Company may tackle anti-social


problems Torfaen council is asking residents whether it should hire a private enforcement company to tackle issues such as dog-fouling, littering and smoking in public places. Every year, the council


receives thousands of complaints about these issues. Some Welsh councils have recently launched a pilot enforcement scheme with a private enforcement company, and Torfaen is considering following suit.


If these proposals go ahead in Torfaen, the private enforcement company would provide uniformed, trained officers who would serve fixed penalty notices in key priority areas where littering and other offences are likely to occur.


To have your say on the


proposals, go to www.torfaen.gov.uk


Pupils place poppies on war graves in France


Year 7 pupils from Llantarnam Comprehensive School recently visited Normandy to place poppy crosses on the graves of local fallen soldiers.


The school takes pupils to Normandy


every year to learn about the Second World War and recently visited Ranville and Bayeux war cemeteries. One of the soldiers buried at Ranville is 3911636 Fusilier Joseph Mundy, of the Gloucester Regiment. He died, aged 28, on 18 June, 1944, 12 days after the D-Day landings.


His daughter Della Jennings (right) from


Pontypool said: “He made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. I was only four when he died, so my personal memories of him are few. However, my late mother Clarice Mundy always spoke of him with great affection and ensured I was raised knowing how much he loved me in the few, but important years we had together.


“Those thoughts and memories have been with me and sustained me all my lif


fe.


“His memory lives on in my heart and his photographs, medals and the commemorative scroll are proudly display in my home. Even after 68 years, they always stimulate conversations among the family, he will never be forgotten. I’m delighted the pupils laid the poppy cross on his grave and spared a few moments of thought for him.”


g the


At Bayeux War Cemetery, 14295174 Corporal Ronald Vincent Millership is buried. He died on 30 Jul, 1944, age 21. Pupils also placed a poppy cross on his grave.


Llantarnam head teacher David


Bright said: “We organise these trips every year to complement the pupils’ studies, giving them first-hand experience of the scale of the Second World War and the


ps e ery udies, of the d the


ayed


devastation it caused. “Visiting places like


Ranville and Bayeux


and hearing about soldiers such as Joseph Mundy and Ronald Millership raise some poignant questions about war. It gives the pupils an appreciation of the sacrifice


oldiers dy and ise some about


upils the


sacrifices that were made.”


Torfaen’s a Heart Borough


Torfaen has been named a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Borough.


This new initiative from the nation’s heart charity brings communities together through local fundraising and volunteering, as well as raising awareness of heart disease and offering residents support services.


Speaking at the launch, BHF local volunteer manager Sharon Owen said: “We are delighted Torfaen has decided to become a Heart Borough.


“There are many activities and events happening throughout the year that local people can get involved in.


“We will be working with the Torfaen community to raise awareness of heart disease and raise money for the BHF’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. Please get involved and pledge your support today.”


The BHF is aiming for as many towns,


boroughs and cities across the UK to sign up to the scheme, to help the growing issue of heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer.


The Mending Broken Hearts Appeal is the biggest fundraising appeal ever launched in the BHF’s history.


Visit bhf.org.uk/hearttowns, call 02920 382408 or email owensh@bhf.org.uk for more information.


Proposals for Gypsies and


Travellers site Torfaen councillors were asked to approve proposals for the future expansion of the existing Gypsies and Travellers site at Shepherd’s Hill, Pontypool.


At a meeting on 31 July,


after Torfaen Talks went to press, members were presented with plans that would see part of the unused Race football pitch being used to accommodate further caravan pitches. A replacement playing field and facilities would be created for Race Football Club, while the planned redevelopment of the privately-owned Rose Cottage site would provide 10 further pitches.


The council is required by law to assess the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers and both the current site occupiers and Torfaen council favour the proposals. Around £3.6 million will be needed, which will come from Welsh Government grants, existing spending and future income from the new site.


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The executive member for housing, planning and public protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, said: “We have a duty to address overcrowding and want to improve conditions on the site. This proposal also offers the best value for money to do this, and meets our legal requirements to plan for future housing.”


h p C


The executive member for equalities, councillor Cynthia Beynon, said: “These proposals will also help us manage the slow growth of the Gypsy and Traveller community in Torfaen. By focusing these works on the current sites in the Race area, we can ensure Gypsies and Travellers benefit from services that are already established, without the need for costly new facilities to be acquired elsewhere in the borough.


“This view is supported by


local Gypsies and Travellers and helps limit the impact on the public purse.”


Visit bhf.org.uk/hearttowns or call 029 2038 2408 for Heart Borough information Page 3


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