Martin Plant

In a few short weeks local residents will find out which Post offices will close in our area as part of Labour ’s program to close 2,500 Post Offices across the UK.

Liberal Democrats across the UK have been fighting hard against Labour’s closure program.  Already the Lib Dems have submitted a petition to 10 Downing Street with over 500,000 signatures calling on the Government to keep Post Offices open.

Already in Bridgend and Maesteg Lib Dems have been actively campaigning against closures. The Lib Dems on the County Borough Council successfully past a motion condemning the closure program and in Maesteg launched a petition.

On all accounts Labour have attacked the Lib Dems for trying to save local post offices.  Our MP backs Labour’s closure program and has voted on 12 occasions in favour of axing post offices.  Even our county councillors have done the same and failed to vote with Lib Dems to save our Post Offices.  It is clear that Labour don’t care about our Post Offices.

I am sure that Labour will try and discredit our actions by what ever means possible, but you can find the truth out for yourself by clicking here 

Over the next few weeks during the consultation period Ian Jones and I and your local Lib Dem team will be campaigning hard to keep our Post Offices open.  You can join our fight to save our post offices by geeting involved by contacting us or signing our petition.

The Lib Dem Team have received complaints regarding the spelling of Llynfi in one of the artwork panels of the new replacement bus shelter on Talbot Street, Maesteg.

BCBC Regeneration Team have confirmed that the spelling of ‘Llynvi’ is correct given the context in which it appears as a recognition of the Duffryn, Llynvi and Porthcawl Railway confirmed by the Act of Parliament of 1829 and which was amalgamated within the Llynvi Valley Railway in 1883.

Gary Lewis, Ian Jones, Jackie Radford and I would like to say “thank you” to all those in Maesteg that supported us in the local election in May. 

Here in Maesteg all the hard work paid of and now the Welsh Liberal Democrats are the main political opposition to Labour. 

 Here are the election results for both the County Borough and for Town Council in the Maesteg West Ward.

Bridgend County Borough Council 2008 - Maesteg West ward (two seats)

Don Buttle (Labour) - 691

Geoff Fahey (Ind) - 382

Alan Gould (Ind) - 258

Gary Lewis (Welsh Liberal Democrat) - 473

Martin Plant (Welsh Liberal Democrat) - 463

Colin Teesdale (Labour) - 702

John Williams (Plaid) - 343

Turnout 40.88%

Elected: Colin Teesdale and Don Buttle

Maesteg Town Council (5 seats)

Bernard Bolger (Labour) - 688

Harry Fenny (Labour) - 550

Alan Gould (Ind) - 405

Mike Harpur (Labour) - 490

Ian Jones (Welsh Liberal Democrats) - 568

Gary Lewis (Welsh Liberal Democrat) - 510

Martin Plant (Welsh Liberal Democrat) - 579

Jackie Radford (Welsh Liberal Democrat) - 528

Sel Sullivan (Ind) - 465

Colin Teesdale (Labour) - 665

Ross Thomas (Labour) - 611

John Williams (Plaid) - 488

Elected: Bernard Bolger, Ian Jones, Martin Plant, Colin Teesdale and Ross Thomas

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have now two elected members on Maesteg Town Council.  Ian Jones and I will work hard all year round to stand up for the local people.  Thank you.

Local residents across the Llynfi Valley have to wait until summer 2008 to hear whether their local Post Office will close as part of Labour’s programme that will see 2, 500 Post Offices close across the UK.“Already we have seen two Post Offices close in Maesteg under Labour, now they want to close more” said Gary Lewis . “Post Offices provide a vital service to the local community, specially to older people and those that don’t have access to private transport”.

Ian Jones, Gary Lewis, Martin Plant and Jackie Radord are calling on the Bridgend Borough Council to extend its successful No Cold Calling Zones to Maesteg.Signs are put up in a zone warning uninvited callers that they risk being reported.

A Council vacancy has arisen on Maesteg Town Council following the disqualification of a Labour councillor for the Caerau Ward.

The disqualification occurred after the Labour councillor failed to attend any council meetings for six months.

 The Labour Party in Maesteg clearly show little regard in representing the electorate here.  How can you represent people when you don’t turn up?  It’s clearly time for change.

Local residents have contacted the Lib Dem Team after suffering noise pollution caused by Trinity Nightclub.

 As a result the Environmental Health Dept will be visiting the Lib Dem Team to discuss this problem to see how we can improve the quality of life of neighbouring residents.

Good News - St Micheal’s Road is to be resurfaced following action taken by the Lib Dem Focus Team.

Cllr Voisey, Cabinet Member for the Environment has informed the Lib Dem Team that St Michael’s Road will be resurfaced  “as a priority”.

The Lib Dem Focus Team held a meeting with the Conservative cabinet member for the Environment, Cllr Matthew Voisey to discuss residents concerns over traffic and road repairs in Maesteg West after years of neglect under Labour.

Martin Plant and Ian Jones spent time talking with Cllr Voisey exploring ways to improve our roads and address traffic problems in the area.

Cllr Voisey took time listening to our representations.  Following this, the Lib  Dem Team gave Cllr Voisey a tour around Maesteg to see first hand what residents have to put up with.

 ”Our meeting with Cllr Voisey was very productive and hopefully we will have action for our roads soon” said Ian Jones

Action for our roads

The Maesteg Liberal Democrat Focus Team has criticised Labour’s record on crime after Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was “too scared” to walk around London alone at night.

After 10 years of a Labour Government, the Home Secretary initially admitted that London’s streets were too dangerous for women to walk alone at night. Then her aides backtracked to say she was willing to go out at night and had recently bought a “kebab in Peckham”. But the owner of the takeaway came forward to reveal Ms Smith had in fact visited the kebab shop with a bodyguard.

Asked why she would not feel safe on London’s streets at night, the Home Secretary replied: “Well, I just don’t think that’s a thing that people do, is it, really?”

Local Liberal Democrat Campaigner Martin Plant said:

“People in Maesteg will be alarmed to hear just how out of touch Labour’s Home Secretary is. The reality is that most young women don’t have a cocooned ministerial car with a couple of policemen on hand. They have to walk home from the train or bus station at night.

“I often walk home from town late at night and feel unsafe, especially late at night along Commercial Street.  If I feel unsafe, I don’t know how a single female would feel.  Residents tell me that they would fell alot safer if there is a continuous police presence - especially at night”.

“After ten years of Labour this is an astonishing admission of Government failure. Instead of trying to spin her way out of the controversy, Jacqui Smith should focus her attention on giving local police the resources they need to keep people in Maesteg safe.”