Save Our Care Home Campaign
Members of an Action Group in the Vale of Neath are re-launching the campaign to save their care home from closure eighteen months from now.
Neath Port Talbot Council, which had previously listened to the voices of those fighting to retain the Trem-y-Glyn care home in Glynneath some ten years ago, performed a u-turn in 2016 claiming that the retention of the home was no longer viable. Following a minor refurbishment, the home was condemned to close in 2022.
Plaid Cymru councillor, Dr. Del Morgan, who is the Convener of the Trem-y-Glyn Action Group, argued that he was always convinced that there would be an increase, not a reduction, in the need for such care homes over the coming decades, and he has welcomed the more recent noises from Neath Port Talbot Council that they are at last giving serious consideration to this argument.
“I’m a little more optimistic now that the Council is beginning to reconsider this whole issue,” he said, “although I believe that we are beginning to run out of time, and that the time is now right for the Action Group to re-launch its campaign to save the home and seek a commitment to retain our care home indefinitely.”
“With people living longer and with the baby-boom population coming through, how could we possibly see a reduction in the numbers of people who will need care homes? Trem-y-Glyn is such a homely facility, with dedicated staff and residents who are happy to remain near to their communities,” Councillor Morgan added.
The County Council’s Social Care, Health and Wellbeing Cabinet Board is monitoring the situation at present, and Action Group members are hoping that the Board will once again listen to their voices and reprieve the home, either by giving at least a three-year extension to the closure period in the short term, or by granting a permanent extension to the home’s existence immediately.
“I implore the Council to lift the potential threat to this home immediately,” said Councillor Morgan. “At the very least, let’s see a three-year moratorium on any closure plans so that we can work up further research to show that this home is needed as a permanent facility.” He added, “I’m so grateful for the work and support of everyone who has been active in the cause of Trem-y-Glyn, including the Action Group, staff of the Home and the residents and their families.”
Council Update 23th Nov 2020
Plaid Councillors – On Your Side!
by Alun Llewelyn – Plaid Cymru Leader at Neath Port Talbot Council
Plaid Cymru – The Party of Wales is the main opposition party at Neath Port Talbot Council.
Our 15 committed and dynamic County Councillors represent areas across Neath Port Talbot, from the Swansea and Neath Valleys to the towns of Pontardawe, Neath and Port Talbot.
We have gained many council seats in recent years, and in the Neath Constituency Plaid Cymru is now neck-and-neck with Labour.
We work hard for our communities, effectively campaigning on the issues that matter to people.
- Getting fair play for the valleys
- Changing the Local Development Plan
- Planning a better future for the historic market town of Neath
- Securing the future of Neath railway station
- Securing modern health facilities in the Neath Valley
- Calling for a Green New Deal to rebuild the Welsh economy and improve our environment during and after the Covid 19 period
- Maintaining the essential services that are so important -and keeping front line services that make a difference to how our areas look and feel
Covid 19 has been a huge challenge – putting great pressure on council services across the country. In Neath Port Talbot we already have one of the highest Council Tax rates in Wales, and the Plaid group of Councillors argued again in the 2020 Council Budget to keep Council Tax to a more reasonable level. We now call on UK Government and Welsh Government to ensure that there is enough support for council services during Covid – the people of Neath Port Talbot should not face huge rises in Council Tax or damaging cuts in council services.
As well as our County Councillors, there are dozens of Plaid Cymru Town and Community Councillors within the Neath Constituency really making a difference - keeping parks, community halls, playschemes, and all sorts of activities open in our communities.
Plaid councillors in Neath Port Talbot are on your side!
