Gwent Gazette

The Ebbw Vale branch is affected

It comes after a spate of anti-social behaviour and calls to the police.

He's tough as steel - but got a heart of gold

An exhibition showing photos from days gone by has been opened in Brynmawr.
The collection, called 'just one more stop then home', features a number of travel slides taken by an unknown photographer during holidays in continental Europe in the 1950s and 60s.
The collection was found neatly arranged in a wooden purpose-made box, and marked with dates and locations, at a car boot sale.
... The exhibition is the first in the series of nine exhibitions that will be organised in 2020 by the Kickplate project in Brynmawr, Rhymney, Fochriw and Abersychan, thanks to support from the Arts Council of Wales and Cwm a Mynydd, and cooperation with partner venues.
You can find the exhibition at Brynmawr Market Cinema until February 12.
An event to launch this year's exhibition programme is happening this Friday (February 7) between 7.30pm and 9.30pm which everyone is welcome to come to.
You can find more information on their website https://thekickplateproject.weebly.com/ or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.aunch of this year's exhibition programme
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Legendary goalkeeper Nevillle Southall has helped to launch a new service in Aberbeeg.
Southall, who won 92 caps for Wales as well as two league titles and two FA Cup winners medals, attended the celebratory event in Aberbeeg Community Centre to mark the start of learning courses BG Reach.
The project is a collaboration between the Open University, Linc Cymru and Aberbeeg Community Centre which will host the courses.
... Starting on February 11, BG Reach will offer courses on subjects including Art, Oral History, Music and Creative Writing with tutors from the Open University.
Councillor Hedley McCarthy, chair of the community centre, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for anyone over 16 from Aberbeeg and the surrounding area to take part in this project to enjoy what is on offer, to participate, to contribute and maybe it will stimulate a desire for learning and further education. IвАЩm looking forward to it."
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A Brynmawr man has been jailed for more than two years after a "violent and unprovoked" attack on a person in their own home.
Nathan Baker, 38, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court on January 27 after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.
Baker was sentenced to two years and eight months for criminal damage and
... He was also made the subject of a restraining order for five years.
The offence took place in Brynmawr in October 2018.
Police Constable Aimee Rees, officer in the case, said: вАЬThis was a violent and unprovoked attack on a person in their own home - a place where they should feel safe. This sentence should send a message to the local community that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and will be taken seriously.вАЭ
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Work's been going on for six years now

Work is underway on a new Household Waste & Recycling Centre in Roseheyworth, Abertillery.
Councillors from Blaenau Gwent joined contractor Jim Davies Civil Engineering Ltd and children from a local primary school on site today to officially вАШbreak groundвАЩ on the development.
The new recycling centre is purpose-built to enable residents to recycle and reuse their rubbish safely and efficiently.
... Councillor Garth Collier, council deputy leader and executive member for community services said:
вАЬThis is great news for residents and will provide them with a modern and accessible facility to make it even easier for them to recycle more of their household waste. The investment is part of our waste strategy and one of a number of long term measures the Council is undertaking to meet Welsh GovernmentвАЩs increasing recycling targets and protect our environment."
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Shocking

A new community sensory garden will be developed at Bedwelly House in Tredegar thanks to a group of hard-working volunteers.
Following Counillor John MorganвАЩs donation of ¬£2,800 for the initial development of a sensory garden and bluebell trail, the Friends of Bedwellty Park have been successful in raising even more money with the support of local businesses and Aneurin Leisure Trust.
Their aim is to complete the sensory garden at the park where residents of Tredegar and fu...rther afield can relax and enjoy the tranquility of a garden setting while stimulating different senses.
The community sensory garden is in development and the official launch is planned for August 2020.
Further funds were raised through the Moondance Foundation, Pen Oer Bryn and through events organised by the volunteers, and hosted at Bedwellty House.
These included a successful fashion show exhibiting the chic Pebbles and Welch Designs of Tredegar, an inspiring concert by Can Aderyn Singers and a dance-a-thon held in the newly renovated Carriage House room at the Park.
Janet Hatton, chairperson of the Friends of Bedwellty House and Park, said: вАЬWe were absolutely delighted to receive the funding to add to the fund-raising that our volunteers have already done; weвАЩre very grateful for the support weвАЩve received from everyone so far.
"The design for the garden is already underway and weвАЩre excited to work with the design team to make sure we have a community sensory garden that can be enjoyed by all.вАЭ
More information about activities to support the development of the garden can be found at www.bedwelltyhousehouseandpark.co.uk
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Just disgusting рЯ§ђ

