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Caerphilly Library open for business
Caerphilly Library and Customer Service Centre opened its doors to residents today, Monday 6 January 2014. The brand new facility boasts a range of must see features offering an enhanced Library and Customer Service Centre experience. The building is prominently placed in the heart of Caerphilly town centre replacing the former Post Office. The impressive three storey facility has been sympathetically designed using the stone from the existing Post Office in order to compliment the architecture of the surrounding buildings. Set against the spectacular backdrop of Caerphilly Castle, the building will be home to a number of services offering residents a one-stop shop style community facility. The Customer Service Centre will form part of the ground level and will offer an extended range of service for residents’ ease of use. The ground level will also be home to a grab and go style library section for customers who are short of time. The versatile space will offer a range of activities including adult reading groups, Welsh reading groups, IT and adult education classes, events and author visits, children’s activities, customer services, payments and much more. Cabinet Member for Education & Lifelong Learning Rhianon Passmore, said: “I was fortunate enough to have visited the site on a number of occasions during the build to see the progress. It is an impressive facility which will offer a range of new and improved services.” She added, “We have continued to invest in this valuable service in these austere times right across the Caerphilly county borough, this has ensured that we are able to…
Get home safe with Cab Safe
The Christmas party season is in full swing, and Caerphilly County Borough Council and Gwent Police are keen to encourage party goers to make sure they get home safely at the end of their night out by only using a licensed taxi. Cab Safe is a well established joint initiative between Gwent Police and local authorities in the area, which allows people to obtain up to three phone numbers of licensed taxi companies in the area from which they are texting. Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said, “Ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors to our county borough is of course always a priority, and Cab Safe ensures that people help themselves by putting their safety first when it comes to travelling home after a night out. It offers peace of mind to those who find themselves without a taxi, giving them easy access to fully licensed and regulated taxi companies for a safe journey home”. He continued, “It is so important to only use the services of fully licensed taxis – and I would encourage those who are in any doubt at all to make use of this scheme, and help ensure that this festive period is not only a very enjoyable time, but also a very safe time for all”. Many of the licensed taxis and private hire firms operating within the county borough have joined the scheme, which helps ensure that residents and visitors to Caerphilly county borough have quick and easy access to local licensed taxi companies. To use the…
Caerphilly Library countdown
The brand new Caerphilly Library and Customer Service Centre is a hive of activity as staff busily stock shelves in preparation to open on Monday 6 January 2014. The Library and Customer Service Centre is prominently placed in the heart of Caerphilly town centre replacing the former Post Office. The impressive three storey facility has been sympathetically designed using the stone from the existing Post Office in order to complement the architecture of the surrounding buildings. Set against the spectacular backdrop of Caerphilly Castle, the building will be home to a number of services offering residents a one-stop shop style community facility. The Customer Service Centre will form part of the ground level and will offer an extended range of service for residents’ ease of use. The ground level will also be home to a grab and go style library section for customers who are short of time. The versatile space will offer a range of activities including adult reading groups, Welsh reading groups, IT and adult education classes, events and author visits, children’s activities, customer services, payments and much more. Cabinet Member for Education & Lifelong Learning Rhianon Passmore, said: “I was fortunate enough to have visited the site on a number of occasions during the build to see the progress. It is an impressive facility which will offer a range of new and improved services.” She added, “We have continued to invest in this valuable service in these austere times right across the Caerphilly county borough, this has ensured that we are able to offer our residents top…
Infected trees to be felled at Ystrad Mynach Park
Caerphilly County Borough Council is keen to inform residents of the details of a Plant Health Order from Natural Resources Wales, which will see a row of 15 infected Larch trees felled in Ystrad Mynach Park later this month. Natural Resources Wales wrote to Caerphilly County Borough Council at the end of October to inform them of the discovery of ‘Phytophothora ramorum’, which are fungus-like organisms that cause diseases that can affect trees and shrubs, in a row of trees in the popular Ystrad Mynach Park. While these organisms pose no danger at all to humans, the air-borne organisms are easily transferable to other trees and shrubs, and as a consequence, the 15 identified infected trees will need to be felled, with works expected to take place in late November/early December. Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said, “It is such a real shame that these magnificent trees need to be felled in Ystrad Mynach Park, however with the imposition of this Plant Health Order and the fact that the organism is as easily transferable to other trees and shrubs as it is, we really have no other option”. The council anticipate minimal disruption to the park while works are undertaken, however a small section of the park in the vicinity of where the row of trees are (adjacent to the boundary with Penallta Rugby Club), will have to be temporarily closed off to members of the public while the trees are felled. Access will be maintained to those who require it to Trinity Fields School…
Centenary of mining disaster commemorated
