Ceredigion's contribution

As the European election results are being absorbed, it's worth mentioning the decisive result in Ceredigion which contributed significantly to the re-election of Plaid Cymru's Jill Evans to the European Parliament: Plaid Cymru   7,139  (34.8%) UKIP   4,138  (20.2%) Conservatives   2,698  (13.1%) Lib Dems   2,332  (11.3%) Labour   2,110  (10.3%) Greens   1,646  (8%) BNP   126  (0.6%) Socialist Labour Party    96  (0.4%) Britain First   86  (0.4%) NO2EU   56 (0.2%) Socialist Party of Great Britain    48   (0.2%) The Ceredigion turnout was 37% - the joint second highest in Wales. The result also gives food for thought for next year's  Westminster election where the Lib Dems currently hold the seat but will face a strong challenge from Plaid Cymru's Mike Parker. Jill Evans sits in the Green / European Free Alliance group in Brussels. Following the election, this alliance looks like becoming the fourth largest grouping in the parliament and has now overtaken the Conservative group, which includes the British Conservative Party.

Vote for Jill Evans in the European Elections on Thursday if you care about climate change

Anyone reading this blog will know that, as well as being a Plaid Cymru councillor, I'm also a keen environmentalist. So I was  delighted to see the graphic below, on the Climate Action Network Europe website, which shows that Plaid's sole Member of the European Parliament, Jill Evans, has the best voting record of all the UK's MEPs on climate and energy policies. 

Full details of all Jill's work can be found here and Plaid's manifesto for the European Elections is here.

The latest opinion poll shows that the race to fill Wales's four seats in the European Elections on Thursday is neck and neck. Jill is top of Plaid Cymru's list in these elections and will be re-elected again if enough people vote Plaid. 

We all have one vote on Thursday. If you believe that Wales should continue to have a progressive voice in the European Parliament, make sure you use yours to vote for Jill Evans. 

Aberystwyth Bandstand - let's try again

This is the latest plan for a renewed Bandstand on Aberystwyth Promenade. It's probably fair to say that the previous, fairly radical idea didn't enjoy universal popularity in the town. Ceredigion Council has now launched a public consultation on this new, more modest and traditional, design. It includes: 

• Reinforcement and extension of the base to include a walkway around the building and 

improved sea defence 

• Keeping the perimeter wall of the original Bandstand as a feature enhanced by subtle 

lighting 

• A glass front that makes the building look more inviting 

• Internal units that can be adapted for storage/toilets or for commercial use 

• Internal space that can be used for events or performances 

All the information, and how to contribute to the consultation, can be found by clicking here for the Welsh version and here for the English.

De-trunking

There have been claims recently that the frequently requested de-trunking* of the A487 through Aberystwyth would increase traffic through the village of Llanbadarn Fawr on the outskirts of the town. It’s been said that this is a reason not to proceed with the idea. 

*De-trunking means that a main ‘A-road’, currently administered by the Trunk Road Agency NMWTRA on behalf of the Welsh Government to very stringent standards, is instead transferred to the more flexible County Council to run.

Many years ago the road signs on both the north & south sides of Aberystwyth directed through-traffic via the centre of town. Although this made no sense in terms of distance or time, it obviously influenced many people unfamiliar with the area. 

That is no longer the case and hasn’t been for many years. Road signage from both north and south now directs people to bypass Aberystwyth and all the major routefinders - AA, RAC, Green Flag & Googlemaps - now send people through Llanbadarn.

So the argument that de-trunking would result in more traffic through Llanbadarn is based on the situation as it used to be.  The many lorries which head into town are all making deliveries there and would not be re-routed by de-trunking. Without denying that Llanbadarn residents living on the main road suffer from traffic through their village, it’s very hard to see where any additional traffic would come from. And, with traffic levels in general currently on a plateau and not increasing, their situation is likely to stay the same regardless.

It’s worth considering for a moment what the lack of de-trunking could be costing Aberystwyth. For example: 

• Mill Street - if this had been de-trunked the developer would have had more flexibility with the scheme there and very possibly wouldn’t have felt the need to demolish Glyndwr Road.
• Owain Glyndwr Square - Proposals are often heard for paving the whole of the square so it can be used as a community space at the centre of town. That cannot happen without de-trunking.
• North Parade - The strange junction half-way along the street that confuses many people won’t be changed without de-trunking
• Capel Seilo - proposals have often been heard for a roundabout at this five-road junction at the north end of North Parade. Again, nothing can change here without de-trunking.
• Cwps Corner - This very difficult junction can’t be changed without de-trunking.

Although the above are all debates in themselves, these, and numerous smaller examples, are the kinds of issues that cannot be progressed without de-trunking. It’s not just the people of Aberystwyth this costs, it’s everyone who uses Aberystwyth. And that includes the people of Llanbadarn Fawr.