A CWMBRAN woman who is doing her bit to tackle anti-social behaviour is the first nomination for the Argus Active Citizen Award.

Sue Goult, 52, was nominated by St Dials councillor Elizabeth Haynes and Cwmbran Inspector Richard Blakemore for her efforts.

Mrs Goult, who has to use a wheelchair due to severe osteoarthritis and osteoporosis which has badly affected the discs in her spine, campaigned for almost five years to get gates fitted on alleyways between Orchard Place, Wesley Street and Keat Close.

The areas were being used by youngsters causing criminal damage, starting small fires and generally behaving antisocially.

Mrs Goult, who lives with her husband, Phil, also 52, said: “I thought, ‘that’s it, I’ve got to do something about it to help people,” so she collected signatures calling for the gating, which led to them being fitted last month.

She also handed her phone number out to people living in the area, which has three nursing complexes, so they can come to her if there are any problems involving anti-social behaviour so she can speak to the police and council about it and keep track of any issues.

Insp Blakemore said: “She was instrumental in driving through the gating order for the elderly residents in Orchard Place to drive down and tackle the ASB being suffered in that area.

She has even organised drop-down kerbs for disabled residents.”

Name those who are most deserving

ANYONE can nominate a member of the public for the Argus Active Citizen Award and there is no age limit.

We are looking for the unsung heroes of Gwent who have done their bit to help out in their communities.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges, including Argus deputy editor Nicole Garnon.

To make a nomination, email ben.frampton@southwalesargus.co.uk or write to: Ben Frampton, South Wales Argus, Cardiff Road, Newport, NP20 3QN. Include your name, contact information, who you are nominating and why. Nominations must be in by March 20.

ARGUS COMMENT: A shining example

SUE Goult is just the type of person we want to hear about in our search for someone deserving of our Active Citizen Award.

The 52-year-old from Cwmbran was nominated by a local councillor and a police inspector for her sterling, and ultimately successful, efforts to help fight antisocial behaviour in her local area.

Despite her own health problems, Mrs Goult spent five years campaigning to get gates fitted on alleyways near where she lives.

As so often is the case the alleys were used as a gathering- place for youngsters who then caused criminal damage, started fires and generally made a nuisance of themselves.

Many areas are similarly blighted but not every community boasts having someone in their midst prepared to do something about it. Sue Goult did and that is why she has been nominated for our award Mrs Goult started off with a petition, but went one step further and even handed out her own telephone number to local people so they could report anti-social behaviour, which she would then take up with the police or Torfaen council.

Mrs Goult is the first nomination we have received for this year’s Active Citizen Award.

We know there will be others out there equally deserving.

Please get in touch and let us know who they are.