Nadolig Llawen I Chi!

Yet again the weather has conspired to make the end of the year a difficult one for many people, particularly those of you in the more rural districts of the constituency. I really hope you will all take care in the snowy and icy conditions and heed the government’s travel warnings. At the same time I hope my younger constituents are enjoying a proper white Christmas with sledging, snow men and snowball fights!

On a serious note I am very concerned that many older residents may be put at risk because of the excessively cold weather, especially if boilers begin to malfunction. If you find yourself without heating, or know of older neighbours in this predicament, I would strongly advise you to contact Care and Repair. They are an excellent charity and do superb work in Neath to keep older people safe and secure.

My office will be closing today until Tuesday 4th January, when my staff and I will be back in action and ready to help you in any way we can. As always, it’s been a pleasure to serve the people of Neath in 2010 and I’m already looking forward to the new year and the fresh challenges that lie ahead.

Wishing you all a fabulous festive season and a happy and healthy start to 2011!

Gwenda

Gwenda Calls for Extension to Parking Consultation

Gwenda Thomas, AM for Neath, today requested an extension to the public consultation period on the introduction of car parking charges in Pontardawe.

Mrs Thomas said: “Given the importance of this issue it is vital that Neath Port Talbot Council hear the views of all the stakeholders who will be affected by the proposed changes. I do not feel that a three week period over the Christmas holidays is sufficient for a meaningful consultation.”

Neath Port Talbot Council wants to impose parking charges in Pontardawe for the first time as part of a review of Council run car parks. The public consultation into the proposals is currently set to run until 7th Jan.

Mrs Thomas said: “This is clearly a very controversial proposal. The businesses, residents and shoppers in Pontardawe must be given ample opportunity to air their views and put forward potential alternatives.”

“Although shops in the town centre are currently displaying posters about the issue the recent severe weather has kept many residents indoors. This means that many people have yet to hear about the Council’s proposal and are unaware of the short period of time they have to respond.”

“For these reasons I hope Mr Steve Philips, the Chief Executive of the Council, will listen to this request. In the meantime I would encourage all those who have yet to do so to contact both the Council and myself to let us know their views on the subject.”

Pontardawe Arts Centre Funding From the Arts Council of Wales More Than Doubles

Pontardawe Arts Centre has received some very good news in the latest round of funding from the Arts Council of Wales. Investment has been aimed at front line services, and Pontardawe Arts Centre’s will increase from £27,018 to £63,000, an increase of £35,982. In percentage terms this is equivalent to a rise of 133%.

Gwenda Thomas AM said: ‘Pontardawe Arts Centre is a cultural hub of a very high calibre, and it is good to see its good work rewarded. The people of Pontardawe, and the surrounding areas can be assured of the retention of this high-class facility thanks to this funding’.

Russell Ward, Head of Partnership and Community Development for Neath Port Talbot Council said: ‘Obviously we are happy that the work of the Arts Centre has been recognised as high quality and that it has not only been retained as one of the revenue supported clients of the Arts Council of Wales but has also seen a rise in funding support.

This follows several years of dialogue with the Arts Council and is a good step in the direction of ensuring that high quality support for the arts id recognised on an equitable basis across Wales’.

Action Plan to Support Credit Unions

‘Raising the Profile: Meeting the Challenges’, a three year action plan to support credit unions in Wales has been launched.

Gwenda said: "Credit unions are a marvellous idea, and over the past ten years they have come a long way. With support from the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government, credit union membership has increased five-fold from 10,000 in 2000 to more than 50,000 by the end of 2009. This new plan will support the development of strong, sound and effective credit unions in Wales."

"The winter holiday has become a notorious hunting period for illegal money lenders as they look to take advantage of hard working families who need that extra bit of cash. In some extreme cases, loan sharks have been known to charge extortionate rates of interest, sometimes in excess of 1,000% APR."

"I would urge people to use the Neath Port Talbot Credit Union. The service is available for people to 'borrow with integrity with no hidden charges'. For more details, contact them on: 01639 632100 / 01639 632101 or visit their website."

During the current challenging economic climate credit unions are becoming an increasingly important provider of accessible and affordable financial services.
The action plan identifies a number of key objectives on how credit unions can achieve long term sustainability. Objectives include:

• Strengthening the governance of credit unions
• Increasing the number of credit union members
• Raising the profile of credit unions in Wales.

No boundary changes for NPT – for now

Carl Sargeant, Welsh Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, announced today that Local Authority ward boundaries in Neath Port Talbot, and elsewhere in Wales, would not change before the 2012 Local Government Elections.

Gwenda Thomas, AM for Neath, said: “The Minister has made a wise choice in this matter and this is excellent news for Neath Port Talbot.”

“As the Minister recognises, many of the proposed changes risked breaking the link between citizens and their elected representatives. This connection is vital to the functioning of democracy and should be the prime consideration in any attempt to redraw the electoral map.”

The changes proposed for Neath Port Talbot included the merger of Bryncoch South and Dyffryn into a single ward with over 7,000 electors and four Councillors.

In a statement to the Welsh Assembly the Minister outlined his reasons for halting the proposed boundary changes. These included concerns about the quality of the proposals and delays in the review process.

