Tag Archives: Rhun ap Iorwerth

AMs support Marie Curie’s Blooming Great Tea Party

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The charity’s summer campaign takes place this month

AMs have joined Marie Curie staff to support the Blooming Great Tea Party in aid of the terminal illness charity this June.

The Blooming Great Tea Party, which runs from 23rd – 25th June, sees people get together with friends, family or colleagues to host a tea party, bake sale or special tea break to raise funds for Marie Curie. The money raised will help Marie Curie provide vital care and support for people living with a terminal illness, and their families.

To help highlight the charity and how the Blooming Great Tea Party can help fund Marie Curie care and support, Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth attended an event at the Senedd in support of the summer campaign.

Rhun said: “Holding a Blooming Great Tea Party really is a piece of cake. You can choose to make everything yourself or pop to the shops for some tasty treats, as long as you price each slice or put a donation box by the front door you’ll be sure to raise funds to help Marie Curie support people when they need it most.”

This year, TV host Mel Giedroyc is lending her support to the campaign, saying: “I’m supporting the Blooming Great Tea Party because it is the most sublimely joyous, wondrous event that takes place in June for the best cause. My top tip would be to invite more people than you can possibly fit into your house.  They will squeeze, don’t worry.  For cake, people will do anything.”

“I will bake some refrigerator cake. My mum’s recipe – it’s delicious. I’ll bake some bread and I will bake for my gluten/dairy intolerant friend some coeliac muffins.”

This year Blooming Great Tea Party will also be supported by John Lewis – the first time the campaign has been supported on this scale by a retailer. John Lewis shops nationwide have been getting involved with a launch earlier this month and partner tea parties during the official weekend.

Emma Marchant, Sustainable Communities Manager at John Lewis, says: “We’re really proud to be working with Marie Curie on their Blooming Great Tea Party campaign this year and I know our shops up and down the country are really excited to be a part of this great cause. They can’t wait to hold their own Blooming Great Tea Party so that customers can come along, buy some cake and learn about how they too can support Marie Curie and the fantastic Blooming Great Tea Party campaign.”

Last year, the Blooming Great Tea Party raised over £500,000 to help Marie Curie be there when it matters most.

To find out more and receive your free fundraising pack, call 0800 716 146 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty.

AM praises ‘world first’ happening in Holyhead

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Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth visited Minesto on Friday to see the progress that is being made with the project.
 
The office in the middle of Holyhead has now opened its doors since Wednesday and employs a number of local people.  The hope is that the first ‘kite’ will be put in the water in September, although the exact date depends on the weather and tide.
 
Speaking after his visit, Rhun said:
 
“It’s great to see the vision coming closer and closer to reality. Seeing the equipment being prepared for its launch into Holyhead Deep in September should make us all proud here on Anglesey.
 
“Already, the number of employees – almost all local – is steadily growing, and businesses such as Holyhead Boatyard are becoming key components of the Minesto project.
 
“This is a world first – and it’s happening right here. The potential for us in terms of jobs and other economic benefits are enormous, and I wish the Minesto team all the very best.”

Rhun supports Cervical Screening Awareness Week

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Local AM, Rhun ap Iorwerth, is supporting Cervical Screening Awareness Week this week (CSAW, 12-18 June) by urging all women to attend their cervical screening appointment when invited.

Cervical cancer currently claims two lives every day in the UK and it is the most common cancer in women under 35. Cervical screening prevents up to 75% of cervical cancers yet the number of women attending is at a 10- year low in Wales and more than one in five women do not attend their screening appointment.

Rhun ap Iorwerth AM said: “Cervical screening saves around 5,000 lives in the UK each year yet many women don’t understand the importance of attending screening regularly. During Cervical Screening Awareness Week I want to encourage women to talk to their friends, mothers and daughters about the steps they can take to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. It’s such an important five-minute test that really could save your life.”

Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We cannot afford to see cervical screening attendance fall any further. Diagnoses of cervical cancer in the UK are worryingly high and will only increase if more women don’t attend screening. We want to encourage women to look after their health, including the health of their cervix and that means attending cervical screening. By not attending, women are significantly increasing their risk of a life-threatening disease.”

Find out more about Cervical Screening Awareness Week at www.jostrust.org.uk/csaw

Llannerchymedd pupils at National Assembly

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Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth was joined by pupils from Ysgol Llannerchymedd at the Senedd today.

As part of their visit to Cardiff, pupils were given a tour of the Assembly and were shown Ynys Môn’s seat in the National Assembly chamber, before having the opportunity to quiz their local Assembly Member about everything from travelling from Anglesey to Cardiff to his favourite colour (green, of course!)

