Plaid Honorary President Dafydd Wigley was in Llanelli yesterday to set out how electing Dr. Myfanwy Davies as the town’s MP, Llanelli’s communities would have the best chance of gaining the millions owed to them by the London Government.
For many years Plaid has been campaigning for Wales to receive its fair share of support from Westminster. During the past year two independent Inquiries have found that Wales is severly underfunded. Over 10 years, Llanelli’s communities should be £240 million richer.
With most polls now predicting a hung Parliament, and Plaid and the SNP expected to gain their largest ever number of seats, the group would be in a key position to negotiate on a fair deal for Llanelli.
Mr Wigley met local councillors and community leaders at La Caprice café bar and spoke to traders in Llanelli market about steps to draw people into the town centre.
Mr Wigley said:
"With all the polls pointing to a hung parliament, this election brings back memories for me. I was much younger and less hard-headed than Myfanwy, when we last had a hung parliament and I was part of Plaid’s negotiating team”.
“Back then, we won compensation from the Government for miners who had become disabled because of dust in their lungs”.
“This time, with a much larger group and with tough, experienced negotiators like Myfanwy, we will be asking for fair funding for Wales at the price of our support to the next Government on issues like the budget.”
“It is high time Llanelli got a fair deal from London and high time to send an MP to London who will put Llanelli’s needs first.”
Myfanwy added:
“On the same day that the Labour party brought back Tony Blair, that most discredited of British politicians to boost their flagging fortunes, I’ve been very pleased to welcome Dafydd Wigley to Llanelli”.
“If there is anyone who can show how Welsh communities can benefit from a Plaid MP, it is Dafydd”.
“Now we are looking forward to a hung parliament, I want to be able to fight for the support Llanelli needs and that has been denied us for so many years”.
“Whatever they may say this close to an election, both major parties plan cuts. Just by getting fair funding, we could protect our schools, hospitals and care homes and help our local economy grow”.
Showing posts with label fairness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fairness. Show all posts
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Myfanwy and Helen Mary welcome u-turn on support for older and disabled people after pressure from Plaid
Dr. Myfanwy Davies, Plaid's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Llanelli and local Plaid AM, Helen Mary Jones, have welcomed a u-turn from Labour over support for older disabled people. Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance previously been under threat to pay for Government schemes in England.
The Government has now promised that they will no longer be looking to change them in the next Parliament.
Myfanwy and Helen Mary had supported local disabilities and pensions campaigners in fighting the threat and had worked closely with Plaid colleagues in Westminster to oppose these changes which would have seen thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in Llanelli between £65 and £75 per week worse off on average.
Dr. Davies said:
“This U-turn doesn’t come a moment too soon– although some might question its timing just before a general election”.
Across Llanelli, 4,000 people depend on Attendance allowance while 8,000 people depend on Disability Living Allowance.
“These people are all either disabled or over the age of 65, the groups least likely to be able to live on their own and look after themselves.
“The proposals that Labour made last summer put enormous pressure on our most vulnerable people. It is wrong that so many of them and their families have had to live with the uncertainty about how they would manage to live independently if this support was taken away”.
“It was unacceptable that the Government suggested these cruel cuts in the first place”.
“They are not doing our most vulnerable people a favour by removing the threat that they themselves made.”
Helen Mary added:
“We have fought these changes since they were first suggested and we have been supporting local disability rights and pensioners groups in putting pressure on the Government to change its mind”.
“It is clear that the combined pressure has helped the Government towards this last minute conversion”.
“We should not have needed to defend support for the most vulnerable but, time and again, we have had to do so. Decisions on support for our most vulnerable need to be made by the Assembly in Cardiff so that we can avoid the distress caused to so many older and disabled people by these cruel cuts initially planned by Labour.”
The Government has now promised that they will no longer be looking to change them in the next Parliament.
Myfanwy and Helen Mary had supported local disabilities and pensions campaigners in fighting the threat and had worked closely with Plaid colleagues in Westminster to oppose these changes which would have seen thousands of elderly and vulnerable people in Llanelli between £65 and £75 per week worse off on average.
Dr. Davies said:
“This U-turn doesn’t come a moment too soon– although some might question its timing just before a general election”.
Across Llanelli, 4,000 people depend on Attendance allowance while 8,000 people depend on Disability Living Allowance.
“These people are all either disabled or over the age of 65, the groups least likely to be able to live on their own and look after themselves.
“The proposals that Labour made last summer put enormous pressure on our most vulnerable people. It is wrong that so many of them and their families have had to live with the uncertainty about how they would manage to live independently if this support was taken away”.
“It was unacceptable that the Government suggested these cruel cuts in the first place”.
“They are not doing our most vulnerable people a favour by removing the threat that they themselves made.”
Helen Mary added:
“We have fought these changes since they were first suggested and we have been supporting local disability rights and pensioners groups in putting pressure on the Government to change its mind”.
“It is clear that the combined pressure has helped the Government towards this last minute conversion”.
“We should not have needed to defend support for the most vulnerable but, time and again, we have had to do so. Decisions on support for our most vulnerable need to be made by the Assembly in Cardiff so that we can avoid the distress caused to so many older and disabled people by these cruel cuts initially planned by Labour.”
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Myfanwy and Helen Mary back local businesses saying ‘Fuel duty hike must be postponed’
Plaid Cymru’s Myfanwy Davies and Helen Mary Jones have today (23/03) called for a freeze on fuel duty ahead of the Budget on Wednesday.
Fuel duty is set to rise by 2.55 pence per litre from April 2010 (1% above the rate of inflation) which will cost the average family an extra £200 a year and cause further problems to small businesses already struggling with higher fuel duties. Plaid has insisted that this duty hike should be postponed.
Campaign organisations such as the Road Haulage Association have come out in support of Plaid’s calls for a fair fuel duty regulator. Under such a plan, an unexpected spike in petrol prices would lead to a freeze on fuel duty.
MPs from Plaid and the SNP have tabled a an official statement urging a freeze on fuel duty and repeating calls for the establishment of a fuel duty regulator.
Arwyn Price of Gwynne Price Coaches in Trimsaran said:
“This has been our family business since 1956 and times have seldom been harder. I received the new diesel prices this morning, and even with a bulk discount, we will be paying nearly 10% more that in July last year and that is before the tax increase.
The Government is already raising fuel costs above the rate of inflation. When fuel cost goes up as it has, the least they can do is freeze the tax increase. If they don’t re-think in tomorrow’s budget, we are going to find things even more difficult”.
