South Wales Evening Post - 26 September 2005
The number one problem raised by nearly everyone is the cost and lack of parking in Swansea city centre. "Parking is too expensive in Swansea," says Diane Thomas who works at JT's The Warehouse.
"It costs £5 a day to park here so our customers say they are getting the shuttle to Cardiff for £3.50 instead and spending the day shopping there."
Sandra Williams agrees, adding: "Swansea really needs to address parking prices.
"With the price of petrol so high it really makes people think twice before coming into town to shop."
The city centre is also seen as rundown and grimy.
Allison Jayne Letheren, who runs bridal boutiques on Swansea's Caer Street as well as in Mumbles and Cardiff, said the city centre was run-down.
"I think it really needs a revamp and a good clean up, it's looking really grotty," she says.
Many of the panel believe that Swansea needs a new flagship store - like John Lewis or Selfridges as well as more independent shops.
"It would be great if we could get someone like H &M or Zara.
"And I think we need more for teenage boys," says Sandra.
"What we don't need are any more tanning shops, card shops or bargain shops."
Allison Jayne usually shops in London or abroad rather than at home.
"We need more independent shops like they have got in the Cardiff arcade ," she says.
"My friends don't shop in Swansea any more, they go to Cardiff because the shops are so much better."
COUNCIL GETS TOUGH ON FLY-TIPPING
South Wales Evening Post - 26 September 2005
New powers have been given to Swansea Council to help it clampdown on fly-tipping. The authority has just been given the ability to stop and search vehicles carrying, or suspected of carrying, waste.
But councillors will this week be told that such checks are carried out mostly on known waste carriers.
Council Director of Environment, Reena Owen, said: "Checks on carriers' licences are undertaken with DVLA and the Environment Agency regularly as part of investigations into fly-tipping.
"The power to stop vehicles for this purpose has only just been given to local authorities.
"However, this can only be done in conjunction with the police."
From April 2006, a range of on-the-spot fines will be introduced for those illegally dumping.
New powers have been given to Swansea Council to help it clampdown on fly-tipping. The authority has just been given the ability to stop and search vehicles carrying, or suspected of carrying, waste.
But councillors will this week be told that such checks are carried out mostly on known waste carriers.
Council Director of Environment, Reena Owen, said: "Checks on carriers' licences are undertaken with DVLA and the Environment Agency regularly as part of investigations into fly-tipping.
"The power to stop vehicles for this purpose has only just been given to local authorities.
"However, this can only be done in conjunction with the police."
From April 2006, a range of on-the-spot fines will be introduced for those illegally dumping.
COUNCIL DEFENDS REMOVAL OF RUBBLE SKIPS FROM CITY
South Wales Evening Post - 26 September 2005
Swansea Council has defended its decision to remove rubble skips from civic amenity sites in the city. The move has prompted complaints from some residents who are having to travel across the city to dump materials.
But notice of the intention to remove the rubble skips from Ferryboat Close, Garngoch, and Clyne, was advertised well in advance of their withdrawal, said the council.
A spokeswoman said: "Although this is due to the closure of Tir John landfill site, residents can now be assured of a better and more environmentally friendly service.
"This is because there are now three separate skips at the Tir John civic amenity site.
"This will maximise the amount of materials we can reuse from the rubble and minimise the amounts we have to transport out of the county to landfill.
"This, of course, means savings to the council tax payer in relation to transport costs and landfill tax.
"Clean soil, clean rubble and clean stone and hardcore can be taken to the three skips in Tir John, where it will be collected and re-used.
"Materials that were previously placed in the skips at other amenity sites, such as plaster and metal, could not be reused and would have to be taken to landfill.
"Unfortunately, we can not offer this facility at any other amenity site due to lack of space."
Swansea Council has defended its decision to remove rubble skips from civic amenity sites in the city. The move has prompted complaints from some residents who are having to travel across the city to dump materials.
But notice of the intention to remove the rubble skips from Ferryboat Close, Garngoch, and Clyne, was advertised well in advance of their withdrawal, said the council.
A spokeswoman said: "Although this is due to the closure of Tir John landfill site, residents can now be assured of a better and more environmentally friendly service.
"This is because there are now three separate skips at the Tir John civic amenity site.
"This will maximise the amount of materials we can reuse from the rubble and minimise the amounts we have to transport out of the county to landfill.
"This, of course, means savings to the council tax payer in relation to transport costs and landfill tax.
"Clean soil, clean rubble and clean stone and hardcore can be taken to the three skips in Tir John, where it will be collected and re-used.
"Materials that were previously placed in the skips at other amenity sites, such as plaster and metal, could not be reused and would have to be taken to landfill.
"Unfortunately, we can not offer this facility at any other amenity site due to lack of space."
TRADERS WELCOME OUT-OF-TOWN BAN
South Wales Evening Post - 24 September 2005
The plug could be pulled on any more out-of-town shopping to try to breathe life back into the city centre. The dramatic U-turn is part of a plan to breath new life into the beleaguered city centre, which could also see a number of smaller shops torn down.
The ailing Quadrant centre is criticised for being too old and unsuitable, with the attention turning to the pedestrianised section of Oxford Street as being at the heart of a new shopping revival.
Swansea Council has announced that it will no longer support out-of-town developments that attract shoppers away from the centre.
Instead, major retailers - especially famous fashion stores - are being targeted for the heart of the city.
A report by business consultants has said that the city centre is in a weak position compared to Cardiff and needs urgent action to help it compete.
News of the ban on further out-of-town developments such as those at Parc Fforestfach and Morfa have been welcomed by traders in the city.
Peter Birch, from Swansea Independent Traders, said: "We are ambitious for the city centre and welcome a new strategy if it delivers real results.
"At last the council has realised the damage that out-of-town developments, with their acres of free car parking, are doing to the city."
But Mr Birch said a lot more work was needed to develop the strategy.
"The report lacks any real detail, but we are glad something is now happening," he said.
"The city centre does need to attract quality retailers and there are a couple of prime sites ready for redevelopment.
"The report is full of fine words and ambitions but we want to see results."
The halt to out-of-town retail parks is designed to allow time for the city centre to develop.
The report by London-based firm Donaldsons gives an idea of how shopping in the city could change.
The report says many of the existing sites in the city are too small for the needs of modern retailers, though it doesn't give details of which sites might have to go to make way for the new, bigger stores.
It also says the Quadrant shopping centre, which opened in 1979, is unsuitable for the needs of many modern retailers and is beginning to show signs of its age.
The pedestrianised section of Oxford Street is identified by the experts as the prime retail area of Swansea and the majority of new developments are likely to be in this area.
The redevelopment of the former David Evans department store, which is likely to begin early next year, is seen as the first phase of the makeover.
No details have yet been released on who the tenants will be for the six new stores along the Princess Way side of the development, but it is understood that developers are targeting fashion-based retailers.
Hywel Evans, from the West Wales Chamber of Commerce, said he welcomed the ambition of the report but called for more detail.
"The city centre has been in decline for a decade or more and something major has to be done," he said.
"You can't force people to come here, you have to attract them.
"You have to offer them something they can't get anywhere else.
"Swansea is the city by the sea and you have to develop it as a place people will want to come to.
"We need far more detail on exactly how they are going to attract the big names.
"It will be interesting to see what comes from this plan."
The new strategy for the future of the city centre was adopted by Swansea Council on Thursday.
Council leader Chris Holley said: "The health of the city centre is the most vital thing for the future of Swansea.
"I hope we can all get behind this strategy."
The plug could be pulled on any more out-of-town shopping to try to breathe life back into the city centre. The dramatic U-turn is part of a plan to breath new life into the beleaguered city centre, which could also see a number of smaller shops torn down.
The ailing Quadrant centre is criticised for being too old and unsuitable, with the attention turning to the pedestrianised section of Oxford Street as being at the heart of a new shopping revival.
Swansea Council has announced that it will no longer support out-of-town developments that attract shoppers away from the centre.
Instead, major retailers - especially famous fashion stores - are being targeted for the heart of the city.
A report by business consultants has said that the city centre is in a weak position compared to Cardiff and needs urgent action to help it compete.
News of the ban on further out-of-town developments such as those at Parc Fforestfach and Morfa have been welcomed by traders in the city.
Peter Birch, from Swansea Independent Traders, said: "We are ambitious for the city centre and welcome a new strategy if it delivers real results.
"At last the council has realised the damage that out-of-town developments, with their acres of free car parking, are doing to the city."
But Mr Birch said a lot more work was needed to develop the strategy.
"The report lacks any real detail, but we are glad something is now happening," he said.
"The city centre does need to attract quality retailers and there are a couple of prime sites ready for redevelopment.
"The report is full of fine words and ambitions but we want to see results."
The halt to out-of-town retail parks is designed to allow time for the city centre to develop.
The report by London-based firm Donaldsons gives an idea of how shopping in the city could change.
The report says many of the existing sites in the city are too small for the needs of modern retailers, though it doesn't give details of which sites might have to go to make way for the new, bigger stores.
It also says the Quadrant shopping centre, which opened in 1979, is unsuitable for the needs of many modern retailers and is beginning to show signs of its age.
The pedestrianised section of Oxford Street is identified by the experts as the prime retail area of Swansea and the majority of new developments are likely to be in this area.
