#cllr-steve-hunt — Public Fediverse posts

Neath Port Talbot Council leader wades into Ospreys row with blistering warning to WRU

Cllr Steve Hunt has written directly to WRU chair Richard Collier‑Keywood and the Board as the union continues to consider slashing Wales’ professional teams from four to three — a move that could leave the Ospreys fighting for survival.

The intervention piles fresh political pressure onto the WRU after weeks of turmoil, public anger and competing claims from councils, supporters, former players and senior politicians.

‘Removing this region would weaken grassroots rugby’

In his letter, Cllr Hunt said the Ospreys represent one of the biggest rugby communities in Wales, rooted in the proud histories of Neath and Swansea.

He warned that scrapping or downgrading the region would “disenfranchise a significant supporter base” and damage alignment with dozens of grassroots clubs and schools.

The council leader said the Ospreys’ community programmes deliver “measurable benefits” in health, education and inclusion — outcomes local authorities are legally required to promote.

Case made for keeping four regions — or keeping Ospreys if cut to three

Cllr Hunt urged the WRU to retain four regions, arguing that a national footprint is essential for participation, performance and long‑term success.

But he also made clear that if the WRU presses ahead with a three‑region model, the Ospreys must be included.

He highlighted the region’s record on the field — the most successful Welsh side in league competition — and its history of producing elite players including Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, Adam Jones, Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar and Gavin Henson.

Economic and social impact across Swansea Bay

The letter also sets out the wider consequences of losing the Ospreys, pointing to the economic boost from home fixtures and the region’s established facilities, partnerships and commercial footprint.

Cllr Hunt said the Ospreys’ presence supports jobs, supply chains and community cohesion across Swansea Bay.

Call for transparency — and a rethink

The council leader called for a “transparent, evidence‑based impact assessment” before any restructuring, and for structured engagement with local authorities and regional partners.

He also referenced the recent intervention from Ospreys legends Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones and James Hook, who have publicly urged the WRU to rethink its plans.

Neath Port Talbot Council, he said, stands ready to work with the WRU, the Ospreys and neighbouring authorities to secure a sustainable future for professional rugby.

Cllr Hunt’s letter to the WRU

Another major voice enters a fast‑moving saga

The battle for the Ospreys has already ignited one of the fiercest rows Welsh rugby has seen in years. Swansea RFC has blasted the WRU for keeping clubs “in the dark”, while hundreds of supporters have packed into Brangwyn Hall in a show of defiance rarely seen in regional rugby.

Swansea Council has threatened legal action, accusing the WRU of mishandling the process, and supporters’ groups from the Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff have joined forces to fight the restructure. MPs and MSs have piled in too, warning of a “stitch‑up” that could wipe out professional rugby across Swansea Bay.

Rugby icons including Alun Wyn Jones, Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones and James Hook have all demanded the WRU rethink its plans, and actor Michael Sheen has added his voice to the growing backlash.

The WRU insists no final decision has been made — but with political leaders, councils, supporters and legends now lining up against the proposals, the pressure is rising fast. Cllr Hunt’s intervention is the latest sign that this saga is nowhere near its final whistle.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Swansea RFC fury as club says it was kept in the dark over Ospreys merger plan
Swansea RFC accuses the WRU of shutting clubs out of talks as anger grows over regional plans.

Hundreds pack Brangwyn Hall as Swansea unites to fight for Ospreys’ future
Supporters flood into a public meeting in one of the biggest shows of backing for the region.

WRU brands council statement ‘inaccurate’ as Ospreys insist no decision made
The WRU hits back at claims over the region’s future as uncertainty deepens.

Swansea Council threatens legal action as Ospreys saga explodes
Swansea Council escalates the row, warning the WRU it is prepared to go to court.

£3.6m secured to make more than 620 coal tips safe in Neath Port Talbot

The funding, confirmed through the Welsh Government’s new multiyear coal tip safety grant scheme, will be spent over the next three years as the council steps up work to manage ageing tips made increasingly unstable by extreme weather.

Neath Port Talbot has some of the highest concentrations of former coal tips in the country, many of them sitting close to homes, roads and rivers. The council said the condition of tips can change quickly, with heavy rain and storms increasing the risk of movement.

£1.2m of the funding will be used to create a dedicated Tip Management Team responsible for inspections, monitoring and planning future mitigation works. The team will work closely with the Mining Remediation Authority to ensure the council can respond quickly to any emerging risks.

A further £2.4m will go directly into mitigation works already identified as necessary to keep communities safe. These will be prioritised based on risk, with additional funding allocated if further issues are uncovered.

Neath Port Talbot is one of 10 councils to secure support through the scheme, which runs until the end of the 2028‑29 financial year. In total, £80m is being made available across Wales.

Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Councillor Steve Hunt, said:

“Safeguarding communities from unsafe coal tips is vital. This funding shows Neath Port Talbot Council is taking a proactive approach to address the problem. We hope this provides reassurance to residents that their safety is a priority.”

The council said the work will help modernise the way coal tips are monitored, ensuring regular inspections and long‑term planning as climate change increases the likelihood of heavy rainfall and ground instability.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

New data reveals rising coal tip risk in Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot
Latest figures show increasing pressure on ageing coal tips across the region.

Landmark coal tip safety law comes into force in Wales
New legislation introduces modern monitoring and inspection rules for former coal tips.

Safety works to begin at Cwmgwrach coal tip to reduce landslip risk
Mitigation work starts at a high‑risk site to protect nearby homes and roads.

Record funding for coal tip safety works announced
More than £6.3m allocated to Neath Port Talbot as part of a national safety programme.

