News Archive

Thursday 30 June 2022

River fly-tipper fined

Description:: A women has been ordered to pay £280 after her household waste was found dumped in the Afon Llwyd in April 2020...

Business club celebrates 21 years

Description:: More than 40 businesses attended a 21-year anniversary celebration event of Torfaen Business Voice last week where they were treated to cake and a caricature...

Wednesday 29 June 2022

Pontypool Party in the Park

Description:: Party in the Park returns to Pontypool this year, featuring a fun fair, live performances, and Britain's Got Talent's Titan the Robot.

Friday 24 June 2022

Football festival increases participation

Description:: Close to 100 girls from primary schools across Torfaen have taken part in an all-girls football festival at Cwmbran Stadium this week.

Food parcel cookery tips

Description:: A day of cookery demonstrations will be held next month using items in food parcels.

Thursday 23 June 2022

Youth Service strikes gold

Description:: Torfaen's Youth Service has been awarded a Gold Quality Mark following a recent Welsh Government inspection.

New advice service hits the road

Description:: A new service offering job and training advice is taking to the road.

Wednesday 22 June 2022

Shop SustainABLE-ly

Description:: A charity supporting people with autism and learning disabilities has opened a new shop selling fresh fruit and vegetables.

Blaenavon's Broad Street to come alive with entertainment

Description:: Live music, magic acts, dance performances and free fair rides are a few of the delights residents and visitors can experience at the Blaenavon World Heritage Day this weekend...

Friday 17 June 2022

Re-Start a Heart

Description:: Do you want to learn a new skill that could save someone's life?

Nominations open for Community and Volunteer Awards

Description:: The Torfaen Community and Volunteer Awards returns to bring everyone together once again to recognise those who do good across the third sector, sport, business, and local community.

Thursday 16 June 2022

A thrifty return to school (2022)

Description:: With just weeks to go until the end of the academic year, are you already concerned about the cost of buying new school uniform for September?

Wednesday 15 June 2022

Bench gets people talking

Description:: A friendship bench outside a new community wellbeing hub is getting people talking.

Tuesday 14 June 2022

Runners get ready for Mic Morris 10k

Description:: Close to 1000 people have already signed up for the Mic Morris Torfaen 10K on Sunday 10 July.

Friday 10 June 2022

Making young carers more visible

Description:: Nearly 190 young carers in Torfaen have signed up for a national ID card, allowing them to be more visible within their communities.

New electric vehicle names revealed

Description:: Over 100 entries were received to name the first two electric waste vehicles in the borough, and after much debate the winners have been chosen...

Thursday 9 June 2022

Carers Garden goes wild

Description:: A flower garden for unpaid carers in Torfaen has become the latest site where wildflowers are encouraged to grow in the borough.

Caring About the Cost of Living

Description:: Around 40 unpaid carers have received help and advice about the rising cost of living as part of a series of Carers Week roadshows.

Wednesday 8 June 2022

Have your say on Torfaen's green spaces as part of the Nature isn't Neat project

Description:: Torfaen Council is looking for residents' feedback on how natural areas within the county are managed, as green spaces across Torfaen are being left to grow during spring and summer months to benefit ecosystems as part of the Nature isn't Neat project...

Tuesday 7 June 2022

Author marks Tourette Awareness Day

Description:: 'I can't make it stop' is helping to educate on Tourette's Awareness Day

Tuesday 31 May 2022

Support is Cream of the Crop!

Description:: A programme offering rural food producers £10,000 to diversify and create new sustainable food networks is paying tasty dividends.

Carers Week roadshows

Description:: As part of Carers Week next week, Torfaen Council is organising a series of roadshows for unpaid carers concerned about the rising cost of living.

3D printing business increases dimensions

Description:: A 3D printing business has increased its dimensions, thanks to support from Torfaen Council and Pontypool Indoor Market...

Monday 30 May 2022

Town centre regeneration plans unveiled

Description:: Ambitious plans to revitalise Blaenavon and Pontypool town centres have been unveiled...

Friday 27 May 2022

Have your say on changes to the Mental Capacity Act

Description:: The Welsh Government is consulting on changes to the Mental Capacity Act and how they will be applied.

