PLAID CYMRU WARNS OF FRACKING THREAT TO PENARTH

Penarth could be just months away from the start of exploratory drilling in preparation for fracking...  

That's the chilling prospect facing our community if UK Government plans to auction Penarth's geological sub-strata to the highest bidder go ahead, as expected, later this year.

Penarth under threat from hydraulic fracturing

The warning comes from Plaid Cymru Penarth and our UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates, Ben Foday and Dafydd Trystan Davies. 

Mr Foday said: "Fracking has been proved to cause environmental problems, including the release of climate-changing gases, air quality problems, water pollution and large numbers of lorry movements. Health concerns have recently been raised by the Medical Journal of Australia, including bringing radioactivity and heavy metals to the surface from deep underground through fracking, and respiratory problems resulting from air pollution. Fracking is also implicated in falling house prices, with some insurers in the US now refusing to cover fracking-related damages."

Communities across our country are uniting against fracking (image: Frack Free Wales) 

The UK Conservative-Lib Dem coalition has provided a series of increasingly generous tax breaks to shale gas companies in their unseemly rush to drill for gas. Conservative Chancellor George Osborne described his July 2013 tax breaks as the "most generous tax breaks in the world". The Labour Welsh Government is also known to be in favour of this controversial technique, which could take place in areas housing more than half of the population of Wales, with their most senior energy advisor stating they have a "strong interest" in fracking. 

The Welsh Government controls planning for onshore oil and gas, and could put in place a moratorium while it assesses the environmental and health impacts. The Republic of Ireland has just such a moratorium in place for the next two years. However, the Labour Welsh Government once again has shown it has no original opinions and appears to be keen to follow the Tories in London. 

The only party willing to stand up for the communities facing this threat is Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales. 

Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood, who is an Assembly Member for South Wales Central, which includes Penarth, said recently: "While the technology is untested and the harm to the environment is unknown, we cannot allow any part of our land to be fracked beneath our feet."

Ben Foday (left) and Dafydd Trystan Davies: Standing up for Penarth 

Dr Davies warned: "More than half of the Vale of Glamorgan is licensed for fracking, with three exploratory drilling licences already in the hands of fracking companies. The remainder of the Vale, including the whole of Penarth, Sully and Llandough, will be covered by licences due to be auctioned later this year. It's worth bearing in mind that companies will drill horizontally in order to frack, and that they can drill for distances of a mile or more horizontally. Fracking could end up taking place anywhere in Penarth, although it will be deep underground." 

"For the sake of the future generations in Penarth, for the old and infirm who would be most seriously affected by air and water pollution, and for a clean, green future powered by renewable energy, Plaid Penarth has called on the Welsh Government to stand up for the people of Wales and use its authority to implement a moratorium on fracking in Wales until we know the risks can be adequately managed."    

MAKE YOUR POUND A PENARTH POUND

Every pound spent in our local shops is worth twice as much to the Penarth economy than one spent in the supermarket, writes National Assembly candidate for Cardiff South and Penarth, Dafydd Trystan Davies...

Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies

My first experience of Penarth was a rather painful one. Rather foolishly a few years ago I signed up to run the Snowdonia mountain marathon and, living across the Bay, the hills of Penarth seemed very inviting (from afar!). Many hours of slowly trudging up and down the hill from the Bay to the centre of Penarth and, once I’d got a little more adventurous, down to the Pier too, I was ready for Snowdonia! But I’d also come to appreciate the wide range of independent shops in the town centre.

More recently, my Dad moved to Penarth, so the rather breathless window shopping when out running has turned into actual shopping and quite a few coffees and cakes at Foxy’s Deli! Foxy’s is a particular treat as a group of us - weather and light permitting - go for a short bike ride on Wednesday mornings, with a coffee and cake afterwards at Foxy’s most definitely the highlight of the ride!

