In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Home Building
The issue of house building is going to be a growing issue of concern in the Caerphilly county borough.
When Plaid Cymru was in administration at Caerphilly council, we urged house builders to look towards building in the north and middle of the valley to take some of the pressure off the Caerphilly Basin.
Unfortunately, that has not happened and the assumption now is that developers are eyeing up the Caerphilly area for more housing because of the proximity to Cardiff. Of course, people need more homes but in the right places for communities.
I fear that we will see planning applications for hundreds of new homes around Hendredenny, Ty Isaf and Penrhos.
The problem of major developments being given the go-ahead in the future is it will inevitably lead to gridlock in Caerphilly.
There have been some road improvements but there is just not the infrastructure to cope with hundreds and hundreds of new homes.
It is also important that we keep green spaces between our communities and we don’t get a situation where one area just ends up being joined to another. Keeping the identity and character of different areas is important. There mustn’t be development without regard for people.
I’m sure many Observer readers will want to resist plans for more houses once the expected planning applications start coming in.
Senedd
At the Senedd last week, I spoke about the report, Tackling Hate Crimes and Incidents and I focused on several areas including cyber bullying, a cowardly crime generally perpetuated by young people on young people. It has led to some self harming and even committing suicide.
In addition, I mentioned the abuse of elderly residents and people with learning disabilities who live in care homes. I also highlighted restorative justice which brings together offenders and victims and shows people the impact their crimes can have on others.
Euro Elections
I wanted to thank all those that supported Plaid Cymru in last week’s European elections. It was important for Wales that the nation retained a strong voice in Europe in Jill Evans and that was achieved.
Lindsay said ” It was important for Wales that the nation retained a strong voice in Europe in Jill Evans and that was achieved” I agree that it was important for Plaid Cymru, and Wales, but by `the skin of her teeth` job, and, that sends alarming warning signs to Plaid about what can happen next year in the General election, and, the year after in the Assembly elections..
Please have your say on nhs waiting times:
http://www.nhswaiting.wao.gov.uk/
Lindsay makes great play for housebuilding in the Borough, and quite right too.
But, can I ask Lindsay what his, and my, Council are doing in practical terms to aid and assist Rough Sleepers in Caerphilly Town and the rest of the borough????.
What is he doing to aid them, to ensure they have a place of safety and shelter.
Currently the Gwent Police, at the behest of Caerphilly Council and other partner agencies ( whoever they may be) are moving these people on day after day, the problem with that is they are not moving them on to places of safety or shelter, they are simply shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic.
Caerphilly Council, of which Lindsay is a member, or the Welsh Assembly, appear to be abdicating their responsibilty to the Rough Sleepers, to the People who are offended by them, (I am not one of those), and, in not providing appropriate and adequate places for that street sleeping community to access. The net result is that Gwent Police are asked to pick up the pieces and `move em on`, I understand a stupid plan was hatched to lean on the rough sleepers to such an extent that they remove themselves from the Town to Cardiff or Newport where facilities do exist to aid them, well, there is a fundamental flaw with that process, many of these rough sleepers are citizens of CAERPHILLY and as such have a right access local civic facilities, they are classed as TAX PAYERS in that their benefits are taxable.
I would like to ask Lindsay, and Jeff Cuthbert, the Minister for tracking poverty, and it is difficult to think of more abject poverty than living on the streets in all weathers, what their offices and what they personally are doing to help the Rough sleepers of Caerphilly.
Finally, I do know that some Police Offices are not comfortable just moving these people on, they are not comfortable, when asked by these individuals `Where do you want me to go?` Answers from Jeff and Lindsay Please.