Over 17,000 pensioners in Llanelli would benefit from Plaid Cymru’s General Election promise to increase the state benison by 30% says local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid's Parliamentary Candidate Myfanwy Davies.
Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones outlined his party’s proposal in the forthcoming General Election for a “Living Pension” during a keynote speech in the Cynon Valley last Monday. Their pledge comes as figures show that £5.4 billion of benefits for older people are left unclaimed in the UK each year, because pensioners find the process of applying for Pension credits complicated and intrusive.
Plaid is campaigning for a Living Pension, which would mean that all pensioners get the increased pension - which next year would amount to £202 per week for a couple. The commitment would be phased in gradually, starting with the oldest and most vulnerable pensioners over 80 years old.
Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones said:
"With a shocking 74% rise in cold weather deaths in Wales last year, pensioners poverty and protecting key public services must take priority over bankers’ bonuses, nuclear weapons and ID cards.
The Tories want unfair taxes, New Labour want to keep the bankers’ bonus culture and the Lib Dems’ credibility went out of the window when Clegg admitted they had been making promises they could not afford all along.
"Our policy is affordable as the policy would be phased in gradually, with the oldest and most vulnerable pensioners benefiting firstly. We in Plaid Cymru know that many pensioners in poverty do not apply for a pension credit, and we also know that many pensioners face huge personal care bills.”
Myfanwy Davies added:
"Our Living Pension scheme will ensure a decent income for pensioners starting with the oldest. It is the right thing to do but it is also a practical step to help the most vulnerable people in our communities and to direct much-needed spending to the small local businesses where older people tend to shop.
Labour and the Tories are falling over themselves to cut vital public spending while we are still in recession. That is the economics of the madhouse. Public spending is the only thing keeping the economy afloat as things stand and we must stand by the most vulnerable in our communities when times are hard."
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Plaid slams Lib-Dem policy that would cut Llanelli’s Westminster seat
Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid’s Parliamentary Candidate for Llanelli Myfanwy Davies have attacked the Liberal Democrat’s plans to stop Llanelli from being represented in Westminster.
The Lib Dems' amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, due to be debated next week in the House of Commons, has given a revealing indication of the Lib Dem’s distorted priorities.
Ms Jones said that MPs' powers should be transferred to Wales before their number is cut.
The Lib Dems’ plans would threaten Welsh representation in Westminster, and would leave Llanelli without a voice in London.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
"These plans show how the Lib Dems are trying to weaken Welsh voices at Westminster. Their proposals show that there would only be 4 MP’s to represent the West Wales, meaning that Llanelli would lose out. People need to understand that Llanelli has it own needs, and therefore needs it own voice.
“We need an MP to represent Llanelli in Westminster – a Plaid MP who will stand up and more importantly, stay loyal to the local community.”
Myfanwy Davies added:
“If the number of Welsh MPs are reduced now, who will be standing up for Welsh interests in London when key decisions are taken, and more importantly who will be standing up for Llanelli?
Once the National Assembly has fuller control over Welsh affairs, then there will be a better case to look at the number of MPs we have. Until then, cutting the number of Welsh MPs will only weaken our voice at that level, especially in somewhere like Llanelli.
Llanelli is a strong and close-knit community. I know that people would be up in arms about this. Llanelli's voice clearly isn't understood by Lib Dems."
The Lib Dems' amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, due to be debated next week in the House of Commons, has given a revealing indication of the Lib Dem’s distorted priorities.
Ms Jones said that MPs' powers should be transferred to Wales before their number is cut.
The Lib Dems’ plans would threaten Welsh representation in Westminster, and would leave Llanelli without a voice in London.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
"These plans show how the Lib Dems are trying to weaken Welsh voices at Westminster. Their proposals show that there would only be 4 MP’s to represent the West Wales, meaning that Llanelli would lose out. People need to understand that Llanelli has it own needs, and therefore needs it own voice.
