Vale of Grwyney Community Council

The Minister for Finance & Local Government, Rebecca Evans MS, has published the Welsh Government’s draft budget for 2022-23. The draft budget, along with a number of supporting documents, can be found on the Welsh Government’s website:

Draft Budget 2022 to 2023 | GOV.WALES

Home-Start Cymru volunteers come from all areas of our community. Life changing events can happen to anyone and all parents struggle at one time or another. That is why Home-Start Cymru aims to support families through their toughest times. We support families experiencing a wide range of challenges including poor mental or physical health, postnatal depression, multiple births, bereavement, financial worries and loneliness and isolation. We work alongside families to give compassionate and confidential support, tailored to each family. Our volunteers are full trained and given expert support from coordinators within their local community.  

For more information contact volunteer@homestartcymru.org.uk

The Grwyne Fawr Valley used to be a very different place.  In the early 1900s a temporary village was set up to house men employed to build Grwyne Fawr Reservoir with a railway line constructed to transport both men and materials to the top of the valley.  This village was officially named “Navvy Village” however because the buildings were built of wood and corrugated iron became commonly known as “Tin Town”.

Tin Town had a hospital, lodging house, chapel, school and jail.   Concrete bases and steps of some of these buildings can still be found at Blaen Y Cwm.  Seems remarkable now, but the village had electricity before Abergavenny!

When the reservoir was finished in 1928, at a cost of some £1,000,000, Tin Town was dismantled and its buildings sold off.  The school master’s house was re-erected in Llanbedr.

The Vale of Grwyney Community Council believe the history of Tin Town should be preserved and intend putting an information board at Blaen Y Cwm to commemorate and promote its heritage.

Do you have any local knowledge or information which could be put on this board?  If so, please let us know

Email:  valeofgrwyneycc@gmail.com or  Tel: 01873 890777

A new mass vaccination centre is set to open in Powys next week, with the arrival of the appointment-only facility at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

Later this month, the vaccination centre in Newtown is also set to relocate from its current location at the Park Street Day Centre to Maldwyn Leisure Centre to increase the number of appointments available for Powys residents.

This will mean that the county will have three mass vaccination centres – Bronllys, Newtown and Builth Wells – and plans are also well under way to establish primary care-led clinics later this month.

All three mass vaccination centres will be available by appointment only, with invitation letters being sent to residents in the national priority groups.

In line with national guidance, vaccination is current being prioritised for:

– Residents of care home for older adults
– People aged 80 and over
– Frontline Health and social care workers

Following this, invitation letters will be sent to each national priority group in turn beginning with people aged 75 and over.

People are asked not to phone their GP, pharmacy or hospital asking when they will get a vaccine. When someone is in one of the groups eligible for the vaccine, they will be invited to attend a dedicated clinic which will have been set up to ensure patient safety and that of the healthcare professionals.

Correspondence will come from local health boards and the vaccine is free of charge through the NHS. People are warned to be alert to scams asking for money or personal information.

The effects of the vaccines may not be seen nationally for many months and the advice on keeping Wales safe remains the same for everyone; keep contacts with others to a minimum, keep a 2 metre distance from others, wash hands regularly, wear a face covering where required and avoid touching surfaces others have touched, wherever possible.

More information: https://pthb.nhs.wales/…/third-mass-vaccination-centre…/

Dyfed Powys Police inform us criminals pretending to be Police officers are calling residents in Powys and trying to carry out what is known as ‘Courier Fraud’… this could be happening in the rest of Wales too

They phone you to tell you about fraudulent activity on your bank card, but then start asking you for personal information or even your PIN to verify who you are.

They may try to offer you peace of mind by having someone pick up your bank card from you to save you the trouble of having to go to your bank or local police station (Courier).

• These callers are criminals who will try gain your trust by making you think they are police officers.
• Do not engage in conversation with them.
• Do not allow them to arrange collection of bank cards.
• Put the phone down. 
• Block the number they called from.
• Tell your friends and neighbours about this scam

Report it to your local police force by contacting them via their online webpage or 101

Locals, as well as those from further afield, can now delight in the knowledge that once again Pontyspig Bridge, Fforest Coal Pit (or Bishops Bridge as it is also known) is open.  Marine engineers have skilfully repaired the Grade II structure which was damaged by fallen timber and other debris forcibly travelling at speed down the River Grwyne in heavy storms earlier this year.

As can be seen from the photograph below the bridge took a battering with vital supporting stones becoming dislodged, putting the bridge in imminent damage of collapse.

Whilst the undoubted attractiveness of this historic structure has always been appreciated, its true function of providing safe passage for residents and visitors to the area – Partrishow Church and the Black Mountains beyond, can now, once again, be truly appreciated.