Connect - Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Connect
Your community magazine for Blaenau Gwent
October 2008
On patrol - six new officers
Schools “best in Wales”
Have your say
Blaenau Gwent in Bloom
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

Connect
with your Council
The community magazine for Blaenau Gwent
Our trained customer advisers at our Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent contact
centre are ready to deal with a wide range of inquiries.
Call 01495 311 556 to ask us about:
education, recycling, refuse collections, green waste collections,
fly tipping, street lighting, benefits, job applications, noise nuisance
complaints, pest control, street cleaning, university grants, sports centres,
anti-social behaviour, abandoned cars and more.
For news and information on all council services log on to the
council’s website: www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
C2BG - Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent 01495 311 556
Council Housing Hotline 01495 354 600
Council Tax 01495 355 212
01495 356 010
Children’s Information Service 08000 32 33 39
Electoral Registration 01495 355 086
Emergency Planning 01495 355 568
Environmental Health 01495 355 056
Fraud Hotline 0800 5873 139
Licensing 01495 355 975
Planning 01495 355 555
Rent enquiries 01495 355 194
01495 356 005
Social Services 01495 315 700
Tourism 01495 355 937
Trading Standards 01495 356 138
Adult Education Centres
Abertillery 01495 355 895
Blaina 01495 290 034
Brynmawr 01495 355 595
Cwm 01495 371 117
Ebbw Vale 01495 303 544
Tredegar 01495 303 544
Sports Centres
Abertillery Sports Centre 01495 212 206
Ebbw Vale Sports Centre 01495 303 766
Nantyglo Sports Centre 01495 310 785
Tredegar Sports Centre 01495 723 554
Better customer
service
We are working hard to provide the
best services we can for you - our
customers.
As part of our drive to improve
customer service, we want to make it
easier for you to contact the Council
- to give you more options for when
and how you can get in touch.
So, we have introduced additional
opening hours at Connect 2 Blaenau
Gwent. You can call us between
8am and 8pm Monday to Thursday
and between 8am and 4.30pm on
Fridays.
You can also get in touch with us
by email, minicom, fax and via our
website.
Remember, we can now help you
with housing rent enquiries.
Here are the details:
Email - info@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
Minicom - 01495 355959
Fax - 01495 315265
Website -
www.blaenau.gwent.gov.uk
In person - at your local Outreach
venue
By post - Connect 2 Blaenau
Gwent, Central Depot, Barleyfield
Industrial Estate, Brynmawr
NP23 4YF
If you would like Connect
magazine in large print format,
contact Lisa Davies on
01495 356073.
Connect magazine is published by
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
and distributed - free of charge - to every
household in the county
borough. Every effort is
made to ensure that all the
information is accurate at
the time of print.
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

We will work
with you
Councillor Des Hillman, Leader of
Blaenau Gwent Council, writes:
Local people asked for change.
Our new Partnership administration
is already getting to grips with
the challenge of delivering better
frontline services.
In this edition of our community
magazine we have news about
how we will continue to be a
listening Council with Connect 2
Listen meetings and how we will
continue to work with our partners
- notably in regeneration projects
like The Works.
Better environment
Working with local people, we
plan to protect and improve our
environment. A priority will be to
make sure our communities are
cleaner and greener.
Safer town centres, streets, parks
and open spaces are so important.
To anchor our low crime figures
we must ensure that our people
feel safe in their homes and on
the streets of Blaenau Gwent. I
met up with six additional Police
Community Support Officers
recently.
Young people and families are
important to us. We need to give
them opportunities that they can
grab hold of. Good schools and
teachers are essential and we
will be striving to maintain our
excellent school inspection results.
We will also be working to protect
those who are most vulnerable -
children, older people as well as
those with disabilities.
Regeneration
We will work in partnership with
the Welsh Assembly Government
on regeneration projects - for
example, dualling the Heads of the
Valleys Road, two trains an hour
on the Ebbw Valley railway and
transforming the old steel works
site with £300 million of investment
in housing, a learning campus, a
leisure centre and a new, green
central valley.
We will be looking to make
changes for the better, so that
local people can say: “This is our
Council - we are proud of how
it’s helping every community in
Blaenau Gwent. ”
Councillor Des Hillman
Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council
Contents
We have a wide range of news
and features to inform you
inside this new edition of our
community magazine Connect.
Here is a list of some of the
stories you can enjoy reading:
Connect with your Council.......2
Welcome..................................3
Eisteddfod 2010.......................4
Let’s recycle.............................5
Making streets safer.................6
Town centre patrol....................7
Your Council’s Executive
Members..................................8
Housing stock transfer.............9
Growth at The Works.............10
Rail targets smashed.............11
Connect 2 Listen....................12
Blaenau Gwent
in Bloom pages................ 14-15
Bridging the gap.....................16
School inspection
results page...........................19
What’s on listings............. 20-21
Local Health Board.......... 22-23
Competition............................24
Connect
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
3

