Blaenafon
Blaenavon Minutes
Blaenavon Forum – June 3rd 2008 at 2pm -4pm
Baker Street House
John Newitt
Audrey Gregory
Iris Newitt
Lorna Williams
Doreen Davies
Vera Price
Mary White
Nancy Challenger
Brenda Merett
M. Thomas
Mayor Tom Huish
In Attendance: Lesley Saunders(Age Concern Torfaen)
Kim Newman (Age CAngie Baker (Age Concern Torfaen)
Hannah Gillum (Col 27 Gwent Police)
Councillor Tom Huish
Apologies: Sheila Brown
Avril Jones
Janet Parsons
Terry Parsons
Welcome Mrs Phyllis Roberts welcomed all present.
From
Chair:
Previous Taken as read and agreed.
Minutes:
Matters
Arising:
Regarding the lunch club; not as many attended as had put their name down. This affected the catering. Give names to Lesley for next lunch club. Phyllis will be in touch later with Lesley about the plates.
The proposed date to visit the Welsh Assembly is Oct 7th 2008 but this clashes with the forum date. Angie will bring alternative dates to the next meeting.
Angie to action
The tickets for 'Wenglish' talk from Mr Edwards sold well. 18 sold unfortunately only 8 turned up. There were buses waiting outside unnecessarily. In future £2 deposit will be required to pay for buses. All who went said it was an excellent afternoon.
A letter has been received from Mr & Mrs Gibbs from the Pontypool Forum. They will be having a speaker from the Welsh Assembly to increase understanding of the function of the Welsh Assembly – they are inviting members from Blaenavon to join them on the amended date 13th August 2008 this is the date booked for Mr Derek Corfield not as at first requested October 8th.
There will be a talk from the Acute Clinical Assessment Team on 11th June 2008. Gwyneth has sent in a letter saying how good this team is. They came in to treat her husband. The team converted the room where he was and then took over the care of the patient. The talk will be in Trosnant Community Centre at 1.30 pm. Seven names were given to Mrs Roberts; it was decided to take cars.
Help The Aged sent a letter about the 4th National Falls Awareness Day on 24th June. They are running a 'dangerous pavements' campaign. Mrs Roberts has cards that can be filled in and sent off advising authorities of any problems with pavements in the area.
Peter Karrie will be at Widdershins 16th June 2008 at 2 pm. Those wishing to go from Lunch Club can be collected from there at 1.30 pm. Names and £2 deposit to Angie.
Update
From There is a plan to open a youth club in George Street. On 20th
Police: June there are plans to use the cinema. For 7/11 year olds there is a club twice a month at St Peter's and at Hillside.
There is a problem with off road bikes – suitable land is being looked for. Mrs Gregory said there is a problem with bikes and cars near the Leisure Centre, mainly at weekends.
The forum praised the work of the police.
Demonstration from Red Cross by Corrine Williams
Corrine demonstrated hand & arm massages and shoulder & neck massages. Two people volunteered. Vaseline intensive care cream can be used for these massages. Thanks were expressed to Corrine Williams.
Tea Break
Mini-presentation:- Proposals to change the structure of NHS in Wales.
There is a proposal to reduce the current 22 local health boards to Local 8. Torfaen, Monmouth, Newport, Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly Health would combine to Gwent. Any concerns about this must be logged by 25th June 2008. There would be a total of 10 boards. 8 providing hospital and community health services. 1 Velindre NHS Trust – specialist oncology services. 1 Welsh Ambulance Trust.
Some members think to reduce to fewer health boards would be a good idea. Fewer chiefs and more Indians seemed to be better. This may be a fairer distribution of resources. Angie handed out booklets about this proposal.
Thanked all members and thanked the lady from the Red Cross for the coming to the forum and showing us massaging techniques which we all found very relaxing.
Tom Huish arrived late giving apologises as he had attended a funeral .
The Forum members congratulated him on his new appointment as recently elected Mayor of Blaenavon.
Repaving work in Broad Street is carrying on. The Impact Cafe will be re-opened by Heritage Day. The Lion will become a hotel or flats. There is outline planning permission for 54 houses in Barnfield. There is a meeting tonight about the youth club at Forgeside. They have £30,000 but will ask for more to fund the project.
The forum has not been asked to do anything for Heritage Day.
The trip to Big Pit was very much enjoyed. Thank you letter should have been sent out by Terry.
The mayor will look at the old Rediffusion shop and the problem with the door and one member's property.
The chair thanked members for attending and again thanked Corrine from the Red Cross. All members felt relaxed after the massage session.
The meeting ended at 4pm.