Cefnogaeth gan yr ymgeiswyr - Support from council election candidates

Here’s a summary of the responses by the candidates. I’ve picked the main points from the responses sent by each party:

Weler grynodeb o’r ymatebion. Dwi wedi dewis y prif bwyntiau anfonwyd gan bob plaid:

Plaid Cymru:

As the candidate for Talbot Green I'm particularly concerned about the over subscribed YGGG Llantrisant. My mother worked at the Ysgol Feithrin in Pontyclun and saw first hand the problems.  Hopefully the expansion of Ysgol Gyfun Gymreag Llanhari to a 3-18 school might ease the pressure for places in the short term, but I agree with you that in the long term is isn't good enough.
Having quickly discussed your manifesto with current Plaid Cymru councillors and other candidates I can inform you that you have their full backing as well.

Emyr Williams

_             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

Thank you foryour letter, in which you asked me to support RhAG’s aims. You have myfull backing, in particular the promotion of Welsh-medium education across thewhole county. I am writing to the Director of Education, Chris Bradshaw, to add my support to the campaign. ...

Mick Tems (Plaid Cymru candidate, Brynna ward)
_             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

Afraid dweud fy mod yn llwyr gefnogi amcanion RHAG - ond mae angen ysgol gynradd Gymraeg newydd yng nghanol Rhondda Fawr -Penygraig / Tonypandy, dyweder.

Cennard Davies [ymgeisydd PC yn Nhreorci]
_             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

Jonathan Huish and I, Merfyn Rea (Pontyclun councillors) are in full support of you aims and manifesto. We have met with the director of education. . . .

_             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

Fel ymgeisydd ar ran Plaid Cymru yn ward Gorllewin Tonyrefail, hoffwn i eich sicrhau chi, o gael fy ethol y byddwn yn cefnogi eich maniffesto cant y cant. Mae'n holl bwysig bod yna ddatblygiadau yn digwydd ym maes addysg Gymraeg, gan ddilyn dyheadau'r rhieni sydd am weld eu plant yn derbyn addysg Gymraeg.
Danny Grehan
             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

I would like to respond to the maniffesto below on behalf of myself and Julie Williams ( Plaid Cymru Candiadates in the Porth Ward).  We are fully supportive of the points below and we will ensure that Welsh Medium education is treated fairly in the Authority, if we are elected.  We have both been involved in the campaign with Rhag Llwyncelyn in the last year to ensure palces at YGG Llwyncelyn.
Yn gywir

Alun Cox, Julie Williams

Liberal Democrats:

. . . on behalf of all of the Welsh Liberal Democrat candidates.

We have always been fully committed to furthering Welsh medium education in RCT.  I am a former Cabinet Member for education in RCT – when I was with Plaid Cymru some twelve years ago.  At that time the discussion was ongoing as to the location of the replacement for Rhydyfelin.  I held a variety of meetings with all welsh Medium Headteachers in the county to discuss that and the overall provision.  I moved on from Plaid and that position before the school decision was finally made.  It is in the wrong place - it is taking pupils from the western side of the constituency, away from YG Llanhari.  It was widely agreed by those in the profession that it should have been more towards Pontypridd, either in Rhydfelen or near the location of Coedylan (Pontypridd High).

The decline in numbers at YG Llanhari has led to what we would consider to be a downgrading of the provision there under the new plans.  Garth Olwg will not be able to accommodate the increasing numbers of pupils and Llanhari longer term may not be equipped to.  There is little scope for expansion at Cymmer.

Primary school provision is equally haphazard.  We welcome the new provision at Llanhari, but it appears to be a last minute thought rather than part of a longer term plan.  The new school at Miskin was supposed to be an extra school, not as it turned out a replacement for YGG Llantrisant.

Evan James is in an appalling state physically and badly located.  Although we recognise the emotions attached to any school, and the consternation any talk of moving can cause, we think that opportunities have been missed to expand and provide better accommodation.  English Medium schools have been closed and the site sold on to developers, or in some cases left empty.  Why couldn’t we have had extended Welsh Medium provision for example at Graig Y Wion school?

As a Party locally we were very involved in the campaign against the name change of Ysgol Gyfun Rhydyfelin.  There was overwhelming opposition to it from pupils, parents, staff, governors and a whole range of others who valued the history behind the name.  It was Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillors who put forward a motion to Council to keep the name but the ruling group did not want to listen.

We have also been strong opponents of any moves to close sixth forms across RCT and replace them with tertiary colleges.  We believe pupils should have choice, and we value the influence that sixth forms have in our schools.  We also appreciate the detrimental effect that it would have on Welsh Medium education at post sixteen level.

In short then the Welsh Liberal Democrats have no hesitation in supporting your aims, indeed they have been part of our manifesto for some considerable time, and we will continue to press for a fairer deal for pupils no matter what language they choose to be educated in.

Karen Roberts
Campaign Manager RCT Welsh Liberal Democrats

Conservatives:

Many thanks for the email.  Yes I will gladly support your proposals and would, elected or not, like to become involved in your campaign .  It is ridiculous as well as scandelous that children living within the catchment area of Llantrisant are being refused school places.  As Chairperson of Pontypridd Welsh Conservatives Policy Forum Group I am keen to address these issues by holding public meetings and transforming discussions into Policy Papers which will then be sent to Westminster and Welsh Assembly. 

Ann-Marie Mason.
_             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

Thank you for your letter dated 14/04/2012, after reading this and further investigation; I can say that I fully support you and if elected I would be more than happy to help in any way I can. Although I am not a Welsh speaker, I am currently taking evening classes to become fluent and I believe the Welsh language is very important. If you would like to speak further on this issue, please do not hesitate to contact me on the number or email address below.

Gregory Zuckerman

Independents:

Shawn Stevens, Tonyrefail
You can be assured that I fully support Welsh Medium education throughout the county.
_             _             _             _             _             _             _             _             _

Paul Baccara, Talbot Green

As always - you have my full support and action must be taken to resolve this situation. After the election, if re-elected, I will put my full weight behind your campaign.