Clem I don't quite understand where you are coming from on this, it isn't my ward who is suffering diproportionately as you imply the station is in my ward and therefore unlike other wards about a third of my electorate are not affected by the bus timing.
I am very concerned about it, however, you will recall that the feeder buses were introduced by the last Labour council and removed by the present coalition council. Labour organised a petition to save the feeder buses and were mocked on this forum for doing so. I have now asked the Joint Transport Unit to reschedule their timetables and the answer from the council is that there is no money for extra subsidy. I have no control over Stagecoach and neither does any other councillor - they are a private company who take their own commercial decisions and I suspect you know that.
I am as desirous as you to rectify this matter, because it affects the economic well being of the area, but don't imply I have done nothing where the Ebbw Valley rail link is concerned, if you just want a pop at me think of a different subject , because I can defend my record on this one _________________ This is my truth. Now tell me yours.
Clem I don't quite understand where you are coming from on this, it isn't my ward who is suffering diproportionately as you imply the station is in my ward and therefore unlike other wards about a third of my electorate are not affected by the bus timing.
I am very concerned about it, however, you will recall that the feeder buses were introduced by the last Labour council and removed by the present coalition council. Labour organised a petition to save the feeder buses and were mocked on this forum for doing so. I have now asked the Joint Transport Unit to reschedule their timetables and the answer from the council is that there is no money for extra subsidy. I have no control over Stagecoach and neither does any other councillor - they are a private company who take their own commercial decisions and I suspect you know that.
I am as desirous as you to rectify this matter, because it affects the economic well being of the area, but don't imply I have done nothing where the Ebbw Valley rail link is concerned, if you just want a pop at me think of a different subject , because I can defend my record on this one
Hhhhmmm Can`t say I`m convinced Hedley
Correct me if I`m wrong, but didn`t the WAG fund the bus link and didn`t they also withdraw that funding? Are you implying that a Labour administration would have stepped in with council taxpayers money? As for the petition....well, you didn`t know whether you were coming from a position of strength or weakness did you, i.e. how did funding and passenger numbers compare with other rail link buses in South Wales. It was the obvious starting point for any campaign and you didn`t know the answer. Nor did you care to find out.
Stagecoach is indeed a private company: one that does very well thank you on public subsidies. If I pay for a service I am considered to be a customer. Stagecoach and their ilk should remember that principle and, more importantly, so should those who hand over our money.
Might I suggest that you stick to constituency only issues, then you won`t get popped at so often.
Clem I don't quite understand where you are coming from on this, it isn't my ward who is suffering diproportionately as you imply the station is in my ward and therefore unlike other wards about a third of my electorate are not affected by the bus timing.
I am very concerned about it, however, you will recall that the feeder buses were introduced by the last Labour council and removed by the present coalition council. Labour organised a petition to save the feeder buses and were mocked on this forum for doing so. I have now asked the Joint Transport Unit to reschedule their timetables and the answer from the council is that there is no money for extra subsidy. I have no control over Stagecoach and neither does any other councillor - they are a private company who take their own commercial decisions and I suspect you know that.
I am as desirous as you to rectify this matter, because it affects the economic well being of the area, but don't imply I have done nothing where the Ebbw Valley rail link is concerned, if you just want a pop at me think of a different subject , because I can defend my record on this one
Not full information.
The feeder buses were put in place with money provided by outside bodies, indirectly from WAG.
The feeder buses were withdrawn because that funding was withdrawn.
The Council's money was never used.
I wouldn't be wrong in saying that you could look on the Council as being the procuror of the services on behalf of WAG, and regrettably as the terminator of them since WAG didn't want to carry on paying.
I would hope it had nothing to do with politics. _________________ Rocke
Tuesday afforded an opportunity in the Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to discuss the rail link.I had previously received agreement from the Chair Cllr.Collier to establish a working party aimed at taking forward and monitoring progress on expanding the Ebbw Valley Railway. I told the meeting that it was unfortunate that much drivel and nonsense was being expounded on the subject ultimately to the detriment of the project and the area.
I repeated the content of the meeting Royston Welch and myself had with Rhodri Morgan aboard the Ebbw Vale-Cardiff train when it was agreed that expansion would happen as funds became available. Firstly a link to the General Offices, secondly a link to Newport and thirdly a line to Abertillery.
