25-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Older People Commissioner for Wales visits Cwmbran Library
Rhian Bowen-Davies, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, visited Cwmbran Library on July 22 to meet with more than 60 members of the 50+ Forums from Cwmbran, Pontypool, and Blaenavon.
The group raised concerns about the rising cost of living and energy prices, saying state pension increases are not keeping pace with their expenses.
Ms Bowen-Davies said: "50+ Forums are an important platform for older people to share information, discuss issues impacting their lives and influence local services, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with over 60 forum members from across Torfaen.
"Many of the older people I spoke with are concerned about living costs and their finances, and find it difficult to access local services, such as health services and public transport."
Attendees also spoke about difficulties accessing health services and the shortage of care home places in the area.
Concerns were raised about the accessibility of public transport, especially for those using wheelchairs and mobility aids.
The impact of digital exclusion and the declining use of cash were also discussed, with forum members noting there have been no banks in Blaenavon for several years.
They said the slow progress in establishing a new banking hub has made it much harder to manage their finances, particularly for those not comfortable with online banking.
Ms Bowen-Davies said: "I'd like to thank all of the older people who took part in yesterday's event for their openness and willingness to share their personal experiences.
"The conversations we had were hugely valuable in highlighting the issues older people in the area are facing, as well as their impact, which will help to guide and shape my work as commissioner."
