Comment

With Elin Jones AM

ONE indication that winter has arrived is the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, which I attended last week. I was pleased to see so many Cardis competing at this year’s fair and I would like to congratulate all local winners. There was also a strong local presence due to the fund-raising efforts at the colourful stall for next year’s “Sioe y Cardis”.

Last week, it was also announced that Carwyn Jones AM has been selected to succeed Rhodri Morgan AM as the leader of the Labour Party in Wales, in a ballot of party members. I would like to congratulate Carwyn on his success.

I was glad to attend the official opening of the new Aberaeron coastal defences by the Assembly Government’s Environment Minister, Jane Davidson AM. This is one of a number of coastal and flood defence projects being planned in Ceredigion, and the minister has given a commitment to consider proposals for sea defences at Borth and Ynyslas in the near future.

Mobile phone reception can be patchy in parts of Ceredigion, with the mountainous terrain often at fault. I am aware that this is particularly problematic for the village of Pontrhydfendigaid where there is practically no reception on any mobile network. I have already been working with representatives from Pafiliwn Bont on this issue, and recently attended a meeting arranged by the local Communities First forum that is now looking into the matter. At present, mobile phone companies believe that it is commercially unviable for them to erect a mast to serve Pontrhydfendigaid, and the Communities First forum is therefore currently looking at erecting its own mast. This is certainly a very innovative idea and I hope that it proves to be successful.

During November, I attended the annual True Taste Awards in my capacity as the minister for rural affairs, which were held this year in Abergavenny. Once again, food producers from Ceredigion featured prominently among the winners at the awards. I would like to congratulate everyone on their successes. Ceredigion of course has many high-quality food producers and restaurants, and I hope that local residents will look to supporting our food and drink producers by buying and eating locally over the festive period. A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!