News

Badger and the hundred days

Published

9 years ago

March 4, 2015

badger84image BADGER was startled to notice last weekend that it is now under three months until our Caledonian chums and chumettes vote on whether they want to remain a member of the United Kingdom or strike out on their own. Even having followed the story fur a little while, Badger was taken by surprise that the moment of destiny was approaching so soon. Badger has noticed that the arguments have become polarised around two central themes: Those FOR independence respond to questions they don’t like the answers to by accusing their questioner of scare-mongering. For example: “First Minister: what did you have for breakfast?”

Alex SaImond: “People in Scotland are sick and tired of the Westminster establishment talking Scotland down. The issue is not what I had for breakfast but whether it was a Scottish breakfast.” Looking at Alex Salmond we can, however, guess that the origin of food is less a concern of his than its destination. On the other hand the NO campaign have cunningly deployed Chancellor Gideon “George” Osborne, with his persuasive Scottish brogue, ready charm and “man of the people” persona to tell Scottish voters that if they are uncouth enough to vote “YES” to devolution, the four horseman of the apocalypse stand ready at Carlisle to cross the border on September 19 and bring doom, death and calamity to the Highlands and Islands. But not to Glasgow, on the basis that nobody would notice. In the Scottish Devolution campaign, the intellectual quality of debate is only fatally undermined by the intellectual quality of the participants. It’s a bit like the Iran/Iraq War.

In Kissinger’s words, “it’s a pity they can’t both lose.” But this thought of 100 days (now less) to the big vote made Badger think. If small states are really the answer, how small could you go? As it turns out there are a good number of states smaller than Pembrokeshire’s 614 square miles in area. They include financial powerhouses, like Bahrain, Hong Kong and Liechtenstein. Just think of the tax a diligent public servant could save on his pension in a land where money comes with no questions asked and no scrutiny allowed. With the proposed reorganization of the Welsh local government, which will involve the disappearance of such little as there is of local accountability and democracy in Pembrokeshire, is the time now right for Pembrokeshire to make a unilateral declaration of independence from the rest of the UK?

Badger pondered the question. Much buoyed by watching The Mouse that Roared and a few snifters of Olde Hedgehogge (puts hairs inside your chest!), Badger concluded that there were more unlikely things that could happen to Pembrokeshire. Such as IPPG chump-in-chief Jamie Adams exercising humility and apologising for the years of maladministration by his benighted group of saps and frauds. Looking at small nation states, at the bottom of the list – in terms of area – is the Vatican City. Ruled over by a single, infallible head of state, immovable from his post, surrounded by cardinals and lackeys jockeying for favour and position: is perhaps how someone from the Vatican might describe Pembrokeshire. But Badger digresses: picture it readers.

Not Passport to Pimlico, but Passport to Puncheston! As Badger’s eyes panned down the list, he was struck by just how
small some independent countries are. He is just amazed that John Allen-Mirehouse hasn’t looked at the same list and struck out to form the Grand Duchy of Angle, complete with feudal overlord. Although perhaps he has already. To the north and east, Badger can envisage see the border crossing near Llantood and MTBs patrolling the territorial waters between Cemaes Head St Dogmael’s. To the south and east, Badger anticipates a razor wire stretching from Cilgerran to Amroth to exclude desperate refugees from the People’s Democratic Republic of Carmarthenshire and the cruel rule of Comrade Maggs.

Look at it this way, readers, could that be any worse than what the Welsh government is threatening to do to our County? Driven by a be thatcentral isation brings benefits — a dubious economic theory, strongly undermined by the example of the Soviet Union and other command economies based around a large central bureaucracy — the Welsh Government has embarked on a process of stripping away layers of local services and replacing them with remote and unaccountable quangos. The Health Service, education, local government, policing: Badger has heard Carwyn Jones and his drones say —over and over again—words to the effect that “everyone knows that we cannot go on the way we are”, “everyone knows we have to reform the health service”, “everyone knows the current structure is unsustainable.”

To those people Badger has this to say: “The voices in your head are not everyone.” In the 21st century is the Welsh Government really proposing that the 122,500 people living in Pembrokeshire are incapable of running their own affairs and making their own decisions close to where the effects of those decisions will be most felt? With few exceptions the Welsh Cabinet is a combination of single-issue quangocrats, machine politicians, union hacks and erstwhile academics determined to experiment in social policy upon the Welsh people. The Welsh Government lack the imagination, ability, and will to make the current system work.

It would rather look for fault in the tools with which policy is locally delivered than look at the flaws in itself. Everyone is to blame apart from the Government that has been in place for the last FIFTEEN years. The costs of centralisation will be high and the benefits, if any, dubious. Efficiencies, if any, will be eaten up by bureaucratic wrangling and years of untangling complex local arrangements. Getting primary legislation through the Senedd and Parliament before some alphabet soup agency whizz kid comes up with an even brighter wheeze will be impossible. There will not be a democratic deficit. There will be a democratic abyss.

Badger is not suggesting everything is rosy in Pembrokeshire: it ain’t. lb quote Henry Kissinger (again): “It is the corrupt politicians who make the other ten percent look bad.” But Badger would rather have his own rat running the ship than a rat from another county. There is the talent and ability in Pembrokeshire to prove Carwyn wrong. It needs some councillors to take a good look at what they am on the Council to achieve and form working partnerships to force through real improvements and deliver real benefit in return for the public’s investment and faith. And if they can’t or won’t, then they need to make way for those that will try.