The redevelopment of the former David Evans department store, which is likely to begin early next year, is seen as the first phase of the makeover.
No details have yet been released on who the tenants will be for the six new stores along the Princess Way side of the development, but it is understood that developers are targeting fashion-based retailers.
Hywel Evans, from the West Wales Chamber of Commerce, said he welcomed the ambition of the report but called for more detail.
"The city centre has been in decline for a decade or more and something major has to be done," he said.
"You can't force people to come here, you have to attract them.
"You have to offer them something they can't get anywhere else.
"Swansea is the city by the sea and you have to develop it as a place people will want to come to.
"We need far more detail on exactly how they are going to attract the big names.
"It will be interesting to see what comes from this plan."
The new strategy for the future of the city centre was adopted by Swansea Council on Thursday.
Council leader Chris Holley said: "The health of the city centre is the most vital thing for the future of Swansea.
"I hope we can all get behind this strategy."
CITY CASH CRISIS LOOMS
South Wales Evening Post - 22 September 2005
Where has the money gone? And where will the money go? I refer to the report (Post, September 1) stating that the city council Labour group, "Want no participation in its proposed transfer of city housing stock to a private company''.
Central Government, through Welsh Assembly Government, are funding consultants to a tune of £1 million plus, to arrange transfer of council housing stock to a private company, who will bring city housing stock up to a minimal national standard.
City councilors have now employed high-powered consultants to sell the proposed scheme to council tenants who, next year, will vote on the proposal to implement the scheme.
As one of more than 14,500 council tenants paying nearly £40 million per year in rent and living in houses that, according to WAG consultants, do not meet the minimal national housing standard, I ask, where has past rent income gone?
Nearly £10 million per year is paid by the city in interest on money borrowed on council houses. The current rental income on housing stock is almost £40 million per annum. It would appear housing stock has been mortgaged to the hilt and beyond. Where has the money gone? Is city housing stock a cash cow?
The first proposal of the new scheme is to borrow £340 million over the next 10 years to bring housing stock up to minimal national standards. The Government will underwrite council housing debt to achieve this objective. As a council tenant I pay a rent called social housing, but where has my past rent gone?
As reported (Post, September 9) current leaders of the city council seem to have a cash crisis: £20 million Bishop Gore School, £25 million leisure centre, £9 million council houses, bridges and roads.A
s reported (Post, September 11) council bosses will raise this cash by selling off city assets. What assets? Or will its scheme to sell off council houses to a private company, more than £800 million in rent and loans over the next 10 years be the cash cow?
As a council tenant paying rent and council tax, living in accommodation that, (according to WAG consultants is not up to minimal national standards) I ask, what is going on?
The Labour Group state, as reported (Post, September 1), "Social housing should be directly managed and accountable to an elected council''.
I now call those bosses to be accountable. Where are we being financially led? What is going on in our city? We have a right to know.
Stand up and be accountable.
D Mainwaring, Warwick Place, West Cross, Swansea
Where has the money gone? And where will the money go? I refer to the report (Post, September 1) stating that the city council Labour group, "Want no participation in its proposed transfer of city housing stock to a private company''.
Central Government, through Welsh Assembly Government, are funding consultants to a tune of £1 million plus, to arrange transfer of council housing stock to a private company, who will bring city housing stock up to a minimal national standard.
City councilors have now employed high-powered consultants to sell the proposed scheme to council tenants who, next year, will vote on the proposal to implement the scheme.
As one of more than 14,500 council tenants paying nearly £40 million per year in rent and living in houses that, according to WAG consultants, do not meet the minimal national housing standard, I ask, where has past rent income gone?
Nearly £10 million per year is paid by the city in interest on money borrowed on council houses. The current rental income on housing stock is almost £40 million per annum. It would appear housing stock has been mortgaged to the hilt and beyond. Where has the money gone? Is city housing stock a cash cow?
The first proposal of the new scheme is to borrow £340 million over the next 10 years to bring housing stock up to minimal national standards. The Government will underwrite council housing debt to achieve this objective. As a council tenant I pay a rent called social housing, but where has my past rent gone?
As reported (Post, September 9) current leaders of the city council seem to have a cash crisis: £20 million Bishop Gore School, £25 million leisure centre, £9 million council houses, bridges and roads.A
s reported (Post, September 11) council bosses will raise this cash by selling off city assets. What assets? Or will its scheme to sell off council houses to a private company, more than £800 million in rent and loans over the next 10 years be the cash cow?
As a council tenant paying rent and council tax, living in accommodation that, (according to WAG consultants is not up to minimal national standards) I ask, what is going on?
The Labour Group state, as reported (Post, September 1), "Social housing should be directly managed and accountable to an elected council''.
I now call those bosses to be accountable. Where are we being financially led? What is going on in our city? We have a right to know.
Stand up and be accountable.
D Mainwaring, Warwick Place, West Cross, Swansea
LEARNING A HARD LESSON
South Wales Evening Post - 22 September 2005
Another letter from Martyn Williams which shows that distance from the events can lead to a great deal of misunderstanding (Have Your Say, September 15). Councillor Holley, the Liberal Democrat Leader of our local council here in Swansea, did not in any way dismiss the concerns of Mr Carter, the deputy chief executive, about the authority's current budget position.
As part of his regular review of the council's financial position, Mr Carter alerted senior councillors and officers to certain issues that could become problems if no action was to be taken to deal with them.
These issues included the increased costs in dealing with Swansea's domestic waste and the unexpectedly high bill for tackling the deteriorating condition of many local schools - both long-term problems which had been totally neglected by the former Labour-run council.
Indeed, a senior officer of the council reported that it was the long-term under-investment in the council's building stock which has led to an increase in maintenance costs.
At the same time as these costs are increasing, the Labour Government are considering a plan to cut funding to Swansea's Social Services for the care of some of our most vulnerable citizens by around one-fifth. The council plans to lobby our local Assembly members and MPs to try to stop this outrageous U-turn, and we will do all we can to continue funding projects to support people despite these huge cuts.
In order to face up to these issues, the council's cabinet has approved Mr Carter's suggestion that the authority's contingency fund, the money set aside at the beginning of this financial year to deal with unforeseen but unavoidable financial commitments, should be used to help plug the gap between the money raised by the council and the money we need to spend to meet our obligations.
So, far from ignoring our senior officers, we are dealing with issues before they become problems - a lesson Labour could have learned.
Councillor R H Kinzett, Chairman, Finance Cabinet Advisory Committee, County Hall, Swansea
Another letter from Martyn Williams which shows that distance from the events can lead to a great deal of misunderstanding (Have Your Say, September 15). Councillor Holley, the Liberal Democrat Leader of our local council here in Swansea, did not in any way dismiss the concerns of Mr Carter, the deputy chief executive, about the authority's current budget position.
As part of his regular review of the council's financial position, Mr Carter alerted senior councillors and officers to certain issues that could become problems if no action was to be taken to deal with them.
These issues included the increased costs in dealing with Swansea's domestic waste and the unexpectedly high bill for tackling the deteriorating condition of many local schools - both long-term problems which had been totally neglected by the former Labour-run council.
Indeed, a senior officer of the council reported that it was the long-term under-investment in the council's building stock which has led to an increase in maintenance costs.
At the same time as these costs are increasing, the Labour Government are considering a plan to cut funding to Swansea's Social Services for the care of some of our most vulnerable citizens by around one-fifth. The council plans to lobby our local Assembly members and MPs to try to stop this outrageous U-turn, and we will do all we can to continue funding projects to support people despite these huge cuts.
In order to face up to these issues, the council's cabinet has approved Mr Carter's suggestion that the authority's contingency fund, the money set aside at the beginning of this financial year to deal with unforeseen but unavoidable financial commitments, should be used to help plug the gap between the money raised by the council and the money we need to spend to meet our obligations.
So, far from ignoring our senior officers, we are dealing with issues before they become problems - a lesson Labour could have learned.
Councillor R H Kinzett, Chairman, Finance Cabinet Advisory Committee, County Hall, Swansea
PLANTERS ARE LIKE DUSTBINS
S. Wales Evening Post - 14 September 2005
I Found the story Vandals win (Post, September 8) a sad reflection on the attitudes shown by a persistent minority of people in our city who have no regard for public or private property and who will always try to make life just that bit worse for the rest of us, no matter what precautions are put in place. What I also find hard to believe, however, is the rationale behind the original decision, taken before the last local elections, to place planters in the city centre which look like dustbins.
Indeed, even before damage was done to the shrubs, people had started to place rubbish in the top of the planters.In terms of their design and aesthetics, I think that the planters look cheap and totally unsuited to the job of displaying shrubs.
I do not like to think that the vandals have "won" anything, but I am not sad to see these planters leave our streets.
Perhaps now the council will look more carefully at the design of some new planters to replace the ones which are going. I agree with the Oxford Street traders that something needs to be done to lift the drab look of our city centre, but it needs doing properly.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, Liberal Democrat (Mayals Ward), County Hall, Swansea
I Found the story Vandals win (Post, September 8) a sad reflection on the attitudes shown by a persistent minority of people in our city who have no regard for public or private property and who will always try to make life just that bit worse for the rest of us, no matter what precautions are put in place. What I also find hard to believe, however, is the rationale behind the original decision, taken before the last local elections, to place planters in the city centre which look like dustbins.
