Labour no show in Neath – again…
Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 9:00am
10 responses
A PROTEST was organised yesterday by a cross section of care workers from the care homes that are being earmarked for closure by the Labour cabinet at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The Labour cabinet, quite simply, wants to create three super care homes in the area.
There has been much opposition to the plans. The fact that a ‘business option’ ( as quoted from the Cabinet’s very own consultation document) is being considered is a step too far for many local people, staff and residents, who see this as privatisation, plain and simple.
Questions over transportation to the new homes, the location of the new homes, and the future of staff have not been sufficiently answered, and people are angry that the Labour cabinet has gone out to consultation on a ‘preferred option’, as opposed to leaving the consultation stage wide open for new ideas. Anyway, the point of this blog post is this – at the protest today, people were asking for Plaid stickers to wear, and stating that they would not be voting Labour due to their actions on the council of late in pushing forward the plans above, as well as announcing the prospect of 750 job cuts in the public sector in the borough.
One of the care home staff who was organising the demo stated that a Labour party representative had promised to be present, but it was clear that they had not turned up. And so they decided to take the matter in to their own hands, and took the residents of the care homes and their supporters directly to Peter Hain’s office to seek some answers.
The fact that Labour and Peter Hain continuously fail to turn up to such events and support local people is insulting. It’s as if they are taking the people of the area for granted. But, things are starting to change and people are realising that Labour are letting them down. Certainly, I had this impression from Councillor Arwyn Woolcock, who recently stepped down as Deputy Leader of the Council in Neath Port Talbot in protest over a cabinet decision to close his local school, Ysgol y Glyn, in Lower Brynaman. He did not have a positive word to say about the Labour-run council. All I have to say to him is – why are you therefore still a member of that party?
The campaign is stepping up a gear in the area and Plaid, are active canvassing the area day and night. We are talking to people, and meeting them on their own terms while Labour seem to be too ashamed to show their faces.
full credit to yourself bethan …and plaid cymru…for the wholehearted support you are giving to the campaign to defend these vital local services in Neath.
It amazes me that UNISON in wales still gives large amounts of money to the labour party…..Surely its time welsh UNISON members were able to pay a political donation to parties like Plaid Cymru …a socialist party that actually believes in defending public services…should UNISON members in Wales wish to?
Peter Hain or his Labour buddy’s never turn out for anything which is likely to do the borough harm, or the image of the Labour party or the Labour run council. However, tell Peter Hain there’s a camera crew in Cardiff and he’s off like a shot. When, I wonder, will he actually get out to canvas in the Neath Valley. Looks like another no show from Peter Hain and Labour. Mind you the same could be said for all party’s, no show in the Neath Valley.
How can they take part when they are the ones who want to close them.
Mind you Hain is very quiet and invisible about the place.
I don’t know if any one saw Dr Eurfyl ap Gwilym on Newsnight but he absolutely destroyed the arrogant Paxman.
Why isn’t he used more and Dafydd Wigley.
Chris, I can only speak for Plaid and I know that Alun LLewelyn is out all of the time campaigning, in the Neath Valley also. I have street surgeries also, and if you have any issues that you want me to look in to then please let me know.
Peter Hain’s arrogance is obvious, but then he knows people in NPT (a generalisation, I know!) will vote Labour just like they always have. Votes, unfortunatelty, unlike many people’s pay packets, are not performance related.
And as for closing Ysgol Y Glyn……..something needs to change in NPT
Apparently Trem Y Glyn people are being told that it will be closing ,but, they will be building a new site within Glynneath. Right or wrong.
If right I bet Hain will be claiming responsibility for the success.
Bet it will be behind Park Avenue if they do.
Roger- they said a fourth home potentially for Neath Valley. Yes they will try to claim credit, which is why I annoyed them in the meeting. All I tried to say was that apart from protests from residents and workers, a 4th option of another care home would not even have been considered.
Roger, if the County Planners get their way, the only building they want to see on Park Ave is the new doctors surgery. This will leave the way open for Aberpergwm Mine to expand onto the vacant site at Aberpergwm which is the only site available. So there will be a conflict of interest between the mine owners, their share holders and the health service. I know who’s side the Planners will be on, and its not the health service!
great post as usual!
Bethan/Chris.
A little while ago I did see on the NPT planning applications site (but I am unable to find it now), four applications for the field behind Park Avenue, not the wast land opposite Maes Hir.
One was for residential and retail, one was for a sports field, another for residential and another for residential and a care home.
If any one is able to find them, please look.