Plaid Cymru Ceredigion Your representatives in Ceredigion

Elin Jones MS joined the Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales team at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay to mark the charity’s annual Coffee Morning fundraising event.

The event also offered an opportunity to find out more about how Macmillan in Wales is supporting people living with cancer, as well as research from the charity on how people living with cancer are being affected by the cost of living crisis. Macmillan’s annual Coffee Morning usually sees millions of pounds donated to help support people affected by cancer.

Ceredigion is the constituency most reliant on heating oil or LPG as a source of energy on mainland Britain.

Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion, Ben Lake, has criticised the UK Government’s “bring forward a clear and adequate package” for off-grid households and businesses.

This week the UK Government said households who cannot benefit from the £2,500-a-year Energy Price Guarantee will instead get “an additional payment of £100 to households across the UK”. The Government have also said that “equivalent support” will be provided for non-domestic consumers who use heating oil or alternative fuels instead of gas, but have not provided any details.

“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to all those who are grieving following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“Her reign oversaw a period of great change in Ceredigion, and as we reflect on her 70 years on the throne it is clear that hers was a life dedicated to public service and duty. She kept her early promise to serve her whole life, and she fulfilled it with dignity and grace.

“The Queen was one constant in our ever-changing lives, and her loss marks a moment of shock and sadness. Her family, of course, will mourn her death most acutely and our thoughts are with them at this sad time.” 

Elin Jones MS & Ben Lake MP

Increased energy and fuel costs are having a terrible impact on households and businesses at the moment, and unfortunately areas like Ceredigion are hit even harder due to our rurality. Following April’s energy price cap increase, the Welsh Government estimated that some 45% of households in Wales could fall into real fuel poverty. Fuel poverty comes at a cost: to educational attainment, to the economy, and to our public services. The risks to health, wellbeing and even life are profound.

Last week Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion visited Cardigan Foodbank. 

Ben met staff and volunteers to discuss how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting the foodbank and those who use it. 

The foodbank, which is part of the Trussell Trust, relocated into the old Co-op supermarket building at the bottom of Quay Street back in 2020, and has been taken over as part of the ministries of New Life Church as a community project. 

Ben Lake, Member of Parliament for Ceredigion is encouraging support for Plascrug Park, Aberystwyth as the UK’s Favourite Park in a nationwide public vote organised by green space charity, Fields in Trust. www.fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks

Thank you to the Eisteddfod for the honour of being Llywydd Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Ceredigion.  The best Eisteddfod the nation has ever seen... since Eisteddfod Aberystwyth 1992.

It’s an honour to speak on the stage of the Eisteddfod stage here in Tregaron, a historical town, a commercial town, a drovers’ town...and a town close to my heart.

Whilst welcoming the benefits the new 20mph law will bring, Elin Jones MS is calling for it to be rolled out equitably throughout all villages.

This week, members of the Senedd approved the introduction of a new law that will enable speed limits in built-up areas to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in Wales from next year. The aim is to reduce road collisions and noise from the traffic, as well as improving road safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Latest police data shows that 50% of the 5,570 people hurt in collisions in Wales happened on 30mph roads.

Although there are many things to cheer now – the success of the Welsh football team, the revival of agricultural shows, small eisteddfodau and local events across the county following Covid, and the National Eisteddfod visiting Ceredigion in August – the current cost of living crisis is casting its shadow over society.

Unfortunately, the impact of the increase in energy and fuel bills is having a huge impact across Wales and particularly so in rural areas such as Ceredigion. Reports suggest that as many as 45% of households in Wales may be in fuel poverty following the latest increase in the energy price cap.

Yesterday, members of Mencap Ceredigion visited the Senedd to launch a new partnership between ITV Cymru Wales and Mencap Cymru, during Learning Disability Week.