Myfanwy said:
“It is our communities - in and around - Llanelli that will feel the pinch of this fuel hike. Hard-working families are struggling to run a car, but these sky high fuel taxes also impact on prices in stores as costs rise to deliver food and other products to the shops. Our local businesses such as Gwynne Price Coaches and our many taxi companies make an enormous contribution to our local economy and will find it even more difficult to make ends meet”.
“After a year that has seen rocketing fuel prices, it is utterly irresponsible to ad to the burden facing local businesses and working families. Once again, the Labour Government is completely out of touch with communities like ours”.
Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones added:
“This is just punishing ordinary people for a banking system failure that the London government helped to create. Our London-based friends simply don’t seem to understand the impact that rising fuel prices are having on ordinary people and communities.”
Plaid’s Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd MP added:
“Rising fuel duty prices are already crippling industry – but it is also an unfair burden on struggling families, small businesses, rural areas in particular, and also sectors such as the emergency services will be hit especially hard by this.
“We will continue to fight this fuel hike and urge the introduction of a fuel duty regulator at the Budget to ensure price stability as well as lower fuel taxes.”
Fuel duty is set to rise by 2.55 pence per litre from April 2010 (1% above the rate of inflation) which will cost the average family an extra £200 a year and cause further problems to small businesses already struggling with higher fuel duties. Plaid has insisted that this duty hike should be postponed.
Campaign organisations such as the Road Haulage Association have come out in support of Plaid’s calls for a fair fuel duty regulator. Under such a plan, an unexpected spike in petrol prices would lead to a freeze on fuel duty.
MPs from Plaid and the SNP have tabled a an official statement urging a freeze on fuel duty and repeating calls for the establishment of a fuel duty regulator.
Arwyn Price of Gwynne Price Coaches in Trimsaran said:
“This has been our family business since 1956 and times have seldom been harder. I received the new diesel prices this morning, and even with a bulk discount, we will be paying nearly 10% more that in July last year and that is before the tax increase.
The Government is already raising fuel costs above the rate of inflation. When fuel cost goes up as it has, the least they can do is freeze the tax increase. If they don’t re-think in tomorrow’s budget, we are going to find things even more difficult”.
Myfanwy said:
“It is our communities - in and around - Llanelli that will feel the pinch of this fuel hike. Hard-working families are struggling to run a car, but these sky high fuel taxes also impact on prices in stores as costs rise to deliver food and other products to the shops. Our local businesses such as Gwynne Price Coaches and our many taxi companies make an enormous contribution to our local economy and will find it even more difficult to make ends meet”.
“After a year that has seen rocketing fuel prices, it is utterly irresponsible to ad to the burden facing local businesses and working families. Once again, the Labour Government is completely out of touch with communities like ours”.
Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones added:
“This is just punishing ordinary people for a banking system failure that the London government helped to create. Our London-based friends simply don’t seem to understand the impact that rising fuel prices are having on ordinary people and communities.”
Plaid’s Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd MP added:
“Rising fuel duty prices are already crippling industry – but it is also an unfair burden on struggling families, small businesses, rural areas in particular, and also sectors such as the emergency services will be hit especially hard by this.
“We will continue to fight this fuel hike and urge the introduction of a fuel duty regulator at the Budget to ensure price stability as well as lower fuel taxes.”
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Myfanwy and Helen Mary take fight to save Llanelli Bingo Club to London
Plaid’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Llanelli, Myfanwy Davies and local AM Helen Mary Jones are backing Bingo players at Llanelli’s Argos Bingo club as they ask the Chancellor to take the last chance to scrap a tax hike from 15 to 20% on Bingo that may put the club’s future at risk.
Tomorrow (18/03), Myfanwy will join Bingo players from Llanelli as they present over 500 signed letters from local people in Llanelli to Treasury officials in Westminster. The letters, prepared by Myfanwy and Helen Mary, ask the chancellor to use the Spring Budget on March 24th, to scrap the tax hike.
Llanelli’s Bingo players plan to dress as daffodils and giant bingo balls and will protest against the tax hike in Parliament Square from 2.15 tomorrow afternoon. They plan to present the letters to the Treasury later in the afternoon.
Myfanwy said: “The last thing Llanelli needs is to loose the Argos Club. It is a place to meet and to socialise, particularly for older people, and it provides jobs in the town centre. Like many town centre businesses, the Argos Club has seen fewer customers coming through the doors and at a time like this, it deserves Government help - not this unfair tax-hike.
I hope the Chancellor will take this last chance to show that he understands communities like ours.”
Helen Mary said: “This is an unjust tax on people’s enjoyment. It is in hard times that you can tell what a Government’s priorities are. The Labour Government and it’s local MP, who voted to keep the tax increase last summer, have very different priorities from ours. But we hope that the letters will demonstrate to the Chancellor the depth of feeling against the tax”.
Nigel Griffiths, Manager of the Argos Bingo Club said: “We hope very much that the Government will think again about raising the tax. After all, if it drives us all out of business, it will not be able to collect the tax in any case”.
Tomorrow (18/03), Myfanwy will join Bingo players from Llanelli as they present over 500 signed letters from local people in Llanelli to Treasury officials in Westminster. The letters, prepared by Myfanwy and Helen Mary, ask the chancellor to use the Spring Budget on March 24th, to scrap the tax hike.
Llanelli’s Bingo players plan to dress as daffodils and giant bingo balls and will protest against the tax hike in Parliament Square from 2.15 tomorrow afternoon. They plan to present the letters to the Treasury later in the afternoon.
Myfanwy said: “The last thing Llanelli needs is to loose the Argos Club. It is a place to meet and to socialise, particularly for older people, and it provides jobs in the town centre. Like many town centre businesses, the Argos Club has seen fewer customers coming through the doors and at a time like this, it deserves Government help - not this unfair tax-hike.
I hope the Chancellor will take this last chance to show that he understands communities like ours.”
Helen Mary said: “This is an unjust tax on people’s enjoyment. It is in hard times that you can tell what a Government’s priorities are. The Labour Government and it’s local MP, who voted to keep the tax increase last summer, have very different priorities from ours. But we hope that the letters will demonstrate to the Chancellor the depth of feeling against the tax”.
Nigel Griffiths, Manager of the Argos Bingo Club said: “We hope very much that the Government will think again about raising the tax. After all, if it drives us all out of business, it will not be able to collect the tax in any case”.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Myfanwy and Helen Mary back Llanelli Bingo players in fight against unfair tax
Plaid’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Llanelli, Myfanwy Davies and local AM Helen Mary Jones are backing Bingo players at Llanelli’s Argos Bingo club as they ask the Chancellor to reconsider a tax hike on Bingo that may put the club’s future in jeopardy. Myfanwy visited Argos Bingo Club on Monday March 1st to hand over letters to the Chancellor for bingo players to sign and return to them.