Celebrate the Jubilee safely

Description:: Only five days to go until the long Bank Holiday weekend, so if you're planning to celebrate in Torfaen, and you're not sure where to start, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the council is here to help. We have some easy-to-follow tips so that the food at your event will be memorable for all the right reasons...

Tuesday 24 May 2022

Key political appointments made at AGM

Description:: At the annual general meeting (AGM) of Torfaen council on Tuesday 24th of May, all the key political appointments to the council's cabinet, committees and outside bodies were confirmed for the year ahead

Monday 23 May 2022

Climate Change Minister's message on International Day of Biodiversity was 'let it grow'

Description:: "We are in a nature emergency and now, more than ever, we must support our precious wildlife."...

Friday 20 May 2022

Support for rural businesses to grow

Description:: A project aimed at increasing the amount of locally-produced food is offering grants to rural businesses to help them diversify.

Wednesday 18 May 2022

Estyn inspection report highlights areas for improvement

Description:: A recent inspection conducted by Estyn, Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, on the council's education service during March 2022, provided an overall judgement on the service's current performance

Return to three week loan period at Torfaen libraries

Description:: From Monday 23 May Torfaen Libraries will be returning to a three-week loan period for all book loans...

Tuesday 17 May 2022

Residential and wellbeing hub is a prime example

Description:: A multi-purpose residential and wellbeing hub in Cwmbran, which supports people to live independently, has been described as a prime example of an innovative housing scheme...

Monday 16 May 2022

£500 unpaid carers payment

Description:: Unpaid carers in Torfaen, who were in receipt of Carers Allowance on 31 March 2022, can now apply for a one-off £500 payment.

Friday 13 May 2022

Cwmbran Big Event Is back!

Description:: Cwmbran Community Council have announced the return of the highly anticipated Cwmbran Big Event this spring.

Play in the park

Description:: Torfaen Play Service 'Play in the Park' sessions have returned this spring, bringing families together to engage in play outdoors.

Spring clean tackles litter hot-spots

Description:: Crips packets, sweet wrappers, a park bench and a hoover! Just some of the items of rubbish picked up as part of Torfaen's annual Spring Clean events...

Wednesday 11 May 2022

Calling all creative children!

Description:: To celebrate Foster Care Fortnight 2022, Torfaen Council is running a sunflower themed fostering competition for local children to get creatively involved in.

Monday 9 May 2022

Flowers for foster carers

Description:: Residents are being asked to plant sunflower seeds in their gardens this spring to celebrate local foster carers, as part of the annual Foster Care Fortnight campaign.

Friday 6 May 2022

Cost of Living Payment support

Description:: From Monday 9 May, the Torfaen Employability team are running Cost of Living Payment sessions to support residents who made need a little help to make their claim...

Wednesday 4 May 2022

Pub pulls in punters for polling day

Description:: The Unicorn Inn in Pontypool will become the first pub in Torfaen to host a polling station, as part of this year's #Torfaenlocalelections2022.

Monday 25 April 2022

Easter fun at Play and Wellbeing camps

Description:: More than 450 children attended Torfaen's Play and Wellbeing Camps at schools across the borough during the Easter break.

Thursday 21 April 2022

Spring clean 2022 starts soon

Description:: The Torfaen Spring Clean 2022 is due to start next Monday at Sandybrook Park, St Dials, from 9.30am...

Vandalism at Glansychan Park

Description:: Play equipment at Glansychan Park, Abersychan, has been vandalised...

Wednesday 13 April 2022

Orienteering Festival comes to Blaenavon

Description:: Thousands of competitors will be heading to Blaenavon on Easter Sunday as part of a four-day orienteering event in Wales, which starts this Friday.

Tuesday 12 April 2022

Geese settle into new home

Description:: The two geese removed from the canal following complaints about aggressive behaviour are settling into their new home.

Monday 11 April 2022

Easter bank holiday update

Description:: There will be no changes to collection days this year during the Easter bank holidays as crews will be working. Please put out your recycling and waste on your usual collection day...

Friday 8 April 2022

School catering team wins national award

Description:: Torfaen Council's schools catering department has won an award for innovation at the Public Sector Catering Awards...

