Six candidates explain why Aberavon needs their help
THE six candidates who want to represent Aberavon on Neath Port Talbot Council have been confirmed.
The by-election for the seat is taking place following the death of Labour county councillor Steffan ap Dafydd last July.
The candidates standing in the election, which will take place on Thursday, May 6, are: ■ Andrew Dacey - Plaid Cymru ■ Stephanie ■ Liz Hill O’shea - Conservative ■ Ceri Golding - The Welsh Independence Party ■ Diane Thomas - Independent ■ Julie Mills - Propel: Wales Needs Champions
Lynch
ANDREW DACEY PLAID
Labour
Plaid candidate Mr Dacey, who was born and raised in Aberavon, said he is “frustrated” with the lack of help and amenities given to local leisure, sporting, and artistic providers, despite the Labour council increasing council tax by 2.75%.
He said Plaid Cymru proposed a council tax freeze but “every Labour councillor voted against it” in Neath Port Talbot.
He added: “The ward suffers from street cleaning and rodent issues and to call out pest control costs more than pensioners, benefits claimants and in work poverty people can afford. Street cleaning needs to be far better and more resources required.”
Mr Dacey works with a local contractor based in Tata Steel Port Talbot and is a life member at Aberavon Harlequins RFC, where he is the head
coach. Also a member of Port Talbot Town Cricket Club, he worked at British Steel/corus for 23 years and then at Ford’s Bridgend engine plant for 12.
If he were to win the seat, his main priorities would be to “lobby for better leisure facilities and fairer council tax” and “improve the lives of all the people in the ward and indeed the wider Port Talbot area”.
STEPHANIE LYNCH - LABOUR
Labour candidate Miss Lynch said her main priorities as an elected member would be tackling flytipping, improving the community, and social and private housing.
She wants to create an “optional pledge” for landlords that will “improve the relationship” between them and their tenants.
Miss Lynch said there are “issues” with rats and fly-tipping in Aberavon, which “both need to be a priority” and the council and residents need to work together to solve the problems.
She co-founded and runs RADAR Aberavon, a charity which encourages recycling and aims to improve community standards and boost local pride. She said she would like to make long-term changes out of the work she has done with RADAR by becoming a councillor.
During the pandemic, Miss Lynch has worked as a volunteer delivering food and medication to residents. If she is elected, she would give residents in Aberavon “a councillor that is already doing things for the ward”, she added.
Originally from Warrington, she has since worked and volunteered in Aberavon for “a number of years” and lives there today. She previously worked as a prison officer and now works as an assistant secretary to David Rees, Labour member of the Senedd for Aberavon.
LIZ HILL O’SHEA CONSERVATIVE
Conservative candidate Dr Liz Hill O’shea has been working in Aberavon since 2014, when she set up Bethel Trust, a charity which runs projects including a drop-in centre and discount food shop.
If she wins the seat, Dr O’shea said she will donate half her salary to “local community work”.
“My passion is developing and empowering people and communities and I’d love to do that more which is why I’m getting involved in politics,” she said.
Dr O-shea is from Ebbw Vale and grew up “on council estates and free school meals”, which she said has shaped her career path.
Her main priorities as a councillor would be economic recovery and stimulation, focusing on local youth, improving health care, supporting employment, enhancing the environment and promoting education.
She worked in South Korea for 11 years as a university lecturer, TV teacher, and church pastor and has worked in the third sector for around 18 years altogether.
She loves singing and doing music with her husband Anthony and enjoys travelling, cultural diversity and Asian food.
CERI GOLDING - THE WELSH INDEPENDENCE PARTY
Welsh Independence Party candidate Ceri Golding said he is standing for the seat because he is “tired of the area’s continual decline, year after year and decade after decade”.
“I hear rich words from our council and Welsh Government representatives but don’t see this translating into action. I see contradictions and hear of plans for community development but there is a disconnect with a lack of transparency and positive outcomes for our areas.”
“Born and bred in Port Talbot”, Mr Golding said he is “hard working” and has lived in Aberavon for 30 years.
He would like to turn
Burrows Yard into a green space for residents to use for exercise and socialising “instead of the eyesore it’s been for 30 years”.
He trained as a hydraulic engineer and now works in consultancy in the renewable energy field.
He added there should be “more imagination used” when building developments are approved in Aberavon and Sandfields is “already a concreate jungle”.
Mr Golding said he is a “family man, with three children and two grandchildren” and has coached youth football for 20 years with Afan Lido and Afan Nedd. He loves playing music and has “a love for life”.
DIANE THOMAS INDEPENDENT
In a leaflet published by independent candidate Diane Thomas, she said she would be “directly accountable” to residents if elected, rather than to a political party.
“As a community representative, I have campaigned tirelessly for many years, thriving on getting results for my community,” she said.
She has lived in Port Talbot her whole life and aims to work with families and local businesses to “get through the very tough times that lay ahead” by regularly talking to residents.
Mrs Thomas’ priorities as an elected official would be ensuring the safety of children at Ysgol Bae Baglan by introducing safe crossing on Village Road from the bridge.
She also wants more “council activity on reducing littered streets,” which is a “big problem” in Aberavon and she would organise community clean-ups with Neath Port Talbot Council and Keep Wales Tidy.
She says she is “accessible” and will make being a councillor her full-time job.
JULIE MILLS PROPEL: WALES NEEDS CHAMPIONS
Propel candidate Julie Mills said her main priorities if elected would be “to enhance local mental health services together with more affordable sports activities for our youth”.
“During the last year of lockdown mental health and loneliness has soared,” she said.
“While I was dropping off my leaflets I spoke to a gentleman who has not seen anyone during lockdown.
“This is heartbreaking, these individuals have not been supported during this time.”
Mrs Mills said Aberavon needs a drop-in centre for the community, including space to keep young people “occupied and off their electronics”.
She also said fly-tipping is a “major problem” locally and people “need easy access” to waste disposal facilities. She said there should be “strict penalties for anyone who ignores”.
“Propel Party’s core is transparency and a common sense approach,” she added.
“This I would bring to the role if successful.”