There was also some discussion about my attempts via the Joint Passenger Transport Unit to reschedule buses to connect with the train, but that Stagecoach say they are unwilling to do without extra subsidy and the council say they are unable to pay the extra. I told the meeting to place on record that the Labour controlled council had not funded the feeder buses , but had procured the service and that achievement is a matter of fact. There was general agreement on these matters from the meeting which included the Chair, the Executive member Cllr Wilcox and the Head of Regeneration and nobody present disputed the subjects raised or took issue with what were already matters of public record. _________________ This is my truth. Now tell me yours.
Tuesday afforded an opportunity in the Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to discuss the rail link.I had previously received agreement from the Chair Cllr.Collier to establish a working party aimed at taking forward and monitoring progress on expanding the Ebbw Valley Railway. I told the meeting that it was unfortunate that much drivel and nonsense was being expounded on the subject ultimately to the detriment of the project and the area.
I repeated the content of the meeting Royston Welch and myself had with Rhodri Morgan aboard the Ebbw Vale-Cardiff train when it was agreed that expansion would happen as funds became available. Firstly a link to the General Offices, secondly a link to Newport and thirdly a line to Abertillery.
There was also some discussion about my attempts via the Joint Passenger Transport Unit to reschedule buses to connect with the train, but that Stagecoach say they are unwilling to do without extra subsidy and the council say they are unable to pay the extra. I told the meeting to place on record that the Labour controlled council had not funded the feeder buses , but had procured the service and that achievement is a matter of fact. There was general agreement on these matters from the meeting which included the Chair, the Executive member Cllr Wilcox and the Head of Regeneration and nobody present disputed the subjects raised or took issue with what were already matters of public record.
And there you have it, in black and white.
Abertillery - the last to be done.
I - as a lot of people - used to believe that this valley ( especially Abertillery ) was the poor relation of the borough because the majority of the ruling Labour Group weren't Ebbw Fach councillors.
Those who remember my follow-up to Bob Smith's 'knock Aber down and start again' letter will remember how I then stated that although Aber had less shops etc. we had more of one thing than we had since the beginning of BG. That was more Executive Members - subsequently we had the Leader of the Council, no less.
And what did they do for us ?
Well, Royston Welch and Hedley McCarthy apparently agreed that Abertillery could get its link after:
1) Ebbw Vale got its ( well up to Victoria at least ) ;
2) Ebbw Vale got its extended, into Ebbw Vale ;
3) Ebbw Vale got its Newport link.
I rest my case.
( Give them enough rope and they'll hang each other as well, by the seems of it ). _________________ Rocke
Yeah put it down it's too heavy for you. If you can't debate it in the chamber just let it rest. _________________ This is my truth. Now tell me yours.
Adrian and Ian I agree with you, it's tiresome, but wouldn't you both expect that if you send a representative to the council he/she may debate on your behalf in the chamber when a subject like a rail link for Abertillery is discussed, well you would be wrong. What you get is someone acting like a spell check on the minutes and saying very little that is meaningful besides. Then up he pops on this forum with all the answers. Just how "clever" is that. _________________ This is my truth. Now tell me yours.
I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT HEDLEY. _________________ "Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault".
Dr. David M. Burns
Last edited by IAN(boco)jones on Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:47 am; edited 1 time in total
Adrian and Ian I agree with you, it's tiresome, but wouldn't you both expect that if you send a representative to the council he/she may debate on your behalf in the chamber when a subject like a rail link for Abertillery is discussed, well you would be wrong. What you get is someone acting like a spell check on the minutes and saying very little that is meaningful besides. Then up he pops on this forum with all the answers. Just how "clever" is that.
Yes, well you would be wrong.
Apparently those who represented Abertillery on the last Council(s) :
a) didn't speak up for Abertillery with the authority that they undoubtedly had ( Leader, Executive Member ); and
b) didn't even debate it in the council chamber apparently - it was a cosy little chat with none other than Grandpa Rhodri.
A Councillor's primary responsibility is to act in the best interests of their constituents. Ebbw Fawr and Sirhowy valleys Members have clearly done that over the years.
When it comes to (some of) ours what did we get ?
Just wait until this gets out.
There won't be any smokescreens about spell checking, highly subjective comments etc.
YOU HAVE SEEN IT FOR YOURSELVES.