“We need an MP to represent Llanelli in Westminster – a Plaid MP who will stand up and more importantly, stay loyal to the local community.”
Myfanwy Davies added:
“If the number of Welsh MPs are reduced now, who will be standing up for Welsh interests in London when key decisions are taken, and more importantly who will be standing up for Llanelli?
Once the National Assembly has fuller control over Welsh affairs, then there will be a better case to look at the number of MPs we have. Until then, cutting the number of Welsh MPs will only weaken our voice at that level, especially in somewhere like Llanelli.
Llanelli is a strong and close-knit community. I know that people would be up in arms about this. Llanelli's voice clearly isn't understood by Lib Dems."
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Battle to stop homes closing steps up a gear
Angry relatives of vulnerable residents have vowed to step up their campaign to fight care home closure plans in Llanelli. If the County Council plans to shut both Caemaen and St Paul 's Residential Care Homes go ahead, over 50 elderly vulnerable people will face eviction from their homes, and even more jobs will be lost in the area.
Carmarthenshire County Council announced draft plans to shut four Care Homes in Carmarthenshire back in November, as part of their ten year plan to finance new home care services in the area.
In the latest public meeting held on Friday, angry campaigners once again raised their concerns, and it was agreed that advocates for the Residents will be arranged. The Caemaen and St Paul ’s Groups also agreed to merge into one Action Committee in order to focus more effectively.
Myfanwy and Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones have supported campaigners in drafting letters which will be be sent to various Councillors from members of the Groups in the next few days. Helen Mary will also be meeting with the Health Minister Edwina Hart and the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas this week to discuss the issue.
Many of the resident's relatives are very worried about the serious effects a move could have on the health of their loved ones. This is referred to as ‘Transfer Trauma’ and it is estimated that at least 30% of people moved from one home to another die within one year.
Deryk Cundy, whose father is cared for at Caemaen Residential Care Home said:
"We are determined to fight these outrageous plans to close Caemaen and St Pauls. This is yet another example of our vulnerable elderly suffering as a result of the Council's efforts to save money. How would you feel if you were to be evicted for paying your rent?
Already the Council are changing the functionality of Llys Y Bryn, behind the Councillor's backs, by replacing Residential Care Places with 12 Convalescence Beds and moving 7 Respite Beds that were there to St Pauls. This is in effect reducing the Residential Care places by another 19 places - theft by stealth. The Council are trying to sell off the "family silver" - the Care Homes that we are going to need in the future.
Even according to the Council figures, in 6 years we will have another 10% of the elderly needing Care places - in Llanelli that means an extra 103 places - if we close our Care Homes in Llanelli alone we will be short of 162 places in 2016 with potentially disastrous results for our whole community.
I believe that everyone should have the right to high levels of care and safety, now and in the future, for me, you, your families and your friends. The people we are trying to protect here are the vulnerable, dependant people who cannot look after themselves.
We have some superb Local Authority Homes with caring staff providing the care that is rare in today's world. Care that we can rely on to provide the safe environment that the elderly in our community need and have every right to expect. Why should we let this be stolen from us ?"
Local AM Helen Mary Jones said:
"The council needs to look at a more creative way of saving money rather than reducing the service that the elderly and vulnerable depend on. Llanelli needs to be a place where people are not frightened to get old, knowing that they will be welcomed and cared for in the future. I’ll be meeting the Health Minister as well as the Deputy Minister for Social Services this week to discuss what support the Welsh Assembly Government could offer with regards to the issue.”
Myfanwy Davies, Plaid's Parliamentary Candidate for Llanelli added:
“Moving older people from their homes is distressing and some may not survive a
move. Our older people will not be sacrificed to the Council's half baked ideas about privatisation and the Council don't even know the cost of the new programmes."
Carmarthenshire County Council announced draft plans to shut four Care Homes in Carmarthenshire back in November, as part of their ten year plan to finance new home care services in the area.
