Aberavon & Baglan Moors News

Labour slams court closure plan

2006-05-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

Proposals being put forward to close the Magistrates’ Court in Port Talbot have been slammed by Aberavon MP, Dr Hywel Francis, who believes that the changes will hit the victims of crime hardest.

Plans thought to be under consideration by Her Majesty’s Court Service, as part of its South Wales Estates Review, include the closure of Port Talbot Magistrates’ Court and the possible relocation of the Central Finance Unit involving the loss of up to eighty jobs in the town.

Dr Francis MP said,

“The Criminal Justice System has a special responsibility towards local communities and the victims and witnesses of crime. If justice is to work well then it needs the public to understand it and feel comfortable with it.”

“It is essential that it is based with the community that it seeks to serve. Local justice needs to take place in a local setting.”

“The proposal to close the Port Talbot Court does not make any sense. It is ideally located, with excellent transport links and is a short walk away from the central police station. The victims of crime in the town need faster and more accountable justice. These plans will mean that they will have to travel further to see that justice is done.”

“The mooted relocation of the Finance Unit would also be a huge blow to Port Talbot. It provides many local people with high quality jobs which would be sorely missed if the plans were given the go-ahead.”

“The Labour Party in Aberavon is completely opposed to these proposals. It will be the victims of crime who will be most affected by these changes, and we will continue to campaign to stand up for their rights. The review completely fails to take into account the impact that closing the Magistrates’ Court would have on victims, witnesses and the police.”

“I will personally be making representations to the Minister for Constitutional Affairs and those within the Courts Service to do as much as I can to get the proposals reversed.”

Labour campaigners praise Aberavon crime crackdown

2006-05-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

News that crime is on the decrease in the old Aberavon area of Port Talbot has been warmly welcomed by local labour Party members. However, following news of a brutal attack on a local shopkeeper which left him with a fractured arm, they have urged that more needs to be done to maintain the progress that has been made.

Operation Wizard, which in April 2006, reduced the number of house burglaries in the ward to zero, other burglaries by 67% and violent crime by 80% has been hailed as a great success by Aberavon Ward Labour spokesman, and local resident, Arthur Howells.

Arthur said,

“Crime and anti-social behaviour is, by far, the number one issue for the people of Aberavon. The statistic that our particular area suffers from 10% of all the crime in Neath Port Talbot was in one sense shocking – but for those of us who live here, it seemed to be quite a reasonable estimate.”

“Labour members in Aberavon have long been campaigning for more police officers on the beat out and about in the community. The results of Operation Wizard show the massive difference that a highly visible police presence can make.”

“There are a number of schemes being put in place by the local authority, the police and others, not least the Housing Renewal Area, which are beginning to make a long term improvement in the fortunes of Aberavon a reality. There is a real sense of community spirit re-establishing itself in the area.”

“The horrific attack on the owner of Bargain Booze shows, though, that we cannot rest on our laurels. No-one ever pretended that tackling the issue of crime and disorder head on was going to be easy but we are pleased to see everyone working together to create a proper and sustainable solution to the problems that the people of Aberavon are suffering on a daily basis."

Railway petition campaign nets 1,000 signatures

2006-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Over one thousand people have signed up to support a campaign by the Aberavon Labour Party to improve disabled access to Port Talbot Parkay Railway Station. The campaign has been gathering pace over the last few months and has attracted the backing of residents in every part of the Aberavon Constituency.

Taibach Labour Councillor, John Rogers, said,

“We would like to thank everyone who took their time to sign our petition and give their clear support to improve the state of the railway station to allow disabled people the easy access they need to use public transport.”

“Access to the station is a huge problem not just for disabled people but also for young families and those passengers with heavy luggage. It is important for the future of the town that we have an up to date and fully accessible railway station. The people of the town deserve better and by signing our petition in such numbers, they have spoken with a clear voice to Network Rail.”

“The Aberavon Labour Party has also been working alongside a number of local and national charities and voluntary organisations to make Network Rail aware of the strength of feeling on the issue in the area.”

Councillor Rogers added that the Labour Party would be writing to everyone who signed the petition to thank them for their support,

“In adding their name to our campaign, ordinary people who are trying to do their best for the local community have shown that by banding together, they can make a real difference. We will be writing to everyone who took a few minutes of their time to sign up, to thank them for their efforts and to keep them up to date on the progress we are making.”

