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”.
Showing posts with label town centre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label town centre. Show all posts
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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)
Monday, 2 November 2009
Give us free parking for Town centre say Myfanwy and Helen Mary
Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones and Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate have joined local business leaders in calling on the County Council to release the Stepney Hotel site for free car parking over the Christmas period. The call follows a breakfast meeting arranged by Myfanwy and Helen Mary at which Ieuan Wyn Jones, Economy Minister and Plaid Cymru Leader met with business leaders to discuss problems faced by the town centre.
The number of shoppers visiting the town centre continues to decline despite many empty shops having recently being filled. Many businesses are nervous of borrowing from banks even where credit is available. Increasing the number of shoppers visiting the town centre during the Christmas period will be crucial to the survival of many local businesses. Traders also noted that free parking in out of town centres represented an unfair advantage over the town centre.
In a letter to Ieuan Wyn Jones, Myfanwy wrote:
Our town centre businesses are under severe pressure due to the developments at Parc Trostre and Pemberton but also due to the wider effects of the recession on lending and consumer spending. Releasing the empty Stepney Hotel site in the town centre could provide an important boost to visitors in the run up to Christmas. I understand that the County Council believes that the site cannot be released due to concerns about pollution - presumably by petrol. I would be grateful if your officers could discuss options for opening the site or another suitable site and providing support for marketing free car parking during the Christmas period.
Myfanwy said:
“We are asking the County Council to do something very simple to help support Llanelli’s businesses during a period when they have seen an unprecedented fall in sales. Our businesses pay their rates and it is right that they expect suitable support from the county council.”
Helen Mary added:
“Free parking at Christmas would give people the opportunity to see how much Llanelli town centre has to offer. I understand that plans are in place for the site to be developed, but whilst we’re waiting for the plans to come through, I don’t see why the site can’t be used as a free car park. We’re still in a situation where people can park for free in Trostre Park, and charged in the town centre. Releeasing the empty Stepney Hotel site would be a small way to sort out this inbalance.”
St Elli Shopping Centre Manager Gilmore Jones said:
"I would warmly welcome the release of the Stepney Hotel site for parking over the Christmas period and into late January. I have been approached by a number of traders and tenants asking for this to happen - the site is the first thing visitors to the Town Centre see and is a complete eyesore as it currently stands. Utilising the site for free parking would mitigate its negative image, and would be an enormous boost to the Town Centre - putting us on a level playing field with Parc Trostre."
The number of shoppers visiting the town centre continues to decline despite many empty shops having recently being filled. Many businesses are nervous of borrowing from banks even where credit is available. Increasing the number of shoppers visiting the town centre during the Christmas period will be crucial to the survival of many local businesses. Traders also noted that free parking in out of town centres represented an unfair advantage over the town centre.
In a letter to Ieuan Wyn Jones, Myfanwy wrote:
Our town centre businesses are under severe pressure due to the developments at Parc Trostre and Pemberton but also due to the wider effects of the recession on lending and consumer spending. Releasing the empty Stepney Hotel site in the town centre could provide an important boost to visitors in the run up to Christmas. I understand that the County Council believes that the site cannot be released due to concerns about pollution - presumably by petrol. I would be grateful if your officers could discuss options for opening the site or another suitable site and providing support for marketing free car parking during the Christmas period.
Myfanwy said:
“We are asking the County Council to do something very simple to help support Llanelli’s businesses during a period when they have seen an unprecedented fall in sales. Our businesses pay their rates and it is right that they expect suitable support from the county council.”
Helen Mary added:
“Free parking at Christmas would give people the opportunity to see how much Llanelli town centre has to offer. I understand that plans are in place for the site to be developed, but whilst we’re waiting for the plans to come through, I don’t see why the site can’t be used as a free car park. We’re still in a situation where people can park for free in Trostre Park, and charged in the town centre. Releeasing the empty Stepney Hotel site would be a small way to sort out this inbalance.”
St Elli Shopping Centre Manager Gilmore Jones said:
"I would warmly welcome the release of the Stepney Hotel site for parking over the Christmas period and into late January. I have been approached by a number of traders and tenants asking for this to happen - the site is the first thing visitors to the Town Centre see and is a complete eyesore as it currently stands. Utilising the site for free parking would mitigate its negative image, and would be an enormous boost to the Town Centre - putting us on a level playing field with Parc Trostre."
