English Version - Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Winter 2009 

The community magazine for Blaenau Gwent 

Connect 

Connect 

Your community magazine for Blaenau Gwent 

Winter 2009 

£500 

investment special 

million 



Education Care Services Housing New Hospital 

£86 million £12 million £111 million £60 million 

F o r C o u n c i l n e w s & i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t w w w . b l a e n a u - g w e n t . g o v . u k

Connect The community magazine for Blaenau Gwent 

Winter 2009 

Connect 

with your Council 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

Great news on investment 

– but hard times ahead 

Council Leader’s personal invitation to you 

In this edition of our community 

magazine Connect we have 

great news about exciting new 

investment projects in Blaenau 

Gwent. 

With our partners, we have 

secured hundreds of millions of 

pounds from the Welsh Assembly 

Government and Europe. 

This investment is vital for the 

regeneration of our communities. 

It is essential if we are to share a 

better future. 

But – and this is a big but – we 

all know from the news that the 

Government will not be giving us 

all the funds we need to keep all 

our services going in the years 

ahead. 

Because of that we have tough 

decisions to make. 

We need your views to help us to 

make those difficult decisions. And 

we will listen. We listened to what 

you told us about the streetlights 

Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent (C2BG) 

01495 311 556 

For news on Council services visit 

www.blaenau–gwent.gov.uk 

You can call us at Connect 2 

Blaenau Gwent between 8am and 

6pm Monday to Fridays. 

E: info@blaenau–gwent.gov.uk 

Minicom: 01495 355959 

outside your homes - they are 

back on at present. 

We will be looking carefully at this 

issue and details will be in the 

next edition of Connect. 

This is my personal invitation to 

you to join in when we will again 

be asking you for your views. 

Connect 2 Listen is all about your 

Council listening to you. A series 

of big Connect 2 Listen meetings 

across Blaenau Gwent will be 

announced soon. 

Let’s hear about what services are 

most important to you – education 

for our children, social services 

for those who are disadvantaged, 

care for those who are sick and 

frail, roads, parks, sports, arts and 

the environment. 

The money available means these 

services must be prioritised and 

maybe delivered in a different 

way. As a Council, we have hard 

choices to make. 

Fax: 01495 315265 

By post: Connect 2 Blaenau 

Gwent, Central Depot, Barleyfield 

Industrial Estate, Brynmawr 

NP23 4YF. 

Social Services Duty Team 

For direct access to Social 

Services please call 01495 

315700 

Monday to Thursday 9am - 5pm 

Fridays 9am - 4.30pm. 

I want you all to have your say – 

everyone of you. We want to do 

our very best for you and your 

families. 

Working together we can achieve 

much more. 

Remember, I will still be trying my 

hardest to get the best deal I can 

for you. So will all my colleagues 

here at the Council. 

With best wishes, 

Councillor Des Hillman 

Leader, Blaenau Gwent Council 

For out of hours Social Services 

please call the Emergency Duty 

Team on 0800 328 4432. 

If you would like Connect 

magazine in large print format, call 

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. 

£86 million for Learning Works scheme 

The Welsh Assembly Government 

has announced that a total of £86 

million is available for new and 

modern education and learning 

facilities, a new leisure centre and a 

new theatre at The Works. 

This is a huge opportunity for 

everyone in Blaenau Gwent and 

the Heads of the Valleys. 

The funding announcements mean 

Your views on Learning Works 

We are seeking your views on the 

Learning Works projects at The 

Works: 

the Learning Zone project - 

education and training for 16 – 

19 year-olds 

new integrated Children’s Centre 

M&S & town centres 

We’re investing in a better future! 

Blaenau Gwent has won over 

£500 million in investment for 

projects across the area. This 

special edition of Connect has 

Contents 

Extra Care Housing..................6-7 

Ebbw Valley Railway............12-13 

Town Centres.......................16-17 

that The Works partnership and 

your Council can draw up and 

consult with local people on big 

plans for education and leisure. 

We have news of investment 

totalling over £500 million in this 

edition of Connect. For details of 

one of these projects at The Works 

– the Learning Zone – turn to 

pages 4 and 5. 

New grant funding opportunities are 

now available for all our towns – 

Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr, Ebbw 

Vale and Tredegar. All five towns 

have set up their own business 

forums – with help from your 

Council. More on pages 16-17. 

new Special School 

new Primary and Secondary 

Schools 

new leisure centre and arts 

centre / theatre. 

Look out for dates of the 

consultation meetings soon. 

the news. Some projects are 

already taking shape - but much 

of the funding is yet to come. 

What’s On................................. 22 

Competition............................... 24 

“What you said...” 

Our Living in Blaenau 

Gwent survey 

We asked local people – 1,000 

of you – what you think about 

Blaenau Gwent and about public 

services in the area. 

Trained researchers travelled 

all over Blaenau Gwent and 

interviewed approximately 1,000 

local people – selected at random 

– in their homes for our Living in 

Blaenau Gwent survey. 

We don’t have the full results back 

yet. But we have some headlines 

here in this edition of Connect. 

Look in the ‘What you said…’ 

boxes throughout the magazine. 

£500 


million 



2 

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 

f o r C o u n c i l n e w s & i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t w w w . b l a e n a u - g w e n t . g o v . u k 

3


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

New future for education - student 

Learning Zone just the start 

The Learning Zone – a multi-million pound 

investment project – could change the face of 

learning, training and skills in Blaenau Gwent in 

just a few years. 

Quite simply, The Learning Zone is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to 

give every one much brighter opportunities for a better life ahead. 

Your Council wanted to hear the 

views of local people on the design 

of The Learning Zone – which 

could offer post 16 education 

opportunities up to university 

degree level for more than 6,000 

students a year. 

Our vision is to 

provide a state-ofthe-art 

new learning 

centre for all 16-19s 

and 6,000 students a 

year. 

