Senedd elections: Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru)

It’s election week and in the interests of fairness, MyNewtown has invited all of the Montgomeryshire candidates that have engaged with us over the campaign period to provide 750 words on why they deserve your vote tomorrow (Thursday).

They will be published alphabetically based on their party name.

Elwyn Vaughan from Plaid Cymru:

I come from an extensive Montgomeryshire farming family and went to Ysgol Bro Ddyfi, Machynlleth. With family links throughout the Severn Valley.

It is a privilege to be selected as Plaid Cymru candidate for Montgomeryshire. As the keepers of the old radical Welsh liberal tradition of Cymru Fydd, we will be focussing on not only the environmental challenges, but the sustainability of our communities and ensuring a entrepreneurial spirit within Montgomeryshire through a ‘can do’ attitude. We will be a voice for Rural Wales, one that understands our communities, its challenges and opportunities and putting those communities first.

I work here in Newtown, in community development with Menter Maldwyn doing a whole range of projects throughout Montgomeryshire. I've also done a great deal with Small Steps Rekindle which does priceless work with young people with mental health and a whole host of other challenges. That is why i presented a motion to Powys Council for enhanced support and cooperation between the authority and such organisations.

I’m also a Director of the Phoenix furniture charity providing direct assistance to many here in Newtown, and also of Montgomeryshire Community Recreation Association which runs Plas Dolerw and the textile museum.

Putting our communities first but also ensuring a deep understanding of the many challenges faced by many. 

In my role as a Powys Councillor for much of the Dyfi Valley I have:

• Got Powys Council to support a Climate Change Motion making Powys the Green Heart of Wales.
• Campaigned against plastic waste in supermarkets and got Powys Council to support a motion to reduce the use of plastic and the council to support a motion opposing a nuclear waste burial site in the county. 
• Strongly challenged Montgomeryshire Conservative MP for his lack of support for farmers during the Agri Bill and the danger of lower food standards.
• Led calls for adding value to Welsh wool. 
• Challenged the £4m expenditure on Ladywell House Newtown by Powys Council.
• Led the opposition during planning consideration for the waste facility in Abermule and campaigned against a Tory-led Powys Council buying an Audi A6 car for its Chairman.

I want to see:

• A Newtown hospital with 24 hr A&E and operating theatre as per Llandrindod Wells
• Ensure 24-hour ambulance stations throughout Montgomeryshire and more NHS dentists
• Support investment in new cancer treatment facilities at Bronglais and support locally based heart attack treatment facilities with a PCI unit here in Mid Wales. Treatment should occur within 90 min – technically impossible for much of Montgomeryshire as the nearest PCI units are Bodelwyddan, West Midlands or Morriston
• Establish young people’s mental health hub in the area
• Promote a package of support for environmentally based and social enterprises
• Add value to local food products, supporting local processing facilities and creating a centre to add value to wool in Newtown
• Putting the environment at the heart of matters
• Establish a Mid Wales enterprise agency, under the banner ‘Prosperity Wales’ learning lessons from the former DBRW.
• Support restructuring of business rates.
• Campaign to attract talent that has left Wales to return - they have valuable skills, entrepreneurship and networks for the rejuvenation of our communities

Wales wide we want:

• Net zero carbon emissions by 2035
• 100% electricity from renewables by 2035
• Nature Act to restore biodiversity by 2050
• A £6bn Green Economic stimulus investment
• Zero interest loans to SME’s to encourage enterprise
• Prosperity Wales established as a economic development agency
• Promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship 
• Build 50,000 public homes and support the principles of the Rural Housing Charter

We want a positive, ambitious Montgomeryshire and Wales and rather than be seen as a gap between North and South, for Powys to be the Celtic knot that ties the rest of Wales together – an integral part of a modern Wales.

The candidates in Montgomeryshire

Alison Alexander - Liberal Democrats

Kait Duerden - Labour

Gwyn Evans - Gwlad - The WelshIndependence Party

Russell George - Conservatives

Oliver Lewis - Reform UK

Elwyn Vaughan - Plaid Cymru