Eisteddfod 2010
Blaenau Gwent to host
biggest festival in Wales
Blaenau Gwent will host the
National Eisteddfod of Wales
in 2010 - bringing hundreds of
thousands of visitors here.
The Eisteddfod, as one of the
biggest annual cultural festivals
of its kind in the UK, will put us
firmly on the arts map - and help
raise the profile of Blaenau Gwent
across Wales.
For nine days The Works site
at Ebbw Vale will ring out with
the sounds of poetry, song and
dance instead of building and
reconstruction work.
In years gone by the site was the
home of the steel works and a
centre of heavy industry.
The Eisteddfod will be another step
towards a better future when The
Works becomes home to a new
learning campus, performing arts
centre, leisure centre as well as a
hospital. All these projects are part
of the £300 million regeneration
partnership scheme led by the
Council.
The 2010 festival will also mark
the progress made by the National
Eisteddfod to attract many more
people of all ages - providing
family entertainment and education
for many more than just those who
can speak some Welsh.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau
Gwent Council, said:
“Hosting the National Eisteddfod is
a massive challenge - but a great
opportunity for us to present a
new Blaenau Gwent to audiences
across Wales. We hope to make
this as memorable an event as
possible for the people of Blaenau
Gwent.”
Leighton Andrews, Minister for
Regeneration, said:
“The Eisteddfod is one of
Europe’s largest and oldest
cultural events and hosting it in
Blaenau Gwent provides us with a
great opportunity to help change
perceptions.”
You can join in
Can you help to make the
Eisteddfod a success? Do you
remember the last time the
Eisteddfod was here in 1958?
Contact us!
Phone (01495) 355112 and talk to
the Communications and Marketing
Team or email:
eisteddfod@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.
More news soon.
Curtain up!
New Met in line for UK honours
Best in Wales 2008 - Abertillery’s Metropole Cultural
and Conference Centre is now going for a top UK
community benefit award.
Blaenau Gwent Council’s restoration project is one of
only two schemes from Wales in the UK finals of the
RICS Awards.
The success of the Met’s restoration - one year-old
earlier this year - is testament to the on-going support of
the local community.
The Met, originally built in 1892 as a dance and market
hall, faced an uncertain future until the Council stepped
in with community support and began the restoration.
Aid from European funding helped and the new Met
opened its doors last year. Now it provides Blaenau
Gwent with a range of conference facilities, an arena
and stage for music and drama and a home for the
talented performers of the Abertillery Operatic Society.
Now in their 18th year, the RICS (Royal Institute of
Chartered Surveyors) Awards recognise building
conservation, regeneration, sustainability, and
community benefit projects.
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Let’s get recycling
More weekly food waste and cardboard pick-ups soon
The countdown has begun.
Soon householders in Blaenau
Gwent will be the first in Wales
to enjoy weekly collections of
both food waste and cardboard.
That’s 31,000 households. All
of you will be getting regular
weekly pick-ups of food waste and
cardboard.
It all starts on Monday 13 October.
Less of our waste will go to landfill.
9,000 of you have been taking part
in the pilot scheme - it’s been a
great success.
Before the service begins
containers for the new collections
will be delivered to you with
information on how to use the
service.
For the food waste collection there
are two containers - one small and
one larger. A kitchen caddy and a
bigger 25 litre bin.
For cardboard collection, you get a
weighted sack.
Collections for the new service will
take place on the same day as
normal refuse collections.
You will also receive information
packs with all of the advice that
you need to get involved.
Kerbside Collection
More than half of you (58.6%) already
recycle - using our regular kerbside recycling
collections.
In some communities, seven out of 10 (70.1%) of all households join in.
These are the findings of a recent survey of 10,000 households across
Blaenau Gwent.
The survey was carried out by Hyder Consulting. It was commissioned
by the Council and Tidy Trev.
Recycling Centres
58.6%
already recycle
Have you had trouble finding your way to any of our three recycling
centres?
We have recently put up new and better signs to the ‘bring’ sites at
Bourneville, Silent Valley and Waun-y-Pound.
Once you get there, new signs show where you should put your
recycling.
Our three civic amenity sites are:
Bournville - Abertillery Road, Abertillery, NP13 3EB
New Vale - Waun-y-Pound Industrial Estate, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6PL
Silent Valley - Beechwood House, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6PZ
All three accept:
Chipboard/laminate, wood, paper, green waste, scrap metal, inert (stone
and rubble), fridge/freezers, glass, TVs and monitors, fluorescent tubes,
car batteries and small electrical appliances.
New Vale also takes cardboard, gas bottles, plastic bottles and textiles
Silent Valley also takes oil.
Opening Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm every day except Christmas Day
and New Year’s Day.
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
5

Making your community safer
Blaenau Gwent Council and police making streets safer
Six new Police Community Support Officers are on
our streets - thanks to an initiative from Blaenau
Gwent Council.
The new officers have just started work in our towns.
They are based in Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale
and Tredegar.
The Council is investing £55,000 per annum over
the next three years with additional funding from the
Home Office.
But it’s the close partnership between the Council and
Gwent Police that is making it happen. The officers
are out on the streets with Blaenau Gwent’s four
neighbourhood policing teams.
At Blaenau Gwent’s PACT meetings, local people said
they felt that a visible police presence is important in
helping to combat crime and disorder.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council,
said: “By working with Gwent Police and the Home
Office, we can fund six new police community support
officers to patrol the communities of Blaenau Gwent.
“Blaenau Gwent is a
listening council - and
that’s why we have
taken on board what
people are telling
us at community
meetings.
“We have taken
the initiative and
now we will have a
more visible police
presence on our
streets and safer
communities - this
is good news
for everyone in
Blaenau Gwent.”
Pictured are David Burton, Kathryn Thomas, Gemma Phelps, Paul Bishop, Denise Gill-Brown, Bobby-Jo Swift, Council Leader Des Hillman
and Chief Superintendent of Gwent Police Alun Thomas
Halloween safety
Blaenau Gwent Council and Gwent Police are working to help make this
Halloween and bonfire night trouble-free.
Children in school are asked not to disturb anyone with a pumpkin sign
in their window at Halloween. Council trading officers are encouraging
shops not to sell eggs or flour to anyone under the age of 18.
“Last year, during the joint initiative we saw a 55% reduction in the
number of calls relating to anti-social behaviour on Halloween night.
Sergeant Rob Davies, said: “We have a lot of support from local
shops and parents.
“Remember: children going trick or treating should always be
accompanied by an adult.”
If you don’t want to be disturbed on Halloween you can download
‘No Callers Please’ pumpkin signs from www.gwent.police.uk. You will
also be able to pick them up from your local police station.
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Town Centre Patrols
Meet Justin Benger - our new town centre warden now out in
the streets on patrol
Litter louts should watch out as
Justin can hand out on-the-spot
fines to anyone seen illegally
dropping litter.
Dog owners need to be sure their
pets are on their best behaviour,
too. Justin can give owners helpful
advice - but he can also fine them
if they dont scoop up their pet’s
mess.
Justin told Connect magazine:
“I look forward to helping make
Blaenau Gwent a cleaner, better
place to live.
“There’s no excuse for people
dropping litter or not picking up
after their dogs when there are
bins provided. I will be looking
out for anyone dropping litter and
speaking to them – at the end of
the day it’s for everyone’s benefit.”
Justin is carrying out regular foot
patrols in the five town centres
of Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr,
Ebbw Vale and Tredegar.
Justin works with the Council’s two
enforcement officers who deal with
fly tipping, vehicle abandonment
and stray dogs.
Des Hillman, Blaenau Gwent
Council Leader, said:
“We are working on improving our
town centres to provide a better
shopping, working and visitor
Justin Benger and Keith Barnes, Executive Member for the Enviroment, out ‘on patrol’.
environment for all. Let’s all give
this initiative our whole-hearted
support.”
Keith Barnes, Executive Member
for the Environment, said:
“Local people have told us they
have serious concerns about dog
fouling and problems with litter.
“Now we are warning the minority
who are careless with litter to
change their ways.”
A cleaner,
place
Everyone can help make Blaenau
Gwent a cleaner, greener place
- and Cwmcelyn Tenants and
Residents are leading the way.
They took up the challenge from
Keep Wales Tidy and got together
to improve their community - and
won £1,000 grant to help.
The tenants bought equipment and
tools to clean streams and worked
with partners to build a 160 metre
long footpath from Cwmcelyn
ponds into the forestry area.
Keep Wales Tidy, working with
BTCV Cymru and Groundwork,
is offering community groups and
local people more grant funding
and advice through the Cleaner
Greener Communities project. The
aim is to improve the environment
within the Heads of the Valleys
area - funding comes from the
Heads of the Valleys Programme.
If you would like to take part in an
environmental project or would
like grants or free training, please
contact Tom Richards, project
officer for the Blaenau Gwent area,
on 07824 504818.
You can e-mail him at
tom.richards@keepwalestidy.org.uk
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
7