“We are having ongoing discussions with Network Rail and the other organisations responsible for the running of station. This show of public support by local people can only help us as we try and win improvements to Port Talbot Parkway.”

100 years of local Labour Party history - your chance to play a part

2006-01-03T08:02:00.000-08:00

February 2006 will mark the centenary of the formation of the Labour Party. The Aberavon Constituency Labour Party are planning to celebrate the anniversary by holding a week long public exhibition and compiling an in-depth written history of the local party.

They are asking residents to help them by digging out any old newspaper cuttings, photographs, or election leaflets that they may have that tell the story of the Labour Party in the constituency over the past 100 years.

Dr Hywel Francis MP said,

“Following the 1906 General Election, the Labour Representation Committee, as it was then known, was transformed into a real parliamentary force with 29 MPs. To mark the occasion, the group was renamed the Labour Party, as it has remained to this day.”

“We are looking for the stories of the men and women who set up local Labour Party organisations, put up candidates, fought and won local council seats, sat on Boards and governing bodies, campaigned, recruited and knocked on doors.”

“The 1906 Centenary gives us a chance to celebrate and reflect upon the people and events from the past. For a hundred years, Labour Party members in the Aberavon Constituency have dedicated their lives to making things better for their fellow citizens.”

“Their stories are not just an important part of the Labour Party’s history but also the histories of local communities stretching from Briton Ferry to Margam, from Aberavon to Cymmer.”

Anyone with material that they think would be of assistance are asked to contact Anthony Taylor, Aberavon Constituency Labour Party Campaigns Co-ordinator, by phone on 01639 885840 / 07920 111869, via e-mail: aberavonlabour@yahoo.co.uk or in writing at 13 Brook Street, Taibach, Port Talbot, SA13 1TG.

Business Club Charity Lunch to feature Roy Noble OBE

2006-01-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Radio Wales presenter Roy Noble OBE is teaming up with the Aberavon Constituency Labour Party to raise funds for charity on Friday, 20 January 2006.

Roy will be the guest speaker at a Business Club Lunch taking place at the Towers Hotel, Jersey Marine at 1pm. Tickets cost £15 each or £150 for a table of ten with the proceeds from the ticket sales going to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. All local businesses and individuals are welcome to attend.

Bryn & Cwmafan Labour Councillor Marian Lewis, who is organising the event, said,

“We are very lucky to have attracted a speaker of the calibre of Roy Noble, who is very much sought after for this sort of event. He has presented a daily show on Radio Wales for a number of years as well as hosting a number of television programmes and has virtually become a household name in Wales.”

“He will be telling us his secrets from his upbringing in the Amman Valley, through his early career in education as a teacher, all the way up to his present day status as one of the most recognisable personalities in Welsh broadcasting.”

“This lunch is a chance for local businesspeople to be thoroughly entertained and at the same time raise some much needed funds for as worthwhile a cause as the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The money will go towards research into treating and curing a condition that affects many families across the constituency.”

Tickets are available from Councillor Lewis who can be contacted on 01639 632324 or via e-mail on Mlewisfarm@aol.com.

Planning Application

2005-12-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Planning Application: P/2005/1820

Land off Green Street, rear of 15-23 Bevan Street and Sandfields Road

Construction of four 2-bedroom flats and parking spaces

A full planning application has been submitted to build four 2-bedroom flats at land off Green Street.

The plans can be viewed during normal working hours by contacting the Council’s Planning Department on 01639 764284.

If you have any views on the application that you would like to be taken into account by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s planning committee when it meets to decide whether or not to grant permission for this application then please send them to Cliff Patten, Development Control, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Neath, SA11 3QZ. You can also e-mail your comments to planningdc@npt.gov.uk. Please ensure that you quote the planning application number P/2005/1820 when you write.

Your local Labour Campaign Team are also interested in hearing your views on the application.

You can contact us by telephone on 07968 968 195 or e-mail us at aberavonlabour@yahoo.co.uk.

Labour launches train station access petition

2005-11-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

Members of the Aberavon Constituency Labour Party will this weekend be launching a petition campaign calling for significant improvements to be made to Port Talbot Parkway Railway Station to allow disabled people to access the platforms more easily.

The campaign has been backed by Aberavon’s MP Dr Hywel Francis and Welsh Assembly Member Dr Brian Gibbons.

