Constituency News

Over the years, Jane Hutt AM has supported Ogmore By Sea residents in their hard fought and successful campaigns to stop residential development on the site of the Sealawns hotel.

The most recent planning application received last month, is awaiting a decision.

However, the latest news that the Sealawns building has been demolished over the weekend, has left residents devastated.

“This latest development is bitterly disappointing and shocking for those Ogmore by Sea residents who have campaigned so hard over the years to retain the Sealawns hotel for community, social and tourism purposes rather than losing it to housing development.  I will continue to support Ogmore by Sea residents and have submitted my objections to this most recent planning application.” 
 

Vale of Glamorgan AM Jane Hutt, has backed concerned constituents ahead of a Public Inquiry in the Vale of Glamorgan Council Docks Offices, Barry, on May 22nd.   The Public Inquiry will determine the appeal by Coastal Oil and Gas, against the Council’s decision to refuse its application to test drill for shale gas at Llandow.

“There are clearly strong concerns in the Vale of Glamorgan about the hugely controversial gas exploration technique known as ‘fracking,’ which triggered two earth tremors near Blackpool last year.  I have supported the Vale Says No Group, which has campaigned hard to highlight the potentially devastating environmental and public health impacts of the fracking process.  In my objections to the Appeal I have stated that further research and discussion is absolutely necessary before applications to test drill, (which many regard as the first step towards fracking,) are accepted."

With the sun shining for the full three days of the Vale of Glamorgan Walking Festival, the Castle, Court and Wells Walk was well subscribed on Sunday afternoon 13th May with 27 walkers joining up under Valeways Trustee's Alan Wilson's leadership.

Jane Hutt AM joined the walk which started at Cowbridge Car Park behind the Town Hall. Many of the walkers had not enjoyed the delights of the Penllyn Estate and were delighted with the walk.

"It is wonderful that Valeways has organised this Walking Festival, following the success of last year, with the volunteer Walk Leaders and supporters working hard throughout the weekend to give so many people such enjoyable Walks in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan countryside. Well done to all who organised the Festival and thank you from all of us who enjoyed taking part!"
 

Vale Assembly Member, Jane Hutt, lived in Uganda when she was growing up and has helped set up the Vale4Africa link group to support Uganda with local people, professionals and groups in the Vale of Glamorgan.

One of the benefits of this link has been the support of a Ugandan student Batholomew Gavanagh  from a rural community in Eastern Uganda who has just completed his first year at Atlantic College.

Jane visited Atlantic College to meet Batholomew and his tutor, with Professor Steve Tomlinson, Chair of Vale4Africa.

"Supporting Vale4Africa has provided an opportunity for Vale people to get involved with a part of Africa from which we have a lot to learn- as well as setting up partnerships which are mutually beneficial. The sponsorship of Batholomew Gavanagh has been an important part of our work together and I am delighted that he has completed his first year and will be returning home to share his learning and experiences with his family and community. He is a great ambassador for Uganda and it has been a privilege to get to know and support him here in the Vale of Glamorgan."
 

With the launch of the Wales Coast Path hitting the headlines across the world, the Vale AM, joined the Environment Minister, John Griffiths AM, for the official launch at Plas Dahl in Cardiff Bay. With 100,000 visitors expected as a result of this investment in the 800 mile plus Path around the coastline of Wales, this is the first in the world and includes beautiful and popular stretches in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Jane greeted the Southerndown Surfing Club and congratulated her Ministerial colleague, John Griffiths AM, at the launch. She also gave her best wishes to David Quarell who set off on Saturday 5th May to walk and raise funds for Cancer Research in memory of his late father, Gerry Quarell who was a highly respected official in the Welsh Government in the Environment Department.
 

Vale of Glamorgan AM, Jane Hutt attended an awareness raising event at the National Assembly for Wales on May 2nd, to learn more about cardiac risk in the young. (CRY)

Jane also met with Vale of Glamorgan residents Sian Regan, Jane Thomas and Mr Dougherty.

Jane Hutt said:

“ It was a shock to me to learn that 12 young people a week die suddenly from undetected heart conditions.  The national charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) is doing an incredibly valuable job raising awareness, promoting screening and offering support to affected families. I was very privileged to speak with some families from the Vale of Glamorgan and would like to thank them for coming to the Assembly to share their experiences and to make AMs  aware of the tragedy of Sudden Cardiac Death in young people.  I hope that with an increased awareness and campaigns like this, we can help to change things.” 
 

Jane Hutt AM joined the Amelia Trust Farm Open Day to welcome the visitors and partners from a range of organisations and businesses who were learning more about the important work of the Trust.

Among those who attended were, representatives from Asda and Tesco, the Park Prison, Legal and General, Princes Trust and local farmers.

She congratulated the Farm on their work and especially welcomed the European funded project supported by the Vale Volunteer Bureau to meet the needs of young people supported by the Amelia Trust Farm.
 

Vale AM Jane Hutt, hosted the launch of the VCVS’ Friendly AdvantAGE Big Lottery project at the Senedd last week.  She congratulated the Vale Centre for Voluntary Services for its innovation, imagination and success in securing a Big Lottery Grant to open up opportunities for the over 50's in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

A number of partners are on board with this project to help deliver different aspects of 'be-friending' for over 50's and their carers.  VCVS has engaged with Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Age Concern, Scope Cymru, Dinas Powys Voluntary Concern and the Cardiff Third Sector Council (C3SC) to open up opportunities for over 50s.   Examples include, IT learning in Care Homes, engaging with the over 50's in rural communities,  recruiting and training volunteers to be 'friends' for carers and ex carers across these communities, and empowering disabled people.

