ELECTION 2016 - Carmarthen West & South Pembs candidates push for your support

The Western Telegraph gave each candidates 250 words to put their case across.

In alphabetical order, Valerie Bradley (Green), Allan Brookes (UKIP), Angela Burns (Conservative), Alistair Cameron (Lib Dem), Chris Overton (Independent Save Withybush Save Lives), Simon Thomas (Plaid Cymru) and Marc Tierney (Labour) set out their stalls.

VAL BRADLEY

Wales Green Party

The Green Party is a voice that must be heard in the Senedd. The dominant parties in Welsh government have failed you.

Every day sees tighter financial restrictions on our local government while loading it with greater responsibilities. Charities are struggling to fill the gap - support for our most vulnerable has been pared to the bone; our children’s grades are slipping behind international peers; and, many of us find ourselves dangerously distant from vital health services.

More widely, the extraordinary crisis of climate change has been accepted as an inevitable inconvenience. Fear is being used politically to foment a reaction to the refugee crisis and propagates the toxic myth that immigration is a threat not an asset.

We are a rich country with abundant natural resources. We can and must do better. These problems are not insurmountable. I want:

• A health service you can rely on.
• An education system that is inspirational and does not test to the point of trauma.
• Active support for entrepreneurial businesses in renewable energy.
• A transport system that supports vulnerable citizens and nourishes our vital tourist industry.
• Better accountability and transparency to improve efficiency and avoid abuse.

In the Senedd I would work hard to achieve these ambitions – I would be a voice for social justice, the environment and the local economy. Time is running out to secure our children’s future.

ALLAN BROOKES

UKIP Wales

I want the country to be out of the EU and regaining control of our borders. Only then can we reclaim our Welsh coast fishing industry, and restore territorial waters. Also I would work to: PROTECT farmers’ subsidies – and even increase them, target money on environmental protection, conservation and flood defences and reduce regulation on farmers.

CONTROL immigration and a points-based system like Australia. The issue of 600,000+ National Insurance numbers in 2015 impacts on schools, hospitals and public services and is unsustainable. ALL public works should use only British steel. EU Policy means our energy cost is 65% more than in India and 100% more than the USA.

SECURE Withybush Hospital’s mother and baby unit IMPROVE road and rail links to West Wales.

RETURN to Technical Schools with three streams/levels of education.

RAPID EXPANSION of cheap gas and coal fired power stations with good emission controls . Stop the EU forced closure of existing plants before the lights go out. REGAIN British control of all utilities, especially our Hospitals from TTIP and Ports and Airports. These should be run as independent non-profit company units such as happens with Welsh Water and even improved upon.

REVIEW Government spending with an aim of drastic reduction of waste, hopefully leading to lower taxation.

ANGELA BURNS

Welsh Conservative Party

I’ve been very privileged to serve as your Assembly Member for the past 5 years reflecting your concerns, worries and hopes to Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay and standing up for your interests in the devolved areas of Heath, Education and Public Services to name but a few.

At the Assembly, scrutiny of the Government has been my key role and I have scored real benefits nationally and locally. I’ve extracted agreement for a Bill on Additional Learning Needs, I’ve kept the Health Minister on the ropes for Labour’s slashing of the NHS budget and I’ve refused to support the forced return of Dyfed.

I pride myself on not having being dragged into party politics and political point scoring. I’ve taken on Westminster over policies that disadvantage my constituents and I’ve lobbied Labour Ministers in Cardiff over a range of issues including lack of support for Businesses, education standards, NHS services, the A40 and Broadband.

I’ve helped over 7,500 individuals with concerns ranging from cancer treatment waiting times and housing to local parking strategies and public transport. I’ve challenged both County Councils and Hywel Dda to be more efficient and perform better I came into politics because of the NHS and it’s still the biggest concern to me and most of you. The Welsh Conservatives will restore Tenby’s MIU, enhance services at Glangwili and bring back services like SCBU to Withybush.

Unlike Labour and Plaid I’ve never voted for a budget that cuts funds to the NHS. I never will.

ALISTAIR CAMERON

Welsh Liberal Democrats

My priorities are: More and better paid jobs for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. I will make the Welsh government work much harder at bringing good employers into our area and helping small businesses expand. We need to improve transport links to the rest of the country, improve broadband and abolish the Cleddau Bridge tolls. Tourist attractions must be provided throughout the year.

