PONTYPOOL CIRCA 1960
Act Now—Help Shape Pontypool’s Future Before It’s Too Late!
Pontypool has shaped my life from the very beginning—and its story deserves an exciting new chapter. My name is Ian Williams, and I was born here in 1945, in a row of two-up, two-down cottages beside the Afon Lwyd, within the Town Forge. From there, my family moved to Osborne Road to live with my grandmother, and later to 64 St Cadocs Road on the new estate, where I remained until I joined the Army. Pontypool was famous then, and its proud history still matters today. But what comes next? As we look at the town’s strengths, challenges and possibilities, I invite you to discover what could be done to give Pontypool the vibrant future it deserves.
This website explores the issues Pontypool faces, examines how they affect the town and its people, and calls for bold, practical action before further opportunities are lost. It is a place to confront difficult questions, recognise Pontypool’s strengths and build a shared vision for lasting renewal—and the solutions needed to secure its future.
People of Pontypool, the time to act is now. Our town’s future will not be secured by waiting for someone else to save it. It depends on all of us—residents, businesses, community groups and everyone who cares about this place—coming together with courage, ideas and determination. Let us restore pride to our streets, create new opportunities and rebuild the sense of hope and belonging that every person deserves. Speak up, step forward, share your skills and take part. Together, we can revive Pontypool, strengthen our community and build better lives for ourselves and the generations who follow.
Unite, Speak Up and Demand Change
Let us come together as one united community—determined to be heard and unwilling to accept further neglect. We must demand clear commitments, transparent decisions and proper investment in Pontypool, ensuring that public money is spent where it will make a visible and lasting difference. By standing together, setting shared priorities and holding decision-makers to account, we can turn our collective voice into real action and secure the renewal our town deserves. Everyone in Pontypool can play a part in bringing our town back to life. Start with one action, invite others to join you and help build visible momentum: Now is the moment for Pontypool to rise together. When we stand as one community, our voices cannot be ignored. Let us unite behind a shared vision, speak with confidence and demand the change our town deserves. Every pound invested in Pontypool should create visible opportunities, stronger services, thriving streets and a better quality of life for everyone. Together, we can turn pride into progress, hope into action and determination into lasting renewal. This is our town, our future and our chance to make a difference—so let us step forward, be heard and build the Pontypool we know is possible.
Start this week: attend the next community meeting, volunteer for a town clean-up, spend with an independent Pontypool business, and write to your councillors asking what funding is committed, where it will be spent and when residents will see results. Act today: add your voice, join this local initiative, bring forward your ideas and encourage others to stand with us. Together, let us turn our shared determination into visible change for Pontypool and the surrounding areas!
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One town. One voice. One future. Together, we will make Pontypool rise again.
AN EXAMPLE OF PLANNING AND MISSPENT MONEY
Pontypool has not been best served by Torfaen’s Council and the decision to turn the Toilet using over £10 million to do it can only be an act of grave misconduct! It can be construed as turning the toilet into a café whilst having turned the town into a toilet!!! One must reflect and think, is this their way of providing amenities for the staff in the Civic Centre, after they closed the canteen in that very building? Where else would this facility attract its clientele? The town is empty on most days and their idea that people using the Park where there is already a very good facility in the Leisure Centre who’s users arrive by car and leave without going near the town. The other source of footfall they say would be those 1,000s who attend the rugby matches….so will they use it, not on your nelly, the only ones using that way out head for the Comrades for a pint!
This is a blunder of the first magnitude, and it reflects a shocking lack of foresight and understanding of the town’s real needs. Instead of investing in projects that genuinely benefit the community, the council has chosen a spectacle that serves little practical purpose, alienates residents, and squanders public funds. This decision not only undermines trust in local governance but also highlights a disconnect between policymakers and the people they are meant to serve.