BLAENAU GWENT BANNER THE FREE NEWSPAPER FROM PLAID CYMRU - THE PARTY OF WALES IN YOUR AREA
CLOSURE BY
STEALTH? FUTURE UNCERTAIN FOR BEVAN HOSPTIAL? Plaid Cymru, the Party cares about health, and is to delivering the best for of Blaenau Gwent and Government, Plaid will: •
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of Wales committed the people Wales. In
Ensure the recruitment and employment of 1,000 more doctors to work across Wales. Introducing taxation on sugary drinks will pay for extra NHS staff Increase the numbers of paramedics and other ancillary staff (as opposed to management tiers). Ensure early diagnosis of cancer – within 28 days of first referral where possible. Establish three world class diagnostic centres in Wales - to give the best possible care and support when required. End the postcode lottery in terms of who is able to access certain drugs. Restore the progress made in health care under the One Wales Government - putting back what we put in place when in Government.
FIVE years ago, a new hospital – hailed as a state of the art medical facility for the people of Blaenau Gwent – opened its doors on the former site of Ebbw Vale Steelworks. Named Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, the facility replaced Blaina, Ebbw Vale and Tredegar Hospitals, which up to that time had offered convalescent care and various clinic facilities to those in need. In recent months the hospital has been scaled down, with the loss of one of its wards being attributed to the treatment and support of more stroke patients in their homes. And while initially the impact of the closure was played down by the powers that be, we have been left in no doubt that the National Assembly for Wales – and the Aneurin Bevan Health Board which is tasked with implementing Welsh Government health policy decisions – have actually decided to close the ward.
And amazingly, the board, which implements the Labour-run Welsh Government’s decisions, is claiming these bed changes will enable the same total number of patients to be treated. Notice they say “bed changes” rather than using the word “close” again… it’s as though they sense they are doing wrong and are trying to hide from it. And while they are claiming that specialist teams are being set up, with the staff of Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan responsible for stroke aftercare apparently being moved to other hospitals it seems perfectly logical to ask where the staff for the teams will be coming from.
Think about that – a hospital intended to provide support for the sick with the best facilities under the sun, already being scaled down.
Is it a case of “We can offer better help to people in their homes”, or of saying “Close that expensive place and chuck those sick people out to fend for themselves?
It wouldn’t be so bad if the Welsh Government had said we are going to reallocate the beds for other uses, but no, what is happening is CLOSURE.
Nobody can deny that getting people out of hospital as soon as possible is desirable, but strokes can leave highly debilitating effects and the thought of people in the early stages of recovery being dumped back home with no more than peripatetic support is horrifying.
Take it from the Health Board itself, and its statement on the issue in July 2015:
WELSH HEATHCARE WHAT A CARRY-ON!
“By releasing these beds as they are no longer required for stroke care and re-alignment of the beds across the community hospital sites, we will no longer need to use Ebbw Ward in Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan… and and the ward will close”.
Lack of security “appalling” Plaid Cymru candidate Nigel Copner has indicated that he finds the current lack of security in healthcare “appalling”. He said: “This is yet another example of a lack of joinedup thinking and strategic planning, as well as poor economic forecasting with regard to what would be needed a few years down the line. “The people of Blaenau Gwent are being sold short yet again. Promises, hopes, and expectations raised in 2010 have all been shot to pieces and the people who most need these services have been let down by those whose job it was to protect them. “This impacts on patients, their families and the staff who would otherwise have been caring for them. Under us, there would have been more consultation, consideration and better forward planning. “As it is, we have to work to ensure that the closure of one ward does not ultimately become the loss – or “realignment” of the whole facility. We are also concerned about the reduction in day hospital places at a time of growing need, and we recognise the stress and worry this places on staff, who are doing a sterling job under very difficult circumstances.”
ARE YOU FINDING LIFE DIFFICULT?
PLAID is proud of its socialist roots and unlike some other so-called socialist parties is still prepared to find ways to help people who fall on hard times and need some support to get going again, but what we can do is circumscribed by the powers we have.
council tax fairer – at the moment those in Band A will be required to pay a higher proportion that those in Band E. We renew our commitment to cutting business rates and to taking smaller businesses out of taxation, where we can.
