Editor

In response to Mark Williams’ piece criticising the Plaid Cymru group of councillors for co-opting three councillors of our own party to vacant seats (Views, 18 March), I feel bound to set the factual record straight.

Neither the Liberal Democrats nor any other party stood for co-option in Penparcau or Rheidol wards, even though Liberal Democrat councillor Brenda Haines previously held the seat in Penparcau. One independent candidate, who lives in Waunfawr(which is outside the council area) did stand in Penparcau against the successful candidate Cllr Jeff Smith, who has a proven track record in getting council business done and considerable experience in planning matters.

Only new councillor Kerry Ferguson stood in Rheidol ward, who is director of a business in town. It was recently held by Cllr Rhodri Francis of Plaid Cymru. I fail to see how we could co-opt a Liberal Democrat when there was none standing in these wards. I also note that neither the Liberal Democrats nor any other party made any effort to call an election.

In the event, only one Liberal Democrat stood in Central Ward, an excellent candidate who I have very much respect for and know personally. Plaid Cymru councillors may perhaps be forgiven, however, for co-opting Cllr Danny Ardeshir, a professional ecologist, in the middle of a climate emergency. We simply could not co-opt all of the candidates, excellent though they allare. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them winning some seats at the next election in a year and a half.

We already had a very large majority and did not need to increase it. In our daily work on the council we regard councillors from the other parties as valued colleagues with whom we work inclusively and constructively, not as party political opposition to be suppressed. For example, the Plaid Cymru majority elected our excellent mayor Charlie Kingsbury this year, who is a Liberal Democrat.

Town council is not an especially party political environment,but we can’t be blamed when the other parties fail to stand candidates.I very much look forward to working with councillors across the political spectrum after the next local elections.

Cllr D Talat Chaudhri Plaid Cymru, North Ward

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