March 31 2011
I’ve blogged before about the role Caerphilly Business Forum has in making our voices heard but it’s worth flagging it up again.
Last week CBF played host to BBC Wales Business Editor Nick Servini and his film crew who came to us to get a reaction to the Budget. He spent the afternoon with a couple of members – Dischromatics Ltd in Abercarn and Direct Healthcare Services Ltd in Caerphilly – and got their views on the budget.
Then, with a live satellite link to the Wales Today studio, he interviewed former chairman Martyn Fear at his Specialist Precast Products factory in Bedwas.
It was a great plug for the forum and a good opportunity for those businesses to have their say and get their names out there. Well done to those who seized the opportunity – I understand Nick was delighted with the results.
Hot on the heels of Budget, there’s another opportunity for businesses in Caerphilly, this time to get their views across to the politicians who want to represent us in the Assembly.
Candidates standing in Caerphilly in May’s elections will answer questions from the business community and tell us precisely what they have to offer at Caerphilly Business Forum’s Question time.
Between them, they make Caerphilly one of the most eagerly anticipated battlegrounds in Wales: Former cabinet minister Ron Davies, now of Plaid Cymru, Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert, Lib Dem Kay David and Owen Meredith for the Conservatives – there may be more, as registration is still open as I write this.
Can the two parties ruling us from Westminster make an impact here? Can a big-hitter like Ron Davies unseat his Labour rival? It’s a hard one call. They each want your vote. But why should you give it to them?
Come and find out at Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel and Spa, 11.30am on April 6th. Send your questions in advance and book a place (it’s free!) by contacting leah@cbforum.co.uk .
Andrew Diplock
Chairman, Caerphilly Business Forum
For more information about Caerphilly Business Forum and its events call 029 2125 1395 or email leah@cbforum.co.uk
it is good to see that the Caerphilly Business Forum has been the one organisation to bring together all the Candidates in the Assembly election and who are seeking the votes of the citizens of the Borough, but, by vurtue of they operating processes they appear to feel that this "close call" election is one that they and their members can probably influence.
This well funded and well supported, by the local taxpayer, through Caerphilly Council initiatives and grants etc, business based pressure group should remeber that it will be the residents, citizens, of the Caerphilly Constituency who will decide who THEY want to represent them in the Assembly.
Andrew Diplock, the Chairman of this local pressure group, has said that Caerphilly Constituency is "the most eagerly anticipated battlegrounds in Wales, actually, this is not the case, as I understand it all parties are fairly relaxed about the outcome, all in the knowledge that Labour are the favourites to retain the seat.
Nothing, so far as the citizens/voters are concerned, has been promoted by any candidate which `rocks the boat` in any particular way which would atrract them to the voters, but what we do know is that the incumbant Assembly member Labour member Jeff Cuthbert is the one selected by the constituents last time around. I dont really think a local pressure group will change the face of Caerphilly`s representation in the Assembly. But of course, they are perfectly entitled to consider who would be best for them as a Candidate, and which one would be most the most `responsive and `sympathetic to thier `lobbying` in the Assembly on behalf of their members, I would prefer the public to pick the candidate which best would represent `the citizens` in the new law making Assembly. no doupt we will have more information from this respected pressure group after thier meeting, the only one to take place during this election when all four candidates take to the same platform. So I am informed.