Pontypool Community Council

Pontypool, like the rest of the coalfield, suffered from the demise of the coal industry and in recent years, efforts have been made to regenerate the town. Pontypool is located in the borough of Torfaen in which there are a number of notable efforts to develop sustainable communities.

Pontypool Community Council has successfully implemented various projects that promote sustainable development, and this is in large part due to their partnership work, and the strength of conviction of certain individuals who accept the need for a new more sustainable approach.

The Community Council has achieved various actions and projects that promote sustainable development, and the freedom of subject-specific sub committees to pursue their interests and goals has been key to the success of these.

The Community Council has particularly concerned itself with local schools, many of which are registered as Eco Schools.  The Council runs an environmental quiz for schools, which links with a quiz run by the neighbouring Cwmbran Community Council, and the winning school gets a money prize.

The Council also provides grants for school environmental improvements such as the ‘Schools In Bloom’ scheme to encourage recycling and composting. A grant of £1000 each was provided to three schools that each ran a project to study the environment or to improve school grounds. One school for example was given a £1000 grant to support a scheme to grow food both in the school grounds and on neighbouring allotments.

Through both the Eco Schools and ‘Schools In Bloom,’ the Council has been increasing the awareness and activities of schools, and has raised awareness among the general population, about the challenges of climate change and the mitigation measures that can be adopted.

As well as working with the local community, the Council has worked with international partners - having held a conference with its twin towns from Germany, Portugal and France, in which both adults and young people discussed ideas for carbon reduction actions at the community level. There is a commitment to maintain the links with the twinned towns as a Europe-wide network of shared learning.

Through these various projects, the Council has supported awareness raising and behaviour change efforts and seeks to learn from other communities. Councillors attended the Torfaen sustainability seminar and are committed to supporting the development of a number of sustainability initiatives that are led by the county borough council.

Many Councillors contribute to the work of county borough bodies concerned with both rural and urban regeneration. The Community Council is thus integrated into sustainable development processes that operate at a larger geographical scale. The link with Torfaen County Borough Council is particularly important in this regard.

The Council has also been instrumental in encouraging the local authority to develop detailed policies to reduce the county borough’s carbon footprint.

The recognition of the Community Council’s planning role as an opportunity to influence more sustainable behaviours and developments has been one of the keys to success.

The good work done by Pontypool Community Council reflects the fact that town and community councils do have an important role in sustainable development, but must integrate with the county borough council in order to achieve success. There is little they can do alone but much they can do in partnership. A joint strategy with the county-level authority will formalise a strategic partnership approach.

Much of the good work done in Pontypool has been thanks to the freedom of individual Councillors to take opportunities as they arise. All Councillors need to understand the level of threat posed by issues such as climate change, rising oil and energy prices and a dwindling of the world’s resources.

Not all Councillors understand or are sympathetic to the principles of sustainable development, and those who are already committed to sustainable development as a concept need greater skills to take further action while the undecided need explanation and inspiration.

Individual councils need a network of shared learning, and individual Councillors who are committed to sustainable development would benefit from supporting each other.

Town and community councils need to see themselves as part of a wider movement for change resulting in a sustainable future, working in partnership to provide an important link in wider community development.

Thanks to: - Cllr John Garwell, Chair of the Countryside Committee. Council

Partnership

• Local primary and secondary schools
• Rural development bodies
• Torfaen County Borough Council
• Neighbouring Community Council – Cwmbran
• European twin towns

Resources and Training

• The community council worked with the county council to access European and lottery funding
• One Voice Wales facilitated links with the Zero Carbon Ashton Hayes community initiative
• The Council is able to draw upon considerable reserves built up over time, mainly from the precept