Last Summer the Labour Government announced it would drastically increase taxes on Bingo while taxes on all other forms of gambling would remain the same. Llanelli’s Bingo players travelled down to Westminster to protest against this unfair treatment. Myfanwy and Plaid MPs met with the protesters and offered their support. In contrast to Llanelli’s Labour MP, who voted for the tax increase, Plaid MPs have consistently voted against this unfair tax.
Nonetheless, tax on bingo is still increasing from 15-20% and will severely effect clubs such as the Argos in Llanelli. The last chance for the Government to review the decision will be at the Spring Budget and so Myfanwy and Helen Mary want to be sure that the Chancellor understands the depth of opposition to the changes in Llanelli before he makes those decisions.
Myfanwy said: “The last thing Llanelli needs is to loose the Argos Club. It is a place to meet and to socialise, particularly for older people, and it provides jobs in the town centre. Like many town centre businesses, the Argos Club has seen fewer customers coming through the doors and at a time like this, it deserves Government help - not this unfair tax-hike.
Why should casinos in London still be taxed at the original rate and the future of our Bingo club be put at risk? I hope the Chancellor will take this last chance to show that he understands communities like ours.”
Helen Mary said: “This is an unjust tax on people’s enjoyment. It is in hard times that you can tell what a Government’s priorities are. The Labour Government and it’s local MP, who voted to keep the tax increase last summer, have very different priorities from ours. But we hope that the letters will demonstrate to the Chancellor the depth of feeling against the tax and that he will reconsider adding this additional burden to one of our landmark town-centre businesses”.
Nigel Griffiths, Manager of the Argos Bingo Club said: “These have been very difficult times. Particularly during January, we were seeing very few of our usual customers. We hope very much that the Government will think again about raising the tax. After all, if it drives us all out of business, it will not be able to collect the tax in any case”.
Copies of the letter have been left at the Argos Club and will be presented to Elfyn Llwyd, the leader of the Plaid Parliamentary Group, when he visits Llanelli next Monday (15th)
Last Summer the Labour Government announced it would drastically increase taxes on Bingo while taxes on all other forms of gambling would remain the same. Llanelli’s Bingo players travelled down to Westminster to protest against this unfair treatment. Myfanwy and Plaid MPs met with the protesters and offered their support. In contrast to Llanelli’s Labour MP, who voted for the tax increase, Plaid MPs have consistently voted against this unfair tax.
Nonetheless, tax on bingo is still increasing from 15-20% and will severely effect clubs such as the Argos in Llanelli. The last chance for the Government to review the decision will be at the Spring Budget and so Myfanwy and Helen Mary want to be sure that the Chancellor understands the depth of opposition to the changes in Llanelli before he makes those decisions.
Myfanwy said: “The last thing Llanelli needs is to loose the Argos Club. It is a place to meet and to socialise, particularly for older people, and it provides jobs in the town centre. Like many town centre businesses, the Argos Club has seen fewer customers coming through the doors and at a time like this, it deserves Government help - not this unfair tax-hike.
Why should casinos in London still be taxed at the original rate and the future of our Bingo club be put at risk? I hope the Chancellor will take this last chance to show that he understands communities like ours.”
Helen Mary said: “This is an unjust tax on people’s enjoyment. It is in hard times that you can tell what a Government’s priorities are. The Labour Government and it’s local MP, who voted to keep the tax increase last summer, have very different priorities from ours. But we hope that the letters will demonstrate to the Chancellor the depth of feeling against the tax and that he will reconsider adding this additional burden to one of our landmark town-centre businesses”.
Nigel Griffiths, Manager of the Argos Bingo Club said: “These have been very difficult times. Particularly during January, we were seeing very few of our usual customers. We hope very much that the Government will think again about raising the tax. After all, if it drives us all out of business, it will not be able to collect the tax in any case”.
Copies of the letter have been left at the Argos Club and will be presented to Elfyn Llwyd, the leader of the Plaid Parliamentary Group, when he visits Llanelli next Monday (15th)
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Pensioners in Llanelli would benefit from Plaid’s proposals for a “Living Pension”
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."
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."
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.”
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. "
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Helen Mary and Myfanwy slam fake consulation on Council’s plan for Llanelli's older people
Following a packed meeting at Caemaen Residential Homes last night, Helen Mary Jones AM and Plaid Westminster candidate Myfanwy Davies, have condemned the way in which the consultation has been conducted by officers and demanded that Pat Jones, the executive member in charge of social care take responsibility for her decision and the conduct of the consultation.
Last week the Llanelli Star reported on council plans to close Caemaen and St Pauls’ residential homes in Llanelli. Responding to this news, Myfanwy and Helen Mary sought and received a reassurance from Bruce McLearnon, Carmarthen’s Director of Social Services who claimed in a letter, that all options were open and that no decision had yet been made on closing the homes.
Nonetheless, yesterday evening Bruce McLearnon supported by Sheila Porter as Director of Integrated Services, affirmed that his preferred plan was for the closure of Caemaen and the development of support services at home known as ‘extra care’. Ms Porter, who was recently employed by the County and who had developed “extra care’ programmes in Bromley vociferously supported his position many times silencing residents and their families in order to advocate this contentious model of care which is associated with failure in England.
Throughout the meeting, the Director also emphasised the need to cut costs as a primary motivator for the plan. Residents and families at the packed meeting were vigorously opposed to closure with residents making a unanimous show of hands in support of staying at Caemaen.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
“Myfanwy and I had been assured that all options were open. It is clear that they are not insofar as Carmarthen Council is concerned and it is also clear that these decisions are being made for financial reasons. Yes, there is less money available and some of those MPs who voted to bail out the banks need to look carefully at their consciences now, but Carmarthen Council still finds funds for showcase projects and for its own publicity.”
“It is unacceptable that officials have sought to mislead families and residents by suggesting that Caemaen contravenes care standards by not having en-suite facilities. That is not the case. During the meeting, officials sought to suggest their plans were in some way intended to protect older people’s dignity. Those residents present made their views known by a unanimous show of hands, how much dignity does it afford any of us that their wished are denied?”
Myfanwy added:
“After receiving assurances from Mr McLearnon, Helen Mary and I went to the meeting with open minds. It is now clear that Carmarthen Council’s mind is already made up. Indeed when residents and families asked whether their opposition had made any difference at all to the Director’s view, he replied that it had not. That in itself is shocking proof of the need for Burry Port Labour Councillor Pat Jones, the lead on Social Care to stand up and take political responsibility for her decision and the conduct of her officers.”
“In general, I would support plans that keep people at home and independent where that are properly supported but there are sadly few examples of these plans working. We heard last night how residents in Caemaen had not been able to stay at home with existing home care support and had in some cases suffered serious neglect within home care. It is just not acceptable that older people should be moved against their will”.
