News

First Minister confirms new bus services bill is coming soon

Published

3 months ago

February 8, 2024

THE FINAL touches are being put on a long-awaited bus services bill to reform the failed system of deregulation, Wales’ First Minister has told the Senedd.

Mark Drakeford said the bill will enable all levels of government to work with communities to design and deliver the services they need.

He assured MSs that the complex bill – which was withdrawn in 2020 due to a legislative logjam created by the pandemic – is now in its final stages of preparation.

Mr Drakeford said the plans will fundamentally change the landscape for bus services, and warned that the cost of the current system is inherently uncertain.

He told the chamber: “The future will be about subsidising routes, not individuals, so we will have a planned, agreed, stable and subsidised system of bus transport….

“We will be consulting the public, of course. We will be looking to see their views of those routes that are socially necessary – but not commercially viable.

“We will continue to invest the tens of millions of pounds that are put into the system today.”

‘Disastrous’

Huw Irranca-Davies, who represents Ogmore, said his constituents are frustrated by the lack of any real say over routes and timetables.

The Labour backbencher said: “When we had that disastrous – utterly disastrous – deregulation back in the 1980s, where the powers were stripped away from any democratic input … one place kept it and it was London.

“And, in London, the passenger numbers have gone up, the routes have been sustained, investment has been massive – everywhere else, it has fallen away.”

Mark Isherwood highlighted the barriers faced by disabled people when accessing services, raising concerns about inaccessible bus stations and transport touch screens.

The Conservative MS for North Wales said disabled people’s experiences should be embedded in plans for local services.

He cited the example of the Wrexham Gateway transport hub project, adding that Arriva was not consulted despite promotional material showing one of its buses.

Mr Drakeford agreed that the voice of service users, particularly disabled people, should be taken into account in the way in which services are designed and developed.

‘Detrimental’

Delyth Jewell said cuts to bus services in the valleys are having a hugely detrimental effect on people’s lives, warning about a lack of buses to the Grange University Hospital.

The Plaid Cymru MS, who represents South Wales East, told the chamber: “A constituent has written to me to complain that there is no direct bus from Caerphilly town.

“Their neighbour, who doesn’t drive, has been having to visit his wife in the Grange for three weeks by getting buses, and they’re having to catch two buses.

“The journey, apparently, can take more than an hour-and-a-half, which is the last thing anyone would want when they’re visiting a sick loved one.

“It can’t be right that the biggest town in the county has no direct access by bus to the main hospital. There are towns across the south-east that similarly have no bus route.”

Speaking during first minister’s questions on February 6, Prof Drakeford said a great deal of work has gone into creating new services to the Grange.

While he acknowledged the point, the first minister warned that any new service must be subsidised by the public purse because no commercial provider has stepped in.

News

Ruling against language campaigner over English-only parking notice

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A COURT in Aberystwyth has this week (May 13) ruled against the language campaigner Toni Schiavone and has allowed parking company One Parking Solution to claim costs in an extended legal dispute over an English-only parking notice. However, Toni Schiavone said he will continue to refuse to pay until he receives a copy of the notice from the parking company in Welsh.

According to the judge, there was no legal basis to force the parking company to provide a Welsh language service. Language campaigners insist that this demonstrates a “serious flaw” in the legislation that protects the rights of Welsh speakers.

Toni Schiavone received the original charge in September 2020 for parking in a private car park in Llangrannog, but refused to pay as he did not receive the charge in Welsh or bilingually, despite sending the company two letters as well as calling them.

The first two cases were thrown out over technical issues, but at a hearing on 26 January this year, One Parking Solution won an appeal to continue to prosecute Mr Schiavone, after the judge ruled that there were no grounds to throw out the first two cases of the court.

Speaking during today’s court proceedings, Toni Schiavone said: “The Welsh language is an official and equal language in Wales and we as Welsh speakers have rights according to the law, and in principle, that should be respected. The request for a Parking Charge Notice in Welsh or bilingually is reasonable and practical. It would have cost around £60 to translate.

“This case could have been resolved very easily and very quickly by providing a Welsh or bilingual Parking Charge Notice. Does not doing so show prejudice against the Welsh language? In my opinion, it does.”

