for the unlicensed
abstraction of water.
The court imposed fines
totalling £5,000, awarded
Torfaen council costs of £15,000
and ordered Easibake Foods Ltd
to pay a £120 victim surcharge.
Mr Evans was fined £500 and
ordered to pay a £50 surcharge.
housing, planning and public
protection, councillor Gwyneira
Clark, said: “Our officers have a
responsibility to monitor private
water supplies. In this particular
case, it was not just a case of
protecting the public health
of Torfaen residents but those
consuming bread products
across the UK.”
ILLEGAL TOBACCO SEIZURES
Thousands of illegal cigarettes and
pouches of hand-rolling tobacco have
been seized by Torfaen trading
standards officers during a twoday operation with HMRC.
Some of packets and pouches
were subsequently examined
and identified as being
counterfeit. The health
warnings on the packs were not
in English and do not have
pictorial warnings, which is
a legal requirement to sell
in the UK.
At Newport Magistrates’ Court,
Amanda Woodward, of Keepers
Feeds, Abergavenny Road,
Blaenavon pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit
and foreign-labelled cigarettes and tobacco. She
was fined £1,759.56, including costs and a victim
support charge.
The magistrates ordered the forfeiture and
destruction of the cigarettes and tobacco.
She pleaded guilty to five offences under
the Trade Marks Act 1994 and two offences
under the Consumer Protection Act
1987.
Counterfeit tobacco is
packaged in copied fake
packaging to appear
genuine and has been
found to contain
dangerously high levels
of toxic chemicals, bits
of wood, sawdust and even
rodent droppings.
People buying cheap
cigarettes might think they are getting
a great deal, but the truth is that they’re not.
If they knew what they might contain, the might
think twice about buying them
Anybody with information on people
selling counterfeit goods can contact 01633
647624, tradingstandards@torfaen.gov.uk, or
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Speak out to stop scams from spreading
Torfaen council is calling on residents
in Torfaen to expose scams and help
stop more people from falling prey
to clever cons that fleece them of
thousands of pounds.
Figures show that less than five per cent of
victims report scams to the authorities.
Torfaen council’s trading standards is
encouraging residents to report suspicious
activities, get advice if they think they’ve been
conned, and to warn others to help stop scams
from spreading. Scams come in every form,
from doorstep double glazing sales to online
investment offers. People may be targeted with
“vishing” calls where a fraudster impersonates
their bank to collect their bank details, or by
bogus companies offering computer services.
Online scams include dodgy job adverts and
offers for goods and services, while mail scams
may ask victims to pay a fee in order to claim
their winnings from a prize draw they haven’t
entered.
People should take their time to make a
decision and get their facts together before
parting with their money or personal information,
and speak out when they think they’ve spotted
a scam.
If you think you have been scammed, call
03454 04 05 06 or go to www.adviceguide.org.uk
LOCAL TAXI
LICENCE
SUSPENDED
A Torfaen taxi driver has
had his licence suspended
for six months.
On 25 June, Caerphilly
Magistrates Court was due to
hear an appeal against Torfaen
council’s decision to suspend
the hackney carriage licence of
Nicky James for a breach of the
council’s policy and conditions
of licences.
However, the appeal was
withdrawn.
The council policy states
that: “Drivers shall not engage
in any sexual activity with
customers or make any advance
or comment that could be
construed to be an attempt to
procure any special relationship,
sexual or otherwise, with the
customer.”
Mr James was ordered to pay
the council’s costs of £2,538.
The chair of the licensing
committee, councillor Neil
Waite, said: “We are constantly
working to make Torfaen a safer
place to live, work and visit, and
licensing plays a key role in this
process.
“It is essential that anyone
using a private hire vehicle in
Torfaen does so in the safe
knowledge that they using a
reputable driver.
“The council oversees the
licence conditions and vehicle
standards under which taxis
operate, and it has robust
procedures in place to ensure
the highest possible standards.
“We take any allegations of
misconduct towards female
passengers very seriously and
the licensing process is there to
ensure that the public are safe
when using licensed vehicles.”
If you have any information
on any person illegally plying
for hire or wish to raise any
concerns about a taxi driver,
contact 01633 647284 or
licensing@torfaen.gov.uk
Scam advice is available on 03454 04 05 06 and www.adviceguide.org.uk
Page 5
NEWS IN BRIEF
Retail businesses can receive Welsh Government help
Welsh Government has introduced a retail relief business rates
scheme providing relief of up to £1,500 on the business rate bill
for all occupied retail properties with a rateable value of £50,000
or less in the financial year 2015/16 (subject to state aid limits).
Letters have been sent to all the businesses that could be eligible.
For more information, go to www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/Business
Affordable housing scheme targeting local people
Help2Own Plus helps people access good quality affordable
housing. Developed by Torfaen council in partnership with
local registered social landlords, it targets people who
are in employment, but are struggling to afford suitable
accommodation. Help is available in various ways, including
purchasing a property via shared equity, shared ownership and
DIY home ownership. Help is also available for those looking
to rent. Applicants are required to pay for the costs involved,
including a deposit, legal fees and administration charges.
There will be opportunities to buy properties in Blaenavon,
Sebastopol, Henllys and Llantarnam. Applicants must complete
an application form at www.torfaenhomes.co.uk. For information,
contact Help2Own@torfaen.gov.uk or 01495 742631.
Housing association becomes ‘living wage’ employer
Melin Homes has become a ‘living wage’ employer. The
Pontypool-based housing association’s 243 staff are now all
paid at least the living wage of £7.85 an hour. The living wage
is calculated annually by the Centre for Research in Social
Policy at Loughborough University, as a rate that will provide
an acceptable standard of living. This wage is higher than the
national minimum wage of £6.50 for adults over 21.
Customer Service Excellence Award for Melin Homes
Melin Homes has been re-accredited with the Customer Service
Excellence Award for the fith year running. Awarded by the UK
Government, the award is given to organisations demonstrating
the national standard for excellence in customer service.
Cwmbran Library hosts new food co-op service
Residents can access affordable fresh fruit and vegetables from
a new food co-op at Cwmbran Library. Every Monday at 12pm–
2pm, customers can place orders for bags of fruit, vegetables
or salad for collection the following week at Cwmbran Library
Food Co-op. Anyone can use the co-operative, which also accepts
Healthy Start Vouchers. For information, contact 07807 003039
or rebecca.may@rru.org.uk, or visit www.foodcoopswales.org.uk
Congress Theatre to host jobs fair in September
A jobs fair will be held at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran on
Wednesday 2 September at 11am–2pm. For more
information, contact 01633 647743.
Tickets available for concerts at Congress Theatre
On Friday 7 August, Tenovus choir will perform a lunchtime
concert in the lounge of the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran. On
Wednesday 23 September, the theatre will hold a lunchtime
show featuring a selection of favourite songs from the Old Time
Music Hall. Tickets are £6 per show. For more information, call
01633 868239 or visit www.congresstheatrecwmbran.co.uk
Sculpture and art exhibition proves popular
Torfaen council’s adult and community learning (ACL) service
held a successful sculpture and art exhibition at Croesyceiliog
CEC. It included a table sale with a wide variety of craft items
such as woodturning, jewellery, card making and textiles. An
art auction raised more than £700 for the Healing Hands
charity. Many people attend courses at the centre as a
therapeutic pastime, while others generate an income by
making work to sell online or at craft fairs. To find out more
about ACL courses, call 01633 647700.
Page 6
Indoor market relaunched
The recently renovated
Pontypool Indoor Market
was formally re-launched
by the minister for
finance and government
business, Jane Hutt.