Myfanwy and Helen Mary have pledged to support an action group that will fight these closure plans.
Last week the Llanelli Star reported on council plans to close Caemaen and St Pauls’ residential homes in Llanelli. Responding to this news, Myfanwy and Helen Mary sought and received a reassurance from Bruce McLearnon, Carmarthen’s Director of Social Services who claimed in a letter, that all options were open and that no decision had yet been made on closing the homes.
Nonetheless, yesterday evening Bruce McLearnon supported by Sheila Porter as Director of Integrated Services, affirmed that his preferred plan was for the closure of Caemaen and the development of support services at home known as ‘extra care’. Ms Porter, who was recently employed by the County and who had developed “extra care’ programmes in Bromley vociferously supported his position many times silencing residents and their families in order to advocate this contentious model of care which is associated with failure in England.
Throughout the meeting, the Director also emphasised the need to cut costs as a primary motivator for the plan. Residents and families at the packed meeting were vigorously opposed to closure with residents making a unanimous show of hands in support of staying at Caemaen.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones said:
“Myfanwy and I had been assured that all options were open. It is clear that they are not insofar as Carmarthen Council is concerned and it is also clear that these decisions are being made for financial reasons. Yes, there is less money available and some of those MPs who voted to bail out the banks need to look carefully at their consciences now, but Carmarthen Council still finds funds for showcase projects and for its own publicity.”
“It is unacceptable that officials have sought to mislead families and residents by suggesting that Caemaen contravenes care standards by not having en-suite facilities. That is not the case. During the meeting, officials sought to suggest their plans were in some way intended to protect older people’s dignity. Those residents present made their views known by a unanimous show of hands, how much dignity does it afford any of us that their wished are denied?”
Myfanwy added:
“After receiving assurances from Mr McLearnon, Helen Mary and I went to the meeting with open minds. It is now clear that Carmarthen Council’s mind is already made up. Indeed when residents and families asked whether their opposition had made any difference at all to the Director’s view, he replied that it had not. That in itself is shocking proof of the need for Burry Port Labour Councillor Pat Jones, the lead on Social Care to stand up and take political responsibility for her decision and the conduct of her officers.”
“In general, I would support plans that keep people at home and independent where that are properly supported but there are sadly few examples of these plans working. We heard last night how residents in Caemaen had not been able to stay at home with existing home care support and had in some cases suffered serious neglect within home care. It is just not acceptable that older people should be moved against their will”.
Myfanwy and Helen Mary have pledged to support an action group that will fight these closure plans.
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
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
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Myfanwy leads fight for free ATMs in Llanelli communities
ATMs that charge people to withdraw their money are cashing in on some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, says Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate. While there is a choice of free ATMs in the town centre and in the retail parks, people in areas like Felinfoel and Llwynhendy need to choose carefully if they are to avoid paying up to £1.99 for a withdrawal of any kind. In Dafen and Furnace, there is currently no choice other than to pay to withdraw cash.
Myfanwy is worried by the recent rapid price increases on charging ATMs. She believes this development is particularly damaging to families struggling to deal with the recession and to groups like older people and the disabled who do not have easy access to transport. Myfanwy will be working with Plaid colleagues at Westminster to call on the UK government to regulate charges on ATMs that target the most vulnerable in our communities.
Myfanwy will also be working with Plaid’s Social Justice Spokesman, Dr. Dai Lloyd AM and Helen Mary Jones AM to investigate what can be done at an Assembly and local level to protect Welsh communities from unfair charges.
Dr Davies said:
“These withdrawal charges target people on lower incomes who take out less money at once as so pay more as a proportion on each withdrawal. These unfair charges also disproportionately affect people like pensioners whose benefits are paid directly into their accounts”.
“For those who don’t have access to cars and who live in communities like Llwynhendy and Felinfoel where most cash machines charge for withdrawal, this is an additional cost at a time when they need it least. In communities like Furnace and Dafen, there is literally no choice available.”
“Small shops and pubs in our communities provide a vital service and it is easy to see why owners would be willing to host a fee-paying ATM. Nonetheless, my concern is that the charges will place an unsustainable burden on their most loyal customers and in the longer term, introducing these ATMs may jeopardise the future of our key local businesses as people spend less locally”.
“Over the last five years the number of cash machines that charge has increased by more than 18,000 while free cash machines have only increased by around eight thousand.”
“This is an issue of basic social justice. We can’t allow our most vulnerable people to be unfairly targeted in this way and I will be working closely with Helen Mary and colleagues at Westminster to find ways of providing free ATMs across all our communities.”
Cllr. Clem Thomas from Dafen added:
“I am concerned that there is no free ATM in Dafen. We are lucky to still have our post office which has so far survived the Governments’ closure programme but the days of withdrawing benefits and pensions directly and over the counter are long gone.”
“In these difficult times, I can understand entirely why small business people would want to diversify by providing a fee-paying ATM which provides them with up 60p per transaction. It goes without saying that we need to support small local businesses. Nonetheless I am sceptical whether the cost of having a fee-paying ATM in a local business does not outweigh the potential benefit as people who feel they have paid a large fee are likely to spend less in that business than they otherwise would.”
DIWEDD / ENDS
Notes for editor
Myfanwy is campaigning for 3 things:
1. She is working with Plaid’s MPs to press the London Labour Government to regulate ATM charges and the proliferation of charging ATMs.
2. She working with Helen Mary Jones to call on WAG to increase the provision of free machines for example through public service providers such as post office network, local government offices or community centres
3. She is researching into whether planning law can be amended to protect isolated/deprived communities where there is currently no option other than to pay for cash withdrawal.
For a map of ATMs and details of charging in the Llanelli area go to: www.link.co.uk
Myfanwy is worried by the recent rapid price increases on charging ATMs. She believes this development is particularly damaging to families struggling to deal with the recession and to groups like older people and the disabled who do not have easy access to transport. Myfanwy will be working with Plaid colleagues at Westminster to call on the UK government to regulate charges on ATMs that target the most vulnerable in our communities.
Myfanwy will also be working with Plaid’s Social Justice Spokesman, Dr. Dai Lloyd AM and Helen Mary Jones AM to investigate what can be done at an Assembly and local level to protect Welsh communities from unfair charges.
Dr Davies said:
“These withdrawal charges target people on lower incomes who take out less money at once as so pay more as a proportion on each withdrawal. These unfair charges also disproportionately affect people like pensioners whose benefits are paid directly into their accounts”.
