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”.

Adult and junior library members are currently entitled to borrow up to eight books and three audio-visual items at any one time, except for the registered visually-impaired, who may reserve and borrow all their books in audio-visual format. Library members can currently also place up to eight reservations on books and up to three reservations on audio-visual items at any one time.

These entitlements are being extended from eight to 10, so that all library members will be entitled to borrow up to 10 books and three audio-visual items at any one time and place up to 10 reservations on books and up to three reservations on audio-visual items.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation, Cllr Robert Bevan, said: “We are delighted to be able to increase the amount of items that can be borrowed, so that people of all ages can enjoy an even wider choice of reading material.”

Click here for more information on Hirwaun Library including opening times.

Free computer lessons.

Back by popular demand, Martyn Lyons will be available to help with all your computer enquiries between 10am – 12 noon on Mondays.

Whatever your needs, whether it’s basic computer skills to surfing the net come along and ask Martyn.

Tuesday 27th October 2pm – 3.30pm Hirwaun Reading Group Meeting.

Our lively group meet on the last Tuesday of the month to discuss the month’s chosen book plus put the world to rights!

Don’t worry if you haven’t read this month’s book, come along for a coffee and listen to what the others thought of the book.

Thursday 29th October 2.30pm – 3.30pm Half Term Stories and Crafts.

Come along and listen to stories and make a skeleton puppet.

Children aged under 8 years must be accompanied by a parent/ carer.

The money has come following a number of successful pipe workshops funded by Communities First Town and Parc.

The workshops will run over a 1 year period with arch-piper Geraint ‘Jacob’ Roberts giving people the chance to play the pibgorn, tin whistle, bohdran and Welsh pipes.

If you are interested in learning to play traditional Welsh music, complete beginers or experienced musicians, contact the Menter now on 01685 722176

I am interested in family history and I have in my possession several sheets of family records showing many of the events took place in Hirwain, Aberdare. My question
is was Hirwaun ever written Hirwain and if so when was it changed or was/is Hirwain a district in Aberdare.

My second question is was there any sort of disaster in March 1876, perhaps in a local mine?

Needless to say I am not Welsh although I believe my grandmother and great-grand parents were.

Thank you to anyone who can help me.

To contact Dave via email use dave@bmwr8.fsnet.co.uk

Have you got a news story or enquiry about Hirwaun ?  Please get in touch today.  We will print all reasonable requests.

August 5th at 6.30pm

September 2nd at 6.30pm

October 7th at 6.30pm

November 4th at 6.30pm

December 2nd at 6.30pm

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.

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.”

Monday mornings Computer Lessons, 10am until 12 noon.

Free classes in a relaxed atmosphere and learn at your own pace, Martyn our computer teacher is with until July 20th before finishing for the summer holidays.

Toy Library Visit Wednesday mornings 1st, 8th and 15th 10am until 12 noon.

Summer Reading Game… This summer, become a Quest Seeker and sign up for three special tasks – Firebird Rising, Mountain Mission and Dragon’s Lair.

All you have to do is read two books for each mission – it could be storybooks, fact books, picture books – the choice is yours. When you finish all three missions you receive a
medal and certificate and dragon model and you have completed the quest.

Please note that from August 17th until 17th September the library will be closed for refurbishment. A mobile service will be provided whilst the library is closed.

Held in Hirwaun St Lleurwgs Church Hall every thursday 1.00pm.

The Community Food Co-operative Programme in Wales is encouraged and supported by the Rural Regeneration Unit and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government .

The programme enables people to access fresh fruit, vegetables and salad on weekly basis at wholesale prices.

The average £2.50 bag of vegetables, £2.50 bag of fruit and £2.50 bag ofsalad can help a family achieve the recommended ‘5 A DAY’.

Free Computer Lessons, Had a new computer, 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.

Talkabout Team, Surestart Mother and Toddler Stories and Craft Sessions, Wednesday mornings 10am – 12 noon, May 20th.

Bargains galore!! Children’s Book Sale 26th until 29th May, sale of ex library stock.