Your Executive Members
Meet our new Executive. Des Hillman, Leader of
Blaenau Gwent Council, heads a team of nine
councillors - they make important decisions on the
services the Council provides for local people.
The Executive meets regularly - the meetings are
open to the public. Each Executive Member has
responsibility for their own portfolio of services.
Cllr Des Hillman
Council Leader
Cllr John Mason
Deputy Leader
Housing
Jason Owen
Leisure and
Culture
Cllr Stephen Bard
Education
Cllr Don Wilcox
Regeneration and
Highways
Cllr Keith Barnes
Environment
Cllr John Rogers
Social Services
Cllr John Taylor
Resources
Cllr Den Hughes
Governance
You can make initial contact with the Executive through Democratic Services on 01495 355095.
Councillors have individual contact details but can be contacted initially via this telephone number.
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Your home - your future
Council launches largest consultation with tenants
The Council has launched the
most extensive tenant consultation
in its history so tenants can shape
the future of their homes.
The Welsh Assembly Government
has set a standard of improvement
which all Local Authority properties
must meet – the Welsh Housing
Quality Standard.
Every tenant will be consulted
on proposals to transfer all of the
Council’s 6,300 homes to a new,
not-for-profit registered social
landlord.
The proposal would unlock around
£111 million to improve tenants’
homes.
The £111 million investment would
be around £83 million more than
the Council would be able to invest
in the same period.
It would bring all the tenants’
homes up to the Welsh Housing
Quality Standard (WHQS) and
provide safer, more attractive
environments - all within the first
five years of transfer.
The work involved in delivering
better homes is expected to create
jobs and apprenticeships.
Tenants pictured are, from left to right: Maria Edwards, Emma Watson, Deborah Mapps and
Yvonne Price.They are all members of Sirhowy Tenants & Residents Association.
Tenants will have the final say
over the proposals by voting in a
confidential ballot.
Crucially, transfer will only go
ahead if the majority of those
tenants who vote in the ballot, vote
in favour.
In the coming months, tenants
will receive a series of informative
newsletters. They will have the
opportunity to visit roadshows
that set out what transfer would
mean for their rents, rights, and the
quality of service they can expect.
Before the ballot begins, tenants
will also receive a formal
consultation document, which
will set out the full details of the
transfer proposal.
Cllr John Mason, Deputy Leader
and Executive Member for
Housing, said:
“This is a hugely important
consultation with our tenants on
a decision that will determine
the future of their homes. I am
committed to ensuring every tenant
has the information they need to
make an informed choice.”
Better homes
The Welsh Assembly Government
set the Wales Housing Quality
Standard. It requires every council
home in Wales to be:
• in a good state of repair
• safe and secure
• adequately heated, fuel efficient
and well insulated
• located in safe and attractive
environments
• well managed
• they should also have modern
and up-to-date kitchens and
bathrooms.
Finally - as far as is practical -
council homes should meet the
tenants’ specific needs.
Contacting the
tenant advisor
An independent tenant adviser
has been helping tenants with their
questions.
One of our oldest tenants, Mrs
Winne Lowry - aged 105 - is
pictured making a phone call
at her home in Brynmawr. The
independent tenant adviser
can help with information and
guidance. Call 0800 919 994
or call the Council’s freephone
number for information regarding
the process: 0800 678 3616.
You could also email:
admin@domeconsultants.co.uk
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
9

Growth
at The
Works
New landscape at
regeneration site
The grass is starting to grow at
The Works - and landscape work
has begun with planting using soil
manufactured from materials on
the Ebbw Vale regeneration site.
Grass seed was blasted out from
hydro-cannons onto the slopes of
the new central wetlands valley.
Now the planting of home grown
trees and shrubs is underway.
New green areas of The Works will
start to appear when the growing
season returns.
When the landscaping is complete
11 hectares of land will be covered.
Around 125,000 tonnes of soil will
have been created using 15,000
tonnes of compost.
How was the soil made on site?
Existing subsoil, colliery spoil,
green compost and organic
fertiliser provided essential
nutrients and crushed sandstone
was added to the mix to help bind
the soil and retain mixture.
In fact, there are two soils - one for
woodland and one for grass.
The Works is the first in Wales
to use this high quality compost
mix to regenerate land formerly
occupied by the steelworks. Much
of the compost came from green
waste recycled by local people
and collected through the regular
household collections.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau
Gwent Council, said:
“We are using soil ‘grown’ on site
and local compost - a Blaenau
Gwent solution - to plant the new
landscape.
“The Works is one of the most
ambitious regeneration projects
seen in Wales. We are working
with the co-operation of local
people to create new land - a
central valley area - that promotes
biodiversity and provides green
areas. Besides all that, we
are building a new hospital, a
learning campus and creating job
opportunities.”
Road building starts
Blaenau Gwent’s £300 million
regeneration project gets underway
Contractors Walters are building
new roads, pavements, a new
entrance and drainage at The
Works ‘main street south’ - it’s
a key £1.1 million infrastructure
project.
The new road infrastructure will
link up to the new £50 million
Ysbyty Aneuran Bevan hospital.
The Works, the regeneration of
the former Ebbw Vale Steelworks
site, is a £300 million project which
will bring new education, arts
and leisure facilities as well as
generating 2,000 new jobs and the
building of 720 new homes.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau
Gwent Council, visited the site to
see the work getting underway.
Council Leader Des Hillman gets digging at
The Works
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Rail targets
smashed
Ebbw Valley Railway popular
with passengers
The Ebbw Valley Railway has
beaten all its passenger targets
in just six months - by carrying an
average of 11,000 passengers a
week.
The hourly service which links
Ebbw Vale and Cardiff has been a
huge hit.
The 2012 target is for 400,000
passengers a year. The trains
are proving incredibly popular -
22,000 passengers per month
were predicted for the year after
opening and this figure has already
doubled.
Cllr Des Hillman, Leader of
Blaenau Gwent Council, said:
“The number of passengers shows
how popular our new train service
has become.”
Blaenau Gwent
is the first UK
Council to
lead a major
railway project of this kind. We are
delighted that the local community
has embraced the rail service in
this way.”
The service began in February
this year. An adult saver return
from Ebbw Vale Parkway to Cardiff
Central costs £5.10 with a child
saver return costing £2.55.
For more information, please see:
www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/
ebbwvalleyrailway/
Or call Traveline Cymru on 0871
200 2233.
Arriva winners
Our Connect railway ticket
competition was a great success too.
Over 100 correct entries went into
the draw - and Mrs Debra Watkins
of Cwm and Mrs Christine Scott of
Nantyglo were the winners.
They were thrilled - and they met
up at Ebbw Vale Parkway station to
collect their prizes. Each won a
family return ticket for travel
anywhere on the Arriva Trains
network in Wales and England.
Enter our new competition for tickets
to Cinders now. Turn to page 24.
Here lies our history
Three cholera outbreaks swept through South Wales in
the nineteenth century killing thousands.
This summer the cemetery at Tredegar where many
victims lie was protected as a heritage site.
Jason Owens, Executive Member for Leisure,
explained:
“Cefn Golau cemetery is important because its story
tells children, local people and visitors about valley
communities and the price they paid during the
industrial revolution.”
There are 235 graves in the cemetery
- some containing entire families. The
people buried died in the three cholera
outbreaks of 1832-3, 1849 and 1866.
One estimate suggests that one in
twenty of the population of Tredegar -
around 7,000 at the time - perished.
Blaenau Gwent Council carried out
the improvements with funding from
the European Union’s interregional
Green Mines initiative and the Pathways
Community First Project. A bilingual
plaque explains the history of the site.
An estate fence with kissing gate that allows smaller
stock through but prevents access to horses and cattle
now protects the site. The car parking area has been
surfaced.
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
11

We are listening
Local people invited to voice their views
Your Council wants to hear from
you at our next Connect 2 Listen
meetings.
If you live in Blaina, Ebbw Vale
South, Nantyglo, Beaufort, and Six
Bells you are in line to highlight
your local issues.
We pledge to follow up on every
single question you raise - be it
on dog fouling, highway repairs or
traffic and parking problems.
We use local venues and you have
the chance to put your questions
to councillors who are on the
Executive and to senior council
officers.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau
Gwent Council, said:
“Our aim at Connect 2 Listen
meetings is to listen to local people
and find out their priorities for their
communities.
“We are also asking for their views
on local services to help make sure
we can deliver the best service we
can.”
All meetings are held on Monday
evenings and begin at 6.30pm.
Here are your Connect 2 Listen
meeting dates and venues:
• 6 October - St Peter’s Church,
Blaina
• 20 October - Zion Baptist
Church, Briery Hill (Ebbw Vale
south)
• 3 November - Nantyglo Rugby
Club
• 17 November - Beaufort Hill
Primary School, Ebbw Vale
• 1 December - Six Bells
Community Centre
Help on the spot
C2BG
Customer service is delivered
by Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent
for a range of Council services
including:
• refuse collections,
• recycling,
• pest control,
• school pupil services,
• noise nuisance,
• job information,
• job application forms,
• school meals,
• school transport
• and benefits.
For more details of our
customer service and Connect
2 Blaenau Gwent (C2BG) turn
back to page 2. Or phone
01495 311556.
Sometimes local people at our
meetings just want to access
Council services. We can help -
right there and then. As part of
the Connect 2 Listen initiative,
a customer service team from
Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent is on
hand to help with any individual or
personal problems.
The customer service outreach
team will be using the internet
(where a broadband link is
available) to give local people
immediate access to a range of
council services.
Customer service is delivered by
Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent for
a range of Council services
including refuse collections,
recycling, pest control,
school pupil services, noise
nuisance, job information and
job application forms, school
meals, school transport and
benefits.
Outreach customer service
sessions are held regularly
during the week at over 30
venues throughout Blaenau
Gwent.
For details contact Connect
2 Blaenau Gwent on 01495
311556.
Connect
12
A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

New ways to have your say
Survey in Post Offices, council offices and online
Many of you have had your say on
Blaenau Gwent with a few minutes
on a touch screen at your local
post office.
A new partnership between the
Council and Post Office Ltd has
given local people a new way to
join in our community canvass.
Blaenau Gwent Council is the first
local authority in Wales to team up
with your local post office to offer a
special touch screen survey.
Your answers from the survey (now
complete) will be used to set the
Council’s priorities for the next ten
years and more.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau
Gwent Council, said:
“We are committed to listening
to local people and want to give
everyone the chance to help shape
the future of Blaenau Gwent.
“As the first council
in Wales to
work with
the Post
Office
on our
community canvass - we are
delighted so many local people
took this great opportunity to have
their say in how services can be
improved.
The survey only took people a
few minutes to complete. There
were two parts. The first asked
local people what they think could
be improved in Blaenau Gwent
- the second focused on council
spending and budgets.
Questions covered education,
employment and transport.
The scheme has been given the
thumbs up by Blaina postmaster
Garth Collier:
“Our local Post Offices are already
at the heart of local communities.
“This is one way we can do more
business and offer an even better
service.”
First results
Almost 2,000 of you have had your
say through the survey. The first
results are in and are now being
analysed. Look out for news on
the results soon. We will report
back in the next edition of Connect
magazine. Thanks again for having
your say.
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
13