“ 

” 


has awarded £4.6 million for the 

preparation phase of The Learning 

Zone. That means work on site 

could start very soon. Bids for 

match-funding from Europe are 

being made. 

The Learning Zone is just one 

important step in a Learning 

Works programme that could bring 

investments totalling over £100 

million to Blaenau Gwent’s biggest 

regeneration site. Our vision is for 

new leisure/sports and performing 

arts centres as well as state-of-theart 

new school buildings. Wideranging 

public consultations on the 

future possibilities for education 

have just been announced. 

Des Hillman, Leader of Blaenau 

Gwent Council, said: 

“The Welsh Assembly Government 

has confirmed it is backing The 

Learning Zone project – it will be 

the first new education centre of its 

kind in Wales. 

“We have great ambitions for 

the regeneration of the former 

steelworks site. The Learning 

Zone can bring together education 

opportunities for 6,000 students per 

year - replacing worn-out buildings 

with the best modern facilities. 

“But our vision is to secure 

investment for more new learning 

facilities – for everyone from the 

youngest to the oldest including 

new schools for all ages and our 

special needs pupils.” 

Public exhibitions of The Learning 

Zone plans were held around 

Blaenau Gwent. Local people can 

get in touch to find out more about 

The Learning Zone – and other 

projects at The Works including 

the £12 million restoration of the 

General Offices - by contacting The 

Works Project Office on Steelworks 

Road, Ebbw Vale on 01495 

357811. 

University Institute 

for Blaenau Gwent 

The University Heads of the 

Valleys Institute has won funding 

from the Welsh Assembly 

Government and the European 

Union. 

What is the University Heads of 

the Valleys Institute? 

It’s an exciting new programme 

to provide better learning, training 

and skills opportunities in Blaenau 

Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil. 

A new education partnership 

is being set up between two 

universities – the University of 

Wales, Newport and the University 

of Glamorgan – colleges, your 

Council, Merthyr Tydfil Council 

and the Welsh Assembly 

Government’s Heads of the 

Valleys Programme. 

The Learning Zone at The Works 

will be a key part of the university 

institute project – bringing 

university degree opportunities to 

Blaenau Gwent. 

What you said... 

The Works 

81% of you who know about 

The Works say it will help make 

Blaenau Gwent an area with 

prospects. 

48% of you have heard or are 

aware that the 2010 National 

Eisteddfod will be held at The 

Works. 

Pictured above: the proposed 

design of the new Learning Zone 

- part of the public consultation 

exhibition. 

4 



5


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

£12 million investment in new 

accommodation with care services 

for older people 

New partnership extra care housing schemes in 

Blaenau Gwent will ‘break the mould’ in the type of 

housing and care we provide for older people. 

The first new extra care housing project is taking shape at College 

Road in Ebbw Vale. 

A total of 41 new one and two 

bedroom flats are being built 

by one of the Council’s partner 

housing associations - Linc 

Cymru. The £5.5 million scheme 

will be ready next summer. 

“ 

The flats will 

offer security, 

companionship and 

independence 

” 

Extra care is a new concept in 

care for older people - part of an 

overall strategy designed to meet 

the needs of vulnerable older 

people in Blaenau Gwent for the 

years ahead. 

Make no mistake, Blaenau Gwent 

Council’s “Living Independently in 

the 21st Century” strategy is bold 

and innovative. 

With partners like Linc Cymru and 

United Welsh, we are investing 

to improve our resource base 

and provide an increased range 

of services. These services are 

planned to allow older people to 

retain their independence in the 

community. 

What’s planned for the new extra 

care flats? They will offer high 

quality living for more vulnerable 

older people within a safe 

environment. The flats will offer 

security, companionship and 

independence. 

All the new extra care flats will 

have a domiciliary care team able 

to assist tenants with care needs 

24 hours a day. 

Other facilities at College Road 

will include a dining room serving 

freshly cooked nutritious meals, 

a hairdressing salon and a shop. 

These facilities will be accessible 

to the local community. There 

will be a full programme of social 

events. 

Planning permission was recently 

awarded for another 44 flats in 

Nantyglo - on the former Hafod 

Dawel site. The investment in 

the two sites will total at least 

£12 million. This development 

has been commissioned with 

United Welsh. Work will start in 

early 2010 and the flats should 

be ready late in 2011. A third 

complex is being considered for 

the Tredegar area. 

Key facts on 

Extra Care homes 

Coming in August 2010 – the 

first 41 extra care flats from Linc 

Cymru. 

44 more flats from United Welsh 

should be completed in 2011. 

Tenants will be ‘Living 

independently in the 21st 

century’ – with 24 hour 

domiciliary care team. 

The first two schemes are 

College Road, Ebbw Vale and 

the Hafod Dawel site, Nantyglo. 

£12 million plus investment 

includes £10 million in grants 

from the Welsh Assembly 

Government. 

Our social housing partners are 

Linc Cymru and United Welsh 


6 

Caring for older people 

43% of you agree there is a lack 

of specially adapted properties 

for older or disabled people 

9% of you said you look after 

family or friends because of 

long-term illness 

Neighbourliness 

61% of you said you 

know many people in your 

community. 

Nantyglo next 

While building continues on the 

first Extra Care complex of 41 flats 

– pictured right – the construction 

of 44 more flats is going to start 

in 2010 at the Hafod Dawel site – 

pictured left – in Nantyglo. 

United Welsh will be building the 

new Nantyglo complex. 

6 



7


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

Top exam marks all round 

Pupils from Blaenau Gwent are doing better than 

ever in vital GCSE and A-Level examinations - this 

year our young people again gained impressive 

scores. 

Best ever grades for Blaenau Gwent – with a faster rate of 

improvement than in the rest of Wales – have recently been 

confirmed. 

Our schools and our young pupils 

- each exam pass is a story of 

individual success and promise 

for the future - have together been 

making excellent progress over 

the last few years. 

