Welcome backing for more EV charging
IWAS pleased last week to be given unanimous support for a motion to discuss a new law which would make it mandatory for new developments – houses, offices, public buildings, workplaces etc – to include Electric Vehicle (EV) charge points. It doesn’t become law, but it was a debate on a point of very important principle. The debate was designed to keep up the pressure on Government to ensure Wales doesn’t get left behind by the EV revolution.
Few cars are EV now, but in a couple of decades they will have taken over from petrol and diesel, as technology improves and environmental concerns dictate that action is taken to lessen the impact of the internal combustion engine. We can either let this happen to us, or try to genuinely keep up with developments in this field, by offering people the charging infrastructure they need to make the switch to electric easier. Plaid Cymru has already negotiated £2m to invest in charge points, but we need much more.
The same day in the Assembly I jointly tabled a motion calling for better and quicker diagnosis of Bowel Cancer. It’s the second biggest killer of all the cancers in Wales, and the earlier people are diagnosed and treated the better their chance of survival. In a few weeks’ time, I’ll be taking part in a sponsored walk in the South Wales East region represented by my Plaid Cymru colleague, Steffan Lewis AM, who’s fighting the disease.
On return to Anglesey, I cochaired a newly-reformed Holyhead Port Users Group with the island’s MP. We took the step of reconvening the Group in the wake of Storm Emma’s destruction of the Marina. It was a very positive first meeting, not only discussing the latest on the marina, but taking a wider look at how different stakeholders can work together as we seek the brightest future possible for the port and town of Holyhead.
It was a packed week, but I did manage to relax at a couple of events – the Ffermwyr Ifanc Llangefni & Dwyrain Panto in Gaerwen on Thursday – hilarious!!! – and Eisteddfod Môn on Saturday. Thanks to everyone involved in organising the events.
This week – I’m hosting an event in the Assembly to draw attention to the protest against new pylons across Anglesey. We’ve got to do everything we can to keep up the pressure on the Grid, who I’m afraid to say are showing no sign of compromise or listening to the concerns of Anglesey residents.