Power is in your pocket

Shopping locally in Penarth is a pleasure but also really important to the wider economic success of the area. Though the economy of Penarth is certainly more robust than some other towns, the more that can be done to encourage people to do more shopping locally to help maintain vibrant high streets the better.

There’s a splendid book shop, Windsor Books, with a good range of books and greetings cards in English and Welsh. Pencerdd has a great variety of musical instruments for sale, though, thankfully for the musically inclined, my violin playing days are long over! Foxy’s Deli has an enviable display of ‘goodies’ and you don’t have to cycle up the hill from the barrage to earn a coffee and cake there! These local businesses deserve our support.

I am, as you’ve probably gathered by now, a keen cyclist and chair the social enterprise, Cycle Training Wales, which offers a wide range of cycle training bike maintenance courses and bike recycling. So I am naturally pleased that Penarth has the Bike Shop selling and repairing bikes in the centre of town. If you’re after a new bike then the Bike Shop is the place to go, while Cycle Training Wales’ Cardiff Cycle Workshop at Ely Bridge offers recycled bikes in monthly sales.

There are of course many more local traders in and around Penarth and I’m pleased that they have got together to produce a loyalty card to support local, independent traders and give offers and discounts to customers. The card is an initiative of Gwyrddio Penarth Greening and, as a keen environmentalist, I think this is just the sort of scheme needed to help our town centres.

Shop in Penarth, an initiative of Gwyrddio Penarth Greening

I wonder how many Penarth residents have this card and, while it may not have been a New Year’s resolution, how about making a St David’s Day resolution to shop more locally? 

Money spent in independent shops on the high street is money that stays locally, and it has been estimated that every £1 spent locally puts twice as much money back into the local economy as £1 spent in a supermarket. Local shops employ local people, are supplied by local businesses and create more jobs with their profits kept in the local community.

Wales has a strong tradition of food producers and craft businesses, and buying locally is the perfect opportunity to support them.

Just some of the mouth-watering Welsh produce available at Foxy's (Image: Penarth View)

But there is only so much individuals can do. There is also, in my view a responsibility on public bodies to choose local suppliers wherever possible. In Plaid Cymru, for whom I have been selected to stand in the next Assembly elections, we have been campaigning for some time on public procurement.

Currently, about 50 per cent of goods and services purchased by the Welsh public sector come from Welsh-based suppliers and I’d very much like to see this increased to 75 per cent to provide even more support for local businesses and local jobs. It’s been estimated that current public sector purchases account for nearly 100,000 jobs in Wales and an increase to 75 per cent would mean more than 45,000 extra jobs.

We have the opportunity to support our local traders in Penarth, to boost the economy and to encourage our councils and public bodies to do more to source their goods locally. We all have a part to play in this and, while you may not want to join me in running up and down the hills of Penarth (why not – it’s great fun!), I hope you will join me in continuing to support our local traders.

Top 10 Facts about shopping locally

TRIBUTES PAID TO PENARTH DIPLOMAT WHO FORGED LINKS BETWEEN WALES AND LITHUANIA

Anthony Packer (Image: Wales Online)

Tributes have been paid to a long-standing Plaid Cymru member, who was the Honorary Consul for Lithuania in Wales.

Anthony Packer, of Salisbury Avenue, Penarth, died at the age of 74 after battling prostate cancer at the Cardiff and Vale Marie Curie Hospice.

A man of many academic achievements, a loving family man and an entertaining raconteur, he had a host of friends and touched many lives. He was gregarious, happy to engage anyone in conversation and happy to argue that ‘black was blue’ - with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. One of his major achievements was to build links between Wales and Lithuania, helping to create an international identity for Wales in Europe.

He believed he could advance the cause of Wales by pursuing recognition of the nation, its language, culture and qualities and as a place in which to do business at an international level.

In particular, he sought to develop close links between Wales and the Baltic States, and he was one of the founding members of the Baltic Society in Wales in 1991.

Six weeks before Lithuania’s unilateral declaration of independence, he led a delegation to the country (repeated in 1993) to help the authorities de-Sovietise the country’s education system and other institutions.

