Plaid MS challenges LINK over Pontardawe banking hub snub

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales West, Sioned Williams, has written to LINK — the UK’s cash access coordinator — to dispute its assessment that Pontardawe does not require additional cash services after Lloyds Bank closes its branch this November. LINK is funded by the UK’s banks and building societies to assess community needs and ensure access to cash across the country.

The closure of Lloyds will leave the entire Swansea Valley without a physical bank, prompting widespread concern. LINK’s original review concluded that existing cash access in Pontardawe was sufficient, despite calls from residents and businesses for a dedicated banking hub.

In response, Ms Williams has compiled a detailed evidence pack including letters from local businesses, charities, councillors, residents and Pontardawe Town FC, challenging the practicality of LINK’s verdict. She argues that the assessment fails to reflect the “facts on the ground”, citing the town’s reliance on cash-based trade, limited public transport links to Neath, and the broader impact on surrounding communities such as Rhos, Clydach, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, Cwmllynfell and Ystalyfera.

While Lloyds has pledged to provide a Community Banker in Pontardawe, this service will be limited to fortnightly visits and will not handle transactions — a move Ms Williams says falls short of meeting local needs.

Sioned Williams said:

“When LINK assessed Pontardawe in the wake of the news that Lloyds Bank will close – the last bank in the Swansea Valley – they concluded that there were sufficient banking services nearby. This is a decision that I am still disputing after hearing the feelings aired in the public meeting I held, in ongoing conversations with residents and local businesses, and because this is my town and my bank.”

She added that many businesses operate on a cash-only basis and would be forced to close temporarily to travel to Neath for banking — a journey complicated by the infrequent 256 bus service, which runs fewer than ten times daily.

Sioned Williams said:

“While the people of Pontardawe and the wider area are under no illusions that financial services are changing, all they – and I – ask is that their request for a banking hub be given proper and full consideration with appropriate attention paid to the facts on the ground.”

The campaign to retain banking services in Pontardawe has gained momentum in recent months. In July, local MP Christina Rees wrote to the CEO of Lloyds Banking Group urging the bank to reconsider its decision to close the branch, citing the impact on vulnerable residents and small businesses. Ms Williams also previously criticised Lloyds’ response to community concerns as “deeply disappointing” and lacking in meaningful engagement.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

MP calls on Lloyds CEO to halt closure of Pontardawe branch
Christina Rees MP urges Lloyds to reconsider closure plans amid community backlash.

Senedd member speaks out on “deeply disappointing” Lloyds response on Pontardawe bank closure
Sioned Williams MS criticises lack of engagement and calls for better consultation.

#ATM #bankClosure #banking #cashpoint #Clydach #Cwmllynfell #GwaunCaeGurwen #Link #LloydsBank #Pontardawe #Rhos #SionedWilliamsMS #SwanseaValley #Ystalyfera

Lib Dems beat Labour in former Welsh mining heartlands

The Liberal Democrat candidate, former midwife and district nurse Susan Grounds defeated Labour in what had been considered a safe area heartland territory for them across the former mining community, as they fell into fourth place.

The Liberal Democrats also left Reform UK trailing in third place, despite Reform’s claims that former industrial communities in Wales such as Ystalyfera are where they think they will perform best.

The result means the Welsh Liberal Democrats now have three councillors on Neath Port Talbot Council and their first in the Swansea Valley and according to the Liberal Democrats stands them in good stead for the Senedd elections next year.

The final result was: Liberal Democrat 34%, Plaid Cymru 30%, Reform 13%, Labour 13%, Independent 9% and Conservative 1%.

Commenting on the win, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said: “This is a fantastic victory for the Welsh Liberal Democrats right in Labour’s heartlands. Whether it’s the cuts to the winter fuel allowance and disability benefits or the record-breaking NHS waiting lists in Wales, people are crying out for change and are fed up with stagnation and decline under Labour.

“The Liberal Democrats are winning across Wales again and are out here proving we can challenge the status quo.

“I look forward to working hand in hand with Susan as her MP to champion communities across Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera and the entire Swansea Valley.”

Adding her comments Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “As we head into our party conference tomorrow, this win in Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera shows there is nowhere across Wales that the Welsh Liberal Democrats can’t win as we head into next year’s Senedd elections.

