Council services in Blaenau Gwent are running as near to normal as is possible – and the Council is still battling heavy snow and the winter freeze.
Yesterday (Tuesday, 12 January 2010), the Council has appealed to local people to check on housebound neighbours – and to stay off ice on any frozen ponds or waterways.
Blaenau Gwent Highways gritting lorries and snow ploughs are keeping main roads clear. Additional snow clearing teams are working in local communities. We are also helping in emergency situations – for example, where people need to get to hospital for appointments.
Home Care and Meals on Wheels
Home Carers and Meals on Wheels staff are doing a tremendous job in getting round to their service users – often walking through snow.
Refuse and recycling collections
Our Recycling and Refuse teams are also working hard to make their usual daily collections. Understandably, they cannot always get through because of the bad weather. Additional crews followed up on missed collections over the weekend.
Schools
Schools in Blaenau Gwent use the BBC Wales Online website daily to notify parents and staff if they are still closed. During the freeze the website is updated minute by minute every morning from 5.30am onwards.
School closure information is also broadcast on BRfm – the local community radio station. News of schools re-opening will also be announced by BRfm.
So far the following schools have confirmed that they will be closed:
- Queen Street Primary School, Abertillery
- Glanhowy Primary School, Tredegar
- St Mary’s Brynmawr CinW School, Brynmawr
- Deighton Primary, Tredegar
- Blaen-y-Cwm Primary School, Brynmawr
- St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Ashvale
- Coed-y-Garn Primary, Nantyglo
- St Mary’s RC Primary, Brynmawr
- Willowtown Primary School, Willowtown
- Briery Hill Primary School, Ebbw Vale
- Abertillery Comprehensive School, Abertillery
- Ystruth Primary School, Blaina
- All Saints RC, Ebbw Vale
- Abertillery Primary School, Abertillery
Emergencies out of hours
If anyone has special needs – or is concerned about neighbours who are housebound or living alone – they should get in touch with us through our Connect 2 Blaenau Gwent contact centre on 01495 315700.
We are running additional 24/7 out-of-hours emergency service for callers also on 01495 311556.
For the emergency out of office hours service for Council Housing Repairs and Environmental Health – including Noise Nuisance – call 0845 056 8035.
Social Services
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm: phone 01495 315700.
For emergency Social Service calls out of these hours call the Emergency Duty Team on 0800 328 4432