The Grade-II listed building,
which dates from 1893, has
undergone an extensive
£2.5million refurbishment over
the last three years. There has
been a surge of interest from
independent traders, with 32
businesses currently operating
stalls. Many of the existing
traders have also expanded
into additional stalls to manage
demand for their services.
The refurbishment has
been funded by the European
Regional Development Fund,
the Heads of the Valleys
Programme through the
Welsh Government, Pontypool
Regeneration Partnership,
Heritage Lottery Fund and
Torfaen council.
regeneration, councillor Lewis
Jones, said: “Pontypool Market
is a gem at the heart of the
town centre, offering shoppers
a more personal, friendly
shopping experience.
“We now have a really diverse
range of products and services
available in the market and
this is only going to grow in the
coming months. I would urge
anyone who may not have been
to the market for some time to
pay us a visit and see what is on
offer.”
• Call 01495 752822 or visit
www.torfaen.gov.uk/
en/Business for more
information about trading in
the market.
Review of adult community education in Torfaen
Torfaen council is reviewing adult and
community learning (ACL) services across
the borough.
The council has written to ACL learners about the
review of future courses, facilities and the funding
required to provide ACL services in Torfaen.
The review is necessary following a 37 per cent
reduction in funding in 2014/15, followed by a
54 per cent reduction in ACL funding for 2015/16
from Welsh Government. However, the council
has provided a one-off contribution to ensure a
comprehensive programme of learning can still be
offered for the next academic year from September
through to July 2016.
The executive member for education, councillor
David Yeowell, said: “Although it is not a statutory
service, the council has been very supportive of
adult and community education, which has meant
savings have been achieved through efficiencies
rather than radical change. To cover a shortfall in
funding, the council has provided an additional
£165,500 this year, so that learners can be assured
that classes with viable numbers will be able
to continue from September 2015 through to
completion in July 2016.”
The review concludes at the end of August. For
further information, visit
www.torfaen.gov.uk/educationlearning
• A copy of the ACL brochure will be delivered to
homes during August. For more information on
courses, contact Croesyceiliog CEC on
01633 647700, Power Station 01633 647647
or Pontypool CEC on 01495 742600.
Testimonial awards PERFORMANCE IS GOOD
Ten residents and community
groups received civic testimonial
awards in recognition for their
work in the community.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and
Training, Estyn, has rated Gwent Adult and
Community Learning Partnership’s performance
as good.
Councillors made the nominations and
Its current performance was judged to be good as were
the awards were given out at a special
the standards of teaching and well-being, care, support and
presentation evening at civic centre,
guidance, learning environment, leadership, partnership
Pontypool.
working and management. The partnership consists of
Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and
Torfaen councils, and Coleg Gwent.
Estyn said learners achieve good standards on their courses
and their success rates compare well to national comparators.
Partners also work well together to plan the curriculum, while
the teaching and assessment are good or better in most
cases.
Estyn says the prospects for improvement are excellent
because the partnership has a track record of improving
outcomes for learners; a good range of provision that
enables learners from priority areas to access education;
a strong partnership and an ethos of collaboration
between partners and other agencies; and clear strategic
leadership and plans for improvement.
To find out more about adult and community learning, call 01633 647700
RESIDENTS’ SURVEY
As a daily user of public services in Torfaen,
the council invites you to take part in the
2015 residents’ satisfaction survey.
RAISING A FAMILY
Satisfaction
complete and return this paper copy in the post or pop
it into libraries or customer care offices in Cwmbran,
Pontypool and Blaenavon.
The survey will probably take about 30 minutes to
complete. If there are any questions that you do not
know the answer to or prefer not to answer, leave them.
If you have any questions, would like help completing
the form or would like a copy of the questionnaire in
another format or language, contact Cath Cleaves on
01495 766475 or engagement@torfaen.gov.uk
The deadline for completing the survey is 31 August.
The purpose of the survey is to get your views and
satisfaction on a wide range of issues and services
relevant to Torfaen. These include education, social
care and waste management, where the council spends
the bulk of its money. The council delivers hundreds of
different services so, although the survey appears long,
there may not be questions on every service.
The council is determined, in partnership with other
organisations, to improve the quality of services you
TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY, PLACE AN X IN THE
receive. To help it achieve this, it wants to know what
YELLOW BOXES RATING YOUR SATISFACTION WITH
residents think. The results of the survey will help shape
A SERVICE (1 LOW, 5 HIGH) AND PLACE AN X IN THE
service delivery across the borough. The survey can
PURPLE BOXES INDICATING HOW IMPORTANT YOU
be completed online at www.forms.torfaen.gov.uk/
torfaensatisfaction2015/english/survey.htm or you can BELIEVE A SERVICE TO BE (L LOW, M MEDIUM, H HIGH)
OVERALL SERVICES
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
1
H
Quality of service
Telephone contact
Professionalism of
service
Online forms and
services
Outcome of service
Face to face
Provides value for
money
Smartphone app
Open and
transparent
Social media (eg,
Facebook, Twitter)
2
3
4
INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
L
M
5
L
M
H
Local newspaper
Given right
information & advice
2
3
4
5
L
M
H
2
3
4
5
L
M
H
M
H
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Satisfaction
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
2
3
4
Local media
Importance
5
L
M
H
Council website
Improvement ideas:
RECYCLING COLLECTIONS
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Cleanliness after
collections
Materials
collected
Recycling crews’
conduct
Access to
information on
consultations
Local facilities
Boxes, bags and
caddies returned
People help each
other
Collections take
place on schedule
Improvement ideas:
L
UNDERSTANDING COUNCIL TAX
Community events
Improvement ideas:
5
Improvement ideas:
Contact with
council officer(s)
Understanding how
decisions are made
4
Reading Torfaen
Talks
COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Contact with
councillors
3
Quality of housing
1
Importance
2
Access to
employment in region
Improvement ideas:
HAVING YOUR SAY
1
1
Importance
Council tax leaflet
Feeling safe
walking at night
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
Importance
Feeling safe
walking in the day
Improvement ideas:
OPPORTUNITIES TO
FULFIL YOUR POTENTIAL
1
1
Local newsletters
Improvement ideas:
Can speak to an
officer in Welsh
Satisfaction
Posters/leaflets
It's a safe place
Access to
information
A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE
Council website
H
Billingual website
Improvement ideas:
Council Facebook
and Twitter
M
Opportunities for
future employment
1
1
Officers are polite
and courteous
L
Local schools
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
Torfaen Talks
5
WELSH LANGUAGE SERVICES
RESPONDING TO YOUR REQUESTS
H
4
Improvement ideas:
Importance
5
3
Importance
Improvement ideas:
Improvement ideas:
2
Quality of life
CONTACTING THE COUNCIL
Satisfaction
1
Importance
Improvement ideas:
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
CONDITION OF LOCAL ROADS
Satisfaction
BLACK WHEELIE BIN COLLECTIONS
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
PARKING
H
Satisfaction
Frequency of
council roadworks
1
Cleanliness after
collections
Frequency of
utilities roadworks
Cleanliness of car
parks
Refuse crews’
conduct
Pothole repairs
Availability of car
parking
Bin returned to
collection point
Drainage
Disabled parking
Time taken for
repairs to be done
Feeling safe using
the car parks
Improvement ideas:
STREET CLEANLINESS
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Number of litter
bins
Improvement ideas:
Satisfaction
Quality of street
sweeping
1
Dog fouling
Road signage
Improvement ideas:
Satisfaction
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
5
L
M
H
