The public face of Neath and Port Talbot has been scarred in recent years by high-profile fires to the divine Gwyn Hall and the important Aquadome.
The Gwyn's future looks exciting and the local council has a great chance to make it part of a thriving, traditional town centre.
The future of the sports complex is less clear because fire struck there so recently.
So it'll be fascinating to see how Neath Port Talbot Council's relatively new chief exec uses the first 2010 edition of quarterly door-to-door newspaper Community Spirit to strengthen morale and manage expectation.
Spirit is an interesting tabloid in that, unlike Swansea Council's The Leader, it's a partnership publication. Backers include South Wales Police, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Neath Port Talbot Local Health Board, the NPT Council for Voluntary Services, Environment Agency Wales, NPT College and NPT Council.
In the winter 2009 edition chief exec Steve Phillips expressed excitement about regeneration projects such as Baglan Energy Park, the Aberavon seafront, the Coed Darcy Urban Village and the proposed Jersey Marine university campus.
I advise him to use the next edition to reassure his public that the council will do all it can to replace - and improve upon - what they had at the Afan Lido.
In the meantime, take a look at a PDF of the latest edition by copy-&-pasting this link - http://bit.ly/5FPGih
I am a councillor for the Baglan Ward and am organising a fund raising evening for the Haiti earthquake appeal. This will be held in the Baglan Social Club on Friday 5th April.
ReplyDeleteThis is an opportunity for the the people of Baglan to come together as a community for a great concert and at the same time raise money for a worthwhile cause. The compere will be Meyrik Sheen (father of Michael Sheen) and among those taking part will be the Port Talbot Cymric Choir together with many local artists and organisations.
If any one would like further information or would like to help in any way, please call me on 01639760562, mobile 07595160128, or e-mail John @tallamy.co.uk