This consultation is about the draft deposit Local Development Plan (LDP) The Local Development Plan is a legal document which will set out the planning policies in the county borough up to 2021. It will be used to decide planning applications and to guide and promote development which is in the public interest. The policies in the plan identify land for different types of development such as housing, employment, retailing, education and open space. The plan has the potential to have a direct effect on the lives of every resident of Bridgend County Borough, and has major implications for landowners and developers.

We would like your views on the LDP.

Background

The council consulted on a strategy for the LDP in 2009, and the results of that consultation have helped to shape the draft LDP. The LDP Strategy set out our proposed vision, objectives and preferred approach for the LDP up to 2021. To achieve this, the council has agreed how much development should take place up to 2021 and where in the county borough this should generally take place.

Guided by the LDP Strategy, the council has produced the draft LDP. This document contains detailed policies on where and how development in the county borough will be promoted and controlled. The plan is based on four themes which each cover a range of topics. It also identifies land for different types of development including housing, employment and retailing. The majority of new development is located within four strategic regeneration growth areas. The plan also identifies protected land and areas of countryside.

Where can I see the Plan?

• The deposit Local Development Plan (which includes the land use policies) can be read here.
• A summary of the proposals can be read here.
• The Proposals Map (which allocates areas of land for development and protection) can be viewed here.
• Supporting and Background documentation including the Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Consultation Report, Background Papers and Evidence base documents can be read here.
• The LDP Statutory Notice can be viewed here.

Consultation Methods

We want to know what you think about the proposals contained in the draft LDP. There are a variety of ways you can see the LDP and all of its supporting background documents, and you can also ask your own questions to find out how the proposals will affect you but dont forget to read the full documents before responding to the consultation and making your views known.

The consultation period will run from 4 July – 9 September 2011.

LDP exhibitions

Come along and visit the LDP exhibition which will be touring the county borough during the consultation period displaying information on the proposals:

• Saturday 23 July: Rhiw Shopping Centre, Bridgend 9am5pm
• Wednesday 27 July: Sainsburys, Bridgend 9.30am-6pm
• Saturday 30 July: Asda, Maesteg 9.30am-6pm
• Tuesday, 2 August: Garw Valley Leisure Centre 9.30am-6pm
• Thursday 4 August: Old Blaenllynfi Infants School, Caerau 9.30am-6pm
• Friday 5 August: Porthcawl Tourist Information Centre 9.30am-5pm

Between 9 August 9 September, the exhibition will also be available during normal opening hours at the Customer Service Centre in the Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend.

Community drop-in sessions

For a more in-depth look at the draft LDP, visit one of our community drop-in sessions where officers will be available to sit down and go through the proposals with you in detail. They will also be able to discuss how they could affect you and answer any questions that you may have:

• Monday 25 July: Pyle Life Centre 11am-6pm
• Tuesday 26 July: Blaengarw Workingmens Hall 11am-6pm
• Thursday 28 July: Ynysawdre Leisure Centre 11am-6pm
• Friday 29 July: Maesteg Town Hall 11am-6pm
• Monday 1 August: Ogmore Valley Life Centre 11am-6pm
• Wednesday 3 August: Pencoed Welfare Hall 11am6pm
• Saturday 6 August: Porthcawl Tourist Information centre 11am-4pm
• Monday 8 August: Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend 11am-6pm

Where can I see the plans in full?

The full documentation is available at the following locations:

• Online, using the links above.
• At any library in the County Borough.
• At the councils Customer Service Centre in Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend.

How can I give my views?

There are a number of ways you can give your views on the proposals:

• Complete an online form, this facility enables you to upload supporting documents if required;
• Download and complete a ldp;
• Fax your comments to 01656 643190.
• Write to the Group Manager for Development, Bridgend County Borough Council, Civic Offices, Angel Street, Bridgend CF31 4WB.

Please note that any representations proposing alternative sites within the LDP may need to be accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal. Further guidance on this is available to read here.

Jeremy Hunt just said he’ll let Rupert Murdoch own all of BSkyB. We have three days to flood the public consultation with requests to stop the deal, and call on the government to initiate a public inquiry into the hacking scandals. Let’s save our media and democracy. Send a message now.

