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Brazen Ignorance: Neath MP Condemns New Local Council Ward Boundaries
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BRAZEN IGNORANCE: NEATH MP CONDEMNS NEW LOCAL COUNCIL WARD BOUNDARIES
19 October 2009
Neath MP peter Hain today sharply criticised proposals from the Local Government Boundary Commission as 'an attack on local democracy' which will 'widen the gap between citizens and their County councillors’ and are based upon 'brazen ignorance'.
Responding to proposals from the Commission published today he especially criticised the decisions to combine Aberdulais, Cadoxton, Cilfrew, and Tonna; the decision to combine Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Brynamman in the Amman Valley and Cwmllynfell in the upper Swansea Valley; and the decision to join Townmawr with the Neath Valley and Pontrhydyfen with a ward outside the constituency.
“It is clear that who ever has drawn up these plans does not know the area and has made no attempt to look at the local geography or the differing types of community. Instead they have taken a butchers knife to longstanding local communities with no thought as to democratic and community consequences.
“Cilfrew, Tonna, Cadoxton and Bryncoch have a major dual carriageway running right between them and are miles apart at their perimeters with differing community needs. Similarly Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Brynamman are miles away from Cwmllynfell and are separated by the Gwrhyd. It is ridiculous to separate the community of Cwmllynfell by amalgamating one half with Gwaun Cae Gurwen and the other half with Pontardawe. The sheer brazen ignorance of the proposals means the Commission has just skipped over Ystalyfera and Godrergraig to merge Rhiwfawr with Pontardawe which again is a mountain and miles away - unless they envisage the tiny mountain road over from Rhiwfawr to the top of Rhydyfro. This is all ridiculous.
“The craziest suggestion is to join Tonmawr with the Neath Valley and to put Pontrhydyfen in a ward outside of the Neath Constituency. Not only is the Tonmawr ward in a entirely different valley but it could take half an hour to get from Glynneath, at the top of the Neath Valley to Tonmawr in the Pelenna Valley especially if traffic in Neath town was bad as they would have to drive through there. While joining Pontrhydyfen with communities outside of the constituency will be confusing and lead to ineffective representation.
“These are distinct communities with their own identities which they are proud of. The Commissioners seem to have looked at a map and not understood the geographical difficulties that their proposal would bring. I will be writing to the Commission urging them to re-think these proposals and to use common sense when reviewing the boundaries.”
Mr Hain is also unhappy about other proposals including the decision to separate the two existing Bryncoch wards. Under the proposals Bryncoch North will join with Aberdulais, Tonna, Cadoxton and Cilfrew while Bryncoch South will amalgamate with Dyffryn Clydach. Mr Hain has called this decision ludicrous and questioned why the Bryncoch wards should be separated.
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Local MP warns: “Don’t write off people with autism”
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Local MP warns: “Don’t write off people with autism”
16 October 2009
Peter Hain MP is backing a National Autistic Society (NAS) campaign to stop adults with autism being written-off by the employment and benefits system. A new report by the NAS reveals a third of people with the condition currently live without a job and without benefits; many are forced to rely on family and friends for help.
The Neath MP said: “People with autism have a great deal to offer and we know that many want to work but are unable to get the help and support they need to fulfil their potential. It is crucial that people with serious, lifelong and disabling conditions such as autism get the help they need when seeking employment and are supported financially when they cannot work.”
Only 15%* of adults with autism in the UK are in fulltime paid employment. The Don’t write me off report reveals that the majority of the over 300,000 working age adults with autism want to work but are being held back by a lack of understanding of autism amongst employment and benefits advisors at Jobcentre Plus and a dearth of specialist employment services. As a result they often experience inadequate job-seeking support, unnecessary and distressing delays in payment, or are being denied essential benefits altogether.
Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS said: “People with autism say their experiences of the employment and benefits system are marred by anxiety, confusion, delays and discrimination. It is scandalous that thousands of people with autism are being consigned to poverty by a complex and counter-productive benefits system. We are delighted to have the support of Peter Hain MP and strongly urge other MPs to follow his lead. We will keep campaigning until the Government’s “no-one written off” pledge is a reality for people with autism.”
Research for the Don’t write me off report found:
· Almost 80% of people with autism on Incapacity Benefit want to work.
· Over a third said their Disability Employment Advisor’s knowledge of autism was “very bad” or “bad”.
· Half of people with autism have spent time with neither a job nor benefits with over three quarters of those forced to rely on family and friends as a result.
· Over 82% needed some kind of help to apply for benefits, but few were made aware of their right to an advocate. In the worst cases parents were actively blocked from helping.