Climate ambassadors focus on active travel

Description:: Community climate ambassadors met with representatives from Torfaen Council this week to discuss plans to increase active travel in the borough

Film shows first-time voters how its done

Description:: Pupils from West Monmouth School have produced a video for first time voters planning to vote at a polling station, as part of Torfaen Council's #TorfaenLocalElections2022 campaign.

Shining a light on Parkinson's disease

Description:: Parkinson's Awareness Week kicks off on Monday and to mark the occasion, residents who suffer from the illness, are invited to attend a free local support group.

Primary schools to get creative for competition

Description:: Torfaen Council is taking delivery of two new electric waste vehicles in May, and we want school children to name them...

Thursday 7 April 2022

Cost of living payment

Description:: Torfaen Council will start issuing the Welsh Government Cost of Living Payment to households in Council Tax Band A, B, C and D later this month.

Thursday 31 March 2022

School catering teams nominated for national awards

Description:: School catering teams in Torfaen have been nominated for two awards at the Public Sector Catering Awards which take place next week...

Thursday 24 March 2022

Join an award-winning service

Description:: If you fancy getting paid to help children play, then Torfaen Council's multi-award winning play service is recruiting.

Small businesses helped to flourish after pandemic

Description:: A total of £50,000 has been given to small businesses in Torfaen to help them recover and grow following the pandemic.

Safety lessons for primary pupils

Description:: Over 1000 primary school children have been learning about road safety, dangers of grass fires, and how to stay safe round water...

Torfaen Council supports Earth Hour 2022

Description:: Torfaen Council is going to be switching off the Civic Centre lights for Earth Hour 2022...

Wednesday 23 March 2022

Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Description:: Last month, Her Majesty The Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth...

New employment and skills advice pod

Description:: A new drop-in hub for people who need advice about returning to work, finding a better job or increasing their skills will be available from next week.

Mic Morris Torfaen 10k returns!

Description:: After the disappointment of the last two years, the Mic Morris Trust is delighted to be welcoming runners back to the start line in Blaenavon for the Torfaen 10k.

Friday 18 March 2022

Garden waste collections start Monday

Description:: Fortnightly garden waste collections in Torfaen will resume the week commencing Monday 21 March...

Wednesday 16 March 2022

New waste and recycling truck drivers

Description:: This week, Torfaen Council has welcomed four new HGV drivers to the waste and recycling team...

Torfaen Spring Clean is back

Description:: Volunteers are being recruited for this year's Torfaen Spring Clean...

Tuesday 15 March 2022

Two play area successfully refurbished

Description:: Two children's parks have been transformed with new play equipment, trees, hedges and aromatic plants, thanks to more than £100,000 in funding...

Monday 14 March 2022

Edition 1 of 'The British' Newsletter series now available

Description:: Edition 1 (March 2022) of a newsletter series featuring updates about the work taking place at 'The British' site, Talywain, is now available...

Friday 11 March 2022

DJ project opens up opportunities

Description:: Over 50 young people are learning new skills thanks to a new radio DJ initiative in Torfaen.

Interested in a career in social care?

Description:: Getting a job with Torfaen Council's social care teams can be the start of a long and varied career.

Thursday 10 March 2022

Council investing in vehicles and staff

Description:: On Thursday, Torfaen Council received five second-hand recycling vehicles purchased from Powys County Council to help address an ageing fleet and a spate of breakdowns.

Tuesday 8 March 2022

Council proud to support International Women's Day

Description:: Today is International Women's Day, and this year's theme is #BreakTheBias imagining a gender equal world...

Support for children with vision impairment

Description:: Children and young people with vision impairments will be given more support to live and learn independently, thanks to the introduction of a new curriculum framework.

Friday 4 March 2022

Play Service scoops prestigious award

Description:: Playworkers for Torfaen Council have won a top national award for their work during the pandemic.

Thursday 3 March 2022

Torfaen Council approves budget plans

Description:: Today, Torfaen Council has approved final budget proposals and set the Council Tax increase below two per cent for 2022-2023.

Wednesday 2 March 2022

Young Ambassadors get Royal seal of approval

Description:: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Blaenavon on Tuesday as part of a one-day tour to South Wales to mark St David's Day.

Tuesday 1 March 2022

Youth voluntary programme celebrates 20 years

Description:: Volunteers with Torfaen Council's Play Service have been thanked at a special awards ceremony.

