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Ideas
Posted by Andy Jenkins on 10 August 2012
All I can say about your list Andrew is brilliant. However I personally find it condescending.
So many volunteers have attempted to bring into force a lot of what you state here and have come up against a brick wall.
Did you know that one volunteer group were accused of running a factory through volunteering their services to benefit the community in a community hall that they paid to hire.
Did you know that one group of people attended a meeting at NPT CBC with all waste management to attempt to put forward environmental and waste management ideas. They did not want to know.
Did you know that people have actually been in to various groups of young people within NPT CBC to attempt to teach them skills and the support they got was dismal. Did you know that older people, who have volunteered their time, have offered to teach young people the skills they possess, yet they get nowhere.
The brick wall is NPT CBC Andrew and you can propose and talk until the cows come home as that is all they do within the Citadel is talk, while those who act are hampered and prevented from doing anything worthwhile.
I did call for someone take up the challenge and look into the Burtons Block as the Empire is now on the floor but no one appears to have taken up that challenge.
Orators are the last thing that Neath wants Andrew, the time for action is upon us and the time for talking is gone. In fact I think NPT CBC is all talked out as none of them proffer anything of interest, ever.
So many volunteers have attempted to bring into force a lot of what you state here and have come up against a brick wall.
Did you know that one volunteer group were accused of running a factory through volunteering their services to benefit the community in a community hall that they paid to hire.
Did you know that one group of people attended a meeting at NPT CBC with all waste management to attempt to put forward environmental and waste management ideas. They did not want to know.
Did you know that people have actually been in to various groups of young people within NPT CBC to attempt to teach them skills and the support they got was dismal. Did you know that older people, who have volunteered their time, have offered to teach young people the skills they possess, yet they get nowhere.
The brick wall is NPT CBC Andrew and you can propose and talk until the cows come home as that is all they do within the Citadel is talk, while those who act are hampered and prevented from doing anything worthwhile.
I did call for someone take up the challenge and look into the Burtons Block as the Empire is now on the floor but no one appears to have taken up that challenge.
Orators are the last thing that Neath wants Andrew, the time for action is upon us and the time for talking is gone. In fact I think NPT CBC is all talked out as none of them proffer anything of interest, ever.
Posted by Lyn Williams on 11 August 2012
“A Made in Neath kitemark “
Which wouldn’t do much to attract customers.
”More people should be encouraged to save some money with the Neath Port Talbot Credit Union.”
Sorry, I will invest my money where I want.
” and more businesses and organisations offering apprenticeships “
Most local businesses are struggling to pay their wage bills, so who would fund?
”A Workforce Development Programme whereby the Council, trade unions, businesses et al. co-ordinate their efforts (to reduce costs) in training and upskilling the local workforce.”
Oh please no. Not more committees and groups and talk, talk, talk and maybe more talk, meetings and reports.
” volunteer ten hours per week on specific Council-run regeneration projects in Neath and surrounding area. “
Supervised and funded by?
”A long term project to renovate empty properties, converting them into either homes”
So what about the planning issues, do you suggest that planning guidelines are ignored?
“ the Council should set a long term goal to add solar panels onto every public building in the County Borough.”
Even is the structure is not adequate to take the additional loading?
Even if the premises is not suitable due to its location?
Really make an attractive feature on the Gwyn Hall!!!!
Talk, talk, talk, meet, talk, report………Nothing changes.
Neath talks others do.
Which wouldn’t do much to attract customers.
”More people should be encouraged to save some money with the Neath Port Talbot Credit Union.”
Sorry, I will invest my money where I want.
” and more businesses and organisations offering apprenticeships “
Most local businesses are struggling to pay their wage bills, so who would fund?
”A Workforce Development Programme whereby the Council, trade unions, businesses et al. co-ordinate their efforts (to reduce costs) in training and upskilling the local workforce.”
Oh please no. Not more committees and groups and talk, talk, talk and maybe more talk, meetings and reports.
” volunteer ten hours per week on specific Council-run regeneration projects in Neath and surrounding area. “
Supervised and funded by?
”A long term project to renovate empty properties, converting them into either homes”
So what about the planning issues, do you suggest that planning guidelines are ignored?
“ the Council should set a long term goal to add solar panels onto every public building in the County Borough.”
Even is the structure is not adequate to take the additional loading?
Even if the premises is not suitable due to its location?
Really make an attractive feature on the Gwyn Hall!!!!
Talk, talk, talk, meet, talk, report………Nothing changes.
Neath talks others do.
Posted by TJ on 13 August 2012
Neath Town Centre
TJ I think you are right in what you are saying but there might be one small thing you overlooked - is it possible for the Council to sell the site of the Old Civic Centre?
That site was land given to the town of Neath by Evans Bevan for the fair. When the Civic Centre was built on it the fairfield was moved to James street, where Morrisons is now. Then when Morrisons was built and the new bridge into Neath the fairfield was moved to behind the railway station on the car park. So in effect the land given to the people of Neath has disppeared, or has it? I have never been able to get an answer from anyone concerning this. The site of the Civic Centre when it was gifted to Neath was called the Bird in Hand Field - I wonder if the Council could use it but not sell it. Is there anyone who could tell us?
