Aberystwyth Rheidol Ward - LATEST (2)

Just to confirm my previous blog on the matter of Alec Dauncey's residence here is a snippet from inside the Liberal Democrat camp lifted from the Cambrian News here. Its the story on the resignation of Aberystwyth Mayor, Lorrae Jones-Southgate. She also works for the Liberal MP Mark Williams.

"She is understood to be per-plexed and angry that the party did not choose her over Mr Dauncey, both because of her sparkling performance in the town council election and because her rival works in London, returning to Aberystwyth only at weekends."

Being a County Councillor is a 24/7 job not a weekend excursion.

Local agricultural shows

With wonderful weather and interesting company there is no better place than a local show. You have to admire the determination, competition, quality, organisation, effort (or any other descriptive superlative that can be added to the list) of those involved. Shows have their roots in the agricultural community when farmers would bring their best produce - animal and plant - to demonstrate how good they were. It must have been an early form of marketing - create the brand and sell. Nowadays most shows are dominated by the equine fraternity, it is an animal which is not as encumbered by movement legislation and is free to go from competition to competition without restriction. The original principles of branding and selling still apply.

Above all a show is a social event to meet old friends, avoid the odd one that you may not want to see, but also a place where the elected representative is lobbied and made aware of what is really happening on the ground and not what apparently is happening in the Brussels/Westminster/Cardiff/Penmorfa goldfish bowl. I encourage all to tell your representative what you think and to tell the elected representative that it is their duty to attend such functions.

The second Saturday in June is the spot allocated to Aberystwyth Show. The showground is an accessible and convenient location in the open countryside and ideal provided there isn't an easterly wind coming down the valley. I had the chance to walk around with Elin Jones AM and for posterity, here is a picture! She was also lobbied by all.

Aberystwyth Rheidol Ward by election - LATEST

Matters are progressing well for Plaid Cymru in Rheidol Ward. I am impressed with Plaid Cymru candidate Aled Davies' detailed knowledge of the area but it comes as no surprise considering that he has lived in Aberystwyth for 35 years. This is in stark contrast to the Liberal Democrats candidate, Alec Dauncey who doesn't live in Aberystwyth anymore, not in Ceredigion, not in Wales, but has been a resident in London for a number of years. I wonder who he voted for in the London mayoral election?

Community Land Trusts can address affordable housing need

Plaid Cymru Ceredigion's Penri James has stressed the importance of developing a network of community land trusts as a possible solution to the current affordable housing crisis facing Ceredigion. The Joseph Rowntree Commission on Rural Housing in Wales published its report this week which warned that rural communities could lose a generation of residents unless action is taken to provide affordable housing so that they can continue to live locally.

Penri James has previously met with Plaid Cymru's Deputy Minister for Housing in the One Wales Government, Jocelyn Davies, to discuss affordable housing and the need to develop community land trusts.

On the need to address the need for more affordable housing in Ceredigion, Penri James said:

"The need to increase the availability of local affordable housing is an issue that is close to my heart and I welcome the Joseph Rowntree Commission's report. The wide chasm between incomes and the cost of a house in Ceredigion dents the aspirations of so many people who want to have a place of their own. As well as modifying housing legislation there is a need to relax the planning laws to allow first time buyers access to the property ladder.

"At the moment, actions to help young people are not possible due to the ridiculously high cost of building plots. The market must be more realistic and Ceredigion County Council should be much more forceful in getting land with planning permission on the market.

"Additionally, the banking of planning permissions should not be allowed and I ask the new Cabinet member with responsibility for this issue, Cllr Gethin James, to act on this matter now. I also believe that the Council needs to be more proactive in encouraging Community Land Trusts as one solution to the lack of affordable housing locally".

Health victory - Well done Elin Jones

You have got to hand it to Elin a £31m development to modernise an A&E department and operating theatres at Bronglais is something substantial. It is an example of having a representative who understands rural Wales and is capable of delivering. I hope those carping individuals in the Liberal Democrat party will give credit where credit is due rather than pursue their incessant negativity.

Aberystwyth Rheidol Ward by election

Action Stations! The byelection is now confirmed for July 10th with Plaid Cymru having former Mayor Aled Davies as a candidate and the Liberal Democrats having Alec Dauncey. I must admit I expected the Lib Dems to select current Mayor Lorrae Southgate-Jones, I am sure she will be diappointed and a tad irked by it all, I honestly thought she was a shoe in for the nomination. Aled is an excellent choice for Plaid, a local lad totally committed to improving Aberystwyth. Alec Dauncey is a sometimes here sometimes not candidate who stood against me in Tirymynach in 1999. I cannot say his campaign was energetic but it will all be different this time, there is more at stake.

Prior to the enforced Liberal Democrat resignation the Council stood at 23-19 in favour of the Ind-LibDem-Lab rainbow coalition, take 1 from the coalition and its 22-19. Now if there is a Plaid Cymru gain in the byelection then its 22-20 which is totally unsustainable and unstable in a political sense. Expect a blitz by the Lib Dems but they still have questions to answer as to why they allowed their previous councillor to stand in the first place. Let the electorate decide.

Ceredigion YFC Rally

I spent Saturday at The Ceredigion YFC rally at Prengwyn, apart from the wonderful sunny weather it was an opportunity to meet old friends and meet some new ones. You have to admire the ingenuity of those who think up some of the competitions, how about a 'Generation Game' of wallpapering around an electric socket! Who has these skills? I certainly belong to the generation who buy into 'trade magnolia' to paint every piece of plaster in the house, it is far more practical when you have young children. I am sure the pictures will be placed here in time.

You also have to admire the enthusiasm of current and former YFC members for this event, as well as competition it is a first class community social event, long may it continue.

PS
Did a political head count while I was there:- 1 Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, 4 Plaid Cymru County Councillors, 1 Independent County Councillor, 2 former Plaid Cymru County Councillors and 1 former Liberal Democrat Assembly candidate (rumor control has it that he is having second thoughts about being called a Liberal). No Lib Dem MP or County Councillors, obviously thought that a visit wasn't necessary. Their loss.