“For those who don’t have access to cars and who live in communities like Llwynhendy and Felinfoel where most cash machines charge for withdrawal, this is an additional cost at a time when they need it least. In communities like Furnace and Dafen, there is literally no choice available.”
“Small shops and pubs in our communities provide a vital service and it is easy to see why owners would be willing to host a fee-paying ATM. Nonetheless, my concern is that the charges will place an unsustainable burden on their most loyal customers and in the longer term, introducing these ATMs may jeopardise the future of our key local businesses as people spend less locally”.
“Over the last five years the number of cash machines that charge has increased by more than 18,000 while free cash machines have only increased by around eight thousand.”
“This is an issue of basic social justice. We can’t allow our most vulnerable people to be unfairly targeted in this way and I will be working closely with Helen Mary and colleagues at Westminster to find ways of providing free ATMs across all our communities.”
Cllr. Clem Thomas from Dafen added:
“I am concerned that there is no free ATM in Dafen. We are lucky to still have our post office which has so far survived the Governments’ closure programme but the days of withdrawing benefits and pensions directly and over the counter are long gone.”
“In these difficult times, I can understand entirely why small business people would want to diversify by providing a fee-paying ATM which provides them with up 60p per transaction. It goes without saying that we need to support small local businesses. Nonetheless I am sceptical whether the cost of having a fee-paying ATM in a local business does not outweigh the potential benefit as people who feel they have paid a large fee are likely to spend less in that business than they otherwise would.”
DIWEDD / ENDS
Notes for editor
Myfanwy is campaigning for 3 things:
1. She is working with Plaid’s MPs to press the London Labour Government to regulate ATM charges and the proliferation of charging ATMs.
2. She working with Helen Mary Jones to call on WAG to increase the provision of free machines for example through public service providers such as post office network, local government offices or community centres
3. She is researching into whether planning law can be amended to protect isolated/deprived communities where there is currently no option other than to pay for cash withdrawal.
For a map of ATMs and details of charging in the Llanelli area go to: www.link.co.uk
Myfanwy and Mari Davies back Pwll residents fighting for answers on flooding
Following the misery caused by flooding in Llanelli earlier this month, Dr Myfanwy Davies Plaid’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli and her mother, Hengoed Councillor Cllr. Mari Davies visited residents in the Nurseries and Bassett Terrace in Pwll.
Residents raised concerns about the management of the river Dulais, the bed of which has risen considerably due to a failure to remove silt and stones. Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the mud and sand bank behind the Nurseries which was breached this month leading to severe flooding in the Nurseries. Further concerns raised by residents in Bassett Terrace centre on the diversion of the River Dulais which now flows directly behind their homes.
Trudi Williams who is a spokesperson for the group said:
“When I moved here they said that severe flooding happens once in seventy years but we’ve had floods three times in the last ten years. During all that time, the silt and stones in the river have not been cleared and the only time I have ever seen people from the Environment Agency here is once we have had flooding. They admit responsibility for managing the river, so let’s see some management. We need the river cleared so that there is room for the water to flow because the arches under the bridge are nearly underwater even on a dry day. When there is heavy rain, it has got to the point where it will overflow. I live in dread of stormy weather now because I just don’t know how bad it could get”
Myfanwy Davies said: “It is clear that the Agency needs to remove the silt and stones from the river Dulais. I am appalled that they have allowed the river bed to fill up so dangerously when we know that the area suffers from flooding and I will be demanding swift action to clear the debris before the next heavy rain”.
“It is very disappointing that the Agency is seeking to avoid responsibility for the flood defenses behind the Nurseries. Together with Helen Mary Jones I will be working to establish who owns the bank so that we can ensure that resources are found to build adequate flood defenses”.
“I was shown photos of the River Dulais where it is diverted behind Basset Terrace after heavy rain and it is clear that the 90 degree bend slows the flow of the water and is much more likely to cause flooding. I have been told that representatives of the Environment Agency have agreed to reinforce the wall behind the nurseries but none of the residents know what implications that building work would have further upstream. I have written to Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for the Environment to ask her for an inquiry into the potential risk of flooding where rivers have been diverted by the Environment Agency. Clearly there are implications for other areas where rivers have been diverted. I will ask the Minister to ensure that the Agency performs its basic statutory duty of managing the river behind the Nurseries and I have also asked Helen Mary Jones to call a meeting with Ms Davidson and local residents at the earliest possible date”.
Cllr Mari Davies said: “It is just not acceptable for the Environment Agency to try to avoid its fundamental duty of managing the river north of Pwll Road. If the residents of the Nurseries are responsible for the bank, and that is debatable, why were they never informed of that and advised what to do to protect their homes? We need to know whether a flooding risk assessment was performed before the river Dulais was diverted south of Pwll Road. Myfanwy is quite right to raise those questions with Helen Mary and the Minister.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes for Editors:
The residents are keen to address 3 issues:
1. To have the river dredged behind the Nurseries
2. To establish who owns that bank, what defense works would be suitable and what resources could be found to help them build them
3. To establish whether the houses in Bassett Terrace and The Nurseries are more likely to be flooded following the diversion of the Dulais and the low walls build around it to prevent flooding.
Residents raised concerns about the management of the river Dulais, the bed of which has risen considerably due to a failure to remove silt and stones. Concerns have also been raised about the condition of the mud and sand bank behind the Nurseries which was breached this month leading to severe flooding in the Nurseries. Further concerns raised by residents in Bassett Terrace centre on the diversion of the River Dulais which now flows directly behind their homes.
Trudi Williams who is a spokesperson for the group said:
“When I moved here they said that severe flooding happens once in seventy years but we’ve had floods three times in the last ten years. During all that time, the silt and stones in the river have not been cleared and the only time I have ever seen people from the Environment Agency here is once we have had flooding. They admit responsibility for managing the river, so let’s see some management. We need the river cleared so that there is room for the water to flow because the arches under the bridge are nearly underwater even on a dry day. When there is heavy rain, it has got to the point where it will overflow. I live in dread of stormy weather now because I just don’t know how bad it could get”
Myfanwy Davies said: “It is clear that the Agency needs to remove the silt and stones from the river Dulais. I am appalled that they have allowed the river bed to fill up so dangerously when we know that the area suffers from flooding and I will be demanding swift action to clear the debris before the next heavy rain”.
“It is very disappointing that the Agency is seeking to avoid responsibility for the flood defenses behind the Nurseries. Together with Helen Mary Jones I will be working to establish who owns the bank so that we can ensure that resources are found to build adequate flood defenses”.
