WHY not the Torch Theatre as they celebrate a rock line-up like no other headlined by one of the greatest bands of all time! On Saturday 15 June, rock fans will be in for a treat as The History of Rock hits the stage.

The History of Rock will be taking audiences on a thrilling ride through the intriguing tale of rock – but this time, Led Zeppelin will be in the spotlight, as they headline the ultimate rock concert line-up the world has ever seen.

This show, by Soul Street Productions born from a passion for both music and theatre, is a must see for all rock fans! Experience the iconic music brought back to life by an exceptional band consisting of some of the finest musicians and performers from around the world – consisting of Queen, The Who, AC DC, Guns n’ Roses and Black Sabbath tracks and much more.

Based out of London, Soul Street Productions works with some of the most talented musicians in the capital bringing some of the nation’s favourite genres to life, on stage all across the country on their UK tours, and their only visit to Pembrokeshire. So, come to the Torch Theatre and experience a rock show like no other with THE HISTORY OF ROCK!

THE HISTORY OF ROCK will be performed on the Torch Theatre stage on Saturday 15 June at 7.30pm. Ticket prices: £25. For tickets phone the Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit torchtheatre.co.uk.

FOLLOWING the very successful public meeting in Newport, Pembrokeshire which was held to discuss bringing the much-loved local wholefoods shop into community ownership, a team of local residents is taking the project forward.

Over 180 people have already completed the online survey at https://bit.ly/WholefoodsSurvey which the Project Wholefoods team launched to test demand further. More than 85% of respondents say that securing the future of the wholefoods shop is “very important” to Newport, and 90% are supportive of a community purchase.

The business plan and funding applications are currently being finalised, and the launch of a community share offer is planned for June.

Project Wholefoods now has a website at www.projectwholefoods.cymru and a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/projectwholefoods.

The Project Wholefoods team is working closely with the group behind the successful community purchase of Havards in Newport which became the first community-owned hardware shop in the UK in 2022.

Hugh Simpson-Wells, one of the Directors of Project Wholefoods, says “We have been delighted by the response to the project, and the results of the survey confirm that there is a big appetite for a community purchase of Wholefoods of Newport. We are now in the process of setting up a Community Benefit Society, and finalising the business plan, funding applications and a community share offer. So watch this space!”

Cris Tomos of PLANED, the charity supporting community share offers in West Wales, says “Following the successful community purchase of Havards in 2022, it is fantastic to see so much momentum building to secure the future of Wholefoods of Newport as a community-owned shop.” Cris added “Responses to the survey are very encouraging, and I am working closely with the Project Wholefoods team to progress funding applications and the community share offer.”

NEGOTIATIONS between steel unions and Tata Steel hit a roadblock, leaving thousands of jobs at risk. The breakdown in talks was announced by Roy Rickhuss, the General Secretary of Community, expressing deep disappointment in Tata’s propositions.

Rickhuss criticised Tata for presenting proposals deemed “completely unacceptable” by the unions. He accused the company of prioritising profit over job security, highlighting their intention to slash jobs and penalise vulnerable employees. Despite Tata’s claims of being a responsible employer, Rickhuss asserted their failure to engage meaningfully in negotiations.

The National Trade Union Steel Co-Ordinating Committee (NTUSCC), chaired by Rickhuss, issued a scathing statement following the breakdown. The Committee outlined Tata’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, focusing instead on profit maximisation to the detriment of workers and their communities.

Tata’s proposals included the closure of critical facilities, such as BF 5 and BF 4, resulting in immediate redundancies. The offered Voluntary Redundancy (VR) packages fell short of expectations, with no guarantee against compulsory redundancies. Moreover, Tata’s stance on job retention and training schemes drew sharp criticism from the unions.

Rajesh Nair, representing Tata, faced accusations of an indifferent attitude towards the workforce. The company’s refusal to address concerns about job security and the VR package further strained relations with the unions.

Rickhuss, alongside Peter Hughes of Unite and Charlotte Brumpton-Childs of GMB, asserted unity among the unions against Tata’s uncompromising stance. They urged members to support industrial action to defend their industry and secure better terms.

The looming threat of industrial action stems from Tata’s reluctance to reconsider its plans despite the potential for widespread job losses. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham emphasised the detrimental impact of Tata’s proposed cuts, warning of a ripple effect across the regional economy.

Graham underscored the availability of alternatives for Tata to consider, including Labour’s proposed £3 billion UK Steel investment fund. This fund could safeguard jobs and position the UK as a leader in green steel production.

Unite vowed to stand with Tata’s workers in their fight for a better future, utilising all available avenues to halt the company’s plans.

In response to the unfolding situation, Unite encourages media enquiries to be directed to Ryan Fletcher for further information.

The collapse of talks between steel unions and Tata paints a grim picture for the future of the industry, with job losses looming large and communities facing uncertain times ahead. As tensions escalate, the fate of thousands of workers hangs in the balance, awaiting decisive action to secure their livelihoods.