Indeed, even before damage was done to the shrubs, people had started to place rubbish in the top of the planters.In terms of their design and aesthetics, I think that the planters look cheap and totally unsuited to the job of displaying shrubs.
I do not like to think that the vandals have "won" anything, but I am not sad to see these planters leave our streets.
Perhaps now the council will look more carefully at the design of some new planters to replace the ones which are going. I agree with the Oxford Street traders that something needs to be done to lift the drab look of our city centre, but it needs doing properly.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, Liberal Democrat (Mayals Ward), County Hall, Swansea
RESIDENTS PITCH VETCH PARK PLAN
S. Wales Evening Post - 14 September 2005
Residents living next to the disused Vetch Field want to see the famous old football ground turned into a park. With the Swans safely settled into their new £27 million Morfa-based stadium, the once-vociferous North Bank lies abandoned. The pitch, which saw more than 90 years of footballing history, has been left to grow wild while Swansea Council decides what to do with the prime development site.
Speculation on what will happen at the old Sandfields ground has been rife since the end of last season and funding applications are being drawn up by the council, but what the money will be spent on remains a mystery.
An announcement on the next stage is due this autumn.While the cash-strapped council may be tempted to cash in on its asset and allow the land to be used for property development, residents have come out in support of a green area such as a park for the children to play in.
Another popular idea is for a community centre for the residents.
One resident, Margaret Langton, aged 75, said: "I would like to see something for the residents such as a community centre and a nice play area for the children."
Some residents claim legal documents from the Land Registry could force the council to keep the Vetch as a green area for them.
But this has been denied by the council.
A spokeswoman said the documents merely showed the council was the registered freehold owner of the land.
"These covenants do not affect the council's use of the land but merely refer to the council's requirement to pay a yearly rent charge of £472 on the land," she added.
"The council has not made a decision on the future of the Vetch Field site and is carrying on its consultations with residents of the Sandfields area."
Sandfields Residents' Association secretary Margaret Edmonds said: "This is an opportunity to create something for Sandfields for the next 100 years.
"We want to get it right."
Residents living next to the disused Vetch Field want to see the famous old football ground turned into a park. With the Swans safely settled into their new £27 million Morfa-based stadium, the once-vociferous North Bank lies abandoned. The pitch, which saw more than 90 years of footballing history, has been left to grow wild while Swansea Council decides what to do with the prime development site.
Speculation on what will happen at the old Sandfields ground has been rife since the end of last season and funding applications are being drawn up by the council, but what the money will be spent on remains a mystery.
An announcement on the next stage is due this autumn.While the cash-strapped council may be tempted to cash in on its asset and allow the land to be used for property development, residents have come out in support of a green area such as a park for the children to play in.
Another popular idea is for a community centre for the residents.
One resident, Margaret Langton, aged 75, said: "I would like to see something for the residents such as a community centre and a nice play area for the children."
Some residents claim legal documents from the Land Registry could force the council to keep the Vetch as a green area for them.
But this has been denied by the council.
A spokeswoman said the documents merely showed the council was the registered freehold owner of the land.
"These covenants do not affect the council's use of the land but merely refer to the council's requirement to pay a yearly rent charge of £472 on the land," she added.
"The council has not made a decision on the future of the Vetch Field site and is carrying on its consultations with residents of the Sandfields area."
Sandfields Residents' Association secretary Margaret Edmonds said: "This is an opportunity to create something for Sandfields for the next 100 years.
"We want to get it right."
QUALITY OF LIFE VITAL IN OUR CITY
S. Wales Evening Post - 14 September 2005
For more than a century the people of Sandfields in Swansea put up with problems caused by having a football ground in their midst. Now that the Swans have gone to The New Stadium Swansea in Landore it is only right that the residents should have a say in what will replace the Vetch.
Judging by our poll, they clearly want a park or a green, open space for the community to use.Whether they get it depends on Swansea Council, which owns the ground. The authority has promised to consult with the residents on the Vetch's future but will no doubt be under tremendous pressure from developers.
The ground is on a prime site close to the city centre and is worth millions. That is money that could be reinvested in other services or used to help pay for major projects such as Swansea Leisure Centre and The New Stadium Swansea.
On the other hand, green open space is at a premium in Swansea, particularly the city centre which is under increasing pressure from developers.
Quality of life is as important as development and Swansea needs more greenery. For the sake of the city centre and the residents, whatever is planned for the Vetch should include substantial open space for the local community to enjoy.
For more than a century the people of Sandfields in Swansea put up with problems caused by having a football ground in their midst. Now that the Swans have gone to The New Stadium Swansea in Landore it is only right that the residents should have a say in what will replace the Vetch.
Judging by our poll, they clearly want a park or a green, open space for the community to use.Whether they get it depends on Swansea Council, which owns the ground. The authority has promised to consult with the residents on the Vetch's future but will no doubt be under tremendous pressure from developers.
The ground is on a prime site close to the city centre and is worth millions. That is money that could be reinvested in other services or used to help pay for major projects such as Swansea Leisure Centre and The New Stadium Swansea.
On the other hand, green open space is at a premium in Swansea, particularly the city centre which is under increasing pressure from developers.
Quality of life is as important as development and Swansea needs more greenery. For the sake of the city centre and the residents, whatever is planned for the Vetch should include substantial open space for the local community to enjoy.
QUALITY OF LIFE VITAL IN OUR CITY
South Wales Evening Post - 14 September 2005
For more than a century the people of Sandfields in Swansea put up with problems caused by having a football ground in their midst. Now that the Swans have gone to The New Stadium Swansea in Landore it is only right that the residents should have a say in what will replace the Vetch. Judging by our poll, they clearly want a park or a green, open space for the community to use.
Whether they get it depends on Swansea Council, which owns the ground. The authority has promised to consult with the residents on the Vetch's future but will no doubt be under tremendous pressure from developers.
The ground is on a prime site close to the city centre and is worth millions. That is money that could be reinvested in other services or used to help pay for major projects such as Swansea Leisure Centre and The New Stadium Swansea.
On the other hand, green open space is at a premium in Swansea, particularly the city centre which is under increasing pressure from developers.
Quality of life is as important as development and Swansea needs more greenery. For the sake of the city centre and the residents, whatever is planned for the Vetch should include substantial open space for the local community to enjoy.
For more than a century the people of Sandfields in Swansea put up with problems caused by having a football ground in their midst. Now that the Swans have gone to The New Stadium Swansea in Landore it is only right that the residents should have a say in what will replace the Vetch. Judging by our poll, they clearly want a park or a green, open space for the community to use.
Whether they get it depends on Swansea Council, which owns the ground. The authority has promised to consult with the residents on the Vetch's future but will no doubt be under tremendous pressure from developers.
The ground is on a prime site close to the city centre and is worth millions. That is money that could be reinvested in other services or used to help pay for major projects such as Swansea Leisure Centre and The New Stadium Swansea.
On the other hand, green open space is at a premium in Swansea, particularly the city centre which is under increasing pressure from developers.
Quality of life is as important as development and Swansea needs more greenery. For the sake of the city centre and the residents, whatever is planned for the Vetch should include substantial open space for the local community to enjoy.
COUNCIL IS HIT WITH BILL FOR £3.2 MILLION
© South Wales Evening Post - 12 September 2005
A Bill for up to £3.2 million in extra costs has hit Swansea Council leaving city leaders looking at ways to save money. Since the closure of Tir John landfill site the expected costs of waste disposal have shot up by over £2.5 million.
Almost £400,000 extra is needed for special education in the city.
Plus a national rise in electricity has seen street lighting bills rise by £208,000.
At the beginning of the financial year £3.9 million was set aside in a contingency fund.
Council Leader Chris Holley said that the fund had proved invaluable in helping to balance the books.
He said: "We had an inkling that Tir John may be closed in the new year and were given a formal letter from the Environment Agency in February.
"The site closed at the end of May and that was all well after budget plans had been finalised.
"We put a contingency fund in place and that is what is being used to pay for these things.
"There are ongoing exercises to look at savings.
"We have got to pay this extra money, so we have got to try and find savings.
"It is now a budget process and we're looking at ways of saving money.
"The need to save money in the day-to-day running of Swansea has been flagged up by the council's chief financial officer in a warning of major financial risks.
Councillor Holley said that the process would not affect large-scale projects, such as the proposed £20 million redevelopment of Bishop Gore School or the £25 million to reopen the leisure centre.
He said: "It gives the impression that capital projects have got problems. That is not the case.
"What I wanted to point out is that concerns are with the revenue budget.
"The warning given by the financial officer to the corporate management team was not about capital projects.
"The budget concerns we are facing are with revenue and that is what we are addressing.
"One way the council is hoping to slash expenditure is by increasing recycling.Councillor Holley said: "We will pay out around £7 million on dealing with waste this year.
"The public need to be aware that about £2 million of that goes in landfill taxes to the Government.
"These are stealth taxes on waste. We need to find ways to reduce that. Recycling is one way."
A Bill for up to £3.2 million in extra costs has hit Swansea Council leaving city leaders looking at ways to save money. Since the closure of Tir John landfill site the expected costs of waste disposal have shot up by over £2.5 million.
Almost £400,000 extra is needed for special education in the city.
Plus a national rise in electricity has seen street lighting bills rise by £208,000.