The NAS is calling for a national strategy from government to transform access to employment for people with autism across the UK. The charity is also campaigning for a better understanding of autism across all Jobcentre Plus staff and new measures to make the system fair for people with the disability.
To find out more about the campaign, visit: www.autism.org.uk/dontwritemeoff
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Groundhog Day For Neath MP Who Backs Bid For Defence Contract
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GROUNDHOG DAY FOR NEATH MP WHO BACKS BID FOR DEFENCE CONTRACT
13 October 2009
Neath MP Peter Hain has backed a bid for a multi million pound project from the Ministry of Defence from local company Groundhog UK Ltd to provide a new generation of container-based ablutions for the forces in Afghanistan.
Mr Hain described Groundhog as a “first class company that would provide a first class product for our fighting forces”. The company has long record of success supplying portable toilet, shower and kitchen units for Balfour Beaty and other large construction companies which have now been adapted for harsher conditions of Afghanistan.
On the visit he was show some of the products that are made at the factory and the latest design technology and leading edge manufacturing processes used. Mr Hain has written to the Ministry of Defence supporting the bid and urging the Minister to consider the company for the contract.
Commenting Mr Hain said,
“I have seen for myself the superb work that Groundhog UK do and the quality of the equipment they manufacture. With our young men and women serving in the harsh environment of Afghanistan, we must provide them with the best facilities we can.
Winning this contract is a vital importance to Groundhog and will enable recruitment of local labour at a time when unemployment in the Neath constituency has been rising.”
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Peter Hain MP Backs RNID Cymru's Checks For A Healthy Hearing Future
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PETER HAIN MP BACKS RNID CYMRU’S CHECKS
FOR A HEALTHY HEARING FUTURE
09 October 2009
The Right Honourable Peter Hain MP has joined RNID Cymru’s call for people to value their hearing and take the charity’s specially developed hearing check.
At the Labour Party conference in Brighton, Peter Hain took RNID’s five-minute hearing check, which assesses your ability to hear someone speaking with background noise – similar to being in a crowded room – and helps identify whether you have a hearing loss.
Peter Hain MP says: “Many people don’t realise how important their hearing is in their everyday lives, until they start to lose it. I’m lending my voice to RNID Cymru’s Hearing Matters campaign, which is encouraging you to look after your hearing by visiting www.rnid.org.uk/check or dialling 0844 800 3838 and take immediate action to avoid experiencing unnecessary isolation from friends, family and colleagues.”
Director of RNID Cymru, Richard Williams, says: “On average, people take 15 years to deal with their hearing loss and, in that time, a person’s quality of life can be greatly reduced. We urge people in Neath to follow Peter Hain’s example and take RNID’s check today, so that you can start addressing any hearing loss and ensure you don’t miss out on leading a fulfilling and active life.”
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Dads Army In Neath
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DADS ARMY IN NEATH
09 October 2009
Children from Alderman Davies School Neath were praised by Neath MP Peter Hain for dressing up in 1940s clothing in their performance of 'Dad's Army' songs and activities remembering Second World War time experiences.
The occasion was a concert at St David's Church to celebrate what Mr Hain described as a 'terrific' project organised by Maureen Winter of the Women’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme.
In collaboration with Neath Museum there was an exhibition of photos and memorabilia from Neath nearly 70 years ago.
One was of 18 year old Trevor Giddings who in April 1940 was deputed to guard an unexploded bomb in Beechwood Avenue, Neath. Mr Hain was able to meet him, now aged 88, but this time singing at the event as a member of Bryncoch Male Voice Choir.
Speaking to the audience Mr Hain congratulated the children and teachers for their performance and said how interested he was to see the wartime exhibition of those difficult years in Neath, recalling also how his own father Walter had been wounded fighting in Italy.
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Hain Fights For Local Bus Service
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HAIN FIGHTS FOR LOCAL BUS SERVICE
06 October 2009
Peter Hain MP has taken up the fight on behalf of Fairyland residents to restore the earlier bus service to the area. The old 08.40am service from Fairyland has been replaced with the later 09:15am service. The change to the timetable has caused problems for residents who use the bus to get to work or for pupils getting to school.
Mr Hain took up the fight after speaking with residents in Fairyland whilst canvassing in the area.
Commenting Mr Hain said,
“Bus services are a lifeline for many people living in Fairyland. The switch to a later time has left many residents having to rely on taxis at a great expense and inconvenience. The later time is too late for people to get to work at 9am and too late for the start of school. I have written to the bus company urging them to restore the earlier bus.”
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