Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

  Llyr Gruffydd raised concerns in the Senedd about Global Radio's decision to cancel their Welsh language service Capital Cymru. Welsh language provision on commercial radio in Wales will be due to an end on 24 February following this announcement, closing the Capital studio in Wrexham and laying off all employees according to GlobalMedia, owners of Capital.The Welsh language programmes on the station will all disappear. The changes are possible following the introduction of the new Media Act in October 2024 – there was no requirement in the act on any commercial station to provide any local offering (and certainly not in Welsh) following the introduction of the act. This is despite OFCOM's promise - "The Media Act is designed to protect public service broadcasting". Obviously Welsh isn't part of any consideration. No Welsh music will be played on Capital'r airwaves in Wales following the change.  Radio Cymru and Radio Cymru 2 will be the only channels playing Welsh language music in the North beyond Mon FM community radio.  Prior to the Media Act 2024, Ofcom's existing powers regarding the use of Welsh by commercial radio licence holders were limited. Licensees would make commitments on the character of services – including any Welsh commitments – as part of a competitive process of applying for a licence. Ofcom would then impose licence obligations reflecting these commitments. This meant Ofcom could not mandate Welsh language commitments, only enforce these commitments where they had been made. In a statement in the Senedd Llyr Gruffydd said- "Last week Global Radio announced that they were ceasing broadcasting their Capital Cymru radio station. Capital Cymru is unique – it is a station that broadcasts the gross of its daytime provision in Welsh to North West Wales. The company will close their Wrexham studio permanently, laying off 12 staff. The implications of this decision are far-reaching. This is the end of an era of commercial Welsh-medium broadcasting in the north – a period that has continued for decades.   "This is also the end to airing Welsh music on the commercial airwaves – another blow to the music industry in Wales. This decision follows the introduction of the New Media Act last year. Under the old regime, OFCOM had the ability to require commercial broadcasters to offer a service in Welsh under the stations' licensing conditions.  Several recommendations came from the Senedd's Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee that a similar provision be included under the new law – and indeed the committee called for the Bill to be amended. But the Westminster Government ignored the demands. "Of course, devolution of responsibilities for broadcasting is the only ultimate solution to protecting Welsh and Welsh broadcasting on the airwaves, but in the meantime, can the Government make a statement on the current situation, and what can be done to protect the provision, and of course – a number of valuable jobs?"  

  CONCERNS have been raised amid more and more waste from England being dumped in a controversial landfill site in Wrexham.   The latest statistics obtained by Llyr Gruffydd for the Hafod landfill site in Johnstown, Wrexham revealed that 61% of the waste dumped there is from England with the remainder coming from north Wales. Just 19% is from Wrexham itself.   The site, which is run by Stafford-based Enovert, has come under criticism in the past year amid ongoing odour issues.   Residents have reported a "rotten egg" smell since October 2023, with an enforcement notice being issued to Enovert to address the issue in December.  Last month, the issue was debated by Wrexham Council's Scrutiny committee, which said that parties needed to stop passing the buck, and address the matter.   In 2020 Mr Gruffydd questioned the company about the origins of the waste material. Back then, more than a quarter (27%) came from the Wrexham area. Significantly more waste is now coming from Liverpool and Merseyside - 37% - as opposed to 21% in 2020.   Mr Gruffydd said: "The main concern is about the health and safety of the site and its impact on local residents. Back in 2020 people in the area were advised to close their windows during a heatwave because of the fumes from the fire that started on the site.   "Since then there have been ongoing concerns about the stink coming from the landfill, which affects residents in nearby Ruabon and Johnstown. The landfill has mainly been used by authorities in the north-west of England to dump waste away from their population and it's shameful that Wrexham residents are expected to just grin and bear it. "Back in 2020, I received assurances from Wrexham Council that no municipal waste from the county was being dumped in Hafod. But the overall percentage of municipal waste from all authorities is increasing over the years and that may be the reason why the odour problems are becoming more pronounced now.  "Residents want reassurance that the site is safe and the emissions are not harmful to local people's health. The growing level of waste being transported by lorries from across the border is another concern - aren't there any landfill sites closer to Liverpool, Manchester and Warrington? How long will residents near Hafod have to put up with this problem?"      

  Llyr Gruffydd MS underscored the economic importance of Deeside Industrial Estate, where TATA Steel is a cornerstone employer. He urged both the Welsh and UK Governments to do more to support the industry. “The Deeside Industrial Estate is a huge economic asset for North Wales, and TATA Steel is a vital part of that. We in Plaid Cymru will do our utmost, not only to protect plants like Shotton but to ensure they thrive.   “TATA Steel still has a huge presence in Wales, and both Cardiff and Westminster must do everything possible to safeguard the industry. Communities across Wales rely on a thriving steel sector.”   Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS has described TATA Steel’s Shotton plant as the “jewel in the crown” of the Welsh steel industry, emphasising its crucial role in sustaining steel production across the country. During a visit to the Deeside site, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Llyr Gruffydd MS (Member of the Senedd for North Wales), and Luke Fletcher MS (Plaid Cymru’s economy spokesperson) were given insight into the plant’s operations and its significance within TATA’s UK steel network.   The Shotton site employs 800 people and specialises in adding coatings to raw steel products from other plants before shipping them directly to consumers. These coatings—such as zinc galvanising and colour coatings—significantly increase the value of the steel, making Shotton a key player in TATA’s UK operations. Speaking after the visit, Rhun ap Iorwerth stressed that the plant is an essential part of TATA Steel’s operations and wider Welsh industry.   “The Shotton site is unique within TATA’s operations in the UK—it’s the site that adds real value to its steel products. It’s a vital part of the company’s operations—without this site and its workforce, TATA’s steel operations in the UK wouldn’t survive. “Supporting an employer like TATA in North-East Wales is crucial, not only for the region but for the wider steel industry in Wales. Without the Shotton plant, the operations in Port Talbot and Trostre cannot thrive, and without the supply of materials from the other plants in Wales, Shotton cannot survive.”   Concerns over future supply chain stability   Luke Fletcher MS highlighted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding TATA Steel’s Port Talbot steelworks, where plans for a shift to new technology could have knock-on effects for Shotton’s operations. “Plaid Cymru has been fighting tooth and nail to save operations at the Port Talbot steelworks. What happens there directly impacts the plant here in Shotton. “With seismic changes taking place in TATA’s Port Talbot operations, we must consider how this will affect Shotton—especially in terms of the quality and nature of the steel produced with the proposed new technology.”   The role of Shotton in TATA’s global operations   TATA Steel’s Shotton plant is part of Tata Steel Colors, the company’s premier European site for metallic and paint-coated steel products. These products are used in construction and domestic appliances across the UK and overseas. The 500 Colors employees at the site are joined by a further 300 staff working in related company activities and contracting roles. The site has an annual galvanising capacity of 400,000 tonnes and a coating line capacity of up to 600,000 tonnes. Shotton’s role is particularly important as it adds value to TATA’s steel products, with the coatings significantly increasing the final product’s worth.