At the beginning of the financial year £3.9 million was set aside in a contingency fund.
Council Leader Chris Holley said that the fund had proved invaluable in helping to balance the books.
He said: "We had an inkling that Tir John may be closed in the new year and were given a formal letter from the Environment Agency in February.
"The site closed at the end of May and that was all well after budget plans had been finalised.
"We put a contingency fund in place and that is what is being used to pay for these things.
"There are ongoing exercises to look at savings.
"We have got to pay this extra money, so we have got to try and find savings.
"It is now a budget process and we're looking at ways of saving money.
"The need to save money in the day-to-day running of Swansea has been flagged up by the council's chief financial officer in a warning of major financial risks.
Councillor Holley said that the process would not affect large-scale projects, such as the proposed £20 million redevelopment of Bishop Gore School or the £25 million to reopen the leisure centre.
He said: "It gives the impression that capital projects have got problems. That is not the case.
"What I wanted to point out is that concerns are with the revenue budget.
"The warning given by the financial officer to the corporate management team was not about capital projects.
"The budget concerns we are facing are with revenue and that is what we are addressing.
"One way the council is hoping to slash expenditure is by increasing recycling.Councillor Holley said: "We will pay out around £7 million on dealing with waste this year.
"The public need to be aware that about £2 million of that goes in landfill taxes to the Government.
"These are stealth taxes on waste. We need to find ways to reduce that. Recycling is one way."
LEISURE PROBE 'EATING MONEY'
© South Wales Evening Post - 12 September 2005
An investigation into the council leisure chief at the centre of the closure of Swansea Leisure Centre is costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, it emerged today. The landmark building closed in November 2003 after it was suddenly discovered £14 million worth of repairs were needed.
And the Post can today reveal that an independent employment consultant, brought in to conduct a disciplinary investigation into David Evans and his role in the affair, is demanding £800 a day for her work.
So far the authority has forked out £33,600 - with no sign of an end to the probe.It comes on top of the £150,000 plus spent on a variety of bills since the leisure centre since closed paying for things like security and boarding up swimming pool windows.Mr Evans was in overall charge when the popular venue closed.
The report that shut it said it was in a hazardous condition, which was later blamed on a lack of maintenance. The independent investigator was appointed earlier this year. The Evening Post put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to find out how much the council was spending on the consultant after it refused to reveal the exact amount.
Responding to the request today, a spokesman, said: "The independent investigator has been engaged to conduct an independent disciplinary investigation, the result of which will be the presentation of a report detailing such conclusions and recommendations as may arise from the investigation.
"This report is still in preparation, and we are therefore unable to advise when the engagement will finish.
"The agreed daily rate is £800, and so far 42 days have been spent on this investigation."
Mr Evans has been suspended on full pay since December while the investigation is carried out.
He was suspended after a council investigation found he was allegedly warned on a number of occasions of the need for increased investment in maintenance at the centre.
The exact cost of the investigation into the closure of the centre is not yet known, but since Mr Evans' suspension, a £25 million refurbishment has been announced and work is now underway.
Council leader Chris Holley said the investigation was eating up money which could be better spent on services.
He said: "The council members decided they wanted an investigation, so we are carrying one out. The people who do this work don't come cheap.
"It is another sum of money that could have gone to frontline services which is instead being used to clear up a mess caused by the previous administration.
"It is becoming the case that we are having to do this all the time.
"We have not got a bottomless pit, so when we are spending money like this we are having to cut back elsewhere. It sickens everybody that we are pumping all this money into an investigation like this purely and simply because of the legacy left by the previous administration."
An investigation into the council leisure chief at the centre of the closure of Swansea Leisure Centre is costing taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, it emerged today. The landmark building closed in November 2003 after it was suddenly discovered £14 million worth of repairs were needed.
And the Post can today reveal that an independent employment consultant, brought in to conduct a disciplinary investigation into David Evans and his role in the affair, is demanding £800 a day for her work.
So far the authority has forked out £33,600 - with no sign of an end to the probe.It comes on top of the £150,000 plus spent on a variety of bills since the leisure centre since closed paying for things like security and boarding up swimming pool windows.Mr Evans was in overall charge when the popular venue closed.
The report that shut it said it was in a hazardous condition, which was later blamed on a lack of maintenance. The independent investigator was appointed earlier this year. The Evening Post put in a request under the Freedom of Information Act to find out how much the council was spending on the consultant after it refused to reveal the exact amount.
Responding to the request today, a spokesman, said: "The independent investigator has been engaged to conduct an independent disciplinary investigation, the result of which will be the presentation of a report detailing such conclusions and recommendations as may arise from the investigation.
"This report is still in preparation, and we are therefore unable to advise when the engagement will finish.
"The agreed daily rate is £800, and so far 42 days have been spent on this investigation."
Mr Evans has been suspended on full pay since December while the investigation is carried out.
He was suspended after a council investigation found he was allegedly warned on a number of occasions of the need for increased investment in maintenance at the centre.
The exact cost of the investigation into the closure of the centre is not yet known, but since Mr Evans' suspension, a £25 million refurbishment has been announced and work is now underway.
Council leader Chris Holley said the investigation was eating up money which could be better spent on services.
He said: "The council members decided they wanted an investigation, so we are carrying one out. The people who do this work don't come cheap.
"It is another sum of money that could have gone to frontline services which is instead being used to clear up a mess caused by the previous administration.
"It is becoming the case that we are having to do this all the time.
"We have not got a bottomless pit, so when we are spending money like this we are having to cut back elsewhere. It sickens everybody that we are pumping all this money into an investigation like this purely and simply because of the legacy left by the previous administration."
AXE FOR PLANTERS RAPPED
© South Wales Evening Post - 10 September 2005
The row over the decision to rip planters from one of Swansea's busiest shopping streets is growing. City traders have described the decision as a kick in the teeth for businesses.
And they claimed the move was giving in to the vandals who have targeted the planters.
On Thursday, the Post revealed that Swansea Council has decided to remove the ornate planters which have been a feature of Oxford Street for years.
The council said it was being forced to scrap them because they were being repeatedly attacked by vandals.
Council leader Chris Holley: "It is a great shame that mindless vandals are wrecking some of our efforts to make the city centre a more attractive location.
"To continue replacing these planters only for them to be vandalised again and again is not only costly, it is also counter-productive if visitors are confronted with vandalised planters and destruction."
He said it was not a case of giving into the vandals; adding that "there comes a point when you have to say 'enough is enough'.
"Every time we replace these planters there is a cost to the people of Swansea."
But traders said the move was a blow to the city centre which is already struggling to cope with fierce competition from out-of-town retailers.
Swansea Independent Traders' Association chairman Peter Birch said: "We want to make Swansea an interesting, welcoming, vibrant place for people to visit.
"The planters are an important part of making the city a nicer place to come and shop and spend time.
"We are talking about people's livelihoods - businesses are in real difficulty.
"The people in charge really need to do something to get shoppers back into town."
Long-term Oxford Street trader David Hardwidge agreed that action needed to be taken.
Mr Hardwidge has owned Reed's Bakers for more than 30 years.
"Something needs to be done to halt the decline in Oxford Street," he said.
"The street looks dowdy and uninviting. It is a shame the planters couldn't be properly maintained.
"All too often I would come to work and have to clean up the mess vandals had made of the plants.
"In May this year the planters were filled with posh box shrubs in an effort to make the city more up-market. But within weeks five of the shrubs, which cost £45 each, were destroyed by vandals.
The row over the decision to rip planters from one of Swansea's busiest shopping streets is growing. City traders have described the decision as a kick in the teeth for businesses.
And they claimed the move was giving in to the vandals who have targeted the planters.
On Thursday, the Post revealed that Swansea Council has decided to remove the ornate planters which have been a feature of Oxford Street for years.
The council said it was being forced to scrap them because they were being repeatedly attacked by vandals.
Council leader Chris Holley: "It is a great shame that mindless vandals are wrecking some of our efforts to make the city centre a more attractive location.
"To continue replacing these planters only for them to be vandalised again and again is not only costly, it is also counter-productive if visitors are confronted with vandalised planters and destruction."
He said it was not a case of giving into the vandals; adding that "there comes a point when you have to say 'enough is enough'.
"Every time we replace these planters there is a cost to the people of Swansea."
But traders said the move was a blow to the city centre which is already struggling to cope with fierce competition from out-of-town retailers.
Swansea Independent Traders' Association chairman Peter Birch said: "We want to make Swansea an interesting, welcoming, vibrant place for people to visit.
"The planters are an important part of making the city a nicer place to come and shop and spend time.
"We are talking about people's livelihoods - businesses are in real difficulty.
"The people in charge really need to do something to get shoppers back into town."
Long-term Oxford Street trader David Hardwidge agreed that action needed to be taken.
Mr Hardwidge has owned Reed's Bakers for more than 30 years.
"Something needs to be done to halt the decline in Oxford Street," he said.
"The street looks dowdy and uninviting. It is a shame the planters couldn't be properly maintained.
"All too often I would come to work and have to clean up the mess vandals had made of the plants.
"In May this year the planters were filled with posh box shrubs in an effort to make the city more up-market. But within weeks five of the shrubs, which cost £45 each, were destroyed by vandals.