“ 

We must all look at 

how to move forward 

– at turning the 

Learning Campus into 

reality 

” 

But we now have to raise the bar 

again so that all young people in 

Blaenau Gwent have the chance 

to reach their potential. Our 

vision is to build new, top quality 

education, learning and training 

facilities – and the first tranche 

of investment funding is now 

available. 

Steve Bard, Executive Member for 

Education, explained. He said: 

“The Council’s vision for learning, 

training and skills is going to bring 

even greater opportunities and 

success in the future. 

“Pupils from Blaenau Gwent are 

demonstrating they can achieve 

even more - they can now aspire 

to anything that they wish to do in 

their future lives. 

“Our best-ever results at GCSE 

and A-Level - better in 2009 and a 

big leap forward in recent years. 

“This is a great achievement 

for our young people and they 

couldn’t have done it without 

the support of their families, our 

teachers and schools. 

“But the transformation of learning 

opportunities must not stop here. 

We must all look at how to move 

forward and take advantage of 

investment now available - at 

turning the Learning Zone into a 

reality.” 

Robert Barbour, Blaenau Gwent 

Council’s Chief Education Officer, 

said: 

“These results confirm that 

the standards of teaching and 

learning in Blaenau Gwent are 

very high. We are extremely 

pleased to report that the quality 

of results is higher than ever.” 

Glyncoed makes 

Wales’ top 10 

Glyncoed Comprehensive School in 

Ebbw Vale has made it into the top 

ten of schools in Wales for GCSE 

improvement and performance. 

Overall grades shot up by 12% 

at Glyncoed this year – a mighty 

impressive achievement. 

9 amazing facts 

about the success of our 

schools in Blaenau Gwent 

Our 36 schools provide 

opportunities for over 10,000 

children and young people. 

This year 20% more pupils 

gained A-Level results at A* - C 

than three years ago. 

GCSEs 

The proportion of grades at 

A*-C was a record at over 60%. 

Over 49% of students achieved 

5 or more GCSEs at grades A* - 

C this year - 4% more than last 

year. 

72% of pupils taking GCSEs 

achieved a top grade! 

Over 91% taking GCSEs gained 

at least one grade A* - G. 

A-Levels 

An impressive 75% of 

examinations entered achieved 

A to C grades - an outstanding 

overall increase of 20% since 

2006. 

Over 65% of pupils achieved 

at least one A to B grade - a 

massive 25% increase from 

2006. 

Over 90% taking A-Levels 

achieved two or more passes. 


9 

Young people 

32% of you said that activities 

for teenagers are important 

in making somewhere a good 

place to live. 

30% of you said activities for 

teenagers are the aspect of 

your local area most in need of 

improving. 

Pictured: pupils at Abertillery 

Comprehensive School. 

Below: pupils at Glyncoed 

Comprehensive School. 

8 



9


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

‘YES’ to £111 million investment in 

Council housing 

The biggest single programme of housing 

investment ever in Blaenau Gwent will start in 2010 

as a result of council tenants’ vote to transfer their 

homes. 

A five year investment programme worth up to £111 million will 

get underway when Council housing in Blaenau Gwent transfers 

to the new, independent local housing organisation Tai Calon. 

Work will begin right away on 

new kitchens, bathrooms, roofs 

and windows. New jobs and 

apprenticeships will be created 

for workers to carry out the 

modernisation work. 

“ 

Money will be 

available for the 

modernization that 

the homes of tenants 

need 

” 

Tenants themselves voted 

to make the modernisation 

programme happen. 73% of those 

who voted wanted the transfer 

and the £111 million improvement 

programme to go ahead. 

Tai Calon has drawn up its plans 

for long term investment as well. 

There will be another £124 million 

invested after 2015. So, the total 

improvement, modernisation and 

repair budget will come to £235 

million over 30 years. 

There will also be investment in 

estates and community areas – 

in better parking, pathways and 

fencing. Tai Calon plans to raise 

up to £14 million more for this 

work. 

John Mason, Executive Member 

for Housing, said: “The ‘Yes’ vote 

shows that tenants have listened 

to the proposals and made an 

informed decision. 

“We are delighted with the result. 

This means the money will be 

available for the repairs and 

modernisation tenants’ homes 

need to bring them up to the 

standards they deserve. 

“This investment - £235 million 

in the next 30 years - will be 

a major contributor towards 

the regeneration of Blaenau 

Gwent. It will mean jobs and 

apprenticeships for local people. 

“The Council will continue to work 

hard to ensure a smooth transfer 

to Tai Calon - expected in 2010.” 

Chair of the Shadow Board of Tai 

Calon, Philip Crozier, said: 

“Tenants should be congratulated 

for taking a momentous decision. 

Now it is up to Tai Calon to deliver 

the brighter future tenants voted 

for.” 

Tenants can contact our 

information line on freephone 

0800 678 3616. 

10 amazing facts 

about the Tai Calon project 


Housing 

10 

Up to £14 million could be 

invested in estates and 

community areas – above the 

£111 million to be spent on 

modernising homes. 

Some 5,000 kitchens will be 

modernised by Tai Calon. 

4,400 bathrooms will be refitted. 

1,000 homes will have new 

windows. 

Another 2,700 homes will have 

new roofs – more than twice 

as many as the Council could 

repair. 

Every single one of the 

Council’s homes needs 

improvement to reach the 

new Welsh Housing Quality 

Standard. 

72.9% of tenants who voted 

in a secret ballot agreed the 

transfer to Tai Calon. There was 

a 57.1% per cent turnout. 

Tenants’ key rights and 

entitlements are protected 

The Independent Tenants’ 

Advisor can be contacted on 

0800 919 994. 

Tenants will have an important 

say in the running of Tai Calon 

– a not-for-profit local housing 

organisation. 

64% of you say that more 

affordable housing should be 

built in this area. 

