Bydd mwy o Sywddfeydd Post Ceredigion yn cau os yw cardiau’n cael eu hatal.

Mae Penri James o Blaid Cymru wedi rhybuddio y bydd mwy o Swyddfeydd Post yn cau yng Ngheredigion os yw’r cytundeb Cyfrif Cerdyn Swyddfa’r Post yn cael ei atal o Swyddfa’r Post Cyf.
Bydd y penderfyniad gan Lywodraeth San Steffan i wobrwyo’r cytundeb Cyfrif Cerdyn yn cael ei wneud yn y dyfodol agos, gyda dau gwmni’n gwneud cais i reoli’r gwasanaeth – Swyddfa’r Post Cyf a Paypoint.

Mae Ffederasiwn Cenedlaethol yr Is-Bostfeistri yn amcangyfrif y gall 200 Swyddfa Bost yng Nghymru, a hyd at 3,000 ledled y DU gau os na chaiff y cytundeb ei roi i Swyddfa’r Post Cyf.

Wrth wneud sylwadau ar y rhybudd hwn, dywedodd Penri James o Blaid Cymru:

“Rwy’n rhannu’r pryder cynyddol y bydd nifer o ganghennau’n cau ar hyd a lled y wlad os ddaw y gwasanaeth cyfrif cerdyn i ben yn ein Swyddfeydd Post. O ganlyniad, mae’n hanfodol bwysig fod Llywodraeth San Steffan yn ystyried y cyfraniad cymdeithasol pwysig mae einn swyddfeydd post yn ei gynnig wrth ddyfarnu’r cytundeb newydd hwn, yn hytrach na dibynnu ar ystyriaethau masnachol yn unig.”

“Dylai llywodraeth Gordon Brown fod yn gweithredu camau fydd yn cryfhau rhwydwaith Swyddfa’r Post yn hytrach na thynnu gwasanaethau pwysig o’n canghennau. Serch hyn, rwyf yn falch fod Llywodraeth Cymru’n Un yn gweithio gyda changhennau lleol Swyddfa’r Post drwy’r Gronfa Ddiwygiedig Datblygu Swyddfeydd Post newydd.”
Bydd cynrychiolwyr o Ffederasiwn Cenedlaethol yr Is-Bostfeistri yn mynychu’r drafodaeth.

Rhybuddiodd Keith Richards o Swyddfa Bost Glyn-nedd a’r Swyddog Gweithredol dros Gymru:

“Os na gaiff y Cyfrif Cerdyn ei ddyfarnu i Swyddfa’r Post Cyf. Yna gall 200 swyddfa bost yng Nghymru, a 3,000 ledled Prydain gau oherwydd diffyg busnes. Byddai’r rhaglen gau allan o reolaeth, yn wahanol i’r cynllun newid rhwydwaith diweddar, a buasai’n effeithio ardaloedd gwledig yn bennaf lle mae pobl yn ddibynnol arnynt i ddosbarthu Pensiynau a Buddiant. Buasai’n rhaid i swyddfeydd post benderfynu a fyddent yn medru aros ar agor neu wynebu methdaliad.”

“Ymddengys fod y Llywodraeth yn LLundain yn osgoi penderfyniad yn y cyhoeddiad ac wrth i’r ansicrwydd barhau, mae’r sefyllfa yn peri mwy o bryderr. Ni all is-bostfeistri fuddsoddi yn eu busnesau os na wyddont beth fydd yn digwydd yn y dyfodol.”

Ymateb y Cynulliad i’r dirwasgiad ar y gorwel


Un o’r argraffiadau cyntaf a roir gan Lywodraeth y Cynulliad yn ei ymateb i’r dirwasgad yw cyn lleied y gall wneud i drin y liferi sy’n rheoli’r economi macro. Mae’r ymateb i anhawsterau ariannol wedi’i seilio’n gadarn yn San Steffan a dyna pham fod nawr yn rhaid i ASau ddangos eu bod yn haeddu eu cyflogau. Maent wedi bod yn fwy na pharod i ddangos eu gallu pan yn edrych ar y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol, nawr rhaid iddynt arddangos y gallu hwnnw tra’n delio â’r Llywodraeth.

