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Tuesday 4 November 2014

Betsi crisis support long overdue

Responding to the news that Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board has been given targeted support by the Welsh Government to help improve its performance, the Party of Wales North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said:
“At long last the Labour Government is recognising that it has ultimate responsibility for health services, and this is a long-overdue intervention. With another overspend likely, poor performance against waiting list targets, and an on-going police investigation into one of its wards, it was high time that the Welsh Government took some responsibility. 
“After highly critical reports by Public Health Wales and the Wales Audit Office, which found failings with senior management it was right that the former chair and former chief executive left their posts. The new leadership of the health board has inherited significant challenges that will not be addressed overnight. It is therefore essential that the Welsh Government gives it all the support it needs to turn its performance around.

“It is the Labour Government that sets health policy and allocates funding to Betsi Cadwaladr, so it’s only right that it accepts its share of the blame. The Scottish Government has adopted a much stronger system of performance management to improve its NHS, and the Welsh Government must be more effective in challenging poor performance head-on.”

Friday 17 October 2014

Pylon the pressure - tide turning against pylons



The tide is turning against putting up pylons to connect new energy sources to the National Grid.

That's the view of Plaid Cymru candidates in Denbighshire reacting to shock news that Scottish Power has pulled out of a planned windfarm development at Mynydd Mynyllod near Corwen.

The company said in a statement last night: "A key issue has been landscape and visual effects, and particularly those associated with any potential grid connection options."

 Marc Jones, Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidate for Clwyd West and a campaigner to place the grid connection from the Clocaenog windfarms to Cefn Meiriadog underground, said: "This decision by Scottish Power is potentially very significant. The company has accepted that new pylons to link these wind turbines to the grid are not acceptable to local communities. 
 "There is a growing consensus across Wales - whether along the Menai Straits, Montgomery, Carmarthenshire or Denbighshire  - that some of our most beautiful countryside should not be ruined by pylons.
 "In Llannefydd, Henllan and surrounding areas there has been a huge campaign to resist the pylons. This news from Scottish Power gives me and other campaigners in the area hope that they may yet see sense and agree for the planned link up to Cefn Meiriadog to go underground.
 "Of course there is an added one-off expense to the company but these are huge multinationals that are benefitting from energy in Wales without giving anything back to our communities. Scottish Power and others make huge profits that should be invested in underground infrastructure not just shareholder dividends."
 Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid's parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South, said: "Renewable energy is the way forward. However it's essential that there is a community buy-in, such as the Corwen community cooperative hydro scheme. 
 "By contrast the proposal for Mynydd Mynyllod was being imposed on the community by a large multinational with little clear community benefit. Community-owned renewable schemes that have local backing are the way forward otherwise they will not win local support and this is perhaps what Scottish Power has realised by withdrawing from this scheme."

Saturday 16 August 2014

Gwrthwynebwch peilonau Clocaenog-Cefn Meiriadog

Dydi hi ddim yn rhy hwyr i wrthwynebu'r bwriad gan Scottish Power Manweb i godi peilonau o Glocaenog i Gefn Meiriadog. Arwyddwch y ddeiseb yma.
 Mae trigolion Llannefydd, Cefn Meiriadog, Henllan a nifer o ardaloedd eraill ar yr amryw lwybrau wedi mynegi barn gryf a chyson mewn cyfarfodydd cyhoeddus.
 Dyma Neuadd Llannefydd yn gynharach yr haf yma, gyda'r lle'n llawn dop ac yn pleidleisio o blaid rhoi'r gwifrau dan ddaear.


Friday 15 August 2014

Ex-BBC journalist to run for Clwyd West - Rhyl Journal



From the Rhyl Journal


A FORMER BBC journalist will run for the Clwyd West seat at next year’s General Election.

Marc Jones, who worked as a producer on the Week In Week Out current-affairs series, has been selected by Plaid Cymru to challenge current Clwyd West MP, Conservative David Jones.

Mr Jones, a father of two, said:
“The next election is a chance for people to have their say about the way Wales is run and for whose benefit.
“That’s why we need a stronger voice for Clwyd West, to ensure we have decent housing that first-time buyers can afford; better-paid work and services.
“Communities in this constituency are facing real challenges and I will do my utmost to help with regenerating and reviving places like Colwyn Bay and Abergele.”

In addition to his work at the BBC, Mr Jones has also spent time working for newspapers in the region as a sub-editor, and also edits weekly Welsh language magazine Golwg.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said:
“Marc has a wealth of campaigning experience that will be invaluable as Plaid Cymru challenges for a seat in Westminster next year.”