Blooming marvellous
Green fingered Blaenau Gwent in Bloom competition winners
Green fingered school pupils,
businesses and gardening
enthusiasts are celebrating
success in this year’s Blaenau
Gwent in Bloom competition.
Bryngwyn School, in Six Bells,
triumphed in the primary school
category.
See below for the full list of Blaenau
Gwent in Bloom 2008 winners:
Schools
Primary
First - Bryngwyn Primary, Six Bells
Second - Georgetown Primary,
Tredegar
Third - Beaufort Hill Primary, Ebbw
Vale
Highly Commended - Glyncoed
Primary, Ebbw Vale
Secondary
First - Nantyglo Comprehensive
Second - Abertillery Comprehensive
School
Special needs unit
Joint First - Nantyglo
Comprehensive School and Ystruth
Primary Unit, Blaina
Commercial or
industrial premises
Commercial frontage
First - C.J Accountancy, Brynmawr
Joint Second - Fish Bar, Abertillery
and the Coffee Shop, Abertillery
Commercial entire display
First - Gwent Shopping Centre,
Tredegar
Industrial entire display
First - Yuasa Batteries, Rassau
Community/street
First - Vernon Thomas, Plymouth
Arms, Tredegar
Second - Numbers 1 - 16 Thorn Hill
Close, Brynmawr
Third - J.Lewis, Clarence Street,
Brynmawr
Individual house
First - Robert Edwards, 80 Gwent
Way, Tredegar
Second - Mr and Mrs B.Turner, 16
Clydach Street, Brynmawr
Third - Mr and Mrs Dean, 16 High
Street, Six Bells
Highly Commended - Barbara
Davies, 101 Gwent Way, Tredegar
Individual house cont
Commended - Mr H.Bufton, Pen-y-
Twyn, Tredegar
Commended - Mr K.Jenkins, 5
Vincent Ave, Nantyglo
Voluntary group
First - Roderick Hill Court, Tredegar
Second - Market Square, Brynmawr
Third - Market Hall, Brynmawr
Highly Commended - High Street,
Blaina
Hotels, guest
houses and public
First - Mike Newton, Nag’s Head,
Tredegar
Second - Stephen Jones, King
William IV, Brynmawr
Third - Julie Seaward, Hobby Horse,
Brynmawr
Parks, open spaces
and public/private
building
Open spaces
First - Market Square, Brynmawr
Second - Tredegar town
Third - Abertillery town
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Taking vows
Parc Bryn Bach
and Bedwellty
House are now
both popular
for weddings
and other
ceremonies.
Blaenau
Gwent’s
Register Office
in Tredegar
has been busy
conducting
naming
ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies, marriages, civil partnerships and
renewal of vows.
The countryside centre at Parc Bryn Bach has already booked in many
weddings for 2009 and the newly renovated Institute at Llanhilleth will
also be available for ceremonies from February, 2009.
In the future, the £6.4 million restoration of Bedwellty House and Park
will provide an even more beautiful setting for ceremonies - as well as a
new home for the Blaenau Gwent Registration Service.
Planning a ceremony next year? Book the date, venue and time now.
For Bryn Bach Park and Bedwellty House tel: (01495) 355326 For
Llanhilleth Institute tel: (01495) 354675.
Snap!
Bethan Warburton won first
prize in last year’s SNAP!
Biodiversity competition
for her picture of porcelain
fungus. Entries for this year’s
competition were due on Friday
17th October 2008. We will let
you know the results in future
issues of Connect magazine.
Public/private facility
First - Llanhilleth Institute
Second - Day Care Centre,
Abertillery
Third - Candy Stripes Nursery,
Cwmcelyn
Highly Commended - Market Hall,
Brynmawr
Organic and wildlife garden
First - Nina and Jeffrey Wall, The
Old Morning Star, Ebbw Vale
Second - Bishop Street allotments,
Abertillery
Third - David George, Plot
9a,Bishop Street Allotments,
Abertillery
Highly Commended - Cath Chivers,
Plot 20A Bishop Street Allotments,
Abertillery
Commended - Nantyglo
Comprehensive School, Nantyglo
Commended - Bryngwyn Primary
School, Six Bells
Allotments
Group
First - Bishop Street allotments,
Abertillery
Individuals
First - Mr G.Blackmore, Plot 6
Glanffrwd Allotments, Ebbw Vale
Second - David George, Plot 9b/17b
Bishop Street Allotment, Abertiilery
Third - Mr J.Davies, Plot 25b/26b
Bishop Street Allotment, Abertillery
Highly Commended - Brian Blake,
Plot 22a/b Bishop Street Allotment,
Abertillery
Commended - Desmond Price,
Plot 18a/b Bishop Street Allotment,
Abertillery
Commended - Mr D.B.Jones, Plot
23a/b Bishop Street Allotment,
Abertillery
Special features
First - Mr and Mrs Dean, 16 High
Street, Six Bells
Second - The Old Morning Star,
Ebbw Vale
Special features cont
Third - Bishop Street Allotments,
Abertillery
Highly Commended - Dereka
Hodgins, 118 Worcester Street,
Brynmawr
Commended - Plymouth Arms,
Tredegar
Commended - Mr and Mrs B.Turner,
16 Clydach Street, Brynmawr
Best new entry
First - The Old Morning Star, Ebbw
Vale
Second - Llanhilleth Institute,
Llanhilleth
Third - Mr and Mrs B.Turner, 16
Clydach Street, Brynmawr
Highly Commended - Joint Day
Care Unit, Alma Street, Abertillery
Commended - Mr H.Bufton, Pen-y-
Twyn, Tredegar
Commended - Mr K.Jenkins, 5
Vincent Avenue, Nantyglo
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
15