The Benefits system and Pensions, generally, are not devolved matters, but, where we can make a difference, we will.
5. Cure and Care NHS – end the anomaly in dementia services, whereby services provided at point of need (cure) are provided free of charge, whereas those that constitute care tend to be means-tested. This will be phased in and start with those who need care but are already over 85.
ARE you finding life difficult under the present regimes imposed by the Conservatives in London and implemented by Labour in Cardiff Bay? If you are, here are some things to think about.
IMMIGRATION A THORNY ISSUE By Professor Nigel Copner, Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales Candidate for Blaenau Gwent.
Immigration is understandably emotive. It causes me great concern as it does to many with whom I have spoken at the door. While I was working abroad, I heard people talk of the UK being a soft touch and a way to an easy life supported by the state. Although we are a deeply caring nation this type of thought can create strong emotions when many of our people are struggling. However, there are many areas that immigrants do provide added value and critical services (such as doctors and nurses), and without them, public services would probably collapse. Also there are immigrants who will work for less and will over time displace our own local workers therefore increasing indigenous unemployment. Healthy economies allow for such immigration by enabling job mobility and promotion leading a situation where everyone effectively wins. This was borne out by my own experiences in Silicon Valley and it works providing greater promotional opportunities but with it a growing population leads to increased local demand for services. Here, we are definitely on the negative side of immigration and therefore I am personally putting forward to you an immigration strategy that will enable your voice to be heard. Currently all immigration issues are controlled by Westminster. I would like to see these issues devolved to the Welsh Assembly so that with a Plaid
controlled administration, decisions can be made that take into account local conditions. Being humane, and compassionate, we can also take a different stance with respect to refugees and economically deprived immigrants with a view of minimising the detrimental effects of rejected immigrants falling into the clutches of world terrorists’ groups or being exploited. Our concerns can then be listened to and acted on as necessary. Our dire economic situation needs to be addressed immediately. When the economy is improved by Plaid, immigration then could provide effective job mobility and added value through improved services/innovation and manufacturing. In a strong and growing economy with appropriate on the job training, I would like to see job promotion enabled in part and where appropriate by some immigrants who can and will work at the lower levels. I also want to see higher level immigrants who add value by their knowledge and skills and who then start companies of their own and ultimately improve the economy. It would be nice if Blaenau Gwent could reduce/eliminate mass unemployment, zero hour contracts, agency work, low pay and some of the temporary part time jobs through real economy growth. Plaid is committed to doing just that. Plaid Cymru’s position is always to listen to the people, understand these issues and seek, with relevant experts, a position that really moves and solves the issues in a timely way. Sometimes difficult polices will be a challenge to the public but there will always be a well-thought out case presented with stated timely milestones for the public to gauge the policy’s progress.
1. Welsh Living Wage – Not a minimum wage and not Osborne’s so-called living wage, but a guaranteed sum for all public sector workers and for those who work in companies who suppy to public sector contracts, in Wales with a minimum floor. Plaid Cymru is committed to introducing a statutory Living Wage for all the people of Wales. That means that if you are working in Wales, a living wage will apply to YOU. 2. Welsh Living Pension – we do not have powers to alter pensions but we will continue to strive to ensure a Living Pension for all. 3. Bedroom Tax - if elected to power at the Assembly we will scrap it, as well as calling on councils to stop evicting people on account of it. 4. Fair deals in Council Tax and Business Rates – we are currently looking into ways to make regressive
PLAID, POLICING & JUSTICE PLAID is not comfortable with the concept of Police and Crime Commissioners, but as this system has been foisted upon us, and as so very many people have told us that last time round they had nobody they could vote for, Plaid has decided to put forward a candidate. It is, however our intention to scrap this role, when we have the powers to do so, and to invest the subsequent savings where they are needed – in frontline policing. Meanwhile, our candidate in the Gwent Police Force area is Darren Jones. Darren and our candidate Nigel Copner are already working closely together by co-ordinating some aspects of their campaigning activities. On 5th May, 2016, in addition to being asked to vote in your new Assembly Member, you will also have an opportunity to vote for Darren as your new Police Commissioner for Gwent.
