Plaid Cymru capture Liberal Democrat stronghold

Aberystwyth Rheidol - LATEST

Just back from the count with the result

BOUDIER, RICHARD ANTHONY Labour 36
DAUNCEY, ALEXANDER JAMES Liberal Democrat 252
DAVIES, ALED Plaid Cymru 271
EVETTS, LUKE WILLIAM ASHLEY Conservative 17
KOLCZAK, CAROL ANN Independent 98

Plaid Cymru majority of 19 overturning a Liberal Democrat majority of 300 on 1st May. Congratulations to Aled, he will make an excellent County Councillor. This now changes the arithmetic on the Council, Plaid Cymru are now on 20 seats and the Coalition on 22 (Independent 12, Liberal Democrat 9 and Labour 1). The Coalition will find it impossible to shut Plaid Cymru out of everything as they have done during the past 8 weeks.

Detailed breakdown

Cut Fuel Duty

The soaring cost of fuel is an ongoing worry for us all here in Ceredigion and in the immediate future there appears to be no relief on the horizon. To many residents of a rural county there is no alternative to the car. This is particularly true for the agricultural community, for businesses operating within a widely distributed rural economy, for carers travelling between residents in need of social care and also for Ceredigion County Council who have rightly complained about how the high cost of fuel is adversely affecting its services.

The Government seems particularly reluctant to counteract the effect on our pockets and particularly keen to benefit from the windfall generated by high pump prices and a greater tax take. Plaid Cymru and the SNP have listened to rural communities and proposed an amendment to Parliament requiring the Government to invoke a Fuel Duty Regulator. A Fuel Duty Regulator would trigger an automatic freeze in fuel duty rates when oil prices are high, and the extra cash raised from VAT on petrol or diesel would go back into an equivalent cut in fuel duty. This is a practical solution that would ease the situation and make a huge difference to people's lives.

It is disappointing that the measure was defeated. It is even more disappointing that Mark Williams MP did not support this sensible solution. He chose to absent himself from a vote that would have benefited a rural county such as Ceredigion – it was an opportunity missed. When high fuel costs are penalising Ceredigion it is his role to champion our cause and not submit to the whip of his Party and stand aside. It is simply not good enough.

Red Kites and the Law of Unintended Consequence

Red Kites are a conservation success story but an amalgam of CAP reform and Tir Gofal might be causing a problem. The Red Kite is a known scavenger, I have seen one lift road kill immediately in front of a moving car. Its primary food source in winter, apart from at feeding stations, are dead sheep out on the hills and uplands. Now with stocking rates decreasing to meet criteria set for Tir Gofal and other schemes it takes only a simple mathematical calculation to deduce that less live sheep multiplied by mortality rate equals less dead sheep on hills. Couple this with Scrapie regulations enforcing the removal of dead carcasses from fields then there is less food available for Kites.

Its early days yet but there seems to be evidence emerging to suggest that the success rate of Kite nests located in areas with greatest uptake of Tir Gofal is particularly poor. An example of the law of unintended consequence methinks. What do we do about it? Let the Assembly finance a proper scientific study into the matter before it gets serious.

Plaid Cymru launch online petition to save phone boxes

Penri James, Plaid Cymru Ceredigion's Westminster candidate, has voiced his concerns at plans by BT to remove 69 phone boxes from Ceredigion. While BT is no longer required to consult on the removal of a public payphone where there is another within 400 metres, it must hold a full consultation on its plans to remove phone boxes which do not fall into this category.

BT is now holding a consultation on its plans to close a total of 69 payphones in Ceredigion. The consultation period, which will last until 06 September 2008, has received little publicity from BT since it was launched on 08 June 2008.

In response to these proposed closures in Ceredigion and throughout the whole of Wales, Plaid Cymru has now launched a special campaign website at http://www.saveourphoneboxes.plaidcymru.org/ which includes an online petition that allows people to register their disappointment with BT and OFCOM for allowing these closures.

Commenting on BT's consultation, Plaid Cymru's Penri James said:

"While I accept that our payphones are no longer used as often as they once were now that many people have mobile phones, I am very concerned at BT's proposals to remove 69 phone boxes from Ceredigion. In reality, there remain many areas locally where you simply cannot get a mobile reception.

"This is just another example of how the Westminster government is allowing rural services to be eroded. Plaid Cymru's new website will allow people to register their disappointment with both BT and OFCOM for allowing so many phone boxes to be closed".

