AM THIS month I’m holding a joint advice surgery with Macmillan Cancer Support at Bedwellty House, Tredegar, to offer cancer advice and support.

It’s a great opportunity for people to find out more about the charity and what help is on offer for people so come along on Friday, May 10, from 11am until 1pm.

May also sees the end of the consultation on the biggest shake-up of Blaenau Gwent schools the borough has seen in decades.

The programme, which focuses on providing the right support for children, has come up with a list of proposals on school reorganisation which it wants residents to share their views on.

The proposals are as follows:

●In the south of the Ebbw Fawr valley – close Briery Hill Primary School on August 31 this year, with pupils from that school being moved to the new Ebbw Fawr Learning Community primary.

●In the north of the Ebbw Fawr Valley – close Rhos y Fedwen Primary school on August 31, 2014, with pupils being educated at Glyncoed Primary. This involves improvements to the Glyncoed site, increasing the school size and replacing the current Glyncoed school on the current Ebbw Fawr Learning Community Badminton Grove site in 2017.

●In the Abertillery area of the Ebbw Fach valley – close Blaentillery Primary School on August 31, 2014, with pupils being transferred to Abertillery Primary. This involves the temporary accommodation of the pupils in the Abertillery Primary School across two sites and transferring the pupils to a new building on the Abertillery site in 2016.

This is a radical reorganisation of schools in Blaenau Gwent and it is vital that everyone involved has their say.

All too often people criticise change, say they were not given the chance to air their views when decisions have been made, but now you have been given the opportunity, don’t waste it.

These changes will see significant investment in our children’s future and therefore we must strive to work together to secure the best possible outcomes.

Your views are important so make them count. The consultation ends on May 19 and documents are available via the council’s website www.blaenaugwent.gov.uk

Also, don’t forget to check out my new Facebook page with all the latest news and issues that matter to you – take a look, I’m keen to hear your feedback – and don’t forget to follow me on twitter.com/AlunDaviesAM