Williams praises Aberystwyth for continuing student satisfaction
Commenting on the release of the 2010 National Student Survey, which rates Aberystwyth as the 5th best university in the UK, and the best in Wales, for student satisfaction, Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams said:
“Aberystwyth has an outstanding reputation for student satisfaction, and the results of this survey bear that out once again.
“The University has an excellent academic pedigree, but it is also a fantastic place to study.
“It is good to see further recognition of the excellent Aberystwyth experience, and I am sure that new students coming to Aberystwyth this autumn will find the same welcoming atmosphere.”
Hospital assurances needed despite extension
Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has today welcomed the announcement of an extension to the works at Bronglais to include a day surgery ward, but has warned that residents remain concerned after a leaked document suggested the Aberystwyth hospital would be downgraded.
Hywel Dda Health Board has announced that a day surgery ward will be built in addition to the original project.
The leaked document sparked concern after suggesting that Bronglais would be designated as a rural general hospital, and while the Health Board has stated that the report was ‘out of date’ many local residents remain concerned about the future of the hospital.
Commenting, Mark Williams said:
“This work is obviously a welcome recognition that we need improved facilities, and I look forward to seeing the completed work.
“Concern however remains that further services will be removed from Bronglais, particularly after the leaked document.
“We need work on our hospitals to improve the level of facilities and care, but this will mean nothing if at the same time services are taken away.
“What we need is a categoric reassurance that Bronglais will remain a district general hospital.”
Hywel Dda leaked document of great concern to Ceredigion residents
Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has given his comments on the leaked Hywel Dda Health Board document regarding the future of healthcare provision in Dyfed.
He commented: “The leaked document makes for very concerning reading. Whilst I have long acknowledged the need to provide services for people closer to home and some centres of specialism, that in no way permits the removal of core services at Bronglais Hospital.
“The very assertion that Bronglais has been considered as a new category of rural general hospital is very worrying. People in Ceredigion will well remember the former ‘Designed to Deliver’ document in 2006 which sought the removal of consultant maternity cover and paediatric services from Ceredigion and I sincerely hope that we do not re-visit that time of worry again.
“Whilst the Health Board’s most recent document presents a vision of community delivery in the Hywel Dda area, it lacks the detail of the leaked one and much of that detail remains very worrying for us.
“I have always expressed the view that the centralisation of health services in Dyfed presents difficulties for those of us who live in rural, peripheral areas. I hope to be proven wrong, but this leaked document does not fill me with confidence that this is the case”.
Mark Williams MP welcomes introduction of alcohol exclusion zones in Cardigan and Lampeter
Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has welcomed the long-awaited introduction of alcohol exclusion zones in both Cardigan and Lampeter.
Joint applications made by the Town Councils with Dyfed Powys Police finally came into operation last Friday. Both towns have been campaigning for many years to introduce the order to help in the battle against anti-social behaviour. The support for such a measure has increased after the successful implementation of a similar scheme in Aberystwyth in 2005.
Local MP Mark Williams, who supported both Cardigan and Lampeter in their campaigns, commented: “At long last, it’s great to hear that both Cardigan and Lampeter have finally got their alcohol bans in place.
“The success of the scheme in Aberystwyth over the past 5 years has demonstrated how the extra powers given to the police have had a positive effect on curbing anti-social behaviour there. The new powers to confiscate alcohol and to control drunken behaviour in these town centres will be a great support to the law-abiding residents of Lampeter and Cardigan.
“I’m confident that as in Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter will benefit greatly from this scheme. Both communities deserve congratulations for achieving this goal after many years of campaigning to this end”.
Cardigan Welsh Liberal Democrat County Councillor Mark Cole added: “Cardigan has been fighting for this order for years. The Town Council has been right behind the police in its application and I’m delighted that we now have an operational alcohol exclusion zone in place.
“In this our 900th year of celebrations, the last thing we want is for tourists to come into town only to see the sight of people drinking from open containers on the Guildhall steps. This isn’t the image that we want to portray in Cardigan.
