THE outgoing leader of Torfaen council feels the time is right for him to stand down, and hopes to see new blood entering into the borough's political landscape.

On Monday, Cllr Bob Wellington CBE, Wales’ longest-serving council leader, announced he would be standing down from his role, ending his 13-year spell on Saturday, December 31.

The Greenmeadow ward member will also be standing down from his role as the leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).

“The time comes when you have to stand down but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I would not have done anything other than be engaged in politics and political life – I’ve been involved since I was 15 in one way or another,” he said.

“Parts of my retirement will be spent encouraging young people to engage in politics. I think it is important that we have new blood in.

“We have a lot of talented people on our council at the moment and hopefully May will be bring in even more talented people.

“I am keen to see and I have supported continually the notion of having more female members of the council and also members from diverse backgrounds – from black and ethnic communities for example.

“I think it is important that we also try to reach out to people who have disabilities as well. We need a broader and more diverse spread of people who are engaged in politics.”

Cllr Wellington started out as a member of the Cwmbran Community Council in 1978, before becoming a Greenmeadow councillor in 1982.

“I spent my first four years in the community council and I think it is a good training ground for anyone interested in going into politics,” he said.

“I recommend this to anyone youngster with an interest in politics to get involved at this level.”

Cllr Wellington added that Blaenavon receiving World Heritage Status, the creation of the Power Station and chairing the Coalfield Community Campaign.

Another area of pride of the retiring leader was the borough’s investment in schools.

“I’m particularly proud that under my leadership we have invested nearly £100 million in new schools which will help children from the top to the bottom of the borough fulfil their potential and enhance their life prospects,” said Cllr Wellington.

However, he added that one of his greatest disappointments was regarding the British site and the amount of time it has taken to get to its current stage.

“The biggest disappointment to me personally was not achieving the British 20 years ago,” he said.

“I believe it was 20 years wasted and we are very lucky that I shall be leaving the leadership of the council in full knowledge that we have a multi-million pound project to address the British in the north of the borough.

“We’ve been striving for this for 20 years. We firmly believe that by putting a better road structure up to the north, we will attract people up there to live.

“If anyone can find a more attractive place to live than the British, when it’s completed, with the backdrop of the cliffs and looking of Lasgarn wood, then they will need to tell me where that is,” added Cllr Wellington.

“I wouldn’t say it was a failure, but certainly a disappointment. It was a number of years wasted.”

The new leader of Torfaen council will be announced on Tuesday, December 13, following a vote at the full council meeting, and will formally take over from Cllr Wellington on Sunday, January 1, 2017.

As a keen gardener, Cllr Wellington was looking forward to spending time tending to his plants, but would still keep an eye on politics even if he has retired.

“When you say retire, I don’t think you ever retire,” he said.

“Leo Abse famously said ‘never retire’ and I don’t intend to from advocating politics and from encouraging the youth to get involved in politics in whatever way they can.”