Mr Schiavone told the court that the claimant had behaved threateningly, sending him a letter claiming £10,156.70 in legal expenses a day before his hearing in January as well as another letter with additional costs of over £4,000 two days before today’s case. According to research by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, translating the fine into Welsh would have cost only £60.

The judge Lowri Williams said that Toni had behaved in an “honest, principled” manner during the case, and had shown an “unwavering dedication to the Welsh language and the cause for the language.”

However, she said during her verdict that there was nothing in the 1967 Welsh Language Act, the 1993 Welsh Language Act, or the 2011 Welsh Language Measure to compel the parking company to provide a Welsh language service.

She therefore ordered that Toni pay the £100 charge, as well as £70 for administrative costs, £11.90 interest and £85 for the court fee within 21 days.

After explaining her ruling and order, Toni Schiavone said “I understand, but I refuse to pay.” His statement was met by applause from his supporters in the public gallery.

Following the case, Siân Howys, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Rights Group, said: “Today’s judgment shows that – despite the Welsh Government’s claim – the Welsh language does not have equal status in Wales. The judge has done her work thoroughly and found that there is nothing in the legislation that ensures that Toni’s right to use his own language in his own country is respected.

“It is clear, therefore, that the Welsh Government needs to correct the serious flaw in the legislation in order to ensure that the people of Wales can use the Welsh language in all aspects of their lives.”

News

Cllr Jon Harvey elected Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CLLR JON HARVEY has been elected as the new Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council.

Cllr Harvey, who represents the Pembroke St Mary North ward, was elected as Leader at the Annual General Meeting of Council held on Friday May 10.

A Town Planner by profession, Cllr Harvey spent 12 years in various Planning Officer roles in Local Government before moving into the private sector and a career at senior level planning, housebuilding and development.

More recently, he was the Head of Development at a Swansea-based Housing Association.

With a love of music and theatre, Cllr Harvey has managed an indie rock band, promoted a number of gigs locally and has staged managed plays including at the Edinburgh fringe.

Married with four grown-up children, Cllr Harvey served as the Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing Delivery under former Leader Cllr David Simpson.

Cllr Harvey, who is not affiliated to any group, was first elected to Council in September 2018.
He said: “I am deeply honoured to stand before you today as your new Leader and the responsibility is not one I take lightly.

“I pledge to lead with passion, dedication, integrity, transparency and compassion.

“I am convinced that if we all work together with common purpose and work towards common goals we can make a real difference to the lives of those residents that we serve.”

Cllr Harvey will name his Cabinet in the coming days.

News

New Chairman takes the chains at Pembrokeshire County Council

Published

9 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE NEW Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council is Cllr Steve Alderman.

Cllr Alderman, previously the Authority’s Vice-Chairman, was installed at the Annual Meeting of Council at County Hall in Haverfordwest held on Friday, 10^th May.

Cllr Alderman, who represents Hundleton, takes over from Cllr Tom Tudor.

Cllr Alderman is well respected in the farming community as a lifelong farmer, working with his family until retiring in 2019.

Cllr Alderman has also been Pembrokeshire NFU County chairman as well as a representative on the Welsh NFU Council and numerous other rural and economic development bodies in the area.

Outgoing Council Leader Cllr David Simpson proposed a vote of thanks to Cllr Tudor who also gave an overview of his busy year as Chairman.

Pictured: Standing, left to right are: Will Bramble, Chief Executive; Cllr Thomas Tudor, former Chairman; Cllr David Simpson, former Leader. Seated front left to right are: Cllr Simon Hancock, Presiding Member; Cllr Jon Harvey, Leader; Cllr Steve Alderman, Chairman; Cllr Maureen Bowen, Vice Chair; Mrs Chris Simpson, wife of Cllr David Simpson.

Cllr Alderman was nominated by Cllr Tim Evans and seconded by Cllr Pat Davies.

Cllr Alderman, who was first elected in 2019, is not affiliated to any group on the Council.

Upon taking the chains, Cllr Alderman said: “I am extremely proud to be made Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council and I aim to represent this Council to the very best of my ability.

“I hope my experience as Council appointed member of the National Park, as well as the various Overview and Scrutiny Committees I am involved in, will stand me in good stead for this important year ahead.”

At the same meeting Cllr Maureen Bowen was elected the new Vice Chairman of Council.

Cllr Bowen, who represents Pembroke Dock Bush and is a member of the Labour Group, joined the Council in 2022.