YOUR FUTURE

BLAENAU GWENT AM Trish Law is urging local people to apply for membership of a high-powered committee to help prepare the way for a referendum on giving the Assembly full law-making powers.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has already emphasised that the net must be cast far and wide to ensure committee members truly represent every aspect of Welsh life.

Mrs Law explained that up to four members of the public would be appointed to serve on the executive committee of the All Wales Convention.

The setting up of the All-Wales Convention was a commitment made as part of the One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru when the two parties formed a coalition government in Cardiff Bay last summer. Its purpose is to create a national debate on full law-making powers for the Assembly and assess the levels of support for any future referendum.

“Up to 16 people will serve on the executive committee, including four members of the public – and I would encourage people from Blaenau Gwent to apply,” said Mrs Law.

“It is important that members of the executive committee reflect all aspects of modern Wales, that they come from all backgrounds and all parts of Wales to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard during this critical national debate.”

LONGER WAIT FOR TRAIN

A NEW report from Network Rail has virtually ruled out extending the recently opened and popular Ebbw Valley line before 2014.

However it has become clear for the first time that serious consideration is being given to extending the line to Ebbw Vale town and creating a direct link to Newport. The Network Rail report refers to the opening in February of the Ebbw Valley line and adds: “There are aspirations for further route upgrade to passenger standards of the curve between Park Junction and Gaer Junction which would enable an additional hourly service to operate between Ebbw Vale and Newport. “There is also an aspiration for a short extension northwards beyond Ebbw Vale Parkway into the town centre of Ebbw Vale. ”The new hourly train service between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff attracted  more than 100,000 passengers in the first few weeks of operation, and transport minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said in the Assembly that patronage of the Ebbw Valley service had surpassed all expectations. He was addressing a reception at the launch of Network Rail’s 167-page report which sets out the strategic vision for the future of the rail network in Wales, known technically as the Route Utilisation Strategy. Extending the Ebbw Valley line is seen as an option for the future but the report warns that funding from the Welsh Assembly Government is not planned and is unlikely before 2014.It describes the proposal as a “medium to longer term Sewta strategic aspiration”, Sewta, the South East Wales Transport Alliance, being made up of 10 local authorities including Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torfaen and Newport. Trish Law, Blaenau Gwent’s Independent AM, said she very much regretted the timetable for extending the Ebbw Valley line. “I have raised this matter many times in the Assembly with a view to getting the Newport spur developed in time for the Ryder Cup in 2010,” she said. “It’s not good enough to now be talking about extending the line to Newport and Ebbw Vale town post-2014.
“And I am disappointed that there is no mention in the Network Rail report of extending the line to Abertillery which I consider to be a very necessary link. ”Mrs Law pointed out that moves to get the line extended to Newport and Ebbw Vale town had the support of AMs of all parties including South Wales East members Mohammad Asghar (Plaid Cymru), William Graham (Conservative), Mike German (Liberal Democrat) and Newport West Labour AM Rosemary Butler. Blaenau Gwent’s Independent MP Dai Davies said that while he regretted the delay in extending the line it was up to the council and politicians in the Assembly and at Westminster to press for the earlier release of funds to crack on with the extensions. “On the positive side I have to say I welcome the fact that we now have these proposals set out in black and white,” he said. “The extension of the line to a new station at the General Offices will be a huge fillip to the regeneration of  the Corus site and the wider Blaenau Gwent area. “The important thing is that we do everything we can to bring this programme forward.”

WHEN RED TURNS BLUE!