The 69 phone boxes which BT wants to remove in Ceredigion are:-

01239612233 1pco, Gwbert, Cardigan SA43 1PR
01239654449 O/s Post Office, 1pco, Blaencelyn, Llandysul SA44 6DE
01239654453 Nr Post Office, 1pco, Llangranog, Llandysul SA44 6SE
01239682385 Newbridge, 1pco, Capel Iwan, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9NL
01239682389 1pco, Llechryd, Cardigan SA43 2PJ
01239682455 O/s Post Office, 1pco, Ponthirwaun, Cardigan SA43 2RJ
01239710215 1pco, Blaen Cil Llech, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9EP
01239710531 O/s School, 1pco, Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9PE
01239810241 O/s Bakery 810241, 1pco, Betws Ifan, Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9QL
01239810308 1pco, Tanygroes, Cardigan SA43 2JE
01239810311 Blaenpystyll Mill, 1pco, Blaenannerch, Cardigan SA43 2AD
01239810346 1pco, Felinwynt, Cardigan SA43 1RT
01239810826 O/s Post Office 810826, 1pco, Beulah, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9QB
01239851221 O/s Telephone Exchange, 1pco, Rhydlewis, Llandysul SA44 5QG
01239851229 Bryngwenith, 1pco, Velindre, Llandysul SA44 5XT
01239851298 Aberbedw, Rhydlewis, Llandysul SA44 5PN
01239851428 Nr Brongest, 1pco, Brongest, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9ET
01239851438 O/s Cartref, 1pco, Maesllyn, Llandysul SA44 5LD
01545560338 Old Quarry, 1pco, Nanternis, New Quay SA45 9RW
01545560562 1pco, Llwyndafydd Road, Llandysul SA44 6BX
01545580293 1pco, Llwyncelyn, Aberaeron SA46 0HF
01545580442 Nr S Ub Post Office, 1pco, Synod Inn, Llandysul SA44 6JU
01545590211 Pantyrhedyn, Llandysul SA44 4RT
01559363282 1pco, Prengwyn, Llandysul SA44 4LU
01559363378 O/s Post Office 363378, 1pco, Tregroes, Llandysul SA44 4NA
01559370237 Sherbanc Stores, Aberbanc, Penrhiwllan, Llandysul SA44 5NP
01570422237 1pco, Lampeter SA48 7NU
01570434221 Pco1, Blaencwrt, Lampeter SA48 7LN
01570470234 O/s Cambrian Stores, 1pco, Creuddyn Bridge, Lampeter SA48 8AZ
01570470383 O/s Blaen Parc T/no 470383, 1pco, Kiosk, Dihewyd, Lampeter SA48 7QP
01570470473 Council House Est 470473, 1pco, Bro Fallen, Talsarn, Lampeter SA48 8QS
01570470553 O/s Post Office T No 470553, 1pco, Kiosk, Abermeurig, Lampeter SA48 8PP
01570470576 O/s Commercial Inn. 470576, 1pco, Kiosk, Cilcennin, Lampeter SA48 8RF
01570480309 4, Bro Gwenog, Drefach, Llanybydder SA40 9SY
01570493322 Glanrhyd, Llanfair Clydogau, Lampeter SA48 8LJ
01654781240 1pco, Glandyfi, Machynlleth SY20 8SS
01970615201 1pco, Comins Coch, Aberystwyth SY23 3BG
01970820847 Adj Rhydypennau School, Pco1, Llandre, Bow Street SY24 5AD
01970828271 1pco, Capel Dewi, Aberystwyth SY23 3HS
01970828272 Pco, Cwmerfyn, Aberystwyth SY23 3JD
01970828273 1pco, Salem, Penrhyncoch, Aberystwyth SY23 3ET
01970828304 1pco, Cwmsymlog, Aberystwyth SY23 3EZ
01970828442 1pco, Cwmsymlog, Aberystwyth SY23 3HA
01970832211 1pco, Bontgoch, Talybont SY24 5DP
01970832270 Glanyrafon Bont, 1pco, Talybont SY24 5DJ
01970880218 1pco, Cwmrheidol, Aberystwyth SY23 3NB
01970880224 Rhosgoch, 1pco, Capel Madog, Aberystwyth SY23 3HY
01970880246 Pantycrug, 1pco, Pant-y-crug, Capel Seion, Aberystwyth SY23 4EF
01970880255 1pco, Pisgah, Aberystwyth SY23 4NG
01970880635 Adj. Bus Shelter, 1pco, Goginan, Aberystwyth SY23 3NT
01974241206 Cornel Ofan, 1pco, Llangwyryfon, Aberystwyth SY23 4HA
01974241254 Pent Y Parc X Roads, 1pco, Cwrt Y Cadno Lane, Llanilar, Aberystwyth SY23 4PG
01974241681 1pco, Llangwyryfon, Aberystwyth SY23 4HA
01974251611 Bontnewydd P O, 1pco, Bontnewydd, Aberystwyth SY23 4JH
01974261200 1pco, Crosswood, Aberystwyth SY23 4AT
01974261549 1pco, New Cross, Aberystwyth SY23 4LY
01974272200 Rhydfudur, 1pco, Trefenter, Aberystwyth SY23 4HJ
01974272211 Rhydrosser, 1pco, Llanon SY23 5HJ
01974272312 1pco, Trefenter, Aberystwyth SY23 4HJ
01974272646 Bethania, 1pco, Llanon SY23 5HJ
01974282237 1pco, Ysbyty Ystwyth, Ystrad Meurig SY25 6DG
01974298245 P O Llanio Rd, 1pco, Tregaron SY25 6PT
01974298262 1pco, Tregaron SY25 6NW
01974298355 Llys Meurig, 1pco, Llanddewi Brefi, Tregaron SY25 6NY
01974821214 Llidiart, 1pco, Llangeitho, Tregaron SY25 6QL
01974821216 Rhydypandy, 1pco, Llangeitho, Tregaron SY25 6TU
01974821241 P O, 1pco, Penuwch, Tregaron SY25 6RE
01974821662 Trwrgwyn Mawr, 1pco, Penuwch, Tregaron SY25 6RE
01974831611 Pco1, Swyddffynnon, Ystrad Meurig SY25 6AN