Standard/quality of
service
1
Importance
5
L
M
H
L
M
H
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Grass cutting
Play facilities
Trees/flowers/
shrubbery
Local nature reserves
and woodland
Speed of traffic
Importance
5
Satisfaction
Traffic calming
measures
MAINTENANCE OF VERGES AND
GRASS AREAS
4
PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
ROAD SAFETY MEASURES
Number of road
accidents
3
Improvement ideas:
Road resurfacing
Frequency of
street sweeping
2
Importance
Signage
Dangerous driving/
overtaking
Facilities
Awareness
campaigns
Improvement ideas:
Improvement ideas:
ARTS AND CULTURAL SERVICES
Grass cutting teams
STANDARD OF FOOTPATHS,
BRIDEWAYS, RIGHTS OF WAY AND
NATIONAL CYCLE NETWORK
Frequency of
cuttings
Improvement ideas:
Satisfaction
1
CONDITION OF MAIN ROADS
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Frequency of
council roadworks
Frequency of
utilities roadworks
Pothole repairs
Road resurfacing
Improvement ideas:
4
5
L
M
H
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Range of events
Opportunities to
participate
Venues
Condition
Cost
Signage
Improvement ideas:
Improvement ideas:
STREET LIGHTING
Satisfaction
1
Quality of street
lighting
Number of street
lights
Time taken to
repair street lights
TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY, PLACE AN X IN
THE YELLOW BOXES RATING YOUR SATISFACTION
WITH A SERVICE (1 LOW, 5 HIGH) AND PLACE
AN X IN THE PURPLE BOXES INDICATING HOW
IMPORTANT YOU BELIEVE A SERVICE TO BE
(L LOW, M MEDIUM, H HIGH)
3
Accessibility
Drainage
Time taken for
repairs to be done
2
Importance
Satisfaction
Amount of street
lighting
Improvement ideas:
2
3
4
5
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Satisfaction
Importance
L
M
H
1
Food premises
inspections
Pest control
Public health
issues
Standard of
service
Improvement ideas:
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
HOUSING SERVICES
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
Satisfaction
H
1
Availability of
affordable housing
Standard of
teaching
Disabled facilities
grants
Standard of
teaching enviroment
Homeseeker
service
Application
process
Support of
landlords
Access to necessary
information
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
ADULT/COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Satisfaction
1
Improvement ideas:
Satisfaction
Satisfaction
1
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
2
3
4
5
Importance
L
M
LIBRARY SERVICES
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
5
Importance
L
M
H
Access to
information
Improvement ideas:
SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS (SEN)
Satisfaction
1
School meals
overall
Teaching standards
Cost of school
meals
Teaching staff
Satisfaction
1
Services available
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
5
L
M
H
4
5
L
M
H
Access to
information
School buildings/
facilities
Transport services
Communication
with parents
Satisfaction
Quality of service
from officers
Post-16 options
Standard/quality
of service
Time taken to get
a decision
Career advice
Professionalism of
officers/staff
*NOTE: LEISURE SERVICES ARE
PROVIDED BY TORFAEN LEISURE
TRUST AND NOT TORFAEN COUNCIL
M
H
CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES
FOR THE ELDERLY
School transport
Improvement ideas:
L
Improvement ideas:
Access to
information
Level of engagement
and consultation
5
Communication
with parents
Teaching staff
School clubs/
activities
Importance
3
Relationship with
school
Quality of service
PLANNING SERVICES
2
Importance
Teaching standards
Opening hours
Improvement ideas:
4
Understanding of
SEN
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
IT facilities/access
3
Access to right
support
Improvement ideas:
Quality of
buildings
2
Importance
School buildings/
facilities
Nutrition of school
meals
Service allocation
H
Courses/curriculum
School transport
Improvement ideas:
M
Communication
with learners
Communication
with parents
Range of facilities/
services
L
Charges/fees
Teaching
standards
School clubs/
activities
Affordability of
services
5
H
School buildings/
facilities
Location of
facilities/services
4
Buildings/facilities
Teaching staff
Quality of
facilities/services
3
Teaching staff
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
LEISURE SERVICES*
2
Importance
Teaching standards
Improvement ideas:
Help to improve
energy efficency
1
School meals
overall
Cost of school
meals
Nutrition of school
meals
Improvement ideas:
Waiting times for
assessments
Access to information
and advice
Access to support
services
Improvement ideas:
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
REVENUES AND BENEFITS SERVICE
Satisfaction
H
1
Standard/quality
of service
Standard/quality
of service
Professionalism of
officers/staff
Staff
professionalism
Waiting times for
assessments
Access to
information
2
3
4
Satisfaction
Importance
5
L
M
H
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Restoration of
buildings
Town centre
improvements
Landscaping
projects
New cycling and
walking routes
Any other comments:
and advice
REGENERATION PROJECTS
Any other comments:
Access to support
services
YOUTH SERVICE
Satisfaction
Any other comments:
1
CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Importance
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
5
L
M
H
Standard/quality
of service
2
3
4
5
Importance
L
M
H
Range of activities
for 11-25 year olds
What is your home postcode?
Awareness of
services provided
What is your gender?
Accessibility of
services provided
What is your age?
Quality of services
provided
Professionalism of
officers/staff
What is your ethnicity?
Any other comments:
Waiting times for
assessments
PLAY SERVICE
Satisfaction
and advice
1
Access to support
services
3
4
5
L
M
H
Quality of
playschemes
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES
Satisfaction
1
2
Importance
Opportunities for
children to play
Any other comments:
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Number of buses
Accessibility of
playschemes
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Events programme
Bus routes
Information and
promotion
Any other comments:
Opportunities for
businesses
TRADING STANDARDS
Satisfaction
1
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
H
Standard/quality
of service
Staff
professionalism
Access to
information
Any other comments:
Any other comments:
COUNTRYSIDE SERVICES
Satisfaction
1
Accessibility to
walks and paths
Protecting wildlife/
biodiversity
Any other comments:
Do you have a disability, long-term illness
or health problem?
Are your day to day activities limited
because of a health problem or disability
which has lasted, or is expected to last, at
least 12 months? (Include problems related
to old age)
What is your household composition (how
many people live in your home and their
relationships)?
Quality of tourism
attractions
Conservation of
countryside
Can you understand, speak, read or write
Welsh? (specify which)
What is your highest level of qualification?
Any other comments:
Frequency of
services
What is your religion?
What is your main language?
SERVICES TO ATTRACT TOURISTS
Reliability of
services
TELL THE COUNCIL ABOUT YOU
2
3
4
Importance
5
L
M
What is your household tenure (eg
homeowner with a mortgage)?
H
What is your employment status?
Return your completed survey to:
Cath Cleaves, Engagement, Floor 2,
Civic Centre, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 6YB.
BLENHEIM ROAD COM
Current performance: Ad
equate
Improvement prospects:
Good
Torfaen council is introducing a new policy for
school dinner money collection to help reduce the
dinner money debt owed.
From September, all schools will only provide a maximum of
five meals without payment. Pupils, other than those entitled
to free school meals, will not be provided with a meal unless
payment is made or, in the case of cashless systems, until the
account is in credit.
If a school agrees there is a genuine case of temporary
hardship or dinner money is simply forgotten, then a meal will
be provided but payment will be required the following day. A
reminder will be sent to inform the parent of non-payment. If
payment is not received for further meals, a written reminder
or text will be issued on each occasion with an offer to discuss
any issues that may be preventing payment.
The executive member for education, councillor David
Yeowell, said: “This new and consistent policy is fair to all
parents. Without this income, our ability to provide an
effective, efficient service is made more difficult. Anyone in
genuine hardship should discuss it with the school or catering
service. We’re aware there are pupils who are entitled to free
school meals but are not receiving them, so we’ll fully support
parents in making an application.”