Jane Hutt said,

"It was great to host this launch at the Senedd and to make the connections with my role as Equalities Minister.  This is an exciting new project taking action to engage and empower over 50's in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.  It aims to open up opportunities for disabled people, carers and those who have not had access to the advantages of the digital world we live in. This is an important project with lessons to be learnt across Wales."
 

Cardiff Aviation, headed by Iron Maiden singer and aviation entrepreneur Bruce Dickinson, will be coming to St Athan-with the prospect of creating up to a thousand jobs.

Jane Hutt AM said:

“ I am delighted with the news that Cardiff Aviation, headed by Bruce Dickinson is taking on the Twin Peakes lease at St Athan.  With the Welsh Government taking the lead with the launch of the St Athan Enterprise Zone in April, and now the announcement of up to 1,000 aerospace jobs, this is a major boost for the skilled aerospace workforce in the Vale of Glamorgan and wider area.”

The Cowbridge Rotary Club Charity Walk was a great success despite the uncertain weather with April showers scattering the walkers with light rain on and off as they set forth from Cowbridge Town Hall to raise funds for Rotary Charities and local good causes. Jane Hutt AM was the first to start the walk with Colin Jones and the first to return after a brisk one and a half hours walking the Rotary trail around Cowbridge to St Hilary and back.

"I enjoyed the Cowbridge Rotary Club Charity Walk immensely. As ever, the scenery and walking conditions were excellent, signposted by Valeways and the Rotary Club posters. The bluebells and wild garlic in St Hilary woods were memorable and the marshalls kept a look out for the walkers all the way. It was great to be enjoying the walk and raising funds for worthy charities and causes such as Vale for Africa. I was also delighted to meet the Rotary Club President and to be presented with a crocus to mark the Rotary Club International achievements in helping to eradicate polio across the world."
 

Vale of Glamorgan AM Jane Hutt, has expressed her disappointment after the UK Government wrote to her to confirm that it would not be proceeding with base separation works of water supplies at the East Vale Estate St Athan.

Jane Hutt has campaigned for many years with local residents to separate the East Vale Estate’s water supply from MoD St Athan.  The East Vale separation was first mooted as a requirement of the MOD St Athan site preparation for Defence Training College.  But the UK Government announced the cancellation of this project in October 2010.

It was hoped that the MoD would carry out an upgrade at the site as part of a commitment to the aborted Defence College programme.

The MOD has now confirmed that it won’t be proceeding with any base separation works at this time.

“It is extremely disappointing to hear that the MoD will not be honouring its commitment to upgrade infrastructure to the East Vale estate.  Residents had been promised repeatedly that works would be completed and this u -turn is a bitter blow.” 

Wales was highlighted favourably on BBC Radio 'File on Four' for the Welsh Government's policies to include 'community benefits' in public sector contracts for goods and services. This means that contracts include specifications for local business to benefit, including opportunities for local jobs, training and apprenticeships.

A good example was shown this week in Barry with the local Police Force purchasing new bikes with a Service Contract from BeeSpoke Bikes, a new business based in Palmerston Workshops. The Finance Minister and local Assembly Member, Jane Hutt AM, joined the team of Barry Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers, at BEESPOKE Bikes to admire the new bikes which were branded by a local printer and designer at the Workshops.

Jane Hutt said,

"This is a 'win win win' for local business, the public and for the Police Force who look after our communities with skill and commitment to our safety. The public are reassured by seeing Police officers and PCSOs on their bikes in the community, they provide a good role model for young people and we are all delighted that these bikes have been purchased and will be maintained by the local Barry BeeSpoke Bike business in Palmerston."
 

Organised by UNISON in partnership with the Woodland Trust, primary school children from Cardiff, the Vale and Bridgend arrived at the Penllyn Estate near Cowbridge to plant over 1,000 trees as part of the Jubilee Wood celebrations on March 23rd.

With land kindly donated by the Penllyn Estate, Mr and Mrs Homfray joined the exciting event with Jane Hutt AM to welcome the children and take part in the tree planting.  UNISON staff had planned and prepared for this event as part of their commitment to 'greening the workplace'  contributing to an environment sympathetic to wildlife, promoting health and well being and providing the lasting legacy of a Jubilee Wood for everyone to enjoy.

Jane Hutt AM said,

"This was a wonderful event on a sunny day in the heart of the Penllyn Estate with children taking a full part in planting over 1,000 native trees in the Jubilee Wood, assisted by UNISON staff, teachers and volunteers. Woodland Trust told us about the initiative as part of the Jubilee celebrations to plant trees to provide a lasting legacy and 'hands on' learning experience for the pupils from schools across the area.
The Welsh Government has supported the tree planting across Wales and I congratulate UNISON and the Woodland Trust for providing this memorable event for all of us who took part."

The MND Association came to Cardiff Bay to inform Assembly Members about the impact of Motor Neurone Disease on the lives of people who suffer this disease and their need for health and social care services. Families came to the Pierhead Building so that AMs could learn about their caring needs and responsibilities, and the Association provided information about the campaign messages.

Jane Hutt said,

"It was very important to have the opportunity to meet constituents who are living with Motor Neurone Disease and I am taking up their cases to ensure that patients and their families receive the treatment and support they need from health and social care services."