Empire Saga Smells Rotten
says reader on letters page

A reader claims, allegedly, that Swansea Coastal Housing would not have bought the freehold of Neath Empire enetainment building to demolish it unless they had a nod and a wink from NPT Council.

The reader claims it was at this stage the council should have sat up and taken notice that a building they could have acquired for peanuts, and one that could have benefitted the community, was going to disappear for ever.

Resulting from this, the reader forecasts that Labour could suffer badly in the May council elections.  This could very well happen IF opposition parties highlight the alleged underhanded way this matter appears to have handled by the present Labour administration.

In another letter Cllr Peter Rees highlights what Labour has done for the youth of the area.

Ed Note...  NPT Council already own the freehold of the Plaza Cinema in Port Talbot, which was opened in 1940 and closed in 1990.
 A group of enthusiasts, under the banner of SAVE THE PLAZA, are trying hard to get the council to allow them to turn the building into an Art and Craft centre.   They have had no success to date, that we are aware of.
http://www.plazaporttalbot.co.uk/news-article-links/
The structure of the Empire Neath (built in 1926) is in a far better condition as it was last used in February 2010.   It has been acknowledged by experts that this building could cater for forms of entertainment, or a community centre, that would be impossible for the newly refurbished Gwyn Hall, reopening on 8th March 2012.

Cllr Peter Rees,  NPT council's deputy leader, has objected to the reader's term 'nod and wink' and has asked the reader for some sort of evidence to support his alleged claim.   The matter is on-going as we would also like to know more about this rather bold allegation. 

Ed Note.... The reader concerned has written in and has said sorry for his 'nod and wink' comment and goes on to explain what he really means.
Readers' Letters