IN FACT, JUST LIKE 'HEDLEYMCCARTHY' PROVED THEMSELVES DISENGENUOUS REGARDING THE FOUNDRY BRIDGE WE NOW FIND AN ADMISSION THAT THEY KNEW THE RAIL LINK WASN'T COMING UNTIL:
A) EBBW VALE HAD ITS EXTENSION FROM VICTORIA;
B) EBBW VALE HAD ITS LINK TO NEWPORT.
So let's now ask these questions ( which on past performance won't be answered ):
1) Why have the public been led to believe that a rail link would be here within a few years of the EV one ?
2) Did the Leader of the Labour Group on BGCBC not consult with/update our Labour-led Community Council via either established links or via the Party machine regarding where we were in the queue for a rail link ?
One that might be answered:
3) What does the Community Council think of it now ?
And most importantly, one question that I'm sure will have a few answers.
What do YOU, people of Abertillery, think of this admission ? _________________ Rocke
Tuesday afforded an opportunity in the Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to discuss the rail link.I had previously received agreement from the Chair Cllr.Collier to establish a working party aimed at taking forward and monitoring progress on expanding the Ebbw Valley Railway. I told the meeting that it was unfortunate that much drivel and nonsense was being expounded on the subject ultimately to the detriment of the project and the area.
I repeated the content of the meeting Royston Welch and myself had with Rhodri Morgan aboard the Ebbw Vale-Cardiff train when it was agreed that expansion would happen as funds became available. Firstly a link to the General Offices, secondly a link to Newport and thirdly a line to Abertillery.
There was also some discussion about my attempts via the Joint Passenger Transport Unit to reschedule buses to connect with the train, but that Stagecoach say they are unwilling to do without extra subsidy and the council say they are unable to pay the extra. I told the meeting to place on record that the Labour controlled council had not funded the feeder buses , but had procured the service and that achievement is a matter of fact. There was general agreement on these matters from the meeting which included the Chair, the Executive member Cllr Wilcox and the Head of Regeneration and nobody present disputed the subjects raised or took issue with what were already matters of public record.
Are you able to report what exactly this "drivel and nonsense" is and how it is detrimental to the project? Either we`re going to get an expanded service or we`re not. It would be very unfair to blame those who are simply pointing out the truth to cover up the double-handed politics.
I note your use of "as funds become available", one of those phrases beloved by politicians that give the impression of action but are in reality meaningless.
I would like to raise a few valid points on the last few posts.
In reguard to CLLR Mcarthy's statement that one third of his constituents are not effected suggests two thirds are directly effected.
Also i find it incredible if as was stated by Saeson that the bus and train miss their connection by as little as two minutes, that the relevant parties IE: COUNCIL, NETWORK RAIL AND STAGECOACH, can not see sense, and the two transport companies reschedule half the time difference each, we're talking a minute each! without the need for more subsidy.
Do'nt they all realise that if bus and train make their respective connections they will both receive (MORE CUSTOMERS) which is their primary aim.
And they would then be providing the public service that they should be providing. _________________ "Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault".
Retiming the X15 to meet trains at Llan station would help, but The X15 rarely runs to time as it is.
The whole Llanhilleth - Abertillery - Brynmawr corridor needs better links, perhaps a 10 minute frequency service as enjoyed by places like Blackwood & Newbridge?
I needed to get to Abergavenny early one morning recently, a trip involving a change at Brynmawr. I found the earliest X15 from Llan to Brynmawr is 8.14 and it gets in to Brynmawr just as the connection to Abergavenny is leaving. There seems to be no sense of integration or co-ordination at all. Do the powers that be actually want us to use public transport or is it all hot air talk?
Here's a radical concept: how about one ticket that be used for through journeys on both trains and buses? It could be a sort of Blaenau Gwent Rider allowing passengers to travel around the Borough as needed, and also to take a bus to their nearest rail station and then go to Cardiff (and Newport when possible) by train?
Tip: for a quicker way into Newport from Llan, try taking the 22 into Pontypool and nipping onto an X24.
I honestly believe that the bus doesn't meet the rail times deliberately just so people have to make a chioce between the two instead of using the services together. It could only happen in this country.
_________________ er gwaetha pawb a phopeth dwi'n dysgu o hyd!
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Can`t say I`m convinced Hedley