CALL TO DROP PARKING FEES TO HELP BOOST CENTRE TRADE
© South Wales Evening Post - 10 September 2005
Increases in parking charges should be scrapped as part of an urgent city centre rescue package, it has been claimed. The call to reverse the controversial rises is needed to help retailers compete with out-of-town retailers, according to the city's Labour leader.
David Phillips wants a task force to be set up to introduce immediate measures to help traders in the city centre compete with the out-of-town estates where parking is free.
It follows the announcement that another major retailer is abandoning the city centre, following the departure of former city mainstay David Evans.
Children's clothing chain Mothercare confirmed this week that it is to abandon its Kingsway store after nearly 30 years, adding to the growing list of vacant city centre retail properties.
Councillor Phillips said: "Although we welcome that the council is adopting our phased approach to regeneration, following the House of Fraser pull-out, time is running out. We have a recent survey showing that there are nearly 50 vacant retail premises in the centre - a record figure.
"Our first suggestion is that the hike in long-stay charges which can cost visitors up to £5 day should be suspended."
Council leader Chris Holley hit back at and defended the administration's approach to regeneration.
He said: "It is quite amazing that Councillor Phillips and his colleagues seem to be making a huge comment about this when for the previous years the city stood still. There was little if anything to improve the city centre.
"Many of the properties have not been upgraded since the 1970s and we are working hard to revamp the city centre.
"We are following on policies that they had adopted. We are looking at upgrading places but our primary concern is to make sure that the centre is vibrant and we are working with developers to bring them on board."
Increases in parking charges should be scrapped as part of an urgent city centre rescue package, it has been claimed. The call to reverse the controversial rises is needed to help retailers compete with out-of-town retailers, according to the city's Labour leader.
David Phillips wants a task force to be set up to introduce immediate measures to help traders in the city centre compete with the out-of-town estates where parking is free.
It follows the announcement that another major retailer is abandoning the city centre, following the departure of former city mainstay David Evans.
Children's clothing chain Mothercare confirmed this week that it is to abandon its Kingsway store after nearly 30 years, adding to the growing list of vacant city centre retail properties.
Councillor Phillips said: "Although we welcome that the council is adopting our phased approach to regeneration, following the House of Fraser pull-out, time is running out. We have a recent survey showing that there are nearly 50 vacant retail premises in the centre - a record figure.
"Our first suggestion is that the hike in long-stay charges which can cost visitors up to £5 day should be suspended."
Council leader Chris Holley hit back at and defended the administration's approach to regeneration.
He said: "It is quite amazing that Councillor Phillips and his colleagues seem to be making a huge comment about this when for the previous years the city stood still. There was little if anything to improve the city centre.
"Many of the properties have not been upgraded since the 1970s and we are working hard to revamp the city centre.
"We are following on policies that they had adopted. We are looking at upgrading places but our primary concern is to make sure that the centre is vibrant and we are working with developers to bring them on board."
ANTI-STORE LOBBY PREPARE FOR FIGHT
© South Wales Evening Post - 10 September 2005
Campaigners limbering up for a fight with a supermarket giant will have to wait a few more months for the bell to ring. Bosses at Asda say they are still some way off submitting plans for their controversial new store in Gorseinon.
The company, owned by US giant Wal-Mart, was expected to reveal its plans this month but has now said that will be a few months away.
Campaigners say they will be ready whenever the supermarket chain make its move to create its second store in Swansea.
Gorseinon Chamber of Trade Phillip Sillick said: "We were told some time ago that the application would be made at the end of September or October but if they say they are months away they may have a problem that we don't know about.
"They have been doing soil samples down there. The old tinplate works was actually sited at that point and the plant there kept acid vats."
Plans for the store near the town's Somerfield supermarket have met with strong opposition since the Swansea Council announced its intention to sell the land to Asda for around for £11.5 million subject to planning permission.
The site had previously been earmarked for a new bowls hall,Local traders are concerned for their livelihoods if the store is approved.
Mr Sillick said: "Traders are very concerned that they will lose out if a supermarket is built in this locality.
"We have built up a town that is quite healthy and active and they don't want to see it go.
"As soon as the plan is in then we will be up and running but we can't do anything until Asda put their plans forward."
An Asda spokesman said the company expected movement in the next few months and would consult with local people.
He said: "We are working through the contract. The next big thing will be the submission of the planning application. That is some months away."
Campaigners limbering up for a fight with a supermarket giant will have to wait a few more months for the bell to ring. Bosses at Asda say they are still some way off submitting plans for their controversial new store in Gorseinon.
The company, owned by US giant Wal-Mart, was expected to reveal its plans this month but has now said that will be a few months away.
Campaigners say they will be ready whenever the supermarket chain make its move to create its second store in Swansea.
Gorseinon Chamber of Trade Phillip Sillick said: "We were told some time ago that the application would be made at the end of September or October but if they say they are months away they may have a problem that we don't know about.
"They have been doing soil samples down there. The old tinplate works was actually sited at that point and the plant there kept acid vats."
Plans for the store near the town's Somerfield supermarket have met with strong opposition since the Swansea Council announced its intention to sell the land to Asda for around for £11.5 million subject to planning permission.
The site had previously been earmarked for a new bowls hall,Local traders are concerned for their livelihoods if the store is approved.
Mr Sillick said: "Traders are very concerned that they will lose out if a supermarket is built in this locality.
"We have built up a town that is quite healthy and active and they don't want to see it go.
"As soon as the plan is in then we will be up and running but we can't do anything until Asda put their plans forward."
An Asda spokesman said the company expected movement in the next few months and would consult with local people.
He said: "We are working through the contract. The next big thing will be the submission of the planning application. That is some months away."
VANDALS WIN AS PLANTERS GO FROM SHOPPING STREET
© South Wales Evening Post - 9 September 2005
An angry storm is brewing over a council decision to strip colourful planters from Swansea's busiest shopping street. The planters have been a fixture of Oxford Street for years.
They have been filled to the brim with everything from summer flowering annuals to posh box plants.But vandals have hit them so much, the council has now decided to get rid of them once and for all. It means a big victory for the yobs and a big blow to city centre trading.
It will also mean the street becoming a sea of concrete.
The council says the move has been forced on it. It says it can no longer afford to keep repairing and replacing the damaged displays.
However, the decision has been criticised by city centre traders as giving in to the yobs.
They said the decision to ditch the displays was another blow to businesses which are already struggling to cope with fierce competition from out-of-town stores.
Swansea Council said vandals had repeatedly attacked the large free-standing planters in Oxford Street.
Despite security measures such as wiring the roots of the plants in place, the shrubs had still been destroyed.
The council said it believed most of the damage was done late at night, though it added that CCTV footage had failed to show any of the culprits.
Council leader Chris Holley said he was very disappointed the planters had been targeted.
"It is with regret that we must now remove the planters. But they cannot continue to be replaced, only to be vandalised again," he said.
Eighteen posh box shrubs were planted in the ornate planters in May.
The manicured shrubs were part of a drive to take the city centre more up-market. The plants are more usually seen in cities such as Bath and York.
They received an enthusiastic thumbs-up from businesses and shoppers when they were first introduced.But within weeks, five of the plants, which cost £45 each, were destroyed.
"Not only have council staff repeatedly had to repair the damage, they have also had to replace expensive plants, which have either been stolen or ripped out," said Councillor Holley.
Peter Birch, of the Oxford Street Traders Association, said the loss of the planters would be a big blow to city centre businesses."Those shrubs and planters really made a difference," he said.
"They helped to bring Oxford Street alive. Without them, the place will look drab. It is yet another set-back for businesses."
Mr Birch also said he was angry about the way the decision to scrap the shrubs had been taken.
He said: "Why was there no consultation about this decision?
"Perhaps we could have done something to try and save the planters, but the council kept us in the dark.
"Other cities have these kinds of displays but it seems we have decided to let the yobs win. What is wrong with Swansea?"
City centre shopper Lucy Hobson, of Morriston, said the move was disappointing, adding: "It just seems to be one thing after another.
"The planters really added something to the street. What a pity the vandals have won.''
An angry storm is brewing over a council decision to strip colourful planters from Swansea's busiest shopping street. The planters have been a fixture of Oxford Street for years.
They have been filled to the brim with everything from summer flowering annuals to posh box plants.But vandals have hit them so much, the council has now decided to get rid of them once and for all. It means a big victory for the yobs and a big blow to city centre trading.
It will also mean the street becoming a sea of concrete.
The council says the move has been forced on it. It says it can no longer afford to keep repairing and replacing the damaged displays.
However, the decision has been criticised by city centre traders as giving in to the yobs.
They said the decision to ditch the displays was another blow to businesses which are already struggling to cope with fierce competition from out-of-town stores.
Swansea Council said vandals had repeatedly attacked the large free-standing planters in Oxford Street.
Despite security measures such as wiring the roots of the plants in place, the shrubs had still been destroyed.
The council said it believed most of the damage was done late at night, though it added that CCTV footage had failed to show any of the culprits.
Council leader Chris Holley said he was very disappointed the planters had been targeted.
"It is with regret that we must now remove the planters. But they cannot continue to be replaced, only to be vandalised again," he said.
Eighteen posh box shrubs were planted in the ornate planters in May.
The manicured shrubs were part of a drive to take the city centre more up-market. The plants are more usually seen in cities such as Bath and York.
