News in brief
Visit Pontypool Museum to enjoy its latest exhibition, Matisse - Drawing with Scissors. It runs until 25 November. Entry to exhibitions is free on Wednesdays and Sunday afternoons and free at all times to Torfaen library card holders. The museum has a small gift shop which sells a wide range of unusual gifts, cards and trinkets, together with ‘old fashioned’ toys you don’t see elsewhere. It also stocks a great range of ‘local’ books and videos. Call 01495 752036.
Torfaen Trading Standards Service is warning residents not to get ripped off by scam letters. Some residents have complained after receiving a letter saying they had won £46,000 and then asking for £24 to process the ‘win’. Councillor Glyn Caron, Executive Member for Planning and Public Protection, said: “The advice is to throw these letters away. If it is too good to be true, then it usually is.”
Hard work and community spirit have paid off for residents at Taliesin Court, Cwmbran after they were awarded £1500 from Awards for Wales. The residents committee will use the cash to re-decorate their communal lounge.
Cwmbran Diabetes Voluntary Support Group meets at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of the month at St David’s RC Church Hall on Avondale Rd (opposite the group’s former meeting room in the annexe of the Church). Forthcoming events include: Wednesday 14 November - Health and Safety at Home talk by the St John’s Ambulance.
Tuesday 11 December- Christmas lunch at Cwrt Henllys. Meet at 12.30pm for 1pm. For more information call 01633 866638.
Do you have a complaint about a public body in Wales? Have you already complained to them, but are still not satisfied? The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales can look into complaints about most public bodies in Wales, such as local government (including community councils), the National Health Service (including family doctors), housing associations and the National Assembly for Wales. The Ombudsman is independent and unbiased. The service is free. For more information call 0845 601 0987, visit www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk|, ask@ombudsmanwales.org.uk|, or write to The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, 1 Ffordd yr Hen Gae, Pencoed, CF35 5LJ.
Ten members of Pontypool Youth Council recently travelled to Pontypool’s twinned town of Bretten for a youth festival with Pontypool’s other twinned towns, Longjumeau in France and Condeixa in Portugal. They enjoyed a week of sporting activities including rock climbing, a mountain trek, swimming, a barbecue in the Black Forest and a ghost walk through a haunted forest. A visit to Heidelberg and the castle was followed by a trip to the largest theme park in Germany.
Consumer Direct Wales has some great advice to stop ‘rogue traders’ trying to pressure sell, charge extortionate prices and carry out substandard repairs to homes and driveways. You should always ask the caller to identify themselves and their company, and make a note of the details. Is the trader offering you something you really want or need? If not, tell them you do not buy goods or services at the door unless you are really interested. Get more than one written quote for any work required and ask for details of how to cancel. You should be given a seven day ‘cooling off ’ period and cancellation rights. Never hand over the full payment until the work is completed. Call Consumer Direct Wales on 08454 04 05 06. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk|