Plaid backs public servants' fight for jobs

Wrexham's government services ground to a halt today - the 450 workers at the Inland Revenue offices were out on strike. The hundreds working in the Department of Work and Pensions - dealing with benefits and pensions - were out on strike. The court staff in Bodhyfryd were out on strike.

All are members of the PCS union, which represents the civil servants. They were out on a one-day strike to highlight opposition to Gordon Brown's plans to axe 100,000 jobs. As many as 10,000 of those jobs will be in Wales - a disproportionate amount and many will hit poorer areas hard.

Many civil servants, despite the image, are low-paid workers dealing with key aspects of government... the Inland Revenue alone is bringing in many billions of income to the Treasury.

But Labour's obsession with privatisation and cutting public services means the civil service is being hacked. Standing up to Brown are the workers themselves with able support from other unions such as the RMT rail union.

Wrexham strikers attended a rally at the Miners' Institute on Grosvenor Road today to hear Steve Ryan, the local PCS rep, chair a meeting with Siôn Aled Owen, Plaid Cymru candidate for Wrexham in the coming Assembly elections, and Dave Bithell, the local RMT branch secretary. Both delivered powerful messages of support to the assembled strikers, with Dave reminding them of his bitter experiences of privatisation on the railways.

Plaid yn cefnogi brwydr gweision cyhoeddus am eu swyddi
Daeth gwasanaethau’r llywodraeth i stop yn Wrecsam heddiw - roedd y 450 o weithwyr yn swyddfeydd Cyllid y Wlad ar streic. Roedd y cannoedd sy’n gweithio yn yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau - sy’n ymdrin â budd-daliadau a phensiynau - ar streic. Roedd staff y llysoedd ym Modhyfryd ar streic.

Maent i gyd yn aelodau o Undeb y Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus a Masnachol (PCS), sy’n cynrychioli gweision sifil. Roeddent ar streic ddiwrnod i dynnu sylw at y gwrthwynebiad i gynlluniau Gordon Brown i gael gwared â 100,000 o swyddi. Bydd cymaint â 10,000 o’r swyddi hynny yng Nghymru - nifer anghymesur fydd yn golygu y bydd yr ardaloedd tlotaf yn dioddef yn arbennig.

Mae llawer o weision sifil, er gwaethaf pob ymddangosiad i’r gwrthwyneb, yn gweithio am gyflogau isel ar waith allweddol i’r llywodraeth ... mae Cyllid y Wlad ei hun yn ennill biliynau o bunnau i’r Trysorlys.

Ond mae obsesiwn Llafur gyda phreifateiddio a thorri ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus yn golygu bod y gwasanaeth sifil yn wynebu cwtogi llym. Ond mae’r gweithwyr eu hunain, gyda chefnogaeth gadarn undebau eraill fel Undeb y Gweithwyr Rheilffordd, Morwrol a Thrafnidiaeth (RMT) yn benderfynol o herio Brown.

Daeth streicwyr Wrecsam i Sefydliad y Mwynwyr ar Ffordd Grosvenor heddiw i glywed Steve Ryan, cynrychiolydd lleol y PCS, yn cadeirio cyfarfod gyda Siôn Aled Owen, ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru ar gyfer Wrecsam yn etholiadau’r Cynulliad eleni, a Dave Bithell, ysgrifennydd cangen leol yr RMT. Cafwyd negeseuon o gefnogaeth rymus gan y ddau i’r streicwyr oedd wedi ymgynnull, gyda Dave yn eu hatgoffa o’i brofiadau chwerw adeg preifateiddio’r rheilffyrdd.

No public money without public involvement

"No public money without public involvement" - That's the clear message Wrexham's Plaid Cymru branch is sending to the new owners of Wrexham Football Club, who have refused to allow fans a say in the future of the club.

Neville Dickens and Geoff Moss had originally promised Wrexham Supporters' Trust a place on the board and shares in the club. Now they've gone back on that agreement and say they may sell the club to another wealthy businessman if the price is right.