“I was shown photos of the River Dulais where it is diverted behind Basset Terrace after heavy rain and it is clear that the 90 degree bend slows the flow of the water and is much more likely to cause flooding. I have been told that representatives of the Environment Agency have agreed to reinforce the wall behind the nurseries but none of the residents know what implications that building work would have further upstream. I have written to Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for the Environment to ask her for an inquiry into the potential risk of flooding where rivers have been diverted by the Environment Agency. Clearly there are implications for other areas where rivers have been diverted. I will ask the Minister to ensure that the Agency performs its basic statutory duty of managing the river behind the Nurseries and I have also asked Helen Mary Jones to call a meeting with Ms Davidson and local residents at the earliest possible date”.
Cllr Mari Davies said: “It is just not acceptable for the Environment Agency to try to avoid its fundamental duty of managing the river north of Pwll Road. If the residents of the Nurseries are responsible for the bank, and that is debatable, why were they never informed of that and advised what to do to protect their homes? We need to know whether a flooding risk assessment was performed before the river Dulais was diverted south of Pwll Road. Myfanwy is quite right to raise those questions with Helen Mary and the Minister.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes for Editors:
The residents are keen to address 3 issues:
1. To have the river dredged behind the Nurseries
2. To establish who owns that bank, what defense works would be suitable and what resources could be found to help them build them
3. To establish whether the houses in Bassett Terrace and The Nurseries are more likely to be flooded following the diversion of the Dulais and the low walls build around it to prevent flooding.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Myfanwy fights to keep Jobforce scheme to help Llanelli’s children out of poverty
Responding figures that show an increase in the number of children living in poverty in Wales, Dr Myfanwy Davies Plaid’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli has strongly criticised Government plans to cut funding for a scheme that helps Llanelli’s lone parents back into work or training.
Myfanwy is joining the fight to save a scheme offered by jobforce Wales that provides free childcare to lone parents so the can work or complete the training they need to return to work.
Myfanwy said:
“The official figures show more children in Wales slipping back into poverty which will have a huge effect on the choices they have in life. Next week Parliament will discuss the Child Poverty Bill that aims to take some of the positive steps our Assembly has already taken towards eradicating child poverty. I welcome the debate and it is a wholly good thing to introduce targets for raising parents’ income such as those proposed in the Bill. But those targets are meaningless while Gordon Brown is still planning vicious cuts in schemes that help parents back to work”.
“One very concrete example of the UK Government’s failure to deal with child poverty is the fact that the New Deal for Lone Parents in Llanelli has come to the end of its funding. There are dozens of lone parents in Llanelli who have expressed an interest in taking up training but can’t do so because they do not have the resources to look after their kids. I will be raising this issue with our AM Helen Mary Jones in her role as Chair of the Assembly Children’s Committee”.
“It is all very well for Gordon Brown and his self-serving MPs to set targets they know will not be met they need to take this chance to put the needs of our families in Llanelli first”.
Diwedd / Ends
Notes to Editor:
In Wales, 32% of children now face living in a home which has less than 60% of the average UK household income. In 1999, the average level of risk that that Welsh child would be in a household that fell below the poverty line was 35%.
While the level of poverty appears to be rising in Wales, in Scotland the rate continues to fall, now standing at 25% of children at risk. Northern Ireland has also kept poverty levels stable at 26%.
Link to the full Rowntree Foundation Report:http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/end-child-poverty-wales-summary.pdf
Next Tuesday Parliament will begin to discuss The Child Poverty Bill that will require the Government reports on progress towards eradicating child poverty and includes targets on increasing family income
Myfanwy is joining the fight to save a scheme offered by jobforce Wales that provides free childcare to lone parents so the can work or complete the training they need to return to work.
Myfanwy said:
“The official figures show more children in Wales slipping back into poverty which will have a huge effect on the choices they have in life. Next week Parliament will discuss the Child Poverty Bill that aims to take some of the positive steps our Assembly has already taken towards eradicating child poverty. I welcome the debate and it is a wholly good thing to introduce targets for raising parents’ income such as those proposed in the Bill. But those targets are meaningless while Gordon Brown is still planning vicious cuts in schemes that help parents back to work”.
“One very concrete example of the UK Government’s failure to deal with child poverty is the fact that the New Deal for Lone Parents in Llanelli has come to the end of its funding. There are dozens of lone parents in Llanelli who have expressed an interest in taking up training but can’t do so because they do not have the resources to look after their kids. I will be raising this issue with our AM Helen Mary Jones in her role as Chair of the Assembly Children’s Committee”.
“It is all very well for Gordon Brown and his self-serving MPs to set targets they know will not be met they need to take this chance to put the needs of our families in Llanelli first”.
Diwedd / Ends
Notes to Editor:
In Wales, 32% of children now face living in a home which has less than 60% of the average UK household income. In 1999, the average level of risk that that Welsh child would be in a household that fell below the poverty line was 35%.
While the level of poverty appears to be rising in Wales, in Scotland the rate continues to fall, now standing at 25% of children at risk. Northern Ireland has also kept poverty levels stable at 26%.
Link to the full Rowntree Foundation Report:http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/end-child-poverty-wales-summary.pdf
Next Tuesday Parliament will begin to discuss The Child Poverty Bill that will require the Government reports on progress towards eradicating child poverty and includes targets on increasing family income
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Myfanwy and Hywel Williams join Llanelli bingo protestors at Westminster
Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams MP and Plaid’s Westminster candidate in Llanelli Dr Myfanwy Davies, today joined forces with bingo players from Llanelli to campaign against unfair taxation on bingo.
The group from Llanelli lead by Nigel Griffiths traveled 330 miles to fight for their bingo club’s future by protesting in Dean’s Yard opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Protestors wore Alistair Darling masks, carried several placards, some even circled the square aboard the ‘Bingo bus’, and even joined in a game of Bingo on the green to champion the cause.
Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams has previously warned that the decision to increase in the rate of duty from 15% to 22% could signal a decline for Bingo clubs.
A Plaid-backed SNP motion to reverse the decision was recently defeated by Labour MPs. Other forms of gambling such as casino or online poker remain taxed at 15%.
Plaid’s Hywel Williams MP said:
“The Government's treatment of the bingo sector is incredibly unfair. In the Budget, the Government announced that it had removed the VAT on participation fees for Bingo players, but at the same time has increased the rate of bingo duty from 22%. This makes no sense in practise.
“Tax fairness is essential during the recession and this taxation on licensed bingo halls is dangerous as it targets the heart of our communities, and in particular older women and those from lower income households. Bingo halls provide a safe and friendly environment for the whole community to meet and socialise.
“The protestors have championed this cause fantastically today. I hope that the Government will now see for itself that bingo clubs and their constituents are suffering under this burdensome tax.”
Dr Myfanwy Davies added:
“Bingo has been part of life in Llanelli for as long as I can remember and the last thing we need in the town centre is for the club in Market Street to have to close.
