Thursday 29 October 2009

Plaid ramping things up with Llanelli wide bus campaign

Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones and Myfanwy Davies visited the First Cymru bus depot in Llanelli earlier this week to see one of the many local buses which are currently carrying Plaid adverts. The Plaid Cymru bus adverts, that feature both Helen Mary and Myfanwy, are being trialled on buses in Llanelli and is a first with regards to political advertisement on buses in the country.

The new bus campaign that features the slogan ‘Think Llanelli, Think Plaid’ is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure the people of Llanelli who best to approach with regards to any problems or issue that they need help with. Helen Mary Jones is the long-standing AM for the area, while Myfanwy Davies hopes to be elected as her home-town's MP at the next General Election. Both Plaid representitives are already working tirelessly for the people of Llanelli, but are keen for anyone who needs help with any problems or issues to get in touch.
Plaid ‘s Helen Mary Jones said:

"Hopefully, these bus adverts will remind the people of Llanelli that both Myfanwy and I are here to help, whether it’s a small or large problem. I feel very proud that Llanelli has been chosen as the place to pilot the bus adverts, and I hope that many more Plaid adverts will be seen in the near future on buses all over Wales.”
Myfanwy added:

"I'm immensely pleased that so many Llanelli people have already come to Helen and me to deal with problems they have and that we have been able to help them. The recession is biting much harder in Llanelli than elsewhere and money worries often put an extra strain on people already facing difficulties. We want to make sure that people know where to come for advice and support as early as possible. The bus adverts are a really useful way to get that information across and to make people feel comfortable in asking for advice."

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Myfanwy to introduce world-famous Wolfe Tones tomorrow in Llanelli

Ireland’s world-famous folk band, the Wolfe Tones will be playing a special concert with our own Dafydd Iwan at Llanelli's Calsonic Club tomorrow (28th). Myfanwy will be introducing the bands. Myfanwy said: " Wolfe Tone is a national hero in Ireland who had the vision to understand that a nation's future rests in the hands of ordinary people. The songs of the Wolfe Tones and Dafydd Iwan celebrate how ordinary people can build a more secure future. As we in Llanelli look forward to the year ahead - the challenges of fighting for jobs and protecting fairness as well as the historic opportunity of the next election - this is a very relevant message to us. I'm delighted I will be at Calsonic to enjoy the evening and am grateful to the organisers for asking me to be involved".

Thursday 22 October 2009

Llanelly House gets £2m funding boost

The £6m project to restore Llanelly House has been given a £2m funding boost from the Plaid driven Welsh government. Llanelli Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones AM and Myfanwy Davies welcomed the news which they said would be a huge boost to the project.



Llanelli Plaid AM Helen Mary Jones said:





"The £2m funding announced today will be a huge boost to the restoration of Llanelly House. Plaid in government recognises the importance of supporting local, cultural community assets and as one of Llanelli’s most historic properties, Llanelly House is fully deserving of this support. This welcome funding boost is further proof that Plaid Cymru is committed to delivering for Llanelli."


Plaid's Llanelli Westminster Candidate, Myfanwy Davies, said:


"I am delighted that the Plaid driven One Wales government has delivered this huge investment for Llanelli. Too often, people talk our town centre down, and yet we have so much to be proud of. Llanelly House is a hidden jewel that dates back to the origins of the town and is important to all of us. Once it is restored, it will bring visitors and shoppers in to see just how much our town has to offer.”"

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Ieuan Wyn Jones supports Llanelli industry and town centre traders

>Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary Candidate Dr Myfanwy Davies today (15.10.09) welcomed Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM to Llanelli. The Plaid Cymru Leader took time out of his busy schedule to meet with local traders and business people, to include stall holders in the town market.
Mr Jones also visited car parts manufacturing factory Calsonic Kansei, who recently received financial support from the Plaid driven Welsh Government, and as a result safeguarding over 200 jobs and creating nearly 40 new jobs. The £3.2 million from the One Wales Government’s Single Investment Fund (SIF) will focus on the introduction of new products for the next generation vehicles including Hybrid and EV technologies that require lighter and more efficient components.

Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones was also eager to show his support for Myfanwy Davies’ campaign to become Plaid's first woman MP.

Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said:

“It’s vital that we have someone like Myfanwy in Westminster who would act as a strong voice for the communities of Wales. So many important decisions that have a huge impact on Wales are made in Westminster, and that’s why I’m here today to support Myfanwy’s campaign to become Plaid's first woman MP.

My visit to Llanelli also gave me the opportunity to listen to the views of local business people on what they think can be done to secure a prosperous future for the area’s economy.”

Plaid ‘s Helen Mary Jones said:

"I was very pleased to welcome Ieuan Wyn Jones to Llanelli today to show his support for Myfanwy's campaign. His visit shows how Plaid in Government is committed to listening to communities and businesses, and as the Minister for Economy, it was great that he was able to meet with some of our local traders and business people today to discuss their concerns. The One Wales Government is doing an excellent job of protecting communities against recession, but the powers are limited. We in
Llanelli need a strong and independent voice in London - a voice that will stand up for us, and it was great to have our Plaid Leader here today showing his confidence in Myfanwy.”

Myfanwy added:

“The new investment in Calsonic is wonderful news and I am delighted that Ieuan came down to
visit the plant. Llanelli people are also very worried about small businesses in the town centre. I
was pleased to be able to get support from Plaid’s conference for practical steps to help our town
centre businesses such as addressing business rates. I know that our local business people were very
keen to have a nuts and bolts discussion about problems they face with Ieuan, and I’m very grateful that he was able to offer answers to their concerns.”

Monday 12 October 2009

Stop the cuts in our schools and hospitals say Myfanwy, Helen Mary and Plaid Council leaders

Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid's Llanelli candidate for Westminster has revealed that independent research for the Holtham Commission shows the London government may deny Llanelli £227m needed over the next 10 years.

Myfanwy said:

"I have always known that Wales' funding is unfair. But astonishing research into the UK Government's own figures shows that over the next ten years we will lose over £220 million pounds - money that our communities in Llanelli need so badly.

We are fed up with London Labour cutting Wales' funding to pay for city bankers' bonuses. And these cuts are going to be deep despite the Welsh Government doing all it can. Cardiff just can't go on using its own reserves for ever and ever. So next year the cuts may be even more severe.

We say enough is enough! We are not here just to buy off Mandleson's millionaire friends. Hands off our schools and hospitals. "

She added,

" These cuts come despite the independent Holtham commission saying that Wales' funding should not be touched until we get the money we need to provide vital public services. But Wales is getting less from Westminster because of all the money that London Labour has paid to bail out the bankers in the City.

And ominously, the Tory Party says it will cut Wales' money in exactly the same way as London Labour."


Myfanwy and the leader of Plaid's County Councillor group are calling on London Labour to listen to all the independent advice and stop the cuts until Wales gets fair funding.


Cllr. Peter Hughes Griffiths, Leader of the Plaid Group on the county council said:

"As local councillors we support Myfanwy's call all the way. It is so unfair that the Westminster Labour government is cutting back so drastically on Welsh finances. Remember this when the general election comes along!"

Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones added:

"The Welsh government has managed to cushion the blow of savage funding cuts this year by using reserves. But it will not be able to do this every year. The London parties need to commit to taking immediate action to ensure that Welsh communities get the funding they need, the money which is their right.

In the meantime they must call a halt to any proposed further cuts in the Welsh budget, to allow the Welsh government to invest in our communities for the good of all the people of Wales."


DIWEDD / ENDS

Notes for editor

The independent Holtham Commission has stated that the cumulative under-funding of Wales over the next decade will mean we could lose out to the tune of £8.5bn.

That means an underfunding of £2,900 for every person in Wales.

So with a population of 78,300 in Llanelli, this could mean a loss of an estimated £227m for the constituency - unless action is taken to change the now thoroughly discredited Barnett Formula