In the latest public meeting held on Friday, angry campaigners once again raised their concerns, and it was agreed that advocates for the Residents will be arranged. The Caemaen and St Paul ’s Groups also agreed to merge into one Action Committee in order to focus more effectively.
Myfanwy and Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones have supported campaigners in drafting letters which will be be sent to various Councillors from members of the Groups in the next few days. Helen Mary will also be meeting with the Health Minister Edwina Hart and the Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas this week to discuss the issue.
Many of the resident's relatives are very worried about the serious effects a move could have on the health of their loved ones. This is referred to as ‘Transfer Trauma’ and it is estimated that at least 30% of people moved from one home to another die within one year.
Deryk Cundy, whose father is cared for at Caemaen Residential Care Home said:
"We are determined to fight these outrageous plans to close Caemaen and St Pauls. This is yet another example of our vulnerable elderly suffering as a result of the Council's efforts to save money. How would you feel if you were to be evicted for paying your rent?
Already the Council are changing the functionality of Llys Y Bryn, behind the Councillor's backs, by replacing Residential Care Places with 12 Convalescence Beds and moving 7 Respite Beds that were there to St Pauls. This is in effect reducing the Residential Care places by another 19 places - theft by stealth. The Council are trying to sell off the "family silver" - the Care Homes that we are going to need in the future.
Even according to the Council figures, in 6 years we will have another 10% of the elderly needing Care places - in Llanelli that means an extra 103 places - if we close our Care Homes in Llanelli alone we will be short of 162 places in 2016 with potentially disastrous results for our whole community.
I believe that everyone should have the right to high levels of care and safety, now and in the future, for me, you, your families and your friends. The people we are trying to protect here are the vulnerable, dependant people who cannot look after themselves.
We have some superb Local Authority Homes with caring staff providing the care that is rare in today's world. Care that we can rely on to provide the safe environment that the elderly in our community need and have every right to expect. Why should we let this be stolen from us ?"
Local AM Helen Mary Jones said:
"The council needs to look at a more creative way of saving money rather than reducing the service that the elderly and vulnerable depend on. Llanelli needs to be a place where people are not frightened to get old, knowing that they will be welcomed and cared for in the future. I’ll be meeting the Health Minister as well as the Deputy Minister for Social Services this week to discuss what support the Welsh Assembly Government could offer with regards to the issue.”
Myfanwy Davies, Plaid's Parliamentary Candidate for Llanelli added:
“Moving older people from their homes is distressing and some may not survive a
move. Our older people will not be sacrificed to the Council's half baked ideas about privatisation and the Council don't even know the cost of the new programmes."
Plaid fury at council plans to cut services for disabled young people
Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid’s Parliamentary candidate for Llanelli Myfanwy Davies have expressed their anger over Carmarthen Council’s proposals to make massive cutbacks to the budgets for learning disabilities and services relating to special schools, as part of their big plans to make millions of savings over the next three years.
The plans to cut £460,000 per year from services to disabled young people are part of a series of proposals being looked at by the County council as part of their response to the huge cuts imposed by the London Government to the bank bail out.
Helen Mary and Myfanwy are very concerned about the impact such cuts could have on those with learning disabilities in Llanelli.
Plaid ‘s Helen Mary Jones said:
"These plans to make cuts to the learning disabilities budget are totally unacceptable. The council needs to undertake a Comprehensive Spending Review, so that they can then identify what services can be done without.
Services are already stretched, and it’s unfair that it’s our vulnerable people in Llanelli that have to suffer. As a result of cuts to the budget of Wales by the London Labour government, those services crucial to children and older people are already feeling the strain . Myfanwy and I are committed to protecting our essential services such as schools and hospitals.”
