Off Road Motorcyles - Know the Facts

Merthyr Tydfil Community Safety Partnership is taking action against illegal use of off-road bikes. If you are found riding illegally, you could have your bike seized and crushed, be summonsed to court , have to pay a fine or even lose your house.

ILLEGAL - riding your bike on roads, pavements or public land (unless the bike is registered with the DVLA and has a current MOT and Tax), including footpaths, forestry land and open spaces

ILLEGAL - causing harassment, alarm or distress to others through the use of your off-road motorcycle

You could lose your driving licence. Illegal use of an off-road motorcycle could mean a ban from driving, even if you don't have a licence yet.

Before you buy an off-road motorcycle, think:
- where will you ride it?
- How will you get the bike to the location where you can legally ride it?
- Where will you store the bike?


Don't put up with it - REPORT IT

If you are suffering from the nuisance of off-road motorcylces please report it - call 101.

Helpful information to report:
- what colour is the off-road motorcycle that you have seen being ridder?
- Any distinguishing features of the bike or the rider
- where the bike is being ridden
- where the bike is being stored.

Digital Switchover - Help Scheme

The Switchover Help Scheme can help you make the switch to digital TV.
They can help you convert your TV to digital if you:

•are aged 75 or over; or
•get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; or
•have lived in a care home for six months or more; or
•are registered blind or partially sighted

If you are not sure if you are eligible for help, call us free on 0800 408 5900 or
e-mail info@helpscheme.co.uk

Digital Switchover for Merthyr Tydfil

Digital switchover in Merthyr Tydfil is set to start the switch on 3 March, 2010, here’s how we need to prepare for going digital.

Many of you will already be enjoying digital TV through your aerial (Freeview), via satellite, with cable in some areas or through broadband. However, it’s important to make sure every TV set and recorder that you plan to use after switchover is capable of working with digital signals.

Virtually all households will be able to receive around 20 of the most popular Freeview channels, as opposed to the five currently available on analogue TV. Many households will be able to receive more than 40 channels.

Most viewers in Merthyr Tydfil are served by the Wenvoe transmitter group which will switch over between 3 March, 2010 and 31 March, 2010.

Information and help on switchover is available on the Digital UK website at www.digitaluk.co.uk. Here you can find your options for switching to digital, check whether you live in an area that can currently receive digital television via an aerial, and find out which transmitter group you’re most likely to be receiving your terrestrial TV signal from.

If you haven’t got a computer or access to the internet, information is also available on the phone. Simply call the Digital UK helpline on 08456 50 50 50. Welsh Language help and advice is available by calling 08458 48 48 48

Learn new skills locally

There has never been a better time to choose to learn new skills in Merthyr.

The Neighbourhood learning Centre offers a range of courses to give residents of Merthyr new skills that can be used at home or in the workplace.

Some courses lead to qualifications that could be a step to gaining employment. Specialist areas are:
Ceramic workshop
IT suite
Construction Skills
Transition into Employment (16 - 18yr old)
Learn through the outdoors
Basic Skills
Retail Training
Hair and Beauty Zone

Please call in at neighbourhood Learning Centre, 17-20 Pen-y-dre, Gurnos, merthyr Tydfil or telephone for information about courses that are running. Learning has never been so much fun. Experience new activities in a unique facility with professional tuition. Contact them directly on 01685 727099.

Communities First Partnership Meeting Date

The date of the next Trefechan Communities First Partnership meeting is Monday 25th january 2010 at 4.30pm at trefechan Community Centre.