Support Withybush Hospital and urge the health board to restore a 24 hour paediatric service. I want to extend services at Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospitals and make it quicker and easier to see a GP. We must attract more doctors to Pembrokeshire and give them good career opportunities.

The Welsh government must provide more support for our farmers who are facing real difficulties. Infant class sizes need to be reduced to 25. As a teacher I know children should have individual attention in smaller classes.

Free childcare must be extended to cover children in their first and second years. This will help families who wish to get back into work. Keep Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Councils and oppose plans to recreate Dyfed. Better services can be provided through councils working closer together and sharing resources. Councils must support valuable services such as Tenby Avenue Centre for vulnerable adults.

Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire are special counties with unique natural resources which we must preserve. I was privileged to have grown up here and will work hard to serve you. Please contact me on 01834 811818 or 07901 564616 or at alistairc@traseweb.co.uk

CHRIS OVERTON

Independent Save Withybush Save Lives

I am a doctor not a politician. I have worked solely for the NHS for 34 years, 17 as Consultant Obstetrician at Withybush. I have never undertaken private practice. I believe the NHS should be the best health care provider in the world and should be available and accessible equally for all of us. This is why I have fought for 11 years to save services in Pembrokeshire from a position of relative weakness as an NHS whistleblower with management watching my every move and making life difficult for me at every opportunity.

Elect me on 5th May and let me act for you on a level playing field in the Assembly as your AM.

I have a plan for NHS Wales which will provide safe, sustainable, equitable and fair provision of health care to every person in Wales. It is possible to have an A&E within one hour and an Obstetric Unit within 20 minutes of labouring women across Wales. I have shared it with the Welsh Government but it wasn’t politically viable for them. You can’t trust politicians because they want to interfere and play politics with the NHS. Give me the chance to convince them that a cross party consensus on health care is needed, not delivered to benefit any political party and make them more electable, but to benefit the citizens of Wales.

If you want true, honest, transparent and dogged determination to represent all your interests from your AM then vote for me on May 5.

SIMON THOMAS

Plaid Cymru

I’ve been privileged to be your regional Assembly Member for the last five years. I’ve fought to save our services at Withybush Hospital, for a VAT cut for tourism businesses, to abolish tolls on the Cleddau Bridge, and for better GP services in south Pembrokeshire.

I have been successful in stopping the closure of the Avenue Centre, restoring Tenby’s Minor Injuries Unit this Easter, and secured a review of the impact of the the Cleddau tolls on businesses from the Welsh Government.

Imagine what I could do as the AM for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire.

I’m concerned about the pressure on Glangwili Hospital because of the removal of services from Withybush. Only Plaid Cymru has a long term health plan to restore services and cut waiting times by investing in an extra 1000 doctors and 5000 nurses.

This constituency will decide whether we elect a new Welsh Government – you have it in your hands on the May 5th to be the change Wales needs. Locally it is a two horse race between Plaid Cymru and the Tory incumbent; nationally it is a race between Labour and Plaid.

People are crying out for competent leadership so that we can create prosperity, repair the Welsh NHS and give our young people the best start in life. Plaid Cymru wants to create wealth and share wealth to build a fair nation standing on her own two feet. No other party has the success of our country at the heart of its endeavours.

MARC TIERNEY

Welsh Labour

I grew up in West Wales. After university I returned to join the management team at Radio Pembrokeshire.

For 12 years I’ve worked in the third and public sectors broadening my understanding of the local economy.

I live with my partner Sarah and our three children in the heart of the constituency. I understand the challenges for a rural area like ours and the difficulties in providing public services that must match local requirements.

As a candidate, I’ve stepped forward to support local communities with the issues they face. The NHS is my top priority, using every chance I get to put forward fresh ideas to improve GP access, widen the range of services at Tenby Cottage as well as leading the discussion on returning paediatric services to Withybush.

If elected, I will continue to work with campaigners and I pledge to open a channel to Welsh Government and Health Board to discuss plans to develop the best care for the future.

This election is about the future. We need an economy that works for everyone, especially our young people.

Building on our tourism and farming traditions, our economy must diversify – a low carbon, digital economy that provides jobs for our kids.

Importantly, South Pembrokeshire needs a strong voice, someone who cares about our people, is passionate about our communities and positive about our public services.

I’ll be a new voice with fresh ideas for our future. I’ll work hard to represent you in the Assembly.

Get in touch: facebook.com/MarcTierney2016