Communal spaghetti garden for Aberystwyth?

In recent years, Aberystwyth Town Council has been avidly planting trees around the town. But now Councillor Jeff Smith introduces a new exciting idea.

It's important that local people see the benefits of trees in all possible ways, and this can include produce. So Cllr Smith is keen to plant spaghetti trees between the posts all the way round the North Road Labyrinth.

Sessions will be organised for the local community to come and harvest the spaghetti; the spaghetti will then go into a large cauldron. Two additional cauldrons will boil vegetarian bolognese sauce and beef bolognese sauce, ready for a massive garden party.

For more details on how to harvest spaghetti, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU

Gardd spaghetti cymunedol i Aberystwyth?

Mae Cyngor Tref Aberystwyth wedi bod yn gosod llawer o goed o gwmpas y dref yn y blynyddoedd diweddar: ond mae'r Cynghorydd Jeff Smith yn cyflwyno syniad cyffrous newydd.

Mae'n bwysig fod pobl yn gweld buddion y coed mewn pob ffordd posibl, ac mae hyn yn gallu cynnwys cynnyrch. Felly mae'r Cynghorydd Smith yn awyddus i blannu coed spaghetti rhwng y postiau ar hyd Labyrinth Ffordd y Gogledd

Bydd sesiynau'n cael eu trefnu i'r cymuned leol dod i dynnu spaghetti o'r coed, ac wedyn bydd y spaghetti yn mynd mewn i grochan mawr. Bydd 2 crochan arall yn berwi saws bolognese llysieol a saws bolognese gyda chig, yn barod at arddwest cymunedol enfawr.

Am fwy o fanylion am dyfu spaghetti, gweler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU

Tactical Voting in Ceredigion

Everyone’s probably familiar with the concept of tactical voting. Under the First Past the Post system, supporters of parties which are smaller in the constituency often vote for one of the more major candidates. For instance, some greens will lend their vote to Plaid Cymru and so on.

The electoral system for the Welsh Assembly, with two votes – one for the constituency and one for the region – provides a chance to understand which groups vote tactically, and for whom.

Here’s the statistics then. It’s clear that some of the parties get less or more votes on the regional vote than on the constituency vote. The Greens got about 50% extra votes in the region than in the constituency, following their campaign to get a Member for the region. The libdems got a lot fewer votes in the region than in  the constituency. Labour was one of the other parties who got a lot more support in the region than in the constituency.

In order to understand where the votes are going between the main parties, the figures for the regional vote need modifying. 757 people voted in Ceredigion but not in the regional vote. Also, a small number of votes went to parties who didn’t compete in the constituency. After ignoring these, and raising the number of regional votes for the main parties so that the number of electors is treated as equal in the 2 competitions, we see the following differences, between the regional votes and the constituency votes in Ceredigion:

Party	Plaid Cymru	LibDems	UKIP	Tories	Labour	Green
Difference - number	-366.4	-3224.4	+573.7	+1012.3	+1274.6	+730.2
Difference - percent	-3.0%	-33.6%	+21.5%	+48.8%	+67.0%	+59.7%

This suggests several things. The most obvious is that the libdems lost over a third of their support on the regional list, and given how many people had voted for the LibDems,  this meant over 3000 votes.

Another clear finding is that lots of Labour, Tory and Green supporters voted tactically in the constituency. The three parties each added around 50% extra to their vote at the regional list.

One of the very interesting things is how stable Plaid Cymru’s vote was. This is surprising to an extent, since Elin is very popular in the area, and many people on the doorstep were very supportive of her. But it looks like the local candidate is a “shop-font” for her party in general – Plaid Cymru supporters vote for Elin in the constituency and then vote for her party in the Region.

I won’t deny that Elizabeth Evans of the libdems also has a lot of supporters in Ceredigion. But if they support her, the libdem vote would be expected to be stable on the regional list also.

The only possible conclusion is that the libdem vote in Ceredigion is a coalition vote – a tactical vote against Plaid Cymru. Many Conservative and Labour supporters, and some UKIP supporters also, vote for the libdems in an attempt to stop Plaid Cymru from winning the seat. Alun Williams wrote about this phenomenon some time ago: http://bronglais.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/ceredigion-8000-why.html

This also reflects the very negative campaign that the LibDems have run in Ceredigion this year, where several LibDem leaflets appeared to focus more on opposition to Plaid Cymru than on promoting their own party. Clearly the bar charts which show that the election is a two-horse race have had an effect.

Very fortunately, Plaid Cymru ran a very postive campaing in Ceredigion this year, and the result is clear. Elin Jones has increased her majority, and the attempt to build a coalition against Plaid Cymru has been a failure. Imagine for a moment: how different would Ceredigion politics be if everyone voted for their favourite political party?

Pleidleisio tactegol yng Ngheredigion

Mae pawb siŵr o fod yn cyfarwydd â’r cysyniad o bleidleisio’n tactegol. O dan y drefn Cyntaf i’r Melin (FPTP), mae cefnogwyr o bleidiau sy’n llai yn yr etholaeth yn aml yn pleidleisio dros un o’r ymgeiswyr fwy. Er enghraifft, byddai rhai gwyrddiaid yn benthyg eu pleidlais i Blaid Cymru ac ati.

Mae’r system etholiadol yng Nghymru, gyda 2 pleidlais – un i’r etholaeth ac un i’r rhanbarth – yn cynnig cyfle i ddeall pa carfannau sy’n pleidleisio’n tactegol, a thros pwy.

Dyma’r ystadegau felly. Mae’n amlwg bod rhai o bleidliau yn cael llai neu mwy o bleidleisiau ar y rhanbarth nag yn yr etholaeth. Cafodd y gwyrddiaid tua 50% o bleidleisiau ychwanegol yn y rhanbarth, gan ddilyn eu hymgyrch i gael Aelod i’r rhanbarth. Mae’r rhyddfrydwyr wedi cael llawer lai o bleidleisiau yn y rhanbarth nag yn yr etholaeth. Llafur oedd un o’r pleidiau eraill a gafodd llawer fwy o gefnogaeth yn y rhanbarth nag yn yr etholaeth.

Er mwyn deall ble mae’r pleidleisiau’n mynd rhwng y prif bleidiau, mae angen diwygio’r ffigyrau am y pleidlais rhanbarthol. Bu 757 o bobl yn pleidleisio yng Ngheredigion ond nid yn y  rhanbarth. Hefyd, aeth nifer bach o bleidleisiau i bleidiau nad oedd yn cystadlu yn y rhanbarth. Ar ôl anwybyddu’r rhain, a chodi’r nifer o bleidleisiau rhanbarthol i’r brif pleidiau fel bod y nifer o etholwyr yr un fath i’r ddau cystadlaeth, rydym yn gweld y gwahaniaethau canlynol, rhwng y pleidleisiau rhanbarthol a’r pleidleisiau etholaeth:

Plaid	Plaid Cymru	Dem Rhydd	UKIP	Ceidwadwyr	Llafur	Gwyrdd
Gwahaniaeth – nifer	-366.4	-3224.4	+573.7	+1012.3	+1274.6	+730.2
Gwahaniaeth - canran	-3.0%	-33.6%	+21.5%	+48.8%	+67.0%	+59.7%

Mae hyn yn awgrymu sawl peth. Y mwyaf amlwg yw bod democratiaid rhyddfrydol yn colli dros draean o’i gefnogaeth ar y pleidlais rhestr, a gan bod y nifer a fu’n pleidleisio i’r democratiaid rhyddfrydol  yn mor fawr, mae hynny’n ystyried dros 3000 o bleidleisiau.

Peth arall sydd yn amlwg iawn yw bod llawer o gefnogwyr llafur, ceidwadwyr a gwyrdd wedi pleidleisio’n tactegol yn yr etholaeth. Mae’r tri plaid wedi ychwanegu tua 50% at eu cefnogaeth yn y rhanbarth.

Un o’r pethau diddorol iawn yw pa mor stabl oedd pleidlais Plaid Cymru. Mae hyn i raddau’n syndod, oherwydd mae Elin yn poblogaidd iawn yn yr ardal, ac roedd llawer o bobl ar y stepen drws yn brwd iawn amdani. Ond mae’n edrych fel mae’r ymgeisydd lleol yn “blaen-siop” i’w phlaid yn gyffredinol – mae cefnogwyr Plaid Cymru yn pleidleisio i Elin yn yr etholaeth ac yno pleidleisio i’w phlaid yn y rhanbarth.