It seems nothing has been learned from the dark days of Hamilton, who almost succeeded in wrecking our club. Had it not been for fans' opposition, he would have got away with his scheme to bulldoze the ground.

The new owners want to knock down the Kop to make space for apartment blocks. They then want millions of public money from the Assembly to finance a new stand on the Kop.

Plaid Cymru's Wrexham spokesman Siôn Aled Owen said: "The fans have kept Wrexham FC alive and it's a disgrace that the Trust, which has 1000 members, is not allowed to contribute more fully by having a place on the board and shares in the club.

"That's the only way we can be certain that there's close scrutiny of everything that goes on at the club. We've come through too much in the past couple of years to allow it all to be thrown away again.

"We don't believe public money should be forthcoming for such an important community asset without the involvement of the public. We call on the owners to re-think their negative attitude towards the fans."

Wrexham Supporters' Trust has consistently offered £250,000 from its funds to help the club buy new players if it can convert that money to a stake in the club. The ultimate aim of the trust, which Plaid supports, is to take control of the club for the wider benefit of the community.

Dim arian cyhoeddus heb lais i'r cyhoedd

Dyna neges eglur Plaid Cymru i berchnogion Clwb Pêl Droed Wrecsam, sydd wedi gwrthod llais i’r cefnogwyr ynghylch dyfodol y clwb.
Roedd Neville Dickens a Geoff Moss wedi addo lle ar y bwrdd i Ymddiriedolaeth Cefnogwyr Wrecsam a chyfranddaliadau yn y clwb. Nawr maen nhw wedi bradychu’r cytundeb hwnnw ac yn dweud y byddant yn gwerthu’r clwb i ?r busnes cefnog arall am y pris iawn.
Mae’n ymddangos na ddysgwyd dim ers dyddiau Hamilton, y bu ond y dim iddo lwyddo i ddistrywio’n clwb. Oni bai am wrthwynebiad y cefnogwyr, byddai wedi cael ei ffordd a chwalu’r Cae Ras.
Mae’r perchnogion newydd am gael gwared â’r Kop i wneud lle ar gyfer blociau o fflatiau. Yna maen nhw’n ceisio miliynau o bunnau o arian cyhoeddus oddi wrth y Cynulliad i dalu am eisteddle newydd ar y Kop.
Meddai llefarydd Plaid Cymru Wrecsam, Siôn Aled Owen: “Y cefnogwyr sydd wedi cadw CPD Wrecsam yn fyw ac mae’n warthus na chaniateir rôl fwy canolog i’r Ymddiriedolaeth, sydd â mil o aelodau, drwy gael lle ar y bwrdd â chyfranddaliadau yn y clwb.
“Dyna’r unig ffordd y gallwn sicrhau y cedwir llygad barcud ar bopeth sy’n digwydd yn y clwb. Dydyn ni ddim yn credu y dylid defnyddio arian cyhoeddus i wneud dim â rhywbeth sy’n ased mor bwysig i’r gymuned heb fod gan y cyhoedd lais yn hynny. Galwn ar y perchnogion i ailystyried eu hagwedd negyddol tuag at y cefnogwyr.”
Nod yr Ymddiriedolaeth yn y pen draw yw ennill rheolaeth ar y clwb er budd y gymuned ehangach. Mae Plaid yn cytuno’n llwyr.

Special care cots under threat

• Janet Ryder, Plaid AM for North Wales, with Siôn Aled Owen and other activists collecting signatures for the Cherish petition at Wrexham market on 29 January.

A review that could see Wrexham Maelor Hospital lose four intensive care cots to treat new-born babies “would be the start of a slippery slope” to losing vital maternity services, says Plaid Cymru.
The proposals involve centralising certain treatments in one hospital for the whole of North Wales. But the public consultation does not say which services would be transferred to one of the big three hospitals - Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd at Bodelwyddan and the Maelor.
But now Plaid Cymru has learned the plans could see specialist care for sick and premature babies being transferred to Glan Clwyd, raising concerns about the long-term future of maternity care in Wrexham.
All four neonatal intensive care cots at Wrexham’s Special Care Baby Unit are being considered for transfer. This would mean the unit losing its ability to treat seriously ill babies and having to move urgent cases.
Plaid Cymru Assembly candidate for Wrexham Siôn Aled Owen said: “By its very nature a Special Care Baby Unit has to deal with urgent, often life-or-death, cases, so to even consider downgrading such an unit in a major centre of population like Wrexham is madness. Not only will the lives of babies be put at risk, but the likelihood is that the loss of the cots would be the start of a slippery slope that leads to the loss of other services from the Maelor."
Mr Owen added: "Childbirth is not like a heart operation or cancer treatment. It is a natural process with a wonderful outcome in most cases. Where special care is needed, thankfully in a small number of cases, that should be made available in all three main hospitals.
Mr Owen said he was backing the petition launched by Cherish, the parents' support group, to fight the closure proposal.

Bygythiad i gotiau babanod gofal arbennig

Byddai adolygiad a allai olygu y bydd Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam yn colli pedwar cot gofal dwys i drin babanod newydd eu geni “yn gychwyn ar lethr lithrig” tuag at golli gwasanaethau mamolaeth hollbwysig, meddai Plaid Cymru.
Mae’r cynigion yn golygu canoli rhai triniaethau mewn un ysbyty ar gyfer y cyfan o’r Gogledd. Ond nid yw’r ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus yn dweud pa wasanaethau y byddid yn eu trosglwyddo i un o’r tri ysbyty mawr - Ysbyty Gwynedd ym Mangor, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd ym
Modelwyddan ac Ysbyty Maelor.
Ond nawr mae Plaid Cymru wedi clywed y gallai’r cynlluniau olygu trosglwyddo gofal arbenigol ar gyfer babanod sâl a chynamserol i Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, sy’n achosi pryder ynghylch dyfodol hirdymor gofal mamolaeth yn Wrecsam.
Mae pob un o’r pedwar cot gofal dwys ar gyfer babanod newydd eu geni yn yr Uned Gofal Arbennig Babanod yn Wrecsam o dan ystyriaeth i’w trosglwyddo. Byddai hynny’n golygu y collai’r uned y gallu i drin babanod difrifol wael ac y byddai angen symud achosion brys.
Meddai Ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru ar gyfer y Cynulliad yn Wrecsam, Siôn Aled Owen: “Mae Uned Gofal Arbennig Babanod o’i hanfod yn gorfod ymdrin ag achosion brys, yn aml pan fo bywyd yn y fantol, felly mae hyd yn oed ystyried israddio uned o’r fath mewn canolfan poblogaeth fel Wrecsam yn wallgofrwydd. Nid yn unig y bydd bywydau babanod mewn perygl, ond y tebygrwydd yw y bydd colli’r cotiau yn gychwyn ar lethr lithrig a fydd yn golygu colli gwasanaethau eraill o Ysbyty Maelor."
Ychwanegodd Dr Owen: "Nid yw geni plentyn yn debyg i lawdriniaeth ar y galon neu trin canser. Mae’n broses naturiol sydd â chanlyniad ardderchog yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion. Pan fo angen gofal arbennig, a dim ond mewn nifer fach o achosion y mae hynny, diolch fyth, dylai fod hynny ar gael yn y tri phrif ysbyty.” Dywedodd Dr Owen ei fod yn cefnogi’r ddeiseb a lansiwyd gan Cherish, y grwp cymorth i rieni, i frwydro yn erbyn y cynnig.

House prices nine times the average wage

THE average cost of houses for sale in the Wrexham area is a staggering £184,000.

That's NINE times the average full-time wage in Wrexham of £20,500 a year, leaving many people unable to afford to live in the community where they grew up.

Just 3% of homes currently for sale in Wrexham cost under £100,000. Even that will be beyond the reach of many average wage earners.

The research was undertaken by the town's Plaid Cymru branch, which has been canvassing voters' views on affordable housing, a key issue in all parts of the borough.

