Llyr Gruffydd MS Member of the Senedd for North Wales

Llyr Gruffydd paid tribute to Cymru Premier champions TNS on their acievment in reching the latter stages of European competitions for the first time in the Senedd hhis week.  In a statement to the chamber, Mr Gruffydd said-

"I'd like to take this opportunity to wish the New Saints well, in what is a historic moment for both the club and, of course, for Welsh football, because the Cymru Premier champions, TNS, have become the first Welsh team ever to qualify for the group stages of European club football. And, as a consequence, tomorrow night, of course, they will face Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League."

He went on to say-

"As we all know, TNS is one of the most successful teams in the history of domestic Welsh football. They've won the Cymru Premier title a record 16 times. The current squad are full-time professionals, of course, led by manager Craig Harrison. And whilst the club almost invariably qualifies for European competitions, it has always been the dream, particularly of the club's chairman, Mike Harris, to qualify for the group stages, and this time, of course, they've done it."

In conclusion, Llyr Gruffydd said-

"In becoming the first Cymru Premier team to qualify for the group stage, they now face the daunting prospect of playing some of the big names in European football, and the first historic game, of course, will be played tomorrow night against Italian giants Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with a capacity of 43,000 fans, some away off the 2,000 capacity of TNS's Park Hall ground. And Fiorentina, by the way, have been the losing finalists in this competition for the last two seasons, so it's going to be one mighty experience for Craig Harrison's team.

"Many will remember Bangor beating Napoli back in 1962. Some will remember Merthyr beating Atalanta in 1987. Well, will the New Saints be the next Welsh team to beat an Italian giant in Europe? All the best to the New Saints from everyone in the Welsh Parliament. Give them hell."

TNS will play Fiorentina tonight (Thursday 3 October) at 20.00

Llyr Gruffydd accused the Government of forcing farmers to ‘farm by the calendar and not with nature’.

In a plenary session in the Senedd, Llyr Gruffydd was responding to increasing frustration in the farming sector on the implication of the new NVZ regulations. The new regulations, which came into effect across Wales in August, regulate how and when farmers can spread slurry on fields.
Llyr Gruffydd, who is Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on rural affairs, said-

“The slurry stores are still half or three-quarters full, because it has been so wet and the ground’s been so soft, farmers haven’t been able to get that out there onto their fields. So, are they supposed to spread it over the next few days, with the impact that that will have?
“Spreading slurry on water-logged ground will have serious environmental implications. Are they to leave it in the slurry pit, which could possibly overflow in future, because they’ve failed to clear their stores for this closed down period? I imagine there would be more far-reaching consequences if that were to happen.”

The Labour-run Welsh Government have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the agriculture industry in Wales over the past 12 months. The proposes flagship SFS (Sustainable Farming Scheme) attracted huge protests in March, with thousands of farmers gathering on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff. The handling of Bovine TB by the government is a long-standing sticking point for both farmers and environmentalists, and the current regulations around handling of agricultural run-off (The NVZ – Nitrate Vulnerable Zones regulations) are also hugely controversial.

In asking the Government for a statement, Llyr Gruffydd asked Cabinet Secretary Jane Hut-
“What is the Government advice to Welsh farmers on how to meet this deadline that you’ve put on the industry, in light of your decision to adhere to calendar-based farming, when nature, of course, doesn’t keep a close eye on the calendar and operates very differently?”

Note-
In the new regulations that came into force this year, the window for spreading slurry closed on October 1st on tillage land until the 31st of January, and will close on 15th of October until the 15th of January for grazing land.

On a visit to Hafod Elwy, high up above Llyn Brenig in Conwy County, Llyr Gruffydd saw for himself the vital restoration work at work on the precious peatland habitat and said-

“For a long time, we’ve neglected, ignored and often abused this vitally important habitat. Now we’re starting to understand its importance, not only at a local level, but on a global scale too.
“The work carried out by this small team really does make a difference, and the results are already becoming visible.”

Peatlands are a vital carbon store, and can store many times more carbon than even he densest of forests. Only 4% of Wales’s land area is peatland, but retain around 30% of our land Carbon. Sadly, around 90% of our peatlands are damaged, and in a damaged state they invariably leech carbon back to the atmosphere.

Llyr Gruffydd added-
“The process involved in the restoration is simple. Firstly, the hydrology is fixed, which means that excessive drainage of the land is reversed. The rest is left to nature. Vital plant species like the sphagnum family soon return, and within years the increase in biodiversity is astounding.
“The Hafod Elwy site is a former conifer plantation, which was planted when peatlands weren’t recognised as ecologically important. The last remaining signs of the trees are disappearing and a natural equilibrium is being restored. Now we have water voles, snipes some curlew and a range of plant species returning home to the site.”

The benefits of the restoration of the peatland doesn’t end with carbon-capture and biodiversity, it has benefits beyond the site. The water run-off from the land is in far better condition than from damaged land, but more importantly, it helps reduce flooding further down the catchment area. Peatlands work like huge sponges – soaking up rainwater in wetter months, and releasing water slowly during drier times of the year.

The project in Hafod Elwy is administered by Natural Resources Wales and is funded by the Welsh Government.

To learn more about Natural Resources Wales’s National Peatland Action Programme click-
Natural Resources Wales / The National Peatland Action Programme (cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk)

Llyr Gruffydd has paid a moving tribute in the Senedd to Ryan Evans from Wrexham, who was killed in Ukraine last month. The former Ysgol Morgan Llwyd pupil was working as a security advisor for Reuters news agency when his hotel was struck by a Russian missile attack.

Addressing the Welsh Parliament, Llyr Gruffydd MS said:

“I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to a very special man form Wrexham, who was tragically killed in Ukraine in August. Ryan Evans was working with Reuters news agency in Kramatorsk in the east of the country, just 16 miles from the front line when the hotel he was staying in was hit by a Russian missile.

“Ryan was a security advisor for Reuters, and was staying at the hotel with a team of fellow journalists. The strike injured many of his team including an Ukrainian cameraman who was left in a coma with life changing injuries.

“As a former pupil of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham he is fondly remembered by staff and former pupils alike, and after leaving school Ryan joined the Royal Welsh Regiment at the age of 17 where he served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan – rising to the rank of Corporal.

“Upon leaving the armed forces in 2010 he started working as a close protection officer accompanying British diplomats on missions to many countries including Libya, Tunisia and Syria. More recently, as a close protection specialist, he accompanied journalists into the most hostile environments and war zones.

“His final trip was one of over 20 that he’d made to Ukraine since the conflict began – always on a mission to ensure the utmost safety of his co-workers.

“Reuters paid tribute to Ryan describing him as a ‘world class security operator’. He had worked extensively in Israel this year as well as in Gaza and the West Bank providing protection to journalists. He recently covered security for Reuters staff at the Paris Olympics and was a trained paramedic, helping injured civilians on numerous occasions.

“Tragically, Ryan leaves his widow, Kerrie, and four children.

“I’m sure that all of us at the Senedd would like to extend our deepest condolences to them and his wider family in their huge and painful loss.”

Llyr Gruffydd met groups of young people, some of primary school age who are registered carers for family members at the NEWCIS charity in Mold and piled on praise for the youngsters saying-

“These are very special members of our society. Not only are they subject to responsibilities most of us couldn’t imagine at that age, but they do it with unbelievable maturity.”

“As a society we’ve found the instances of young people taking on huge burdens as carers becoming ever more frequent. They are not rare cases but a common necessity to keep families all over the country functioning.”

The charity NEWCIS which is based in Mold offers support to carers of all ages, including the youngest children.  By offering respite sessions where the young carers come together for weekly social events the carers get to relax and share experiences with others experiencing similar life challenges.

Soon the charity will be moving into new premises in the old Barclays Bank building in Mold, where all their staff, services and the spaces they need will sit under the same roof.

Claire Sullivan CEO on behalf of NEWCIS said-

"It was great to have the opportunity for our Young Carers to meet with and ask their own questions to Mr Gruffydd they really enjoyed the experience.

“To be able to show the MS around our new base was fantastic. We hope the move to the new premises will give us additional capacity for services that are vitally needed, the building will be a community resource and we hope that carers and their loved ones will enjoy the new space and the facilities.”

Llyr Gruffydd added-

“Although the Welsh Government has made progress in supporting young carers by introducing the Young Carers ID card, the Short Break Scheme and the Carers Support Fund i feel we can do more. Plaid Cymru are exploring proposing additional schemes to offer support.  These include a young carers travel pass and a mental health support scheme.”

“It is vital that we offer our carers all the support they need. Although some work is happening, we can do much more for these young people.”

If you need more information on the support offered by NEWCIS – visit www.newcis.org.ukor email them at [email protected]

A recent site visit left Llyr Gruffydd astounded by the progress at the ‘jewel in the crown’ of arts centre.

On a site visit to Theatr Clwyd this week Llyr Gruffydd discovered the extent of the £50M investment in the arts venue in Mold.

Llyr Gruffydd said-

“The scale of the development is huge. It is almost a complete re-build of the venue, completely re-modelled with a 21st century audience in mind
“Although the existing building was opened in 1976 it in dire need for a substantial investment in order to save its future. Plaid Cymru and I have fought hard over many years to secure this investment, and coming here to experience the hive of building activity that is going on is quite exciting.”

Although parts of the venue have been closed for quite some time to accommodate the upgrade, the theatre company have managed to keep the performances going through it all. The main auditorium will re-open in November, in time for the seasonal Panto – this year’s offering being ‘Mother Goose’. The production is expected to attract around 40,000 attendees.

Llyr Gruffydd went on to add-

“Venues like this are being lost all over the country due to a lack of funding. The only way we could secure this resource’s future was to fight for the capital investment it deserves, and to further enhance the status of the theatre as the jewel in the crown of North-East Wales.”

The overhaul includes a culinary upgrade with Denbigh-born television chef Bryn Williams opening a new restaurant on site after taking over the catering franchise. The arts complex will be able to attract the best acts and plays touring the UK, but more importantly it will have all the facilities needed to support the production of original productions by the company. This includes set-building and painting workshops, and costume-making spaces with state-of-the-art technologies and much more.
In 2016 Theatr Clwyd employed 63 people – with the new investment from the public and private sectors they hope to employ 250 staff by summer 2025.

The summer has been an important opportunity to engage with organisations and individuals. From the Royal Welsh to the Eisteddfod and more local shows such as in Denbigh & Flint, Anglesey and Llanrwst, I had the opportunity to hear about the hopes and concerns of constituents from all across north Wales and beyond.

Thanks to everyone for sharing their views!

Llyr Gruffydd MS backs the Save our Surgeries campaign

Recently Llyr Gruffydd committed to support doctors campaigning to save and better fund GP surgeries, saying primary care is viewed as a Cinderella service with the NHS.  Mr Gruffydd said that maintaining GP surgeries in all parts of the region was essential to ensure access for all patients.

He added: "Doctors in Wales, through the British Medical Association, are highlighting the pressures GPs face and I know that many surgeries in the north Wales region are facing huge challenges in terms of recruiting GPs and maintaining services, especially in some rural areas. I'm pleased to say that a recent recruitment campaign in Betws y Coed, where a GP practice was in danger of closing, was a success but there are ongoing challenges in many areas.

"It was a pleasure to speak to BMA Wales members Dr Phil White, Dr Sara Bodey and Dr Paul Emmett to learn more about the workload issues and problematic buildings. I know from my campaigning for a new GP surgery building in Hanmer, for example, how important that is for improved patient care.

"We have a growing elderly and less healthy population and this is placing enormous pressure on our health service. As GPs are the first port of call for patients it's important that they are adequately resourced.

"Plaid Cymru has a long-standing policy to increase the numbers of doctors in Wales and that also means more GPs - in 2012 a GP had an average of 1719 patients, today they have an average of 2318. We also have 25% fewer full-time equivalent GPs compared with a decade ago and the proportion of NHS Wales funded provided to GPs has reduced from 8.7% in 2005/6 to 6.1% in 2022-3. That's a significant reduction and helps explain while primary care is often seen as the Cinderella service within our NHS. 

"Having a medical school here in the North will provide a solution over time and that was a hard-fought campaign by Plaid Cymru. We've been committed to improving our NHS and in particular primary care for all my time as an MS but the Labour Welsh Government has not prioritised that need. We need the political will to make the changes needed to improve our NHS, otherwise we will continue to see GPs prematurely leave the health service because of workload pressures."

Ongoing pollution issues in a north Wales town have been raised by Llyr Gruffydd MS, who has described Chirk as a ‘forgotten town’.

In a question in the Senedd chamber recently, Mr Gruffydd asked for action to prevent recurring issues with microfibres in the environment: “Could I request a statement, again, from the Cabinet Secretary for climate change, but this time regarding industrial pollution from the Kronospan site in Chirk in my region? In recent months, long-standing problems with emissions from the site have intensified. Clouds of microfibres from the plant blight hundreds of homes on a regular basis and that, in turn, clearly raises concerns amongst local people about any impact that's having on their health. 

“A recent public meeting in the town heard that, despite acknowledging that the problem existed, the company's management was unable to pinpoint the source of the pollution. Clearly that should be a further cause of concern, particularly for the public body charged with monitoring the plant, Natural Resources Wales, but they don't appear to be responding effectively either to local concerns, in particular in terms of the impact on health.

“I'm asking for a statement from the Government, outlining what steps you will take to help resolve this situation and how you will step in and protect the health of those living near the site. In fact, I'd call for a health assessment to measure the long-term impact of this ongoing pollution on people's well-being. The long-suffering citizens of Chirk need to know what practical steps this Government is now going to take to make sure that industrial pollution at Chirk is minimised, and that public health and public safety are maximised.”

Jane Hutt, Business Secretary, responded:  “This is something—again, we have the Cabinet Secretary here—where we need to know about these concerns from local residents, particularly in terms of industrial pollution and the impact this site is having in Chirk. So, again, it would be helpful if you could write to the Cabinet Secretary, but he's already here to note and to follow it up, not just with his officials, but clearly with the regulator, NRW.”

Speaking later Mr Gruffydd said: “Residents have complained time and time again to the company and NRW over odours and the microfibres being released from the factory. One has commented that the Clean Air Act applies to every part in Wales – except Chirk it seems. Air monitoring equipment that is meant to keep residents safe does not, in fact, monitor microfibres or odours. Chirk appears to be a forgotten town when it comes to ensuring residents’ safety.”

Another week at the Show!

The show in Llanelwedd is a great opportunity to chat and meet, learn and listen.  Of course, the showground is an ideal place to meet old friends, and to reminisce over a coffee.

Thanks once again to all the organisations for extending an invitation again this year to chat and discuss - although the daily diary was packed to the brim with meetings and presentations, there was plenty of time to wander and chat, and to fill the car with a host of the best produce rural Wales can produce.

Although the 2024 show has just finished, the sights are already turning to the 2025 show – that will soon come...