They received an enthusiastic thumbs-up from businesses and shoppers when they were first introduced.But within weeks, five of the plants, which cost £45 each, were destroyed.
"Not only have council staff repeatedly had to repair the damage, they have also had to replace expensive plants, which have either been stolen or ripped out," said Councillor Holley.
Peter Birch, of the Oxford Street Traders Association, said the loss of the planters would be a big blow to city centre businesses."Those shrubs and planters really made a difference," he said.
"They helped to bring Oxford Street alive. Without them, the place will look drab. It is yet another set-back for businesses."
Mr Birch also said he was angry about the way the decision to scrap the shrubs had been taken.
He said: "Why was there no consultation about this decision?
"Perhaps we could have done something to try and save the planters, but the council kept us in the dark.
"Other cities have these kinds of displays but it seems we have decided to let the yobs win. What is wrong with Swansea?"
City centre shopper Lucy Hobson, of Morriston, said the move was disappointing, adding: "It just seems to be one thing after another.
"The planters really added something to the street. What a pity the vandals have won.''
COUNCILLOR OBSESSED WITH WIND FARMS
© South Wales Evening Post - 7 September 2005
There is enough wind coming from Councillor Ioan Richard these days to generate a wind farm of his own. The guy is obsessed with wind farms, or rather preventing their existence.He used to say in a very rational tone that the problem with the energy debate was that we have been grossly ill-informed about global warming.
And a letter in the Smallholder Magazine a year ago paid tribute to the Mawr councillor for presenting a "cogent case against wind energy while avoiding the rather hysterical and discourteous language of others who have opposed this technology..."Alas, several months on and the councillor now finds it impossible to refrain from being hysterical and using discourteous language.
Now, Tan8 is the Assembly's Technical Advice Note which steers wind farm developments in certain directions, including Mynydd y Gwair on Councillor Richard's doorstep.
Councillor Richard has read all 60 or so pages of the Tan8 document, but points out that he finds it too depressing to read a second time.
He said he missed one important aspect - that the words "tourist" and "tourism" never occur once throughout.
"I find that appalling to say the least," he tells Assembly chief planning officer Kay Powell in an email.
The Independent councillor then nicely gets his comeuppance when the planning chief in Cardiff informs him that he got it wrong.Tourists and tourism do appear in Tan8.
So we have to assume that Councillor Richard did not read the Tan8 report very avidly or he did not read it at all.
How does he respond to being pulled up by one of the Assembly's most senior and respected chief officers?
He puts out a press release describing the Assembly as an asylum and the people running it as lunatics.
But that is pretty tame stuff compared with the accusations he makes in another email.
The councillor refers to a story of a giant tropical sunfish hopping into a boat in West Wales.
It is a nice quirky story, he says, but it is nothing new to find such fish in the temperate West Wales waters.
The point is, he stresses, the presence of a large sunfish is not grounds for certain political factions to claim it is further evidence of global warming.
He refers in the same breath to Plaid Cymru and the Greens.
I cannot repeat the nasty and unwarranted way he describes the Greens for it could be actionable, and I am not able by law to perpetuate a potential libel.
Martyn Shrewsbury has made a formal complaint to the Ombudsman over the "offensive" language used by Councillor Richard who has become known by his political opponents as the Mawr Mouth. I wonder why.
There is enough wind coming from Councillor Ioan Richard these days to generate a wind farm of his own. The guy is obsessed with wind farms, or rather preventing their existence.He used to say in a very rational tone that the problem with the energy debate was that we have been grossly ill-informed about global warming.
And a letter in the Smallholder Magazine a year ago paid tribute to the Mawr councillor for presenting a "cogent case against wind energy while avoiding the rather hysterical and discourteous language of others who have opposed this technology..."Alas, several months on and the councillor now finds it impossible to refrain from being hysterical and using discourteous language.
Now, Tan8 is the Assembly's Technical Advice Note which steers wind farm developments in certain directions, including Mynydd y Gwair on Councillor Richard's doorstep.
Councillor Richard has read all 60 or so pages of the Tan8 document, but points out that he finds it too depressing to read a second time.
He said he missed one important aspect - that the words "tourist" and "tourism" never occur once throughout.
"I find that appalling to say the least," he tells Assembly chief planning officer Kay Powell in an email.
The Independent councillor then nicely gets his comeuppance when the planning chief in Cardiff informs him that he got it wrong.Tourists and tourism do appear in Tan8.
So we have to assume that Councillor Richard did not read the Tan8 report very avidly or he did not read it at all.
How does he respond to being pulled up by one of the Assembly's most senior and respected chief officers?
He puts out a press release describing the Assembly as an asylum and the people running it as lunatics.
But that is pretty tame stuff compared with the accusations he makes in another email.
The councillor refers to a story of a giant tropical sunfish hopping into a boat in West Wales.
It is a nice quirky story, he says, but it is nothing new to find such fish in the temperate West Wales waters.
The point is, he stresses, the presence of a large sunfish is not grounds for certain political factions to claim it is further evidence of global warming.
He refers in the same breath to Plaid Cymru and the Greens.
I cannot repeat the nasty and unwarranted way he describes the Greens for it could be actionable, and I am not able by law to perpetuate a potential libel.
Martyn Shrewsbury has made a formal complaint to the Ombudsman over the "offensive" language used by Councillor Richard who has become known by his political opponents as the Mawr Mouth. I wonder why.
POST MAY CLOSE SWANSEA PRESS
© South Wales Evening Post - 6 September 2005
The company which publishes the South Wales Evening Post may close its Adelaide Street press and transfer printing the Post elsewhere. South West Wales Publications (SWWP) yesterday announced that it proposed to close the press, which employs 67 people at the Evening Post's Swansea headquarters and move production to other presses run by its parent company, Northcliffe Newspapers Ltd.
The company has started a 30-day consultation period with the printers, and stressed that no decision has yet been made.
If the proposal is confirmed, the Post and other SWWP titles would be transferred to other Northcliffe print centres by the end of October.
SWWP managing director Chris Rees said today that the proposed closure had been made with "great regret".
He added: "Our press in Swansea lacks colour capacity, and print quality is poor. Recently, the press has shown signs of unreliability."
Evening Post editor Spencer Feeney said: "If the proposed closure of our Swansea press is confirmed, Evening Post staff will ensure that our readers and advertisers will continue to receive the current level of service they enjoy".
The company which publishes the South Wales Evening Post may close its Adelaide Street press and transfer printing the Post elsewhere. South West Wales Publications (SWWP) yesterday announced that it proposed to close the press, which employs 67 people at the Evening Post's Swansea headquarters and move production to other presses run by its parent company, Northcliffe Newspapers Ltd.
The company has started a 30-day consultation period with the printers, and stressed that no decision has yet been made.
If the proposal is confirmed, the Post and other SWWP titles would be transferred to other Northcliffe print centres by the end of October.
SWWP managing director Chris Rees said today that the proposed closure had been made with "great regret".
He added: "Our press in Swansea lacks colour capacity, and print quality is poor. Recently, the press has shown signs of unreliability."
Evening Post editor Spencer Feeney said: "If the proposed closure of our Swansea press is confirmed, Evening Post staff will ensure that our readers and advertisers will continue to receive the current level of service they enjoy".
SEE SENSE ON DRINKING LUNACY
© South Wales Evening Post - 5 September 2005
Senior judges warn the coming relaxation in drinking-hour rules is "close to lunacy.'' Police say they are at breaking point as they are. Swansea councillor Ioan Richard, however, sees it differently.
He argues that out of 20,000 enjoying themselves in Swansea on a Friday night, just a handful are looking for trouble.
He has got a point. But there is also an element of spin in what he says.
The knock-on effects of those causing trouble are far-reaching. They are far reaching and costly.
What else will it take to convince decision-makers that enough is enough. A night in one of our A &E departments, maybe?
Senior judges warn the coming relaxation in drinking-hour rules is "close to lunacy.'' Police say they are at breaking point as they are. Swansea councillor Ioan Richard, however, sees it differently.
He argues that out of 20,000 enjoying themselves in Swansea on a Friday night, just a handful are looking for trouble.
He has got a point. But there is also an element of spin in what he says.
The knock-on effects of those causing trouble are far-reaching. They are far reaching and costly.
What else will it take to convince decision-makers that enough is enough. A night in one of our A &E departments, maybe?
MISSING PAPERS LOCKER MYSTERY
© South Wales Evening Post - 5 September 2005
Confidential documents went missing from a Gower councillor's Guildhall locker after a security sweep for a visit by the Prime Minister, it has emerged. Councillor Lewis is considering calling in the police after the mass of papers, collected over 30 years, disappeared.
An investigation was launched in July into the way Swansea councillors' lockers were searched in the Guildhall before Labour's Spring conference in the adjoining Brangwyn Hall. Security for the March event, which was addressed by the Prime Minister in the run-up to the General Election campaign, was extremely tight.
Councillor Lewis said: "The stuff I had was literally amazing.
"If I wanted any information on anything and anybody, it was there. I could have written my memoirs with it."
Among the other councillors to have discovered materials missing from their lockers was the leader of the Labour opposition, Councillor David Phillips.
Councillor Lewis said: "Nobody knows where the stuff has gone. I was devastated."
I have threatened to call the police in because I regard it as theft."
