Pontypool Community Group Cleans Up Anti-Social Behaviour Hotspot

Pontypool businesses and local residents have come together to clean up a green space in front of one of the town’s car parks in a bid to tackle antisocial behaviour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Volunteers cleared more than 50 bags of rubbish from the site next to the Riverside car park, as well as litter picking throughout the town. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The clear up was organised by the Friends of Pontypool Town and supported by Keep Wales Tidy, Torfaen council and Melin Homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cerys Hopkins from Curves on Osborne Road organised the event on behalf of the Friends of Pontypool Town. She said: “This area is tucked out of the way so by clearing it up and perhaps eventually transforming it with flowers we will hopefully deter some of the antisocial behaviour that has been taking place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We started the Friends of Pontypool Town because we realise the council can’t do everything we would like in the town, but by coming together as a community we can achieve a huge amount for ourselves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would urge residents and anyone working in Pontypool to come along to one of our meetings and get involved in their town.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Lewis Jones, executive member for regeneration at Torfaen council, said: “The Friends of Pontypool Town have done a fantastic job. Thanks also to Thom Board from Keep Wales Tidy who provided equipment and assistance, and to the volunteers from Melin Homes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s great to see so many groups coming together to tackle this anti-social behaviour hotspot, particularly as this was one of the key recommendations of the recent Cardiff University “Deep Place” Study of Pontypool. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our teams cleanse the town centre on a regular basis but we have limited resources and as part of our commitment to a cleaner and greener borough we want to support anyone who wants to improve the appearance of their local community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If anyone would like to carry out a community litter pick or clear up in their area, then I would urge them to get in touch with us.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​