100 DAYS TO MAKE WALES MATTER - LEANNE WOOD

Party leader calls on voters in Wales to give the nation a voice at the ballot box...

With a hundred days to go until the UK general election, the leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood is urging the people of Wales to back the party's campaign to make Wales matter in May and return the strongest ever group of Plaid Cymru MPs to Westminster.

Leanne Wood

Ms Wood, a National Assembly member for South Wales Central, which includes Penarth, said that with the election likely to result in a hung parliament and with Plaid Cymru among the anti-austerity parties likely to hold the balance of power, a vote for Plaid Cymru could deliver real change for the better for Wales.

She added that the first weeks of this year's election campaign had exposed the stark contrast between Plaid Cymru and the Westminster parties with Plaid fighting the Labour and Tory commitment to further cuts to public services while spending £100bn on a new generation of nuclear weapons.

"This is a crucial election for the people of Wales. With just a hundred days to go until polling day, I urge all the people of Wales to join Plaid Cymru's campaign to make Wales matter in May.” She said.

Ms Wood aslo drew attention to Plaid Cymru's record in the UK Parliament, saying: “When Plaid Cymru wins, Wales is strong. We have proved this with the fantastic track record of our MPs in Westminster, leading the way on pioneering legislation against stalking and domestic violence, opposing the Coalition's cruel welfare cuts, and fighting for fair funding for our nation.”

"In recent weeks the gulf between Plaid Cymru and the Westminster parties has grown.” She added.

She also highlighted the similarity between Labour and the Conservative party in promoting austerity and acting against the Welsh national interest, "During crucial votes on billions more cuts to our public services and renewing the wasted and outdated Trident nuclear weapons system, we saw Labour follow the Tories through the lobbies to vote against the Welsh national interest.”

"In stark contrast, Plaid Cymru’s vision is of world-class care for our patients, fair pay for our workers, strong support for our local economies.”

In a rallying call to the people of Wales, Ms Wood said that “on May 7th, only one party will have what's best for Wales at its heart. We must return the strongest ever group of Plaid Cymru MPs to the Commons to make sure our voice is heard and that our communities are protected from the continued pain of Westminster policies."

SCOTTISH REFERENDUM WAS 'DAVID AND GOLIATH' FIGHT SAY PENARTH PLAID CYMRU CANDIDATES

The Scottish referendum campaign has been described as a David and Goliath contest by Plaid Cymru's UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates for Penarth, Ben Foday and Dafydd Trystan Davies...

Ben Foday (left) and Dafydd Trystan Davies

They said the closeness of the result was remarkable, considering that the UK Government threw everything at Scotland in a bid to get a No result.

In a joint statement, Mr Foday and Dr Davies said: “The Yes campaign focussed on the remoteness of Westminster and how it has failed Scotland over the years. Regardless of the result, we hope this will act as a wake-up call to the people of Wales to realise that we have also had a rough deal from central government over the years.

“The Yes campaign worked tirelessly with a positive and comprehensive case for an independent Scotland. On the doorstep and on street stalls they engaged with and inspired a whole generation.

"The No campaign relied on London-based politicians, backed by a motley crew of luvvies, sporting has-beens and ‘comedians’, by the BBC with its institutionalised bias in favour of the status quo and by an increasingly hysterical right-wing press.

“We are delighted that so many Scots saw through their bribes, blackmail, fear-mongering and bully boy tactics and voted for independence.

“Nothing will be the same again in British politics and we will be interested to see if the UK Government has any sops left over for Wales after it fulfils its commitment to throw at Scotland all the money it offered for a No vote.

“We in Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales, have already started setting out our ambitious plans for our nation to chart its own course.

“We will be campaigning vigorously for the UK General Election next year and for our national election in 2016. It is up to those politicians who want to retain the status quo to outline their vision and plans for the future of Wales - if they have any.”

PENARTH MAN'S SONG FOR SCOTLAND

Penarth singer-songwriter Adrian Roper has written and recorded a song in support of a Yes vote at this month’s Scottish independence referendum...

Adrian Roper

Adrian, a well-known part of the music scene in Penarth, wrote Freedom’s Hame (home), which is now on Youtube.

With instrumental support from his fellow band-members in The Wide Open Spaces, the song is beautifully enhanced by backing vocals and bag-pipe drone sounds from The Lovely Wars, who also produced the song.

Adrian, who lived for a while in Scotland, has recorded his song in Scottish dialect.

He will be travelling north later this month with his daughter, Bethan, to support the Yes campaign and will be staying for the result of the referendum, which is being held on Thursday. September 18.

“I’ve written a number of songs,” he said, "but consider this to be my most important."

“I can’t say I’m rivalling The Proclaimers for a place at the top of the charts, but hope nevertheless to make my small contribution to the Yes vote campaign."

“I’m looking forward to spending time with some old friends in Scotland and encouraging everyone I meet to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance to vote for independence."

“It’s great to see the recent ‘bounce’ for a Yes vote in the opinion polls and so exciting for Scotland and for the rest of the UK too. The Scots have really grown in self-confidence and are clearly moving from dependency on a remote Westminster towards running their own affairs instead."

“As The Proclaimers say on their hit record: I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land - cap in hand.”

PLAID CALLS FOR THE RE-OPENING OF PENARTH LINE PLATFORM AT COGAN

Plaid Cymru Penarth is calling for a new railway halt at Cogan to serve passengers travelling between Penarth and Cardiff.

The old Cogan Station on the Penarth-Cardiff route was closed in 1968 when the Penarth line was reduced to a single track following the infamous Beeching Axe.

At that time, the area around the old Penarth Docks was marred by decline and dereliction. Since the 1980s however, the area has experienced huge regeneration with the construction of Penarth Marina and the International Sports Village which is linked to Cogan by the pedestrian bridge, Pont y Werin.

Plaid Penarth's David Wilton at the site of the proposed halt 

Penarth’s largest supermarket, Tesco, and Penarth Leisure Centre are also in the immediate area.

Pressure on the existing Cogan Station, which serves the Barry line, is set to increase with plans for nearly 900 new homes at the Cardiff Pointe (sic) development, near the Sports Village.

The only trains to stop at Cogan currently are trains on the line between Barry and Cardiff.

With the regeneration of the Barry Docks and Council plans to allow new housing estates on the Vale’s green fields, trains from Barry may in future be too full to pick up passengers at Cogan during peak times.

A reinstated platform on the Penarth line would not just improve the connection between Penarth and Cardiff but also enable travellers to transfer from the Penarth line to the line for Barry, Bridgend and the Airport.

Plaid Cymru local campaigner Dave Wilton said: “Windsor Road through Cogan currently forms a notorious congestion and pollution blackspot, and all options must be considered to provide alternative modes of transport in and out of Penarth.

“We believe that the reopening of a platform would greatly reduce this congestion and pollution, and our proposal forms a key part of our vision for sustainable transport in a rapidly developing Penarth.

“This would not only increase the availability of trains for Cogan residents but also provide the pleasant option of travelling on the under-capacity Penarth line, compared to the ‘sardines in a tin’ option each day on the Barry-Cardiff line at peak times. And it is sometimes impossible to get on at Cogan at all because of overcrowding."

“With more commuters from the Cogan area using the Penarth line, there would be less crowded and more comfortable journeys for those travelling on the Barry line.”

Mr Wilton said it was a practical suggestion as there was room for a new platform.

“We are not calling for the old station to be reopened,” he said. “The attractive Victorian station buildings still exist, but are now in private business use."

“These buildings aren’t required for a single-platform unstaffed halt similar to the halt at Dingle Road."

“A survey by a railway engineer is needed to investigate options, such as siting a platform on the land behind the old station building or on the Tesco side of the track."

“Another option for surveyors to consider is widening or extending the triangular wedge of land between the Barry and Penarth lines. Access to the new platform and the ease of changing to the Barry line is the key to success.”  

PLAID PENARTH CALLS FOR ENERGY COMPANY FOR WALES

Wales is an energy rich nation – yet Welsh households face the most expensive fuel bills on mainland Britain.

With the London Government controlling key energy policy decisions, recent figures show that Welsh customers face an average electricity bill of £503 - more than the UK average of £479.

To make matters worse, gas bills here now average £873 – a charge exceeded only by London – which means that combined energy bills in Wales are topping £1,400 for the year.

Plaid Cymru's Energy Spokesperson Llyr Gruffydd with Jill Evans MEP

Plaid Cymru has called for the full devolution of energy policy to the Welsh Government so that we in Wales can benefit from our own resources.

Welsh control would also enable us to switch to renewable sources of green energy while ensuring the benefits stay in our own communities.

Sadly, to date, Labour MPs in Westminster have failed time and time again to support Plaid Cymru demands for Welsh control over energy projects being brought to Wales.

The Party of Wales calls for the creation of a new energy company – Energy Wales, a not-for-profit company to benefit Welsh customers.

Plaid’s Energy Spokesperson in the National Assembly Llyr Gruffydd said: “Energy prices in Wales are a national scandal.

“Customers here pay more than anywhere in England and Scotland, despite Wales generating more electricity than it uses.”

“It is particularly unfair that customers who, for whatever reason, cannot pay through direct debit face paying through the nose for their gas and electricity.”

“Welsh families are paying the highest energy prices in the UK – and these prices are hitting our less well-off households the hardest.”

“Direct debit customers get the best deals, but Wales has one of the lowest percentages of people on direct debit. “

“Customers need advice as to how they can get cheaper bills, because we in Wales are being ripped off.”

“Plaid Cymru thinks it’s about time we stopped paying over the odds to boost the energy companies’ profits – and we call for a windfall tax on such profits.”

“Wales needs to have a not-for-dividend company for energy, as we have for water, so that any profits can be returned to customers and used to improve energy efficiency.”

“It is time that Wales took full responsibility for energy policy, rather than leaving it in Westminster’s hands.”

EUROPEAN FUNDING SHOULD HELP YOUNG PEOPLE INTO WORK

A call for money from the European Union to be used to help unemployed youngsters find work or an apprenticeship has come from one of the candidates representing Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales.

Addressing a meeting of party members and supporters in Penarth, Ioan Bellin said the Welsh Government should make a legally binding commitment for all young people who have been unemployed for four months to be offered a job, training or further education, funded through the European Social Fund.

Ioan Bellin (centre) with Penarth's UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates Ben Foday (left) and Dafydd Trystan Davies

“Long-term unemployment has rocketed since the current Labour Government took control in Cardiff Bay,” said Mr Bellin. “The number of young people claiming job seekers allowance for more than a year has more than quadrupled.

“Solving this crisis is vital, and it’s high time the Welsh Government followed the lead of Plaid’s Euro-MP Jill Evans, who has been campaigning for European support to reduce youth unemployment and help our young people become a skilled workforce.”

Mr Bellin also called for a change in European rules and a cut in red tape so that more Welsh contracts could go to Welsh businesses.

Such a move, he said, could create an estimated 46,000 new jobs in Wales.

He said that Plaid’s campaign for the European elections included support for a living wage both at home and in the rest of Europe, a new Welsh transport plan and guaranteed jobs, education or training for under 25s.

It was vital, he said, for Jill Evans, Plaid’s Member of the European Parliament, to be re-elected so that she can continue to be able to speak up for Wales.

Mr Bellin was welcomed to the meeting by the Chairman of Plaid Penarth, Adrian Roper. He was thanked by the party’s national Chairman, Dafydd Trystan Davies, who emphasised how important it was for Plaid to retain its seat at the European Parliament.

Mr Bellin also made reference to the unique place Penarth holds in the history of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales, as the first meeting of the group which led to the foundation of the party was held in the town at Bedwas Place 90 years ago.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Plaid Penarth members Helen Phillips and Dave Wilton with Cardiff South and Penarth UK parliamentary candidate Ben Foday and National Assembly candidate Dafydd Trystan Davies. They were out talking to voters in Penarth about Plaid's positive policies for the European elections.