NEWS
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BATTLE CONTINUES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
NEWS FROM THE MAYOR OF PORTHCAWL
With the end of Covid restrictions in sight we look forward to things getting back to normal. For many small local businesses, however, things may not be as they were for many months to come, if ever. The pandemic has presented an enormous economic challenge, resulting in the collapse of many small businesses and independent traders. For those that have survived, the future looks bleak and without further support from the government they will struggle to continue. I have been contacted by local businesses who have been refused funding support and when I questioned Mark Drakeford about this, he responded that, “...it simply isn’t possible with the funding we have to fill every single gap that exists...” This is simply not good enough and I will continue to challenge Welsh government on sufficient funding for businesses. I want local businesses not only to survive the pandemic but to thrive after it. Our constituency office is always available for advice on funding or benefits available for small local businesses.
I hope you are staying safe and well. There is some optimism that things may be improving. I urge everyone to make sure they get their vaccination when offered. News this month is about how we as a town can commemorate one of the worst seafaring disasters in our history that of the Liberty Ship SS Samtampa. Just think back to that time in 1947 when the SS Samtampa with 39 young men on board lost steerage and drifted towards Sker rocks in extremely rough seas. The Mumbles lifeboat Edward Prince of Wales was launched and made its way through treacherous seas to save the crew of the SS Samtampa. Tragically the lives of the crew of the SS Samtampa & Edward Prince of Wales lifeboat were all lost. Gary Victor and his colleagues on Porthcawl Shout have been committed to providing a permanent memorial to those that lost their lives that day. I am delighted to say that Cllr. Norah Clarke supported by Porthcawl Town Council has teamed up with Gary and his colleagues to make this happen. A fabulous memorial has been produced as a granite sculpture and, in very positive discussions with Bridgend County Borough Council officers, site options have been identified. Porthcawl Town Council is fully behind this project as we feel that this is a very important part of our Towns history, to pay tribute to those who gave their lives and also to appreciate our very own Porthcawl lifeboat crew.
CAROLINE JONES MEMBER OF THE SENEDD 88b John Street, Porthcawl, CF36 3BD Tel 01656 773680 Mob 07790 785059
WRONG LOCATIONS FOR NEW OFFENDER CENTRE As I write this, Bridgend County Borough Council is due to meet with UK Government to find out more about its plans for establishing an all-new Wales Residential Women’s Centre. Unbelievably, the Atlantic Hotel in Porthcawl and Sunnyside House in Bridgend town are among potential locations under consideration. While I support the rationale for establishing a centre within South Wales, Bridgend County Borough is absolutely the wrong place for it to be located, and the council will fight these proposals every step of the way. We are already home to South Wales’ largest prison, the only youth offending institute in Wales and the only medium security facility for people with complex mental health needs in Wales, yet do not receive adequate levels of resource necessary for providing additional services related to these facilities. This is nothing to do with nimbyism – we clearly already have much more than our fair share of regional and national sites for people with complex needs, and the proposed locations are entirely inappropriate. Following the loss of Bridgend Ford Engine Plant, what we need from UK Government is a multi-million pound investment into our communities, not these half-baked plans, and I call for them to be scrapped immediately. COUNCILLOR HUW DAVID Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council Tel 01656 643643 www.bridgend.gov.uk
COUNCILLOR BRIAN JONES Mayor of Porthcawl
PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL WOMEN’S CENTRE I know that many of my constituents were surprised to learn that the Atlantic Hotel in Porthcawl and Sunnyside House in Bridgend are among a number of sites across South Wales being considered by the Ministry of Justice as possible locations for its proposed residential women’s centre. I am amazed that the UK Government is looking at these sites. One is in the middle of a prime tourist area and the other next to a new housing development and surgery. Bridgend Council has objected to these plans and has set out their reasons for doing so very clearly. I have also made my own representations to the UK Government objecting to these plans. This looks like a proposal made in London without consultation. The county borough has already embraced more than its fair share of regional and national sites for people with complex needs. I do not disagree with the principle and I absolutely agree with my Labour colleague Sarah Murphy who has said if an all-Wales pilot scheme for women offenders is to be a success, it needs to be done properly and in the right place, not just for surrounding communities and businesses, but also for the women themselves. CARWYN JONES MS for Bridgend
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