Entrants could make a short film, produce a Podcast, write an essay, create a collage or submit a newspaper or magazine article. Nominations included Sir David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster; Simon Cowell, music executive and television producer; Jamie Oliver, chef and restaurateur; Dame Jacqueline Wilson, childrens author; and Willow Smith, child actress and singer!

One of the three winning entries this year was an essay submitted by 16-year-old Anna Mammedova from Swansea, who nominated local Green Party member Keith M Ross.

The citation for Annas winning essay read, For 16-year-old Anna Mammedova, from Olchfa School in Swansea, Keith Ross has proved to be an inspiring role model because of his active citizenship. Anna and her family are refugees from Azerbaijan and Keith has been their caseworker during the six years they have been in the UK. Anna nominated him because of his already tested skills in scrutinising the governments work and making its social and economic policies work for vulnerable people.

On hearing of her win, Anna said: I am really, really happy! I was confident about my essay but I did not expect to win.

Swansea Green Party member Keith Ross said: Im so pleased that Anna has nominated me for the House of Lords for the Peer Factor competition. More importantly, Im absolutely delighted for Anna as her achievement is so remarkable when you consider that English is not her first language.

More details of Peer Factor competition at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/june/peer-factor-competition-winners/

And read Anna’s winning essay here:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/lord-speaker/outreach-programme/lord-speaker-competition-2011/winning-entries/anna-mammedevo-essay-keith-ross/

Hearty congratulations to both Keith and Anna.

Bridgend Green Party would not exist today without the support and encouragement provided by Keith. He continues to be a valued mentor and font of wisdom.

It in no way diminishes the threat that the industry poses, but serves to underline the just how immoral the whole industry is, and how we should distance ourselves from it for ever more reasons than already documented. It offers a sound argument for not allowing test drilling as it is effectively used to create the speculative data to encourage the speculation that underpins the scam.

It focuses on the Marcellus formations in the USA – but the principles are exactly the same here in South Wales and other frack threatened areas.

NB : Bilk – definition:
1. Obtain or withhold money by deceit or without justification; cheat or defraud.
2. Obtain (money) fraudulently.

This all puts this report from Eden Energy into context for you:

http://www.edenenergy.com.au/pdfs/926201282fa9408ce7db90979f0a8cfb.pdf

“Do you want to know why I think that there never will be fracking in Wales?
Today all the schools in Wales were closed or partially closed, unlike England and Scotland.
Solidarity and an acute understanding of what matters and a willingness to stand up against what is wrong – That’s the Welsh!!!!”

Thank you Johnny!!

Johnny is one the main forces behind the FRACKING HELL UK Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_181312585243017&id=222190311155244

Venue Address:

UWIC School of Management,

200 Western Avenue, Cardiff

Llandaff

Cardiff CF5 2YB

Wales A Cooperative Nation
The Co-operative Group in association with the IWA

Conference Agenda

9.15am Registration & Coffee

9.45am The Co-operative in Wales
Gareth Williams – The Co-operative Bank

10.30am Combining Commerce & Ethics
Paul Monaghan Head of Social GoalsThe Co-operative

11.15am Coffee Break

11.30am Mini Forums
What can Wales do to:
Tackle Global Poverty?
Combat Climate Change?
Inspire Young People?

1.00pm Lunch
Between 1.15pm 1.45pm Leanne Wood AM will be presenting her discussion paper A Greenprint for the Valleys in the Hospitality Suite

2.00pm Co-operation in the Community (3 x 20 minute sessions)
The Wales Co-operative Centre
Communities First
MENCAP

3.00pm Mini Forums Feedback

3.15pm Wales A Cooperative Nation
Prof. Mark Drakeford AM

4.00pm Conference Closes

I will be in attendance and have been offered the opportunity to say something about what has happened/ is happening in Wales. If anyone is free, the event is free and I would welcome your company. I have just booked train/tube travel for just over £30, leaving just after lunchtime.

Looking a little further ahead:

Camp FrackWeekend of 17th-18th September.
Put this date in your diary more info soon.

