Mountain Ash folk are urged to line the streets of Mountain Ash this weekend to enjoy a public ceremony organised to mark the rededication of the town’s war memorial.

The event will include a parade through the town being led by local dignitaries and the Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh, which is set to please the crowds.

Significant work has taken place on and around the important memorial after it was damaged by mindless vandals in 2008.

As well as a full repair of the structure and new plaques, important work has also taken place to improve the footways and lighting around the war memorial.

To mark the end of such an important restoration, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and its partners, including the Royal British Legion, has worked to organise a community-based event to rededicate the war memorial.

The event takes place on Sunday, May 23 and begins with a parade that leaves the Remembrance Gardens in Oxford Street at 1.45pm.

For those who feel they cannot complete the full distance from Oxford Street to the war memorial, the parade will be stopping at St Margaret’s Church, where those who can walk the final 200m to the memorial can join it.

The Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh will lead the parade, which will also include local dignitaries, including Mayors from neighbouring authorities, ward members and the Royal British Legion.

The parade will end at the war memorial, where the service will begin with a welcome from Cllr Simon Lloyd, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf and prayers and hymns led by Reverend Michael Jones, vicar of Mountain Ash and Miskin.

The restored war memorial will be unveiled by Lord Aberdare and Cllr Lloyd, before the Last Post is played and wreaths are laid – by the Representative of the Queen, the Mayor and the Royal British Legion.

Mountain Ash War Memorial was originally dedicated in 1922 and Reverend Jones will reflect on that service over 80 years ago in his service on Sunday.

Cllr Simon Lloyd, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Ward Member for Mountain Ash West, said: “We were all devastated when the war memorial was damaged by mindless vandals in 2008.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Public Health and Protection team has been working hard for three years to deal with the unacceptable condition of a property at 54 Oxford Street in Mountain Ash, in a bid to allay the concerns of residents and traders.

A successful court hearing in 2007 saw owner David Williams convicted for failing to take heed of a legal notice served on him by officers the year before.

The order demanded he take the action needed to either bring the eyesore building up to standard or demolish it. Due to the inaction on his part, he was subjected to a daily fine of £2, to be paid for every day he failed to take the necessary action.

Despite the legal order, court hearing and daily fine, no action has been taken so the council has once again taken Williams, of Navigation Street, Mountain Ash, to court.

The latest case was heard at Aberdare Magistrates’ Court on August 10, during which Williams admitted non-compliance with the legal order made in 2006.

Sentencing was adjourned for three months to allow Williams to undertake any work that may be used as a mitigating factor when he is sentenced.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Mental Health Partnership is working together to raise awareness of mental illness in the County Borough by hosting a series of sponsored walks as part of world mental health week.

Choose the walk that suits you best, the walks start at 11am and are taking place in the following locations on the dates listed:

• Rhondda Mile at Gelligaled Park – 5th of October,

• Cynon Mile at Aberdare Park – 8th of October,

• Taff Mile at Ynysangharad Park – 10th of October.

The mile can be walked, run, cycled, skateboarded, whatever you fancy. Come along as a group, as a family, alone or in fancy dress and the best dressed will win a prize. The routes are wheelchair accessible and are suitable for pushchairs.

If you are unable to take part in the walk, why not come along and support the walkers or become an event volunteer.

Entrance Fee is £1.00 per walker payable on the day, for more information on the Rhondda Mile call Paul Bargewell on 01443 688770, for the Cynon Mile call Angela Evans on 01685 875481 or for the Taff Mile call Nannette King on 01443 486856.

Funding secured by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, as part of the Heads of the Valley Regeneration Programme, will be used to provide improved facilities for passengers at each bus stop between Hirwaun – Aberdare – Glynhafod.

These include new bus boarders to assist passengers with boarding and alighting, new signage and service information and, at the busiest bus stops, new shelters.

This investment will raise the overall quality of public transport services in the area and coincides with the introduction of a fleet of modern, easy access buses along the route by the operator – Stagecoach.

During this year, the Council will also be carrying out improvement works to a number of other bus stops in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area as part of further investment secured through the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership and from within the Council’s own budget.

Thanks to a £8,900 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the three-week exhibition celebrates the massive contribution made by St John to the health and welfare of the people of the Cynon Valley.

Long before the establishment of the National Health Service in 1946, St John Ambulance was often the only provider of organised first aid training, nursing care and ambulance services. They attended events, accidents and frequent colliery disasters to provide care for those who had been injured.

St John Ambulance was of particular importance in the Cynon Valley of South Wales as rapid expansion of the population during the industrial revolution and the poverty of many iron and mine workers meant that St John Ambulance services were invaluable to local people. The St John Ambulance Aberdare Division was established in 1908.

