Another Thursday, another by-election. This time it is my name on the ballot. The local party would have liked a member with more local roots to come forward, but none did so. I must admit to being secretly pleased that I had the opportunity to stand because I have always liked that part of the world. Moreover, I have personal concern for two particular local matters: an intermittent bus service and threats to footpaths in good walking country. I believe I can bring a more sympathetic approach to these issues than car-bound councillors.
It seems to me that for the nearly fifteen years I have known Pelenna it has been disregarded by the powers that be. Labour-controlled Neath Port Talbot's education committee closed a lovely progressive primary school, presumably for the sake of "efficiency". A GP surgery in Efail Fach was closed on the grounds that the modern Welsh NHS needed high-speed broadband to operate. Well, ultra-fast broadband has now become available in the Pelenna valley and I have yet to receive a reply to my email asking what plans there were for GP services in the light of that development. The post office/general store has closed. It seems that the 59 bus route is the first to be cut if there are driver shortages. And O2, and therefore Tesco Mobile, telephone coverage is negligible. (EE is OK, though; if I move to the area I will have to change provider, but that is a small price to pay.)
As luck would have it, just as my nomination was accepted I was struck down with a chest infection which severely limited my mobility. However, fellow party members Keith, Robert and Sheila (our excellent lead candidate when the Welsh general election comes round) stepped into the breach and we have managed to get a leaflet out to most houses in the ward. Apologies to anybody we missed.
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