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Liberal Democrat Councillor for Landore Ward

Rob Speht - A strong voice for Landore

Review of Liberty Stadium Parking Announced

Following the great news that Swansea City AFC has won promotion to the Premier League a review has been announced today of the parking and other travel arrangements around the Liberty Stadium.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillors Rob Speht and Viv Abbott, both ward Councillors for the Landore ward have asked the Council Leader Chris Holley to lead a wide-ranging review into how football fans and other stadium users travel to and from the Liberty Stadium. The review comes following a formal complaint made by Councillor Rob Speht about parking in the Landore area under the planning permission obtained for the stadium. The stadium management company's Travel Plan which was submitted to Swansea Council as part of the planning permission for the stadium is now out-of-date and no longer reflects the needs of people visiting the stadium or living around the stadium.

Local Lib Dem Councillor for Landore Ward, Rob Speht welcomed the news that a review has been launched, "It is absolutely fantastic that the Swans will be promoted to the Premier League. They have worked so hard and deserve a place alongside other great teams"

"However, parking and other traffic issue have been getting slowly worse as the Swans have done better. It is obvious when a stadium has very little dedicated parking that fans will have no option but to try and park on residential streets."

"The current capacity of the Liberty Stadium is not big enough for a Premier League team, and no doubt there will be plans for an expansion of seating capacity. We need to see a new travel and parking plan to allow stadium users to safety and responsibly park their cars near to the stadium." He added.

Local ward Councillor Viv Abbott welcomed the opportunity to look at options to improve the situation. "We have had a lot of complaints from local residents about parking particularly on match days"

"It is time to draw up a new travel plan for the stadium, one that actually works for local residents" He added.


Rob Speht, Chris Holley & Peter Black at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea

Rob Speht, Chris Holley & Peter Black at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea

The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.

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  • Article: Jan 24, 2012
    By Peter Black

    Peter Black: I agree that some communities have seen improvements. However, as of March of last year, over £342 million had been spent on Communities First, with no discernable reduction in poverty across most of the 155 areas that it supports. I have another example in the county of Bridgend, which is also in my region. Look at some of the Communities First areas there and their relative positions in terms of the index of multiple deprivation. Bettws and Brackla 3 are more deprived now than they were in 2005. Caerau 1 and 2 are now in the bottom 2%, having dropped from thirty-fifth and sixty-sixth to eighth and thirty-eighth respectively. Clearly, there are issues in many of the communities where Communities First is in place of not achieving the objectives of eliminating poverty, raising people up, helping them to get back on their feet or delivering the fundamental change that Communities First was first intended to address. I have concerns that, despite the many changes that have been put in place, we have not yet got a scheme that is going to deliver what we need it to deliver.

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    5.45 p.m.

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  • Article: Jan 24, 2012

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  • Article: Jan 24, 2012
    By Peter Black

    Peter Black: I welcome this statement, and in particular the Minister's positive response to the signing of the compact by local government. I also welcome this commitment to shelve, for the time being, the local government collaborative measures Bill, as it would have proved controversial in this Chamber. Certainly, the positive response by local government to this agenda, not just in the signing of this compact, but through a range of different measures, justifies the Minister's not proceeding with that Bill.

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