Plans to improve lives of residents (From Free Press Series)

Plans to improve lives of residents

TORFAEN council have given the go-ahead to publish a document outlining their plans for improvement and some the past year's achievements.

The 153-page paper highlights what actions need to be taken in a bid to boost the quality of life for Torfaen residents.

It includes proposals to improve housing, environment, learning, leisure and health.

Targets for enhancing Blaenavon in 2005/6, include upgrading the Broad Street Car Park and Boot Lane area and continuing to invest over £1 million in environmental schemes centred on Broad Street, Cwmavon Road, Philips Street and High Street.

The document also highlights a need to improve the gateway sites to the town including the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway Station Car Park.

The targets for areas of mid Torfaen, like Abersychan and Garndiffaith include regeneration of The British and an evaluation of open spaces for possible community use.

And in Cwmbran it is hoped that work will get underway on the town centre expansion, and the improvement of industrial estates in the area.

Further work is set to be carried out on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal and the railway station, now planned to include ticket office, toilet and waiting area.

Torfaen council Leader Councillor Bob Wellington said: "The issues of surplus places in our primary schools, the condition of our housing stock and the growth of demand for social care services all feature in this year's plan. There are lots of other areas though which we will work to improve in the coming months."

Copies of the Improvement plan can be found on www.torfaen.gov.uk or at the council's customer care centres.