Though the country was still under the control of Moscow, he visited the headquarters of Sajudis, the movement for an independent Lithuania, with a message of support from Plaid Cymru. It was a simple note of democratic regard and support for the movement’s objectives, and was the first such message to come from any British political party.

It was this act of disobedience that led to his initial acquaintance and subsequent friendship with Vytautas Landsbergis, the first President of an independent Lithuania.

During his time as Honorary Consul, he forged strong links between universities in Wales and Lithuania as well as organising the visit of Vytautas Landsbergis, the first post-Soviet President of independent Lithuania, to Wales.

He persuaded Landsbergis to publish his memoirs, helping to translate, edit and publish them, and was recently presented with the Order of the Diplomatic Star, the highest distinction in the Lithuanian Diplomatic Service, in recognition of his work.

Presentation of the Order of the Diplomatic Star in January (Image: Penarth Times)

Anthony Packer was born in Caerleon in 1939 and raised in Hengoed. He was educated at grammar schools in Pengam and Barry and studied at the University of Wales College, Cardiff (History), Cuddesdon College, Oxford (Theology), the London School of Economics (Social Administration) and the University of Liverpool (Psychiatric Social Work).

He began his career in London as a teacher before beginning work as a psychiatric social worker in local hospitals.

He later became the Chief Administrator for the Family Welfare Association and Chief Trainer for child counselling at the world renowned Tavistock Clinic in London.

Wanting to return to Wales with his wife, Ann, and his three children (later to become four), he took up a lectureship at Cardiff University. He initially split his time between the Department of Social Work and the Department of Education before moving on a full-time basis to the Department of Education from 1984 through to his retirement in 2001.

He taught himself Welsh and helped to advance its use in education and social work throughout Wales.

He was for four years the joint editor of the academic periodical, The Welsh Journal of Education, and for two years the chairman of the Department of Economics and Sociology of the Welsh Guild of Graduates.

Anthony served as the Treasurer of the International Round Table for the Advancement of Counselling (IAC-IRTAC) from 1983 to 1992.

He was also a trustee of the Welsh Centre for International Affairs and the Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the United Nations Association in Wales.

He also represented the Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff on the steering committee of the UK 3 Faiths Forum.

As President of the Consular Association for Wales and its Secretary for six years, he presided over its significant expansion and the advancement of its aims towards the active promotion of business and cultural links between Wales and the countries represented by its 29 members.

Anthony Packer is survived by his wife Ann, his mother, Gleeda, children Rhiannon, David, Cerian and Tomos, daughters-in-law Frida and Sasha, sons-in-law Tony and Geraint, and grandchildren Kajsa, Oliver, Tomos, Elis, Alys, Annest, William and Steffan.

DATHLU RHAN PENARTH WRTH FFURFIO PLAID CYMRU

Daeth cant o bobl i gyfarfod arbennig i gofio 90ain pen-blwydd o'r cyfarfod cyntaf o'r Mudiad Cymreig, grŵp a arweiniodd at ffurfio Plaid Cymru - gan synnu'r gŵr gwadd, yr Athro Richard Wyn Jones, un o brif ysgolheigion ym maes gwleidyddiaeth.

Chwith i'r Dde: Cadeirydd o Gangen Plaid Cymru Penarth, Adrian Roper, Alun Ffred Jones AC, Athro Richard Wyn Jones o Brifysgol Caerdydd, a Chadeirydd Cymdeithas Hanes Plaid Cymru Dafydd Williams

Fe gynhaliwyd y cyfarfod hanesyddol, cudd yn Bedwas Place, Penarth ar Ionawr 7, 1924, ac ymhlith y rhai fu yno bryd hynny oedd y darlithydd a dramodydd, Saunders Lewis, a drigai ym Mhenarth dros flynyddoedd lawer.