Yn y cyfamser rhaid i Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru weithredu’n effeithiol o fewn ei bwerau presennol, mae’r ymateb hyd yma yn gyfystyr â sicrhau fod y Llyowdraeth yn talu biliau ar amser, sicrhau fod cwmniau lleol yn cael ymgeisio am brosiectau cyfalaf lleol diolch i adolygiad o reolau caffaeliad, rhoi blaenoriaeth i brosiectau cyfalaf, meithrin sylfaen sgiliau ehangach a darparu Finance Wales gyda £150M o nawdd ychwanegol drwy gronfeydd adeileddol JEREMIE . Ni allaf ganfod gwallau yma gan mai synnwyr cyffredin ydyw yn bennaf.

Rwy’n pryderu am y prosiectau cyfalaf. Mae’n debyg mai’r unig brosiectau cyfalaf y gellir eu prysuro yw’r rhai sydd eisoes wedi cael caniatad cynllunio. Hoffwn wybod faint o’r rhain sy’n bodoli ac mewn termau ariannol pa ran o’r gyllideb gyfan yw hyn? Gellir ailwampio’r camau i brysuro cynlluniau prosiectau cyfalaf drwy ail-edrych ar bolisiau cynllunio, cyflymder y broses gwneud penderfyniadau ac ymgynhgoriad atodedig, yn enwedig gyda’r Asiantaeth Cefnffyrdd. Mae cymaint o brosiectau yn cael eu gohirio oherwydd gweision sifil pedantig, er lles yr economi gadewch i ni eu rhoi i’r neilltu. Mae’r un peth yn wir am bolisiau caffaeliad sy’n tueddu i ffafrio’r corfforaethau mawr ac nid cwmniau lleol a gwledig. Unwaith eto, rhaid cael gwared ar reolau gwirion a galluogi cyrff cyhoeddus i gynnig cytundebau ar y maint effeithlon lleiaf sy’n cefnogi’r economi leol.

Assembly response to looming recession

One of the first impressions given by the Assembly Government in its response to the oncoming recession is how little it can do to manipulate the levers that control the macro economy. The response to monetary difficulties lies firmly in Westminster and that is why the MP's must now show that they are earning their pay. They have been more than willing to show their clout when looking at the National Assembly, now turn around and demonstrate that clout when dealing with the Government.

In the meantime WAG must act effectively within its existing powers, the response so far goes along the lines of making sure the Government pays its bills on time, that procurement rules are reviewed to ensure that local companies can bit for local capital projects, bringing capital projects forward, generating a wider skills base and providing Finance Wales with £150M additional funding through JEREMIE structural funds. I find no fault here as it is mainly common sense.

I am concerned about the capital projects. Apparently the only capital projects capable of being brought forward are those already in posession of planning permission, I would like to know how many there are and in financial terms what proportion of the total budget do they account for? The procedures to bring capital projects forward can be streamlined by looking again on planning policies, the speed of the decision making process and attached consultation particularly with the Trunk Road Agency. So many projects are held up by pedantic civil servants, for the sake of the economy let's move them aside. The same can be said for procurement policies which tend to favour the large corporations and not local and often rural based companies, again get rid of silly rules and allow public bodies to offer contracts at the smallest efficient size that supports the local economy.

Council housing decision needs to benefit tenants and local economy

Ceredigion’s Elin Jones AM has welcomed the announcement that the tenants of Ceredigion County Council’s housing stock have voted in favour of transferring the ownership of their houses to the new Tai Ceredigion housing association. 58.3 per cent of tenants voted in favour of the proposal and the transfer will take place within a year.

