South Wales Evening Post
30 June 2005
The man who helped deliver Swansea's new £27 million stadium says there are more important issues than what it will eventually be called. The Morfa ground is due to open in a matter of weeks but still has no name as bosses continue their search for a deal on naming rights.But Councillor Lawrence Bailey, the man who oversaw the deal that provided the cash for the development, has warned its long-term financial success needs to be guaranteed.He has called on stadium management firm Stadco to be more open, especially about the sudden departure of former chief executive Tim Howell.He left the £50,000-a-year post just six months after taking the top job without explanation.Councillor Bailey said Stadco should tell all.He said: "Recent history shows that it is a mistake for anyone to think that they can continually trade on the goodwill of the fan base."If they are up-front about the issues, then they will find that the support that fans can provide is second to none."Stadco had said they expected to announce a deal for the naming rights by the end of the month but were remaining tight lipped earlier this week.Councillor Bailey came up with the working title of White Rock for the stadium, which proved popular with fans but was later ditched.He says he hopes a sponsor for the stadium can be found soon but says it is one factor in making sure Swansea's biggest asset is a success.Councillor said: "People need to concentrate less on packaging and spend more effort on making sure Swansea doesn't get lumbered with a stadium that needs public subsidy to survive."But if there is a viable commercial package in the offing that can secure the stadium's future, and continue to provide a first-class setting for sport in Swansea, then we should work together to ensure that it happens."
SCHOOLS PROTEST: STILL NO ANSWERS
South Wales Evening Post
30 June 2005
Protesters fighting plans to axe a Swansea school are demanding answers from the local authority. Parents, teachers and governors of under-threat Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett say questions put to councillors at a consultation meeting last week remain unanswered.They say that although council officers told them their questions were recorded, they still haven't received any answers.Now they are demanding that the council respond to their questions before the consultation period is up.Parent-governor Robin Lowe said today: "We want to know how our questions will be answered."We were told so many times at that meeting that our questions had been noted and would be answered."But it has been more than a week and we have heard nothing. They are being cowardly about it."Councillors have been visiting Swansea schools over the past few weeks to discuss the proposed LEA reorganisation with parents, teachers, governors and pupils.The proposals could see several schools closed across the city.The council is proposing to axe Dylan Thomas school within two years and send its 500-plus pupils to Bishop Gore school in Sketty.The site could then be sold off, with the proceeds - thought to be more than £8 million - being reinvested in education in Swansea.It is part of the biggest shake-up to hit city schools in years.A spokesman for Swansea Council said today: "The purpose of the consultation meetings is to listen to and record people's views."Every effort is made to answer those questions that we can at the time. The responses to the questions are also recorded."The results of the meetings will be reported to cabinet in August, when a decision on the future of Swansea's schools will be taken.
30 June 2005
Protesters fighting plans to axe a Swansea school are demanding answers from the local authority. Parents, teachers and governors of under-threat Dylan Thomas Community School in Cockett say questions put to councillors at a consultation meeting last week remain unanswered.They say that although council officers told them their questions were recorded, they still haven't received any answers.Now they are demanding that the council respond to their questions before the consultation period is up.Parent-governor Robin Lowe said today: "We want to know how our questions will be answered."We were told so many times at that meeting that our questions had been noted and would be answered."But it has been more than a week and we have heard nothing. They are being cowardly about it."Councillors have been visiting Swansea schools over the past few weeks to discuss the proposed LEA reorganisation with parents, teachers, governors and pupils.The proposals could see several schools closed across the city.The council is proposing to axe Dylan Thomas school within two years and send its 500-plus pupils to Bishop Gore school in Sketty.The site could then be sold off, with the proceeds - thought to be more than £8 million - being reinvested in education in Swansea.It is part of the biggest shake-up to hit city schools in years.A spokesman for Swansea Council said today: "The purpose of the consultation meetings is to listen to and record people's views."Every effort is made to answer those questions that we can at the time. The responses to the questions are also recorded."The results of the meetings will be reported to cabinet in August, when a decision on the future of Swansea's schools will be taken.
REBATE CALL ON RUBBISH
South Wales Evening Post
29 June 2005
If Swansea Council is going to cut refuse collections to fortnightly visits, does this mean that all council tax payers in the city will get a rebate?
A L Hancock, Mysydd Road, Landore, Swansea
29 June 2005
If Swansea Council is going to cut refuse collections to fortnightly visits, does this mean that all council tax payers in the city will get a rebate?
A L Hancock, Mysydd Road, Landore, Swansea
SHUTTING UP SHOP! 50 SITES BOARDED
South Wales Evening Post
29 June 2005
Up to 50 shops in Swansea city centre are boarded up, closing down or advertised to let, a Post survey has revealed. The majority are in The Kingsway, Oxford Street, High Street and the St David's Centre. But others are scattered right across the city centre.Tourism bosses say they are worried the sight of empty buildings and businesses closing gives a negative impression and does little to attract people to the city.They are calling for a flagship development to try to reverse the trend.The snap survey by the Post found strings of closures leaving a trail of emptiness in their wake.Mike Jones, treasurer of Tourism Swansea, said today: "Swansea has so much to offer, but seeing all these empty buildings certainly has an impact on tourism."We have to sell the city in a professional manner, but that is difficult when you have shop fronts boarded up."It does not give a good impression to visitors."Investment in the centre is what is badly needed," he added."We need a flagship development which would then attract other businesses to the area, especially following the closure of David Evans."Swansea City Centre Partnership was established by the council and local businesses to promote the local economy, and the organisation identified improving the environment of the city centre as a major priority.But a council spokesman said that while they accepted there were a number of shops facing the end of their retail life, much was being done to address the situation.He also revealed that seven vacant properties in the city centre had been reoccupied during May, after six had reopened in April."In all town and city centres, there is a need for a number of vacant properties to provide both movement within the property market and opportunities for retailers to relocate or expand", said the council spokesman."However, vacant properties can also have a negative impact on people's perception of the city centre. A major priority of Swansea City Centre Partnership is to improve the environment within the city centre," he added."To this end, proposals have been drafted both to reduce the number of vacant properties and to improve their appearance.""Recent developments at Salubrious Place, and the proposed plans for the old David Evans store site, have attracted leading retail and leisure chains."Swansea is a city with major developments underway and a focus of inward investment".Shopper Anne Smitham, of Killay, Swansea, said yesterday: "The David Evans closure has been a big setback."I tend to go to Cardiff or even the out-of-town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol for major buys these days."It is a great pity.''
29 June 2005
Up to 50 shops in Swansea city centre are boarded up, closing down or advertised to let, a Post survey has revealed. The majority are in The Kingsway, Oxford Street, High Street and the St David's Centre. But others are scattered right across the city centre.Tourism bosses say they are worried the sight of empty buildings and businesses closing gives a negative impression and does little to attract people to the city.They are calling for a flagship development to try to reverse the trend.The snap survey by the Post found strings of closures leaving a trail of emptiness in their wake.Mike Jones, treasurer of Tourism Swansea, said today: "Swansea has so much to offer, but seeing all these empty buildings certainly has an impact on tourism."We have to sell the city in a professional manner, but that is difficult when you have shop fronts boarded up."It does not give a good impression to visitors."Investment in the centre is what is badly needed," he added."We need a flagship development which would then attract other businesses to the area, especially following the closure of David Evans."Swansea City Centre Partnership was established by the council and local businesses to promote the local economy, and the organisation identified improving the environment of the city centre as a major priority.But a council spokesman said that while they accepted there were a number of shops facing the end of their retail life, much was being done to address the situation.He also revealed that seven vacant properties in the city centre had been reoccupied during May, after six had reopened in April."In all town and city centres, there is a need for a number of vacant properties to provide both movement within the property market and opportunities for retailers to relocate or expand", said the council spokesman."However, vacant properties can also have a negative impact on people's perception of the city centre. A major priority of Swansea City Centre Partnership is to improve the environment within the city centre," he added."To this end, proposals have been drafted both to reduce the number of vacant properties and to improve their appearance.""Recent developments at Salubrious Place, and the proposed plans for the old David Evans store site, have attracted leading retail and leisure chains."Swansea is a city with major developments underway and a focus of inward investment".Shopper Anne Smitham, of Killay, Swansea, said yesterday: "The David Evans closure has been a big setback."I tend to go to Cardiff or even the out-of-town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol for major buys these days."It is a great pity.''
STADIUM STILL NAMELESS AS OPENING LOOMS
South Wales Evening Post
28 June 2005
Swansea's new £27 million stadium still has no name despite its scheduled opening in a few weeks' time. Bosses at the stadium had planned to announce at the end of the month which company had been successful in securing the naming rights for the new Landore ground.But despite the end of the month coming on Thursday, bosses at the stadium are still unable to give any more details about the ongoing saga of what the city's new stadium is to be called.The only information they would reveal is that they are now in talks with a number of shortlisted companies.The stadium will be the home to both Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys when the new seasons of sport kick off in August. Bosses also plan to hold music concerts and festivals to bring in more revenue.Owning the naming rights for the impressive ground would be a high-profile plug for any company but none has as yet put pen to paper despite various rumours of interested parties.Bastion, the company now in charge of selling the naming rights, announced months ago it was opening the bidding process and was expecting firm offers from major brands looking to become part of the stadium.It said it expected to be able to name a headline sponsor by the end of June and said that the £250,000 price tag would buy £500,000 worth of advertising.But as Thursday gets closer there is still little news on progress towards finding a name for the new stadium.A spokesman for Stadco, the company set up to manage the new stadium, said: "The stadium is speaking to a shortlist of companies with regards to naming rights. Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available."
28 June 2005
Swansea's new £27 million stadium still has no name despite its scheduled opening in a few weeks' time. Bosses at the stadium had planned to announce at the end of the month which company had been successful in securing the naming rights for the new Landore ground.But despite the end of the month coming on Thursday, bosses at the stadium are still unable to give any more details about the ongoing saga of what the city's new stadium is to be called.The only information they would reveal is that they are now in talks with a number of shortlisted companies.The stadium will be the home to both Swansea City Football Club and the Ospreys when the new seasons of sport kick off in August. Bosses also plan to hold music concerts and festivals to bring in more revenue.Owning the naming rights for the impressive ground would be a high-profile plug for any company but none has as yet put pen to paper despite various rumours of interested parties.Bastion, the company now in charge of selling the naming rights, announced months ago it was opening the bidding process and was expecting firm offers from major brands looking to become part of the stadium.It said it expected to be able to name a headline sponsor by the end of June and said that the £250,000 price tag would buy £500,000 worth of advertising.But as Thursday gets closer there is still little news on progress towards finding a name for the new stadium.A spokesman for Stadco, the company set up to manage the new stadium, said: "The stadium is speaking to a shortlist of companies with regards to naming rights. Further information will be released as soon as it becomes available."