Join the resistance to the fracking invasion! Stop the massive expansion of shale gas extraction in the UK! We need renewables – not another source of fossil fuel!

Camp Frack will be close to the operating rig at Singleton, near Blackpool. It will be organised with the support of a local landowner. It will involve workshops on shale gas, and on planning the campaign against it. It will involve raising local awareness about the problems with shale gas and an action day of peaceful protest against the drilling activities currently in progress in the Blackpool area.
Full details here: http://www.campaigncc.org/campfrack

This happens to be the weekend after Green Party Conference – in Sheffield, which I hope as many of you as possible will try to get to.

Green Party Autumn Conference 2011

9-12 September, Sheffield Hallam University
Timetable
Conference opens with the Leader’s speech at 1.30pm on Friday 9th September and closes at 3.10pm
On Monday 12th September.
Download a preliminary timetable here.

Bookings
Book online
Download a postal booking form
Note: Non-members are also welcome to attend Conference as ‘Observers’ with access to the majority of sessions
But without voting rights. Observers should book in the same way as members using one of the methods above.

Full details here: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/conference.html

This can be seen at any scale, from global to local. It is, for example, why I am so passionate about stopping capitalist interests frack up my home region. It is about the legacy we leave our children with.

On another level, consider this:

Wales Green Party leader Jake Griffiths recently visited a newly built Eco-social housing site, owned by Cadwyn Housing, to demonstrate the widespread benefits renewable technologies could bring to Wales. The Green Party is highlighting how its policies to create a sustainable economy will help to tackle social and economic issues as well as environmental ones.

Jake Griffiths said:

“This is a great example of the benefits increased investment and imaginative thinking around renewable technologies could bring to Wales. Renewables won’t just tackle environmental issues like climate change and resource depletion, they will also address many of the social problems we are faced with.

“For example, renewable energy and better insulation mean cheaper heating bills for tenants. On a wider scale this kind of thinking would massively help to reduce fuel poverty and prevent the disgraceful situation we found ourselves in last winter when 25% of Welsh households struggled to heat their homes (1).

“Converting to renewables would create thousands of green jobs, and help put people back to work. They would also give us more energy security at a time when oil and gas supplies are becoming more and more unstable. And of course they will also help us to reduce our carbon emissions and tackle climate change. This really is a win-win situation.”

Greens are calling for increased investment in social housing to support the depressed building industry, create jobs and address demand and affordability. They also argue that new housing should be regulated to introduce minimum standards.

I hope you can all see how it all fits together.

Andy

(1) http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/02/09/children-living-in-fuel-poverty-see-health-and-education-suffer-91466-28138372/

It was a pretty well attended meeting overall. It was chaired by a Community Councillor (who seemed think this was about the extent of his commitment to the cause) but featured Janice Gregory AM, who is clearly on the case and doing the right things, and Dr Porter from the sugery, who was very articulate and impressive.

The points in my open letter were repeatedly stressed by the majority of contributors. The absurdity of the Rural classification by the ABM Health Board is clear to all and there is considerable hope that this will be duly overturned.

We will do our bit in encouraging the letter-writing approach that was generally acknowledged as the best strategy at the moment.

My Open letter has had responses from ABM Health Bridgend Director, Matthew Bunce, and the Welsh Assembly Civil Servant handling the issue, Mark Welsby. They both stress that no decisions have been made, and I get the distinct feeling that the great and fast groundswell of opinion against these proposals will win the day.

You can help by writing too:
Write to Mark Welsby, Dept of Health & Social Services,

Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ

Or email him: mark.welsby@wales.gsi.gov.uk

TELL HIM: Why Bettws is a Rural village and not an UrbAn town –

What it would mean to you to lose your doctor’s surgery.

Singularly less impressive was the absence of any other elected representative. Bettws Cllr. Michaelides could not tear himself away from his Mayoral duties, which got the appropriate groans that acknowledged no surprise there! But credit where it is due, Janice Gregory was the most important person to be present and she clearly knows the community well and is fighting their corner. She generally impresses me whenever our paths cross. She might even be the last Socialist in the Labour Party!