MIKE PUGH, GLYNNEATH TOWN COUNCIL, PRE-RUNAWAY EXCHANGE

From: Jennifer Roberts <jenirobs@googlemail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2022 5:42:43 PM
To: Cllr. Simon Knoyle <cllr.s.a.knoyle@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Del Morgan <cllr.j.d.morgan@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr.
Carolyn Edwards <cllr.c.edwards@npt.gov.uk>; Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com>; Cllr. Marie
Powell <marie.powell@mail.com>; Cllr. Haulwen Morgan <haulwenjones@live.com>;
jangregory100@gmail com <jangregory100@gmail.com>; Cllr. Janet Collins
<janetcollins6218@outlook.com>; Richard Knoyle <rk@btpassoc.co.uk>; Cllr. Stephen Evans
<anzacevans@icloud.com>; Shane McMenamin <shanemcmenamin45@gmail.com>; Cllr. Gerry
Reynolds <mulloch21@hotmail.com>
Subject: Mr David Richards

Good afternoon.
Having read all the information via e-mail from Mr Richards this afternoon, I would say that unless we
address this issue ASAP, the whole council will come under disrepute form the allegations being made
RE - Heol-Y-Glyn site.
I have purposely left Mr Richards out of this thread, so that we can discuss a way forward with this
matter.
Thanks Jennifer.
Sent from my iPad
On 14 Jan 2022, at 06:58, Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com> wrote:
I’m in agreement with Jennifer, apart from a select few, Mr Richards is hounding councillors with
unsubstantiated claims. His vitriol seems to be increasing and he is now directly accusing those select
councillors of crimes. Some are being accused of supporting murder, he's even started talking about
child abuse now.
Again my view only, but I'd say this has now exceeded harassment and council should act together. I
propose seeking legal representation to determine our legal position.
************** et al have bullied and spread lies against council for many years, now Mr Richards is
expanding on that. I find it ironic that Mr Richards is friendly, and supported by, ************** and
********* (amongst others). Clearly bullying and harassment by a formed group.
To do nothing isn't an option, I believe we need to take the bull by the horns, start implementing the
vexatious policy and take formal action against these people.
Just my opinion on the matter.
Thanks,
Mike
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________________________________________
From: Jennifer Roberts <jenirobs@googlemail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 11:06:02 AM
To: Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com>
Cc: Cllr. Simon Knoyle <cllr.s.a.knoyle@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Del Morgan <cllr.j.d.morgan@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr.
Carolyn Edwards <cllr.c.edwards@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Marie Powell <marie.powell@mail.com>; Cllr.
Haulwen Morgan <haulwenjones@live.com>; jangregory100@gmail com <jangregory100@gmail.com>;
Cllr. Janet Collins <Janetcollins6218@outlook.com>; Richard Knoyle <rk@btpassoc.co.uk>; Cllr. Stephen
Evans <anzacevans@icloud.com>; Shane McMenamin <shanemcmenamin45@gmail.com>; Cllr. Gerry
Reynolds <Mulloch21@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Mr David Richards

Good morning Michael.
Thanks for your agreement on this matter, However I do urge you to take this time, and read ‘ The Full
Report’ that we have ALL received from Mr Richards.
There are some clear contradictions to the testing of the ground, and how this testing actually
happened, which is why I am assuming Mr Richards picked up on it.
Look forward to your full support on this matter.
Thanks Jennifer.

Sent from my iPad
On 14 Jan 2022, at 12:06, Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com> wrote:
No problem Jennifer, I’ll 100% support council and the majority decision, regardless of my personal
views. The reports are all collated by Mr Richards and may be biased toward his view, which is my
personal opinion, from what I can see there’s been no independent investigation completed. However,
it is his constant attacks on a minority of councillors that I take umbrage with, his accusations are
unfounded and constitute bullying and harassment, again, in my opinion.
That said, I feel doing nothing isn't an option and feel legal guidance should be sought.
Thanks,
Mike
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________________________________________
From: Jennifer Roberts <jenirobs@googlemail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 6:37:57 PM
To: Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com>
Cc: Cllr. Simon Knoyle <cllr.s.a.knoyle@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Del Morgan <cllr.j.d.morgan@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr.
Carolyn Edwards <cllr.c.edwards@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Marie Powell <marie.powell@mail.com>; Cllr.
Haulwen Morgan <haulwenjones@live.com>; jangregory100@gmail com <jangregory100@gmail.com>;
Cllr. Janet Collins <Janetcollins6218@outlook.com>; Richard Knoyle <rk@btpassoc.co.uk>; Cllr. Stephen
Evans <anzacevans@icloud.com>; Shane McMenamin <shanemcmenamin45@gmail.com>; Cllr. Gerry
Reynolds <Mulloch21@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Mr David Richards