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Llanelly House gets £2m funding boost
The £6m project to restore Llanelly House has been given a £2m funding boost from the Plaid driven Welsh government. Llanelli Plaid’s Helen Mary Jones AM and Myfanwy Davies welcomed the news which they said would be a huge boost to the project.
Llanelli Plaid AM Helen Mary Jones said:
"The £2m funding announced today will be a huge boost to the restoration of Llanelly House. Plaid in government recognises the importance of supporting local, cultural community assets and as one of Llanelli’s most historic properties, Llanelly House is fully deserving of this support. This welcome funding boost is further proof that Plaid Cymru is committed to delivering for Llanelli."
Plaid's Llanelli Westminster Candidate, Myfanwy Davies, said:
"I am delighted that the Plaid driven One Wales government has delivered this huge investment for Llanelli. Too often, people talk our town centre down, and yet we have so much to be proud of. Llanelly House is a hidden jewel that dates back to the origins of the town and is important to all of us. Once it is restored, it will bring visitors and shoppers in to see just how much our town has to offer.”"
Llanelli Plaid AM Helen Mary Jones said:
"The £2m funding announced today will be a huge boost to the restoration of Llanelly House. Plaid in government recognises the importance of supporting local, cultural community assets and as one of Llanelli’s most historic properties, Llanelly House is fully deserving of this support. This welcome funding boost is further proof that Plaid Cymru is committed to delivering for Llanelli."
Plaid's Llanelli Westminster Candidate, Myfanwy Davies, said:
"I am delighted that the Plaid driven One Wales government has delivered this huge investment for Llanelli. Too often, people talk our town centre down, and yet we have so much to be proud of. Llanelly House is a hidden jewel that dates back to the origins of the town and is important to all of us. Once it is restored, it will bring visitors and shoppers in to see just how much our town has to offer.”"
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Ieuan Wyn Jones supports Llanelli industry and town centre traders
>Local AM Helen Mary Jones and Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary Candidate Dr Myfanwy Davies today (15.10.09) welcomed Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM to Llanelli. The Plaid Cymru Leader took time out of his busy schedule to meet with local traders and business people, to include stall holders in the town market.
Mr Jones also visited car parts manufacturing factory Calsonic Kansei, who recently received financial support from the Plaid driven Welsh Government, and as a result safeguarding over 200 jobs and creating nearly 40 new jobs. The £3.2 million from the One Wales Government’s Single Investment Fund (SIF) will focus on the introduction of new products for the next generation vehicles including Hybrid and EV technologies that require lighter and more efficient components.
Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones was also eager to show his support for Myfanwy Davies’ campaign to become Plaid's first woman MP.
Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said:
“It’s vital that we have someone like Myfanwy in Westminster who would act as a strong voice for the communities of Wales. So many important decisions that have a huge impact on Wales are made in Westminster, and that’s why I’m here today to support Myfanwy’s campaign to become Plaid's first woman MP.
My visit to Llanelli also gave me the opportunity to listen to the views of local business people on what they think can be done to secure a prosperous future for the area’s economy.”
Plaid ‘s Helen Mary Jones said:
"I was very pleased to welcome Ieuan Wyn Jones to Llanelli today to show his support for Myfanwy's campaign. His visit shows how Plaid in Government is committed to listening to communities and businesses, and as the Minister for Economy, it was great that he was able to meet with some of our local traders and business people today to discuss their concerns. The One Wales Government is doing an excellent job of protecting communities against recession, but the powers are limited. We in
Llanelli need a strong and independent voice in London - a voice that will stand up for us, and it was great to have our Plaid Leader here today showing his confidence in Myfanwy.”
Myfanwy added:
“The new investment in Calsonic is wonderful news and I am delighted that Ieuan came down to
visit the plant. Llanelli people are also very worried about small businesses in the town centre. I
was pleased to be able to get support from Plaid’s conference for practical steps to help our town
centre businesses such as addressing business rates. I know that our local business people were very
keen to have a nuts and bolts discussion about problems they face with Ieuan, and I’m very grateful that he was able to offer answers to their concerns.”
