Contract with Cynon

Over the past week I have delivered thousands of contracts to voters across the Cynon Valley setting out the minimum level of service I think that constituents deserve to receive from their MP. I've signed the contract and if I'm lucky enough to be elected next Thursday I'll put a large version on the wall of my office to remind me and everyone else of exactly what I've promised. [The picture is of me signing the contract in Aberdare]

The signed contract says that I will:
• Have a permanent, full-time and fully staffed office in the heart of the constituency
• Hold surgeries at least once every working week at varying locations around the constituency in order to provide advice and support for constituents
• Live full time in the Cynon Valley among the people I represent
• Set up a panel to scrutinise and approve or reject every claim that I make for expenses on the public purse. Members of opposing political parties and independent members of the public will be invited to join this panel and all claims will be published
• Use the parliamentary allowance provided to support the work of every Member of Parliament (almost £125,000 every year) principally to employ staff in the Cynon Valley rather than in London. These staff will be employed only for the purposes of supporting my constituency work rather for the purposes of political spin.


The response to the contract has been very positive indeed. If anyone hasn't had a copy yet and would like their own copy drop me a line on Email with your name and address and I'll make sure you get one through the door.

Ron Davies says Vote Plaid

I was really pleased to hear that Ron was speaking at Plaid's rally in Aberystwyth. Ron has made a huge contribution to Welsh politics, and having such a figure back Plaid is a major coup. Given the speech it is as applicable to Cynon Valley as to Ceredigion so I've posted a link here.

Question Time

Over the past weeks I've had a number of questions on the doorstep from electors and I'll be posting a selection of my answers on the blog as we lead up to polling day. I'd also like to invite people from the Cynon Valley to send electronic questions on email, twitter or facebook to me; and I'll post electronic questions and answers on the blog too.

So please get in touch in any way you'd like and I'll be more than happy to respond.

[Please note at the moment I'm getting at least 100 Emails a day from individuals and organisations asking for my views - many from outside the Cynon Valley. I hope you'll all understand that I'll prioritise those questions from residents in the Cynon Valley.]

Early Closure of St Mair's Centre

On Friday I was pleased to attend an open meeting to discuss the early closing of the St Mair's Centre in Aberdare. The meeting was apparently to discuss 'proposals' but it soon became clear that the decision had been taken, and worse still that not one councillor from the Cabinet of RCT Council had the guts to turn up and face the concerns of the centre's users.

Jeff Thomas, Brian Loveridge and many other users spoke powerfully about the value of the centre. And I know this personally from the time my Great Aunt used to use the centre and from the friends of my grandmother who also use the centre. It is a great resource for elderly people in Aberdare and it is an appalling decision by the (Labour) Council to restrict the hours and therefore the service provided.

Given the determination of the users of the Centre I have no doubt that the campaign will continue and I very much hope that the Council will be forced to change its mind.

Good luck to Mr Thomas and the users in their campaign - they will certainly have my support.

The Great Cynon Valley Tour Part Five

After lunch in Carpanini's there was no more putting off the hill to Perthcelyn. The picture here isn't me at my best but the relief at having reached the top was very real indeed! In Perthcelyn I met local residents who are campaigning to improve their neighborhood. I've been in touch with the police on their behalf but so far no more than a promise to get in touch in response.

From Perthcelyn, I took the opportunity to call in to the Bryncynon Strategy, which is an excellent series of projects, to congratulate them on their recent success in winning a major catering contract with Coleg Morgannwg. The work done in the Strategy is very worthy of support and making a real difference to people's lives.

From Ynysboeth to Abercynon and the head of the Taff Trail, along the trail to Cilfynydd. Here I have to admit I cheated a bit! By now I'd realised that in order to get to the British Legion dinner in Ynysybwl for 7.00 in anything bar my cycling gear I'd have to get a lift! So not to shirk a challenge I cycled to Hilltop Avenue, Cilfynydd (photographic evidence available) and then got a lift to Glyncoch, where I talked to local residents about the extension to the quarry and then on to Ynysybwl to the Legion Dinner. What a Day!

Traffic Chaos

I was pleased to see the Leader highlighting the complete mess the council made to the repairs to the bypass recently.


The traffic along the A4059 seems to have calmed down now - though I am very worried still about the quality of the work. It seems that the tarmac is of very poor quality and I foresee more misery ahead/

On a personal note, the roadworks almost disrupted my Mam Gu's 90th birthday party. Some friends from Hirwaun and Llwydcoed were relying on a taxi only to discover that the first firm they rang was refusing bookings and the next 3 had simply turned their phones off! Cars were waiting in queues for at least an hour and set to fetch an elderly relative I was forced to abandon my car in a jam on the road, go to her house on foot and escort the poor lady back to the car! Thankfully everybody arrived in the end - but thanks to a lovely neighbour in Hirwaun who brought the party goers round the long way!

My grandmother phoned the council to ask for information only to be told that non-one knew anything. My Uncle (from the US) travelling into Aberdare for the occasion rang the South Wales Transport Information line only to find they knew nothing either!

This was chaos from start to finish. I only hope that the disruption is over now, but I fear not!

The Great Cynon Valley Tour Part Four

Having been to the Ynys, I cycled on to Cwmbach. There I came face to face with some of the flooding issues on walking and cycling tracks that residents have been complaining about. The picture is on the way to Cwmbach of a flooded pathway - the weather was great and there hadn't been rain for a while.



On from Cwmbach to Aberaman (and a cup of tea with Susan and Ian). Following that up the hill to Cwmaman. I felt a real sense of achievement when I reached the sign for Cwmaman! I'm delighted that in Cwmaman and Abercwmboi our local councillors Huw Williams and Howard Davies have been active improving the local environment, and in Abercwmboi I discussed plans for the new skate park, which Huw Williams is very involved with.

The last stops of this leg of the tour were Mountain Ash, and then on to Pinos (Carpaninis) in Miskin for lunch - hopefully to give me some energy for the ride to Perthcelyn, coming next!