Evening Michael.
If, in your “personal view”, you feel that” Mr Richards accusations are unfounded” and that you are
100% sure that you have read and understood all the information that has been provided by Mr
Richards, and you are confident to approach this from a legal point of view, then that is what this
council should do.
Thanks Jennifer.
Sent from my iPad
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 at 7:40 PM
From: "Mike Pugh" <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com>
To: "Jennifer Roberts" <jenirobs@googlemail.com>
Cc: "Cllr. Simon Knoyle" <cllr.s.a.knoyle@npt.gov.uk>, "Cllr. Del Morgan" <cllr.j.d.morgan@npt.gov.uk>,
"Cllr. Carolyn Edwards" <cllr.c.edwards@npt.gov.uk>, "Cllr. Marie Powell" <marie.powell@mail.com>,
"Cllr. Haulwen Morgan" <haulwenjones@live.com>, "jangregory100@gmail com"
<jangregory100@gmail.com>, "Cllr. Janet Collins" <janetcollins6218@outlook.com>, "Richard Knoyle"
<rk@btpassoc.co.uk>, "Cllr. Stephen Evans" <anzacevans@icloud.com>, "Shane McMenamin"
<shanemcmenamin45@gmail.com>, "Cllr. Gerry Reynolds" <mulloch21@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Mr David Richards
I may be mistaken, but I don’t believe council should foot the bill for an independent investigation on
every planning request, I may be wrong in this though. I’m sure the majority of residents wouldn’t be
happy to cover the bill for such in depth investigations, of that I’m relatively certain. Just because Mr
Richards says something it doesn’t make it fact, I have read everything he’s released to social media (of
which there is a lot), unfortunately I cannot see anything that is independent or peer reviewed, again, if
I’m mistaken I apologise wholeheartedly. Either way, his accusations against individuals are, at the very
least, unfounded, unfair and defamatory. Glynneath Town Council is known as a poisoned chalice within
the Clerk community and the bullying/vexatious behaviour is well known by residents. The process of
planning has been adhered to, just because an unhinged resident, and I do not use that term lightly but
refer to his previously released videos, has decided to blame individuals is of no concern on the
understanding GTC have acted correctly. I stand by my view that we should seek legal guidance against
Mr Richards.
Regards,
Mike
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________________________________________
From: marie powell <marie.powell@mail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 8:44:20 PM
To: Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com>
Cc: Jennifer Roberts <jenirobs@googlemail.com>; Cllr. Simon Knoyle <cllr.s.a.knoyle@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr.
Del Morgan <cllr.j.d.morgan@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Carolyn Edwards <cllr.c.edwards@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr.
Haulwen Morgan <haulwenjones@live.com>; jangregory100@gmail com <jangregory100@gmail.com>;
Cllr. Janet Collins <janetcollins6218@outlook.com>; Richard Knoyle <rk@btpassoc.co.uk>; Cllr. Stephen
Evans <anzacevans@icloud.com>; Shane McMenamin <shanemcmenamin45@gmail.com>; Cllr. Gerry
Reynolds <mulloch21@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Mr David Richards
Good evening Mike
I too don’t believe GTC should foot the bill on every planning application, and I have not suggested that.
I agree Mr Richards is not the only person that has been accused of bullying/vexatious and I don’t
believe GTC should be paying for legal fees for him or any other resident, this could prove to be a costly
exercise. As with all legal things there runs a risk and GTC has recently learnt that even when you think
all things are covered, they can prove to be very costly. Mr Richards may be the loudest voice on the
alleged contamination, but he is not the only voice, other residents in Glynneath also believe there is a
problem with that area, and I believe an independent test for contamination may be the quickest and
cheapest way forward in closing this issue completely, but that is just my opinion.
Marie
On 15 Jan 2022, at 09:56, Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com> wrote:
I appreciate that Marie, my concern is we’d be creating a precedent. Also, I firmly believe that Mr
Richards would not accept any findings that conflicted with his views. There is a procedure for planning
and, whether he likes it or not, procedures have been adhered to. He has questioned planning,
submitted his concerns, disagreed with planning and refused their findings. I'm not sure how the man
can be placated unless he gets his own way.
His behaviour has been questionable (to say the least) at times, he is accusing councillors of covering up
murder and child abuse with no evidence and no thought for anyone other than himself, his actions and
rhetoric are not those of a mentally well balanced individual. I agree there are those who support him,
most have been hounding and trying to harm council for many years, ************** and *********
for example. Whilst others are just blindly believing his narrative.
I believe that we, as a council, should support our fellow councillors and denounce the bullying and
harassment. I think we could go round in circles over this, those that support Mr Richards and those who
believe his behaviour is unacceptable, my suggestion would be to put it to vote, either do nothing, pay
for an independent investigation, or seek legal advice against Mr Richards. However, whatever would be
decided, ALL councillors should support the majority decision, both within council and in the wider
community.
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From: Jennifer Roberts <jenirobs@googlemail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 6:24:21 PM
To: Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com>
Cc: marie powell <marie.powell@mail.com>; Cllr. Simon Knoyle <cllr.s.a.knoyle@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Del
Morgan <cllr.j.d.morgan@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr. Carolyn Edwards <cllr.c.edwards@npt.gov.uk>; Cllr.
Haulwen Morgan <haulwenjones@live.com>; jangregory100@gmail com <jangregory100@gmail.com>;
Cllr. Janet Collins <Janetcollins6218@outlook.com>; Richard Knoyle <rk@btpassoc.co.uk>; Cllr. Stephen
Evans <anzacevans@icloud.com>; Shane McMenamin <shanemcmenamin45@gmail.com>; Cllr. Gerry
Reynolds <Mulloch21@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Mr David Richards

