Delyth Jewell MS: “A castle circular walk could be a real boost for the local economy”

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Delyth Jewell, who is the deputy leader of Plaid Cymru, is one of four regional Senedd Members serving the South Wales East region.

The castle in the centre of Caerphilly tells an important part of the town’s story, and a group of local campaigners are putting forward ideas about creating a circular walkway to run the whole way around the castle grounds.

I think that the ideas put forward by Caerphilly Eco Hub are exciting, and I held a meeting recently with campaigners and Cadw to discuss how they might be taken forward. 

A castle circular walk could be a real boost for the local economy (attracting more tourists to the town) and would improve the accessibility of the grounds for residents themselves. 

I know that the Eco Hub members are keen to hear residents’ thoughts, as well as any groups who use the grounds, so please do get in touch with them to get your views known – the plans are at an early stage, so you really can help shape them.  

It’s been a busy few weeks in the Senedd. One of the issues I’ve been focusing on in recent weeks has been women’s healthcare, and I’ve tabled a motion which I hope will be debated later this month about how pain is seen, too often, as normal in women’s health. 

It shouldn’t be normal for women to hear, time and again, “this might hurt”, and my motion would increase support for doctors, midwives and gynaecologists, and crucially, would strengthen women’s voices in their own healthcare.  

Here in Wales, the birthplace of the NHS, I believe that we should have a legal requirement for healthcare providers to collect feedback from female patients about their experiences. 

I would argue that this is especially important when it comes to gynaecological appointments, midwifery and postnatal services, perinatal mental health and treatment relating to the menopause. 

As a society, we shouldn’t be so quick to normalise, and at the same time not be willing to talk about, the pain that women go through with their healthcare.

Next week, I’ll also be asking a question to the First Minister about the support that’s given to new and expectant mothers. If this is an issue which has affected you, please do let me know – and please remember that support is available.

Of course, one the biggest stories in Welsh politics at the moment centres on political donations. 

On Wednesday in the Senedd, I made the case for a Welsh way of dealing with donations, arguing that we need a cap on any amount that can be given to individuals. 

In recent years, the parliament in Westminster has been dominated by sleaze and scandals: I do not want our Senedd to follow that same path. 

The whole point of devolution is that we can, and should, do things better in Wales. We should make a commitment now, as a Senedd, that our politics should never be bought, and that there should be a sensible cap on donations. 

Wales is not Westminster – and thank goodness for that.