The policy will help the schools meals service save £50,000
in 2015/16. To discuss non-payment, hardship or free school
meals, contact 01633 647715 or go to www.torfaen.gov.uk
MUNITY PRIMARY
The performance is ad
equate because:
• There’s been notable
improvement in pupils’
performance in the previo
us three years;
• Pupils with additional
learning needs make
good progress;
• Most pupils made notab
le improvements in
reading skills and many
read at a level at least
in accordance with their
age & enjoy reading;
• Many pupils are devel
oping good maths skills;
• Most pupils display en
thusiasm for Welsh;
• Most teachers plan int
eresting lessons and use
and grammar and devel
a good range of effective
ops strategies to
teaching strategies;
im
prove written work;
• Care, support and guida
nce are of high quality;
• Improves pupils’ abilit
• The school promotes
y to write at length;
strong social and moral
•
Provides more opportunit
values that result in most
ies for pupils to
pupils being polite,
apply numeracy skills;
helpful and very well be
haved.
• Ensures teachers mark
Estyn recommends the
more consistently;
school:
• Furthers develops self-e
• Improves pupils’ hand
valuation so it is
writing, punctuation
consistently applied.
Football fun at annual festival
More than 70 Torfaen
pupils took part in a
girls’ football festival at
Cwmbran Stadium.
Organised by Torfaen sports
development, the event was
supported by local clubs and
Andy Pask, from Welsh Football
Trust.
Transition support for pupils
Torfaen council’s youth service delivered a
transition project to vulnerable year-6 pupils
who may
not make a smooth transition to secondary scho
ol.
Across Torfaen, 56 pupils were referred onto the
project, which was
delivered at the Boating Lake in Cwmbran and
the Flower Gardens in
Blaenavon.
The project used the John Muir Award to help
deliver activities
that enabled the children to explore local outd
oor spaces.
Activities included shelter building, leaf and bird
identification,
creating insect homes and bird boxes, and build
ing little drifter
boats. They received the discovery level of the
John Muir Award and
the junior participation award.
The pupils will be offered a follow-up session once
they settle into
secondary school. For more information, conta
ct 01633 648124.
MP visits eco club
Crownbridge school welcomed a
special visitor in June.
Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds visited
the school to meet with members of its
eco club and discuss the importance of
education. A special reception was held at
the school’s café, before certificates were
presented to pupils during assembly.
Kwik Cricket success
A Kwik Cricket festival was held at
Panteg Cricket Club.
Played in glorious weather, more than
60 Torfaen school pupils took part in the
mixed-sex tournament. Organised by
Torfaen council’s sports development
team, in partnership with Cricket Wales,
the event allowed the pupils to compete in a fun environment.
TRANSITION DAYS FOR YEAR-6 PUPILS
More than 200 pupils attended a
transition days at Fairwater High School.
The event was for pupils starting at the new Cwm
bran
High School in September and aimed to introduce
pupils
to the new surroundings in an enjoyable way. Pupil
s
enjoyed activities including dancing, hockey, athle
tics,
badminton, basketball and cricket, while meet
ing future
classmates.
Nepal presentation
Nant Celyn pupils raised money for the
victims of the earthquake in Nepal.
The school council created a PowerPoint
presentation giving a context to the disaster
and the need for the money. School council
members led the assembly and presented the
money to representatives of the local Ghurkha
community.
FIRST WORLD WAR CASUALTIES FROM TORFAEN
Over the next three years, Torfaen
Talks is publishing a list of people with
Torfaen connections who died as a
result of serving their country in the
First World War (WW1).
As part of the 100th anniversary of
the declaration of war with Germany
on 4 August 1914, local WW1 amateur
historian Stuart Cameron has compiled
a list of local men and women who gave
their lives during the conflict.
Stuart has collated the names of
1,260 soldiers with a Torfaen connection,
using various sources including the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
(CWGC), Naval and Military History, Free
Press of Monmouthshire, South Wales
Argus, Gwent Record Office, local libraries
and the Blaenavon Heritage Museum. He
is now appealing for more information.
Stuart has gathered further
information on soldiers, but due to space
not all of the information can appear
here.
If you have further information,
contact stuartcameronww1@gmail.com
• The list below is only a selection of
names from August and September.
For a complete list, go to
www.torfaen.gov.uk
RANK
AGE SERVICE SURNAME
NO
FORENAMES COMMEMORATED
REGIMENT
DATE OF
DEATH
PLACE OF
DEATH
CEMETERY OR
MEMORIAL NAME
Private
35
518
Ball
George
Edwin
Royal Munster Fusiliers
07-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Azmak Cemetery, Sulva
Private
19
12309
Davies
Joshua
Panteg War Memorial
South Wales Borderers
07-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
20
14227
Driscoll
Denis
St Gabriel's Church,
Cwmbran
07-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Brother Humphrey
Driscoll KIA 9/8/15
Private
19
13258
Hayes
Ivor Wesley,
Harcourt
St Cadoc's Church,
Trevethin
07-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Details in Free Press
at Newport library
Private
26
32901
Hale
William John
War Memorial Park
Gates, Pontypool
Welsh Regiment
08-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
at Newport library
Private
25
27254
Jones
William
Pontrhydyrun Baptist
Church, Croesyceiliog
Welsh Regiment
08-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
20
27261
Osborne
George
James
GKN (Colliery) Plaques at
Cwmbran Park
Welsh Regiment
08-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
21
1887
Pauling
Raymond
Welsh Regiment
08-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
4/12449
Driscoll
Humphrey
GKN (Colliery) Plaques at
Cwmbran Park
09-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Brother Denis Driscoll
D of W 7/8/15
Lance
Corporal
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Private
20
13058
Jones
Kenneth
Cwmbran
09-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Hill 60 Cemetery
at Newport library
Lance
Corporal
29
13001
Morgan
Joseph
09-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Brother Charles Morgan
D of W 23/5/15 *
14180
Saunders
James
War Memorial, Blaenavon South Wales Borderers
09-Aug-15
Gallipoli
7th Field Ambulance
Cemetery
Prince of Wales’ Own (West
Yorkshire Regiment)
09-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
Lance
Sergeant
25
12523
Vater
William John
Private
28
G/6843
Whitby
George
Edward
Cwmbran
The Buffs (East Kent
Regiment)
09-Aug-15
Flanders
Ypres (Menin Gate)
Memorial
Private
37
19766
Woods
Arthur
GKN Plaque, Cwmbran
Park (Colliery)
The Loyal North Lancashire
Regiment
09-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
21
6245
Yelland
Frederick
St Cadoc's Church,
Trevethin
King’s Shropshire Light
Infantry
09-Aug-15
Flanders
Ypres (Menin Gate)
Memorial
1608
Baxter
Frederick A
St Cadoc's Church,
Trevethin
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
10-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
18684
Sullivan
Mortimer
Duke of Edinburgh’s
(Wiltshire Regiment)
10-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
12374
Edmunds
William
11-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
Private
42
Private
at Newport library
Lance
Corporal
28
12231
Hennessey
Christopher
St Cadoc's Church,
Trevethin
11-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Azmak Cemetery, Suvla
at Newport library
Private
23
2245
Turner
William John
All Saints Church,
Cwmffrwdoer
Herefordshire Regiment
11-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Lancashire Landing
Cemetery
at Newport library
Private
27
12234
Jones
John Thomas
War Memorial, Blaenavon South Wales Borderers
12-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
at Newport library
Private
35
12754
Johnson
James
Cwmbran
13-Aug-15
Egypt
Alexandria (Chatby)
Memorial Cemetery
at Newport library
Lance
Corporal
20
12627
Werrett
Austin Tudor
13-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
20
207459
Powell
Walter
Worcestershire Regiment
15-Aug-15
France
Tannay British Cemetery,
Thienes
Corporal
31
240261
Doyle
Thomas
Welsh Regiment
17-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
Private
22
13265
Howells
James
St Cadoc's Church,
Trevethin
17-Aug-15
Gallipoli
7th Field Ambulance
Cemetery
at Newport library
Private
28
10785
Harris
Elias Morgan
War Memorial Park
Gates, Pontypool
York and Lancaster Regiment
20-Aug-15
Egypt
Alexandria (Chatby)
Memorial Cemetery
at Newport library
Private
28
8344
Griffiths
Thomas
All Saints Church,
Cwmffrwdoer
21-Aug-15
Gallipoli
Helles Memorial
at Newport library
War Memorial Park
Gates, Pontypool
* Details in Free Press at Newport library
Page 12
Contact stuartcameronww1@gmail.com with local WW1 information
Encourging others
to foster children
A Torfaen couple are
encouraging others to
consider fostering.
