Swan Song
Dear reader,
The following is a list of mainly Torfaen borough council employees that are
aware, via meetings, phone, conversations or emails of the aims and objectives
of our voluntary organisation - Rock Bottom Promotions.
Over the last three years, and especially this year we have spoken to people
on this list regarding lack of help, guidance or even interest in what we are
trying to do for our youth and community as a whole.
Our endeavours have been met with shows of lethargy, evasion, empty
promises, lip service, bewilderment and generally, total disinterest.
We have been told that there isn’t any funding available because TCBC
has had to “tighten its belt“ . Yet a similar organisation in the north of
Torfaen has been helped to secure tens of thousands in funding and has
recieved consultancy on a weekly basis.
We have a bored fragmented community left to its own devices to improve
its lot . We have a council run by people who shouldn’t be in office dictating
to us and turning a deaf ear to the grievances of the people its supposed to be there to serve.
As everyone knows, our aim has always been to provide regular entertainment
for the community in the form of concerts performed by local musicians , young
and old.
Whatever flimsy excuses these people have for not making every effort to help us
achieve this, the fact remains that there is still nothing for the community to look
forward to and more specially nothing for our kids during this summer break.
We now realise that this has been a futile struggle. The council is not there for its community, its there for the council. The decision makers, “ the highly paid and highly qualified staff ( quote from Mr Bill Hill, head of regeneration)are intent on maintaining the status quo and safeguarding the gravy train they’ve been riding at our expense
We have spoken to every person we’ve been directed to as “ the one in charge“
and are confident that the council is aware of the situation .
We can only conclude that our project it not worthy of their participation.
We now realise it would not be an option to continue without it,
because as we've found out , everything that happens in Torfaen has to be rubber stamped by Mr Bob Wellington and sometimes his helpers. We will just have to tread water until the community
wakes up to the impotence of these people , and sweeps them away.
On a personal note I must say that the appalling attitude and the dreadful treatment
I have received from the council and its employees throughout this episode, I would only expect from a dictatorship. Their ignorance and lack of understanding of the needs of this community is quite apparent and I for one would applaud an investigation into the way the council conducts itself.
Mike Spokes .
Councillor Robert G Wellington
LEADER TORFAEN COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Civic Centre
PONTYPOOL
Torfaen
NP4 6YB
Tel: 01495 766085
Fax: 01495 766100
ALISON WARD ,chief executive .
The Civic Centre
Pontypool
Torfaen
NP4 6YB
Tel: 01495 762200
Fax: 01495 755513
Paul Matthews
Deputy Chief Executive / Strategic Director (Communities)
Tel: 01495 766064
Mobile: 07980 682397
Bill Hill
CHIEF OFFICER REGENERATION
The Regeneration Service
Torfaen County Borough Council
3rd Floor
County Hall
Cwmbran
Torfaen
NP44 2WN
Tel: 01495 762200
Fax: 01633 648164
Sally Church
Head of Leisure, Culture and Community Services.
Contact : 01633 648980
Email: sally.church@torfaen.gov.uk|
Verity Hiscocks
MARKETING, EVENTS & CREATIVE INDUSTRIES MANAGER
Tel:01633 628968 (internal 8968)
Fax:01633 628935 (internal 8935)
Mobile: 07980 682217
email: verity.hiscocks@torfaen.gov.uk|
Victoria Walden
Trainee Arts Development Officer
Regeneration Service
Torfaen County Borough Council
Tel: 01633 628937 (int: 8937)
Fax: 01633 628935 (int: 8935)
Mobile: 07980-682698
External email: victoria.walden@torfaen.gov.uk|
Mark Sharwood
POLICY & SCRUTINY OFFICER
Tel: 01495 766323 (internal 6323)
Ext E-Mail: mark.sharwood@torfaen.gov.uk|
Jay Ryan MUSICAL YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR Exception to the rule .Actually helped
Tel: 01633 628991 (internal 8991) but severely restricted by her superiors.
Mob: 07980 682444
Fax: 01633 628935 (internal 8935)
Ext E-mail: jay.ryan@torfaen.gov.uk
Sarah Campbell
Musical Youth Development Worker
Office: 01633 628991(internal 8991)
Fax: 01633 628935
Mobile: 07980 682139
David Orphan
Secretary
CWMBRAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL .
Catherine Hillier
SENIOR ASSISTANT TO THE LEADER
TORFAEN COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Civic Centre
PONTYPOOL
Torfaen
NP4 6YB
Tel: 01495 766085
Fax: 01495 766100
Email: cath.hillier@torfaen.gov.uk|
Sue Browne
Health and Well-being Development Manager
Torfaen County Borough Council
Floor 5
Civic Centre
Pontypool
NP4 6YB
Direct line: 01495 766147
Email
Nikki Davies
Social Inclusion Officer
Tel: 01633 628974
Mobile: 07980682035
Fax: 01633 628935 Email: nicola.davies@torfaen.gov.uk|
Sonia Evans
SECRETARY
Tel: 01633 628932 (internal 8932)
Fax: 01633 628935 (internal 8935)
E-mail: sonia.evans@torfaen.gov.uk|
Sally Partridge
DIRECTOR GREENMEADOW COMMUNITY FARM
Tel: 01633 647664 (internal 7664)
Fax: 01633 647671 (internal 7671)
E-Mail: sally.partridge@torfaen.gov.uk|
Louise Powell
Project Funding & Finance Officer
Torfaen Key Funds, External Funding
Tel: 01633 648030
Mob: 07967 706211
Fax: 01633 648086
E-mail: louise.powell@torfaen.gov.uk|
Office of Huw Lewis AM & Lynne Neagle AM
sarah.merry@Wales.gov.uk
Tel: (029) 20 821941
Peter Kennedy
Torfaen Voluntary Alliance
Telephone 01495 756646