The centenary of the 1913 Universal Colliery mining disaster in Senghenydd, which resulted in the loss of lives of 440 men and boys, has been commemorated today (Monday 14th October) with the unveiling of the Wales National Mining Memorial. The memorial, which is dedicated to all miners who lost their lives in mining disasters across the country, was officially unveiled earlier today by BBC Radio Wales personality and Patron of the Aber Valley Heritage Group Roy Noble, together with Chair of the Aber Valley Heritage Group, Jack Humphreys. The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, was also present at the ceremony to lay a wreath at the memorial. Residents of Senghenydd and surrounding areas turned out in their thousands to witness the unveiling of the memorial, which marked the 100 year anniversary of the worst ever British mining disaster, when 440 men and boys were killed in a mining disaster at the Universal Colliery in Senghenydd on 14th October 1913. Jack Humphreys, Chair of the Aber Valley Heritage Group said, “The unveiling of the Wales National Mining Memorial statue and memorial garden today, I hope, will provide a fitting tribute, not only to those men and boys who died, and their families, in that devastating tragedy 100 years ago, but to all miners who lost their lives in mining disasters across the country.” He continued, “We are so grateful to all organisations, community groups and individuals whose funding and donations have made this impressive memorial possible.” The Wales National Mining Memorial and garden features: – A bronze statue, designed by sculptor Les…
Caerphilly Miners Project – Caerphilly 3 peaks challenge
Caerphilly Miners Project needs to raise £1million pounds to restore the Beeches building (former hospital) for the community. One part of the project is an IT suite with broadband connection, which will be available for young people for their homework / studies. This is going to cost around £20,000. GE Aviation volunteers are helping us to raise the money and we’re holding a sponsored walk on 14th September. Please can you help as a walker or sponsor? Will you ask your neighbours and friends? Details about the 3 peaks sponsored walk taking place on 14th September can be found on the flyer below. Click here to open the three peaks flyer
Pride in Your Place Awards 2013
Every year thousands of people do their bit to improve the quality of the environment across the whole of the county borough. The Pride in Your Place Awards is an initiative that acknowledges the endeavour, innovation and commitment of those who have helped to make our area cleaner, safer and greener and a better place to live and work. The award scheme is open to all residents, schools, businesses and community groups within the county borough. The closing date for applications is 11 October 2013. Categories: Go Wild! Rewarding wildlife and countryside work that has helped enrich biodiversity. Keeping Up Appearances Rewarding cleanliness and attractiveness of a business premises (shop, business, factory etc.). Best Environmental Business Reward for innovation and environmental excellence. Recycling in Schools Rewarding resourcefulness, waste minimisation and recycling activities. Environmental Education Rewarding excellence in Eco Project work in our schools and colleges. Healthy Living Rewarding activities that promote healthy lifestyles. Sustainable Travel Rewarding innovation and excellence in transport initiatives. Best Community Project Rewarding activities and events that have improved the well-being, safety and/or quality of the environment in our local communities. Best Kept Area Acknowledging the efforts of a neighbourhood for improving the quality of their local environment. Youth Environmental Champion Reward for an outstanding individual (Aged 25 and under) who has contributed to improving the environment and the well-being of the community. Environmental Champion Reward for an outstanding individual (over 25 years) who has contributed to improving the environment and the well-being of the community. Pride in your place Application Form
IWA / Western Mail Business Awards for Wales 2013
Once again the Institute of Welsh Affairs and Western Mail have joined forces to run the national Business Awards for Wales. The awards scheme is designed to recognise and honour the achievements of Welsh Businesses in all their variety. Categories cover all aspects of Business Activity and entries are sought from all business sectors right across Wales. Our 10 categories are: Company of the Year <£10m sponsored by ACCA Cymru Wales New Startup Company of the Year sponsored by Gocompare.com Go Green Environmental Awards sponsored by The Waterloo Foundation Creative Marketing Award sponsored by Orchard Media & Events Group Best use of foreign languages in Business sponsored by CILT Cymru, the National Centre for languages in Wales Learning & Development Staff Award sponsored by USW Commercial Services Young Achiever sponsorship available PwC Young Enterprise Award Company of the Year >£10m sponsored by gap personnel Entrepreneur of the Year sponsorship available The closing date for all categories is Friday 20th September 2013 For category criteria and to request an entry form, please click here If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities please call 029 2066 0820. The exclusive awards ceremony and gala dinner ball will take place on Friday 8th November 2013 at Cardiff City Hall, where the winners of the Awards will be announced. The Awards provide an excellent and unique opportunity to increase your company’s profile, throughout Wales and the UK, as all finalists will be profiled in the weeks preceding the Awards Ceremony. We hope that you will take the opportunity of benefiting from this widespread exposure, and…
Free school breakfast clubs
Free Breakfast Clubs have been introduced in many Primary Schools in Caerphilly in accordance with Welsh Assembly Guidance. Breakfast has long been recognised as the most important meal of the day and evidence suggests that children who have the opportunity to eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast prior to the start of the school day are more likely to achieve their full educational potential. The Welsh Assembly Government made a commitment to provide for all children of primary school age registered in maintained primary schools in Wales to have a free breakfast. All breakfasts offered should be healthy and consistent with the Primary School Free Breakfast Initiative guidance. The breakfast offered should include a choice of four food groups: – Milk-based drinks or products Cereals – these can be whole-wheat biscuits, corn flakes, rice based cereal, shredded wholegrain wheat biscuits, malted wheat squares, bran flakes, or porridge. None of these options must be sugar coated. Fruit – this can be a selection of chopped fresh fruit or dried fruit to add to the cereals, fruit canned in natural fruit juice, or unsweetened fruit juices. Breads served with low fat spread and reduced sugar jams and marmalade. Children should be provided with the option of having one item from each of the four food groups. Participating schools are listed below: Aberbargoed Primary Abercarn Primary Abertysswg Primary Bedwas Infants Bedwas Junior Blackwood Primary Bryn Primary Brynawel Primary Cefn Fforest Primary (Junior) Coed-y-Brain Primary Crumlin Primary Cwm Glas Infants Cwm Ifor Primary Cwmaber Infants Cwmcarn Primary Cwmfelinfach Primary Cwrt Rawlin Primary Fleur-de-Lys Primary…