Na’i ddim gwadu bod gan Elizabeth Evans o’r democratiaid rhyddfrydol llawer o gefnogwyr yng Ngheredigion. Ond os ydynt yn cefnogi hi, byddai disgwyl i bleidlais y rhyddfrydwyr aros yn eitha stabl ar y rhestr rhanbarthol hefyd.

Yr unig casgliad yw bod y pleidlais rhyddfrydol yn pleidlais clymblaid – pleidlais tactegol yn erbyn Plaid Cymru. Mae llawer o gefnogwyr Ceidwadwyr a Llafur, a rhai cefnogwyr UKIP hefyd,  yn pleidleisio dros y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol mewn ymgais i atal Plaid Cymru rhag cipio’r sedd. Bu Alun Williams yn ysgrifennu am hyn peth amser yn ôl: http://bronglais.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/ceredigion-8000-why.html

Mae hyn hefyd yn adlewyrchu’r ymgyrch negyddol iawn mae’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol wedi rhedeg yng Ngheredigion eleni, lle oedd sawl taflen rhyddfrydwyr yn ffocysu mwy ar wrthwynebu Plaid Cymru nag ar hyrwyddo’r eu plaid eu hunain. Yn amlwg mae’r “bar-charts” sy’n dangos bod yr etholiad y ras dau ceffyl yn cael effaith.

Yn ffodus iawn, bu Plaid Cymru’n rhedeg ymgyrch positif iawn yng Ngheredigion eleni, ac mae’r canlyniad yn glir. Mae Elin Jones wedi cynyddu’i mwyafrif, ac mae’r ymgais i adeiladu clymblaid yn erbyn Plaid Cymru wedi bod yn methiant. Dychymygwch am eiliad: tybed pa mor wahanol fyddai gwleidyddiaeth Ceredigion pe tasai pawb yn pleidleisio dros eu hoff plaid wleidyddol?

Independence for Aberystwyth

[This is a translation of the Welsh article I posted this morning]

Following the discussions about the referendum on EU membership in Fill Council on Tuesday night, 

I can declare that I have found a manuscript in the National Library which allows Aberystwyth to have its own foreign policy, including international treaties. This is very exciting for the town, both in terms of its history and its future.

In the next Council meeting, I will be putting a motion for Aberystywth to declare its independence of the UK if there is a vote to leave the EU. This follows findings that Ceredigion, and in particular Aberystwyth, is the most supportive place in favour of the EU in the whole of the UK.

I am also in favour of us joining the Schengen agreement, which allows freedom of movement around the EU without requiring a passport. Although a passport would be needed to go outside Aberystwyth under this system, we can resurrect the old toll-gates: Southgate, Northgate and so on; checking passports will provide employment. Wetherspoons will turn into a Customs office for people arriving by train.

It could be asked how people in Aberystwyth can travel freely to the Continent if they have to go via UK? But I have exciting plans for this...

How about zip-wires from the top of Constitution Hill to Brittany, Ireland, Isle of Mann, Scotland and Cornwall? Ideas of this kind have won a lot of support in the town. If we raise the precept enough, maybe we can build one to the Basque Country also.

Also, we have a great rowing club in Aberystwyth, who row to Ireland regularly as part of the Celtic Challenge. My fellow town councillor Steve Davies and his friends have offered to give lifts to people across the Irish Sea – very kind!

This is an exciting period. In the long term, I would like to see Abersytwyth follow in the footsteps of Llanrwst by applying for UN membership.

Annibynniaeth i Aberystwyth

Gan ddilyn y trafodaethau am y refferendwm ar aelodaeth o’r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y Cyngor Llawn nos Fawrth, gallaf ddatgan fy mod i wedi dod o hyd i lawysgrif yn y Llyfrgell Genedlaethol sydd yn canitáu i Aberystwyth cael ei pholisi tramor ei hunain, gan gynnwys cytundebau rhyngwladol. Mae hyn yn cyffrous iawn i’r dref, o ran ei hanes ac hefyd o ran ei dyfodol

Yn y cyfarfod Cyngor nesaf, byddaf yn gosod cynnig i Aberystwyth datgan ei hannibynniaeth o’r Deyrnas Unedig petai pleidlais o blaid adael yr Undeb Ewropeaidd. Mae hyn yn dilyn y canfyddyddiadau mai Ceredigion, ac yn penodol Aberystwyth, yw’r lle mwyaf cefnogol i’r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn y DU.

Dw i hefyd o blaid i ni ymuno â’r cytundeb Schengen, sydd yn caniatáu rhyddid i symud o gwmpas yr Undeb Ewropeaidd heb angen pasbort. Er byddai angen pasbort i fynd tu allan i Aberystywth o dan y fath system, mi allem ni atgyfodi’r hen tollborthau: Southgate, Northgate ac ati; bydd gwirio pasbortau’n darparu cyflogaeth. Bydd Wetherspoons yn troi’n swyddfa Customs ar gyfer pobl sydd yn cyrraedd ar y trenau.

Gellid ofyn sut mae pobl o Aberystwyth yn gallu teithio’n rhydd i’r Cyfandir os oes rhaid mynd drwy'r DU? Ond mae gennyf cynlluniau cyffrous iawn am hyn...

Beth am “zip-wires” o dop y Graig Glais i Lydaw, Iwerddon, Ynys Manaw yr Alban a Chernyw? Mae syniadau o'r fath wedi ennyn cryn gefnogaeth gan drigolion y dref. Os godwn ni’r praesept digon, efallai gellid adeiladu un i Wlad y Basg hefyd.

Hefyd, mae gynnom clwb rwyfo gwych yn Aberystwyth, sydd yn rhwyfo i Iwerddon yn rheolaidd fel rhan o’r Celtic Challenge. Mae fy nghyd-gynghorydd tref Steve Davies a’i ffrindiau wedi cynnig rhoi lifftiau i bobl ar draws y Môr Geltaidd – caredig iawn!

Mae hyn yn cyfnod cyffrous iawn. Yn y tymor hir, hoffwn i weld Aberystwyth yn dod yn wlad annibynnol a dilyn ôl-troedion Llanrwst gan geisio am aelodaeth o’r Genhedloedd Unedig.

Plaque Installed on Trefechan Bridge

This week, a plaque was installed on Pont Trefechan to commemorate Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Lanuage Society)’s first major protest in 1963. As a Councillor, I took the matter to the Aberystwyth Town Council, arranged the plaque and I’m very pleased that the plaque is now on the bridge.

History of the Protest

The first protests in 1963 were a turning point in the history of the Welsh language, and also a turning point in Welsh history. After holding a protest to try to get leaflets and so on in Welsh in Aberystwyth Post Office, tens of people blocked the traffic on the bridge, earning national attention.

(picture: Casgliad Y Werin)

Since then, the bridge has come to symbolise the struggle for rights for Welsh speakers, a struggle which has borne fruit in several areas such as road signs, radio, TV, Welsh language services and leaflets from public bodies, Welsh medium education and so on (although there are still many things yet to be won!)

Because of this, the bridge has become a national icon and many attempts have been made to remember the original protest. For instance a large number of people recreated the protest twice in 2013, once as a genuine protest and once as part of the street drama Y Bont.

(picture: nativehq.com)

Plaques

The first plaque was installed on the bridge by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg in the 1980s, but it came down – it is not known exactly how but many fear that hatred was behind this. The second plaque was placed by Aberystwyth Town Council in 2004.

Unfortunately, I was made aware on the night of 31 August 2015 that the plaque had come down from the bridge wall and had smashed on the ground. A member of the public had already informed the Police, and I went to see the site at around midnight

The next day, I had to collect the plaque from the Police Station in a suitcase!! The Police said that they were of the view that it was accidental, that the screws had rusted through, the plaque had fallen, someone had tried to glue the plac back into place and it had fallen again and smashed. Unfortunately, I came to the conclusion that it couldn’t be fixed.

The Third Plaque

I put a motion to the Council for us to buy a new plaque of the same type and hold an unveiling event. I said that the plaque would need to have 6 screws, of a material that would not rust, rather than 2, in order to ensure that the plaque would stay in place. The motion was passed: Hooray!! After ordering the plaque, I had a site meeting on Friday with Paul James of James Memorials, Llandre and by Wednesday the plaque was up!!

I feel that this has added a lot to the town. Plaques are a great focus for remembering and for informing people about how much history there is in the town. They are also very good for visitors and tourists, and they look very smart. It’s very appropriate to note something so crucial and important that happened here in Aberystwyth