At least 550 new foster
families are needed across
Wales during 2015 to provide
stable, secure and loving
homes for record numbers of
fostered children, according to
the Fostering Network.
Steve and Sharon Quick have
recently welcomed a child with
complex needs into their home
and are encouraging others to
do the same.
Steve explained: “We first
considered fostering in 2008,
after seeing a Barnardo’s
advert on TV. Although we
didn’t end up doing it then,
the feeling remained. We
finally decided to do it last
year and contacted Torfaen
council. It took a few months,
but we enjoyed the process. It
made us realise how lucky we
are, what we have and what
we could offer to others. From
that moment on we knew this
was the right thing to do. We
had good support throughout
the process and, although it
was intense, it was positive
overall.”
In Torfaen, more foster
families are needed to provide
homes for teenagers and
children with disabilities, in
particular.
When they were asked
what children they would
be interested in fostering,
the couple said they were
happy to look after a child
with learning and physical
disabilities.
Sharon said: “Initially, we
were going to do short-term
and emergency care. When
we said we were happy to take
on children who may have
learning or complex physical
needs, they knew just
the right child for us.
We know it is hard to
recruit carers
for
children with complex needs,
but we were happy to do this.
Once we met the child, we
knew we were doing the right
thing.”
In order to accommodate
their child, their home needed
some substantial changes. The
back garden was landscaped
and lifts were fitted, while the
floors were raised inside the
home and a lift installed.
for health, social care and
well-being, councillor Richard
Clark, praised the work of
Steve, Sharon and all carers
in the borough and made
a rallying cry for others to
consider it too: “Our aim is
to accommodate all Torfaen
foster children within the
borough. Without enough
foster families willing and able
to offer homes, some children
will find themselves living a
long way from family, friends
and their school.
“While fostering can be
challenging, it is also incredibly
rewarding. Foster carers can
help to change the lives of
children in need.”
Steve and Sharon have
now settled their child into a
routine and are not looking
back. They added: “We have
had good support from
our family and friends. The
family placement team and
social worker have also been
fantastic with their support
and transitional processes.”
If you think you could foster
a child or you want more
information, contact the
family placement team on
01495 766693.
• Torfaen council also needs
people to offer regular
short breaks to families
in need of support. If you
think you could help, call
01495 766616.
Carers receive awards at annual ceremony
Torfaen council
recognised the dedication
and commitment of its
long-term foster carers
with a celebration
ceremony.
The event celebrated the hard
work and achievements of staff
and foster carers, as well as the
achievements of a group of
service users from SCOPE, who
also attended.
In Torfaen, foster carers
are encouraged to study for
vocational QCF qualifications,
which support and reinforce the
in-house training that Torfaen
council provides to all foster
carers. Long service awards
were presented to Denise
Quarrington, Jeanette and
David Touhig, and Sharon and
Wayne Davies.
Customer care centre relocation
The customer care centre in Cwmbran is to move from
General Rees Square into Cwmbran library.
The new customer care centre will be based in former offices that
aren’t currently open to the public, so no space will be lost in the
library. The move will save the council about £60,000 per year.
Work has started, with the move due to take place later this year.
The executive member for housing, planning and public
protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, said: “Moving the customer
care centre into Cwmbran library makes sense and will bring a range
of council services together under one roof.
“It will allow us to make a significant yearly saving at a time when
all services are facing reduced budgets, while continuing to provide
residents with a high level of service.”
UNESCO youth summit competition
Young people from
Torfaen are being offered
a free place at the UK
UNESCO World Heritage
Youth Summit 2015
in Blaenavon (20–22
October).
During the summit, they
will hear about and examine
how World Heritage status can
be used as a tool for positive
change.
In order to attend, children
aged 13–17 must get together
in groups of two to four and
submit a piece of creative work
in any format they choose that
answers the question: ‘What is
the value of world heritage to
you?’
Successful applicants will
receive two nights’ free
accommodation for themselves
plus one adult, food, all
activities at the summit, a
goody bag and t-shirt.
Interested groups should
register for the summit by 1
September and submit their
work by 18 September.
For more information, go
to www.visitblaenavon.co.uk/
youthsummit
For more information about fostering, call 01495 766616
If you woud like more
information about fostering in
Torfaen, telephone
01495 766669.
HIGHWAYS
The council’s highway
resurfacing programme
for 2015/16 has started.
Over four months, the
council will resurface about
six miles of roadway across
the borough. About £6million
worth of carriageway
resurfacing work has been
identified for 2015/16, with
about £2million of that
deemed to be essential.
However, the council’s
available budget for this work
is only about £1.2million.
The council prioritises roads
based on criteria such as the
risk to public safety, traffic
volume, collision history, and
the road’s status in the overall
highway network.
This is in addition to
repairing about 5,000 pot
holes and other roadway
defects per year.
for neighbourhood services,
councillor John Cunningham,
explains: “Residents often ask
why roads that are in a poor
state of repair have not been
resurfaced and the answer is
that we simply don’t have the
resources to complete all the
work that has been identified.
“We are not alone and
each Welsh authority requires
about £30million as a one-off
catch-up to bring their roads
up to an acceptable standard.
However, public safety is
always our priority and the
whole highway network is
regularly inspected to ensure
emergency issues are dealt
with as soon as possible.”
Page 13
Meals vehicles powered by electricity
Torfaen council has five
new electric vans for its
community meals service.
The Nissan e-NV200 electric
vans deliver hot meals and tea
trays to about 175 residents
every day. They will save the
council about £8,000 per year in
fuel costs and more than £1000
per year in tax.
The reduced maintenance
associated with electric vehicles
will save on maintenance bills
and they will also reduce the
council’s carbon footprint.
Gareth Boyd, community
meals manager at Torfaen
council, said: “We’ve got people
out there who don’t see anyone
else during the day, so having
someone deliver a hot meal on
a daily basis is a real lifeline.
“Our drivers play an important
part in the care of many of the
most vulnerable people in our
community. The community
meals service does a fantastic
job on a very tight budget and
these vehicles allow us to make
some significant savings while
continuing to deliver a high level
of service.”
The new vehicles cost just 2p
per mile to run and can cover
about 106 miles per charge.
They can be charged from zero
to 100 per cent in 30 minutes.
Annual electoral register reminder for residents
Torfaen council is reminding residents
that they need to register to vote in the
annual canvass.
Thousands of people have already replied to
their household enquiry forms that were sent out
in July; however, the council is still waiting to hear
from some households. It is very important that
you respond to this form.
If the details on your form are correct, you can
confirm that online, by phone or by text. If any of
the details on the form are not correct, you can let
the council know by completing the form online
or by returning the paper form in the pre-paid
envelope supplied.
