AM’s concerns for exploitation of elderly ex miners

Gwenda Thomas AM today issued a warning to all ex miners living within her constituency after she made investigations on behalf of an elderly miner who had been presented with a £4000 bill for solicitor’s fees.

The gentleman had been contacted by telephone and then visited by the solicitor’s representative claiming that they had been given his information by the NUM. He was then persuaded to seek compensation for deafness even though he had already successfully claimed over 10 years ago. His original claim negated any further compensation which has led to the presentation of this extortionate bill for administration costs and medicals.

Mrs. Thomas has warned Wayne Thomas the Area Secretary for the National Union of Mineworkers, who are now using this information and will be instructing their volunteers to display posters warning ex miners of this practice.

Wayne Thomas stated, ‘Unfortunately there are many firms of solicitors contacting ex miners throughout the UK insinuating that their approach has been endorsed by the NUM, simply to give them credibility. They are trawling mining communities in South Wales, telling people who have had previous settlements for hearing loss, that they can claim again from British Coal, which they cannot.’

Gwenda Thomas AM has also learned that when the miners are told that they cannot claim further, they are then targeted again by an offer of assistance to claim for Industrial Disablement Benefit through the DWP.

‘This is a dreadful form of abuse of the vulnerable and elderly,’ expressed Mrs. Thomas. ‘There are no charges for anyone applying for this benefit and for unscrupulous people to try and profit from this is appalling and discredits those solicitors who have worked hard for our miners in the past. ‘

Mrs. Thomas then urged anyone who believes that they have been targeted in this way to contact either her self or the NUM directly, who will be able to advise them of the best course of action.

‘Do not agree to, or sign, any agreement until you have sort advice,’ emphasised Mrs. Thomas, ‘and do not pay anyone to help you apply for Industrial Disablement Benefit. My advice is to contact the Welfare Rights Unit at Neath Civic Centre who are qualified to give you free assistance.’

NEW £25MILLION COMMUNITIES FIRST FUND PROVIDES ‘A SHOT IN THE ARM’

Efforts to regenerate some of the most disadvantaged communities in the Neath, Dulais and Swansea Valleys have received another shot in the arm today, thanks to a new £25m fund which has been announced by the Labour-led Assembly Government.

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has welcomed news of the new Communities First ‘Outcomes Fund’, which will be open for bids by Communities First partnerships, including those in Neath, Lower Brynamman and Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Ystalyfera and Godre’rgraig the Dulais Valley, and Pontrhydyfen and Tonmawr.

The partnerships will be able to apply for money from the fund, but will need to demonstrate that their proposals will help deliver key Communities First priorities. They will also need to show that they are working in partnership with local public bodies and have engaged with local people in planning local services.

The Fund, which will be worth at least £25million over three years, is the centrepiece of plans for the next phase of Communities First, the Assembly Government’s flagship community regeneration programme, which Labour launched in the Assembly back in 2001.

Gwenda Thomas AM said:

“The new Outcomes Fund will be a real shot in the arm for every Communities First partnership in my constituency.

“It also shows how the Labour-led Assembly Government is committed to taking the Communities First programme to the next level so that it does even more to regenerate our communities.

“I am pleased to see that the next phase of Communities First will give the programme an even clearer focus on getting practical improvements in place on the ground to tackle poverty, regenerate these areas and improve employability.

“I am looking forward to seeing the Communities First programme going from strength to strength as it enters this next phase and I am sure that it will continue to make a real difference to the lives of so many people in my constituency.”

-Ends-

Communities First wards in Neath Port Talbot are:

Neath Port Talbot CBC: Cymmer + Gwynfi + Glyncorrwg; Sandfields West + Sandfields East; Onllwyn + Seven Sisters; Ystalyfera + Pantyffynnon, part of Godre’graig; Briton Ferry West + Neath East; Pelenna; Fairyland, part of Neath North; Brynbryddan and Penllyn, part of Bryn and Cwmavon.

Neath AM ‘disappointed’ at Post Office closure plans for Neath

Neath Labour Assembly Member Gwenda Thomas has expressed her disappointment at the decision announced today (Tuesday 3rd June) by Royal Mail that five post office branches in her constituency are being proposed for closure under its Network Change Programme.

The five branches proposed for closure in the Neath Constituency are Aberdulais; Neath Abbey; Cwmgors; Leaonard Street, Neath and Maesyffynon, Glynneath.

She announced plans to consult her constituents on the proposed closures, and will work closely with Neath MP Peter Hain, local councillors, including the Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, Derek Vaughan and other local community leaders to ensure that the views of the people in each of the affected areas are taken fully into consideration during the consultation period.

Commenting on the proposed closures, Neath AM GWENDA THOMAS said:

“I’m deeply disappointed that Royal Mail has announced its intention to close five of its branches in my constituency.

"We will campaign to keep as many of these Post Offices open as possible, but we need people to speak up and tell us what they think, so that we send a clear, strong and united message to Royal Mail.

"Although Post Office issues are not devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government, I'm fully committed to making sure that as a public representative, representing the people of Neath, that I listen to the views of the people of Aberdulais, Cwmgors, Neath, Neath Abbey, and the Lamb and Flag area of Glynneath , and I urge them to contact me with their views on these proposed closures.

"I will then make the views of my constituents known to Royal Mail, and I will be working closely with colleagues to ensure that those views are taken fully into consideration during the consultation process.

Constituents can contact Gwenda by writing to Gwenda Thomas AM, Assembly Member for Neath, 7 High Street, Pontardawe, Swansea, SA8 4HU, by e-mail, gwenda.thomas@wales.gov.uk, or by leaving a comment at www.gwendathomas.com

Commenting on the proposed closures, Neath Port Talbot Council Leader and Neath North Councillor DEREK VAUGHAN said:

"'I am concerned at the number of closures announced for Neath Port Talbot and as a local Councillor I am particularly concerned about the proposal to close the Leonard Street Post Office in my Ward.

"Such a closure would have a huge impact on elderly residents. I will be demanding a meeting with the Post Office to discuss their proposals ''.

Commenting on the proposed closure of Maes y Ffynon Post Office, Blaengwrach County Councillor ALF SIDDLEY said:

"I was most disturbed to hear that the Post Office in the Lamb and Flag area of Glynneath is on the list of post office proposed for closure.

"The Post Office has always been an integral part of Community life, and plays a crucial role, just like the local school and village shop. When any of these vital services are closed, it has a devastating impact on the local community, especially on those members of the community who rely the most on their local post office, such as those who do not have a bank account or access to a bank, and the elderly and disabled people.

"I trust the County Councillors for Glynneath will stand with me and my colleagues to oppose this planned closure.

NEATH PORT TALBOT GETS A ‘TIDY’ BOOST

A new £131,964 funding boost from the Labour-led Assembly Government will help make towns like Neath and Pontardawe tidier for all, Labour Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said today.

The Labour-led Assembly Government’s ‘Tidy Towns scheme’ is to provide councils in Wales with £3million of funding for projects which improve the state of our towns and villages, and will give communities the chance to take responsibility for the quality of their local environment.

Keep Wales Tidy gas also been given £1 million of Assembly Government funding to appoint a Tidy Towns Champion in Councils including Neath Port Talbot, who will facilitate projects aimed at improving the quality of the local environment.

GWENDA THOMAS AM said:

“The Tidy Towns scheme is a brilliant idea, which I’m sure will help to make places like Neath and Pontardawe even cleaner, greener and safer places to live.

I am also proud that Welsh Labour, which promised this scheme in last year’s Assembly election, is now delivering it in Government in the Assembly.”

“A poor quality local environment can have a major impact on whether people feel happy or safe in their own community, so I welcome the fact that this funding will be able to fund a wide range of projects which will breathe new life into our towns and villages.

Projects to tackle litter, remove graffiti, create new community gardens or wildlife habitats could all be covered by the Tidy Towns scheme, and I look forward to seeing communities across my constituency taking up the reins to improve their local environment.”

Press Release: NEATH AM WELCOMES NEW REGENERATION INITIATIVES IN NEATH

Neath AM Gwenda Thomas has today welcomed the announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government that Communities in Neath will benefit from an extra £582,000 of Communities First funding.

The funding, which was announced by the Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews AM today, means that three new areas in Neath will now join the the Communities First programme.

The inclusion of these areas follows their identification in the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005 as being in the 10% most deprived communities in Wales, but currently without Communities First Status.

A new partnership will be created in the Neath North ward covering the town centre area. Similarly a new partnership has been created in Neath South.

The funding will pay for professional staff to work with the community to develop new community projects and to build existing regeneration initiatives.

GWENDA THOMAS AM said:

"I'm very pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government has made this extra money available for regeneration initiatives in Neath town centre and for communities in the Neath south ward. This announcement today, and the £80m regeneration of Neath town centre already announced by Neath Port Talbot council is a significant and welcome boost for the town.

"Excellent examples of how the Communities First initiative has benefited communities in Neath are all too visible in Fairyland and in the Melyn, where people have come together to make a real, lasting and positive difference to their communities.

The Deputy Minister, LEIGHTON ANDREWS AM said:

“The funding I’ve announced will enable Communities First to become established in these areas in preparation for Communities Next – the second phase of the Welsh Assembly Government’s community regeneration programme.”

Statement: DEVASTATION OF THE GWYN HALL

On Friday morning, having visisted the scene of the devestating fire at the Gwyn Hall in Neath, I released the following statement:

“I have visited the scene of the blaze at the Gwyn Hall this morning, and I’m shocked and saddened that such an iconic and much loved building by everyone in Neath has suffered such severe damage. It is especially sad considering that the hall is currently undergoing a significant multi-million pound refurbishment.

“I would like to praise the efforts of the fire-fighters of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service for their excellent work during the night, and their effort has ensured that the fire did not spread to nearby buildings. Fire-fighters attended the scene from all across Wales, from as far as Llandrindod Wells. Their commitment and bravery is very much to be commended.

“I also hope that this incident will trigger further consideration of the risk reduction plan of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Authority. The appliance from Pontardawe, as well as the main appliance and a specialist vehicle with a high pressure water pump from Ammanford, played a vital role in tackling the blaze, which proves categorically that both stations play a vital strategic role.

“I will, as Neath’s Assembly member, do all I can to assist the Local Authority in whatever way I can in the days and months ahead.