St John Ambulance Centenary Celebrated

Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, added: “This project will stir up a lot of emotions and memories and highlight the invaluable contribution St. John the Ambulance has made to the well being of generations living in the Cynon Valley. This project will help bring young and old members of the community together to share an insight into the area’s past.”

The exhibition takes place at Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery located on Depot Road, Aberdare, CF44 8DL until August 22nd 2009. Entrance is free.

The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday 9am to 4.30pm. For further details visit www.cvmg.co.uk or telephone 01685 886729.

The four youngsters will take the plunge at St Brides after receiving expert tuition in diving as part of a new scuba diving course, Discover Scuba, at Aberdare Pool.

The scuba diving course was developed from a larger sub aqua programme introduced at Aberdare this Easter as part of the Welsh Assembly Government Free Swimming Initiative.

Run by qualified PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructor) instructors from A1 Unisex Divers, Discover Scuba is aimed at youngsters aged 10 to 16 and Bubblemaker is aimed at children aged eight upwards.

Jean Davies, Swimming Development Manager for Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “We are very pleased with the success of the sub aqua programme, especially the opportunity for younger children to try scuba diving, which was an instant hit.

“The course covers both theory and practical sessions, and as well as increasing fitness and ability in the water, it develops confidence and is a lot of fun.

“We had so many youngsters coming along, we are hoping that the scuba diving will develop into a regular term-time club.”

Instructor Sue Fryer who has organised the sea open dive explained: “There are lots of benefits for the children who take part. They have fun and games during training which is the best way to learn, they make friends and they overcome any fears they may have about the first breath under water.

“They will spend all day diving, having picnics and enjoying the underwater world that lies ahead of them, knowing that they will then be qualified at a very young age to dive anywhere around the world as a PADI diver.”

Following on from the successful sessions at Aberdare Pool during the Easter and Whitsun holidays, sub aqua will again take place during the summer holidays.

For more information phone Aberdare Pool on 01685 874252

147 A Club players Danny Williams, Colin Williams, Ian Griffiths, Darren Baker and Dale Roberts were named division two champions at a presentation evening in Aberaman. Colin and Danny Williams were also runners-up in the doubles tournament. 147 C players Duane Jones, Daniel Norris, Delme Norris, Nicky Driscoll, Ieuan Jones and Christian Godden were division one champions.

Duane Jones, aged 16, of Mountain Ash, was also singles tournament winner, invitation singles tournament winner and was named player of the year – all of these awarded to him for the second year running. Duane has recently played in the Celtic Challenge Tournament in Ireland and aims to one day turn professional.

Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Simon Lloyd, went along to see what is on offer at the swimming pool and snooker hall.

“The 147 Club was extremely successful this year and all the members practice here regularly. It’s great to see so much talent coming out of Rhondda Cynon Taf leisure facilities,” he said.

The snooker hall upstairs at Aberdare Pool comprises of eight full-size snooker tables and is fully air conditioned. For more details on the club or swimming times/classes at Aberdare Pool, please call 01685 874252

· Snooker at Aberdare Pool is just one of the free activities available during the school holidays for children up to the age of 16 this summer. For more information, please call 01685 874252

Church Village and Mountain Ash libraries are launching the innovative new scheme to encourage children to loan books and have the opportunity to take a toy with them as well.

The toys are designed for children aged under five and can be borrowed free for a week by professionals working with children as well as parents & carers.

The new toy library, which is part of Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Sure Start Department, is currently open at Church Village Library every Friday from 10.30am to 11.30am and Mountain Ash Library every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12noon.

“Staff in the Council’s Libraries Service are always experimenting with exciting new schemes in an effort to encourage more youngsters to use their local library, “ said Cllr Robert Bevan, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation.

“The new toy library scheme will hopefully result in even more children visiting one of the libraries to borrow not only a book, but a toy as well to help them on their early years of learning.”

Membership of all Rhondda Cynon Taf’s libraries is free and everyone living or working within the County Borough is welcome to join

Based at Blaengwawr Comprehensive School, Aberdare, the Cynon Valley Hockey Club meets every Wednesday from 5-6pm. Players of all abilities, including beginners, are welcome and membership is £2 a week.

For more information, please contact Rhondda Cynon Taf Hockey Development Officer, Judith Powell on 01443 490207 or email Judith.A.Powell@rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk

If you are interested in coaching opportunities, please contact Judith Powell or 5×60 head coach Louise Harris on 07779 220236

Severe weather at the start of the month delayed the proposed Sunday closures of the bridge for the essential work to be carried out.

This work has now been rescheduled for Sunday March 1st from 6am to 8pm and Sunday March 8th from 6am to 6pm.

The entire project has also consisted of environmental enhancements to Bruce Street, Knight Street and Chancery Lane. The scheme includes resurfacing of sections of footways and carriageways, which is the strategic gateway to the town.