No details of the phone boxes which will be removed by BT without consultation because they are located within 400 metres of an alternative payphone are available;

There is a story on the BBC as well here.

Aberystwyth Rheidol - Negative Update

See here, I knew it was coming. 'Pot, Kettle and Black' are the operative words. When the truth is clearly spelt out about the Liberal Democrats , they do not like it. Nothing in the Plaid literature hasn't previously been published in the Cambrian News or other media, mainly from sources allied with the Lib Dems.

The electorate are wising up to their flawed and superficial campaigning narrative - complaining about others and finding a bogeyman is part of that narrative. Can we please have a serious debate?

Aberystwyth Rheidol Ward - Negative Campaigning

We have witnessed a classic Liberal Democrat Mark Cole tactic this week - another complaint by the Liberal Democrats blaming others, this time for 'negative campaigning' by Plaid. Absolute rubbish, if they look carefully all the material is in the public domain, much of it emanating from their own people. Here's a reference to a previous post on the matter .

Just in case they have forgotten previous dirty tricks for which the Liberal Democrats are renowned, here are a few samples from Google

• Henley
• New Forest East
• Liverpool
• Nick Clegg
• Nick Clegg (2)
• Bromley and Chislehurst

They are past masters, even in their own leadership election. Don't be fooled by this 'holier than thou' facade.

By the way I never got a response to the questions I posted here

Tory proposals for the 'West Lothian' question

If, as a result of the report by the Conservative Democracy Task Force on the West Lothian Question, the Conservative Party believe that there is nothing inherently wrong in having ‘English Votes for English Laws’ then, for the sake of consistency they must also agree that there is nothing wrong with ‘Welsh Votes for Welsh Laws’. The Conservative grievance that Scottish MP’s have an unfair influence on English law is never extended to accept that English MP’s have always had an unfair influence on Welsh affairs. Since so much primary legislation passed in Westminster is on an England AND Wales basis, adopting the proposals will perpetuate this controlling anomaly and Wales will continue to find itself not being able to successfully legislate for its own good. The current settlement using Legislative Competence Orders from the Government of Wales Act is cumbersome, unwieldy and subject to the obstructive whim of an antagonistic MP. It is time for a simpler solution – let Wales have the power to legislate on its own.

Bottom of the barrel stuff

I am absolutely amazed by this press release from the Liberal Democrat MP and the story in the Tivyside Advertiser. The Education Cabinet Member (Liberal Democrat Ceredig Davies) has made a bad decision, rather than try to defend it why can't the MP use his influence to change the decision. Please read the comments I have inserted at the bottom and the additional ones as well. I shall copy mine below. It is another example of the Liberal Democrats complaining about others rather than admit to their own failings. There will be a protest about the harp cuts on Tuesday morning 8th July in Penmorfa Aberaeron, immediately prior to the Cabinet meeting.

The political 'spin' on this story is so severe it could only have come from the Liberal Democrats. The decision to cut back on the harp service was taken by Liberal Democrat Councillor Ceredig Davies. Funds from the Welsh Assembly Government are unhypothecated, in other words they are not prescribed for a particular purpose so that local politicians can take local decisions. This is not a Cardiff decision its a 'Ceredig' decision. This is yet another example of the Liberal Democrats blaming someone else rather than owning up to their own responsibilities. Mark Williams is really scraping the bottom of the barrel to find an excuse to defend this Liberal Democrat decision. It would be a much more productive use of his time, as Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Ceredigion, to order Cllr Davies to reverse the decision. That is the right, and popular thing to do.

Plaid mewn Llywodraeth - 1 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach

Plaid in Government 1 year on