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "A number of members have drawn to our attention concerns in respect of their personal lockers in the Guildhall prior to the Welsh Labour Party Conference.
"We are continuing to make inquiries into the circumstances and will report back to the members concerned."
Confidential documents went missing from a Gower councillor's Guildhall locker after a security sweep for a visit by the Prime Minister, it has emerged. Councillor Lewis is considering calling in the police after the mass of papers, collected over 30 years, disappeared.
An investigation was launched in July into the way Swansea councillors' lockers were searched in the Guildhall before Labour's Spring conference in the adjoining Brangwyn Hall. Security for the March event, which was addressed by the Prime Minister in the run-up to the General Election campaign, was extremely tight.
Councillor Lewis said: "The stuff I had was literally amazing.
"If I wanted any information on anything and anybody, it was there. I could have written my memoirs with it."
Among the other councillors to have discovered materials missing from their lockers was the leader of the Labour opposition, Councillor David Phillips.
Councillor Lewis said: "Nobody knows where the stuff has gone. I was devastated."
I have threatened to call the police in because I regard it as theft."
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "A number of members have drawn to our attention concerns in respect of their personal lockers in the Guildhall prior to the Welsh Labour Party Conference.
"We are continuing to make inquiries into the circumstances and will report back to the members concerned."
FRUITLESS BID TO NET STADIUM SPONSOR
© South Wales Evening Post - 3 September 2005
Talks aimed at finding a sponsor for Swansea's new £27 million sports stadium have proved fruitless, it has emerged. Nearly a month since it opened, hundreds of thousands of pounds in sponsorship from naming rights have still to be secured.
It was hoped that a company would stump up £250,000 to have its name linked to the stadium. However, all talks over naming rights have come to nothing.
It means it will have to stick with its official tag - The New Stadium Swansea - for the time being at least.It is known bosses are keen to secure a deal. Talks have been held with potential parties. But no deal has been reached.
Nigel Davies, the co-editor of Swansea City FC fanzine a Touch Far Vetched, today branded the situation "a joke''.
He added: "It is about time the council and StadCo agreed to drop this limp and lame name, The New Stadium. It's embarrassing for fans because it's already out of date.
"They should lower the asking price to attract a local company and revert back to the White Rock name."
Mr Davies said he believed the naming had already been left too late and unless the situation was sorted soon there would be a shortfall in the stadium's finances.
He said: "It is my understanding that the minimum they need to get is £100,000. If they do not make that there's a hole in the budget.
"There is also the issue of the experts they have hired to sell the naming rights.
"The wider media interest in the stadium has already been lost.
"We have had the first football game, the first rugby match, we even had an international here.
"I think they have totally missed the boat. ''
The Ospreys rugby club, which is a shareholder in the stadium's management company along with Swansea City FC and the council, has already broken ranks over the naming issue.
The three partners all agreed to the New Stadium name, saying that it would be easier to sell the naming rights.
However, the rugby club's own website now refers to the "Regional Rugby Stadium" at Morfa.
A spokeswoman for Swansea Council said: "A deal on the naming rights is a matter for the Stadium Management Company and any details of commercial discussions are confidential for obvious reasons.
"The Stadium Management Company will not undersell the stadium and will only sign up to the right deal, however long that takes."
Talks aimed at finding a sponsor for Swansea's new £27 million sports stadium have proved fruitless, it has emerged. Nearly a month since it opened, hundreds of thousands of pounds in sponsorship from naming rights have still to be secured.
It was hoped that a company would stump up £250,000 to have its name linked to the stadium. However, all talks over naming rights have come to nothing.
It means it will have to stick with its official tag - The New Stadium Swansea - for the time being at least.It is known bosses are keen to secure a deal. Talks have been held with potential parties. But no deal has been reached.
Nigel Davies, the co-editor of Swansea City FC fanzine a Touch Far Vetched, today branded the situation "a joke''.
He added: "It is about time the council and StadCo agreed to drop this limp and lame name, The New Stadium. It's embarrassing for fans because it's already out of date.
"They should lower the asking price to attract a local company and revert back to the White Rock name."
Mr Davies said he believed the naming had already been left too late and unless the situation was sorted soon there would be a shortfall in the stadium's finances.
He said: "It is my understanding that the minimum they need to get is £100,000. If they do not make that there's a hole in the budget.
"There is also the issue of the experts they have hired to sell the naming rights.
"The wider media interest in the stadium has already been lost.
"We have had the first football game, the first rugby match, we even had an international here.
"I think they have totally missed the boat. ''
The Ospreys rugby club, which is a shareholder in the stadium's management company along with Swansea City FC and the council, has already broken ranks over the naming issue.
The three partners all agreed to the New Stadium name, saying that it would be easier to sell the naming rights.
However, the rugby club's own website now refers to the "Regional Rugby Stadium" at Morfa.
A spokeswoman for Swansea Council said: "A deal on the naming rights is a matter for the Stadium Management Company and any details of commercial discussions are confidential for obvious reasons.
"The Stadium Management Company will not undersell the stadium and will only sign up to the right deal, however long that takes."
SCHOOLS' PLANS FUNDING WARNING
© South Wales Evening Post - 2 September 2005
Questions have been raised over plans to spend £20 million on Bishop Gore school after it was labelled a major financial risk. The Post has seen minutes from a top-level directors' meeting which outline the funding fears.
Deputy chief executive Bob Carter raised concerns over the progress of key parts of the council's plans.
According to the minutes, Mr Carter said: "There are a number of key elements which are not going to plan - major financial risks are evident."
A council spokesman has confirmed that one of these risks is proposed improvements to Bishop Gore School so it can accommodate pupils from Dylan Thomas School, which has been earmarked for closure.
The minutes added there was a need to flag up where things were not going to plan and that 'there is a difficult task ahead'. Swansea Council claims the comments have been taken out of context and merely summarised part of the meeting.
A spokesman said: "The additional cost of the Bishop Gore scheme would be one example of the risks identified.
"These comments arise from routine internal management discussions about progress in the current year on performance and financial targets, which will shortly be reported to cabinet.
"Major financial risks for which forward planning is needed are identified every year in the budget and financial planning processes.
"However, the main point of the discussion was reminding directors of the internal timetable and process already agreed in which additional spending needs and opportunities for making savings need to be identified, in anticipation of a tight spending settlement for next year from the Assembly."
Mr Carter's concerns have increased speculation on the financial viability of a number of high profile schemes.
The council is wants to spend huge amounts refurbishing the leisure centre, creating a new home for the central library and improving Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.
A spokesman for the Labour group said: "This view of the council's top managers is patently at odds with the up-beat message coming from Chris Holley and company."
Questions have been raised over plans to spend £20 million on Bishop Gore school after it was labelled a major financial risk. The Post has seen minutes from a top-level directors' meeting which outline the funding fears.
Deputy chief executive Bob Carter raised concerns over the progress of key parts of the council's plans.
According to the minutes, Mr Carter said: "There are a number of key elements which are not going to plan - major financial risks are evident."
A council spokesman has confirmed that one of these risks is proposed improvements to Bishop Gore School so it can accommodate pupils from Dylan Thomas School, which has been earmarked for closure.
The minutes added there was a need to flag up where things were not going to plan and that 'there is a difficult task ahead'. Swansea Council claims the comments have been taken out of context and merely summarised part of the meeting.
A spokesman said: "The additional cost of the Bishop Gore scheme would be one example of the risks identified.
"These comments arise from routine internal management discussions about progress in the current year on performance and financial targets, which will shortly be reported to cabinet.
"Major financial risks for which forward planning is needed are identified every year in the budget and financial planning processes.
"However, the main point of the discussion was reminding directors of the internal timetable and process already agreed in which additional spending needs and opportunities for making savings need to be identified, in anticipation of a tight spending settlement for next year from the Assembly."
Mr Carter's concerns have increased speculation on the financial viability of a number of high profile schemes.
The council is wants to spend huge amounts refurbishing the leisure centre, creating a new home for the central library and improving Bishop Gore Comprehensive School.
A spokesman for the Labour group said: "This view of the council's top managers is patently at odds with the up-beat message coming from Chris Holley and company."
LEADER HOLLEY HITS BACK IN EDUCATION ROW
© South Wales Evening Post - 2 September 2005
Council leader Chris Holley has joined the argument over Swansea's new £20 million super school. He says the row is putting children's education at risk.
Councillor Holley is the latest member of the administration to attack Labour colleagues over their criticism of the plans for Bishop Gore school.
The row erupted after Swansea cabinet members put forward a proposal to spend £20 million refurbishing the school.
The plan is part of school reorganisation in the city which will see the closure of Dylan Thomas School.Labour leader David Phillips questioned where the money is coming from.
Opposition councillors say that unless concrete funding for the project is found they will mount a challenge to the scheme.
However, Councillor Holley says the continued opposition is putting Swansea children's education at risk. He also blamed the Labour Party for many of Swansea schools' current problems.
He said: "Labour has a sorry track record on education in Swansea. They have failed to invest in schools and they failed to tackle falling pupil numbers.
"Yet, when we propose to invest £20 million to improve the education of more than 1,500 pupils, they oppose it for petty political reasons. It is the politics of spite.
''Labour is playing a dangerous political game with the futures of children in Swansea."
Council leaders say the reforms are needed and wanted by most parents in the city."
