Looking into future (From Free Press Series)

Looking into future

BY THE YEAR 2025 people living in Torfaen will be slim - if they pop a little pill which means they don't have to diet. They won't get much exercise as they will travel around sprawling shopping centres on moving walkways and catch the monorail from Blaenavon to Cwmbran.

It's good they'll not have to walk far because everyone will carry a protective suit to guard against biological or gas attack by terrorists. Armed police and CCTV will watch our every move. Schools will be like prisons and recreational drugs will be available from supermarkets.

It's not all bad though. Some imagine Cwmbran hosting the Olympic Games, advances in health will cure most ills and we will all be wearing flares as 1970s' fashion makes a comeback.

That is the picture of life in Torfaen in 2025 according to a cross-section of young people in Torfaen.

They gave their views by taking part in Big Vision - an exercise aimed at planning local services for the next 25 years. Each local authority in Wales is drawing up a blueprint of how police, health and civic services should develop over the next quarter century.

Young people at centres like the Cwmbran Centre for Young People and Blaenavon's Doorway have already given their views.

Now the views of thousands more people across the borough are being sought before the blueprint for the future is drawn up next year.

As part of the campaign to generate public interest and canvass as wide a cross-section of views as possible, a hi-tech lightshow will be touring the borough in the week November 13 to 19.

The first free show is at Blaenavon Ironworks on November 13. Photographer Faye Chamberlain has produced a series of images combining some of the ideas people have come up with so far.

They will be projected 100-feet-high as part of a light and sound spectacular featuring fireworks, a male voice choir and an orchestra.

"This is all about collecting people's ideas about the future," said project manager Duncan Anstey.

"We are asking people how they see Torfaen developing in the future - and how they would like to see Torfaen develop.

"Hopefully it will mean we can tailor services to be responsive to people's needs."

*There's plenty of opportunity to add your views. You can go online at www.webster.net.uk or www.torfaen.gov.uk. or contact the council directly on 01495 766137.