Speaking after the visit, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“It was good to meet with pupils and teachers from Ysgol Llannerchymedd today. I always enjoy welcoming people from Anglesey to the Assembly so that they can see where decisions that affect them are made, and to remind them that this is their building, and their Assembly.

“Raising awareness amongst young people and making sure that they can get involved is particularly important to me. The National Assembly is currently conducting a consultation on a youth parliament for Wales, and I hope that as many people as possible complete the online survey so that we can get the ball rolling and give our young people a voice.”

Bodedern students voice opinions on Youth Parliament with their AM

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Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth visited Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern with the Assembly’s outreach team this week to discuss the establishment of a Youth Parliament. He said:

“It was great to speak to students from Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern and to listen to their opinions on a Youth Parliament for Wales, something which I feel very enthusiastic about.

“The Assembly are currently asking young people for their views on this as a first step towards getting the ball rolling, and I would urge people to have their say through the website https://www.youthparliament.wales/ or to get in touch with me.”

Video: My speech in the Plaid Cymru debate on banking

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“It’s quite clear that there is a pattern developing, and several Members have referred to it already—this pattern of centralising in a number of regional hubs, and what’s happening on Anglesey is an excellent example of this. On Anglesey, with the exception of Holy Island, it’s only in Llangefni that there will be any full-time bank open at all. Barclays is open part-time in Amlwch, but Holyhead, as the main populated area of Anglesey, has also heard recently that they will be losing their HSBC branch. So, there’s a pattern developing here. The announcements that we’ve heard recently are: closing NatWest in Amlwch, in Holyhead, in Beaumaris and in Menai Bridge, and HSBC going in Holyhead, in Amlwch, in Menai Bridge and Beaumaris recently. It’s not just the banks either, but financial institutions more widely—Yorkshire Building Society in Llangefni is also going to close.

“If I give attention to Beaumaris for a moment, in the same way that we heard from Llyr Gruffydd about services being sucked away, when the announcement was made by NatWest and HSBC about closing in Beaumaris: ‘Don’t worry—Menai Bridge is only four miles away.’ But now we’ve heard that the branches in Menai Bridge are also closing.

“The reason we hear is that there’s more banking happening online; of course, that is factually accurate. There are lots of services available in the post office, we hear; of course that’s also true. But with all respect to post offices that are offering more and more services for paying in and withdrawing funds, the advice, the additional services and the support available through branches is not available. That’s the kind of support that the most vulnerable people do require. I don’t expect to see a return to the days where every small town has every branch of bank, but it’s important to ensure that there are basic financial services available to all within a sensible distance.

“With regard to the consultations taking place, I have a letter from NatWest here about the closure of the Menai Bridge branch saying that there are five ATMs within a mile of the branch, so what does it matter that that particular ATM will be lost? Well, what I pointed out to NatWest was that four of those are on the mainland—one of them in Ysbyty Gwynedd and one of them in Coleg Menai; that is, misleading people by giving the impression that alternative services are available. There aren’t; there’s only one available in Menai Bridge, as it happens, and that itself isn’t in the town centre.
 
“There are, I think, a number of solutions or perhaps responses that we can look at. I believe that we should be seeking to put the onus on the banking and finance sector to provide a minimum level of access. As I said, that’s not a matter of saying, ‘Let’s have every branch open in every town’ as was the case years ago, but making it a duty for the sector to ensure that there is at least a suitable level of access. Plaid Cymru in the UK Parliament have requested that Government introduces a ‘last bank in town’ status as part of the British Bankers’ Association legislation. And here, of course, I sound that warning that we can’t have a race by the banks to make sure that they’re not the last bank in town.

“Access is vital, and we’ve already heard suggestions about how there could be shared facilities, perhaps including the current established financial sector, plus also the exciting prospect such as a Welsh people’s bank that could give us an exciting way forward, responding to a necessary situation. This is a crisis that we are facing of the haemorrhaging of our financial institutions. This isn’t a pipe dream. When we look at the North Dakota bank and see that it is a hugely profitable bank, able to pump money back into infrastructure projects in North Dakota, where the Government deposits its finances with that bank in order to ensure that there is a continuous flow of money, these are exciting prospects that I believe we can’t afford to ignore. Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. We know what is necessary; we need to make sure that we stand up to the haemorrhaging of financial institutions. We cannot continue to let that haemorrhaging go unchallenged.”

National Assembly backs preference for underground cables rather than pylons

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The National Assembly for Wales has called on National Grid to favour undergrounding when developing new transmission programmes in Wales, such as the one proposed for Anglesey as a result of a motion tabled by Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth.
 
