Fight the Plan Group | A History of the Fight the Plan Group

The beginning

4 July 1996	Prayer Walk - from Holy Trinity Church, Pontnewydd and St. Hilda's Church and the Baptist Chapel, Sebastopol to Bevans Lane on the canal towpath. A joint service was held at Bevans Lane and, from this inspired beginning, plans were made to set up a serious and focused group.
9 July 1996	Fight The Plan Group was formed by residents on the Five Locks Estate, Pontnewydd.
23 July 1996	First Public Meeting to launch the group at West Pontnewydd Community Hall.
August 1996	Policy Statement and operational structure adopted by the steering group.
	i. Primary objective - to seek to introduce a "green belt" status between Pontnewydd and South Sebastopol.
	ii. Secondary objective - to make constructive objections to the whole of the Torfaen Local Deposit Plan, by networking with other community groups.
	iii. Responsibility to make public the names of those responsible for the deletion of the "greenwedge".
September 1996	1,780 representations were made to the Torfaen Deposit Local Plan (707 relating to the South Sebastopol proposals).
	Mr G. Powys Jones was appointed as professional planning consultant to the group.
Christmas 1996	Sponsored Walk around the site

Autumn 1996	Fundraising starts:
	Prayer Breakfast, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Sponsored Walk around the site, "Spook Concert" at the Lamb Inn, Penyrheol, 1^st Calendar issued.
April 1997	Public Meeting at West Pontnewydd
	Fight the Plan Group (FTPG) Art Competition for children and adults, judged by local artist, David Bellamy.
24 May 1997	Five Locks Marina was opened by Mayor of Torfaen.
	FTPG lobbied its case.
19 July 1997	Joint planning conference with the anti-opencast group, at Talywain Rugby Club.
	Keynote speaker was Dr. Wendy Le Las.
	Also Tony Gosling & Penny Kemp from "The Land is Ours" group.
July 1997	Painting exhibition at Llantarnam Grange Art Gallery.
2 August 1997	First Fundraising Garden Party at Box Cottage, Upper Cwmbran.
Autumn 1997	AGM held at West Pontnewydd.
	Tony Blair & Ron Davies lobbied.
	G. Powys Jones addressed all community groups who were fighting the Torfaen (Local Deposit) Plan.
	table top fundraising sale at St Hilda's Church Hall.
	Postcard Campaign.
	"JIGSO" software (for determining local consensus of opinions) acquired from Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
	Cartoon Calendar issued.
October 1997	Council meeting on South Sebastopol Draft Framework document lobbied by FTPG.
December 1997	Final responses to the modified Torfaen Deposit Local Plan submitted to "Public Inquiry".
Christmas 1997	Sponsored Walk between the "Open Hearth" pub in Sebastopol and the "Cross Keys" in Pontnewydd.

26 April 1998	"Changing the Landscape" conference organised by FTPG at The Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran.
	Keynote speaker: Marion Shoard (author of "This land is our land").
	Cross-site canal navigation (courtesy of a member in their cruiser) and towpath (walkers) fundraiser and publicity stunt.
11 May 1998	FTPG addressed the National Assembly for Wales Advisory Group on planning issues*, at County Hall Cwmbran.
28 May 1998	Written evidence submitted to National Assembly Advisory Group*
June to October 1998	Public Inquiry into Local Deposit Plan, every session attended by FTPG.
	G. Powys Jones (FTPG's professional planning consultant) presented the group's case.
September 1998	A visit by Jack Cheshire (producer) and Mark Thomas (presenter) of Channel 4's "Comedy Product" resulted in members of FTPG, and the precious green area between Pontnewydd and Sebastopol being featured in a special programme about protecting countryside.
October 1998	A "Planning Watch Forum" for Torfaen was proposed.
Autumn 1998	Desperately needed fundraising continued (see approx. cost at end of this history!)

Christmas 1998	Sponsored Walk between the "Open Hearth" pub in Sebastopol and the "Cross Keys" in Pontnewydd.

Spring 1999	Public Inquiry Inspector's report was published.
	The inspector found in favour of the South Sebastopol site being developed, but recognised community and special interest group concerns.
May 1999	A new mandate from the public was secured to continue to work to protect the South Sebastopol site, by participating in the development framework document consultations - Environmental Damage Limitation & Sustainable Development.
	"4D Landscapes" were engaged to provide professional support (including an independent environmental survey of the site).
	G. Powys Jones (Professional Planning Consultant) was retained to help co-ordinate the work of FTPG.
July 1999	FTPG attended the "URGENT" housing conference at Ruskin College Oxford.
Autumn 1999	Desperately needed fundraising continued.
Christmas 1999	Sponsored Walk between the "Open Hearth" pub in Sebastopol and the "Cross Keys" in Pontnewydd.

January 2000	FTPG was recognised by National Assembly for Wales planning division, as a consulting body on planning and environmental issues
February 2000	FTPG attended the National Assembly for Wales South East Regional committee meeting at Newport.
May 2000	1^st Grand Springtime Quiz was launched.
3 May 2000	FTPG submitted its response to the Torfaen Unitary Plan Strategy & Issues paper.
June 2000	FTPG's South Sebastopol Landscape Document was issued.
16 June 2000	The National Assembly for Wales was lobbied for an Environmental Bill of Rights for Wales.
	FTPG ran an information and fundraising stall at Cwmbran Carnival, and FTPG's adult walking carnival entry (an endangered tree!) received 2^nd prize.
July 2000	Torfaen Local Plan was adopted by the Council
Autumn 2000	Desperately needed fundraising continued.
September 2000	FTPG submitted a 1,427 signature petition requesting the "Calling in of the Torfaen Local Plan" to Sue Essex (Welsh Assembly Environment Secretary) via Lynne Neagle (Assembly Member for Torfaen).
29 September 2000	FTPG joined Torfaen Biodiversity Action Group.
6 November 2000	A joint seminar with Torfaen Friends of the Earth entitled "Working Together for the Environment" was held at Pontypool Community Council Offices, with Lynne Neagle (Assembly Member for Torfaen). Development Briefs were explained.
Christmas 2000	Sponsored Walk between the "Open Hearth" pub in Sebastopol and the "Cross Keys" in Pontnewydd.

16 March 2001	FTPG's Landscape Constraints Map for the South Sebastopol site was published.
26 April 2001	Evidence on "Draft Planning Policy, Wales" consultation document was submitted (on behalf of Torfaen Friends of the Earth & Friends of the Earth Cymru).
May 2001	Grand Springtime Quiz fund raising.
18 May 2001	FTPG attended the South East Wales Regional committee meeting (of the Welsh Assembly) at Caerphilly Leisure Centre.
May 2001	Website set-up
2 June 2001	Annual Garden Fete at Box Cottage, Upper Cwmbran.

We are fighting on.
2005	Torfaen Borough Council grant planing permission for the South Sebastopol development with limitations, many of which are environmental.
2010	Developers apply to renew planning permission for the South Sebastopol development. Torfaen Friends of the Earth continue the work of FTPG to oppose the renewal of planning permission and ensure that environmental constraints on the development are not eased.