Councillors back bold plan to explore Swansea Valley tram‑train link

Green Party councillor Nathan Goldup‑John brought the motion to a full council meeting on 17 December, urging officers to investigate a tram‑train route running from Aberdulais or Tonna into Swansea — with scope for future extensions deeper into the valleys.

‘Time to re‑imagine the Neath corridor’

Cllr Goldup‑John said the region needed to think big about transport, describing the Neath corridor as a “green, connected spine for south west Wales”.

He argued that an electrified tram‑train system could cut car dependency and reduce emissions, while also unlocking regeneration opportunities along the route.

The proposal, he said, would dovetail with the wider Swansea Bay Metro vision, creating a fast, low‑carbon link between valley communities and the city.

He added that new Metro‑style stations could connect directly with local bus routes, giving residents across the county borough far better access to reliable public transport.

Cross‑party support – with one caveat

Labour’s Cllr Sonia Reynolds said her group supported the motion but stressed it must not undermine the council’s push for bus franchising, due to roll out by 2027.

Council leader Cllr Steve Hunt also backed the proposal, while reassuring members that buses remain a top transport priority.

What happens next?

Councillors voted unanimously to support the motion. Officers will now prepare a report for cabinet before the end of the financial year, including options for commissioning a full feasibility study.

If progressed, the scheme could form a major new strand of the Swansea Bay Metro – and potentially reconnect valley communities with Swansea by rail for the first time in generations.

Neath Port Talbot Council leader says First Cymru bus strike postponed

The planned continuous strike by First Cymru bus drivers, due to begin on Thursday 20 November, has been postponed until 7 December, according to a late-night Facebook post by Neath Port Talbot Council leader Cllr Steve Hunt.

Cllr Hunt published the update at 10.31pm on Tuesday, writing:

“The First Cymru bus drivers strike has been postponed and will not go ahead from this Thursday 20th November. After talks today between First Cymru and Unite the Union, the planned strike action that was to continue from this Thursday 20th November has been postponed until 7th December.”

At the time of writing, no official confirmation has been issued by either First Cymru or Unite, leaving passengers awaiting clarity on whether services will run as normal later this week.

Pay dispute that sparked the strike

The strike action was announced earlier this month after negotiations over pay broke down. Unite members at depots across Swansea, Port Talbot, Bridgend, Carmarthen, Ammanford and Haverfordwest had voted to escalate to a continuous strike running until 21 January.

Drivers have argued that their current pay rate of £13.40 per hour lags behind competitors such as Stagecoach, which pays £14.44 per hour. Unite has demanded a minimum of £14.30 per hour plus back pay, accusing First Cymru of withholding agreed payments and attempting to undermine union solidarity by offering £50 incentives to cross picket lines.

Union anger and company warnings

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham previously described the company’s approach as “union-busting” and said drivers were “furious” at being left behind in the industry.

First Cymru, meanwhile, has insisted it has made an above-inflation pay offer alongside investment in staff facilities and benefits, and warned that prolonged strikes would cause “hugely disruptive” impacts for passengers.

What happens next

If the postponement is confirmed, bus services across South and West Wales may continue as normal until 7 December, when Unite has indicated action could resume if no agreement is reached.

For now, passengers are advised to check for updates directly from First Cymru and Unite the Union, as neither has yet issued a formal statement on the postponement.

#bus #busStrike #busTravel #cllrSteveHunt #firstCymru #industrialAction #neathPortTalbotCouncil #unite #uniteTheUnion

First look inside Neath’s transformed Gnoll Country Park

Major changes unveiled

The transformation of Gnoll Country Park has touched almost every corner of the 240‑acre site. At its heart is a new two‑storey visitor centre, replacing the ageing building with a café, flexible event spaces and a balcony that looks out across the lake.

Families will find a dedicated soft play area inside, while outside children can explore Gnoll Towers — a woodland adventure playground of three climbing towers, the tallest rising nearly 30 feet.

Visitors looking to stay longer can now book Pond Cottage, a restored Victorian groundkeeper’s home turned dog‑friendly holiday accommodation. The cottage sleeps up to six and comes with its own gardens, a log burner fuelled by wood from the park, and views across the pond and surrounding wildlife.

Elsewhere, the ruins of Gnoll House have been consolidated, the park’s historic cascades restored to their former spectacle, and new walking routes opened up.

A bridge now links the grounds to Brynau Farm, a 57‑hectare Woodland Trust haven, extending the reach of the park into the wider Vale of Neath landscape.

Alongside the physical changes, the site has been given refreshed branding, a new website and updated interpretation materials to guide visitors through its history.

Council’s perspective

Neath Port Talbot Council says the new facilities are intended to enhance the visitor experience and increase footfall. Council leader Steve Hunt described the visitor centre as “stylish” and said Pond Cottage would provide “a unique and authentic base” for exploring the wider Vale of Neath Heritage Corridor.

Cabinet member Cen Phillips added that the project would ensure the park “continues to play a big part in Neath Port Talbot’s future.”

Historic backdrop

Gnoll Country Park has a long history dating back to Elizabethan times, when the estate was granted to the Earls of Pembroke. It later passed to the Evans family and, through marriage in 1686, to Sir Humphrey Mackworth.

Mackworth developed the estate into an industrial hub and expanded the house and gardens. His son, Herbert, continued the work, laying out the grounds as a landscaped garden and adding features such as cascades and a grotto — elements that have now been restored as part of the latest project.

Opening soon

The park is due to officially reopen next month, with the council hoping the investment will secure its place as one of Neath Port Talbot’s most popular attractions for both residents and visitors.

#brynauFarm #cllrCenPhillips #cllrSteveHunt #gnollCountryPark #gnollEstateCountryPark #gnollTowers #holidayAccommodation #neath #neathPortTalbotCouncil #pondCottage #sirHumphreyMackworth #valeOfNeath #woodlandTrust