All the details of how to respond are shown on
the form.
Remember – you can be fined for not
responding. It is a legal requirement for you to
supply this information. You may not be able
to get credit if you are not registered to vote
correctly. And you won’t be able to vote.
For more information, contact the elections
team on 01495 766220.
Riverside Court improvements
The drying areas at
Riverside Court in
Blaenavon have been
improved and Bron Afon
has fitted new fencing.
Meet your councillor
ABERSYCHAN
Councillor Gwyneira Clark
01495 773737
Councillor Giles Davies
07507 054313
Councillor Wayne Tomlinson
01495 774953
BLAENAVON
Councillor Stuart Evans
01495 792335
07443 936033
Councillor Evans will hold surgeries at Workmen’s
hall cottage (3 August) and Garn-yr-Erw Welfare
Hall (7 September, request only) and Forgeside
Community Hall (5 October), at 7pm
Councillor Alun Furzer
Councillor Alan Jones
01495 792497
01495 790477
07576 772064
COED EVA
Councillor Fiona Cross
CROESYCEILIOG NORTH
Councillor Richard Clark
01633 480083
Councillor Nigel Davies
01633 867020
Councillor Veronica Crick JP
Councillor Crick holds surgeries on the second
Saturday of every month 11am–12pm at the
community council offices at Woodland Road
Social Centre
Page 14
ST DIALS
Councillor Stephen Brooks KSS JP
01633 868283
01495 750327
Councillor Elizabeth Haynes
0750 705 4393
Councillor Graham Smith
07527 963774
FAIRWATER
The three councillors share a surgery on the
first Saturday of every month, except August, at
10am–12pm at Learning Centre, the Highway
Councillor Haynes is holding a surgery on
25 August at 2.30pm with Bron Afon
and police at Melbourne Court Retirement
Scheme communal lounge
Councillor Jeff Rees
07517 467262
Cllr Rees holds surgeries on the last Saturday of
the month 10am–12pm Fairwater Leisure Centre
Councillor Phil Seabourne
01633 863744
Councillor Anthony Hunt
07870 116463
Councillor Norma Parrish
01495 763067
Councillor David Yeowell
01495 762095
Councillor Mandy Owen
01633 872665
Councillor Bob Wellington
01633 868402
PONTNEWYDD
GREENMEADOW
LLANTARNAM
07507 054310
Councillor Daniels will hold surgeries with Bron
Afon and Gwent Police at the Tower Block in
Southville on 5 August, Court Farm & Oakfield
Community Hall on 2 September and Llantarnam
Church Hall on 7 October at 6pm–7pm
Councillor Bevan will hold a surgery at Ponthir
Village Hall on 9 September 6.30pm–7.30pm
Councillor Stuart Ashley
01633 868413
Councillor Brian Mawby
01633 484948
Councillor Jessica Powell
07773 880380
The three councillors share a surgery on the first
Saturday of every month 10.30am–12pm Mount
Pleasant Hall
Councillor Kelvin Harnett JP
01495 760295
PONTYPOOL
07507 054316/
07817 609419
01633 871047
01633 421983
Councillor Mike Harris
07725 982550
Councillor Harris holds surgeries on the first
Friday of every month 10.30am–11.30am at
St Matthews Church, Cwmfields
01495 756950
Councillor John Marshall
01495 755812
TWO LOCKS
Councillor Ron Burnett
01633 874157
Councillor Pamela Cameron
01633 873793
Councillor Colette Thomas
01633 482104
Councillors Cameron and Thomas hold surgeries
on the first Friday of every month at Henllys Way
Community Hall from 2pm–3pm, and the first
Saturday of every month in the White Hut, Coed
Eva from 10am–11am and at Henllys Hall from
11.15am–12.15pm
Councillor Mary Barnett
01633 484002
Councillor John Cunningham MBE KSG
01633 862050
Councillors Barnett and Cunningham share a
surgery on the first Saturday of every month,
except August, 10am–12pm, one councillor will
be at Thornhill Community Association, the other
at West Pontnewydd Community Hall
Councillor Robert Kemp
01633 793009
WAINFELIN
SNATCHWOOD
Councillor Barry Taylor JP
Councillor Lewis Jones
UPPER CWMBRAN
PONTNEWYNYDD
LLANYRAFON SOUTH
Councillor Huw Bevan
TREVETHIN
PANTEG
The three councillors hold surgeries on the
second Saturday of every month 11am–12pm at
Sebastopol Labour Hall alternating with
Griffithstown Labour Hall
Councillor Glyn Caron
01633 860668
Each volunteer received
an award for their specific
contribution, from being
outstanding long-term
volunteers to mentors and
excellent gardeners.
Whatever their
contribution, the
event thanked
the volunteers
making the
Circulate,
Growing the
Veg Box, and
Garnsychan
Lunch Club
projects a success.
For more information about
Garnsychan Partnership or to
volunteer, contact
info@garnsychan.org.uk
or 01495 774453.
Councillor Raymond Mills
01495 759468
LLANYRAFON NORTH
CROESYCEILIOG SOUTH
Garnsychan Partnership
marked volunteers week
in June, with a special
recognition awards event.
Councillor Waite will hold surgeries on the last
Saturday of the month, except August, at the
community hall at Hillside Drive at 11am
Councillor Maria Graham
Councillors Clark and Davies hold surgeries on the
second Saturday of every month 11am–12pm at
the community council offices at Woodland Road
Social Centre
Volunteers presented awards
01495 758559
Councillor David Daniels
07881 855553
Nant Bran will become the new base for Able Radio along with
local mental health charity CMIG and the regional base for the
Alzheimer’s Society. The centre, which will be based at the former
Upper Cwmbran Infants School, will also have a large space for
community organisations to hire. Able Radio has signed a 25-year
lease and the £400,000 refurbishment has been possible by support
from the local community and councillors, financially assisted by the
South East Wales Community Economic Development Fund and the
Community Facilities Programme from Welsh Government.
Project manager Malcolm Cann described the development as a
“significant step forward for the area to encourage creativity within
the care sector.” To find out more, call 0845 4990294, email
mal@ableradio.com or go to www.ableradio.com.
Councillor David James
Councillor Neil Waite
Councillors Owen and Wellington hold surgeries
on the first Saturday of the month 9.30am–11am
Greenmeadow & St Dials Community Hall,
11am–12pm Thornhill Community Centre
BRYNWERN
A new centre for creativity and well-being is to open in
Upper Cwmbran in October.
NEW INN
CWMYNYSCOY
Councillor Seabourne holds surgeries on the
first Saturday of every month, except August,
10.30am–12pm Fairhill Methodist Church
Councillors Furzer and Jones hold surgeries at
6pm on the last Thursday of the month at the
Council Office, 101 High Street, Blaenavon.
Councillor Len Constance
Resident Judith Leek said:
“Some residents are also talking
about having barbecues and
planting flowers. This is helping
people to get to know each
other better.”
New centre for Upper Cwmbran
01495 774281
Councillor Mike Jeremiah
01495 755830
07935 991143
ST CADOCS AND PENYGARN
Councillor Neil Mason
01495 750019
If no surgery details are listed here, contact your local councillor on the phone number provided to raise an issue or arrange a home visit.
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Council scheme helps local entrepreneur
A Pontypool resident has set-up
her own weight loss business
with support from a community
partnership dedicated to helping
entrepreneurs.
Pauline Matthews has spent 18 years
helping people in Torfaen to achieve
their weight loss goals, and decided to
use her knowledge and experience and
strike out on her own.