That site was land given to the town of Neath by Evans Bevan for the fair. When the Civic Centre was built on it the fairfield was moved to James street, where Morrisons is now. Then when Morrisons was built and the new bridge into Neath the fairfield was moved to behind the railway station on the car park. So in effect the land given to the people of Neath has disppeared, or has it? I have never been able to get an answer from anyone concerning this. The site of the Civic Centre when it was gifted to Neath was called the Bird in Hand Field - I wonder if the Council could use it but not sell it. Is there anyone who could tell us?
Posted by Lyn Williams on 09 August 2012
In a normal world, your Council.
If registered, possibly Land Registry which should show any covenants covering use, etc.
There must be something in the archives also.
If registered, possibly Land Registry which should show any covenants covering use, etc.
There must be something in the archives also.
Posted by TJ on 09 August 2012
Neath Town Centre
Who, where, what is the problem and says Everyone knows that the town centre is rapidly losing the household names on the High Street.
The town gets more and more run down in appearance.
The new development for the town still has not happened.
The answer to why we are losing the 'names' and not attracting others is
down to the fact that many retailers were and are coming to the end of the
lease on their property, or had a break clause, so, the threat to them if
they remain in their existing premises is that IF the new development were
to happen, then they would be off prime pitch and committed to an expensive lease.
There ARE national retailers out there that are interested in the town, but
only at such time as the town (NPT) knows what it is doing itself and
when.
Solution, my opinion obviously.
Put out to tender for sale the site of the former Civic Centre. Yes there are
developers who would be very interested and end users to occupy on the
development.
The Council would receive several millions for the site, which could be
diverted to upgrade the town centre and attract the 'names' back to the
High Street.
The 'shift' in the town would be minimal and unlikely to affect local traders.
Some of the cash windfall to NPT could possibly be allocated towards an
upgrade to the Market, to construct a mezzanine floor for local arts and
crafts traders.
The downfall at present is the uncertainty over the Civic Centre site. NPT stutters whilst the retail sector waits.
NPT have amassed a substantial land-bank and does little if anything with it.
What is needed NOW is a decision made on what is to do. If funds are not
available for the new development. Market the site (3 months), tender
stage for disposal (3 months), planning stage (6 months), construction
stage (9-12 months). So in 2 years it would be developed and let and
during which time, High Street retailers will have followed closely and jockeyed for retail space as close as possible.
The town gets more and more run down in appearance.
The new development for the town still has not happened.
The answer to why we are losing the 'names' and not attracting others is
down to the fact that many retailers were and are coming to the end of the
lease on their property, or had a break clause, so, the threat to them if
they remain in their existing premises is that IF the new development were
to happen, then they would be off prime pitch and committed to an expensive lease.
There ARE national retailers out there that are interested in the town, but
only at such time as the town (NPT) knows what it is doing itself and
when.
Solution, my opinion obviously.
Put out to tender for sale the site of the former Civic Centre. Yes there are
developers who would be very interested and end users to occupy on the
development.
The Council would receive several millions for the site, which could be
diverted to upgrade the town centre and attract the 'names' back to the
High Street.
The 'shift' in the town would be minimal and unlikely to affect local traders.
Some of the cash windfall to NPT could possibly be allocated towards an
upgrade to the Market, to construct a mezzanine floor for local arts and
crafts traders.
The downfall at present is the uncertainty over the Civic Centre site. NPT stutters whilst the retail sector waits.
NPT have amassed a substantial land-bank and does little if anything with it.
What is needed NOW is a decision made on what is to do. If funds are not
available for the new development. Market the site (3 months), tender
stage for disposal (3 months), planning stage (6 months), construction
stage (9-12 months). So in 2 years it would be developed and let and
during which time, High Street retailers will have followed closely and jockeyed for retail space as close as possible.
Posted by TJ on 09 August 2012
A Made in Neath kitemark and a Loyalty Card scheme to encourage people to support locally owned businesses, and a professionaly made Visit Neath website to promote the area.
More people should be encouraged to save some money with the Neath Port Talbot Credit Union.
Inclusion of more vocational education in local schools, and more businesses and organisations offering apprenticeships and internships to better facilitate the transition of younger people from education into the workforce.
A Workforce Development Programme whereby the Council, trade unions, businesses et al. co-ordinate their efforts (to reduce costs) in training and upskilling the local workforce.
A Community Works Programme whereby people on Jobseekers Allowance are given the opportunity to volunteer ten hours per week on specific Council-run regeneration projects in Neath and surrounding area.
A long term project to renovate empty properties, converting them into either homes, commercial units or community facilities. Likewise the Council should set a long term goal to add solar panels onto every public building in the County Borough.
More people should be encouraged to grow their own food - with increased provision of allotments, community gardens or school-based vegatable gardens. Connected to this could be a project whereby surplus food (from various sources) could be donated to the Neath Foodbank.
A Waste to Energy scheme whereby non-recyclable waste is diverted from landfills and incinerated for local energy production. Garden and food waste could also be used for energy production (through anaerobic digestion) with the bi-product of compost being donated back to the people.
As you can see, a range of ideas - some that can be done quite easily, some that are more difficult as they involve significant financial investment.