A FUNDRAISING effort has been launched to repair and restore the Pontymoile Memorial gates.

Pontypool councillor Gaynor James is heading the project with Cllr Alan Jones, Executive Member for Business, Tourism, Leisure and Culture at Torfaen County Borough Council.

They are looking to raise £2,000 to fully restore the gates.

Cllr James said: “The gates are a historical monument that are a big part of Pontypool’s past, along with the Memorial Gates on Hanbury Road.

“It is very important that the present remembers the past.

“The gates are in an appalling condition. I didn’t believe how bad they were until we went to see them.”

They have already received a £200 donation from the Unite union.

Earlier this year, The Pontypool War Memorial Group, of which Cllr James is a member, raised £2,000 for the restoration of the Pontypool Park war memorial gates.

The money raised paid for the restoration of the gates and all the plants and shrubbery around them

Local firm Groves Painting and Decorating painted the memorial free of charge, and staff from A. P. Waters building contractors helped clear the surrounding flower beds.

Cllr Jones said: “The restorative work that has recently been done to the Park war memorial gates on Hanbury Road for armistice is a fine example of the council working in partnership with the local community and local businesses to show respect for those who fought for us.

“Members of the pubic have been very generous donating towards this cause and with the next phase of the project set to take place in March 2019 at Pontymoile Park Gates, we will be looking to raise further funds to complete the works.”

“Donations can be made at Pontypool Community Council’s offices in Pontypool or to Gaynor James in-store at Individuality in the Market Hall, who is doing a fantastic job fundraising for the work to be carried out.”