Newly improved 

house in Tredegar 

Your Council modernised and 

improved three houses to show 

tenants the standard and quality 

of improvements planned. 

Pictured here: new tenant 

Stephanie Powell and her sons in 

the kitchen of the demonstration 

house in Cripps Avenue, Tredegar. 

10 



11


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

Railway reaches ‘magic million’ 

ahead of schedule 

Ebbw Valley railway – the only passenger rail 

building project in the UK to be led by a local 

authority – has carried a million passengers. 

The railway project partners – led by your Council – are 

celebrating the success of the new Ebbw Vale to Cardiff service. 

Only 20 months down the line 

from the opening last year, the 

new £30 million plus railway has 

carried a million passengers. 

That’s around 50,000 passengers 

every month. 

News that the railway has reached 

the ‘magic million’ mark has been 

welcomed by many – including the 

Welsh Assembly Government and 

train operator Arriva Wales. 

Some are calling the Ebbw Valley 

Railway the people’s line because 

of the huge support from across 

Blaenau Gwent over many years 

for the campaign to have it rebuilt. 

Your Council is the only local 

authority to lead on and deliver a 

major railway project in the UK. 

Funding came from sources 

including the Welsh Assembly 

Government and Europe. Deputy 

First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones 

AM – who travelled on the first 

train to leave Ebbw Vale Parkway 

– made the same trip again to 

More A465 dualling 

The next stage of the A465 Heads 

of the Valleys dualling will be in 


A new five mile stretch of dual 

carriageway road is to be built from 

Tredegar to Brynmawr by 2014. 


celebrate the railway’s success. 


Gwent Council, said: “After the 

closure of the steelworks, local 

people showed typical Blaenau 

Gwent spirit and began the work 

of regeneration. 

“Calling for the railway to be rebuilt 

was part of this. 

“The news that the railway is 

such a success is a boost for 

our confidence. And it has 

already strengthened our hand 

in bidding for more Heads of the 

Valleys programme funding and 

investment. 

“We have an ambitious and 

exciting vision to regenerate our 

county borough – now we must 

all work together to seize the 

opportunity to win the investment 

that can make it happen. 

“Thanks are due to all our 

partners for making this happen 

and to the community for – quite 

literally – getting on board!” 

has announced the plan for 

upwards of £50 million pounds 

investment in the vital highway link. 


Gwent Council, said the roads 

project is another important step in 

the regeneration of the area. 

New railway – the facts 

Passenger trains run hourly 

six days a week on the 18 mile 

railway. 

18,500 metres of new track was 

laid. 

Six new stations were built - 

including Ebbw Vale Parkway 

and Llanhilleth. 

Engineering work brought the 

line speed up to 50mph. 

A double track passing loop 

was laid between Risca and 

Crosskeys. 

State-of-the-art signalling was 

installed. 

Historic facts 

The last freight train carrying 

scrap from the steelworks ran in 

October 2002. 

The last passenger train on the 

old line ran in 1962. 


Ebbw Valley Railway 

47% of you have travelled on 

the Ebbw Valley Railway since it 

re-opened last year. 

81% of you agree that the 

railway has helped make 

Blaenau Gwent a better place 

to live and work. 

12 



13


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

Unveiled - our new £60 million 

state-of-the-art hospital 

The development of Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, 

Blaenau Gwent’s new Local General Hospital, is 

progressing well. Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, named 

after the founder of the National Health Service, is 

due to open in the Autumn of 2010. 

Over recent months the construction of the hospital has been 

taking shape under cover, as protective screens have concealed 

the scaffolding and the construction teams at work. Up to 200 

workers at a time are on site – putting in up to 9,000 hours of work 

a week. 

Now the wraps have come off 

Blaenau Gwent’s new £60 million 

Hospital, and, for the first time, we 

are able to see the sheer size of 

the hospital, which is the first big 

construction project at The Works 

Regeneration Site, Ebbw Vale. 

The hospital, which will 

bring improved and modern 

health services closer to local 

communities, will be the first in 

Wales where all patients will have 

single bedrooms with ensuite 

facilities. 

“ 

The first hospital in 

Wales where all the 

patients have their 

own bedrooms. 

” 

Contractors are now busy 

on mechanical and electrical 

installations throughout the 

new building. En-suite fittings 

are going into the new patient 

bedrooms and underfloor heating 

is being installed at key points. 

David Jenkins, Chairman of 

Aneurin Bevan Health Board, 

said: 

“The development of Ysbyty 

Aneurin Bevan is an excellent 

example of a facility which has 

been developed with the health 

needs and interests of patients 

clearly in mind. It is a fitting 

tribute to Aneurin Bevan and the 

development of the NHS. Our 

new hospital will ensure that 

health services in Blaenau Gwent 

will continue to be improved and 

modernised for the future in order 

to meet the needs of local people. 

The Health Board looks forward 

to the opening of the hospital in 

2010.” 

Des Hillman, Leader of the 

Council, said: 

“It’s a huge project. We are 

delighted to hear from Aneurin 

Bevan Health Board that work on 

the hospital project is going so 

well. The investment is another 

big boost for Blaenau Gwent. 

“What’s also important is the 

community contribution. The 

Health Board has organised 

for representatives of the local 

community and voluntary 

organisations to contribute to an 

Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan Community 

Advisory Panel – I’m told they 

have already been advising on 

designs, colours and finishes for 

furniture and equipment.” 

Building Wales’ most 

modern hospital 

1,380 cubic metres of concrete 

has been used – enough to fill 

three Olympic-size swimming 

pools. 

989 tonnes of steel reinforces 

the building 

That’s on top of 524 tonnes of 

steel framework 

The glazing panels alone would 

cover more than 200 snooker 

tables 

156 miles of cabling is going in 

– enough to stretch across the 

length of Wales 

17 miles of copper and steel 

pipework is being fitted 

96 trade companies are helping 

with the hospital build 

When open, the hospital’s new 

kitchens will provide over 500 

meals a day. 


