Pontypool Community Taskforce

WE WANT BETTER FOR OUR KIDS.

Better jobs. Better opportunities. And more reasons for them to stay here, build their lives here and be proud of where they come from.

So why shouldn’t something REALLY BIG happen in Torfaen?

The Pontypool Community Taskforce only heard about Xanadoo a few months ago. This is an ambitious visitor attraction for Torfaen that has already been ten years in the planning, being developed by members of the team behind the world-famous Eden Project in Cornwall.

And incredibly, after ten years of hard work and hitting blocker after blocker, Gaynor Coley and Susan Hill were getting close to putting the project on the back burner.

When the Taskforce heard that, our reaction was simple.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

We wanted Gay and Sue to know that the community was behind them. We wanted to bring people together, open doors and find out what we could collectively do to help get this moving again.

So last night, that’s exactly what we did.

And WOW, what a turnout! 🙌

Local residents, community groups, businesses, and council and government representatives packed the room.

And the message from the Pontypool Community Taskforce and the people of Pontypool was loud and clear:

WE ARE BEHIND YOU. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP REMOVE THE BLOCKERS AND SEE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN. 💪

OUR NEWS IS OUT 🎉🎉🎉

CLICK BELOW >>>

https://businessnewswales.com/community-taskforce-sets-its-sights-on-bringing-major-new-visitor-destination-to-torfaen/

🎉COMMUNITY PAINTING DAYS COMPLETE 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

What a milestone this has been and what an effort it’s taken from everyone involved.

Three fantastic community painting days have now been completed, and the transformation at Riverside Car Park is clear for all to see. What was once a tired, neglected space has been brought back to life, brighter, cleaner and now something the whole community can feel proud of 👏

This didn’t happen by chance. It has come from the time, energy and commitment of everyone who turned up, got stuck in, and supported the project along the way. Thank you, you have genuinely made a real difference.

Here is how it has come together so far 👇

✔️ Phase 1 – Drainage cleared
✔️ Phase 2 – Deep clean completed
✔️ Phase 3 – Painting and line marking
✔️ Wall painting complete – just a final few hours of line painting left to finish the job 💪

Three community painting days are now complete, with only the final touches remaining before the project is fully finished.

We are nearly there now and what a journey it has been.

From small steps to real change, this is what community action looks like 💪

Good evening everyone 👋

Tomorrow is (hopefully!) our final push to finish painting the walls at Riverside Car Park 🎨

📍 Meeting point: Level 3 (the half-size level)🚗 Access: Top level open via Osborne Road⏰ Time: 9:30am start – aiming to wrap up before lunch 🙂

We’ve been blown away by the support so far – not just from everyone who’s come along to help, but also from the kind comments online and the conversations we’ve had around town. It really does feel like it’s making a difference.

Here are some photos from last weekend, you can already see the transformation taking shape - and with one more strong turnout, we can get it over the line 💪

It might be baby steps, but we’re getting somewhere… and it’s something to be proud of.

If you can spare even an hour, it would be great to see you there. Bring a friend, family member or colleague along too 👍

Let’s finish what we started 🙌

Torfaen Litter Champions 🏆 giving Pontypool another proper clean-up !!

Between Pontypool Leisure Centre and the library - cleared.

Another vacated camp at the rear of the library - removed (second one this week).

17 bags today.
48 bags in three days.

That’s what consistent effort looks like 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Huge shout to Jennie Simons, Ron Ford, and Tony Reynolds (who joined on Tuesday) - working across some seriously uneven embankments… and yes, some litter champions have a growing suspicion that one leg may now be shorter than the other.

Working along the Afon Llwyd River, clearing paths, riverbanks and the Italian Gardens - including the fountain, embankments, and the connecting routes back towards the leisure centre.

Bags staged opposite the Civic Centre, ready for collection by Torfaen Streetscene and the Fast Response teams - thank you for the support.

A proper example of what happens when people just get on with it.

If you’ve got time, skills, or just want to help make Pontypool better — get involved. The Taskforce and Litter Champions are always stronger when more people step forward.

Pontypool Just Proved How Fast a Town Can Actually Fix Things (If People Talk to Each Other)

How to fix a problem in a town centre (Pontypool edition):
1. Businesses spot a problem
2. They raise it
3. People actually listen
4. Something gets done

That’s exactly what just happened on Osborne Road.

The “No Loading / No Unloading” lines went in.
Businesses felt the impact immediately.
The issue was raised through the Pontypool Community Taskforce.

A meeting happened. Quickly.
Everyone who needed to be in the room, was in the room.

Concerns were heard.
Impact was understood.

And then… action !! 💪🏼

The lines have now been removed.

No long delays.
No endless back and forth.
Just a clear problem, openly discussed, and a quick response.

That’s The Torfaen Deal working as intended.

A simple system:
Better communication → faster decisions → real outcomes.

Credit to the Taskforce for making sure local voices were heard, and to Torfaen Council for responding quickly and constructively.

Turns out, when you remove the friction, things move.