As a result of this decision, the Welsh Assembly Government will now provide Tai Ceredigion with £40 million in order to assist with the work of bringing the local housing stock up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2013.

Following the announcement of the ballot result, Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said:

“Council tenants have shown that there is support for the ownership of their houses to be transferred to the new Tai Ceredigion housing association, thereby unlocking a sizeable investment of £40 million from the Assembly Government to help bring these properties up to the required standard.

“I hope that the board of Tai Ceredigion will now continue with their hard work and
ensure that the ownership of these houses is transferred at the earliest possible opportunity so that improvement work can commence and allow tenants to enjoy the benefits of this decision as soon as possible”.

Plaid Cymru’s Penri James added:

“This very important investment of £40 million in Ceredigion’s housing stock is welcome during an uncertain economic climate. I hope that Tai Ceredigion will provide local builders with the opportunity over the next five years to successfully bid for the work required to improve the standard of its houses.

“It is important that Tai Ceredigion make every effort to ensure that local companies are informed about all work opportunities. Ceredigion has been praised by the Housing Minister, Jocelyn Davies AM, for the quality of its information packs – it’s vital that this continues when it comes to offering work that supports the local economy”.

In the bubble

I think that Cynog's letter is perfectly succinct and effectively damning of nothing more than a superficial campaigning technique. It ties in with comments titled Bletchley Park made (in Welsh) on his blog by Vaughan Roderick. He concludes that Kirsty Williams AM is saying in code that the Liberal Democrats are good at electioneering techniques but not so good at substance and principles. Sounds about right to me.

An elected representative has to talk to and support the constituency as well as taking those views to the forum where decisions affecting our day to day lives are taken. If that means being inside the 'bubble' for a while then so be it. But never forget where you came from and why you are there.

More Ceredigion Post Offices will close if cards are withdrawn.

Plaid Cymru’s Penri James has warned that more Post Offices could close in Ceredigion if the Post Office Card Account contract is withdrawn from Post Office Ltd.

The decision by the Westminster Government to award the new Card Account contract will be made imminently, with two companies bidding to run the service – Post Office Ltd and Paypoint.

The National Federation of Sub Postmasters estimates that 200 Post Offices in Wales, and up to 3,000 across the UK, could close if the contract is not awarded to Post Office Ltd.

Commenting on this warning, Plaid Cymru’s Penri James said:

“I share the growing concern that withdrawing the card account service from our Post Office will result in further branch closures throughout the country. As a result, it’s essential that the Westminster Government takes the important social contribution that our post offices provide while awarding this new contract rather than relying on commercial considerations alone.

“Gordon Brown’s government should be taking steps to strengthen the Post Office network rather than withdrawing important services from our branches. I am however glad that the One Wales Government is working with our local Post Office branches through the new Post Office Development Fund”.

Representatives from the National Federation of Sub Postmasters will attend the debate. Keith Richards, from Glynneath Post Office and Executive Officer for Wales warned:

“If the Card Account is not awarded to the Post Office Limited then more than 200 post offices could close across Wales, and 3000 across the UK because of a lack of business. This would be an unmanaged closure programme unlike the recent network change scheme, and would hit primarily rural areas where people are very much reliant on them to pay out Pensions and Benefits. Post offices would have to make a decision on whether they could stay open or face bankruptcy.

“The Government in London seems to be fudging the announcement and the longer the uncertainty goes on, the more worrying it becomes. Sub-postmasters can not invest in their business if they do not know what the future holds”.

Dr Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln

After a momentous election in America, I felt the need to re-read the powerful words of Dr Martin Luther King and the Gettysburg address by Abraham Lincoln as a reminder of what its all about. If President-elect Obama can manage the high expectation then surely the USA is on the way to the 'promised land'.

" I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" Dr Martin Luther King, Washington, DC, August 28, 1963

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Dr Martin Luther King, Memphis, Tennessee, April 3, 1968

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." President Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania