Wednesday 23rd July 2008

Assembly minister Gwenda Thomas has expressed concerns about plans to develop a waste recycling plant at the former Abernant Colliery site near Rhydyfro.

She fears it will lead to increased numbers of heavy goods vehicles thundering through Pontardawe and Rhydyfro, causing a hazard for pedestrians and motorists alike.

And she has also expressed concerns that nearby residents will have to put up with bad odours and increased numbers of vermin.

Ms Thomas said the plans propose the composting of up to 100,000 tons of commercial waste each year.

Waste will include food products and will be converted into fuel pellets for burning in an incinerator.

“My real concerns are for the residents of the surrounding area,” she said.

“I am worried that there will be serious problems associated with the operation of this plant.

“One problem will be increased traffic by heavy goods vehicles to and from the site.

This will, of course, affect the residents of Pontardawe and Rhydyfro as the lorries will pass through these places.”

Ms Thomas also says there is a possibility of bad smells arising from the site and affecting surrounding areas, the presence of increased numbers of rats, cockroaches, flies, and the possible polluting of nearby watercourses by foul water.

“As the residents of this area already suffer from the presence of the landfill site at Pwllfa Watkin, this waste recycling plant should not be a further imposition on the local population,” she added.

I am very concerned about proposed plans for the development of a Waste Recycling Plant at the former Abernant Colliery site near Rhydyfro in the Swansea Valley.

These plans propose the composting of up to 100,000 tons of commercial waste each year; this waste will include food products and will be converted into fuel pellets for burning in an incinerator.

My real concerns are for the residents of the surrounding area. I am worried that there will be serious problems associated with the operation of this plant. One problem will be increased traffic by heavy goods vehicles to and from the site; this will of course affect the residents of Pontardawe and Rhydyfro as the lorries will pass through these places.

I am also worried about the possibilities of bad odours arising from this site and affecting surrounding areas, the presence of increased numbers of vermin such as rats, cockroaches, flies, and the possible polluting of nearby watercourses by foul water run off.

As the residents of this area already suffer from the presence of the landfill site at Pwllfa Watkin, this waste recycling plant should not be a further imposition on the local population.

Gwenda Thomas AM and Peter Hain MP Joint Statement on the proposed closure of Post Offices in Neath for submission to Post Office Ltd.

NEATH AM GWENDA THOMAS has been working closely with NEATH MP Peter Hain to fight for the future of the Post Offices under threat in the Neath area.

The public voiced their opinion in the meeting organised by Cllr. Doreen Jones in Aberdulais. Meetings have also taken place regarding the other Post Offices under threat such as Cwmgors and Maesyffynnon and numerous people have contacted both our offices. The Post Office officials have been made aware of the practical problems resulting from their closure programme as well as the social cost of the cutting of services.

Post Offices are at the heart of the community and if they are lost it will be sorely felt.

The Post Office Development Fund has done a lot in the past to improve Post Offices and we are pleased that this will resume in about six months time.

We will also press for the Post Office management to look at alternative options where the sub post master or mistress does not wish to continue. This could be installing Post Office facilities in other premises or existing premises as in Aberdulais. We stand ready to lobby the UK Government should this prove necessary given the need to provide an accessible facility for the people of Aberdulais. The needs of the elderly and disabled must be of paramount importance.

We will jointly lobby the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government so that the favourable terms which Post Offices receive under the Small Business Rate Relief scheme will be extended to those premises which agree to undertake postal services in place of closed Post Offices.

Neath Guardian Article 9th July 2008

I am pleased to see that Neath Port Talbot College are providing nursery accommodation at Coleg Pontardawe, on the Afan and Neath Campuses.

These are called Lilliput Day Nurseries and they offer 127 full-time, and part-time places. They care for 200 children.

Each nursery is staffed by a leader, deputies and qualified nursery nurses, many of them are ex-learners from the College. This means good quality childcare for learners, staff and the local community is provided. College staff are given peace of mind knowing that their children are well looked after while they pursue their career and daily work.

I know that one of the main barriers to learning for mothers or fathers with young children is a lack of trusted, flexible childcare. Lilliput Day Nurseries services are reliable, flexible and of good quality. This is reflected in recent Care Standards & Social Services Inspectorate for Wales Inspection Reports.

Many nursery places are funded by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Learner Support Fund so there is often no cost to the learner and the learner also has peace of mind that their child is well looked after and happy while they are studying, going out on work placements or taking examinations.

The nurseries also train students by providing work experience and short-term practical placements as a vital part of their learning experience. In addition, long-term modern apprenticeships are provided for learners, allowing them to qualify to NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Childcare. Most are employed on qualifying as Nursery Nurses. Some have gone on to take up supervisory positions with local childcare providers or taken childcare positions abroad in America and Australia.

In today’s competitive job market there has never been a greater need for a work force which is better qualified and skilled and this skilled workforce will enable us to compete as a nation internationally. This nursery helps to achieve this by allowing parents to improve their skills base, it is also important in that mothers or fathers may compete on an equal footing and abolish social divisiveness which is line with the aspirations of the Welsh Assembly Government. I am pleased that these nurseries which are of such value to the community have been provided by a partnership of Neath Port Talbot College, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Labour led Neath Port Talbot Council.