Friday 25 February 2022

Special visitor to half-term play camps

Description:: Children at some of Torfaen Council's Play and Respite sessions welcomed a special visitor this half-term.

Work to begin on railway station upgrade

Description:: Work to improve Pontypool and New Inn Railway Station and create an integrated park and ride facility is due to begin next week.

Thursday 24 February 2022

Essential tree removal to be undertaken

Description:: A section of Cwmbran Drive will be closed for three consecutive Sundays from this weekend in order to allow the safe removal of diseased trees.

Council seeks Mental Health First Aiders

Description:: Torfaen Council is allocating £25,000 to train and support six people from local community groups and the voluntary sector to become Mental Health First Aiders.

Tuesday 22 February 2022

UFC fighter backs elections campaign

Description:: Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Mason Jones has thrown his weight behind a campaign to encourage young people to register for this year's local elections.

Monday 21 February 2022

Blaenavon's Broad Street tapestries on show for second time

Description:: Two 18ft tapestries capturing memories of both sides of Blaenavon's historic Broad Street are to go on public display once again...

Thursday 17 February 2022

Torfaen Cares

Description:: If you've ever fancied a career in social care, then sign up for Torfaen Council's first ever virtual social care recruitment day.

Inclusive play equipment to be installed in two parks in the borough

Description:: Inclusive play equipment is to be installed in Pontypool Park and Cwmbran Boating Lake to make the play areas suitable for those with physical disabilities including sensory impairments...

Tuesday 15 February 2022

Charity reuse shop feels the love

Description:: A new reuse shop at the New Inn Household Waste Recycling Centre is proving a big hit with residents since it reopened in December...

Friday 11 February 2022

Community orchard deliberately vandalised

Description:: Around 15 fruit tree saplings which were planted as part of a new community orchard have been vandalised...

Torfaen to pilot advance voting centre

Description:: Residents will be able to vote in this year's local elections the weekend before polling day.

Wednesday 9 February 2022

Young people prepare for historic local elections

Description:: Young people will get the chance to have their say in who their next councillors will be in this year's local elections.

Sunday 6 February 2022

Shining a light on kidney cancer

Description:: Civic centre will be lit green next week to support Kidney Cancer Awareness Week.

Friday 4 February 2022

New food and craft market

Description:: A new monthly food and craft market is coming to Pontypool.

Safer routes to school

Description:: A new road crossing is to be installed near a primary school in Cwmbran as part of the Safer Routes in Communities initiative.

Friday 28 January 2022

Torfaen councillors to examine improved budget

Description:: Next week Torfaen councillors will examine the council's latest budget proposals and proposed level of council tax for 2022/23

Funeral attendance Gwent Crematorium - permitted numbers of mourners

Description:: With the Welsh Government announcement that Wales has moved fully into alert level zero, the number of mourners permitted to attend funerals in the Gwent Crematorium Chapel, Croesyceiliog has increased

Thursday 27 January 2022

Climate ambassadors network takes shape

Description:: Plans for Torfaen's first climate ambassadors network are starting to take shape.

Pupils mark Holocaust Memorial Day

Description:: Children from primary schools across Torfaen have been remembering Anne Frank, the Jewish teenager whose moving diaries about life in hiding during World War Two became famous.

Wednesday 26 January 2022

Food4Growth Grants

Description:: A project is offering £10,000 grants to businesses and community groups to develop local food supply chains.

Cwmbran Drive Active Travel Improvement Study - have your say

Description:: As part of the Council's work around Active Travel, we want to make it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to cross Cwmbran Drive near four of the busiest roundabouts, and we need your views for potential new road crossings...

Tuesday 25 January 2022

Torfaen Local Elections 2022

Description:: Preparations are underway for the Local Government elections in May, which will elect 40 county borough councillors across Torfaen.

Friday 21 January 2022

Gwent gets ready for Nature Isn't Neat 2022

Description:: Following successful grassland management pilots to improve biodiversity across the Gwent local authorities, this year the Nature Isn't Neat approach to management is being coordinated to cover wider areas across Gwent, with the mission of making it 'pollinator friendly' by allowing more wildflowers to grow in our green spaces.........