Dr Davies, who was the Plaid candidate at the General Election, said he was delighted to be able to stand again for his home area.

“I am very pleased that Plaid Cymru members have put their faith in me and am confident we can build on our strong showing in the General Election when we received more than 6,000 votes and demonstrated clearly that only Plaid can challenge Labour in the Cynon Valley.

“There was a 9% swing to us from Labour and the lowest Labour majority in Cynon Valley since women were entitled to vote.

“I have been quite surprised by the statements of some leading Labour politicians since the election. They make great play of opposing Tory-LibDem cuts but fail to mention it was their party that caused the crisis in the first place and, had Labour been returned, we would have been faced with equally savage cuts and an increase in VAT.

“We should also remember that the gap between rich and poor actually increased with Labour in government and that the Labour Party has kept the Valleys down for far too long.”

Dr Davies said he looked forward to the campaign and would be very pleased to take part in hustings with other candidates.

“In this Welsh General Election, I hope people will support a Party that will put Wales first and a candidate that will put the Cynon Valley first,” he said.

Dr Davies said that during his parliamentary campaign he had campaigned on a number of local issues, for example opposing the Enviroparks development in Hirwaun, safeguarding Welsh-medium education in planned changes to sixth-forms, reopening Valleys tunnels and improving the Taff Trail for cyclists and walkers.

“I intend to pursue these and other issues over the next few months as the Assembly candidate,” he said. “The Valley has been let down badly by Labour over a great many years and the time has come for a fresh start.”

A former university lecturer and Chief Executive of Plaid Cymru, Dr Davies is now development manager for Welsh-medium higher education throughout Wales and was a regular broadcaster on TV and radio during the General Election campaign.

He is married to Lisa Turnbull, who comes from Milton Keynes and who is a researcher in health policy.

7 p.m. Wednesday October 6th 2010

Hirwaun Village Hall

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

The Meeting is at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15th April 2009 at Hirwaun Rugby Club.

Come along to discuss the Development and Future of Hirwaun Village.

All Welcome.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has angered parents and pupils alike, who want the name to remain the same.

Speaking from the Senedd, Bethan Jenkins AM a former pupil of the school said:

“It is unacceptable for the council to ignore the wishes of those people who the school truly belongs to: the pupils, parents and teachers. Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen is a widely recognised name throughout Wales and has particular connotations for community spirit and educational excellence. The school, which was the first Welsh-medium secondary school to be opened in south Wales, has a special place in the hearts of those in the community.”

Leanne Wood AM for South Wales Central, who presented evidence to the Assembly’s petitions committee on the issue last year, added:

“I reaffirm my support for the parents, teachers and pupils at the school who have fought a hard and determined campaign on this over many years. It is unacceptable that a decision like this is not in the hands of the school itself but is a matter for the council to impose. I’d like to congratulate the pupils and parents at the school who have led the campaign and vow to continue supporting them until plans for the name change are dropped.”

He said it was scandalous that gas and electricity bills in the UK had gone up twice as much as the European Union average over the last year – 30 per cent as compared to 15 per cent.

And he said it was appalling that people using meters had to pay more than those who pay by other means.

Dr Davies said: “I am very pleased that Plaid Cymru is taking steps to help tackle the problem of fuel poverty by launching a new campaign Warming Wales: On Your Side this Winter.

“The average Welsh family is paying £517 more for gas and £236 more for electricity than they were five years ago.

“Many people in the Cynon Valley are struggling to make ends meet and are facing some tough decisions this winter – either to go into debt or cut back on other necessities, such as food, to be able to heat their homes properly.

“Age Concern has estimated that more than 1,500 people will die in Wales this winter because of inadequate heating, and this is an intolerable situation.

“It is high time the UK Government levied a windfall tax on the profits of the energy companies and used the money to help with people’s gas and electricity bills.

“I would also urge the Government to follow the lead of the energy regulator Ofgem and tell the energy companies to stop charging higher rates on prepaid meter customers, which is, in effect, an extra charge on their most vulnerable customers.”

Welsh Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones will speak Welsh at a ministerial meeting of the EU’s Culture Council in Brussels on Thursday where interpretation will be provided into other languages.

Speaking ahead of the meeting the Plaid MEP said:

“I’m delighted that today the Welsh language is finally getting the same recognition as other European languages. I’ve been campaigning for official status for Welsh in Europe for many years. This is literally making history in Welsh.

