Llyr on the BBC Politics Show

You can see Plaid Cymru Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd here on the BBC Politics Show - around 48 minutes into the programme.

Big Day in the Bay

Thanks to Plaid Cymru's team in Clwyd West for all the hours they have been putting in, day in, day out.

We had a fantastic turnout in Colwyn Bay on Saturday, with over 20 people out working. We delivered many thousands of leasflets and spoke to hundreds of people.

Hustings in Ruthin tonight organised by the Ruthin and District Civic Association - 7 p.m. at Canolfan Awelon.

The photos shows Llyr Huws Gruffydd and the team as they assemble in Colwyn Bay

Llyr's pledges to people with Parkinson's

Plaid Cymru Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd has pledged his support for the Parkinson’s UK manifesto, 3 Pledges for Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s UK – the support and research charity - is committed to improving life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s, and the charity has launched its manifesto, which puts forward the views of people affected by Parkinson’s to a future Government.

Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

“I wanted to pledge my support for people with Parkinson’s after talking to Parkinson’s UK. I can well understand some of the problems faced by carers and people with the condition, and I have signed up to the Parkinson’s UK manifesto.

"If I’m elected, I will do everything in my power to make sure people affected by Parkinson’s have all the support they need.”

The manifesto highlights three main issues that people affected by Parkinson’s want to see tackled:

· Fair access to health and social care for everyone with Parkinson’s

· The right benefits and financial support for those affected

· Government investment in a cure and better treatments

These issues are economically beneficial. The economy as a whole will benefit from people with Parkinson’s getting the right health and social care. Parkinson’s nurses could cut outpatient care, saving the NHS around £million a year in England.

Val Buxton, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Information at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Too many people with Parkinson’s can’t get the support, services or treatment they need to manage their condition.

“People with Parkinson’s can get a raw deal we want as many candidates as possible to sign up to our manifesto and highlight the issues that we’ve raised.

”Our manifesto pledges make financial sense for the next Government. The NHS can save around £56million by offering the right support through nurses and therapists. And Parkinson’s nurses alone could save the NHS around £6million a year in England by cutting outpatient care.”

For information and support call the Parkinson’s UK free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303 or visit parkinsons.org.uk.

Parkinson’s UK is the new name for the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom.

Plaid ready for Abergele

Plaid Cymru's Clwyd West campaigners were joined by Dafydd Wigley this week to knock doors in Abergele. The former Plaid leader is pictured with Llyr Huws Gruffydd and some of the team.

Great day in Colwyn Bay

A large team of helpers meant that we delivered many thousands of leaflets around Colwyn Bay on Saturday, and also had the chance to meet quite a few residents taking advantage of the good weather to spend time in their gardens.

Thanks to you all for your good wishes and thanks to the Plaid Cymru Clwyd West team for your tremendous support.

Photo: Llyr Huws Gruffydd get back to work after a brief break for lunch on Saturday in Colwyn Bay

Plaid Cymru urge stores: think Welsh

Plaid Cymru’s Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd is urging stores in the constituency to ensure the availability of Welsh milk on their shelves. He has expressed disappointment that the Cooperative and Somerfield are not stocking Welsh-branded milk.

Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

“Some supermarkets sell milk clearly labelled as Welsh, but this is by no means universal. The Welsh dairy industry should be supported and I urge stores to ensure the availability of Welsh milk.

“I am particularly disappointed that the Cooperative is not stocking Welsh milk at the moment, and this applies to Somerfield, now that it is part of the Cooperative. This was clear when I called into the Somerfield store at Pensarn, Abergele, as well as the Cooperative in Ruthin, and they did not stock Welsh milk.

“I hope this is a temporary supply problem, as it is a blemish on the Coop’s record of supporting the Welsh economy, especially such a staple product. It’s essential that we support our local agriculture industry as much as possible and I believe that supermarkets have a role to play to help consumers proactively purchase Welsh milk.

“The Coop has a fine record in striving to provide Welsh produce in its stores, as well as placing great emphasis on fair trade and organic produce, but I look forward to them once more showing their support to local producers by stocking their shelves with bottles of milk bearing the Welsh flag.”

Llyr added:

“Over recent years, supermarkets have made efforts to provide beef and lamb originating from Wales on their shelves. I believe that it’s about time that they make more of an effort to do the same for Welsh milk.”

The photograph shows Llyr Huws Gruffydd at the Somerfield store at Pensarn.

Plaid puts heart into town centre campaign

Plaid Cymru put its heart into saving our town centres this week as Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd and honorary president Dafydd Wigley brought the campaign to the centres of Colwyn Bay, Abergele and Ruthin.

Plaid’s campaign “Town Centre Y of our community” is calling for action to reverse the trend over recent years that has seen local shops, banks, pubs and newsagents in town centres close down while large scale retailers have moved to out of town developments. Plaid Cymru say that all levels of government need to adopt policies that ensure a sustainable and healthy future for our town centres.

Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

"Successive London governments have failed to stand up to big business, and have failed to protect our local town centre economies."

Plaid’s honorary president, Dafydd Wigley added that all levels of government need to work together in partnership with communities to ensure that town centre businesses have a viable future.

Plaid have outlined a number of proposals to put town centres back at the heart of our communities including:

· the extension of credit union principles to support small and medium sized businesses
· a change in planning regulations to promote sustainable communities
· a mandatory retail impact assessment with each major planning development
· a level playing field for smaller, local businesses

Plaid's Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

“We need to restate that town centres are not only an essential part, but also the heart, of our communities and should be protected and enhanced. So much influence and power is vested in the larger retailers, many of which have moved to out of town developments. The resulting reduction of footfall in town centres has had a detrimental effect and has caused many local businesses to close.

“I believe that the Plaid proposals will go some way towards reversing this trend and redress the balance. The Westminster parties have failed Wales once more, with London governments failing to create a level playing field for smaller, local companies. Plaid's measures will help to change things around, and give local businesses the support they need to make town centres viable again.”

Dafydd Wigley, who went to school in Colwyn Bay, added:

“Town centres have an invaluable role to play. Not only are they important in terms of attracting visitors, they are also play a vital social role. Many of the most vulnerable people in our communities are unable to access the large out of town developments and rely heavily on smaller, local shops.

“We all need to work together to ensure that our town centres have a viable future. Local councils, the Assembly government and the UK government must all take steps, but this won’t achieve anything if the community itself doesn’t get involved and support our local, town centre businesses.

"The UK government needs to work together with the Welsh and local government to introduce policies to sustain our town centres. For too long the London government has left small businesses to fend for themselves while they prop up big business. Despite bailing out the banks, many small businesses are unable to secure the credit they need to survive.

"This cannot be allowed to continue and this is why Plaid is calling for action now to put our town centres back at the heart of our communities.”

PHOTO: Llyr Huws Gruffydd and Dafydd Wigley in Colwyn Bay.

Llyr's Abergele call - town centre the heart of our communities

Llyr Huws Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidate for Clwyd West, says town centres like Abergele and Colwyn Bay are at the heart of our communities, in this week's Journal.