There were bears of every size being cuddled by the kiddies… and adults!

Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Trefoil members enjoyed a picnic followed by a campfire style sing-along.

A practice session for their big date at the Coliseum Theatre on 20th October, 2010 at 20.10. This date in their diary is very important as members of Guiding in all parts of the country will be renewing their Guide Promise

More news on Girl Guiding available from Aberdare Trefoil Guild

Cynon Taf Community Housing Group has started work on 34 new homes in Hirwaun.

Construction has begun on the site of the former Towers and Beacons high rise flats thanks to a partnership between Cynon Taf and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has an ambitious and far-reaching strategy to ensure it is providing the homes and accommodation that its varied communities need and deserve.

As such, it invested over £2.5m in the scheme, which will be delivered by Cynon Taf Community Housing Association to create fresh, modern and sustainable homes.

The flats, which were demolished in 2004, will be replaced with a development of two, three and four-bedroom family homes, including a bungalow that has been specially adapted for a local family who has a child with severe physical disabilities.

The scheme, which is the largest one undertaken by Cynon Taf Community Housing Association to date, will feature high-standard homes that also have the latest sustainable features, such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting.

Contractors Tremlett and Griffiths Ltd will deliver the £4.5m scheme on behalf of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group and completion is expected to be in November 2011.

Antonia Forte, Chief Executive of Cynon Taf commented “The redevelopment of what was the Towers and Beacons blocks of flats is a landmark project for both Cynon Taf Community Housing and Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council, representing a major capital investment into the community of Hirwaun. Overall, the Group anticipates that its total capital investment during this current financial year will be in excess of £7.5m, which represents a significant amount of work coming into the county”.

Councillor Clayton Wills, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing, added: “Our Housing Strategy sets out clearly our plans for the future to ensure our residents have the homes and accommodation they need and deserve.

“It is a far-reaching plan for the future that sets out how we will work innovatively with our partners, such as Cynon Taf Community Housing Group, to deliver high-quality, attractive homes, catering for all needs and requests.

“The quality of life of residents is greatly affected by the standard of the homes in which they live and the environment that surrounds them, which is why it is vital we invest to deliver such standards, including protecting the environment.”

The scheme forms part of a Welsh Assembly Government pilot project which looks at the implications of building new homes to the Code for Sustainable Homes. The properties have been designed to achieve level 4 of the code, and will include the fitting solar panels, air source heat pumps and rain water harvesting.

In addition to providing affordable housing for the area, Cynon Taf Community Housing Group is making a contribution of £66,000 to the Local Authority’s education and parks & leisure resources”.

The aim of the centre, which is to be called the Merthyr Learning Quarter, is to radically improve learning and employment opportunities for the whole population of Merthyr Tydfil and the wider Heads of the Valleys region.

The Merthyr Learning Quarter will provide improved opportunities for post-16 students to access a broad range of academic subjects, work-based training and vocational courses designed to improve the students’ learning experiences and better equip and prepare them for further or higher education and employment.

The proposed tertiary model is being taken forward by the University of Glamorgan in liaison with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

Partnership working is imperative in making this proposal a success, as indicated by John O’Shea, Dean of Merthyr Tydfil College:

“The new MLQ will provide the very best facilities and highest quality opportunities for all learners – designed to give them every chance of succeeding as they move on to employment or university. We will work in close partnership with all of the town’s secondary schools, so that not only do learners achieve their ambitions at 18, but they also leave school at 16 with better skills and qualifications. We know from experience in many other areas that this is precisely what happens when this model is followed.

The MLQ will be a unique partnership between schools, the MLQ and universities that will bring the opportunity for Merthyr’s learners to study, in Merthyr, an exciting mix of academic and practical courses from age 16 up to degree.”

The number of study options presently available to sixth form students in the County Borough is likely to at least double through the implementation of the proposed curriculum for post-16 students educated at the MLQ. This expansion of learning opportunities will better enable young people to choose courses that are appropriately matched to their different learning styles and to prepare effectively for their futures.

Councillor Richard Thomas, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services and Chair of the Project Board said:
“Merthyr Tydfil remains committed to providing a high quality of service to our children. The proposal to move to a tertiary system of education Post 16, will allow us to continue to put children first and improve learning.