Two schools in Blaenau Gwent have been recognised for their support for children who have had traumatic or stressful experiences.
The Ebbw Fawr Learning Community and St MaryвАЩs RC Primary School in Brynmawr have been praised by Estyn for helping children with adverse childhood experiences (ACE).
This includes those who have been exposed to verbal and or mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse or domestic violence.
... In the Ebbw Fawr Learning Community the school recognised that its practice was not working well for around 10% of pupils, who continued to display challenging behaviour and attitudes.
The school placed into three groups, according to the number of adverse experience they have encountered to allow staff to tailor support. Students are also encouraged to attend activities such as the school-based mindfulness programme.
In St MaryвАЩs RC Primary School, staff identified a large cohort of boys in one year group with low levels of wellbeing through a regular survey the school use.
Staff decided that an intervention to build confidence and resilience through sport would be helpful.
The boys chose taekwondo as a weekly activity as it develops ideas such as discipline, commitment and self-defence.
These pupils repeated the wellbeing survey at the end of the school year. Pupils had improved self-esteem and were much more positive about their experience in school.
Staff noted an increase in the boysвАЩ confidence and attention to work.
Good work!
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A resident of a Blaenau Gwent care home has been missing for more than 24 hours.
Officers are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of John Tucker following his disappearance from Cwmcelyn Nursing Home, Abertillery at 11.45am on Monday 27 January.
John is a white man, aged 67, with short grey hair and is clean shaven. He was last seen wearing a khaki jacket, a dark coloured fleece, dark trousers, black shoes, a black and amber scarf and a light grey flat cap
... He is known to have links with the Blaina, Abertillery and Risca areas.
Any sightings or information regarding his whereabouts would be greatly appreciated by officers to assist with their enquiries.
Call Gwent Police on 101 or contact them on their Facebook or Twitter channels on social media, quoting log reference 20000032682 or 408 27/01/20.
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Trefil in Blaenau Gwent is home to the highest village in Wales! рЯПіу†БІу†БҐу†БЈу†Бђу†Б≥у†БњрЯПіу†БІу†БҐу †БЈу†Бђу†Б≥у†Бњ

In 2016 it was announced it would become Wales's first social supermarket

This is just awful. Police have released an appeal after 12 ducks and chickens were found dead.

Gwent Police has welcomed its newest recruits after setting up a mini police unit in a Blaenau Gwent mosque - the first of its kind in Wales and the UK.
BlainaвАЩs Berea Mosque has established a mini police force, Heddlu Bach, with nine officers, aged 14 and under, who will be assisted by a cadet.
The unit is the 50th force to be set up by Gwent Police, which has nearly 1,000 children across the force area involved in the scheme.
... A ceremony was held at the mosque on Monday, January 20 where the new Heddlu Bach members took the oath and received certificates from the Chief Constable, Pam Kelly, and the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Eleri Thomas MBE.
Chief Constable Pam Kelly said: вАЬIt was a proud moment to witness our 50th Heddlu Bach unit take the oath and join the force. This group of wonderful youngsters are leading by example, not just in their community but in Wales and the wider UK.
вАЬWe are fortunate to have strong links with the mosque through our neighbourhood team. So we took the decision to establish a Heddlu Bach unit in Berea to help broaden our understanding of our communities and aiming to build creating a strong, supportive community.
вАЬI was struck by the maturity and the compassion for others shown by our new recruits, particular around their positive messaging of how we need to stand together for the communityвАЩs benefit.
The new Heddlu Bach recruits will formulate their own priorities as part of the programme, including visiting schools to talk about the Islamic faith and how it is similar and differs to Christianity and other faiths.
They will also, alongside police officers in the area, take part in activities such as litter picking, leaflet drops around crime prevention, walking buses, speed awareness and other activities like the other Heddlu Bach units.
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