Evening Michael.
How do you know “ The Planning Process has been adhered to?
I believe the first plans were passed at the site 1990, 32 years ago, and you’ve only been on the council 6
months ( apart from the time you resigned as clerk for a few short weeks, because you upset SKH).
And have definitely had NO involvement in the Planning process.” How do you know the planning
process has been adhered to.
Thanks Jennifer.
On 15 Jan 2022, at 18:48, Mike Pugh <cllr.mpugh@hotmail.com> wrote:
How do you know it wasn’t? We’re you a councillor 32 years ago? Upset SKH? Your friend Stephen Hunt
I presume? That wasn't the reason for my resignation, I resigned for the same reason as all the other
clerks, bullying, harassment and the job being untenable due to a small group of residents and some
councillors with an agenda against council. Plus, it wasn't a few short weeks. I'm guessing you support
Mr Richards behaviour against some Glynneath Councillors.
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________________________________________
From: Jennifer Roberts <jenirobs@googlemail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 8:08 pm
To: Mike Pugh
Cc: marie.powell; Cllr. Simon Knoyle; Cllr. Del Morgan; Cllr. Carolyn Edwards; haulwenjones;
jangregory100@gmail com; Cllr. Janet Collins; Richard Knoyle; Cllr. Stephen Evans; Shane McMenamin;
Cllr. Gerry Reynolds
Subject: Re: Mr David Richards

Mike- You base your character assassination on Mr Richards stating that the Planning process has been
adhered to.
Before we move on from this topic , please can you clarify how you know the Planning process has been
adhered to?
The reason I’m stating this is because no-one in public office is standing up and challenging Mr Richards.
If he is wrong let’s prove he’s wrong by presenting facts that counter his arguments.
You were the first to commit to a statement about the planning process, so please don’t answer my
question by asking one of your own.
I’ll ask you again. How do you know the planning process has been adhered to?
Thanks Jennifer.
Sent from my iPad
[End of message chain received]

		redacted section
not included in chain supplied by GTC as a foi request xw/53		Mike Pugh accuses me of heading a hate campaign against councillors. He also asks a leading question that attempts to discredit me and provide support for corruption within GTC "do you support or condemn the wild accusations from Mr Richards against you fellow councillors"
not included in chain supplied by GTC as a foi request xw/52		hate campaign by the Glynneath Junior Tennis against disabled people.