CAMPAIGNING FOR YOU!
As noted in a speech by the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Ian Blair, we have seen a decline in the influence of what he called "the agencies of community cohesion", the churches, the trade unions, the housing associations, the voluntary clubs. Secondly, "the agents of social enforcement", such as park keepers, caretakers and bus conductors, have disappeared, because people like those currently running Conwy and Denbighshire County Councils have decided we will not spend money on these basics.
I believe this erosion of the pillars of our stable, decent society will be accelerated if we lose yet more of the focal points of communities, such as schools or liblalries.
Other issues constituents have raised with me and which I have pursued concern subjects as diverse as:
- Carers - a large number of people get little or no recognition for their dedication to the care of others, and often precious little help, either. These wonderful public servants deserve a fair deal, which they will only get in the public sector.
- Dentists - difficulties in finding NHS dentists in parts of the constituency
- Jobs - we are starting to attract more higher quality jobs to the constituency, such as 350 at the Abergele Science Park and around the same number in Mochdre, but these can only be a start.
- People deserve to feel safe in their own homes and where they live. Whilst crime statistics are down, we need to increase public confidence.
- I campaigned against closure of several Post Offices in our constituency, consulting local people and making representations. I believe the closures were a mistake and that we should be improving services to communities, not putting profits first.
- Drug taking causes an enormous amount of crime to feed the habit, and we seem in danger of being overwhelmed by the problem.
- Lack of effective regulation, whether of the utilities, erergy companies or financial services such as Equitable LIfe, cause real harship and injustice.
- Planning - I campaigned against inclusion of an unsuitable area of land in the Conwy draft Local Development Plan (LDP), having received a large number of complaints from local people during a consultation exercise. The draft LDP should have been published by now, but has been held up because many Conwy County Councillors apparently cannot do their sums.
- The state pension has been seriously reduced after the Tories quietly removed the annual increase linked to average earnings and linked it instead to inflation. The current weekly pension of under £100 per week would be about £150 now if the link to earnings had been left alone. Our Labour Government has promised to re-establish the link to earnings.
- A bridge in Gellifor, just outside Ruthin, collapsed over a year ago and I have been pressing for the bridge to be repaired. Unable to use the bridge, hundreds of people have had 12 - 14 miles a day added to their commute. The Environment Agency decided repairs should wait until summer when water levels would be low. Repairs eventually started, but then were stopped - by flooding! It would be comical if it were not so serious!