Latest news with #TorfaenCountyBoroughCouncil
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
£15.5million investment to transform Torfaen green spaces
The borough was selected as part of the Nature Towns and Cities initiative a nationwide programme launched by a coalition including Natural England, the National Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project is designed to create or improve green spaces and neighbourhoods, with a focus on areas where access to nature is limited. Torfaen County Borough Council will receive a share of the initial funding to help design and deliver new plans for nature-rich spaces. These may include upgrades to parks, planting wildflower meadows, creating pocket parks or installing more street trees. Anthony Hunt, leader of Torfaen County Borough Council in southeast Wales, said: 'We want nature to flourish in Torfaen and for more people to experience its many health and well-being benefits. The funding will enable us to work with our communities and partners in new and innovative ways, so that together we can achieve more and make a real difference to nature recovery and keeping our communities healthy.' The initiative aims to unlock £1 billion over the next decade for nature-friendly projects across 100 UK towns and cities. Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said, the programme would help 'connect people and communities to their natural environment in the places they live.' Marian Spain from Natural England said the project aims to reach communities with little or no access to green space and help improve lives through nature. 'Nature helps us to improve our mental and physical wellbeing, mitigate the impacts of climate change and drive green growth through the creation of spaces for people to connect with nature, making better places for people to live, work and invest. 'Yet for millions of people in urban areas there is no green space within a 15-minute walk of their home. Hilary McGrady, director general at the National Trust, said: 'By prioritising areas in the greatest need, we aim to help nature, beauty and history spring to life in some of the most nature-deprived places in the country". The Nature Towns and Cities initiative will be supported in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland through Natural Resources Wales, Northern Ireland Environment Agency and NatureScot. The project is being delivered in Wales in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.
Wales Online
09-07-2025
- General
- Wales Online
Dog owners face £100 fines for walking their pets in four parks
Dog owners face £100 fines for walking their pets in four parks Four parks have been added to the list of places where dog walkers are banned in a Welsh county The council said locals have reacted positively to the scheme (Image: PA ) A council has moved to add more parks to its banned list for dogwalkers. Torfaen County Borough Council has banned dogs from some of its parks since 2018 and the local authority regularly reviews the list to see if some could be added to it. The council's Labour cabinet was recommended to add four newly developed children's play areas to the order this week which it has now agreed to. The four parks where dogwalkers are now banned are the Southville Park children's play area in Llantarnam, Thornhill multi-games area in Upper Cwmbran, Blenheim Road children's play area in Fairwater, and the Cwmavon village children's play area in Abersychan. Anyone ignoring the orders could be hit with a £100 on the spot fine which can be issued by Torfaen council's civil enforcement officers, and a failure to pay could lead to a prosecution which could result in a fine of up to £1,000 if convicted. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The public spaces protection orders, or PSPOs, must be reviewed every three years. Torfaen Borough Council's environmental protection manager, John Clements, assured the cabinet that enforcing the new orders is not expected to create extra work. Article continues below He said: "The expectation is it will be self-regulating. Most people are aware it is not appropriate to allow dogs to foul in children's play areas." Council leader Anthony Hunt shared that the public has reacted positively to news articles about the proposal to expand the existing orders. Council leader Anthony Hunt said many have been positive about the council's decisions on the matter (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) The Panteg councillor said: "I've seen the coverage in advance and it's been largely positive and welcomed. "We thank responsible dog owners who pick up responsibly and the majority do recognise the dangers dog poo can cause to young people especially and it's not just play areas but sports grounds." He said locals have backed the council's efforts to combat dog fouling, highlighting "yellow stencils" on pavements "across the borough pointing out where we have a problem". Article continues below Cllr Hunt also explained the council has secured a portion of a £5 million Welsh Government fund designated for playground refurbishments, stating: "We'll use that to try and update as many as possible." The cabinet has additionally approved bringing forward another report to examine additional enforcement options.
South Wales Argus
02-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Torfaen council tackles anti-social behaviour at events
Torfaen County Borough Council's anti-social behaviour team is taking part in a series of events during Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, working alongside Gwent Police and registered social landlords. The awareness week aims to highlight the impact of anti-social behaviour on communities, including its effect on wellbeing and the financial burden on policing and businesses. Catherine Jones, the council's community safety lead, said: "Anti-social behaviour is not a low-level crime – it can have significant ramifications on the community as a whole. "Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week is a great opportunity for communities to get together with organisations to discuss the causes and, importantly, what can be done to reduce it." As part of the week's activities, there will be multi-agency surgeries taking place at Millennium Hall in Garndiffaith on Wednesday, July 2 from 11am to 12pm and Thursday, July 3 from 4pm to 5pm. Another surgery will be held at Cwmavon Village Hall on Wednesday, July 2 from 1pm to 2pm. Anti-social behaviour is defined as any actions that cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.
South Wales Argus
13-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Torfaen residents asked for views on walking and cycling routes
Torfaen County Borough Council is updating its Active Travel Network Map, which highlights existing and proposed routes designed for everyday journeys using foot, cycle, wheelchair, or mobility scooter. Mark Thomas, deputy chief officer for highways and climate change at Torfaen County Borough Council, said: "There are huge environmental, social and health benefits to supporting residents to be able to travel more actively. "Having safe, accessible routes that connect residents with the places where they need to be such as workplaces, schools and shopping areas is critical. "Your feedback is essential in understanding what routes work well, what could be improved and whether our funding priorities are right." The map is reviewed every four years and helps the council identify areas needing improvement, such as dropped kerbs, crossing points, benches, or cycle storage. The updated map will support future applications for Welsh Government funding and will be subject to further consultation in 2025 before being finalised in 2027. Residents can share their views online or in person until Saturday, August 31. The council's active travel team will also be available at community events throughout June and July. Residents can speak to the team at the following locations: the Cwmbran Big Event on Saturday, June 14; Pontypool Market on Wednesday, June 25 from 10am to 2.30pm; Blaenavon World Heritage Day on Saturday, June 28; Blaenavon World Heritage Centre on Friday, July 11 from 10am to 2.30pm; Party in the Park, Pontypool on Saturday, July 12; and Cwmbran Library on Thursday, July 17 from 10am to 2.30pm. Earlier this year, the council announced an additional £5 million investment to improve roads across the borough over the next five years. For more information or to take part, visit the Get Involved Torfaen website.
Business News Wales
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Torfaen Business Networking Event Set to Empower Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs and business owners are invited to attend a special networking event in Cwmbran on Thursday, 12 June, designed to help forge new connections and provide practical tools for business growth. The Torfaen Business Networking event will take place from 9am to 11:30am at Parkway Hotel. It is being delivered by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and Torfaen County Borough Council, with support from the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund. The event offers attendees the opportunity to introduce their businesses, make new contacts, and hear valuable business insights in a welcoming, informal environment. Attendees will also benefit from a guest presentation by Matthew Preece, Director of Business Pathfinders, a consultancy that specialises in helping business owners towards sustainable growth. Matthew will be sharing strategies for identifying your business' 'success cycle'. As well as networking and the expert presentation, participants will also hear from both FSB and Torfaen County Borough Council about the range of support services and initiatives available to help businesses in the region start, scale, and thrive. For more information and to register visit Torfaen Business Networking.