News

Too many children in Wales living in poverty – Lib Dems want action

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THIS week in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats renewed their demands for the implementation of child poverty targets.

According to a report from the Bevan foundation, 29% of children living in Wales are currently experiencing poverty (an estimated 190,000 children).

The same report highlighted that the largest percentage of children living in poverty are from working households or in couple households.

The Welsh Lib Dems are now renewing calls for the Welsh Government to create a set of targets for reducing child poverty, which the party argues will allow for more accountability.

The party has previously called for the implementation of targets, citing recommendations from the Calling Time on Child Poverty Report published in November last year.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “The latest statistics on childhood poverty in Wales paints a very distressing image of families across the country struggling to make ends meet.

Over the course of the last six years, the proportion of children in poverty has skyrocketed. Fuelled by worsening economic conditions and a complete lack of action from both governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay.

We cannot act complacent about these figures nor accept the clear lack of progress in fighting child poverty, behind each statistic is a child that the state has failed.

It remains painfully clear that the Welsh Government is failing to make any meaningful progress in this fight, which is why they must follow through with the implementation of clear set targets that will allow for further accountability.

We as a party have continuously called for the creation of these targets and we will not be silenced. For the sake of future generations we urge the Welsh Government to listen.”

Crime

Welsh constabulary areas record another increase in shoplifting

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RETAIL trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in 2023 there were significant increases in shoplifting across all constabulary areas in Wales. In the whole of England and Wales there has been a persistent upward trend since the pandemic, which continued with a 37% increase and has now risen to the highest level in 20 years.

The Office for National Statistics released figures showing a 39% increase in shoplifting incidents across Wales and by constabulary area as follows:

Dyfed-Powys +11%
Gwent +47%
North Wales +23%
South Wales +51%

Usdaw’s 2023 annual survey of over 5,500 shopworkers found that 60% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. This 39% increase in shoplifting across Wales is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.

“Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in the stores and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. 60% of respondents said theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for these incidents.

“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shopworkers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. This has been made worse by police cuts and a failure to legislate to protect retail staff. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker and that has been vehemently opposed by this Government and their Conservative MPs on many occasions.

“Recently the Government performed a long overdue U-turn after many years of sustained campaigning by Usdaw and others. Our members have had to wait too long for their voices to be heard and common sense to prevail. We will have to see the detail of what Ministers are proposing and we are clear that it must be at least what we won in Scotland three years ago. It also cannot fall short of Labour’s commitments to 13,000 more uniformed officers, patrols on high streets, banning repeat offenders and ending the perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.

“The dither and delay by this Government on this issue over many years, has led to thousands of shopworkers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. Today’s stats should ensure that their promise to legislate is done speedily. We hope that whatever the Government is proposing will be substantial and effective in giving shopworkers, key workers in every community, the respect that they have long deserved and regrettably too often do not receive.”

Business

Paramount’s key role in transformation of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FAST-growing Welsh company Paramount is relishing the challenge of creating an “irresistible dining destination” after winning the contract to play a key role in the multi-million transformation of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.

The Cardiff-based design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist will spearhead the re-development project of the shopping centre after being handed responsibility for revamping its popular food court over the summer.

In the coming months, the development will see the Food Court transformed into three modern, and bright restaurants, welcoming new food and beverage brands to the centre and creating more than 100 new job opportunities for the local community.

Paramount’s Construction Director, Paul Thomas, said: “The team behind the scenes at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend have fantastic plans for the future and we’re delighted to have been entrusted with the mission to help turn their exciting vision into a reality.

“Paramount prides itself on creating places where people want to be, and my team are relishing the opportunity to help create what will be an irresistible dining destination. It’s certain to be a complex project, but we have the expertise and local knowledge to deliver outstanding results in close collaboration with our project partners.”

The owners of the shopping centre, which has been attracting local people and visitors for more than 25 years, have promised a “substantial investment to redevelop the Food Court area and replace it with new and exciting restaurants”.

Now the Paramount team is ready to lay the groundwork by removing some existing structures around the Food Court and will then introduce a series of new features as part of the overall facelift. These include new glazed entrance doors within glazed curtain walling shopfront, render and a new entrance lobby with new stairs and lifts.

The work to completely develop the Food Court in the shopping centre starts this week, and is expected to be completed in late autumn. As a result, customer favourites including Nando’s, McDonald’s and Chopsticks will be closed while work is under way.

Patrick Finney, Head of European Construction, McArthurGlen Group, said: “After celebrating our 25th anniversary last year, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Paramount on board in this important step of revitalising the Food Court area.

“These are exciting times for everyone at one of South Wales’ best-loved retail complexes and we know Paramount will work closely with us to create a truly special place for diners and shoppers of all ages.”

Paramount, whose turnover reached £45 million in 2023, employs 60 people who own a majority shareholding of the business – 51 per cent – following completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme in 2021, a deal which marked a major milestone for Paramount after a period of sustained growth.

The company is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House and Fusion Point One in central Cardiff, and the fit out of Par 59 bars in South Wales and South West.

Over the next few months, Paramount’s construction team will also be completing on a multi-million-pound social housing development in Porthcawl, Mid-Glamorgan with Valleys to Coast.