New heating system saves the
show at Cwmbran Theatre
A rise in the temperature means that the show will go on for a Cwmbran Theatre, thanks to a £5,000 grant from Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, which uses landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services, to fund projects that will enhance and transform communities.
Congress Theatre Company will use the funding to install a new heating system which will supply various areas throughout the building, including the main entrance. With over 30,000 people using the venue each year, new over door heaters in this area will enhance the experience of those using the theatre as well as improve working conditions for staff.
Richard Williams, Assistant Manager at the theatre said:
“As the Box Office is directly in line with the outer doors – the impact of the cold air is felt instantly. The new over door heaters and other heating upgrades will make a vast difference to users experience throughout the building.”
The 312 seat theatre is run mainly by volunteer members, who give their time to ensure the continuation and safekeeping of the theatre. The dedication and hard work of those involved means that time spent on site is always enjoyable and welcoming for all partners and visitors.
Barbara Lear, Customer Liaison Officer at Cwmbran Shopping, a supporter of the theatre, said:
“As the Cwmbran Shopping information desk is situated in the foyer, directly in front of the main door,
the cold air blasts through and is not conducive to satisfactory working conditions.
The door heaters will greatly improve this as there is always heavy footfall into the Theatre.”
Gillian French, Biffaward Programme Manager, said:
“Community facilities like this provide important opportunities for learning, enjoyment and socialising to
members of the public. The completion of this work at the Congress Theatre will ensure
that the organisation can continue to deliver these services, in providing a warm and
welcoming environment for all that visit and work there.”
Biffa provides a range of public sector, commercial and industrial waste collection services as well as the management of 33 operational landfill sites across the UK. The multi-million pound a year Biffaward fund has been set up, using tax charged on waste taken into landfill sites, to help finance environmental projects near Biffa sites.
For more information please contact:
Martyn Redwood, Manager – Congress Theatre, Tel: 01633 868239 Email: martyn@congresstheatre.net
Lynsey Blackburn, PR & Promotions Officer, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, Tel: 01636 670105 Email: lblackburn@rswt.org
EDITOR’S NOTES
1. In 1997 Biffa Waste Services agreed to donate landfill tax credits to the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) to administer under the fund name Biffaward. Grants made from the fund currently amount to more than £100 million, supporting many worthwhile projects.
Biffa Waste Services Ltd is a part of Biffa Plc Group. Biffa Plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE250 index. Biffa Plc is one of the largest single suppliers of waste management services in the UK. It collects, treats, recovers and disposes of municipal, commercial and industrial waste nationwide.
2. The landfill tax was introduced in the Finance Act and came into operation in 1996. It is the first truly “green tax” in the UK and its purpose is to reflect the impact of landfill on the environment and also to help achieve the targets for more sustainable waste management as set out in the Government’s White Paper “Making Waste Work”. The tax, levied on the tonnage of all material disposed of in landfill sites and collected by Biffa on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs, aims to encourage recycling and reduce waste by raising the cost of disposal. The regulations allow landfill site operators to direct up to 5.5 per cent of the tax they have collected towards approved environmental projects. However, any approved project can only receive 90 per cent of its desired funding from the landfill tax. The remaining 10 per cent must come direct from the landfill site operator or from a third party organisation or company.
The Congress Theatre Company Ltd is registered in England and Wales.
Registered No 6870731