“I’m confident that the police will use their new powers where necessary but will also show common sense as well when it comes to dealing with local events and organisations that use the town centre streets on a regular basis”.
Mark Williams MP welcomes upgrade to Arriva Trains into Aberystwyth
Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams was welcomed an announcement that £7.5m is to be spent on upgrades to Arriva Train stock.
The investment to Arriva Trains Wales will take place over 18 months, with the latest stage of work on the trains due to start in December It includes new seating, luggage areas and toilets, aiming to bring "as new" interiors to old carriages.
Mark Williams MP commented: “This announcement is to be welcomed though a total upgrade of the rolling stock would have been preferable.
“Nevertheless, regular users of the service between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury will testify to the shabby appearance of the interior, the lack of luggage space and the inadequacy of clean toilet facilities at present.
“We need to portray a professional appearance to everyone who comes to Ceredigion by rail and at present, this is not happening. I am therefore encouraged by this news of further investment and look forward to travelling with fellow passengers in a cleaner and more comfortable environment in journeys to come”.
Williams urges rethink on Cardigan court closure
Speaking in a Westminster debate, Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has urged the Government to look again at plans to close the Magistrates Court in Cardigan.
Mr Williams, who secured the debate, has argued that public transport links from Cardigan to the suggested alternatives at Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest are not good enough to make this a viable option. He expressed concern that the closure of the court could deny people in Cardigan and the surrounding area reasonable access to justice.
He pointed out that the consultation document does not consider those travelling from large centres of population outside Cardigan such as Aberporth, Llanarth and Llandysul, and urged that the ‘rural-proofing’ of the document be tightened.
Mr Williams also highlighted that the consultation states that the transfer of work to Aberystwyth will be assisted by the construction of a new court, with the project currently in limbo after the collapse of the developers.
In response the Minister acknowledged the concerns over distances, and urged for as many people as possible to respond to the consultation with their views.
Commenting, Mark Williams said:
“I accept the need to keep the number of courts under review, and close those that are not needed, but I do not believe there is a case for Cardigan to be closed.
"The distance combined with a lack of public transport makes Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest, makes the Cardigan closure extremely unpalatable.
“There is clearly a need for a Magistrates Court in Cardigan, but at the moment, the lack of facilities means that it is under-used. Given the current state of the public finances we may not be able to rectify that in the immediate future, but we should certainly not be reducing this much needed service.
"I don’t believe the consultation fully acknowledges the difficulties faced in Ceredigion, and there needs to be a change of emphasis on the needs of rural communities.”
Welsh motorcyclists waiting three times longer for test
Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has reaffirmed the need for a change to the motorcycle test after an answer to a Parliamentary Question revealed that Welsh learner riders have to wait on average at least three times longer than those in England or Scotland to take Module 1 of the test.
The answer shows that as of 21st June, while the average Scottish waiting time is 2 weeks and in England it is 3 weeks, in Wales those wanting to take the test face an average wait of 9 weeks.
Mark Williams met the Road Safety Minister Mike Penning earlier this week, who pledged to reform the motorcycle test and ensure that Mid Wales is given the coverage it needs in the interim.
The Government announced a review of the motorcycle test, introduced by the previous Government, within weeks of coming to power, after the test was criticised by individual MPs, and the Transport Select Committee, for the lack of facilities provided across the UK.
Commenting, Mark Williams said:
“This shows just how badly Wales is doing as a result of the new motorcycle test, and I am pleased that the Government is addressing this issue.
“For Welsh riders to have wait so much longer than English or Scottish riders speaks volumes about the lack of facilities in Wales.
“With learners having to wait nine weeks to travel as far as Bangor or Swansea, it’s easy to imagine many people not bothering with the test at all.
“The Minister acknowledged that this situation is unacceptable, and these latest figures show the extent of the problems.”
Williams secures debate on court reorganisation
Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams will next week argue against the closure of the Magistrates Court in Cardigan at Westminster after he secured a debate.
The Government recently announced plans to restructure the Courts Service, including the closure of the Magistrates Court in Cardigan.
