7 minute read
Local news
STATE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
I AM becoming alarmed about the state of our tourism industry in Wales and in Porthcawl. My concerns are shared by Wales Secretary Simon Hart who has urged First Minister Mark Drakeford to lay out his plan for opening up our tourism industry, which employs thousands of people. Everyone agrees that unless they can have some summer season –even if it is curtailed –the outcome will be devastation for the hospitality, entertainment and tourism sectors. The Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Chris Whitty, recently said that no option in this crisis was without risk. There is no such thing as being completely safe. So Welsh Government, like the others across the UK, has to weigh the risks of the virus spreading against the risk of economic devastation in this sector. And for those who believe that the economy is dominated by big banks and corporations owned by city tycoons, nothing could be further from the truth In Wales. Most businesses here are owned by people who have sunk all their savings into them and who spend every waking minute fighting to stay afloat. The time is fast approaching when decisions about their future have to be made.
JAMIE WALLIS MP for Bridgend
‘CATCH UP’ SESSIONS BEGIN AT LOCAL SCHOOLS
Schools across Bridgend County Borough have now started a phased return, and significant changes are in place for emergency childcare provision. In line with Welsh Government guidance, a series of ‘Check In, Catch Up’ sessions are helping pupils prepare for a return to normal lessons in September. The sessions, which are not compulsory, are being carried out with full social distancing and well-being procedures in place. With year groups split into cohorts and staggered starts, lessons and breaks, a mix of online and personalised classroom experiences are helping children and teachers get ready for when the new term begins. The summer term now ends on 27 July, and the autumn break has been expanded to two weeks instead of one. Emergency care is being provided at each child’s own school between 8.30am - 4.30pm, and you should check the council website for the latest news on arrangements over the summer break. Once again, I’d like to thank our dedicated heads, teachers, governing bodies, teaching assistants, support staff, catering staff, administrative staff, caretakers, cleaners and volunteers. Without your dedication and ongoing efforts, the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic on Bridgend County Borough would have been far, far worse –thank you.
COUNCILLOR CHARLES SMITH Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration Bridgend County Borough Council 01656 643643 www.bridgend.gov.uk
CARDIFF CAPITAL CITY DEAL
I welcome news that Porthcawl and the western part of the borough are going to benefit from the Cardiff Capital City deal although we could do with some dates. Constituents have been asking what they are getting out of BCBC’s £11m contribution. Little has happened on the transport front for this part of South Wales West which is covered by the Cardiff deal rather than the one for Swansea and the west of the region. The deal’s Metro Plus scheme will include a Maesteg-BridgendPorthcawl-Cardiff corridor, which involves train and bus connections. Phase 2 of the Metro includes proposals to provide a purposebuilt bus station in Porthcawl with a park and ride connecting to Pyle Railway Station where improvements were announced some time ago. The plan is to locate the new Porthcawl bus terminus on part of Salt Lake, on the part known as The Green. It will be near to where the proposed food store is to go. This will be subject to public consultation and planning consent. This is not much compared to what South East Wales is getting from the City Deal. Porthcawl’s connectivity needs a lot more investment but it’s a step in the right direction.
SUZY DAVIES AM Welsh Conservative Party www.suzydavies.com
KEEPING WALES SAFE
As more restrictions are lifted in England, I have received a number of enquiries asking why Wales is not immediately following suit. In lifting restrictions as we look to rebuild our society and our economy, the Welsh Government continues to take a cautious and careful approach. People’s health and wellbeing is always at the forefront of everything we do. There is not a set template against which everybody is judged on how to handle this crisis. The Welsh Government’s approach to easing the lockdown, planning our recovery and for the safe reopening of businesses, is to lift restrictions at the right time based on the very best science and medical advice available. Thanks to the huge efforts by everyone, the number of new cases continues to fall, as does the number of those being admitted to hospital with the virus. The Welsh Government reviews its coronavirus regulations every 21 days where they consider the latest medical and scientific advice, the state of the virus in Wales and the transmission ratethe R rate. Providing the virus is still declining and the R is below 1,then this gives the Welsh Government the headroom to allow more economic activity to restart.
CARWYN JONES AM MS for Bridgend
TACKLING RACISM, HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION
Bridgend County Borough Council has always had a zero tolerance approach to racism, harassment and discrimination. Whether it is through our work as part of the Community Cohesion and Equality Forum or our compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty and Equality Act 2010, we fully support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic members of our community and our staff, and have a long-term commitment towards tackling inequalities. While we do not maintain any controversial statues of historical figures in the area, some residents have called for local streets which have ‘Picton’ in their title to be changed due to a perceived association with the brutal slave owner and controversial Governor of Trinidad, Sir Thomas Picton. However, others think it is more likely that many of those same streets are named after the former owner of Ewenny Priory, Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Picton-Turberville. As more information is clearly needed, I have asked for further research to be carried out so that the Cabinet Equalities committee can consider the issue in full, accurate detail. In the event that residents wish to apply to have street names changed, an existing legal process is already in place to support this –I’ll bring you more details soon.
COUNCILLOR HUW DAVID Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council Tel 01656 643643 www.bridgend.gov.uk
A HELPING HAND FOR BUSINESSES
As I write these words, the deadline for businesses and small charities to apply for grants designed to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic is fast approaching, and the council is preparing to launch the next phase of funding support. To date, we have issued £29m to 2,256 local businesses, and £310,000 to 31 charity-run shops, sports premises and community centres. In addition to waiving fees for the 2019-20 season, we have also reconfigured our £75,000 Bridgend Sports Support Fund - part of the community asset transfer process - to provide immediate financial aid to local sports clubs during the outbreak and help them deal with day-to-day operating costs. The council website provides full details of the wide range of support that is continuing to be made available to businesses and organisations throughout the county borough –visit now to find out about eligibility, how to apply and more. Elsewhere, local recycling centres have reopened, and a number of procedures are in place to keep staff and visitors safe and limit potential exposure to the coronavirus. Only a few vehicles are being allowed in at a time, so queues should be expected, and remember to pre-sort waste before setting off.
COUNCILLOR HYWEL WILLIAMS Deputy Leader Bridgend County Borough Council Tel: 01656 643643 www.bridgend.gov.uk
BRIDGEND FOR EUROPE
Sophia, Elodie and Max (pictured) are young members of Bridgend for Europe. One of their concerns about brexit is the future of the Erasmus student exchange programme, which enables young people to complete part of their studies in a university in another European country. It also enables students from the continent to study in a British university, and most university teachers will agree that a mix of nationalities in a class benefits teaching, learning and social life. While UK ministers express satisfaction at ending “free movement” they neglect to mention that their policy is a two-edged sword. Not only does it prevent visitors from other European countries coming to the UK to spend money as well as time; or to contribute much needed service to, for example, health, social care, hospitality or agriculture; it also prevents UK citizens, including our youngsters, from freely visiting, working in, marrying in or trading with a single market of 500 million friendly people. In this light “taking back control” is an own goal, lose-lose, double-whammy. We owe it to the generation that did not have a vote in the referendum four years ago to put right this injustice.
Allison Felton bridgend@walesforeurope.org
P.A.Davies & Son HOME IMPROVEMENTS
