Bridgend policing must not suffer from Cardiff's growing demand

With central funding cuts to Welsh police constabularies totalling 5.1% over 2011-12 and 6.7% in 2012-13, difficult financial decisions will have to be made by all four police constabularies.

However, there was a very compelling argument from South Wales Police’s Assistant Chief Constable, Nick Croft who argued that SWP’s Cardiff division should receive additional funding of £1.1m due to Cardiff’s economic and demographic growth.

As Capital City and most populated city in Wales, Cardiff has a number of additional challenges. For starters there is 6 Nations rugby, 11 Olympic football matches and hopefully Premier League football for Cardiff City. Both the Metropolitan Police and the Lothian and Borders Police receive additional funding in recognition for demands made on London and Edinburgh, but Cardiff receives no such support. This is not about going cap in hand, but about getting fair finance that are police require for the demands of the modern job.

If fair funding is not achieved SWP have acknowledged that further cuts to areas like Bridgend is possible in order to maintain the growing pressures of capital city policing. This news comes at a time when Bridgend County Borough Council are threatening to turn off streetlights across the County Borough and the local authority have sold their CCTV function to Valleys to Coast Housing Association in a bid to save money. This could potentially be a major blow to our communities such as Wildmill and the town centre area.

Ie i Gymru / Yes for Wales

The local ‘Yes for Wales’ campaign for Bridgend and Ogmore has gathered steam and we have gauged support from across the political divide, local community groups and from individuals not affiliated to any political party.

Despite the differences in political opinion on many issues from within the group, one thing that we can all certainly agree on is that on March 3^rd -in order to produce a stronger Wales- a yes vote must be achieved.

The current system in which the Assembly operates is cumbersome, and a yes vote will speed up decision-making and grant the Assembly the tools to get on with the job properly. It is simply unacceptable that Welsh policies, such as ensuring our new homes have fire sprinklers, are being held up by over three years while we wait for London’s approval.

This delay is wasting time and money and the independent Holtham Commission have calculated that a yes vote will save Wales £2m a year with a more streamlined relationship with Westminster. In addition, the UK government have said that fairer funding and Barnet reform will only be investigated should a yes vote be achieved.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 20th January, 7.30 pm at the Garth Senior Citizens' Hall, Bridgend Road, Garth, Maesteg. If you want to get involved, regardless of party affiliation or non affiliation, please contact me on this blog or tim_tom79@hotmail.com

Tim Thomas selected for Bridgend

It will be an honour to stand as the Plaid Cymru candidate in Bridgend to contest the 2011 Assembly election.

I live within the Bridgend Constituency in Brackla with my wife; Sara and we have a 9-month-old daughter.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts and latest campaign news with you and would encourage you to comment on my blog updates.

Diolch yn fawr iawn I chi / Thank you very much

Tim