We want to create a learning environment that allows all of our young people an opportunity to gain the qualifications and skills they will need to move forward into a productive and fulfilled adulthood.
By increasing choice and ensuring parity of esteem for all learners we will encourage fairness and equality and give support at all levels of learning and achievement. A business case is being prepared to ensure that we are able to meet these objectives and secure effective, efficient and responsive service delivery.”

Chris Abbott, Director of Integrated Children’s Services for Merthyr Tydfil, who reinforced the notion that a tertiary based centre would improve life chances of those who attend, stated:
“We live in a world that demands a highly skilled workforce and recognise that the acquisition of skills and getting a job are two of the most powerful ways in which individuals from all backgrounds can transform their life chances. This means that our education and training system must cater for the needs of learners and the demands of employers if we are to equip and prepare people for employment. The proposed Merthyr Learning Quarter will help us to realise our ambition to improve the life chances of all the young people in Merthyr Tydfil.”

RCT Library Service is free to join, all books are free to borrow and we also have free computer access.

Talkabout Team, Surestart Mother and Toddler Stories and Craft Sessions, Wednesday mornings 10am – 12 noon, March 4th/11th/18th/25th & April 1st.

Free Computer Lessons, Had a new computer for Christmas, or just need help learning to use the one you’ve already got ? Then come along on Monday mornings for free classes in a relaxed atmosphere and learn at your own pace, 10am – 12 noon.

24th March 2pm – 3.30pm Reading Group meeting, come along and join in the fun with this lively group. Haven’t read the chosen book for this month meeting, don’t worry come and listen to the review by the group, all welcome.

February 4th at 6pm

March 4th at 6pm

April 1st at 6pm

May 6th at 6pm

All welcome.

For an opportunity to find out how police and partners worked on these priorities, please attend the next meeting and also discuss new issues.

It’s your village, have your say on how it’s run.

Enjoy Photos of the Hirwaun Remembrance Sunday Parade in the Photo Gallery section.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Click here to See the Photos

Let us help you with the credit crunch! RCT Library Service is free to join, all books are free to borrow and we also have free computer access.

Sure Start Mother and Toddler Session, date to be confirmed, please phone the library for details.

Monday mornings 10am – 12 noon free computer classes.

Had a new computer for Christmas, or just need help learning to use the one you’ve already got?
Then come along on Monday mornings for free classes in a relaxed atmosphere and learn at your own pace.

27th January 2pm – 3.30pm Reading Group meeting, come along and join in the fun with this lively group.
Haven’t read the chosen book for this month meeting, don’t worry come and listen to the review by the group, all welcome.

Click here for Contact details, opening times and directions for Hirwaun Library

Hirwaun Primary School is committed to helping the environment. We carry out lots of different recycling projects. You can help now too by taking your old mobile phones, inkjet and laserjet printer cartridges to Hirwaun Library and depositing them in the special box.

The school will then send these off for recycling and they will also help raise money for the school to carry out other environmental projects in the school and the community

Thank You.

The Chippy is delighted to thank all the staff, and customers, especially those who took the time to nominate the shop, for their support in getting The Chippy into the Final of the Souh Wales Echo, Good Food Awards 2008. The result is scheduled for January 2009 when the South Wales Echo and Western Mail hold their Good Food Awards in Cardiff.

This is the second year The Chippy has been in the Final, not bad after just two years of trading, and of course will be defending the Title of Best Fish and Chip Shop of 2007 which they won last year.

All the staff are looking forward to the result this year but know they can’t go higher than they did last year.

The Chippy has a strong reputation for quality Fish and Chips throughout South Wales, in particular for their Gluten Free night, The first Wednesday of the month, with visitors coming from as far a field as Worcester for the treat. Regular customers are now enjoying even more home made foods since the new frying range was fitted.

Watch out in the New Year for some really good deals Please continue to support your award winning local Hirwaun chippy in the New Year, and here’s hoping there’ll be another trophy seen soon.

Nebo Chapel – one of Hirwaun’s most notable landmarks – remains un-sold.

Surveyors Rowland Jones of Swansea confirmed this week that Nebo Chapel was not sold during the tender process and so is now available by private treaty.

For further information contact Rowland Jones Chartered Surveyors on  telephone number (0)1792 648809