I COMPLIMENT you on an interesting and informative newspaper. The last issue was no different – but it contains news items that cause concern due to the apparently facile decision-making by our councillors.

1. Moving the polling station from Comeston Community Hall (a perfect venue over many years) to Comeston Country Park is unwarranted. The Park is located on the other side of a busy road with fast-moving traffic and a less than safe crossing point. Most pedestrians would, I suggest, approach the polling station from the housing estate opposite. Persuading people to vote is a struggle anyway and this change would risk reducing further the percentage voting at elections.

2. Suggesting that the Vale should join with Bridgend is also without sound logic. If there has to be a merger, our natural partners would be Cardiff. In order to stimulate economic growth and well-being, the informed opinion is that we need stronger city regions. This is not just the Welsh Government’s view; it is also fully supported by major professional bodies including the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), the ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) and so on.

The RSA in their landmark report Unleashing Metro Growth (2014) indicate that if we can form appropriate city regions, there is the opportunity for generating an estimated £79 billion of additional growth across the UK. Our councillors are running away from this or else they have been ill-advised.

The report includes the statement that it is vital that ‘metro’ areas are able to integrate public service reform with their wider economic strategy.

Now is the time to seize this initiative, otherwise we get left behind. Likewise, Bridgend would be better advised to link up with Swansea.

These two decisions need to be reversed and I am banking on plenty of support for my view.

David Evans

Penarth