8 

Health 

70% of you say your health 

is good or very good. But 

59% have done something to 

improve their health in the last 

12 months. 

Regeneration 

81% of you who know about 

The Works said it will make 

Blaenau Gwent an area with 

prospects. 

14 



15


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

Town centres build on 

investment – and bid 

to win new grants 

Traders and retailers in our main towns are 

working together like never before – building 

on regeneration projects that aim to bring more 

shoppers in to local shops. 

New town centre business forums have been set up in Abertillery, 

Blaina, Brynmawr, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar – with business 

people getting together to promote their own towns. 

Retail records 

smashed at Festival Park 

The first Marks 

& Spencer 

Outlet store in 

the Heads of 

the Valleys has 

already attracted 

bumper crowds 

of shoppers and 

visitors to Festival 

Park – and more new stores could 

be opening there soon. 

When the doors of M&S opened at 

Festival Park this month there were 

over 1,000 customers queuing up 

outside to start shopping. 

But the sales bonanza did not stop 

there. The number of visitors to 

Festival Park more than doubled 

over the next few days – and sales 

in all stores went up. Many retailers 

reported their best ever trading 

performance. 

The new M&S Outlet has helped 

create around 40 new jobs for the 

area. 

Owners Chester Properties said 

that they felt that Festival Park is 

now firmly back on the Heads of 

the Valleys retailing map. 

Ebbw Vale 

Brynmawr 

And the new business forums are 

all working together to provide 

additional security. 

A joint bid for Home Office funding 

for additional CCTV camera 

protection has gone to the Home 

Office – who have agreed that 

Blaenau Gwent can bid for 

funding from a special allocation. 

Our grant application has not 

been decided yet. 

Bids have also gone in from 

individual retailers for safety 

and security from the same 

Government fund. It’s an 

opportunity for investment that 

has been made possible by the 

work of Safer Blaenau Gwent. 

Your Council is also reaching 

out to town centre retailers. We 

have just announced a new small 

grants fund for retailers to help 

them improve and promote their 

businesses. 

The new scheme is linked to our 

Connect 2 Business initiative – 

working with local businesses to 

try and beat the recession. 

Now – with funding from the 

Heads of the Valleys Programme 

secured through the Holistic 

Area Regeneration Programme 

(HARPS) – we can offer grants of 

up to £3,000 per business. 

Des Hillman, Leader of the 

Council, said: 

”We remain focused on the 

regeneration of our town centres 

and working in partnership with 

the new town business forums 

for Abertillery, Blaina, Brynmawr, 

Ebbw Vale and Tredegar.” 

All five town centre forums have 

help and support from Blaenau 

Gwent Council’s town centre 

managers, Karin Lamb and 

Bethan Cartwright. 

The business forums and your 

Council are determined to build on 

the qualities and amenities of their 

own towns – and to promote their 

special blend of local shops and 

stores and free parking. 

Heads of the Valleys 

The Heads of the Valleys 

programme is the Welsh Assembly 

Government’s initiative to 

regenerate Blaenau Gwent and 

neighbouring communities. Your 

Council is a full partner. 


Town centres 

74% of you visit your main town 

centre at least once a week – 

more than go shopping out of 

town. 

27% of you rate the shopping 

opportunities in your town centre 

to be good or better. 

Tredegar 

Blaina 

Abertillery 

Investing in towns 

All our five towns have benefited 

from Blaenau Gwent’s partnership 

regeneration projects and grants. 

The £1 million replacement 

Foundry Bridge at Abertillery was 

funded through the Heads of 

the Valleys Programme. A major 

contribution to the £5.5 million 

restoration of Bedwellty House 

and Park in Tredegar comes from 

the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

Blaina 

16 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 f o r C o u n c i l n e w s & i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t w w w . b l a e n a u - g w e n t . g o v . u k 

17


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

How green will 

Blaenau Gwent be? 

A new British Gas Green Skills Centre in Blaenau 

Gwent will train over 1,300 people per year, 

including over 100 long term unemployed people 

British Gas and the Welsh Assembly Government have 

announced that the UK’s first dedicated Green Skills Training 

Centre will be opened in Tredegar later this year. 

The Green Skills Centre will: 

train over 1,300 people each 

year. This will help over 100 

local long term unemployed 

people find work in the 

emerging green economies 

each year 

train new staff and up-skill 

existing British Gas workforce in 

renewable technologies 

play a key part to play in 

helping to drive regeneration, 

aid sustainability and reduce 

fuel poverty in Blaenau Gwent 

and the Heads of the Valleys. 

The centre will help the Welsh 

Assembly Government deliver 

energy efficiency measures to 

40,000 homes as part of the 

Heads of the Valleys Low Carbon 

programme. 


Gwent Council, said: 

“Our vision is to transform 

Blaenau Gwent into a centre for 

21st century learning, training and 

skills. This is one of the reasons 

that the Green Skills Training 

Centre – a first in Wales and the 

UK – is joining us as part of our 

Heads of the Valleys regeneration 

drive.” 

Ambitious targets have been 

set for the Heads of the Valleys 

Low Carbon Zone - the aim is to 

attract investment that will develop 

the highest concentration of 

Pictured above: Innova Centre, 

Tredegar 

renewable energy businesses in 

Europe. 

British Gas is supporting these 

ambitions by developing the 

Green Skills Centre in Tredegar 

so it will become a UK wide 

resource for industry and job 

creation. 

Phil Bentley, Chief Executive 

of British Gas, said: “This is an 

exciting opportunity for British 

Gas to be involved with a unique 

skills centre which will deliver 

economic, environmental and 

social benefits.” 

British Gas will be working with 

Job Match Wales, Job Centre 

Plus, Summit Skills and Blaenau 

Gwent Council as strategic 

partners. 