6. Child Care Provison - Are you a parent who wants or needs to go out to work? Or just want opportunities for your child to experience social interaction with other children? Plaid is committed to increasing the amount of affordable child care provision in both English and Welsh medium and is working towards the provision of universal child care services, and intends to ensure preschool provision for all three year olds. 7. Information Communication - We have committed to holding a “take-up campaign” to ensure that those entitlted to benefits, by virtue of age or disability, actually receive their entitlement. 8. Health Care and Social Care – There is a need to ensure seamless transition and coworking between these services for the benefit of the service users and for more efficient use of resources. Plaid has plans to ensure that these services are better run.
We are concerned that victims of crime feel they are not being listened to – so we will introduce a proper Victims’ Bill of Rights to ensure they do not feel sidelined or ignored by the court process and we will help people to feel safe in their communities – making sure that restorative and community sentences are used appropriately alongside fines and custodial sentencing. Justice needs to be delivered appropriately. Plaid Cymru will set up a Welsh Justice System, to transfer control of the police, court services, prisons, the probation service and issues of public safety to the Assembly, thereby ensuring that accountability is brought closer to those who need to access these services. We will also create a National Community Safety Strategy for Wales, create more drugs and alcohol rehabilitation places and facilitate more programmes to deal with such problems, and improve drugs and alcohol education in schools across Wales.
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MEET YOUR CANDIDATE: PROFESSOR NIGEL COPNER Blaenau Gwent needs the best representation possible, and Nigel Copner certainly fits the bill. He’s a local man through and through, and in comparision with other candidates, easily emerges as the best qualified, not only academically but also in terms of understanding the social problems we experience here. Nigel, hello. A lot of people in Blaenau Gwent have become aware of the name Nigel Copner through your involvement with the trolibocs issue. How did you become involved? “The recycling protesters had taken their cases to both the local MP and constituency AM, and neither had responded. In desperation they came to me. We arranged meetings with the protesters, and since then we’ve arranged for meetings between the protesters and representatives of the council with a view to mediating a solution that could be acceptable to both sides. We didn’t take sides, we just listened to facilitate discussion, and we won some concessions. We aren’t there yet, but we will continue to support reasonable discussion and work towards resolution”. That sounds like something that needed doing. Perhaps you could tell us a bit about yourself? “I’m a local boy. I went to Ebbw Vale Comprehensive, then went on to the University of Reading and after that to the University of Wales, Swansea where I did my doctorate – I did physics for my degree and laser physics for my doctorate. I spent some time in Canada, in Silicon Valley, and in that role was innovating new concepts and products for the optical network and internet, accumulating in excess of 40 patents and accumulating 50m per annum. I didn’t get that, mind – it was the companies I worked for. I’ve created a research centre in photonics/lasers at the University of South Wales, and I work with many companies including Airbus, Qioptiq, Renishaw, NPL and ETC, and I’ve spun off two companies. As well as consulting with US companies, I also hold director positions for a number of research centres in China including Xian Xiamen and Foshan”. That’s an impressive list. And yet you are quite at home here in Ebbw Vale? “I am at home because it IS home. I moved back here in 2003. As well as working with spin-off companies I’ve also been working in universities. I
am Professor of Optoelectronics at the University of South Wales. My family and my wife’s family are from Ebbw Vale, and Blaenau Gwent is my home. And one thing I would say is that the people here are lovely and the scenery is wonderful, you realise that when you’ve been away. The area is great, and it is sad there are so few jobs…” “What do you think needs to be done, Nigel? Fundamentally there needs to be greater confidence in the political process to deliver. We also need to improve education standards in schools by focusing resources into the classroom and reducing the many layers of management and supervision. New apprenticeship degrees in the universities to help people develop key skills that will enable companies in the area to thrive are also vital, as is introducing new entrepreneurial schemes to enable people to begin and grow businesses (without potentially constraining match funding criteria) is also necessary. These core objectives would help reverse the distressing and demoralising spiral downwards that the current regime has allowed to occur. We need to restore hope to the people of Blaenau Gwent” Local politics has become important to you, then, as well as working across a wider spectrum? “Yes, and Blaenau Gwent matters because it is where I am from. Apart from anything else I have raised my children in Blaenau Gwent, they are attending local schools, and because of my wish to put something back into the community I became a school governor, serving two terms and ending as chair of the governors. At one point because of concerns I had I challenged Blaenau Gwent Council, and as a result there have been improvements in procedures and changes in educational accountability. Although very briefly a member of Labour, - a few months - I soon came to realise Labour wasn’t interested in change however much it told itself it was; the real aim was justifying its existence as a party that believes it alone has the right to rule. Look at the situation here, it hasn’t really changed at all, what we need is vision with compassion that is not only expressed as an ideal but actually shown in meaningful change for the better. We need things to improve, it is our right they should improve. That is what I believe in, and I believe Plaid Cymu offers that.”