These proposals are based on what parents, pupils and others have told us," said Councillor Holley.
"They want pupils put first and for school buildings to be fit.
"We will continue to listen to these groups to ensure our proposals are right for all pupils."
Labour leader Councillor Phillips denied accusations that they were to blame for the state of schools.
He said: "Labour's record of investing in Swansea schools and its commitment to education is well established.
''We expect investment to be properly costed, sustainable and provide value for money.
"So far, the coalition looks to be failing on all three counts.
"Wanting to know just how £20 million is to be raised can hardly be described as playing petty politics."
Council leader Chris Holley has joined the argument over Swansea's new £20 million super school. He says the row is putting children's education at risk.
Councillor Holley is the latest member of the administration to attack Labour colleagues over their criticism of the plans for Bishop Gore school.
The row erupted after Swansea cabinet members put forward a proposal to spend £20 million refurbishing the school.
The plan is part of school reorganisation in the city which will see the closure of Dylan Thomas School.Labour leader David Phillips questioned where the money is coming from.
Opposition councillors say that unless concrete funding for the project is found they will mount a challenge to the scheme.
However, Councillor Holley says the continued opposition is putting Swansea children's education at risk. He also blamed the Labour Party for many of Swansea schools' current problems.
He said: "Labour has a sorry track record on education in Swansea. They have failed to invest in schools and they failed to tackle falling pupil numbers.
"Yet, when we propose to invest £20 million to improve the education of more than 1,500 pupils, they oppose it for petty political reasons. It is the politics of spite.
''Labour is playing a dangerous political game with the futures of children in Swansea."
Council leaders say the reforms are needed and wanted by most parents in the city."
These proposals are based on what parents, pupils and others have told us," said Councillor Holley.
"They want pupils put first and for school buildings to be fit.
"We will continue to listen to these groups to ensure our proposals are right for all pupils."
Labour leader Councillor Phillips denied accusations that they were to blame for the state of schools.
He said: "Labour's record of investing in Swansea schools and its commitment to education is well established.
''We expect investment to be properly costed, sustainable and provide value for money.
"So far, the coalition looks to be failing on all three counts.
"Wanting to know just how £20 million is to be raised can hardly be described as playing petty politics."
TIME COUNCIL CAME CLEAN
© South Wales Evening Post - 2 September 2005
It is difficult to know how worried we should be about the future of a number of major projects in Swansea, including the long, drawn-out saga of the city's leisure centre. Certainly the minutes we obtained of last month's Corporate Management Team appear to be a cause for concern.
Only the council's top directors attend this meeting, and when phrases such as "major financial risks" and "key elements . . . not going to plan" spring out, we should treat them with the utmost seriousness.
Unfortunately, as is the way with local authorities, the minutes are steeped in council jargon, with only the briefest allusion to the actual problems.
We have asked the council for a fuller explanation, but an authority spokesman has come back with a statement that sheds little further light on what is wrong.
However, we are able to reveal that deputy chief executive, Bob Carter, is sufficiently worried that some things are not going to plan, to warn that "there is a very difficult task ahead".
The council should come clean and make a full and unambiguous statement on the seriousness and the nature of its difficulties.
It is difficult to know how worried we should be about the future of a number of major projects in Swansea, including the long, drawn-out saga of the city's leisure centre. Certainly the minutes we obtained of last month's Corporate Management Team appear to be a cause for concern.
Only the council's top directors attend this meeting, and when phrases such as "major financial risks" and "key elements . . . not going to plan" spring out, we should treat them with the utmost seriousness.
Unfortunately, as is the way with local authorities, the minutes are steeped in council jargon, with only the briefest allusion to the actual problems.
We have asked the council for a fuller explanation, but an authority spokesman has come back with a statement that sheds little further light on what is wrong.
However, we are able to reveal that deputy chief executive, Bob Carter, is sufficiently worried that some things are not going to plan, to warn that "there is a very difficult task ahead".
The council should come clean and make a full and unambiguous statement on the seriousness and the nature of its difficulties.
STADIUM IN BOUNCERS LAY-OFF ROW
© South Wales Evening Post - 2 September 2005
A third of the bouncers working at the New Stadium Swansea are claimed to have been laid off. Some 45 security staff were taken on at the stadium when the new season began.
They were meant to police the hospitality, VIP area, Riverside Bar and gold and platinum lounges.
Now the Evening Post understands 15 have been laid off.
Stadium managers have refused to comment on the claims. But one of those who was working at the stadium said he and 14 others had gone.
He said: "I am angry.
"They asked us to go in to work and they laid 15 of us off," he said."They said they could not afford to have us there.
"There were too many of us, they said."
He said the bouncers - many of whom worked in pubs and nightclubs in Swansea city centre in the evenings - were offered the chance to become match stewards inside the ground instead.
Security is a serious issue at the new stadium.
Only last month, away fans were attacked with concrete building blocks after a league game there.
Visiting Doncaster supporters were shocked when breeze blocks were hurled through the front window of a van they were travelling in.
Police at the time said a minority of Swansea fans still seemed to think they could get away with yobbishness at the stadium.
The stadium is owned by Swansea Council and leased to Swansea Stadium Management Company, which runs it.
A spokesman for the company neither confirmed nor denied the job cuts.
"It is not the policy of the Swansea Stadium Management Company to comment publicly on staffing issues," said a spokesman
A third of the bouncers working at the New Stadium Swansea are claimed to have been laid off. Some 45 security staff were taken on at the stadium when the new season began.
They were meant to police the hospitality, VIP area, Riverside Bar and gold and platinum lounges.
Now the Evening Post understands 15 have been laid off.
Stadium managers have refused to comment on the claims. But one of those who was working at the stadium said he and 14 others had gone.
He said: "I am angry.
"They asked us to go in to work and they laid 15 of us off," he said."They said they could not afford to have us there.
"There were too many of us, they said."
He said the bouncers - many of whom worked in pubs and nightclubs in Swansea city centre in the evenings - were offered the chance to become match stewards inside the ground instead.
Security is a serious issue at the new stadium.
Only last month, away fans were attacked with concrete building blocks after a league game there.
Visiting Doncaster supporters were shocked when breeze blocks were hurled through the front window of a van they were travelling in.
Police at the time said a minority of Swansea fans still seemed to think they could get away with yobbishness at the stadium.
The stadium is owned by Swansea Council and leased to Swansea Stadium Management Company, which runs it.
A spokesman for the company neither confirmed nor denied the job cuts.
"It is not the policy of the Swansea Stadium Management Company to comment publicly on staffing issues," said a spokesman
HYPOCRISY IS JUST TYPICAL
© South Wales Evening Post - 1 September 2005
It is typical of our Labour and ex-Labour councillors to accuse the current administration of spending too much money on reports that the ex-Labour administration ordered. It is time to keep their toys in prams and let the present administration get on with the job that they failed miserably to do.
H Phillips, Wern Fawr Road, Port Tennant, Swansea
It is typical of our Labour and ex-Labour councillors to accuse the current administration of spending too much money on reports that the ex-Labour administration ordered. It is time to keep their toys in prams and let the present administration get on with the job that they failed miserably to do.
H Phillips, Wern Fawr Road, Port Tennant, Swansea
LABOUR COUNCILLORS WILL NOT BE MOVED BY TALKS ON HOUSING TRANSFERS
© South Wales Evening Post - 1 September 2005
Labour councillors in Swansea have voted against participating in talks to transfer the city's council housing into the hands of an arms-length company. Following a series of meetings, which included briefings with departmental directors, it has emerged that the Labour Group has voted to refuse a seat on a special joint board of councillors and tenant representatives.
The board has been set up to oversee a ballot to decide the transfer of ownership and management of the housing stock to a Community Housing Mutual (a housing co-operative).
Labour leader David Phillips said today: "We have taken a long, hard look at the issues.
"But the overwhelming feeling is that we cannot abandon our long-held view that social housing should be directly managed and accountable to an elected council.
"All we have effectively done is confirm our position prior to last year's elections, which is that we are not convinced of the overall benefits arising from large-scale transfer.
"However, we recognise and support the right of tenants to make an informed choice for themselves."
He emphasised that the Labour Group would not be actively campaigning against the transfer plans.
"We intend to vet council literature to ensure that tenants are given all the information to which they are entitled.
"We will comment where we feel necessary, but we will not be interfering in the process.''
Labour councillors in Swansea have voted against participating in talks to transfer the city's council housing into the hands of an arms-length company. Following a series of meetings, which included briefings with departmental directors, it has emerged that the Labour Group has voted to refuse a seat on a special joint board of councillors and tenant representatives.
The board has been set up to oversee a ballot to decide the transfer of ownership and management of the housing stock to a Community Housing Mutual (a housing co-operative).
Labour leader David Phillips said today: "We have taken a long, hard look at the issues.
"But the overwhelming feeling is that we cannot abandon our long-held view that social housing should be directly managed and accountable to an elected council.
"All we have effectively done is confirm our position prior to last year's elections, which is that we are not convinced of the overall benefits arising from large-scale transfer.
"However, we recognise and support the right of tenants to make an informed choice for themselves."
He emphasised that the Labour Group would not be actively campaigning against the transfer plans.
"We intend to vet council literature to ensure that tenants are given all the information to which they are entitled.
"We will comment where we feel necessary, but we will not be interfering in the process.''