‘Green’ stars win 

top awards 

Blaenau Gwent’s ‘green’ heroes 

were honoured at the Council’s 

Environmental Awards 2009. 

BBC Wales weatherman Derek 

Brockway was the special guest at 

this year’s awards which honour 

local people who do their bit to 

protect the environment and 

encourage biodiversity across 


The 2009 awards saw record 

entries in categories including 

schools, businesses and 

community groups. 

The list of winners and runners-up 

for 2009 is: 

Pre-school Award – Garden 

Winner – Beaufort Hill Nursery 

Pre-school Award – Recycling 

Winner – Cwm Primary Class 1 

Primary School – Recycling 

Winner – St Mary’s Church in 

Wales Primary 

Primary School – Energy 

Efficiency 

Winner – Rhos-y-Fedwen Primary 

Primary School – Biodiversity 

Winner – All Saints Primary 

Secondary School – Recycling 

Winner – Nantyglo 

Comprehensive 

Secondary School – Energy 

Efficiency 

Winner – Abertillery 

Comprehensive 

Secondary School – 

Biodiversity 

Winner – Thomas Richards 

Centre (Sorted Project) 

School Special Recognition 

Award 

Winner – St Mary’s Roman 

Catholic Primary 

Business Award 

Winner – Clear Image Spraying 

and Printing Services 

We are going to help 

you ‘Beat the Crunch’ 

Do you need help getting a job or developing 

new skills? 

Do you want to maximise your income from benefits? Our ‘Beat 

the Crunch’ event is for you. 

The event is on Thursday, 12 

November – and it can make a 

real difference to you. 

Come along. ‘Beat the Crunch’ 

will be held at the Ebbw Vale 

Sports Centre from 10am to 

6pm. Whether you need a job 

or want money advice – there is 

something for you. 

return to work and training 

maximising income from 

benefits and entitlements 

managing your money and 

dealing with debts 

health and wellbeing 

Beat the Crunch. Blaenau Gwent 

Council and partner organisations 

want to help you make your 

pennies and pounds stretch 

further. 

Employers – who are recruiting 

people for new jobs now – will 

be on hand. Employers include 

Network Healthcare and the Army. 

You may also leave with more 

benefits. You may have benefit 

entitlements you are not aware of. 

Did you know? 

Up to £10.5 billion in incomerelated 

benefits went unclaimed 

in Britain in 2007/08 

Up to £100 million in council 

tax benefits goes unclaimed in 

Wales every year 

46% of pensioners in Wales and 

44% of couples with children 

are paying out much more than 

they need to in council tax 

“My invitation 

to you” 

‘Beat the Crunch’ is about the 

organisations in Blaenau Gwent 

getting together to help you. 

Whether you want help 

with managing your money, 

maximising your income from 

benefits, training or a return to 

work - ‘Beat the Crunch’ can put 

you on the right track. 

Councillor Des Hillman 

Leader, Blaenau Gwent Council 

Did you know? 

Jobs are available for unemployed 

young people through a 

government scheme. 

The first batch of 180 jobs will be 

available soon for 18-24 yearolds. 

The young people have 

to have been on Jobseekers 

Allowance for 39 weeks, and the 

jobs are available for at least a 

six-month period. There will be 

more information available at the 

event. Those in other age groups 

may qualify for jobs if unemployed 

for some time. 

Plus, Kath Hackman will be on 

hand to inform people about The 

Works project and how to register 

for forthcoming vacancies. 

You can bring the family to the 

event – there will be a crèche, 

children’s entertainment and face 

painting. 

Get in touch 

Your Council is working with a 

range of partner organisations 

to help you to ‘Beat the Crunch’. 

Here are details of some of them. 

Citizen’s Advice Bureau 

Sarah Morgan – Manager 

High Street, Blaina, Gwent NP13 

3AN. Tel: 01495 293044 

msarahperry@aol.com 

Gwent Association of Voluntary 

Organisations 

Huw Lewis – Senior Development 

Officer 

16A Market Square, Brynmawr, 

Gwent NP23 4AJ. Tel: 01495 

315626 

huw.lewis@gavowales.org.uk 

JobMatch 

Andrew Bevan – JobMatch 

Liaison/Line Manager 

01495 355478 

andrew.bevan@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 

Blaenau Gwent Domestic Abuse 

Service 

Cath James – Project Manager 

01495 291202 

cath@bgdas.co.uk 

Jobcentre Plus 

Sue Ashcroft – Childcare 

Partnership Manager 

01443 484751 

sue.ashcroft@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk 

Smart Money Credit Union 

Amanda Bateman and Michelle 

Evans – Development Officers 

02920 883751 

info@smartmoneycreditunion.co.uk 

18 



19


Winter 2009 

Winter 2009 


Connect 

Waste and Recycling 

Services 

Kevin and Marilyn Morris of Cwmtillery say – 

recycling in Blaenau Gwent is now easier. 

Over the last year we have invested in improvements and 

introduced new weekly food waste and recycling collections. 

In July, we introduced our 

improved recycling service – a 

twin bag system of collection. 

Kevin and Marilyn welcome the 

changes. They put out tins, 

plastic, cans and glass in the blue 

bag. Their paper and cardboard 

goes in the clear sack. 

The result? Less and less waste 

goes out for traditional black 

bag refuse collections. They’re 

sending less and less to landfill – 

which is good for the environment 

and good for residents. 

Your Council is now investing in 

new wheeled bins to be offered to 

householders. Where they are not 

suitable, residents may continue 

to use black bags or use the 

wheeled bin for storage of their 

black bags. 

Wheeled bin refuse collections 

in future will be fortnightly. The 

kerbside food and twin bag 

recycling collection services will 

remain weekly. 

Kevin and Marilyn called in to 

one of our waste and recycling 

roadshows to explain how they 

are getting on. They said as they 

recycle as much as possible using 

the Council’s services, there is 

very little waste left. 