Plaid’s Parliamentary Candidate Myfanwy Davies added:
“These are servies that are absouloutely necessary to people in Llanelli. people with learning disabilities and their families just can’t be asked to do without proper support and education. Of course the county council has to make cuts, but we will not stand by while they cut services to the most vulnerable and continue to spend our money on non- essentials to include sponsporships, marketing and hospitality.
These cuts show all too plainly that the Council in Carmarthen is completely out of touch with our needs in Llanelli.”
The plans to cut £460,000 per year from services to disabled young people are part of a series of proposals being looked at by the County council as part of their response to the huge cuts imposed by the London Government to the bank bail out.
Helen Mary and Myfanwy are very concerned about the impact such cuts could have on those with learning disabilities in Llanelli.
Plaid ‘s Helen Mary Jones said:
"These plans to make cuts to the learning disabilities budget are totally unacceptable. The council needs to undertake a Comprehensive Spending Review, so that they can then identify what services can be done without.
Services are already stretched, and it’s unfair that it’s our vulnerable people in Llanelli that have to suffer. As a result of cuts to the budget of Wales by the London Labour government, those services crucial to children and older people are already feeling the strain . Myfanwy and I are committed to protecting our essential services such as schools and hospitals.”
Plaid’s Parliamentary Candidate Myfanwy Davies added:
“These are servies that are absouloutely necessary to people in Llanelli. people with learning disabilities and their families just can’t be asked to do without proper support and education. Of course the county council has to make cuts, but we will not stand by while they cut services to the most vulnerable and continue to spend our money on non- essentials to include sponsporships, marketing and hospitality.
These cuts show all too plainly that the Council in Carmarthen is completely out of touch with our needs in Llanelli.”
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Plaid delight as Hendy Post Office is awarded funding
Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary Candidate for Llanelli, Myfanwy Davies have welcomed the news that Hendy Post Office is one of 75 branches in Wales that have been awarded a total of £1.5m from the Post Office Diversification Fund.
The funding will lead to the equivalent of 57 full time jobs at post offices throughout Wales. This is the second round of funding which is designed to help sub – postmasters and sub – postmistresses diversify and improve their Post Offices. A total of £1.1million for sixty three post offices was announced in July.
The £4.5million fund, which will run for three years and is open to every sub pos office in Wales, aims to help with business and marketing advice, advertising, training and some set-up costs for new services. Funding can also be applied for improvements such as creating better access to buildings, upgrading computer equipment, improving security or providing better signs for the outside of premises.
Twelve Post Offices have been awarded grants of up to £5,000 each for small capital projects such as new air conditioning or security systems and sixty three have been awarded up to £20,000 each for larger capital projects such as renovation, improving access or installing facilities for new services. Thirty four of the Post Offices have also received up to £15,000 in revenue funding which will help employ new staff or increase
Plaid's Helen Mary Jones said:
"I am delighted that the Hendy branch will be benefiting from the funding that has been made available from the Welsh Assembly Government. Post Offices are often the heart in the community, and I know that in Hendy, this is certainly the case. This money will help us to keep branches open and I am delighted that so many post offices in Wales have been able to take advantage of the fund.”
Myfanwy added:
"The extra investment in Hendy post office is a real boost to the community and particularly to people who do not want to travel out of Hendy to shop. The investment package is very important in safeguarding post offices that remain a kept part of community and business life but it is sad that this investment is happening against a backdrop of a post office closure campaign by the London labour Government and the withdrawal of post office services like passport applications and the post office card."
The funding will lead to the equivalent of 57 full time jobs at post offices throughout Wales. This is the second round of funding which is designed to help sub – postmasters and sub – postmistresses diversify and improve their Post Offices. A total of £1.1million for sixty three post offices was announced in July.
The £4.5million fund, which will run for three years and is open to every sub pos office in Wales, aims to help with business and marketing advice, advertising, training and some set-up costs for new services. Funding can also be applied for improvements such as creating better access to buildings, upgrading computer equipment, improving security or providing better signs for the outside of premises.