Bridging the gap
River crossing brings Six Bells closer together
Local people in Six Bells can now
get around much more easily
thanks to the construction of a new
footbridge over the river. Funded
by the European Union and the
Welsh Assembly Government,
the new footbridge is bringing
two parts of the community closer
together. Some children now find it
quicker and easier to get to school.
The river bridge is one of the
latest landmark schemes in the
regeneration of the whole area
which so far has seen investment
of over £7million.
Part of Six Bells is a housing
renewal area. Blaenau Gwent
Council is working closely with
partners such as social housing
partner Linc Cymru to invest and
improve the housing in Six Bells.
While home-owners and landlords
benefit from a stream of housing
improvement funding, Blaenau
Gwent Council, Communities
First and Linc-Cymru have also
achieved much more including
car parks, highway improvements,
demolition of derelict empty
buildings, and access schemes.
There’s lots more going on
in Six Bells. Thanks to this
partnership the village now has
a food co-operative, exercise
classes, healthy eating courses,
a stop-smoking class, litter picks,
planting projects and a number of
community art initiatives.
New community groups have
been established - a women’s
group, a regeneration team, a
youth committee and Six Bells
Regeneration Ltd to develop the
former Coach & Horses public
house.
The regeneration of Six Bells
goes on with work in the housing
renewal area scheduled until
2013 and the Council is currently
considering ideas for use of the
former colliery site. In 2009 an
exhibition showing what has been
achieved and what is planned will
be held.
Pitching
camp
Ten young people aged 13 to
16 from Blaenau Gwent joined
a youth camp in Germany - and
visited the European Parliament in
Strasbourg.
Pupils from Glyncoed, Ebbw Vale
and Tredegar comprehensive
schools camped in Oberhausen-
Rheinhausen alongside groups
from Pomaz in Hungary and
Remanzacco in Italy.
Local girl Sophie Robbins said: “It
was the best week of my life.”
The students packed bags at Asda
and took part in a sponsored walk
at Parc Bryn Bach to help raise
funds for the trip.
The International Youth Camp
started 18 years ago when the
Blaenau Gwent Youth Twinning
Association was set up. Next year,
Blaenau Gwent will host the camp.
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Award winning
social services
Blaenau Gwent Council’s
work to make life better for
children and young people
with disabilities has won a
prestigious Wales Excellence
Award
We’re very proud of this glowing
tribute to the partnership between
our local authority and children’s
charity Barnardo’s Cymru.
We share the philosophy that
disabled children are children first
and should have the same rights
and opportunities as others.
John Rogers, Executive Member
for Social Services, said:
“Our Council’s Children’s Services
team sets a great example by
improving service and bringing
Local people using the Council’s
benefit service took part in a
customer survey recently.
83% of customers were ‘very
satisfied’ or ‘generally satisfied’
with our service.
Customers visiting said:
• Staff were friendly - 92%
• Staff treated me with respect -
88%
• Clear explanation given - 81%
Customers telephoning said:
• Staff were professional - 80%
• Enquiry dealt with satisfactorily -
88%
• Long time in call queue - 27%
Here are some customers’
comments: “I am very satisfied with
the service… staff have been very
helpful”
“Patience is a virtue. May I
commend you all”
education, health and leisure
services together. We now have a
dedicated children with disabilities
team, an occupational therapist
and access to special nursing
support.”
The Blaenau Gwent partnership
project offers:
• a short break service for children
with disabilities
• support to allow children with
disabilities to get out and about
• summer play schemes.
Yvonne Rogers, Director of
Barnardo’s Cymru, said:
“We are delighted - our partnership
has helped to make a real
difference to the lives of children
and young people with disabilities.”
Friendly customer
service
“To be more private - everyone
could hear you”
“If anything could be improved
it would be to be told a private
consultation would be available”
We aim to improve the service
to you. A new customer service
facility - due to be completed early
in 2009 – will take into account
your views about the need for
privacy.
On the
wild side
Parc Bryn Bach went wild this
summer with a free, fun for all
the family, event to celebrate
biodiversity in Blaenau Gwent.
Over 2,000 people joined in
to promote greater community
awareness and involvement
in looking after the natural
environment.
Visitors took part in family activities
- face-painting, woodcarving,
building bird boxes, creating
wild art and nature walks. There
were lots of fun competitions and
quizzes.
Don Wilcox, Executive Member for
Regeneration and Highways, said:
“Go Wild gave local people the
opportunity to enjoy nature and
wildlife at first hand while also
helping safeguard its future.”
BLAENAU GWENT LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Tell us
Tell us what you think of the
proposals and options for the
future of Blaenau Gwent.
• How much development?
• Where should it go?
Coming soon to a venue near you.
For more information, contact
the Planning Policy Team
on 01495 354740/ 355538/
355544, alternatively email
planningpolicy@blaenau-gwent.
gov.uk.
Connect
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
17