Dr Francis MP said,

“The current situation where disabled people face great difficulty in accessing the train platforms is completely unacceptable. Passengers unable to use the connecting bridge, have to book 24 hours in advance, for staff to let them in through the station gate instead.”

“There is no service at all for disabled passengers when the station is unstaffed. This is clearly discriminatory.”

“Both Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales need to commit to improving the level of station accessibility. The companies are under a clear obligation to take steps to remove obstacles that act as a barrier to disabled people who want to access their services. Our petition calls on them to do exactly that.”

“Access is a huge problem not just for disabled people but also for young families with pushchairs and passengers with heavy luggage.”

Dr Brian Gibbons AM added,

“Things will be getting even worse once the new timetables come into operation in early December. With a train, on average, passing through the station every twelve minutes, it is difficult to see when they will be able to find the time to provide help to those who need it to access the platforms. ”

“Work also needs to be done to improve the appearance and general repair of the connecting bridge as well. Passengers, like myself and Hywel, who use the station on a regular basis know how dark and unpleasant it can be.”

“It not only puts people off from taking advantage of public transport, it also gives an incorrect impression of the town to visitors coming here for the first time.”

“Local people feel strongly that they are getting a raw deal from Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales on this issue.”

“We hope that they will take a few seconds of their time to sign the petition and give their clear support to our campaign to improve the state of the railway station to allow disabled people to have easy access to the transport that they need.”

Review of Sunken Gardens plans needed

2005-10-28T14:25:00.000-07:00

We believe in the future of the Aberavon Seafront
The regeneration work currently being done on the Seafront to improve its appearance and attract more tourists to the area is to be applauded. The Seafront is key to the economic success of the local area and residents are always open to suggestions that will improve the level of trade and business based there as long as the redevelopment is sympathetic to the needs of local people.

However, there is a clear strength of feeling amongst the Sandfields and Aberavon communities that the proposals to build a car park on the Sunken Gardens and green land on the seaward side of Princess Margaret way need to be looked at again.

What are the views of the local Labour Party on this issue?
Our views on this proposal are clear. We support the views put forward by residents to review and amend the proposals to redevelop the Sunken Gardens areas of the Seafront for either car parking or housing development

It does not make much sense to build housing on the car parking provision that is already there, only to rip up the Sunken Gardens and other green land to build a replacement car park only a short distance away. What really needs to be done as far as the Sunken Gardens is concerned is for it to be upgraded both as a flower garden and a recreation area.

Can the proposals be changed?
These proposals are not set in stone. The plans are contained in a council document entitled the Aberavon Seafront Strategy Review which has been put out for consultation so that the voices of local people can be heard. Any plans that have been put forward as part of the Review can still be amended as a result of public feeling on the issue.

Although the consultation period formally ended at the start of October, the local authority has agreed to still accept submissions from residents who wish to air their views directly on this particular issue.

What can I do to help get the plans reviewed?
You can support our campaign by writing to Regeneration Manager, Economic Development Unit, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Neath, SA11 3QZ stressing the reasons why this proposal needs to be reconsidered. The more people who write to them, the more chance we have of getting them to look at it again.

Investing in our children

2005-10-12T13:26:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to hear that an award of £230,000 has been made by the Big Lottery Fund to enable the completion of the new Children's Integrated Centre based at Sandfields Primary School.

The centre will link education, health, childcare and play activities and will have a huge impact on hundreds of youngsters from six weeks to sixteen years of age in the ward.

The centre already has a management committee set up and plans to appoint a project manager shortly.

A range of activities will be on offer at the centre including early years education, parenting classes, play sessions, a toy library, adult education classes, childminders and advice on jobs and benefits.

We fully support the aims and objectives of the new centre as does the Labour run local Council and Welsh Assembly.

Latest news from the Neath Port Talbot Council Labour Group

2005-10-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

Your school is safe with us

Right across Wales Councils are closing schools because of falling school numbers. You will have read or heard about the protests elsewhere from parents and teachers. In Neath Port Talbot the Labour administration has pledged to do all it can to avoid school closures. Instead we want to keep our school buildings open and where appropriate look to amalgamate or federate schools with the support of teachers, governors and parents. We want to continue to have the best education service in Wales.

If you value the schools in your community the only way to ensure they stay open is to continue having a Labour run Council.