Yn ystod y digwyddiad y mis yma, siaradodd yr Athro Richard Wyn Jones am bwysigrwydd cyfarfodydd y grŵp a'u dylanwad wrth ddatblygu cysylltiadau gyda chenedlaetholwyr yng ngogledd Cymru a sefydliad swyddogol Plaid Cymru'r flwyddyn ddilynol.

Eglurodd sut y daeth y polisïau a luniwyd gan y grŵp yn bolisïau i Blaid Cymru ei hun yn ei blynyddoedd cyntaf.

Y gynulleidfa'n ymgynull wrth edrych ymlaen at sgwrs yr Athro Richard Wyn Jones

Yn ogystal â Saunders Lewis, yn bresennol yn y cyfarfod hanesyddol cyntaf oedd yr hanesydd, Ambrose Bebb, a pherchnogion y tŷ yn Bedwas Place, yr hanesydd ac ysgolhaig Cymreig, G. J. Williams a'i wraig Elizabeth.

Trefnwyd y dathliad diweddar gan Gymdeithas Hanes Plaid Cymru a Changen Penarth o'r Blaid, ac ymhlith y cant a ddaeth oedd criw teledu.

Clywodd ystafell dan ei sang yn y Windsor Arms groeso i'r Athro Jones, aelodau a chefnogwyr y Blaid a thrigolion lleol â diddordeb yn hanes gwleidyddiaeth ym Mhenarth gan Gadeirydd y Gangen leol Adrian Roper.

Cadeirydd y cyfarfod oedd Alun Ffred Jones, sy'n Aelod Cynulliad ac yn ŵyr i'r Parchedig Ffred Jones, a ymunodd â'r grŵp ar ôl ei gyfarfod cyntaf.

Rhoddodd Cadeirydd Cymdeithas Hanes Plaid Cymru, Dafydd Williams, bleidlais o ddiolch i'r siaradwyr a'r trefnwyr.

Ymgeisydd San Steffan Penarth, Ben Foday (de) ac ymgeisydd Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies (ail ar y chwith), gydag Alun Ffred Jones AC a'r Athro Richard Wyn Jones

Ymhlith y gynulleidfa yn y dathliad oedd ymgeiswyr San Steffan a Chynulliad y Blaid ar gyfer De Caerdydd a Phenarth, Ben Foday a Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies, a etholwyd yn gadeirydd cenedlaethol Plaid Cymru'r llynedd.

Dafydd Williams gydag arddangosfa 'Merched y Blaid'

PENARTH COMMEMORATIVE EVENT A HUGE SUCCESS

A packed Windsor Arms gathered to enjoy a special event on the evening of January 7th in

commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the first meeting of Y Mudiad Cymreig (The Welsh

Movement), a group which was eventually to lead to the formation of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales.

Left to Right: Chair of Plaid Cymru Penarth Branch, Adrian Roper, Alun Ffred Jones AM, Professor Richard Wyn Jones of Cardiff University, and Chair of Plaid Cymru History Society Dafydd Williams

At the event, guest speaker Professor Richard Wyn Jones outlined the historical importance of the meetings held by Y Mudiad Cymreig and how they led to links with nationalists in North Wales and the official formation of Plaid Cymru the following year.

He explained how policies drawn up by the group became the policies of Plaid Cymru in its early years.

The historic movement was founded at a secret meeting, held in Bedwas Place in Penarth on January 7, 1924, and led by the lecturer and dramatist, Saunders Lewis, who lived in the town for many years.

As well as Saunders Lewis, the first historic meeting was attended by the historian, Ambrose Bebb, and the owners of the house in which it was held, the historian and Welsh scholar, G. J. Williams, and his wife, Elizabeth.

The audience gathers in eager anticipation of the talk by Professor Richard Wyn Jones

The highly successful event was jointly organised by the Plaid Cymru History Society and Penarth's own branch of Plaid Cymru, and was attended by about a hundred people, including a television crew.