Pictured: Marc Jones together with Labour, Tory and Lib Dem AMs at a Question Time debate at Ysgol Glan Clwyd

Allotments campaigner appeals for land in Abergele

An allotments campaigner has appealed for any landowners to make a plot available for keen gardeners.
Marc Jones, who set up an allotment site six years ago, said there was a desperate need for allotments in the Abergele area. He said: 

“I know the council has been trying to find suitable land to meet the demand from the 70 people on the official waiting list. There are no plots available between Old Colwyn and Kinmel Bay, so it makes sense to try to create a local allotment site in Abergele."
Mr Jones, Plaid Cymru’s candidate in Clwyd West for the Westminster election, and party members carried out a survey in the town and found many people wanted a new allotment site in the town.
Mr Jones said: 


“We found 95% of people questioned wanted to grow their own food. But they were unable to because- 13% had no gardens- 77% had gardens that were too small or unsuitable- 10% had no skills / experience“There is clearly a demand and I know Conwy Councilhas been trying its best to find land. But it’s clear that more needs to be done and that’s why I’m appealing for any community group, organisation or landowner with a spare patch of land to come forward.”
Mr Jones spoke of his own experience in starting up a community-run allotment site: 

“Six years ago, as a county councillor I was in a similar position. With help from the local council, I was able to find a suitable parcel of land owned by a community trust.“Within a few months, we’d arranged a 99-year lease and mapped out 54 plots that were immediately taken up. The allotments are run by the members who pay £20 a year for their plot and it’s completely self-sufficient.“The benefits to people in terms of health, healthy eating and companionship are great. The allotments create their own little community and it’s a great way of persuading youngsters in particular to try out new fruit and vegetables.“I’m sure that, if we can find that elusive parcel of land and get some initial help from the council, then Abergele can have its allotments.”
· Anyone able to help provide a plot of land can contact Marc on marcvjones AT gmail.com or 07747 792441.

Monday 4 August 2014

Say no to fracking in Denbighshire

Denbighshire is the latest area to face the threat of fracking after the government granted new licences for underground gas exploration.
  Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales, said:
"The UK Government's decision to extend licensing for hydraulic fracturing - fracking - for shale gas and coal bed methane affects about two thirds of households in Wales." 
  Mr Gruffydd said:
"Many people who live in Denbighshire will be affected by this development.
  "It will allow fracking under our homes and  could see gas wells being sunk within a few hundred metres from people's homes and, unbeknown to householders, the drilling taking place directly under their homes.
 "Fracking involves pumping a cocktail of chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic, up to 3000 metres underground to shatter the rock and release pockets of gas.
 "It means wasting millions of gallons of water in a process that has the potential to contaminate underground water supplies. That's why Plaid Cymru wants to stop this old-fashioned method of extraction of fossil fuels.
  "If we are serious about protecting the environment for our children, as well as avoiding earthquakes and pollution, we must reject fracking and creating a greener Wales. This will also secure work in the clean energy industry.
 "Wales has huge potential to develop renewable energy jobs and the economy through clean energy - whether it’s solar, hydro and lagoons - as opposed to fracking." 
  Marc Jones, Plaid Cymru’s candidate in the Westminster elections next year, said:
"Fracking is banned in parts of Australia, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Yet the UK Government is busy passing laws to allow corporations to drill under our homes without our permission.
 “We need a strong voice locally to oppose these new schemes."
• Towns and villages affected by new fracking licences include: Rhyl, Bodelwyddan, Rhuddlan, Bodfari, Llanelwy, Trefnant, Llandyrnog, Rhuthun, Llanferres, Llandegla, Llanarmon, Llangollen

Please sign this petition to oppose fracking in Denbighshire.