“This is of huge symbolic importance and will raise the profile of Wales as a nation on the European stage. I congratulate Alun Ffred Jones and the One Wales Government for making it happen. I also want to thank all of the organisations and individuals in Wales who have given such strong support to this campaign.

“In spite of those who laughed at the idea, including then Prime Minister Tony Blair, and despite opposition from the other parties, we have come a long way. But this isn’t the end of the story. I’m still pushing the European Parliament to adopt similar new rules for Welsh. The fact that other European bodies have done it shows that it is both possible and practical.”

Valleys based AM Leanne Wood said:

“My thoughts are with the workers who have lost their jobs; I sincerely hope that they can find alternative work soon. I am particularly concerned that we are seeing the loss of local offices. These distinct titles are well respected in the areas they serve and to lose a local office it will have a knock on effect on coverage.

Many people pop in to the office with stories for the paper won’t now be able to. This is little more than centralisation and a cost cutting exercise. There is a worry that losing an editor will be the start of a merger of distinct titles that serve their local community. I’m sure they’ll be cross party opposition to these moves. I hope we’ll be able to effectively campaign against these proposals.”

Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks added:

“We know that local papers are most trusted by the public and are widely read. A recent survey found that 64% of people in Wales use local newspapers as a source of knowledge about politics and current affairs in Wales. With the decline in ITV Wales political coverage it will mean that less and less people will get Welsh news. We now are staring at a Welsh information deficit about how decisions are made. With a referendum on the way how will people get the facts needed to make a sensible decision?”

Leanne Wood has tabled a cross party statement of opinion regarding the cuts and Chris Franks has written to the Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones about their concern.

The Meeting is at 5pm on Thursday 9th October 2008 at Sobells Sports Centre, Aberdare.

Where R.C.T. Councillors will be deciding on the Gloucesters/Ironworks site planning application which will have a huge effect on the life of Hirwaun village.

Developers have re-submitted plans to build 130 houses on the Hirwaun Gloucesters and old Ironworks site. This area is much valued and used by the community as an area for recreation and leisure and home to an abundance of wildlife and flora.

Councillors voted to refuse planning permission in July 2008.
R.C.T PLANNING OFFICERS ARE TRYING TO PERSUADE COUNCILLORS TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS & APPROVE THIS APPLICATION

There is a very real danger that councillors may approve this application despite overwhelming objections from residents over the last 3 years.

Planning officers are of the opinion that proposed so called ‘improvements’ to the roads in and around the Church and Post Office which consist of speed bumps, widening of pavements and dropped kerbs will solve the existing problems and accommodate a 61% increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Residents however feel that speed bumps are not a solution – the problems which occur on a daily basis occur at low speed and are due to the sheer volume of traffic which uses the narrow roads in and around the centre of the village. High Street will be gridlocked!

R.C.T. Councillors will be deciding this application at: 5 P.M ON THURSDAY 9TH October 2008 at the Sobells Sports Centre

IF YOU CARE THEN PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY ATTENDING THE PLANNING MEETING TO DEMONSTRATE THAT HIRWAUN RESIDENTS WANT A SAY IN THE FUTURE OF THE VILLAGE

The application, submitted by Pennant Walters Ltd. is for the erection of nine wind turbines, an anemometer and associated infrastructure and buildings on land south of the A465 in Hirwaun at Hirwaun Common, Mynydd Cefn y Gyngon and Mynydd Bwllfa.

The turbines are 115 metres high and will generate up to 3MW each of renewable (wind generated) energy.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has objected to the proposed development on the grounds that it would have an unacceptably detrimental impact on the standards of amenity to occupiers of properties in the vicinity of the application site can reasonably expect to enjoy.

It also objected on the grounds of the adverse effect on the use and enjoyment of the Dare Valley Country Park. Pennant Walters has appealed against this decision

The Public Inquiry – which is scheduled to last for eight days – will begin at 10am on Tuesday 14th October 2008 in Hirwaun Village Hall.

All welcome.

Over 500,000 visitors have visited the National Assembly last year, according to the latest report by National Assembly for Wales Commission.

Chris Franks said: “I was very pleased to welcome Hirwaun Mother’s Union to the Senedd. More and more citizens are engaging with the Senedd through visits, meeting Assembly Members, learning about our new powers and viewing proceedings from our public galleries. Pupils and students from across the nation are taking part in our education programmes. The next step is to turn the Senedd into a proper parliament.
People are welcome to contact me if they wish to come and visit. Feel free to contact me by ringing 01443 421691 or email christopher.franks@wales.gov.uk or have a look on my website “