Neighbourhood Management

We have recently launched our new Neighbourhood Management initiative. Under this the County Borough has been divided into twelve zones. Each zone now has a team of staff who are responsible for doing all the small, but important jobs such as grass cutting, litter picking and filling in potholes. Part of the initiative is also to re-surface roads and pavements. We put an extra £1.5 million into this initiative and every area should see a difference.

TAN 8

TAN 8 is the Planning Guidance issued by the Assembly on the possible location of wind farms. The guidelines suggest that developers should be allowed to place these in many parts of the County Borough. Indeed it suggests that 38% of all new capacity in Wales should come to the area around Neath Port Talbot. We are insisting this 38% figure is reduced.

Budget

This year we have had the lowest Council Tax rise in the history of Neath Port Talbot and one of the lowest in Wales. We will continue with our strategy of lobbying the Welsh Assembly for a better grant settlement and of managing our own budget carefully. This will ensure that next year there will be another low increase. We will achieve this despite some opposition members, particularly the Nationalists, encouraging overspending.

Transport

We have, with partners, been working on a new Transport for Communities scheme. Buses are of course run by private companies not the Council. Indeed, the recent changes to services were imposed by the bus company. Therefore, as a Council we need to look at other ways of helping to provide transport for communities. One of the best ways is to boost community transport with initiatives such as Dial-A-Ride schemes. There are already successful schemes running and the intention is to ensure there is convenient and reasonably priced transport available in all areas. Community Transport Schemes are always looking for volunteer drivers so please contact them if you are interested.

Green Meadow Pub Planning Application

2005-08-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Planning Application: P/2005/1309
Former Green Meadow Public House, Marsh Street, Aberavon
Demolition of existing dwellings and construction of 7 new houses and 14 flats

A full planning application has been submitted by Howard & Palmer Estates to demolish existing dwellings at the former Green Meadow Public House and replace them with 7 new houses and 14 flats.

If you have any views on the application that you would like to be taken into account by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council’s planning committee when it meets to decide whether or not to grant permission for this application then please send them to Cliff Patten, Development Control, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Civic Centre, Neath, SA11 3QZ. You can also e-mail your comments to planningdc@npt.gov.uk. Please ensure that you quote the planning application number P/2005/1309 when you write.

Your local Labour Campaign Team are also interested in hearing your views on the application. You can contact us by posting a message on this site or alternatively e-mail us at aberavonlabour@yahoo.co.uk.

Blanco's redevelopment gets the go-ahead

2005-08-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

New plans to build a hotel, with bar and restaurant, on the Blanco's site between Water Street and Green Park Street, have been given the green light by the council's planning committee.

The hotel will house 40-beds and alterations are to be made to the existing building and a two-storey extension added. It is hoped that the hotel will create 50 much needed new jobs for the area and is ideally sited near to the new Peripheral Distributor Road, currently under construction, and a short distance from both the Town's bus and railway stations.

The company responsible for the redevelopment also own The Towers in Jersey Marine.

NEW REGENERATION SCHEME “DROP-IN” CENTRE BOOST

2005-08-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

The opening of a new “drop-in” centre as part of the Neighbourhood Renewal Area Scheme for Aberavon and Sandfields East is a welcome development that will allow residents to play an even bigger part in shaping their area for the future.

The centre, based in Wellington Place, is now open five days a week and scheme staff will be available to address any concerns about the scheme that people have.

The local authority, in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government, is delivering social justice for those who need it most by attracting £2.4 million worth of investment to the area already. However, if the scheme is to continue to be successful, it is essential that the views of local people are taken on board and that they feel able to make a positive contribution to the project and input their own ideas. This new facility will enable them to do exactly that.

The scheme is starting to transform the area for the better with rapid progress being made with the housing improvement works having a very visible impact already.

The centre will build on this and help to tackle important issues with a Keep Wales Tidy officer responsible for reducing rubbish, graffiti and flytipping and weekly surgeries to be held there by the police and fire service to crack down on anti-social behaviour and crime in the locality.

By establishing a central contact point between scheme staff and residents, an open and honest dialogue can take place to make sure that the scheme is meeting the needs of the people it seeks to help. This can only be positive for the future of Aberavon & Sandfields East.

The centre is based in Wellington Place, off Ysguthan Road in Aberavon. It opened on Monday, 25 July 2005. Staff at the centre can be contacted on 01639 796100 or via e-mail: renewalarea@npt.gov.uk.The opening times of the centre are Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.00pm. Friday is 8.45am to 4.30pm.