Your Council is investing so as 

to meet challenging recycling 

and landfill targets and avoid any 

potential fines imposed by the 

Welsh Assembly Government for 

not meeting landfill targets. 

Recycling champion Kevin Morris 

(left) and Marilyn Morris (right) get 

their message across. 

We are doing much better but 

we still have a long way to go 

to reach our target! Thanks to 

everyone for recycling 

Clean up for 

Eisteddfod 2010 

Volunteers raised funds for the 

Blaenau Gwent Eisteddfod next 

year by taking part in Tidy Wales 

Week. 

Around 20 local groups in Blaenau 

Gwent – including schools, 

businesses and youth groups - 

signed up. 

What to recycle 

Put the following into 

your blue sack 

Yes, please 

Cans – food and drinks 

cans, foil 

Plastic – bottles 

Glass – bottles and jars 

3 

Put the following into 

your clear sack 

3 

Yes, please 

Paper 

Cardboard 

No thanks 

7 

Broken glass, crockery, 

Pyrex, vision ware or 

window glass 

Plastic – plastic bags, cling film, 

polystyrene meat trays, toys 

Paint tins 

Food contaminated cardboard 

Remember – 

• Rinse materials and squash 

them so they take up less space 

• Put everything out for collection 

on the same day 

• Put all your recycling, refuse 

and kitchen waste out for 

collection before 7am 

Police plans for safe 

Bonfire night 

Gwent Police have a number of initiatives to help 

ensure everyone in Blaenau Gwent has a safe, fun 

Bonfire night. 

Officers are patrolling the area and confiscating any illegal 

fireworks and alcohol. 

Neighbourhood Policing Teams 

and the Council’s Trading 

Standards have worked with local 

shops on this initiative. 

And there are posters to remind 

people that ‘eggs have many uses 

- throwing isn’t one of them’. 

Gwent Police posters are also 

being delivered to local schools, 

reminding their students that not 

Free Doorstep Crime Packs 

everyone wants to join in the 

festivities and to respect their 

wishes. 

Blaenau Gwent Partnership 

Inspector, Phil Morris, said: 

“This time of year is enjoyable 

for a lot of people. But for those 

who do not want to join in with the 

festivities, we just ask that their 

wishes are respected.” 

Blaenau Gwent Trading Standards Officers 

and Gwent Police have teamed up to provide 

householders with a doorstep crime pack to help 

them feel secure in their homes. 

The packs use our own door stickers and leaflets plus Home 

Office advice material. 

Local people can display the 

sticker in their window or door to 

deter cold callers from calling. 

The packs are free of charge to 

local people and will be distributed 

by Neighbourhood Watch Groups, 

Crime Prevention Panels, as well 

by Trading Standards and the 

Police. 

Steve Jones, Head of Trading 

Standards, said: 

“Door step criminals often pretend 

to be traders to prey on the 

vulnerable to ‘con’ money from 

them. These packs not only give 

good advice about securing your 

home from criminals but the 

stickers also give a clear message 

that uninvited callers are not 

welcome.” 

The scheme is funded by 

Safer Blaenau Gwent and will 

be launched during Not in My 

Neighbourhood Week – starting 

on Monday 2 November 2009. 

For more information on the packs 

call Trading Standards on 01495 

356138 

PACT – coming 

to you 

Partnership and Communities 

Together (PACT) meetings are held 

to enable the community to have a 

say in local policing priorities. 

Gwent Police works with Safer 

Blaenau Gwent and Blaenau 

Gwent Council to address the local 

priorities that are set. The next 

meetings in your area are: 

November 

Tredegar Central and West 

Wed 4 November at 7pm – Youth 

Cafe in Tredegar 

Sirhowy 

Wed 11 November at 7pm – 

Dukestown Workingmens Club 

Georgetown 

Thurs 12 November at 7pm – Kidz r 

Us, Park Place, Georgetown 

December 

Abertillery / Cwmtillery 

Tues 1 December at 7pm – 

Abertillery Comprehensive School 

Llanhilleth 

Wed 2 December at 7pm – 

Brynithel Community Centre 

Abertillery 

Thurs 3 December at 7pm – 

Abertillery Comprehensive School 

Six Bells 

Tues 8 December at 7pm – 

Bethany Baptist Church 

20 



21


Winter 2009 

November 

2009 

February 2010 

For up–to–date information on any event please visit www.blaenaugwentvenues.com 

Connect 

Winter 2009 


Parents - give us your views on schools 

We aim to help provide the best possible life 

opportunities for children and adults through top 

class facilities. 

That is why we are holding informal consultation 

discussions and asking for the views of parents, staff 

and governors about proposals to build new schools 

and the Learning Campus at The Works. 

The Welsh Assembly Government is ready, in 

principle, to make substantial funding available 

subject to a consultation process for the education 

and learning project. Details of meetings for parents 

and interested parties are below 

Beaufort Theatre and Ballroom, 

Ebbw Vale. 

Box Office: 01495 355800 

Off the street 

Friday 13 November, 6.45pm 

Off the Street is the annual 

popular showcase for Blaenau 

Gwent’s Senior and Youth dance 

companies The Move and JAM. 

Before the night: tickets: £5 and 

concessions £3 

On the night £6 and £4 

concessions 

European Ballet presents: 

The Nutcracker 

Wednesday 18 November, 7.30pm 

European ballet. 

Tickets: £12.50 Adults, 

£10 Children, £35 Family ticket 

Larry Miller 

Saturday 21 November, 8pm 

International blues rock guitarist, 

vocalist and song-writer, Larry 

Miller is fast becoming Europe’s 

number one guitar slinger. 

Tickets: £12.50 

£10 Blues Club members 

Plum (and me, Will!) 

Tuesday 24 November, 11am and 

1.30pm 

Will is in big trouble! Follow 

his adventures in this great 

show for children from the 

team that brought you Cinders. 

Full of excitement, enchanting 

characters, music, singing and 

dancing puppets. 