Twelve Post Offices have been awarded grants of up to £5,000 each for small capital projects such as new air conditioning or security systems and sixty three have been awarded up to £20,000 each for larger capital projects such as renovation, improving access or installing facilities for new services. Thirty four of the Post Offices have also received up to £15,000 in revenue funding which will help employ new staff or increase
Plaid's Helen Mary Jones said:
"I am delighted that the Hendy branch will be benefiting from the funding that has been made available from the Welsh Assembly Government. Post Offices are often the heart in the community, and I know that in Hendy, this is certainly the case. This money will help us to keep branches open and I am delighted that so many post offices in Wales have been able to take advantage of the fund.”
Myfanwy added:
"The extra investment in Hendy post office is a real boost to the community and particularly to people who do not want to travel out of Hendy to shop. The investment package is very important in safeguarding post offices that remain a kept part of community and business life but it is sad that this investment is happening against a backdrop of a post office closure campaign by the London labour Government and the withdrawal of post office services like passport applications and the post office card."
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Helen Mary and Myfanwy pleased as plans to shut care homes are shelved
Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid's Parliamentary candidate for Llanelli Myfanwy Davies have expressed their delight that council plans to close Caemaen and St Paul’s residential homes in Llanelli have been shelved. Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy last week pledged their to support an action group that has been fighting hard against these closure plans.
The County Council had wanted to close the residential homes in order to finance new home care services but the plans made no provision for care while those services were being delivered and had no detail of the costs or savings to be made. The plans contained no detail about where residents who were too frail for home care would be housed , but officers’ remarks about empty beds in private care homes raised residents fears that they would be sent out of Council care.
Myfanwy travelled to Carmarthen in a convoy of two buses of protesters from Caemaen home yesterday and helped lobby councillors as they arrived for the meeting of the County Council’s Scrutiny Committee. During the meeting, members of the Plaid Cymru group time and again drew attention to the weakness of the report and warned about privatising care by stealth. To the protesters delight, the Plaid group insisted on a vote to reject the plans as they stand. However, a task and finish group will be convened to examine the plans in detail.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
"I’m very pleased indeed that the Council’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee has rejected the proposal to shut St Paul’s and Caemaen. I am concerned however that the discussions of the task and finish group around the future of social care in Carmarthenshire should not end up coming to the same conclusions but behind closed doors.
There has been a great campaign in the community to support the care that’s being provided at Caemaen and St Paul’s, and both Myfanwy and I have been fully supportive of the hard work that's been going on. I will continue to support those campaigning to keep this provision available for the people who want it and need it.”
Myfanwy added:
“The Council’s plans were ill-conceived and it was quite right for the Plaid members of the scrutiny committee to reject them on those grounds. It is entirely wrong to make savings at the expense of our most vulnerable people but it seems the Council had not even calculated the costs and had not considered how residents would be cared for while the new accommodation was built.
Moving older people from their homes is distressing and some may not survive a move. I am very pleased that we have been able to win the first battle in this war. Our older people will not be sacrificed to the Council’s half-baked ideas about privatisation. "
The County Council had wanted to close the residential homes in order to finance new home care services but the plans made no provision for care while those services were being delivered and had no detail of the costs or savings to be made. The plans contained no detail about where residents who were too frail for home care would be housed , but officers’ remarks about empty beds in private care homes raised residents fears that they would be sent out of Council care.
Myfanwy travelled to Carmarthen in a convoy of two buses of protesters from Caemaen home yesterday and helped lobby councillors as they arrived for the meeting of the County Council’s Scrutiny Committee. During the meeting, members of the Plaid Cymru group time and again drew attention to the weakness of the report and warned about privatising care by stealth. To the protesters delight, the Plaid group insisted on a vote to reject the plans as they stand. However, a task and finish group will be convened to examine the plans in detail.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
"I’m very pleased indeed that the Council’s Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee has rejected the proposal to shut St Paul’s and Caemaen. I am concerned however that the discussions of the task and finish group around the future of social care in Carmarthenshire should not end up coming to the same conclusions but behind closed doors.