Renewal area about to enter second year

2005-07-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

The Aberavon and Sandfields East regeneration scheme continues to go from strength to strength as it enters its second year.

The Labour run council has been successful in attracting £2.4 million from the Welsh Assembly so far to improve housing, landscaping, street lighting, play areas and community buildings. Work is going well with five South West Wales contractors contributing to rapid and high quality improvements.

Most people seem to be happy at efforts to minimise disruption and residents and local councillors alike are happy with the working relationship that has been formed by the council, contractors and local people.

This is just the beginning of a ten year plan which will transform the Aberavon ward over the decade ahead.

Labour CCTV crackdown praised by police

2005-06-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

Superintendent Cliff Filer of South Wales Police has praised the work of the council’s CCTV team in helping to detect crimes in Port Talbot city centre.

It comes after three youths were arrested in connection with a burglary in Station Road at the Lord Caradog and the adjoining Station Road fish bar.

The Labour controlled council is continuing to work with the police and other agencies to make the county borough a safer place to live and work.

The CCTV system is an effective measure that helps in the fight against crime in those areas of the county where criminal and anti-social activity is evident.

Labour delivers on recycling

2005-05-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

A brand new £900,000 recycling and waste centre has been opened by Labour run Neath Port Talbot Council as part of their commitment to improve recycling rates in the county borough.

The new facility has improved public access and improved facilities

Household waste that cannot be collected by the kerbside collection can be sorted and taken to the new centre. Materials that can be taken there include:

Electrical equipment, plastic, paper, cardboard, glass, scrap metal, batteries, paint, textiles, timber, asbestos sheeting, household chemicals and pesticides.

Investment in Aberavon Seafront paying off

2005-05-12T20:28:00.000-07:00

With summer not too far away, the new developments on the seafront are taking shape.

Replacement lighting is being installed and work to install a PA system has begun. The car park at Ocean Way is being resurfaced and over 850 metres of new railing are being put in between the sunken gardens and the promenade.

The ice cream parlour is also due to open in time for the children’s school holidays.

More work is scheduled for the Autumn with the lighting columns between Swn y Mor nursing home and the Jersey Quay development being replaced. There will also be improved access down onto the beach for disabled people.

Brand new seating and litter bins that will help keep the seafront clean and tidy are being installed and NPTCBC hope that some of these will be ready before summer starts.

The new investment is part of the Labour Party’s commitment to regenerating the seafront and making it an attraction that the people of Port Talbot can be rightly proud of again.

Flyposting crackdown

2005-05-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

It was good to hear that the problem of flyposting across Neath Port Talbot is being tackled by the council and that they are starting to reap the rewards of their zero tolerance approach.

At a court hearing recently, a company from Cheshire was fined £500 and ordered to pay £250 as a result of the putting a poster up illegally in Neath Town Centre.

The fine will certainly act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of doing something similar, and is to be welcomed as part of the “Back to Basics” campaign by the Labour led council to make our communities cleaner and safer.

Watch this space as whilst this was the first case brought by the council, there are rumoured to be quite a few others in the pipeline.

New scheme to clean up Aberavon & Baglan Moors

2005-04-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

A brand new way of keeping Aberavon & Baglan Moors clean and well maintained has been launched by Labour Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

As part of Labour’s "Back to Basics" campaign, the county borough has been divided into 12 separate community zones. Each zone will have its own dedicated team of workers led by a neighbourhood supervisor.

Each supervisor will be responsible for the delivery of frontline streetcare services and will identify maintenance works that are needed and ensure that they are carried out promptly and efficiently.

This means that services such as litter collection, graffiti removal and grass cutting can be tailored to the needs of each individual area.

Over 100 employees will be involved in the scheme with more staff being employed for the busier summer months.

The principle behind the changes is to move away from the practice that one kind of service fits all and to move towards adapting street maintenance services to meet the needs of differing communities.

The reorganisation of streetcare services is being met from existing budgets with additional investment being added to improve service levels.

If you identify any jobs that need doing to keep Aberavon & Baglan Moors looking clean and tidy then please contact the Council’s Service First Team on 764555.

What will the new Neighbourhood Management Teams do?

