A number of regeneration projects have taken place in the historic and popular Neath Town Centre in recent years as part of a major transformation programme and this multi-million pound redevelopment is set to continue.
However, in recent months the business community and residents have raised concerns about some incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town.
In response, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection, Cllr. Des Davies, convened a meeting of a wide range of agencies this morning. The purpose was to explore the concerns in detail, to identify what is already being done to tackle the issues and to build on the work that is already taking place.
Agencies present included Neath Port Talbot Council, South Wales Police, Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Neath Chamber of Trade, Welsh Centre for Action on Dependency and Addiction (WCADA), Caer Las, Safer Neath Port Talbot Partnership, Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Neath Business Consortium and Neath Inspired.
With the Police already strengthening patrols within the town, it was agreed that there needs to be close working with homelessness and substance misuse agencies to ensure that there is an appropriate response to people who are vulnerable, whilst also identifying actions that need to be taken to address other causes of anti-social behaviour.
It was also agreed that businesses and the wider community should be supported and encouraged to play their part by reporting all issues of concern. This will help to ensure that the joint work of the agencies is well informed by people’s experience of working in and visiting the town centre.
Cllr. Des Davies said:
“It is important not to lose sight of the fact that Neath is a busy, vibrant, economically active town with a lot to offer visitors, residents and businesses.
“I am grateful to all of the agencies for their contributions this morning. We now have a good understanding of the issues that we need to tackle together and I am sure that people will start to see positive changes in Neath Town Centre, which will in turn help us to promote it as a destination to visit, shop and do business.”
The next step will be for officers of the agencies present to meet and develop firm plans that will build on the work that is already taking place. A follow up meeting will be convened early September.
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Asiantaethau i ddod ynghyd i fynd i'r afael ag ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol yng nghanol tref Castell-nedd
Mae nifer o brosiectau adfywio wedi cael eu cynnal yng nghanol hanesyddol a phoblogaidd tref Castell-nedd dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf fel rhan o raglen drawsnewid sylweddol a bwriedir parhau â'r rhaglen ailddatblygu hon sy'n werth miliynau o bunnoedd.
Fodd bynnag, yn ystod y misoedd diwethaf mae'r gymuned fusnes a phreswylwyr wedi mynegi pryderon am rai achosion o ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol yn y dref.
Mewn ymateb, cynhaliodd y Cyng. Des Davies, Aelod Cabinet y Cyngor dros Ddiogelwch Cymunedol a Diogelu'r Cyhoedd, gyfarfod o amrywiaeth eang o asiantaethau fore ddoe. Y diben oedd ystyried y pryderon yn fanwl, nodi'r hyn sydd eisoes yn cael ei wneud i fynd i'r afael â'r problemau ac adeiladu ar y gwaith sy'n cael ei wneud ar hyn o bryd.
Ymysg yr asiantaethau a oedd yn bresennol roedd Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, Ymddiriedolaeth GIG Gwasanaethau Ambiwlans Cymru, Siambr Fasnach Castell-nedd, Canolfan Gweithredu ar Ddibyniaeth a Chaethiwed Cymru (WCADA), Caer Las, Partneriaeth Castell-nedd Port Talbot Mwy Diogel, Iechyd yr Amgylchedd a Safonau Masnach, Consortiwm Busnes Castell-nedd a Neath Inspired.
Gyda'r heddlu eisoes yn atgyfnerthu patrolau yn y dref, cytunwyd bod angen gweithio'n agos gydag asiantaethau digartrefedd a chamddefnyddio sylweddau i sicrhau ymateb priodol i bobl sy'n ddiamddiffyn, wrth nodi camau gweithredu y mae angen eu cymryd hefyd i ymdrin â'r hyn sy'n achosi ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol.
Cytunwyd hefyd y dylid cefnogi ac annog busnesau a'r gymuned ehangach i chwarae eu rhan nhw trwy adrodd am bob pryder. Bydd hyn yn helpu i sicrhau y caiff cydweithio rhwng yr asiantaethau ei gyfeirio'n dda gan brofiad pobl o weithio yng nghanol y dref ac ymweld ag ef.
Meddai'r Cyng. Des Davies,
“Mae'n bwysig nad ydym yn anghofio bod Castell-nedd yn dref brysur, fywiog a ffyniannus gyda llawer i'w gynnig i ymwelwyr, preswylwyr a busnesau.
“Rwy'n ddiolchgar i bob un o'r asiantaethau am eu cyfraniadau fore ddoe. Mae bellach gennym ddealltwriaeth dda o'r problemau y mae angen i ni fynd i'r afael â nhw gyda'n gilydd ac rwy'n siwr y bydd pobl yn dechrau gweld newidiadau cadarnhaol yng nghanol tref Castell-nedd a fydd, yn ei dro, yn ein helpu i'w hyrwyddo fel cyrchfan i ymweld ag ef a siopa a gwneud busnes ynddo.”
Y cam nesaf fydd i swyddogion yr asiantaethau sydd yma gwrdd â'i gilydd a datblygu cynlluniau cadarn a fydd yn adeiladu ar waith sydd eisoes yn cael ei wneud. Caiff cyfarfod dilynol ei gynnal ddechrau mis Medi.
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