She contacted Torfaen EFFECT, a
panel of volunteers drawn from the
local businesses community, voluntary
organisations and the public sector, for
free, confidential business support and
advice.
The help she received was invaluable,
as Pauline explains: “My facilitator Jayne
listened and took the time to understand
my situation and the exact challenges I
faced, and made my problems far easier
to overcome.
“She put me in touch with
the right people and Torfaen
EFFECT
provided me
with a readymade support
network for my
business.”
She has now launched
her own business, New
Me with Pauline Matthews, as an
alternative to traditional weight loss
classes.
Pauline said: “We listen to our
members and deliver classes that are
relevant to them. We help to motivate
members and change their mind-set and
motivation – focus on improving eating
habits and healthier lifestyles.
“So many people struggle with their
weight and they don’t need to. If they
Illegal off-roading prosecutions
Gwent Police seized
three motor vehicles
and chased hundreds of
illegal off-roaders from
beauty spots in Gwent.
Officers issued nine warnings
and five traffic offence reports
to off-roaders riding illegally
on common land in Torfaen,
Caerphilly, Ebbw Vale and the
Brecon Beacons National Park.
The two-month operation
aimed to tackle the problem
of illegal off-roading, which
causes significant environmental
damage, destroys habitats,
threatens livestock and puts the
public at risk.
PC Simon James explained:
“Illegal off-roading can cause
damage to the countryside
and riders are also putting
themselves and members of
the public at risk of injury when
they are using off-road bikes in
inappropriate areas.
“We have been working hard
over the last two months to
educate the public about what
they can do to help us, as well as
educate off-road drivers about
where they can and cannot ride.
We will continue to send out
the message that Gwent Police
will not tolerate the behaviour
by the people who disregard
the laws and spoil the situation
for the law-abiding people that
enjoy this activity in a legal
environment.”
Gwent Police fined a
Cwmbran man £250 for
illegally off-roading on
common land in Pontypool.
Paul Williams, 24, of Salisbury
Court, pleaded guilty at Newport
Magistrates Court. He was fined
£250 and ordered to pay an
additional £85 in court costs.
Off-roading is illegal in Torfaen
on public land, parks, pavements
and pathways. It is also illegal
on private land without the
permission of the landowner.
People can report off-roading
activity anonymously at
www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/forms
come to weekly New Me meetings,
we will show them how to lose
weight and keep it off for life.”
Through Torfaen EFFECT,
Pauline was given access to
a network of local support,
including marketing experts
and financial management
expertise.
She is now running six
groups, in Pontypool,
Cwmbran, Newport and
Abergavenny.
She said: “I couldn’t
have launched New Me
without the support
of these fantastic
members and
my helpers, my
family, friends
and Torfaen
EFFECT.”
Torfaen
EFFECT
follows the
principles of
Enterprise
Facilitation devised by Dr Ernesto Sirolli
of the Sirolli Institute, which have
successfully helped hundreds of business
start-ups around the world.
Entrepreneurs are given access to
support from a panel of local volunteers
who give up their own time to help and
support new businesses.
Jayne Skyrme, from Torfaen EFFECT,
said: “There is an abundance of passion,
energy and imagination in Torfaen and
this Enterprise Facilitation project aims
to harness this, and use it to support
entrepreneurs and new businesses startups to develop their ideas, set up their
businesses and help them to grow.
“I would urge anyone out there
with a business idea they want to
explore to get in touch with me and
we can have a chat and see how I
may be able to help.”
For more information about
Torfaen EFFECT and how it could
help you, contact Jayne Skyrme on
07534 511575 or
info@southwalesbusiness.co.uk
Family fun at heritage centre
There will be a family fun day at World Heritage
Centre on Sunday 30 August.
In the morning, families can experience a Victorian classroom,
view films about life in Blaenavon during Victorian times, and take a
trail around the centre. In the afternoon, there will be guided walks,
suitable for young children, around the World Heritage landscape.
For more information, contact 01495 742333.
Carers Week is a big success
A series of events took
place in Torfaen as part
of Carers Week in June.
Torfaen council currently
supports 65 young carers
aged 8 to 17. During Carers
Week, there was a display in
Sainsbury’s in Cwmbran, before
the store hosted a tea party for
a group of young carers.
A barbecue was held for
young carers and their families,
which was attended by 85
people, including 35 young
carers. There was also a balloon
modelling workshop, stain glass
window craft, and nail art. St
John’s Ambulance attended
and gave the young carers fake
wounds and first aid advice,
while Torfaen council’s youth
service provided air ball.
Aneurin Bevan University
Health Board, Sainsbury’s
Cwmbran, Asda Cwmbran,
Morrison’s Cwmbran, Tesco
Pontypool, Village Bakery and
Page’s Chip Shop helped fund
the events.
Recycle Torfaen Talks – put it into your black recycling box
SECTOR SKILLS
Torfaen council held a
‘sector skills forum’ to
discuss common skills gaps
and training needs within
the engineering sector.
This was the first in a series
of forums to bring together
business owners and industry
leaders to gather information
and seek opinion on skills deficits
and where they see the future
skills gaps occurring.
Michael Garland, of M&J
Europe, said: “Businesses need
people with the right attitude,
knowledge and practical skills
to succeed, including suitable
qualifications and certificates,
which can be gained prior to
or during their working life. An
essential part of this on-going
development is the support we
receive from local government.”
The forums will continue
monthly with further dates
planned for the retail, hospitality
and leisure, construction, and
production and manufacturing
sectors. To book a place, call
01633 647743.
Page 15
Putting new bins to the test
Jessica Secker (25), from
Abersychan, signed her
family of five up to test
the smaller bin system.
The family, comprising
Jessica and her partner, three
children – two of which were
in nappies – two dogs, a rabbit
and a hamster, had their
waste and recycling collections
stopped for two weeks.
They were asked to
keep all their waste and
recycling to see how much
they accumulated over the
fortnight.
Nappies were counted
separately from the general
waste, as a dedicated nappy
collection service will be
introduced when the smaller
wheelie bins are rolled out.
Ms Secker said: “At the
end of the two weeks I was
amazed.
“Taking the nappies out
of the equation, we only
produced three bags of
waste and that was mainly
packaging we couldn’t recycle.
There was lots of room left in
the black wheelie bin at the
end of the two weeks.
“Providing there is a
collection service for nappies,
we would easily be able to
cope with a smaller bin and,
if we can do it as a family of
five with lots of pets, I am sure
most people in Torfaen would
be able to do it to.”
You can view a short video
of Jessica’s experience on the
council’s YouTube channel.
‘SKINNY’ BLACK BINS FACTS
I have a large family and
won’t be able to cope
Won’t this lead to more
fly-tipping?
The smaller bins have been
tested with families of
different sizes. A family of five,
with two children in nappies
and several pets, was easily
able to manage provided they
were also using the nappy
collection service. However,
if you find you are unable to
cope, you can request a visit
from a waste officer by calling
01495 762200.
Other councils that have
introduced similar schemes
have noticed a temporary
increase in fly-tipping. This
reduces when residents
become used to the new
arrangements. However, it
is important to remember
that fly-tipping is a criminal
offence, and anyone caught
will be fined.
People already recycle
everything they can
The council’s research, which
includes regular monitoring
across the borough, shows only
50 per cent of residents who
currently receive a black box
recycling service actually put
it out every week. Only 28 per
cent of residents who receive a
food recycling service put their
food waste out every week.
Reducing the amount of general
waste the council collects at
the kerbside should increase
participation to 80 per cent for
black box recycling per week,
and 50 per cent for food waste,
so there is still more work to be
done.
to the household waste
recycling centre in New Inn.
The council also offers a
collection service for bulky
household items such as
furniture.