“We’ve shown that the hype about ‘how well’ Reform is doing in our former mining and industrial towns is misplaced and in fact, people just want change and someone to listen to their concerns which have gone ignored for far too long.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to work hard across Wales to provide voters with that voice for positive change in our communities.

Thanking local residents, newly elected local councillor Susan Grounds said: “I’d like to thank everyone from across the community who have placed their trust in me to represent them on the council.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in straight away and ensuring local residents’ voices are heard loud and clear by the Council and the issues raised with me in the campaign are tackled.”

#byElection #Cwmllynfell #NeathPortTalbot #NeathPortTalbotCouncil #WelshLiberalDemocrats #Ystalyfera

Firefighters rescue horse trapped in bog in Cwmllynfell

Rescuers, including a local farmer came to the animal’s aid on Tuesday evening after it became trapped in part of a peat bog.

A spokesperson from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 5.57pm on Tuesday, April 1st, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) crews from Pontardawe and Amman Valley Fire Stations were called to an incident in Cwmllynfell.

“Crews responded to one horse, measuring approximately 16 hands high, that was trapped in boggy ground.  Crews utilised wading equipment, animal rescue equipment and lighting to rescue the horse from the bog.  Crews were assisted by a local farmer who brought a mini excavator to help rescue the horse.”

The fire service say they have specialist Animal Rescue Teams based at Pontardawe, Carmarthen, Machynlleth and Rhayader Fire Stations who are trained to use specialist animal rescue equipment to rescue a variety of animals.

(Lead image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue service)

#animalRescue #BlackMountain #Cwmllynfell #horse #MidAndWestWalesFireAndRescueService #NeathPortTalbot

Broadband boost for two Neath Port Talbot communities

Openreach has announced plans to install fibre broadband in the Upper Cwmtwrch area including areas of Rhiwfawr Rd, Rhiw Rd, Coedffaldau Rd and Cwmllynfell, through their Fibre Community Partnership (FCP) programme.  

The communities will benefit from the Openreach Fibre Community Partnership with the support of the UK Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

The Fibre Community Partnership allows Openreach to upgrade existing broadband infrastructure by having eligible premises pledge their UK Government Gigabit Broadband voucher to the project.Once a target amount of pledges is received, Openreach can then move forward to installing the fibre broadband infrastructure in the area.

Residents can check if they qualify and pledge their voucher on the Connect My Community website. The decision on the fibre infrastructure build, the scope of premises covered, and the timeline are all subject to technical surveys, as well as the number of vouches pledged by the community.   

The validated vouchers do not bear any cost to residents and sufficient take up will enable Openreach to work with a local community to build a customised, co-funded network. However, once the infrastructure is in place, residents are committed to ordering an ultrafast full fibre broadband package from a provider who uses the Openreach network, for a minimum of 12-months. 

This project will mainly benefit Neath Port Talbot residents in the area, but also extends into parts of Carmarthenshire and Powys, as the areas included are on the boundaries of these neighbouring counties.

Neath Port Talbot Councillor Jeremy Hurley, Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Economic Growth said: “This is fantastic news for the Upper Cwmtwrch and Cwmllynfell communities! I’m so pleased that Openreach will be bringing high-speed fibre broadband to this area. Not only will this improve connectivity for residents, but it will also support local businesses, schools and other community facilities, driving economic growth in the area. I encourage all residents to check whether they are eligible and make a ‘pledge.”

Martin Williams, Director of Partnerships for Openreach in Wales, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for people living and working in these parts of Neath Port Talbot to bring all the benefits of ultra fast, ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband to their community. Our Fibre Community Partnership programme has meant that we’ve been able to bring thousands of additional properties across Wales and the rest of the UK into our Full Fibre build plans. But building out the network to these harder to reach locations is still challenging – which is why it’s only possible with everyone working together – you, your neighbours and Openreach”.

“Everyone who pledges a voucher will be doing their bit to help make their community one of the best-connected places in the UK”. 

“We’re investing £15 billion to build full fibre broadband to 25 million homes – and more than six million of those will be in the toughest third of the UK – but we can’t upgrade the whole country alone. This latest support from government is a vital part of that process.”

(Lead image: Openreach)

#broadband #Cwmllynfell #NeathPortTalbot #Openreach #UpperCwmtwrch