Concerns were raised about the Courts Service in Ceredigion last year, after plans for a new court in Aberystwyth were scaled down, due to the collapse of the developers tasked with constructing the new centre, and Mark Williams met with then Courts Minister Bridget Prentice to discuss the plans.
The debate will take place in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 14th July.
Commenting, Mark Williams said:
“I am extremely concerned about the proposal to close the Magistrates Court in Cardigan and I am delighted to have secured this debate so that the reorganisation proposals can be considered.
“It is important that people in rural areas do have access to justice, and I fear the effect of these proposals will be to cause great difficulties for residents of Cardigan and the surrounding area, and it is essential that rurality is considered by the Ministry of Justice.
“There are already concerns about access to justice in Ceredigion in relation to the scaling down of the Aberystwyth court project, and this would be a further blow for court services in the County.”
Williams welcomes Minister’s promise on motorcycle testing
Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams has today welcomed Road Safety Minister Mike Penning’s support for improved provision of motorcycle testing after the Minister met with him and Ceredigion motorcycle trainers at the Department for Transport.
The Minister described the level of provision in Mid Wales as “unacceptable”, and pledged to do all he could to ensure that the area could have a casual test site as an interim measure while a review of the motorcycle test is carried out.
The Government last month announced a review of the controversial test, with the aim of reducing the restrictions of the test so that more facilities can be used to run Module 1, which currently requires Ceredigion residents to travel to Bangor, Swansea or Shrewsbury.
Mark Williams also met the new Minister’s predecessor and has had several meetings with the Driving Standards Agency, in an attempt to improve the provision of testing in light of the introduction of the new test.
Commenting, Mark Williams said:
“The new Minister’s attitude was extremely refreshing, and I am pleased that he acknowledged that whatever is done, the current situation is unacceptable and provision must be improved.
“The current test is simply too restrictive, and with other European countries still using road testing as part of the new test, we have to go back and redraw the test, so that everyone has access to safe, convenient testing.
“The Minister’s action is a welcome change from the previous government’s insistence that the arrangements were adequate, but even if we do resolve this it will take time to bring through the necessary legislation, so we need to ensure that we have a site that can be used in the intervening period.
“There is now a new impetus to find a casual testing site, and if anyone has any thoughts on a potential site, I would be grateful if they could contact my office and provide details.”
Welsh Lib Dem MPs want VAT rise impact to be assessed
Welsh Liberal Democrat MPs Roger Williams and Mark Williams have written to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP asking for the impact of the VAT rise to be assessed and measures to mitigate the effect in some areas to be adopted.
Both MPs put their name to an amendment tabled by St. Ives MP Andrew George calling for an impact assessment of the increase in VAT to 20%, but the amendment was not called.
In particular, they have highlighted the impact on rural areas, where the lack of public transport, which is zero-rated, means that people have no alternative but to use cars, and they will face the effect of a 2.5% VAT increase on the cost of driving.
They also point out the increasing discrepancy between the VAT rate on new build and refurbishment, which will provide an even greater financial incentive to favour new build over refurbishment.
They further highlighted the impact of the rise in VAT on charities, which is expected to cost them around £250 million, at a time when there is a great pressure on the voluntary sector.
Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire Roger Williams said:
“We know that the Coalition Government faced a tough task in ensuring that we are able to cut the deficit without hitting the poorest, but we are worried about the proposed increase in VAT.
“We are particularly concerned about the impact on the voluntary sector, which is particularly hard-pressed at the moment, and rural areas due to the additional cost of fuel.
“We need to carry out this work so that we can lessen the impact of any increase in VAT.”
Ceredigion MP Mark Williams added:
“Many people are concerned at the impact that this will have on their budget or on their business, and it is absolutely right that the Government should heed those concerns and do what they can to mitigate the impact.
“We recognise that this was a tough budget to deliver, and that Labour left the Government in an impossible position, but the coalition has to be prepared to listen to genuine concerns, and ensure that we do put forward a budget that deals with the deficit while protecting the poorest in our society.”
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