There has been a great campaign in the community to support the care that’s being provided at Caemaen and St Paul’s, and both Myfanwy and I have been fully supportive of the hard work that's been going on. I will continue to support those campaigning to keep this provision available for the people who want it and need it.”
Myfanwy added:
“The Council’s plans were ill-conceived and it was quite right for the Plaid members of the scrutiny committee to reject them on those grounds. It is entirely wrong to make savings at the expense of our most vulnerable people but it seems the Council had not even calculated the costs and had not considered how residents would be cared for while the new accommodation was built.
Moving older people from their homes is distressing and some may not survive a move. I am very pleased that we have been able to win the first battle in this war. Our older people will not be sacrificed to the Council’s half-baked ideas about privatisation. "
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Dwr Cymru give their commitment to Helen Mary and Myfanwy
Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli Myfanwy Davies have been left feeling reassured following a positive meeting with Dwr Cymru. Senior Management from Dwr Cymru met with both Helen Mary and Myfanwy to discuss the ongoing issues in Llanelli with regards to water quality and flooding.
During the meeting, Dwr Cymru gave their commitment that they will continue to do everything that they can to ensure that the issue will be resolved. Even though the water quality has improved, it is still unclear what is causing the mass cockle deaths which is affecting the livelihoods of many local fishermen and cockle pickers in the area.
Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy has been very concerned about the worrying possibility that cockle beds in the Burry Estuary may continue to die this year – a situation that would cause devastation to the local industry.
Plaid's Helen Mary Jones said:
“I was pleased after the meeting that the Senior Manager from Welsh Water were taking the issues with regards to water quality and flooding in Llanelli very seriously. It is disappointing that Ofwat’s interference means that some of the planned investment will now not be met, but I do have some confidence that working together with the other appropriate agencies, Dwr Cymru will make what progress they can on these issues. They have committed to keeping myself and Myfanwy informed on progress, and we will certainly be keeping a very close eye on developments as they move forward.”
Myfanwy added:
"I’m very pleased that Senior Managers from Welsh Water were able to come and have a wide ranging discussion with us. We touched on a number of issues to do with the Estuary and also flooding within the area. I’m particularly pleased that they were able to make an unequivocal commitment that they would do what had to be done to ensure that Dwr Cymru is not contributing to the cockle deaths. I think that this is an important commitment for cockle fishermen in Llanelli and for other people who are reliant on the industry.”
During the meeting, Dwr Cymru gave their commitment that they will continue to do everything that they can to ensure that the issue will be resolved. Even though the water quality has improved, it is still unclear what is causing the mass cockle deaths which is affecting the livelihoods of many local fishermen and cockle pickers in the area.
Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy has been very concerned about the worrying possibility that cockle beds in the Burry Estuary may continue to die this year – a situation that would cause devastation to the local industry.
Plaid's Helen Mary Jones said:
“I was pleased after the meeting that the Senior Manager from Welsh Water were taking the issues with regards to water quality and flooding in Llanelli very seriously. It is disappointing that Ofwat’s interference means that some of the planned investment will now not be met, but I do have some confidence that working together with the other appropriate agencies, Dwr Cymru will make what progress they can on these issues. They have committed to keeping myself and Myfanwy informed on progress, and we will certainly be keeping a very close eye on developments as they move forward.”
Myfanwy added:
"I’m very pleased that Senior Managers from Welsh Water were able to come and have a wide ranging discussion with us. We touched on a number of issues to do with the Estuary and also flooding within the area. I’m particularly pleased that they were able to make an unequivocal commitment that they would do what had to be done to ensure that Dwr Cymru is not contributing to the cockle deaths. I think that this is an important commitment for cockle fishermen in Llanelli and for other people who are reliant on the industry.”
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