TIME TO TAP OUR POTENTIAL

To quote the late great Elvis Presley, in relation to our railways and transport infrastructure, it's time for a little less talk, and some more action! It's time to tap our potential and build our country as it can be. The proposed South Wales metro is a first step for this region.  If we are serious about delivering reliable, effective and sustainable all weather communications to our communities then its time to consider reopening old railway lines to passenger and rail freight. Reopening the old railway lines between Llangefni on Ynys Mon, Caernarfon to Bangor, Aberdare and Hirwaun (in the Cynon valley) and Usk (via Little Mill) to the main line and between Builth Road to Builth would make a real difference.

Perhaps if the Con-Dem coalition government had, had a minor let alone a major infrastructure investment policy that functions outside of England would demonstrate that this Westminster Government is actually serious about making the union work for all its inhabitants. Investing in our public transport system would reduce carbon emissions and cut road congestion. Reopening and refurbishing our old railways and upgrading our existing lines for passenger and fright traffic could provide serious economic stimulation to the local economies and provide a real opportunity for our people.

SUPPORT OUR FIREFIGHTERS

Danny Clark, a Plaid Cymru activist and community councillor in Llangynwyd near Maesteg has started a campaign against proposed shift changes for fire service staff in Wales. I have sought to support Danny’s work in highlighting the difficulties fire service staff will face if these changes are made. The South Wales Branch of the Fire Brigades Union balloted members for industrial action short of a strike over the proposals for a new duty system, and the union’s committee met recently to discuss roster plans for Maesteg, Penarth and Pontypool, where 50 jobs will be cut and the firefighters left will have to double their weekly working hours to 96 hours per week.

The proposed plan by the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service of an alternative crewing system at selected South Wales fire stations, aimed at maintaining existing response times and levels of service to the public will make, according to them, make net savings for the service. However, it will expect longer working hours from crews, while firemen and women will be expected to work to an older age. I do not think this is an acceptable way to treat fire officers and believe that it could lead to tired crews that may become a danger to themselves and to the public.

From the staff Danny and the Plaid team have spoken to in Maesteg, these changes are not positive for the workforce or for the service in general, and therefore an e-petition has been started to garner support for the campaign, and to support the FBU.

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The above is a straight lift from Bethan Jenkins AM's blog it's worth reading and is a campaign that is well worth supporting as the implications of the proposed shift changes will impact across all of South Wales.  Bethan has already written to the FBU to request a meeting to discuss this matter further, and to offer Plaid Cymru’s support. 

The petition will be presented to the petitions committee at the beginning of the new National Assembly term, and I fully support the campaign and urge people to support our Fire Fighters and sign the petition and the campaign.

This is the link to the petition. 

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Once again the Severn Bridge tolls, which are the highest in the UK, are set to rise again on 1st January 2010, upon receipt of an order from the Secretary of State, in line with the Severn Bridges Act 1992. It is worth noting that there is provision in the Act for the Secretary of State to amend the tolls, which would at least be a start in helping reduce the costs that road users in Wales are currently facing.

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The Severn Bridge crossing tolls will rise on January 1st 2010, the new tolls will be:

Cars and Motor Caravans: Currently £5.40 will rise to £5.50

Small Goods Vehicles and Small Buses: Currently £10.90 will stay at £10.90

Heavy Goods Vehicles and Buses: currently £16.30 will rise to £16.40

Source Severn River Crossing Plc Website: http://www.severnbridge.co.uk/TollPrices2010.pdf

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By way of comparison across the bridge so to speak, it is worth noting that in October, Sadiq Khan, the Minister of Transport, announced a grant of £6m to the Humber Bridge company, saying that, “the Government was committed to doing everything it can to protect communities and businesses from economic downturn and help the country to recover. That is why I decided not to accept the Humber Bridge board’s proposed toll increases” if that’s the case in England, then why not in Wales?

Looking beyond the immediate and irritating problem of the tolls, as has been pointed out elsewhere, there is another issue that is worth thinking about – what’s going to happen in 2014, which is not that far away, when it has been estimated that the PFI contract will have been covered by toll receipts. Who actually is going to own the bridge (or bridges) and will they stop collecting the tolls? If not then the bridge (or bridges) sit on the border - but the toll on the newer bridge is collected in Wales, so will the bridge and the tolls simply revert back to the Department of transport?

Or if it comes to the National Assembly, by default, then if the current tolls were halved then, what could be accomplished by using a percentage to cover maintenance of the bridge and using the remainder of the toll for ring fenced capital projects – such as new integrated transport systems, reopening railway lines, funding tram systems and investing in rail freight – which would be far more beneficial for all of us in Wales than the finance disappearing into the Westminster coffers or to bail out the bankers?

NICE ONE IEUAN – AN ELECTRIFYING VICTORY FOR WALES

We should all welcome the announcement that the main railway from Swansea to London will finally be electrified – this is very good news. This announcement follows long months of hard negotiations by Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones who has put pressure on the UK government and Network Rail to change their previously announced plans to only electrify the track between London and Bristol.

Originally it had been suggested that the electrification work on the Great Western would stop at Bristol and Wales would be left out of this plan, but after an immense amount of work by Ieuan Wyn Jones as Transport minister and as Plaid’s leader, things have been turned around. Plaid has been fighting since 1977 to ensure that Wales gets its share of rail electrification – the benefits of electrification have been proven in other countries. This will truly be one of the lasting legacies of Plaid’s first term in government.

Electrified Rail in Europe

Switzerland: 100%
Sweden: 77%
Netherlands: 73%
Italy: 69%
Germany: 56%
Spain: 56%
UK: 40%

Source: UIC Website: http://uic.asso.fr

Electrified Rail in Wales (After 12 years of New Labour Government).

Wales: 0%

So today really is a very good day for the Welsh economy after all the hard work that has been put in by Ieuan Wyn Jones. Now it is important to focus on getting the job done, ensuring that the plan is taken forward, that any disruption to services is minimised and it is important to make sure that any new government does not back out of this commitment. It is also essential that the Welsh section of this work is begun and is carried out as soon as possible in order to provide a timely boost to the economy in the South East and elsewhere in Wales. Nice one Ieuan!