“This is a completely unfair and ridiculous tax on people’s enjoyment. Bingo is already taxed once and there is no justification for treating bingo differently from online poker or any other form of gambling.
“We’ve come today to show those MPs that voted for the tax hike will see that they cannot ignore the voice of their constituents.”
The group from Llanelli lead by Nigel Griffiths traveled 330 miles to fight for their bingo club’s future by protesting in Dean’s Yard opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Protestors wore Alistair Darling masks, carried several placards, some even circled the square aboard the ‘Bingo bus’, and even joined in a game of Bingo on the green to champion the cause.
Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams has previously warned that the decision to increase in the rate of duty from 15% to 22% could signal a decline for Bingo clubs.
A Plaid-backed SNP motion to reverse the decision was recently defeated by Labour MPs. Other forms of gambling such as casino or online poker remain taxed at 15%.
Plaid’s Hywel Williams MP said:
“The Government's treatment of the bingo sector is incredibly unfair. In the Budget, the Government announced that it had removed the VAT on participation fees for Bingo players, but at the same time has increased the rate of bingo duty from 22%. This makes no sense in practise.
“Tax fairness is essential during the recession and this taxation on licensed bingo halls is dangerous as it targets the heart of our communities, and in particular older women and those from lower income households. Bingo halls provide a safe and friendly environment for the whole community to meet and socialise.
“The protestors have championed this cause fantastically today. I hope that the Government will now see for itself that bingo clubs and their constituents are suffering under this burdensome tax.”
Dr Myfanwy Davies added:
“Bingo has been part of life in Llanelli for as long as I can remember and the last thing we need in the town centre is for the club in Market Street to have to close.
“This is a completely unfair and ridiculous tax on people’s enjoyment. Bingo is already taxed once and there is no justification for treating bingo differently from online poker or any other form of gambling.
“We’ve come today to show those MPs that voted for the tax hike will see that they cannot ignore the voice of their constituents.”
Monday, 11 May 2009
Myfanwy and Dafydd Wigley in plea to clean up Westminster sleaze
In the wake of the disclosure of MPs expenses claims last week Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, has issued a plea for a transparent system of expenses to restore people’s faith in parliament.
Myfanwy Davies is calling for a new set of rules which are clear, strong and open to public scrutiny. The new rules would introduce a completely open accounting system and would enable MPs to employ the staff they need and to travel to and from London to their constituencies.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“There is no excuse for the kind of abuses of the system we have seen in the past few days. For me the worst aspect of this behaviour by some MPs is that it makes people feel their votes don’t matter at precisely the time we desperately need MPs to stand up for our communities and to be accountable to them”.
“I have been talking to people in Trimsaran over the weekend and I am very concerned that instead of using their votes to hold politicians to account, some people feel that there is no point in voting in elections and may not vote at all”.
“There is a much clearer system of supporting the work of elected representatives already in place in Wales, at the National Assembly. What I would like to see is a system like the one they have in Sweden where all members’ expenses are available for the public to see. For far too long we have accepted a culture of secrecy at Westminster and that has now become a real danger to democracy as people are choosing not to vote”
Dafydd Wigley the former MP for Arfon and former Plaid leader added:
‘The systems in the Assembly, whilst they undoubtedly need tightening are very much more rigorous than those in the House of Commons. Westminster would do well to learn from the Assembly in these matters’
End/Diwedd
Notes for the editor:
According to the 'Audit of Political Engagement' published by Hansard in April, only a third of UK people believe that that the system of government works well or very well.
Last week following the first disclosures of MP’s expenses 89% of those quizzed by ICM for the News of the World warned that the reputation of parliament was being tarnished.
Dafydd Wigley is currently involved in the Independent Review Panel on AM’s pay and allowances that is chaired by Sir Roger Jones
Myfanwy Davies is calling for a new set of rules which are clear, strong and open to public scrutiny. The new rules would introduce a completely open accounting system and would enable MPs to employ the staff they need and to travel to and from London to their constituencies.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“There is no excuse for the kind of abuses of the system we have seen in the past few days. For me the worst aspect of this behaviour by some MPs is that it makes people feel their votes don’t matter at precisely the time we desperately need MPs to stand up for our communities and to be accountable to them”.
“I have been talking to people in Trimsaran over the weekend and I am very concerned that instead of using their votes to hold politicians to account, some people feel that there is no point in voting in elections and may not vote at all”.
“There is a much clearer system of supporting the work of elected representatives already in place in Wales, at the National Assembly. What I would like to see is a system like the one they have in Sweden where all members’ expenses are available for the public to see. For far too long we have accepted a culture of secrecy at Westminster and that has now become a real danger to democracy as people are choosing not to vote”
Dafydd Wigley the former MP for Arfon and former Plaid leader added:
‘The systems in the Assembly, whilst they undoubtedly need tightening are very much more rigorous than those in the House of Commons. Westminster would do well to learn from the Assembly in these matters’
End/Diwedd
Notes for the editor:
According to the 'Audit of Political Engagement' published by Hansard in April, only a third of UK people believe that that the system of government works well or very well.
Last week following the first disclosures of MP’s expenses 89% of those quizzed by ICM for the News of the World warned that the reputation of parliament was being tarnished.
Dafydd Wigley is currently involved in the Independent Review Panel on AM’s pay and allowances that is chaired by Sir Roger Jones
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Plaid pays tribute to local volunteers who lost their lives in the fight against facism
Last Wednesday saw the 70th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War where people from Wales, including Llanelli, volunteered to fight against fascism in Spain. Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies have been looking back at the proud tradition that Llanelli has in resisting fascism.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“Taking part in the march and rally against the BNP a few weeks ago brought back a real reminder of Llanelli’s proud tradition in resisting fascism, not only at home but also abroad. A large numbers of Welshmen, including Llanelli, travelled to the continent to fight for what they knew was a battle for the freedom of us all.”
The Spanish Civil War started after an attempted coup d’etat committed by parts of the army against the government of the Second Spanish Republic. The war devastated Spain from July 17,1936 to April 1, 1939 with the victory of the rebels and the founding of a dictatorship led by the Nationalist General Francisco Franco for the next 36 years.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies added:
“We are immensely proud of the fact that we have outside the Plaid Cymru office in Llanelli the official plaque that commemorates the brave volunteers who left the area to fight and eventually die in Spain in the war against fascism. Unfortunately, today’s fight against facism continues, and is even harder with fascists such as the BNP attempting to present themselves as a normal political party. There is no place in our communities for their politics of hate.