What about animal waste?
Why can’t you target
those people who
don’t recycle instead of
targeting everyone?
The changes being introduced
will affect those that do
not recycle. Residents who
currently fully use the recycling
service should not have any
difficulty in managing with
the skinny bin. However, those
residents who currently do not
will need to use the available
recycling services to reduce the
waste they put in their nonrecyclable bin.
If I have extra waste to
dispose of, what should I do?
Any extra waste can be taken
Waste and bedding from small
animals such as guinea pigs
can be put out in the green bin
between March and November.
When the green bin waste
service is suspended during the
winter, this should be placed in
the black wheelie bin. However,
when someone buys a pet,
they are responsible for its
care. The council does not have
a statutory duty to provide a
service to dispose of animal
waste.
I am going to need more
recycling containers…
No problem. Residents can
have as many recycling
containers as they need, free of
charge. They can be requested
via the Torfaen app, at
www.torfaen.gov.uk, or by
calling 01495 762200 and
they will be delivered to your
home.
There is criteria applied to applications to advertise, but the advertisers are not in any way ‘council approved’ for the goods or services they offer.
BUSINESS ADVERTISING
Part worn tyres
from
£10
✔Tyres to suit every
Wheel balancing
from
£5
✔Discounts for taxis &
Puncture repairs
from
£8
Change overs
from
£5
pocket
fleet vehicles
✔FREE tyre safety
check
You’ve tried the rest...now try the best!
CWMBRAN & PONTYPOOL
Unit 9
Forgehammer Ind. Est.
Cwmbran
NP44 3AA
(Opposite Aldi)
TEL: 07936 370478
Clarence Corner
Pontypool
NP4 6LG
(Opposite Snow White
Laundries)
TEL: 07891 502971
Open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm & Sat 9am - 1pm
Page 16
•Advertise in Torfaen Talks and get your message
out to almost 40,000 homes, every other month
•Advertise on the council
website – 250,000 page views
per month
•Introductory offers and
special deals available
•Prices start from £200+VAT
•For more information
TORFAENT
on advertising
alks
alks
TORFAENT
SummeR
of
online or in
ES
e
BIN CHANG G
v
e
n
ARE COMIN
T o In ts
Torfaen Talks,
rfae n
call
01495 742151
01495 762200
n
.gov.uk/e
www.torfaen
www.torfaen
.gov.uk
#torfaentalks
#torfaentalks
01495 7
2014
2014
Awst fyr
st 2014 – Rhag
Augu
mber
Dece
A Heart Borough
June 2014 –
A Heart Borough
for the
wheelie bins
smaller black
l is introducing
g public
Torfaen counci
schedule, followin options for
general waste. nightly
tly collection
d with three
collection of to maintain a fortnigh
were presente
s
targets.
Councillors voted this year. Torfaen resident Government recycling
to
earlier
ure Welsh
increase this
consultation
to meet future
and needs to
fines
n designed
nt of its waste council faces significant
waste collectio
per cent
The
y recycles 52
nt by 2025.
Torfaen currentl
and 70 per cent it falls below these targets.
in 2015/16
ent
Cunningham,
per cent
58 per cent
, councillor John
ld at
0 for every one
rhood services by the average househo
of about £100,00
.
neighbourhood
d
e member for
waste produce are not using these services
The executiv
most of the
people
recycle
is a proven
now
hat many
we know that
d at the kerbsidekerbside
said: “You can
in Torfaen, but
e that is collecte
use the
the kerbside
of general waste need more people to
amount
we
rates and
Reducing the
ent’s targets.
ng recycling
bins,
elsh Governm
way of increasi if we are to meet Welsh
d on, smaller
most
we consulte
the
t
facilities
options
represen
recycling
of the three
this doesn’t
told us that
ption. While
d option.
to what the
“The public
rs have listened
tly, is the preferre councillo
ouncillo
fortnigh
d
council,
collecte
new system
option for the
at under this
fines
cost efficient
confident that
say. We are
avoid the huge
public has to
targets and
our recycling
we will meet
se face.”
da
we would otherwi
lmingly expresse
Residents overwhe tly collections with
fortnigh
preference for
black bins (also
smaller, 140-litre bins) over the other
d
known as skinny
bags collecte
black
two
ns with
options –
monthly collectio
n.
wheelie bin.
fortnightly or
240-litre black
ns
ections
collectio
the existing
system, medical e as
Under the new
continu
collections will n of nappies
pies will
and assisted
tly collectio
d extra
need it, and
normal, a fortnigh
for those who
es of the
at key times
be available
will
be provided
of six or more
collections will
Christmas. Familiesa review
w of their
year such as
request
al
to
able
be
qualify forr addition
continue to
to see if they will remain
ain weekly,
circumstances
y
g collections
h is currentl
capacity. Recyclinn of cardboard which
with the exceptio tly.
n additional
collected fortnigh
be an
year, there will
er the rollout
During the first of £754,000 to cover
ill use the
cost to the council bins. The council will
to
of the new smaller from not sending waste time.
derive
ns over
the bins
for
savings it will
pay
to
ng
015.
landfill or processiis expected during 2015.
ent to the
ment
Implementation
amendm
waste
voted for an
e linerss for food is an
Councillors also
moved to introducto provide
vide liners
cost
proposals and
external
estimated net
uncil will seek
the council
caddies. The
d that liners
per year and
It is expecte
additional £26,000 to cover these costs.
smaller bins.
sources of fundingat the same time at the
ed
will be introduc
From
this...
Prepare
yourself for
a
summer of
fun!
...to
this
The countdo
wn
has started
for this year’s
summer events
and they are
set to start with
fourth annual a bang, when the
Cwmbran Big
Saturday 14
Event takes
place on
June at 12pm–5
pm.
Held at Cwmbra
The summer
n Boating Lake
the event will
of
in Llanyravon,
include sporting
July, when Pontypofun concludes on Saturda
and food stalls,
competitions,
y 12
ol Carnival will
the most of
and a large
be making
football fever
wide variety
covered stage craft
of music and
during the World
for a
Cup. The final
dance
the annual raft
match is being
held in Brazil
races too, which acts. Don’t miss
place on the
the day after
will be taking
boating lake!
the carnival
Most of the
, so parade
will be free and
activities
participants
designed to
are encoura
family.
be fun for the
ged
to ‘mix it up’
whole
Mardi
Gras style!
Attention will
Pontypool Park
a fortnight later,turn to the north of the
will
borough
be packed full
Day takes place when Blaenavon World
of
Heritage
performers and stalls,
on Saturday
28 June.
funfair
From 11am–4
attractions through
day of family pm, there will be a fun-pac
day, as the whole out the
entertainment,
ked
town gets
steam railway,
including miniatu
into the party
Victorian charact
re
spirit.
photo booth,
ers, Victoria
storytel
Will you attend
traditional Victoria ling, Punch and Judy, n
better, all three one or, even
n fun fair, dancers
music.
events and
and live
celebrate the
summer in style?
The highligh
t will be the
If you do, post
heritage costume
parade at 1pm.
your
pictures at
www.facebook.
The parade’
now’ with a
s theme is ‘then
com/torfaen
focus
to @torfaencounci
and tweet them
innovative developon technology, celebrat and
l
on
Twitter.
ing key
For more informa
and coal industrie ments in the history of
the iron
s in Blaenav
turn to the centre tion on the summer
on.
events,
www.torfaen.go pages or visit
v.uk
For information
playorand
provision,
call 01495
742951
To advertise
in TorfaenonTalks
on play
the council
website,
call 01495
742151
Mehefin 2014

August 2015 Edition of Torfaen Talks

Transcription

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