Some sad news today, as we have heard that Daniel Llewellyn, who was our candidate for the Newport East constituency for the Senedd Elections in 2021, has passed away aged 36. Our thoughts and best wishes are with Daniel’s family at this difficult time.
The loss of Debenhams in Friars Walk is a bitter blow - while covid has not helped matters very much - the Debenham’s retail model was failing for some years. The priority has to be for former workers need as much help as can be given to find nw jobs and training. The Friar’s walk development itself was too small and failed to create the retail space for local businesses to set up from the start. While there have been some tentative steps towards that in recent weeks, at a fundamental level that has to change from now on - there has to be a blend of local businesses and the usual suspects - there is room enough to make this work. One basic economic fact is that if you spend ten pounds in local business it will circulate three times longer locally in the local economy that ten pounds spent in a chain outlet. Newport has suffered because of the obsession with directly competing with Cardiff and Cribs Causeway. We need to focus on growing small local businesses that supply our needs as well as hosting the usual suspects to bring economic life back to our city centre. If we can do this then we can bring sustainable economic growth and life back to our city centre.
Daniel Llewellyn’s six pledges to the people of Newport East:
We need affordable homes prioritised for local residents, We need to end street homelessness and we need to develop a sustainable protected green belt for Newport and Wales.
Wales’s lacks, a serious well thought out integrated housing structure plan, a modern planning system and a realistic vision or plan for strategically developing our housing for the future. I will fight to help establish protected green belt land around our urban areas.
Newport must be at the forefront of the green energy revolution - with our deepwater port, our highly skilled adaptable workforce, we are a natural centre for offshore wind, tidal lagoons, tidal turbines and an Usk river barrage
We need a public transport revolution for Newport, the metro must deliver and quickly - saving our environment, our time and money. We need new stations at Somerton, Llanwern and Magor and we need them urgently.
Newport has suffered because of the obsession with directly competing with Cardiff and Cribs Causeway. We need to focus on growing small local businesses that supply our needs as well as hosting the usual suspects to bring economic life back to our city centre.
The proposed Cardiff City region and the Western Gateway project will not serve Newport well. I will ensure that Newport has a strong voice in the Senedd, I will work hard to put the interests of Newport, rather than party interests, first.
Plaid Cymru in Newport has condemned the pointless empty gesture from the Conservatives in Newport in relation to their efforts to have a referendum on the already rejected M4 Relief road - saying we need action to relieve the congestion that affects our city not empty words , waffle or pointless gestures.
Plaid Cymru broadly welcomes the report of the South East Wales Transport Commission which recommends ways to reduce congestion on the M4 motorway without building a new relief road around Newport. Plaid Cymru welcomes to call for more investment in public transport, a much better integration and coordination of rail and bus networks and integrated tickets across all services - and we need it now rather than later.
Jonathan T Clark, Plaid Cymru Newport West Senedd candidate said:
“We need practical action, not the pointless empty politics of gesture. We need ground broken to bring the new railway stations that will serve Newport into being, and provide alternative means of getting around our city, and we need it sooner rather than later.”
He said:
“Plaid Cymru welcomes the proposed railway station at Tredegar Park it’s an absolute necessity, but we have serious concerns that no railway station to serve Caerleon / Ponthir has been included, this would a real asset to both communities.”
Jonathan added:
“Its absence could be interpreted to show a lack of understanding of local transport issues, to literal a linear a focus on the problems of the M4 or a simply a glaring oversight in this case ensuring that the residents of Caerleon / Ponthir have little choice but to drive to Newport, Cwmbran and beyond even to reach another railway station.”
Jonathan concluded:
“The lack of a proposed railway station to serve the communities of Caerleon / Ponthir needs to be revisited as a matter of urgency if the commission and the Labour in Wales government are serious about providing decent integrated public transport for all parts of Newport and cutting congestion on the M4.”
Daniel Llewellyn, Plaid Cymru Newport East Senedd candidate, said:
“Plaid Cymru in Newport warmly welcomes the recommendations to create Newport East station in Somerton, as well as long overdue plans new stations at Llanwern and Magor.”
He added:
“From the perspective of Newport East, the proposed railway stations at Llanwern and Magor are an absolute necessity and with a more frequent affordable rail service.”
Daniel concluded:
“A new M48 junction connecting Severn Tunnel Junction to the east would sensibly provide direct bus access and would ease the pressure of car traffic on M4 junction 23A and the roads through Magor. In addition, adding additional bus bays outside Newport Central station would help to build connectivity.”
Plaid Cymru in Newport and Monmouthshire has long called for the existing railway stations to be significantly upgraded as part of the process of creating a functioning South Wales metro.
Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales, has confirmed Daniel Llewellyn as its candidate for the Newport East constituency for the forthcoming Senedd Elections.
Daniel Llewellyn said:
"I am very pleased to have been selected to contest Newport East constituency at the Senedd Elections in May 2021. For far too long the people of Newport East have suffered from the fact that Labour in Wales in Cardiff Bay, has long failed to consider the economic and social needs of the people of this constituency.“
He said:
“The people of Newport East need an MS who will actually put the real concerns of the electors of Newport to the forefront rather than party interests. Wales needs more Plaid MS’s in the Senedd to work to deliver for the people of Newport and the people of Wales. The only way to get a government that will always put the interests of Newport at the heart of government in Wales is to vote Plaid Cymru at the next Senedd Elections".
Daniel continued:
‘I have never seen any benefits for Newport being a simple dormitory town for Bristol or Cardiff. I have never bought into the Severnside agenda, no matter how many times it’s relaunched. On the coastal belt and in and around Newport and Torfaen (not to mention around Cardiff and Caerphilly) and across Monmouthshire the last thirty years we have seen a significant if not spectacular growth in the amount of housing, a significant percentage of which has never been aimed to fulfil local housing needs.’
Daniel concluded:
“We have had twenty-one years plus of Labour misrule, Labour are part of the problem. As a community councillor (since 2019) in Bedwas, I feel that politics should start within the community. I have seen first-hand how our communities have been left behind by both Cardiff and Westminster. I want to be that change that we all need. I want to take that chance to make a difference to people lives and I will bring to Newport East my passion, my drive and my commitment to make things better.”
Adam Price MS, Plaid Cymru Leader, said:
"We have a superb candidate in Daniel Llewellyn, in Newport East, who is committed in changing the lives of the people of the constituency for the better – getting to grips with the housing crisis, creating well paid jobs to tackle the unemployment crisis and putting the needs of people of Newport front and centre. The choice facing people in May is simple - further decline under Labour, fewer powers with the Tories, or an ambitious Plaid Cymru government that will set Wales on a path to a fairer, more prosperous future with independence.”
Delyth JewelL, Plaid Cymru Candidate South Wales East Regional List, said:
"Daniel's enthusiasm for change is infectious. As a councillor and community champion, Daniel has proven himself to be a determined advocate for the people he represents. He is unafraid of speaking truth to power, and he would show the same determination as a Member of the Senedd. I hope the people of Newport will show him their support to be their representative in our parliament, where I know he would always fight for the community."
Peredur Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru Candidate South Wales East Regional List, said:
I have known Daniel for a number of years and he never fails to impress me with his passion, enthusiasm and commitment to every task he turns himself to. He will not rest while there is a problem that needs fixing or an injustice that needs addressing. He will work tirelessly for the people of Newport East carrying your voice to the Senedd and standing up for Wales.
DIWEDD / ENDS