CIRCUIT OF WALES NO FLIES IN THE OINTMENT, PLEASE! THE news that the much-vaunted Circuit of Wales is to go ahead surely counts as good news for Blaenau Gwent and the local economy. However, there is a fly in the ointment. A costed business plan outlining the multi-million pound project has yet to find its way into the public domain. A further complication is that unless we manage to have in place appropriate programmes to prepare and equip local people with the appropriate skills for the automotive and engineering industries, the people in Blaenau Gwent will lose out. “We need the 6,000 jobs desperately, but unless we have proper means, such as apprenticeship degrees for our young people, all that Blaenau Gwent will get is sweeping-up jobs once the construction phase is over. Jobs in catering will also be needed, and in hospitality, and although many of these are likely to be seasonal and /or parttime, there are still qualifications, such as Food and Hygiene certificates to work towards.
“We should be encouraging our school-leavers to aim higher -, proper apprenticeship degrees which are university accredited are part of the answer. I’ve heard it said that someone cutting grass casually counts as an apprentice, and that is just ridiculous. “Appropriate courses also need to be implemented at the Ebbw Vale Learning Zone that will help people get on the work and career ladders”, Prof Copner added. “I am committed to working towards ensuring that if and when the Circuit of Wales becomes a reality, there will be a skilled workforce based in Blaenau Gwent ready to take up the opportunities that will then become available. “I am passionate about ensuring we meet this challenge, and as your Assembly Member I shall fight tooth and nail to make this happen”.
“What we need are appropriate apprenticeships for our young people, and I am committed to working towards ensuring that these happen, both in relation to the Circuit and to the Enterprise Zone”, Plaid candidate Professor Nigel Copner said. “At the moment we are still up in the air regarding the Circuit because of the apparent absence of a publicly-aired business plan, and the closure of the Tafarnaubach Training Centre in Tredegar has robbed young people of many opportunities for training. Printed by Trinity Mirror, Pacific Road, Cardiff, CF24 5HJ. Promoted by Eli Jones, Celyn, 69 Trem y Deri, Cwmbran, NP44 5EE on behalf of Professor Nigel Copner, Hillcrest, Kingfield, Ebbw Vale, NP23 5AB.
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GOODBYE, MR CHIPS... EDUCATION NEEDS TO MODERNISE
SADLY Wales has witnessed deterioration in education standards, and shows up poorly when compared to other countries in the UK or those surveyed for PISA purposes. Even more sadly, Blaenau Gwent’s education standards lag behind the average even for Wales. Adopting the view that this is to be expected when children come from an educationally deprived background is neither appropriate nor acceptable.
SKILLS? WHAT SKILLS? VALUED apprenticeships in Blaenau Gwent have diminished over the last decade with the closure of the steel works and various training centres including the centre in Tredegar. Similarly, even in the brand new Ebbw Vale Leaning Zone, courses and modules have been discontinued. Increasingly, presumably to support the numbers, skills like cutting the grass are considered apprenticeships. Nigel Copner says “I am just amazed by the sheer lack of insight that this Labour Government has and the lost generation that are irretrievably disadvantaged. The damage is huge to the community and it is getting worse. Companies are finding it harder to get the skills and what skills we do have are being retired off. Equally, and especially in Blaenau Gwent, we cannot expect the low number of companies to fund many apprenticeships as they are themselves often struggling. We need to break out of this rut.
stream. These apprenticeship degrees will be focused not just on current industrial needs but will look to develop the skills necessary to build the future economy. These apprenticeship degrees will allow students to leave their course during any one year with an appropriate qualification for that level. They are then able to return full or part time to continue to higher level completion as required. In this way, skills across all levels for all disciplines will be provided enabling companies to not just survive but thrive and flourish. As your AM-in-waiting I am staggered by the amount of money spent on infrastructure (many billions on the M4 for example), while the only assets we really have, our people, are being left out and forgotten. I will be pushing for a much more balanced spending profile that allows crucial skills to be built up alongside a more modest infrastructure spend. This is essential.