Mr Jones also visited car parts manufacturing factory Calsonic Kansei, who recently received financial support from the Plaid driven Welsh Government, and as a result safeguarding over 200 jobs and creating nearly 40 new jobs. The £3.2 million from the One Wales Government’s Single Investment Fund (SIF) will focus on the introduction of new products for the next generation vehicles including Hybrid and EV technologies that require lighter and more efficient components.
Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones was also eager to show his support for Myfanwy Davies’ campaign to become Plaid's first woman MP.
Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said:
“It’s vital that we have someone like Myfanwy in Westminster who would act as a strong voice for the communities of Wales. So many important decisions that have a huge impact on Wales are made in Westminster, and that’s why I’m here today to support Myfanwy’s campaign to become Plaid's first woman MP.
My visit to Llanelli also gave me the opportunity to listen to the views of local business people on what they think can be done to secure a prosperous future for the area’s economy.”
Plaid ‘s Helen Mary Jones said:
"I was very pleased to welcome Ieuan Wyn Jones to Llanelli today to show his support for Myfanwy's campaign. His visit shows how Plaid in Government is committed to listening to communities and businesses, and as the Minister for Economy, it was great that he was able to meet with some of our local traders and business people today to discuss their concerns. The One Wales Government is doing an excellent job of protecting communities against recession, but the powers are limited. We in
Llanelli need a strong and independent voice in London - a voice that will stand up for us, and it was great to have our Plaid Leader here today showing his confidence in Myfanwy.”
Myfanwy added:
“The new investment in Calsonic is wonderful news and I am delighted that Ieuan came down to
visit the plant. Llanelli people are also very worried about small businesses in the town centre. I
was pleased to be able to get support from Plaid’s conference for practical steps to help our town
centre businesses such as addressing business rates. I know that our local business people were very
keen to have a nuts and bolts discussion about problems they face with Ieuan, and I’m very grateful that he was able to offer answers to their concerns.”
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Myfanwy wins national support for town centre businesses
Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate has won national support for a plan to help Llanelli’s town centre businesses. In a motion to Plaid Cymru’s National Conference, last weekend which was passed to a packed hall, she called for revising the rate relief scheme to help small businesses effected by out of town developments. She also called on the Assembly Government to develop community finance initiatives to provide credit to local businesses and for a national strategy to fill empty shops, promote local produce and provide suitable housing in town centres.
In her speech to the conference Myfanwy said:
“In Llanelli the failure of Carmarthenshire County Council to stop a huge out of town development together with the loss of hundreds of manufacturing jobs is bleeding our town centre dry”.
Speaking in Llanelli on Wednesday, Myfanwy added:
“For our town centre traders, business rates have become a real burden. I’m delighted that we have won national support to look at prioritising their needs. We also won support to call for a strategy to fill empty town centre shops and our Plaid AMs will now be able to campaign for community finance schemes to fund viable new businesses and to support surviving traders who need credit to grow. I know of a number of established businesses that are struggling to grow because they are scandalously being refused credit by those very same banks we bailed out with our public money.”
Helen Mary Jones Llanelli’s Plaid AM added:
“The decision gives us a clear platform to campaign for more Assembly support for small businesses in Llanelli and to look at how we can continue to help good local businesses get going and grow”.
In her speech to the conference Myfanwy said:
“In Llanelli the failure of Carmarthenshire County Council to stop a huge out of town development together with the loss of hundreds of manufacturing jobs is bleeding our town centre dry”.
Speaking in Llanelli on Wednesday, Myfanwy added:
“For our town centre traders, business rates have become a real burden. I’m delighted that we have won national support to look at prioritising their needs. We also won support to call for a strategy to fill empty town centre shops and our Plaid AMs will now be able to campaign for community finance schemes to fund viable new businesses and to support surviving traders who need credit to grow. I know of a number of established businesses that are struggling to grow because they are scandalously being refused credit by those very same banks we bailed out with our public money.”
Helen Mary Jones Llanelli’s Plaid AM added:
“The decision gives us a clear platform to campaign for more Assembly support for small businesses in Llanelli and to look at how we can continue to help good local businesses get going and grow”.
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