Tickets: £5 

State of undress 

Saturday 28 November, 8pm 

Songs range from the thoughtprovoking 

to the shamelessly 

foot-tapping. 


£7.50 Valleys Roots members 

Brynmawr Amateur Pantomime 

Society present: 

Sleeping Beauty 

Tuesday 1 December – Saturday 5 

December 

Tuesday to Friday, 7pm 

Saturday 2pm and 6.30pm 

A classic tale for the family. 

Tickets: £5.50 Adults 

£4 Children and seniors 

For tickets contact: 01495 

310597 or 01495 292100 

The Hamsters play Jimi 

Hendrix & ZZ Top 

Friday 18 December, 8pm 

The guitar, bass and drums trio 

The Hamsters have long been 

established as our premier Blues- 

Rock attraction, having performed 

over 4000 concerts in more than 

22 years. 


Billy and Bonzo meet 

Snow White and the 

Seven Dwarfs 

Monday 11 January – Saturday 16 

January 2010 

Join favourite family entertainer, 

Stan Stennett, as he brings his 

‘Billy & Bonzo’ pantomime to the 

Beaufort Theatre & Ballroom in 

the New Year. 

Tickets: £8 Adults, £7 Children 

£25 Family Ticket 

The Metropole Cultural and 

Conference Centre. Abertillery 

Box Office: 01495 322510 

Aladdin 

Saturday 12 December 2pm 

An afternoon of family 

entertainment with this much 

loved pantomime. 

Tickets £4 

Monday 16 November 2009 

6.00pm Parents of KS3 and KS4 pupils attending Abertillery Comprehensive 

School and interested parties 

Tuesday 17 November 2009 

6.00pm Parents of KS3 and KS4 pupils attending Glyncoed Comprehensive 


Wednesday 18 November 2009 

6.00pm Parents of KS3 and KS4 pupils attending Ebbw Vale Comprehensive 


Thursday 19 November 2009 

6.30pm Parents of KS3 and KS4 pupils attending Nantyglo Comprehensive 



6.00pm Parents of KS3 and KS4 pupils attending Brynmawr Foundation School 

and interested parties 

Tuesday 24 November 2009 

6.00pm Parents of KS3 and KS4 pupils attending Tredegar Comprehensive 


Wednesday 25 November 2009 

6.00pm Governors & parents of Abertillery, Blaentillery, Bryngwyn, Queen 

Street, Roseheyworth, Sofrydd and St Illtyd’s Primary Schools 

Thursday 26 November 2009 

6.00pm Governors & parents Coed y Garn Primary and Ystruth Primary and 

interested parties 


6.00pm Governors & parents of Beaufort Hill, Garnlydan, Glyncoed, Pontygof 

and Rhos y Fedwen Primary Schools (2 issues) 

Tuesday 1 December 2009 

6.00pm Governors & parents of Briery Hill, Cwm and Willowtown Primary 

Schools and All Saints R.C Primary School (2 issues) 

Wednesday 2 December 2009 

6.00pm Governors & parents of Brynbach, Deighton, Georgetown and 

Glanhowy Primary Schools & St Joseph’s R.C. and interested parties 

Thursday 3 December 2009 

Abertillery 

Comprehensive School 

Glyncoed 


Ebbw Vale 


Nantyglo 


Brynmawr Foundation 

School 

Tredegar 


Abertillery 


Ystruth Primary School 

Glyncoed 


Ebbw Vale 


Georgetown Primary 

School 

6.00pm Parents Waunlwyd Primary School and interested parties Waunlwyd Primary 

School 

6.00pm Parents Pen y Cwm Special School and interested parties Pen y Cwm Special 

School 

6.00pm 

Governors and parents attending Blaen y Cwm, St Mary’s C.I.W. and St 

Mary’s R.C. Primary Schools, Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr and interested 

parties 

Blaen y Cwm Primary 

School 

22 



23

Connect 

Win 

The 

a 

community 

family 

magazine for Blaenau Gwent 

ticket for Snow White 

Winter 2009 

Name: 

Address: 

Town: 

Post code: 

NP 

Telephone: 

(01495) 

Age 

(under 16s only) 

Please answer each question 

by putting a tick or cross in the 

correct boxes below: 

Question 1 

How many students could benefit 

from the new Learning Campus? 

5000 

6000 

4000 

Question 2 

How many passengers have 

travelled on the Ebbw Vale 

Railway since it opened in 

February 2008? 

500,000 

700,000 

1,000,000 (1 million) 

Question 3 

What percentage (%) of Blaenau 

Gwent pupils achieved a top 

GCSE grade this year? 

70% 

72% 

50% 

After completing your entry 

form please post it to: 

‘Billy and Bonzo Competition’ 

at the address given below. 

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. 

Billy and Bonzo are back! 

Here is your chance to win tickets for the family 

to see ‘Billy and Bonzo meet Snow White and The 

Seven Dwarfs’ starring the legendary Stan Stennett 

Up to two adults and two children can win FREE 

tickets for a fantastic New Year pantomime treat when 

top entertainer Stan Stennett brings the latest Billy 

and Bonzo show to the Beaufort Theatre. 

The tickets are for the show at the Beaufort Theatre 

being staged by Stan and an all Wales cast from 

Monday, 11 January to Saturday 16 January 2010. 

Performances every evening at 7pm. 

So how do you win this great family prize? 

All answers can be found by reading this magazine. 

Simply tick the correct boxes. 

Please return to: Billy and Bonzo competition, 

Connect, Communications and Marketing, 

Civic Centre, NP23 6XB. 

Closing date: 11/12/09 

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. Entries must be on 

Connect magazine competition forms. 

The winner will receive a family ticket for Billy and Bonzo meet Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. 

The winning entry will be the first correct entry drawn. The judge’s decision is final. It is a condition of entry that these rules are 

accepted as final. 

24 

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

English Version - Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

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