During the Plaid Cymru-led debate, Rhun spoke of the opposition on Anglesey to National Grid’s plans to build a new lines of pylons across the island and the preference towards alternative solutions which would have less of a visual impact.

Following the debate, Assembly Members voted unanimously in favour of a preference for underground cables or alternatives to pylons.
 
Speaking during the debate in the Senedd today, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:
 
“It is cost which is at the root of the National Grid’s plans on Anglesey.  Pylons are the cheapest option, or at least the short-term cost for the Grid is lower than other options.  But what about the cost of pylons to the people of Anglesey? – on the value of their homes, to businesses, to tourism, not to mention the effect on living standards?
 
“Rather than putting financial pressure on the people of Anglesey, the cost should be shared between all energy users.  The grid has agreed to do that in other areas of the UK.”
 
Speaking after the debate, Mr ap Iorwerth added:
 
“Today we asked the National Assembly for Wales to say that we believe that undergrounding should be the norm here in Wales – in the north Wales connection project, across Anglesey and the mainland, and every other project. 
 
“I am pleased to have received the backing of the majority of Assembly Members, and of Welsh Government, for a preference for undergrounding. 

“Even though I was disappointed that the Welsh Government tabled an amendment that weakened the original motion somewhat – and that a
north Wales Ukip AM give a passionate speech in favour of pylons! – the message is still a strong one. The Grid must now take into consideration that Wales’ democratic representatives have said that they should stop just looking for the cheapest option.
 
“Today’s vote will send a clear message to National Grid that more consideration needs to be given to alternatives to pylons, as well as a clear message to the people of Anglesey that the Assembly is behind them on this subject.”

Rhun invites Minister to Anglesey to see broadband problems first hand

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During a government statement on ‘Superfast Boradband – the Next Steps’ by the Welsh Government yesterday, Rhun pointed out that for many on Anglesey, the scheme hadn’t delivered broadband that was either fast or super!

Speaking in the Assembly chamber, Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“Obviously, in principle, it’s great to have Superfast Cymru in motion. Unfortunately, we all know from our postbags as Assembly Members that, for far too many of our constituents, Superfast Cymru certainly hasn’t delivered fast broadband and certainly hasn’t delivered anything close to being super.
 
“You mentioned the few farmers that are still left without a fast broadband connection. It’s far more than just some farmers; it’s whole rural communities that are still not connected. Even when that fabled green cabinet is in your village, you still may not have connection to superfast broadband. We need to make sure, and this is a point that I’ve raised on numerous occasions here in the Chamber, that there is much better communication between Openreach and Welsh Government and those customers and potential customers of the future who are told time and time again, ‘No, you’re not quite there yet, but you will be soon.’ But when? Can I appeal to the Government to make sure that any contracts on the son of Superfast Cymru have written into them the need to make sure that communication is watertight with those people, who are hugely frustrated?
 
“So, please, communicate. Make sure that those communities who want it know why they’re not getting it, what needs to be done in order to get it to them, and make sure that those problems that we’re all aware of will be overcome when we move on to the next stages of roll-out.”

In her response, the Minister for Skills and Science said that she would be happy to come to Anglesey to look at the issues there, and Rhun has since formally invited her. He added:

“I look forward to welcoming the Minister to Anglesey and hope that she is able to fit a visit in soon so that she can see some of the issues that we face at first hand.”

AM to hold public meeting on zorb centre proposals

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Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth will be holding a public meeting to give constituents the opportunity to discuss the proposals for a new zorbing centre between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“A number of constituents have contacted me regarding the application for a Zorbing Centre in Menai Bridge. This meeting will give them an opportunity to discuss their concerns in a public forum.”

When? Thursday, September 15th 6:00pm

Where? Carreg Bran Hotel, LL61 5YH

AM joins forces with local pupils regarding safe route to school

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Rhun ap Iorwerth AM has joined forces with the pupils of Ysgol Rhosybol to see what can be done to increase safety on their walk to school.

Following a letter from Ysgol Rhosybol school council, Rhun visited the school to chat to years 5 and 6 pupils about what they wanted. Speaking after the visit, Rhun said:

“It was great to meet with year 5 and 6 pupils at Ysgol Rhosybol after the school council had written to me about walking to school safely. They had hoped to be able to get a zebra crossing near the school but we’ve been told that that is not an option.

“But the children were not about to give up, so I visited the school and we discussed what other options could be available. We have now decided to write together to the Council to see if it could be possible to have a 20mph flashing signal during the times of the day when the children walk to school, or if there are any other safety measures they can consider.

“It was great to see the children taking an active interest in their school and community. Whilst I was there, we also had an opportunity to discuss all sorts of other topics – from our favourite school subjects to how much we’re all looking forward to seeing Wales play in the Euros!”