The campaign to persuade National Grid to rethinks its plans for new pylons across Anglesey is hotting up. It has to! We have to speak with one voice.

Thanks to all those who turned up to protest in Talwrn recently as the Grid launched their ‘consultation’ roadshow. After our case was made in front of TV cameras, we marched to the village hall to put our questions to Grid managers directly.

It boils down to money. £400m would be the additional cost of putting cables underground. It’s a lot of money, but remember that this is to be divided between the UK population over a period of 60+ years! Last month, the Grid agreed to spend nearly £2 BILLION on underground cables in the Lake District.

We, too, have an island of outstanding beauty, and with tourism such an important part of our economy, we have a solid case.

I’ll argue the case in a meeting with the head of the energy regulator, Ofgem, later this month. It’s they and the UK Government who can decide that Anglesey is worth the additional investment.

Add to that the ‘no brainer’ argument for putting cables on a new bridge across the Menai instead of a £100 million (and probably much more) tunnel, so a legacy is left for the island. I’ve argued this for some time, but there’s a reluctance to press ahead with this, because the timetables of when the electricity connection is needed, and when a bridge could be built may not ‘quite’ match.

Well, MAKE it happen! Anything else would be a scandalous waste of public funds, with a tunnel dug now, AND a bridge needed in coming years.

Other than that, it’s been a very busy fortnight in the constituency and at the National Assembly. The benefits of Plaid Cymru’s budget negotiations with the Labour Government are becoming very clear now, with investment secured by Plaid from health and jobs to town centre parking.

I’m holding a series of public meetings, with one in Amlwch this week following the recent Holyhead event. Beaumaris is next, in the new year. They’re great opportunities to chat about the issues important to the island’s communities.

Finally, thanks to the Mary Parry players for their ‘That’s Entertainment’ song and dance extravaganza at Ucheldre last week. That show, and the Young Farmers Eisteddfod the day before, certainly put a smile on my face!