As your AM, I will push to establish high level apprenticeship degrees at the University alongside the academic If you’ve been inspired by what you’ve read, would like to know more about Plaid Cymru, or to support the Campaign, please get in touch. You can contact Professor Nigel Copner through Facebook, by email to nigel.copner@gmail.com or by calling 07938 914820.
You’ll find more about Plaid Cymru, including a facility to join online, by going to: Website: plaidcymru.org/partyofwales.org Facebook:
/PlaidCymruWales
Twitter:
@Plaid_Cymru
By post:
Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales Tŷ Gwynfor, Anson Court Glanfa’r Iwerydd/Atlantic Wharf Caerdydd/Cardiff CF10 4AL
On the contrary, education is probably the key way out of poverty. As a concerned parent, and in his everyday job, within Higher Education, Professor Nigel Copner has a more comprehensive perspective on education standards than most, but he has also served as a School Governor and Chair of Governors, so he speaks with some authority on education issues. He considers that there are a number of systematic issues affecting the quality of education: Constant change in Welsh Government’s direction of travel albeit lacking vision has resulted in yet more tiers of experts and advisors rather than good quality teaching in the classroom. There is a tendency to change and conveniently ‘forget’ targets when they have not been met, and lack of methodological scrutiny such that accountability is dispersed so much between senior management, various consortia and the Assembly’s Ministry of Education, that no one actually takes responsibility for improving standards and ensuring that targets are met and improved upon year by year. This would include quality of the educational experience for all students. There is a need to address the loophole
whereby Governing Bodies are charged with ensuring and maintaining standards but have no powers they can access to help them do so. Often, Governors are committed and well meaning individuals who are called upon to make significant judgements or recommendations without the benefit of professional, trade union, or legal advice that is available to others who are salaried staff within the system and with whom they may be in contention. Professor Copner would like to see the following changes: 1. That resources be redirected to support teachers to teach well, rather than to the checking and challenging, inspecting and monitoring industry, and additional tiers of management. 2. Fewer but better thought out initiatives, concentrating on the direct support in the classroom, for example a continuing training development for teachers. Success will be rewarded with experienced independent assessors being a crucial part of the promotion process. 3. That there be smaller but more experienced Boards of Governors with members selected under strict criteria for key roles (e.g. finance, standards, assessment). This would extend to parent representation to who would be required to reach a minimum standard. Governing bodies will also be accorded comparable legal rights as those they govern. Plaid Cymru will raise standards very quickly and build up confidence within the education system especially with teachers who have been demoralised by the current Welsh Government’s policies.
HEARING AND SHARING CONCERNS
licences, but have fewer waiting spaces in the official taxi rank so are effectively prevented from carrying out their trade and earning their living.
THERE are over 30,000 households in Blaenau Gwent and Nigel and his team are endeavouring to visit each one of these at least once before election Day, to hear what concerns the occupiers have.
He will also be enquiring about the vagaries of the bus services, where bus routes are unnecessarily circuitous and are poorly timed in terms of connecting services and availability at peak times to get people to and from work.
By far the overwhelming response up to now has been in relation to recycling issues, but there have also been concerns about education, jobs, skills and the future.
If you would like to contribute ideas concerning these and other policy development issues that will help improve the lives of the people of Blaenau Gwent, Nigel would like to hear from you.
A cluster of concerns is emerging in relation to transport, and Nigel will be taking up those issues once elected. He will be seeking answers as to why the taxi firms based in Abertillery, for example, have to pay more for their
Get in touch through Facebook, by email to Nigel.Copner@gmail.com,
or by calling 0793 891 4820.