A packed room heard Penarth Branch Chair Adrian Roper welcome Prof. Jones, party members and supporters, and local residents interested in the history of politics in Penarth.

The meeting was chaired by Assembly Member Alun Ffred Jones, a grandson of the Rev Ffred Jones, who joined the group shortly after the first meeting.

After an informative and entertaining speech by Professor Jones, questions were fielded from the audience leading to a great deal of interesting discussion. Eventually, the evening was brought to a close with a vote of thanks to the speakers, given by the Chair of the Plaid Cymru History Society, Dafydd Williams.

Penarth UK Parliament candidate, Ben Foday (right) and National Assembly candidate Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies (second left), with Alun Ffred Jones AM and Professor Richard Wyn Jones

Among the audience at the commemorative event were the UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates for Cardiff South and Penarth, Ben Foday and Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies, who was elected as the party's national Chair last year. 

Dafydd Williams with the Women in Plaid exhibition

The event also included an exhibition by Plaid Cymru History Society to celebrate the extraordinary contribution made by women during the early years of the party.

PENARTH'S SECRET ROLE IN WELSH HISTORY

An event to commemorate the 90^th anniversary of the first meeting of Y Mudiad Cymreig/The Welsh Movement, which led to the formation of Plaid Cymru the following year, is being held in Penarth in January.

The historic meeting was held at 11 Bedwas Place in Penarth on the evening of January 7, 1924, and the commemorative event is being held at the Windsor Arms on Tuesday, January 7 (7.30pm).

It is being organised jointly by the Plaid Cymru History Society and the Penarth Branch of Plaid Cymru.

The guest speaker will be Professor Richard Wyn Jones, the eminent historian, political commentator, author and broadcaster. At the 1924 meeting, a small group of nationalists, led by the lecturer and playwright Saunders Lewis, began drawing up a set of aims and policies intended to rescue Wales from political and cultural oblivion.

As well as Mr Lewis, that first meeting was attended by the historian, Ambrose Bebb, and the owners of the house, the historian and Welsh scholar G. J. Williams and his wife, Elizabeth.They were joined at a later meeting, on February 5, 1924, by D.J. Williams and Ben Bowen Thomas and at their March meeting by the Treorchy minister, the Rev Ffred Jones, the grandfather of folk singer and former Plaid President Dafydd Iwan and of Assembly Member Alun Ffred Jones, who will be chairing the anniversary meeting.

The group met in secret throughout 1924 and, at about the same time, another group of nationalists were meeting in Gwynedd.

Saunders Lewis

Early in 1925, the leader of the northern group, H.R.Jones, contacted Saunders Lewis to invite him to help with the creation of a new political party. The two groups stayed in close contact and, on August 5, 1925, Mr Lewis and the Rev Ffred Jones travelled to Pwllheli to join H.R. Jones and three others – Rev Lewis Valentine, scientist Moses Griffiths and carpenter D.E. Williams - at a meeting which established Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru as the National Party of Wales.

Some of the policies which were forged in Penarth by the Welsh Movement have been long abandoned, but the vision of a party with, in D.J. Williams’ words, “the specific aim of delivering to Wales, in the fullness of time, self-government and its own parliament, along with all the privileges of a free nation” became a reality.

The rebirth of Wales as a self-governing nation can be traced back, in no small part, to those secret discussions at Bedwas Place in 1924.

It is hoped that guests at the commemorative event will include descendants of the Welsh Movement’s principal members and representatives from the Pwllheli branch of Plaid Cymru.

Tickets (£10 a head to include buffet) are available from Rowland Davies, of the Penarth Branch, at ardbear@btinternet.com or on (029) 20702603 or 07769 195025, or from Alan Jobbins, of the Plaid Cymru History Society, at asjobbins@btinternet.com or on (029) 20623275 or 07790 868686.

RÔL GUDD PENARTH YN HANES CYMRU

Bydd noson arbennig yn nodi 90^ain pen-blwydd cyfarfod cyntaf Y Mudiad Cymreig, a arweiniodd at ffurfio Plaid Cymru'r flwyddyn ganlynol, i'w gynnal ym Mhenarth ym Mis Ionawr.

Cynhaliwyd y cyfarfod hanesyddol yn 11 Bedwas Place, Penarth ar noson Ionawr 7^fed, 1924, ac fe fydd y digwyddiad coffa yng ngwesty'r Windsor Arms Nos Fawrth, Ionawr 7 (am 7.30pm).

Trefnir ar y cyd gan Gymdeithas Hanes Plaid Cymru a Changen Penarth o'r Blaid. Y gŵr gwadd fydd yr Athro Richard Wyn Jones, sy'n hanesydd, sylwebydd gwleidyddol a darlledwr o fri.

Yn y cyfarfod yn 1924, dechreuodd grŵp bychan o genedlaetholwyr dan arweiniad y darlithydd a dramodydd Saunders Lewis lunio polisïau ac amcanion oedd â'r nod o achub Cymru rhag difodiant diwylliannol a gwleidyddol.

Yn ogystal â Saunders Lewis, mynychwyd y cyfarfod cyntaf gan yr hanesydd Ambrose Bebb a pherchnogion y tŷ, yr hanesydd ac ysgolhaig Cymreig G. J. Williams a'i wraig, Elizabeth.

Mewn cyfarfod diweddarach ar 5 Chwefror, ymunodd D.J. Williams a Ben Bowen Thomas ac ym Mis Mawrth daeth gweinidog o Dreorci, y Parchedig Ffred Jones, tad-cu canwr gwerin a chyn-Lywydd Plaid Cymru Dafydd Iwan a'r Aelod Cynulliad Alun Ffred Jones, fydd yn cadeirio'r cyfarfod pen-blwydd.

Bu'r grŵp yn cwrdd yn gyfrinachol drwy gydol 1924 tra fo grŵp arall o genedlaetholwyr yn cwrdd yng Ngwynedd tua'r un adeg.

Saunders Lewis

Yn gynnar yn 1925, cysylltodd arweinydd y grŵp gogleddol, H.R. Jones, â Saunders Lewis i'w wahodd i helpu wrth greu plaid wleidyddol newydd. Fe gadwodd y ddwy garfan mewn cysylltiad agos ac ar Awst 5, 1925, teithiodd Mr Lewis a'r Parch Ffred Jones i Bwllheli i ymuno ag H.R. Jones a thri arall - y Parchedig Lewis Valentine, y gwyddonydd Moses Griffiths a'r saer D.E. Williams - mewn cyfarfod i sefydlu Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru yn fudiad cenedlaethol i Gymru.

Cafodd rhai o'r polisïau a luniwyd ym Mhenarth gan y Mudiad Cymreig eu rhoi o'r neilltu ers llawer dydd, ond daeth ei weledigaeth o blaid annibynnol i Gymru ei gwireddu, gyda'r bwriad penodol, yng ngeiriau D.J. Williams, “o roi i Gymru, yng nghyflawnder amser, hunanlywodraeth a'i senedd ei hun, ynghyd â holl freintiau cenedl rydd.”

Mae modd olrhain dadeni Cymru yn genedl hunanlywodraethol i raddau helaeth yn ôl i'r trafodaethau cudd hynny yn Bedwas Place yn 1924.

Gobeithir y bydd y rhai yn y digwyddiad coffaol yn cynnwys disgynyddion prif aelodau'r Mudiad Cymreig yn ogystal â chynrychiolwyr o Gangen Pwllheli o Blaid Cymru.

Ceir tocynnau (£10 y pen i gynnwys bwffe) oddi wrth Rowland Davies o Gangen Penarth, ardbear@btinternet.com neu (029) 20702603 a 07769 195025, neu oddi wrth Alan Jobbins o Gymdeithas Hanes Plaid Cymru, asjobbins@btinternet.com neu (029) 20623275 a 07790 868686.