Olympic flag
relay
Sports people from Blaenau Gwent celebrated the
handover of the Olympic flag with a special relay.
A team of 20 cycled and ran 17 miles around Blaenau
Gwent carrying the Olympic handover flag - the relay
was our contribution to the national celebration to mark
the end of the Beijing Games.
Cory Hooper, aged 12, was given the flag on the final
leg to Ebbw Vale.
Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau Gwent Council, said:
“We share the vision of the London 2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games to inspire change. Here in Blaenau
Gwent we are determined to help people of all ages to
adopt healthy lifestyles.”
Jason Owen, Executive Member for Leisure and
Culture, said: “By working together with coaches, our
own staff and volunteers, we offer the chance for many
to get involved in Olympic sports at grassroots level.”
The Abertillery Wheelers cycled from Abertillery Leisure
Centre to Parc Bryn Bach. Parc Bryn Bach Running
Club carried the flag through Tredegar and Ebbw Vale
Running Club ran the last leg to Ebbw Vale.
Carrying the flag
Abertillery Wheelers: Glyn Williams, Ian Davies,
Martin Latewood, Stephen Williams, Rhys Rowlands
and Gareth Chislett.
Parc Bryn Bach Running Club: Margaret Monk,
Colin Rees, Bernie Monk, Annmarie Evans, Clive
Cooksey, Brian Phillips, Tim Williams and Gareth
Williams.
Ebbw Vale Running Club: Top right picture left to
right Andrew Morris, Steve Trapnell, Rob Evans, Scott
Morris and Cory Hooper.
BMX and golf at Parc Bryn Bach
Over 2,000 golfers are teeing off at
Parc Bryn Bach’s new public golf
course every month.
The nine holes on the course - all
par three - are in use seven days
a week. So is the popular six bay
golf driving range.
Another new feature is the BMX
bike pump track. It’s top quality
and highly valued by experienced
riders who can practice their riding
and jump skills.
The full national standard BMX
course is a challenge of speed and
ability. Now that BMX cycling is an
Olympic sport, Parc Bryn Bach is
attracting BMX bikers from across
the UK.
In keeping with the Olympic theme,
the park hosted the Corus British
Elite Triathlon - a final competition
for GB tri-athletes prior to the
Beijing games. Look out for the
British and Welsh triathlons at the
park in 2009.
For more information about Parc
Bryn Bach events call 01495
711816.
Picture courtesy of SW Argus
18
A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Best all round inspection
grades in Wales
Students in Blaenau Gwent are
celebrating very good GCSE
results and the best ever A-level
results.
Bill Maxwell, HM Chief Inspector of
Education and Training in Wales,
highlighted the results in his
annual report. He said that from
2005 to 2007 schools in Blaenau
Gwent had the highest all round
inspection scores.
Inspectors said that 90% of our
schools have mainly good or
outstanding features - the best
overall performance by schools in
any of the 22 local authority areas
in Wales.
Steve Bard, Executive Member
for Education, said: “This is an
outstanding achievement.”
Across Wales in the same two
years 66% of school inspection
grades had mainly good or
outstanding features - much less
than Blaenau Gwent’s total of 90%.
Top marks for schools
Overall grades are up at A-Level
and almost every pupil achieved
at least one pass. More pupils
are sitting A-Levels and gaining
passes. The number of pupils taking
A-Levels is up by 41% since a year
ago and the number who achieved
two or more A-Level passes has
gone up by 20%.
Performance in GCSEs was also up.
We saw a three per cent increase
in the number of grades A* to C.
Overall grades are rising at a faster
rate in Blaenau Gwent than in Wales
as a whole.
Stephen Bard, Executive Member
for Education, said:
“These are excellent results - a
tremendous achievement for our
schools in Blaenau Gwent. We
can see that our ‘can do’ attitude
is bringing more success and the
standards of teaching and learning
in Blaenau Gwent are very high.”
Pupils take GCSEs at all six of
Blaenau Gwent’s secondary schools
- Abertillery, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale,
Tredegar, Nantyglo and Glyncoed
comprehensives. Pupils take
A-Levels at Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale,
Nantyglo and Tredegar.
GCSE results
• 71.8% achieving one of the top grades
• 91.7% achieving at least one grade A* to G
• The number of pupils achieving five or more A* to C
increasing to 45.1%
• The number of grades A* to C has risen to 55.8%.
A-Level results
• 46% of pupils achieve A to B grades - 11 per cent up
• 70% of pupils achieved A to C grades - nine per cent
up
• Over 60% of pupils achieved at least one A to B
grade - best ever
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
19

October to December
2008 - 2009
For up to date information on any event please visit www.blaenaugwentvenues.com
at the Beaufort Theatre and
Ballroom, Ebbw Vale
Box Office: 01495 355800
Frank Vickery presents…
Erogenous Zones
Friday 31 October - Saturday 1
November, 7.30pm
Tickets £10 / £9 concession
State of Undress
Friday 7 November, 8pm
Tickets £8.50
£7.50 Valleys Roots members
Off the Streets
Friday 14 November, 6.45pm
Tickets £5 / £3 Concession prior
to event
£6 / £4 Concession on the door
European Ballet presents…
Sleeping Beauty
Friday 21 November, 7:30pm
Tickets £12.50 / £10 Concession /
£35 Family ticket
The Gathering
Saturday 22 November, 8pm
Tickets £15 / £14 Valleys Roots
members
Cinders
Tuesday 25 November,
11am and 1.30pm
Tickets £5
Brynmawr Amateur
Pantomime Society
Tuesday 2 December - Saturday
6 December, 6.30pm
Saturday 6 December, 2pm
matinee performance
Tickets £5 / £3.50 Concessions
Call 01495 310597 for tickets
Victor Spinetti
Saturday 20 December, 8pm
Tickets £15
at the Metropole Cultural and
Conference Centre
Abertillery Box Office:
01495 322510
Pat Travers
Thursday 23 October, 8pm
Tickets £12.50 / £10 Blues Club
members
All Hallows Eve
Thursday 30 October, 10am -
4pm
Tickets £3
Suitable for five to 12 year-olds
You can find out more online! Visit www.blaenaugwentvenues.com
20
A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

At all Blaenau Gwent Sports Centres
School half term activities
Those under 16 years of age swim for free between Saturday
25 October and Sunday 2 November at all leisure centres in
Blaenau Gwent.
The Spikedrivers
Thursday 6 November, 8pm
Tickets £12.50 / £10 Blues Club
members
Abertillery Operatic and Drama
Society
Christmas
Variety Show
Tuesday 9 December - Thursday
11 December
Ffindance present
The Dance Faktry
Festival
Saturday 13 December, 7pm
Events and Workshops: 01495
322510
Sweet
Chocolates and
Pumpkins and
Puppets
Thursday 30 October
Tickets £3 per child
Scamp Theatre presents…
Culture Dance
Evening
Friday 14 November, 8pm
Craft Fair and
Children’s
Christmas
Activities
Saturday 29 November
Tickets for Craft Fair - free
Tickets for Children’s Christmas
Activities - £3 per child
at the Market Hall Cinema
Brynmawr Box Office:
01495 310576
Listed below are
films showing
soon - please
call 01495
310576 for dates
and times.
High School Musical - Senior
Years
Enchanted
Day the Earth stood still
James Bond - Quantum of
Solace
at Blaenau Gwent Libraries
Free health
checks
Local people can have their blood
pressure, body mass index, body
fat and lung capacity all checked by
qualified practitioners - at their local
libraries.
The health checks are available at
the venues listed below.
Monday 10 November
Ebbw Vale - 10am - 11.30am
Blaina Library - 1.30pm - 3pm
Tuesday 11 November
Abertillery - 10am - 11.30am
Wednesday 12 November
Llanhilleth - 1.30pm - 3pm
Thursday 13 November
Cwm Library - 10am - 11.30am
Brynmawr Library - 1.30pm - 3pm
You can find out more online! Visit www.blaenaugwentvenues.com
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
21