Cutting of urban grass verges
Street cleaning
Litter collection
Fly poster and graffiti removal
Removal of fly tipping
Environmental clean ups on public and council land
Street weed spraying
General repairs to pot holes, damaged pavement slabs and manhole covers
Street sweeping

NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL SCHEME - THE NEXT STEPS

2005-04-01T03:54:00.000-08:00

The team responsible for the running of the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme in Aberavon and Sandfields East have published a list of what they are hoping is going to happen next. The list is as follows:

support for a Keep Wales Tidy officer to carry out environmental projects and work with schools and community groups to deal with graffiti, dog fouling, litter and fly tipping
work with Groundwork Bridgend & Neath Port Talbot to plan for environmental opportunities such as play areas, green spaces and shelterbelt tree planting
set up a dedicated handyperson service with NPT Care and Repair to assist elderly and disabled residents with minor repairs and maintenance
develop a 'lock and bolts' initiative with the Police to improve home security with better locking systems and security lighting
start up local residents groups with help from Neath Port Talbot CVS

We will report back with any progress on these measures as and when it happens. Watch this space.

REGENERATION PROJECT GATHERS PACE

2005-03-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

Work on the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme for Aberavon and Sandfields East is continuing to make rapid progress.

The first two group repair schemes in Adare Street and Station Terrace are almost completed and three more are underway in Lillian Street, Frederick Street and Stair Street which are due to finish at the end of April. Already completed is the off street parking project in Elfed Avenue as well as new play facilities in St Joseph’s School.

A new area renewal drop-in centre for residents to speak to staff who are working on the project is on schedule and will open in the middle of April. A successful meeting to consult local people on future development has recently been held and plans are in place to have several more in the near future to keep local people informed every step along the way.

The area renewal project is a clear commitment by Labour to the people of Aberavon and Sandfields East that we are determined to provide massive investment to tackle long term social exclusion and poverty. The work being carried out involves money for private housing repairs, landscaping, street lighting, play areas, traffic calming as well as work to community buildings. The scheme will also tackle poor health, employment and education.

Council Leader's message to the people of Aberavon & Baglan Moors

2005-03-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

In addition to keeping Council Tax levels down, the Labour administration on Neath Port Talbot Council has been determined to continue to do the big things well.

The things like Baglan Energy Park and the development of town centres.

We have also been determined to continue to have the best Education and Social Services departments (according to independent inspectors).

However, we also want to focus on the smaller things, which matter to people.

We have already scrapped the £5 fee for bulk refuse collections and began a crackdown on flytipping.

In April, we will begin a neighbourhood system where the County Borough will be divided up
into 12 areas. Each area will have a supervisor and a team of staff who will be responsible for all the small but important jobs in their area.

We will be putting an extra £1.5 million into neighbourhood services to ensure that this new system works and people see a difference.

Best Wishes

Derek Vaughan
Labour Leader
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

LOWEST COUNCIL TAX RISE EVER - EXTRA MONEY FOR KEY SERVICES

2005-02-24T11:54:00.000-08:00

Following the elections last June, the Labour administration on the Council set itself two main targets: to keep Council Tax rises down to an absolute minimum and to find more resources for the frontline services which matter most to people.

In the recent budget announcement, we were pleased to announce the following:

A 3.69% rise in Council Tax – the lowest ever increase in the history of Neath Port Talbot
Investing an extra £1.5m in frontline services such as roads, pavements, street lighting and street cleansing
£4.7m extra for education
£4.7m more for social services
Funding for key projects

Eighty one per cent of our funding comes from a grant from the Welsh Assembly. Therefore, the key to this excellent budget was the lobbying of the Assembly by the Labour Group. This lobbying resulted in the Council being awarded over £2 million in additional funding.

Another key element in delivering this first-rate budget has been the savings strategy introduced by the Labour administration. Part of this was the restructuring of departments, which will save over £1 million in the next three years and £600k per year after that.

We will continue to argue to get the best grant settlement for Neath Port Talbot and to make efficiency savings wherever possible.

Labour in Neath Port Talbot

Keeping Council Tax rises down

Funding better services

Warm Wales team tackles fuel poverty in Aberavon

2005-02-18T19:53:00.000-08:00

Residents across Aberavon will soon be visited by the Warm Wales team as part of a project brought to you with the help of Labour in Neath Port Talbot.

Advisers will be knocking on every door in the ward and offering free energy efficiency advice. They will be asking residents to complete a detailed questionnaire that will assess each household’s energy needs and benefits entitlement. The form is quite simple and help will be on hand to fill it out.

