In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Remploy
I’m thoroughly disgusted at the Westminster Coalition Government’s decision to close the Remploy plants in Wales, including Croespenmaen, which operates a printing and packaging business and employs 44 people
But no one should be in the least surprised at what the Tories are doing – they’ve got plenty of history stretching back to the Thatcher years.
It is very worrying that these factories are to be axed without making sure that alternative employment is available in advance for the nearly 300 workers in Wales that face being made redundant.
I talked to shopfloor workers from the Welsh Remploy factories about their plight when they visited the Senedd last week.
Plaid Cymru called last autumn for the Welsh Government to press for the Remploy budget to be devolved to Wales to protect the Remploy factories. Labour failed to do so.
The recent calls made by Education Minister Leighton Andrews now to devolve the budget for Remploy for the next three years was a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, and it is of little surprise that the UK Minister rejected the request.
Had the Minister taken action when Plaid Cymru first raised the issue, then perhaps the end result might have been different for workers in Croespenmaen and elsewhere in Wales.
Of course, the last UK Labour Government shut Remploy factories so there hands are far from clean.
Police Stations
As a former member of the police authority, I was shocked at the announcement that the front counter service for the public will close at six police stations in Caerphilly County Borough.
Six stations are under threat of closure from July – Caerphilly, Ystrad Mynach, Bargoed, Bedwas, Rhymney and Risca. Blackwood will continue to open to the public from 8am until 8pm every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday.
I know from my colleagues on the council that there is widespread concern about a lack of consultation.
Surely, if such wide-ranging changes were coming into operation then discussions should take place first with organisations like the local authorities as well as the public. This announcement is hardly like to win friends and influence people.
I know that times are tough for the public sector as a whole but what message will this announcement send to people when they find that can no longer gain access to major stations like Caerphilly, Ystrad Mynach and Bargoed.
Gwent Police needs to pause and start a meaningful consultation process to avoid damaging public confidence.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM