Grange29

This is a community website for Grangetown in Cardiff, highlighting people, business, community activities, local news and things to do in the area and linking other websites and blogs.
Here we have news and features from local environment projects - including details of the Keep Grangetown Tidy group and the Greener Grangetown programme.
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We ask the candidates...

Seven candidates are standing for the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency in the General Election on May 7th. We asked all of them a few questions - and these are the answers.

We will be publishing the response from Green candidate Anthony Slaughter. We have also sent the same questions to the other candidates John Rees-Evans (UKIP). Ross Saunders (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) and Emma Warman (Conservative) and will publish their answers if we get them.

Stephen Doughty, Labour candidate

Tell us a little about yourself?

I have been the Member of Parliament covering Grangetown since a by-election in 2012. I was born and brought up in Cardiff and the Vale, am a lifelong Bluebird (!) and before entering politics I worked for international charities including Oxfam and World Vision.

What are the main issues you have come across on the doorsteps in Grangetown?

Most people are concerned about the economy and whether it is working for ordinary people. Some people are finding it hard to make ends meet and are worried about prospects for younger people in the area. People also want to see investment in our NHS - not privatisation. Locally people are concerned about issues such as littering and the local environment, housing, and services for local people especially our young people.

People here are worried about local services - for young people in particular - where do you stand?

I have stood up alongside local campaigners and Labour Councillors to fight plans to close the Grangetown play centre and cut back youth services. I think these services are crucial in Grangetown. It's absolutely right that local people are speaking up on them.

Wales faces further devastating cuts if the Tories are re-elected, and there will be further challenges for Cardiff council if this happens. Wales needs a fair funding settlement and Labour will fight for this. I share local concerns about rubbish and fly-tipping - and recently met a delegation of concerned residents to discuss what we can do together to solve the problems. I am requesting high level meetings with Council officials and police working alongside local Councillors. The situation is simply not acceptable at the moment.

Grangetown has had some unwelcome headlines regarding a few alleged extremists but has a history of good community spirit. How would you work on issues involving community cohesion?

We should be proud of Grangetown's diversity and history - and I have worked closely with faith leaders, police and community leaders and young people to challenge and expose the small minority who are promoting extremism and division locally. I would continue to do so if re-elected.

Some people say after devolution, MPs in Wales are less relevant. What issues would you raise? How would you seek to engage with residents in Grangetown if you get elected?

I am a supporter of devolution - and it's vital that MPs, AMs and Councillors work together in the local interest doing our best at all levels of responsibility. I have excellent relationships with our local AM Vaughan Gething and Cllrs Thorne, Lomax and Govier. Labour's priorities in Westminster will be fighting for fairer wages, tax and pensions for local people; fighting for investment in our public services; and, tackling the cost of living crisis. I will continue to make myself available to local residents through regular advice and street surgeries, online and by working with community organisations.

Ben Foday, Plaid Cymru candidate.

Tell us a little about yourself? I am from Sierra Leone originally and have lived in Cardiff and Penarth for more than 30 years. Married with three daughters, I was a Cardiff councillor for six years, a secondary school governor and a director of New Employ Wales for 20 years. In my spare time I enjoy gardening (which keeps me fit!). I also enjoy reading to relax.

What are the main issues you have come across on the doorsteps in Grangetown? There are concerns about the future of play services for young people, the need for plenty of places for children in our local primary schools (both Welsh and English medium), better paid jobs, housing difficulties and health and social care problems. I've been pleased to discuss Plaid's priorities on these issues with voters and to emphasise the importance of Wales getting funding parity with Scotland - which would lead to £400 extra every year for every man, woman and child in Grangetown (and indeed the whole of Wales). That money could make a big difference to public services

People here are worried about local services - for young people in particular - where do you stand? We in Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales support increasing the number of apprenticeships for young people and believe the minimum wage should be increased to a living wage for all workers over 18. We believe there should be a guarantee of education, training or a job for all those under 25. And we believe the voting age should be reduced to 16. Plaid opposed the introducton of tuition fees for students and I'm firmly of the view that the Welsh Government should work towards providing free education for Welsh students. We also support, as we have from the start youth and play provision for our children in Grangetown.

Another issue raised with us frequently is waste dumping and rubbish. With council cutbacks there are worries this will get even worse. Is this something you could do anything about at a Westminster level? The environment is one of my priorities. I believe the Welsh Government should get a fairer deal from central Government - the same deal that Scotland gets - and that the Welsh Government should in turn give councils a fair deal to be able to tackle problems such as dumping waste and rubbish. Unfortunately there will always be a small minority of people who act in an anti-social way and councils should put as much effort as they can to tackle this scourge. We should also be proactive in encouraging more recycling. Cardiff Council seem to be making it harder to recycle at the moment with restrictions on green bags etc - we should be leading the way in Wales on recycling not falling behind.

Grangetown has had some unwelcome headlines regarding a few alleged extremists but has a history of good community spirit. How would you work on issues involving community cohesion? Cardiff has a proud history of welcoming people from overseas and a proud tradition of good community relations. I was very dismayed recently that extremists put up posters in Grangetown and elsewhere encouraging people not to vote, as this is every adult's democratic right. I believe parents should be more alert in monitoring what their children are accessing on social media and thus prevent the more easily led ones from being influenced and radicalised.

Some people say after devolution, MPs in Wales are less relevant. What issues would you raise? How would you seek to engage with residents in Grangetown if you get elected? MPs from Wales still have a very important role to play in Westminster. I am particularly pleased that our leader in the House of Commons, Elfyn Llwyd, was instrumental in getting a law passed to combat stalking. I would listen to the concerns of my constituents and follow these up in Parliament whenever possible, If elected, I would hold regular advice surgeries for people in Grangetown and for those who live in other parts of Cardiff South and Penarth.

Nigel Howells, Liberal Democrat candidate.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Originally from West Wales, I moved to Cardiff in 1983 where I qualified as a Chartered Accountant. I was elected as the City Councillor for Adamsdown in 1999 and have represented the area ever since. Between 2004 and 2012 I was the Councillor with responsibility for Sport, Leisure & Culture in Cardiff and delivered the new Grangetown Library in Havelock Place. I am a Governor of Adamsdown Primary School and Stacey Primary School.

What are the main issues you have come across on the doorsteps in Grangetown?

On the doorsteps, the main issues are the economy and cuts to council services. People are very angry that they are paying more Council Tax yet their streets are getting dirtier and there are threats to local community facilities like Grangetown Play Centre. On the economy, there is a desperate need for more apprenticeships. The Labour-run Welsh Government is lagging behind England on this, where the Lib Dems have already delivered 2m extra apprentice places.

People here are worried about local services - for young people in particular - where do you stand?

It is important that the voices of young people are heard and that's why I support reducing the voting age to 16. Communities like Grangetown need decent facilities, like Grangetown Play Centre, which younger children can enjoy. All too often, the huge benefit they provide to a child's development is overlooked. I also support the introduction of discounted bus travel for young people and thanks to the Lib Dems, this is being introduced in September this year for young people between the age of 16 and 18.

The cleanliness, or not, of our streets is the primary responsibility of Labour-run Cardiff Council. The council is now proposing to make our wheelie bins smaller which I believe will lead to more rubbish dumped on our streets. People tell me that they have noticed an increase in fly-tipping ever since the Council started charging £15 to collect it. These are issues I will take up with the Council if I'm elected as Member of Parliament for Cardiff South & Penarth.

Grangetown has had some unwelcome headlines regarding a few alleged extremists but has a history of good community spirit. How would you work on issues involving community cohesion?

Cardiff has a long and fantastic history of welcoming immigrants and that contributes to our reputation as welcoming, cosmopolitan city. We mustn't let a few extremists spoil a community with a proud reputation for having good community spirit. Liberal Democrats believe it's important that people who come to this country to contribute to our economy are also able to contribute to our society and fit in to their community. That's why we would boost English lessons for those who seek to live here. In addition, we would work with charities and other community organisations to tackle hate crime against ethnic minorities.

Some people say after devolution, MPs in Wales are less relevant. What issues would you raise? How would you seek to engage with residents in Grangetown if you get elected?

There will always be a need for MPs in Wales to take up and debate issues to do with the Economy, Defence and Welfare & Benefits. As your MP, I will hold weekly advice surgeries and open a constituency office where residents will be free to drop in and seek advice. I will also be open and transparent with my expenses, publishing them on my website for everyone to see.