The advisers will then be able to identify those people who qualify for help with energy efficiency measures as well as finding out whether they are eligible to claim any additional benefits.

Residents who complete the questionnaire will automatically qualify for free energy saving lightbulbs.

This is an innovative scheme which will tackle deprivation and fuel poverty in the most disadvantaged homes.
Warm Wales – which will bring warm homes to Neath Port Talbot is a partnership between Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, National Grid Transco, npower, Warm Zones Ltd, eaga Partnership and the Labour Welsh Assembly Government.

Key transport project makes good progress

2005-02-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Today saw the construction of the Port Talbot Peripheral Distributor move on a stage further when a 500 tonne crane was used to lift eight 15 tonne beams across the River Afan.

A reinforced concrete bridge deck will then be cast on top of the beams to carry the new dual carriageway across the River Afan.

This particular phase of the PDR is on schedule and is expected to be finished by the end of the year. It is one part of a major road building programme that will transform traffic flow in Aberavon and Port Talbot and will run until 2011 at a cost of £110 million.

Aberavon & Baglan Moors Labour elect officers for 2005

2005-02-08T09:55:00.000-08:00

At its recent Annual General Meeting, the Aberavon Ward Labour Party elected its officers for the year ahead.

The results are as follows:

Chair: John Slater, 3 Brwyna Avenue
Vice Chair: John Sparks, 89 Llewellyn Street
Secretary: Sam Jenkins, 23 Gladys Street
Treasurer: Arthur Howells, 57 Llewellyn Street

We will all be working hard over the next twelve months to continue to deliver on the issues that matter most to local people.All of our officers live the Aberavon Ward and experience the same day-to-day problems that other residents do. We will work with the people of Aberavon and Baglan Moors and use our knowledge and experience of local life to campaign on their behalf and to get things done around the ward.

Planning application lodged to transform eyesore site

2005-01-21T09:22:00.000-08:00

An application for planning permission has been formally lodged by Dovey Developments to build a new multi million pound shopping centre on the Burrows Yard site.

The vast majority of residents will be glad to see that the council depot and the surrounding derelict sites are to be demolished to make way for the new retail centre proposals which feature five shops and a car park.

The planning application is now out for consultation and can be viewed by local residents at Port Talbot Civic Centre. Views and submissions on the new complex can be made to the council’s Development Control department quoting the application number P2004/1738.

The final decision on whether or not the full plans get the go-ahead will be made in the next few months by the impartial and non-political local authority Planning Decision Committee. Consideration will be given to the plans to ensure that the new buildings blend into the surrounding area with its other retail outlets.

For more information on the planning process, follow this link http://www.npt.gov.uk/planning/index.cfm.

Aberavon Labour to hold Tsunami fundraising auction

2005-01-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

A special Valentine’s night auction is being held by the Aberavon Constituency Labour Party to raise funds for the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster.

The night was initially planned as a political fundraiser but with the awful events that unfolded over the festive period, we decided as a local party to do whatever we could to help these people in their hour of need.

The generosity of the public, not only in Aberavon but across the whole of the UK, has been truly outstanding. The scale of the disaster was shocking in terms of the number of people who were killed and the devastation that it caused. Every penny raised from this auction will go towards those victims who need it most.

The auction takes place at the Four Winds Hotel on Monday, 14th February 2005 at 7pm. Entrance will cost £5 per person and this includes chicken and chips. All the entrance money will be donated to Macmillan Nurses, which is the Mayor’s Charity this year, as originally planned but we have decided to give the proceeds of the auction, which would otherwise have been used to fund our campaigning, to the Tsunami appeal.

The event is not restricted to Labour Party members and anyone who wants to make a contribution to the appeal or purchase an auction item is welcome to attend.

We are looking for items such as sporting or political memorabilia, unwanted Christmas presents or anything else that would be suitable for auction like this. We urge anyone who would like to donate an item for us to auction off to contact Cllr. Marian Lewis, treasurer of the Aberavon CLP before the 31st January on 01639 644893.

Our annual fundraising dinner which took place in October, raised over £330 benefiting young carers throughout the Constituency. We hope that this event will be as successful in raising much needed funds for the people who have been affected by this disaster.