The Minister said: “I do not wish to create a situation where some local authorities will conduct elections in 2012 under new arrangements and others under existing arrangements because of the imbalance inherent in such a situation.”

“I am making this announcement now to provide certainty to local government and others concerned with the electoral process.”

Early Christmas Present for Welsh Community Groups

Christmas has come early for Welsh groups sharing in over £190,000 from the Big Lottery Fund

A total of 53 community-based projects across Wales share in the £192,755 awarded under the latest round of the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All small grants programme. The Awards for Neath were:
F.A.N. Community Alliance £1,154
Crynant Old Age Pensioners Association, £5,000
People First Neath Port Talbot, £5,000

Gwenda said: “The granting of the Awards for All funding to organisations in Neath will have an extremely positive impact. This money will aid groups, societies and clubs, improve learning, increase volunteering opportunities and help to build stronger communities. I would urge people to apply for this funding, and the details are below.”

Available in English and Welsh, the application for the programme can be downloaded, completed and emailed direct to the Big Lottery Fund as being available in hard copy. Application forms are available from Awards for All or by phone on 08454102030.

Gwenda meets with Bus Boss

Gwenda Thomas AM recently met with the new General Manager for First Cymru Buses Ltd, Kevin Hart, to discuss complaints she has received from bus users in her constituency.

“We have had a very productive meeting where many of the problems experienced by my constituents have been discussed and resolved. The new timetables will commence on December 6th to coincide with the opening of the newly refurbished Quadrant bus station and it is hoped that many services will be back on track.’

Mr. Hart explained that timetabling during the long period of refurbishment, with the location of bus stops having to change frequently , had been difficult.

“The Christmas period with the increase of passengers and traffic congestion will bring it’s seasonal delays but we hope that our service users will be understanding.” added Mr. Hart.

He also reported that although there would be a rise in fares, many would still remain lower than last year’s tariffs.

“I have passed on all of the complaints made to me, particularly regarding the 120, X 25 and X 20 bus routes,” reported Mrs. Thomas. “I have also been advised that sometimes the more direct bus route may not be the quickest so I urge passengers, particularly in the Swansea and Amman Valleys, to investigate all options.”

Another Autism First for Wales

Welsh Labour’s Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas today announced the appointment of an Autism Employment Ambassador for Wales.

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, a Director of the Institute of Directors, Wales has taken up this part-time post for an 18 month period. His role will be to raise the profile of employing people with autism and to demonstrate how businesses in Wales can benefit from the talents, skills and knowledge that people with autism can bring to the workplace.

The role will be complemented by an awareness raising campaign and a series of training packages currently being developed by Careers Wales and Job Centre Plus for employers and related agencies. This new appointment is considered to be the first of its kind in the UK and possibly the world. It is also only one element in a number of innovative projects being taken forward by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government to enable adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to fulfil their potential in today’s society.

In April 2008, the Labour-led welsh Assembly Government scored another world first with the launch of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Strategic Action Plan for Wales. The Action Plan was the first of its kind in the UK if not in the world. The Strategic Action Plan sets out how Wales plans to meet the needs of adults, young people and children with ASD, their families and carers. Funding of £170,000 over three years was subsequently agreed for an All Wales Employment publicity campaign; the appointment of a Wales Employment Ambassador; and awareness raising and training support for staff within Careers Wales, Job Centre Plus and for Disability Employment Advisory.

There are over 18,000 adults with autism of working age in Wales today. Some, especially those with associated severe learning disabilities, will find it difficult to enter open employment, however there are a great many who want to work and have a lot to offer employers.

Currently the National Autistic Society believe that only 11% of adults with autism are in full-time employment. 7% of adults with autism are in part time work and 5% in some form of voluntary work. This is much lower that other disabilities which on average is 50%.

Labour AM Welcomes Extra Money For Gritting And Road Repairs.

Gwenda Thomas AM has welcomed extra funding for gritting and mending potholes in Neath.

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council will receive an extra £ 270,677 from the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government, Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant has announced.

Mrs. Thomas said: “Judging by the freezing cold conditions over the past few weeks, it looks like it could be another cold winter and so it’s imperative our roads are kept in good condition."

“This money will help go towards mending roads which have degraded because of bad weather conditions and buy extra salt to grit the road and pavement surfaces."

“I expect Neath Port Talbot to give priority to areas around schools, community centres and local shops which vulnerable groups including the elderly and children rely on.”

Catwg Peace Mala Celebration

Gwenda visited Catwg Primary School last week to attend their Peace Mala Accreditation Ceremony along with the Mayor Leila James and Councillor John Rogers.

“It was with great delight that I was invited to attend Catwg Primary School for their Peace Mala Accreditation celebration, especially as they were the first school in Neath Port Talbot achieve this status. I was also honoured to be presented with a Peace Mala prayer, written by a pupil of Catwg, which I now proudly display in my office."

"The Peace Mala project, developed in Wales by Llanelli teacher Pam Evans, is a wonderful way in which our young citizens can learn mutual respect for all the communities of our world, both cultural and religious, and to promote peace on earth and tolerance of our fellow man."

"I am truly impressed by the message of Peace Mala; to pass on to our children the value of world harmony and compassion, in such a creative way, is a beautiful gift.”

Details of the project can be found at www.peacemala.org.uk