Dywedwch Na i ffracio yn Sir Ddinbych

Sir Ddinbych yw'r ardal ddiweddaraf i wynebu'r bygythiad o ffracio ar ôl i Lywodraeth y DU gyhoeddi trwyddedau newydd ar gyfer archwilio o dan y ddaear.
 Dywedodd Llyr Gruffydd, AC Plaid Cymru ar gyfer Gogledd Cymru:
"Gall benderfyniad Llywodraeth y DU i ymestyn trwyddedu ar gyfer hollti hydrolig - ffracio - ar gyfer nwy siâl a methan gwely glo effeithio ar tua 2/3 o gartrefi Cymru." 
 Dywedodd Mr Gruffydd, o Bentrecelyn:
"Bydd llawer o bobl sy'n byw yn Sir Ddinbych yn cael eu heffeithio gan y datblygiad yma.
 “Bydd caniatáu ffracio dan ein cartrefi yn golygu y gallai gweithfeydd nwy godi o fewn ychydig gannoedd o fetrau o gartrefi pobl ac bydd drilio yn digwydd yn uniongyrchol dan eu cartrefi.
"Mae ffracio yn golygu pwmpio coctel o gemegau, rhai ohonynt yn achosi cancr, hyd at 3000 metr o dan y ddaear i dorri’r graig a rhyddhau nwy.
"Mae’n golygu gwastraffu miliynau o alwyni o ddwr mewn proses sydd â'r potensial i lygru cyflenwadau dwr tanddaearol. Dyna pam y mae Plaid Cymru wedi galw am roi stop ar y dull hen-ffasiwn yma o gloddio am danwyddau ffosil.
 "Os ydan ni o ddifrif am ddiogelu'r amgylchedd ar gyfer ein plant, yn ogystal ag osgoi achosi daeargrynfeydd a llygredd, mae'n rhaid i ni wrthod ffracio a chreu Cymru wyrddach sydd hefyd yn creu gwaith ac ynni glân.
 “Mae gan Gymru botensial enfawr i ddatblygu swyddi a'r economi trwy ynni adnewyddadwy glân - boed yn haul, hydro a morlynnoedd - yn hytrach na ffracio."
 Ychwanegodd Marc Jones, ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru ar gyfer etholiad San Steffan y flwyddyn nesaf:
"Mae ffracio wedi'i wahardd mewn rhannau o Awstralia, Ffrainc, yr Almaen a'r Iseldiroedd. Mae Llywodraeth y DU yn brysur yn pasio deddfau i alluogi gorfforaethau i ddrilio o dan ein cartrefi heb ein caniatâd. Rydan ni angen llais cryf yn lleol i wrthwynebu’r cynlluniau newydd yma.”
• Arwyddwch y ddeiseb yma i wrthwynebu ffracio yn Sir Ddinbych:

• Trefi a phentrefi yr effeithir arnynt gan y trwyddedu newydd: Y Rhyl, Bodelwyddan, Rhuddlan, Bodfari, Llanelwy, Trefnant, Llandyrnog, Rhuthun, Llanferres, Llandegla, Llanarmon, Llangollen 

Croeso / Welcome

Croeso i wefan Plaid Cymru Gorllewin Clwyd, etholaeth sy'n ymestyn o Llandrillo yn Rhos i Fwlch yr Oernant ger Llangollen.

Dyma gynghorwyr y Blaid yn yr etholaeth:

Phil Edwards (Llandrillo yn Rhos)
Abdul Khan (Glyn, Bae Colwyn)
Delyth McRae (Abergele)
Eryl Williams (Efenechtyd)
Sue Lloyd-Williams (Llansannan)
Dilwyn Roberts (Llangernyw)

 Mae'r ardal hefyd yn cael ei gynrychioli gan Aelod Cynulliad y Gogledd, sef Llyr Gruffydd, sydd â swyddfa yn Rhuthun ac yn byw ger Pentrecelyn.

 Mae'r Blaid wedi dewis Marc Jones fel ymgeisydd San Steffan yn 2015 a byddwn yn ymladd yn galed er mwyn sicrhau buddugoliaeth yn yr etholiadau sydd ar y gorwel.



Marc Jones a Llyr Gruffydd yn Sioe Dinbych a Fflint 2013

A warm welcome to the new Plaid Cymru website for Clwyd West, which stretches from Rhos-on-Sea down to the Horseshoe Pass above Llangollen.

The area is represented by a number of Plaid Cymru councillors:
Phil Edwards (Llandrillo yn Rhos)
Abdul Khan (Glyn, Colwyn Bay)
Delyth McRae (Abergele)
Eryl Williams (Efenechtyd)
Sue Lloyd-Williams (Llansannan)
Dilwyn Roberts (Llangernyw)

It's also represented by Plaid Cymru's North Wales AM, LLyr Gruffydd, who has an office in Ruthin and lives in nearby Pentrecelyn.

The Party of Wales locally has chosen Marc Jones as its Westminster candidate for 2015 and we will be running hard to ensure a victory in the coming electoral challenges.