To make a donation directly to the Tsunami appeal please follow this link www.dec.org.uk or phone 0870 60 60 900.

Tough action tackles litter problem in Aberavon

2005-01-14T12:20:00.000-08:00

We very much welcome the tough action recently taken by the Labour-run Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council against residents who were leaving their rubbish bags outside their homes days before the scheduled collection.

With the bags being left laying around for days on end, animals and vandals were tearing them open and rubbish was being scattered all over the place. Not only was this creating a possible health risk but it was making parts of Aberavon look an eyesore. In some areas of the Ward the bags were also becoming a targets for yobs who were using them to help start nuisance fires.

By far the biggest source of complaints for local residents is the amount of litter and vandalism present in the area and the negative effect that it has on the physical appearance of the Ward and the quality of life that we have as residents of Aberavon.

It has been a significant problem in Aberavon for a number of years and that is why we believe that the handing out of £75 fixed penalty notices to over 30 people in the locality was completely justified. To address worries about litter and rubbish, the Council has also invested in a team of six wardens to tackle this important issue across the borough.

If you would like to find out more about how NPTCBC is dealing with local concerns on this matter then visit www.npt.gov.uk/waste. To report any problems of litter or rubbish dumping, please contact the Council directly on 01639 764555.

£110m bypass to transform traffic congestion in Port Talbot

2004-12-23T12:10:00.000-08:00

A new dual carriageway bypass costing £110 m will be built in Port Talbot by 2010.

The new road will reduce the level of heavy traffic and pollution along the A48 and comes as a result of the partnership between Labour run Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the Welsh Assembly.

The "Peripheral Distributor Road" will run from Sunnycroft roundabout in Baglan to Jct 38 of the M4 in Margam.

The work will be done in three stages and will have major implications for the Aberavon Ward over the next few years:-

Stage 1C has already begun and will create a new dual carriageway between the Afan Way and Heilbron Way roundabouts.

Stage 1B will begin in early 2006 and will convert Afan Way into a dual carriageway.

The final stage will see a road built from the Afan Way roundabout, alongside the railway line all the way to Jct 38 in Margam.

The new road will also help to unlock industrial land in the docks area for further development and will act as a catalyst in attracting new jobs and investment into Port Talbot.

This is a clear example of how Labour in local and national government are working together to deliver radical change and increasing prosperity for the people of Port Talbot.

Labour wins £1.2 million funding boost for regeneration scheme

2004-12-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Neighbourhood Renewal Area scheme currently in operation in Aberavon has been boosted by the news that Labour has secured another £1.2 million in funding for the next twelve months of the project.

This makes a total of £2.4 million for the project to date.

The housing repair scheme is already up and running in Station Terrace and plans are afoot to extend it to Lillian Street, Frederick Street and Stair Street in the near future and further afield when funding allows.

Long term investment will also be ploughed into play areas, street calming, landscaping and street lighting. The Renewal Area scheme will target poor health, employment and education.
This is another piece of great news and follows hot on the heels of the plans for the redevelopment of Burrows Yard and Blanco’s.

Labour in local and national government - working together to deliver social justice and fairness for the people of Aberavon.

Burrows Yard Redevelopment News

2004-12-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

Labour run Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council have given the green light to exciting new proposals for a 40,000 sq ft multi-million pound redevelopment of the Burrows Yard site in Aberavon.

Developer, Dovey Estates will start work on the site next year to transform the eyesore into a retail led development. A major food retailer is thought to be in negotiation to be the anchor tenant for the scheme. The aim is for the work to be completed by 2006.

The area to be redeveloped also includes the disused petrol station and the old Skelton Thomas building. The proposals also include plans for the improvement of Ysguthan Road and a new entrance to the site to be constructed from Water Street.

The development will deliver new jobs to the Aberavon area and runs alongside the excellent progress being made by the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme.

Welcome to our blog!

2004-12-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

Residents of Aberavon and Baglan Moors can now interact with their local Labour Party 24 hours a day, following the launch of a brand new web log.

Members of the Aberavon Ward Labour Party have started this 'blog' to keep people up to date on issues affecting the area. .

The blog will mean that we can keep you informed of the latest developments on important local matters.

Residents can also use it to get in touch with us with their problems or suggestions.

Our intention is that this site will be regularly updated and will feature the work and campaigns of the Labour Party in Aberavon and Baglan Moors as well as the latest news, views and opinions of the residents of the area.