Group want ‘best deal’ for people of the valley
A GROUP of independent candidates – many of them former Labour councillors or members – are hoping to win seats at county and town council level at the forthcoming elections.
The Llynfi Independents have set out a series of pledges which they say are designed to get the best deal for the people of the valley.
Pledging to defend the best interests of the valley rather than a party, their election leaflet states: “We are not bound by party instructions – our one and only allegiance is to the Llynfi Valley. Your existing Llynfi independent representatives stood their ground and defended the valley’s best interests by opposing a potential council merger with the Vale of Glamorgan.
“We will also stand up against cuts which affect the Llynfi Valley disproportionately and/or pose a significant risk to services.”
The group has seven county council candidates for seven seats in Maesteg east and west and Caerau.
They include Ross Thomas and Keith Edwards, former Labour councillors who left the party after being deemed ineligible to stand again after their defiance of the whip when they voted against Bridgend council’s failed plan to merge with the Vale.
The pair said they couldn’t support a merger which, due to the more prosperous Vale area, would have left the Llynfi Valley ineligible for European convergence funding.
Other members of their new group also left Labour in protest at their treatment. But they know the party still has much support in the area.
“I think we know, as a group of candidates, that the task ahead of us between now and polling day is a huge one but not insurmountable,” said Ross.
Keith added: “We have made a collective commitment that we will stand on policy.”
As a group they said they are fighting the election on “hyper local issues” such as tackling dog fouling, a lack of public toilets and concerns that flytipping will rise as a result of a new waste scheme which will see residents limited to putting out two waste bags per fortnight.
They are also encouraging people to take part in the consultation on the future of Maesteg Town Hall. Bridgend council wants to transform it into a cultural hub, which would see the indoor market ousted in favour of the town’s libraries.
“It’s their town hall and we welcome the public consultation,” said Keith.
Ross said: “We want a town hall in Maesteg that everyone can be proud of.”