A chance for your
ideas to travel in time
A time capsule for Ysbyty Aneurin
Bevan was recently unveiled at
the ViTCC Centre, in Tredegar, by
Edwina Hart, Minister for Health
and Social Services, Laura Beaton,
Blaenau Gwent’s Deputy Youth
Mayor, and John Adams, former
NHS administrator and local
historian.
The time capsule and its contents
will provide a unique chronicle of the
development of the NHS in Blaenau
Gwent, the building of the new
hospital and will also look forward
to the further development of health
services in Blaenau Gwent.
The launch event marked the
beginning of a two year search
for ideas for items to be placed
in the time capsule, which will be
prominently displayed in the new
hospital. It is planned that the
opening of the Time Capsule will
take place in 2048, on the 100th
Anniversary of the NHS.
Marilyn Pitman, Chairman of
Blaenau Gwent Local Health Board,
John Adams and Laura Beaton, with Edwina Hart, Minister for Health and Social Services
said: “I am delighted with the
concept of a time capsule for Ysbyty
Aneurin Bevan. This is an exciting
way of capturing information for the
future. I would like to encourage
everyone, especially children and
young people, to get their thinking
caps on and come with up some
innovative ideas for the contents of
the time capsule, which will be of
interest to the people who open
it in 2048.”
If you have any ideas for the
contents of the time capsule, then
please contact Sharon Harford,
Communications Manager, at
Blaenau Gwent Local Health
Board, on 01495 325427, or email
Sharon.harford@blaenaugwentlhb.
wales.nhs.uk
Blaenau Gwent Council has teamed up with British
Gas to bring you a special home insulation offer
Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation
at substantially reduced prices
AND
£100 credited to your Council
Tax Account* if either of these
measures are installed.
Save up to £200** per year off your
heating bills.
To qualify for the rebate the
insulation must be installed by
British Gas through the Council
Tax Scheme.
If you already have loft insulation,
it may not meet modern standards
and may need topping up.
Costs can be spread over two
years, interest free or a 100%
grant may be available if you
receive certain income or disability
related benefits***.
You don’t need to be a British
Gas customer to benefit from this
initiative.
For further information or to
arrange a free no obligation survey,
please call 0845 9717731
*One-off payment only
**Average annual energy saving
for three-bed houses
semi-detached property (as at
November 07).
***Customers entitled to free
insulation will not be entitled to the
Council Tax Rebate.
22
A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r

Hospital go ahead
Edwina Hart, Minister for Health and
Social Services, approved the final
plans for development of Ysbyty
Aneurin Bevan, the new Local
General Hospital in Blaenau Gwent,
in May 2008.
The £53.7 million Welsh Assembly
Government funded hospital will
provide a significant improvement
in delivery of healthcare services to
the people of Blaenau Gwent. The
hospital, which is expected to be
completed during 2010, is part of
a long-term re-development of the
former Corus steelworks in Ebbw
Vale.
Work began on the new
107-bedroom hospital coinciding
with the celebrations to mark the
60th anniversary of the creation of
the NHS.
Artist’s impression - view of the front of Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan
Blaenau Gwent
Local Health Board
launches its fifth
annual report
Blaenau Gwent Local Health
Board recently published its fifth
annual report at its annual general
meeting on 16 September 2008.
The report highlights the significant
progress made by the Local
Health Board over the past year,
particularly in the development of
plans to modernise local services.
It also provides information
about the role of the LHB and its
members and the ways in which
local people have been, and
continue to be, involved in the work
of the LHB.
If you would like to find out more
about the LHB’s progress during
2007 - 2008, the annual report is
available on the LHB’s website,
www.blaenaugwentlhb.wales.
nhs.uk, or a hard copy can be
obtained from Sharon Harford,
Communications Manager,
Blaenau Gwent Local Health
Board, Anvil Court, Church Street,
Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, NP13
1DB. Tel: 01495 325427.
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
23

Win four tickets to see Cinders Show
Here is your chance to win four tickets – worth £20 – to see Cinders at Beaufort Theatre and Ballroom, Ebbw Vale.
The show will be on Tuesday 25 November at both 11am and 1.30pm and the winner can choose to use the tickets
at either of these times. All answers can be found by reading this magazine. Simply tick the correct boxes.
Entry form. Please fill in your name and address below:
Name:
Address:
Town:
Post code: Telephone: (01495)
NP
Age
(under 16s only)
Please answer each question by putting a
tick (or cross) in the box.
Question 1
In what year will Blaenau Gwent Council
host the Eisteddfod?
2011
2010
2012
Question 2
What is the name of the new town centre
warden?
Justin Benger
Justine Benger
Justin Banger
Cinders – a tale
for all the family
‘Cinders’ or Cinderella is a well known and popular
tale which all the family can enjoy.
At Beaufort Theatre and Ballroom the tale will come
to life.
From the wicked stepmother and the ugly sisters to
Cinders and her fairy godmother – don’t miss out on
this charming fairytale.
Connect magazine has four tickets to give to winners
of this competition.
Parents and carers can enter by filling in the entry
form and returning it to us by the closing date.
Children – please ask a parent or carer to enter for
you to win this great prize.
Question 3
How many new Police Community Support
Officers are there in Blaenau Gwent?
6
5
4
After completing your entry form,
please return to:
Connect magazine, Cinders competition,
Communications, Civic Centre, NP23 6XB.
Closing date: Friday 14 November.
We would like to send you more information
about entertainment and events in Blaenau
Gwent. If you do not wish to receive this
additional information please tick this box.
Competition rules:
This competition is open to residents of Blaenau Gwent. Only one entry per household may be entered into the
competition. If competitors are under the age of 16, they must obtain permission from a parent/guardian before
entering. Should they win a prize they must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Entries must be on Connect
magazine competition forms.
The winner will receive tickets for four people to see Cinders at Beaufort Theatre and Ballroom, Ebbw Vale. The
show is Tuesday 25 November at 11am and 1.30pm and the winner can choose to use the tickets at either of
these times.
The winning entry will be the first correct entry drawn. The judges decision is final. It is a condition of entry that
these rules are accepted as final.
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A b e r t i l l e r y B l a i n a & N a n t y g l o B r y n m a w r E b b w V a l e T r e d e g a r