Siôn Aled Owen, Plaid's candidate for the 2007 Assembly elections, said: "Our survey shows how difficult it's become to afford a house in Wrexham, as in other parts of Wales.

"We're also aware from our door-to-door canvassing of how much of an issue it is for young people as well as their parents. Plaid actively campaigns for affordable housing throughout Wales but we're also offering some positive options.

"Firstly, we are committed to helping first-time buyers with a £5,000 grant towards their deposit. This will mean people can access lower mortgage rates and gives real practical help."

He added: "Plaid wants to ensure that affordable housing for community need rather than private developers' greed is a priority in planning applications. We also strongly believe that all new housing developments should include a proportion of council housing.

"In addition to that, we want councils to have the same level playing field as housing associations to improve homes."

Plaid will be distributing information leaflets around the town in the coming weeks highlighting the true cost of housing in Wrexham.

• The survey was carried out in the week 20-27 November 2006 using the Evening Leader property supplement. There were 401 houses for sale in the Wrexham borough area at an average cost of £184,092.

Prisiau tai naw gwaith cyflog arferol

Mae prynu ty yn Wrecsam yn mynd yn fwy a mwy anodd i unrhyw un sydd ar gyflog arferol. Dim ond 3% o’r cartrefi sydd ar werth yn Wrecsam ar hyn o bryd sy’n costio o dan £100,000. Mae hyd yn oed hynny y tu hwnt i lawer ar gyflog cyffredin.
Dydy rhentu’n ddim rhatach - gall fflatiau fod yn £600 y mis ac mae miloedd ar y rhestr aros am fflatiau a thai cyngor.
Meddai Siôn Aled Owen, ymgeisydd Plaid ar gyfer Etholiadau’r Cynulliad 2007: “Gwyddwn pa mor anodd ydy hi bellach i fforddio ty yn
Wrecsam, fel gweddill Cymru. Rydym yn ymwybodol o’n canfasio o ddrws i ddrws pa mor bwysig yw hyn i bobl ifanc a’u rhieni.
“Mae Plaid yn ymgyrchu’n egniol dros dai ffordiadwy ar draws Cymru, ond ar yr un pryd rydym yn cynnig dewisiadau cadarnhaol.
“Yn gyntaf, rydym wedi ymrwymo i gynorthwyo’r rhai sydd am brynu’u cartref cyntaf gyda grant o £5,000 tuag at eu blaendal.
“Bydd hyn yn golygu y gall pobl fanteisio ar raddfeydd morgais is ac mae’n cynnig cymorth ymarferol go iawn."
Ychwanegodd: “Mae Plaid am sicrhau mai’r flaenoriaeth gyda cheisiadau cynllunio fydd tai fforddiadwy er budd y gymuned nid llenwi pocedi dyfnion datblygwyr preifat.
“Credwn yn gryf hefyd y dylai pob datblygiad tai newydd gynnwys cyfran o dai cyngor.
“Yn ogystal, rydym am i gynghorau fod ar yr un telerau â chymdeithasau tai i fedru gwella tai.”
• Y mis diwethaf, gwnaeth cangen Wrecsam Plaid Cymru arolwg o’r tai oedd ar werth yn y dref a’r cyffiniau. Roedd yn arswydus darganfod bod cyfartaledd pris y tai sydd ar werth yn ardal Wrecsam yn £184,000.
Dyna NAW gwaith y cyfartaledd cyflog llawn amser yn Wrecsam o £20,500 y flwyddyn, sy’n golygu bod llawer o bobl yn methu byw yn y gymuned lle cawson nhw eu magu.
Meddai Dr Owen: “Rydym yn cynnig atebion eglur i broblem enfawr yn ein cymunedau.”

Croeso - welcome

Siôn Aled Owen yw ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru yn etholiadau'r Cynulliad ym mis Mai yn Wrecsam.
Gallwch gysylltu â fo drwy wrecsamplaid@googlemail.com.

Siôn Aled Owen is Plaid Cymru's Assembly candidate for Wrexham in the May 2007 elections.
You can contact him through wrecsamplaid@googlemail.com.