”The BNP's attitude to disabled people as a burden on society and their denial of the most basic women's rights - including protection from rape and domestic violence - means they cannot be accepted as part of ordinary politics. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a disabled person or an abused woman who would have to go to a BNP councillor or representative for help with their problems.”
There is a national memorial to the volunteers from Wales who participated in the Spanish Civil War outside the South Wales Miners Library, but there is no memorial that names of all who bravely went overseas to fight for democracy.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“It’s right and proper that we remember, as we do every year, about those soldiers who so bravely fought against fascism in the 2nd World War. But we should also remember that before then, there were volunteers who could see what was coming, and went to resist fascism in Spain. Fellow Plaid Cymru member Leanne Wood AM has recently raised the issue of the need for a national memorial to be installed in the Senedd to commemorate those who those who participated and died in the war, and I fully support this call.”
Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy are eager to remind people that we owe the freedom that we enjoy now, not only to the soldiers of the 2nd World War, but also to the volunteers who lost their lives in the Spanish Civil War. We should never forget them.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“Taking part in the march and rally against the BNP a few weeks ago brought back a real reminder of Llanelli’s proud tradition in resisting fascism, not only at home but also abroad. A large numbers of Welshmen, including Llanelli, travelled to the continent to fight for what they knew was a battle for the freedom of us all.”
The Spanish Civil War started after an attempted coup d’etat committed by parts of the army against the government of the Second Spanish Republic. The war devastated Spain from July 17,1936 to April 1, 1939 with the victory of the rebels and the founding of a dictatorship led by the Nationalist General Francisco Franco for the next 36 years.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster candidate for Llanelli, Dr Myfanwy Davies added:
“We are immensely proud of the fact that we have outside the Plaid Cymru office in Llanelli the official plaque that commemorates the brave volunteers who left the area to fight and eventually die in Spain in the war against fascism. Unfortunately, today’s fight against facism continues, and is even harder with fascists such as the BNP attempting to present themselves as a normal political party. There is no place in our communities for their politics of hate.
”The BNP's attitude to disabled people as a burden on society and their denial of the most basic women's rights - including protection from rape and domestic violence - means they cannot be accepted as part of ordinary politics. I can't imagine what it would be like to be a disabled person or an abused woman who would have to go to a BNP councillor or representative for help with their problems.”
There is a national memorial to the volunteers from Wales who participated in the Spanish Civil War outside the South Wales Miners Library, but there is no memorial that names of all who bravely went overseas to fight for democracy.
Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones commented:
“It’s right and proper that we remember, as we do every year, about those soldiers who so bravely fought against fascism in the 2nd World War. But we should also remember that before then, there were volunteers who could see what was coming, and went to resist fascism in Spain. Fellow Plaid Cymru member Leanne Wood AM has recently raised the issue of the need for a national memorial to be installed in the Senedd to commemorate those who those who participated and died in the war, and I fully support this call.”
Both Helen Mary and Myfanwy are eager to remind people that we owe the freedom that we enjoy now, not only to the soldiers of the 2nd World War, but also to the volunteers who lost their lives in the Spanish Civil War. We should never forget them.
Saturday, 7 February 2009
Plaid delivers £1 million for affordable housing in Carmarthenshire
CAMPAIGNING Plaid Westminster candidate for Llanelli, Dr. Myfanwy Davies has welcomed news of a £15million boost for affordable housing across Wales, with £907,228 of this to be allocated to housing associations in Camarthenshire. 300 new affordable homes will be built across Wales using this money, with more than 6,000 other affordable homes to be created in the next few years in addition to this boost. Plaid’s Deputy Housing Minister Jocelyn Davies announced the cash injection this week.
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“This is a welcome boost for affordable housing across Carmarthenshire, and there is more to come because this money is in addition to the Social Housing Grant. Plaid in the Welsh Government is delivering affordable housing for the people of Wales, which is essential in the current economic climate. This funding will also help support the Welsh construction industry”
The Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, said:
“Housing associations have been given this new money to enable them to make the most of the current economic situation. This cash has allowed them to buy unsold homes and plots from private contractors. This action has provided a cash flow to the construction industry, keeping people in work and supporting jobs.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes to Editors
For further information contact Rhydwyn Ifan on 07703574822
SCIF investment breakdown:
The Assembly government has allocated an extra £42 million for the SCIF to boost the creation of affordable homes. The money will be spent via the 22 local authorities in Wales over three years.
£15 million will be spent in 2008/09. The Breakdown is:
Awdurdod lleol / Local Aurthority Allocation from SCIF
Blaenau Gwent £361,013
Bridgend £656,291
Caerphilly £840,723
Cardiff £1,556,142
Carmarthenshire £907,228
Ceredigion £387,902
Conwy £596,687
Denbighshire £484,742
Flintshire £720,359
Gwynedd £652,313
Isle of Anglesey £360,401
Merthyr Tydfil £283,765
Monmouthshire £441,410
Neath Port Talbot £708,427
Newport £694,421
Pembrokeshire £636,562
Powys £677,571
Rhondda Cynon Taf £1,161,770
Swansea £1,172,013
Torfaen £444,175
Vale of Glamorgan £606,942
Wrexham £649,141
Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“This is a welcome boost for affordable housing across Carmarthenshire, and there is more to come because this money is in addition to the Social Housing Grant. Plaid in the Welsh Government is delivering affordable housing for the people of Wales, which is essential in the current economic climate. This funding will also help support the Welsh construction industry”
The Deputy Minister for Housing, Jocelyn Davies, said:
“Housing associations have been given this new money to enable them to make the most of the current economic situation. This cash has allowed them to buy unsold homes and plots from private contractors. This action has provided a cash flow to the construction industry, keeping people in work and supporting jobs.”
Diwedd / Ends
Notes to Editors
For further information contact Rhydwyn Ifan on 07703574822
SCIF investment breakdown:
The Assembly government has allocated an extra £42 million for the SCIF to boost the creation of affordable homes. The money will be spent via the 22 local authorities in Wales over three years.
£15 million will be spent in 2008/09. The Breakdown is:
Awdurdod lleol / Local Aurthority Allocation from SCIF
Blaenau Gwent £361,013
Bridgend £656,291
Caerphilly £840,723
Cardiff £1,556,142
Carmarthenshire £907,228
Ceredigion £387,902
Conwy £596,687
Denbighshire £484,742
Flintshire £720,359
Gwynedd £652,313
Isle of Anglesey £360,401
Merthyr Tydfil £283,765
Monmouthshire £441,410
Neath Port Talbot £708,427
Newport £694,421
Pembrokeshire £636,562
Powys £677,571
Rhondda Cynon Taf £1,161,770
Swansea £1,172,013
Torfaen £444,175
Vale of Glamorgan £606,942
Wrexham £649,141
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