MIKE POWELL - THE LOCAL CANDIDATE WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF FIGHTING FOR A FAIRER DEAL FOR YOU.

There is only one way to break the Labour stranglehold.

Vote Powell for Ponty

Born in Cilfynydd, Mike is the County Borough Councillor for Trallwn, where he lives, and is well known throughout the constituency. Educated at Hawthorn High School and the University of Glamorgan.

Mike has stood in Pontypridd at Parliamentary and Assembly elections since 2003 and has dramatically narrowed the gap between him and Labour. At the 2010 General Election the Labour majority was reduced from more than 13,000 to less than 3,000 Only the Welsh Liberal Democrats are anywhere close to toppling Labour here.

Who do you think is going to fight harder for a better deal for you? A Labour candidate drafted in from outide who has no real connection with or knowledge of the area? Or someone dedicated to this constituency? Who lives here, works here, and has been a tireless campaigner as a Councillor for the past eleven years? You decide

Mike's Record In The Pontypridd Constituency

• Voted against Labour plans to put up Council Tax this year above the Welsh average whilst they cut services and

increase prices.

• Opposed the hike in car parking charges at a time when town centres desperately need to attract shoppers.
• Supported pupils and parents of Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen fighting to keep the name of their school - Labour did it

regardless

• Called for a judicial review of the Mwyndy planning decision which could see one of the last of the open green

spaces disappear from the Llantrisant area (Labour said no)

• Spoken out against the closure of leisure facilities and cut backs in services for the elderly.
• Condemned spending on art projects whilst basics such as highway repairs are not done.
• Spoken out against the Labour Party's proposed closure of all RCT sixth forms.
• Opposed the downgrading of the long awaited Church Village by pass to a single carriageway rather then the dual

carriageway that was promise.

• Voted against the rise in Councillors allowances this year.

It is time to break the Labour stranglehold that has seen the town of Pontypridd neglected and allowed to degenerate whilst other areas grow.

Einstein is alleged to have said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Labour have had their chances over and over, the results will never be any different unless YOU make a positive move and vote for a change

It's Time For A Change……

The Pontypridd constituency is suffering from a lack of vision, a general sense of apathy, a feeling shared by many residents that nobody in authority really cares.

It is time for a change - time to break the Labour stranglehold and elect someone who puts the interests of our area and its residents first. Someone who was born and bred here and has seen what successive Governments have done. Only Mike can provide that.

We have a complete imbalance in the Pontypridd constituency. One side is vastly overdeveloped - too many shops and houses, a seemingly endless string of new planning applications without the road infrastructure to support it.

Meanwhile Pontypridd town is dying on its feet. There has been constant talk of redevelopment for years but the arguments still carry on and nothing is done.

We need someone to start fighting on our behalf

Only the Welsh Liberal Democrats will deliver for you.

We need real action to bring jobs and opportunities to this area and to Wales. Investment in education and training that will equip people for work in whatever field they choose.

Not to mention action on the economy which make sure those jobs are there once they are trained. There is no point in a highly skilled workforce doing nothing.

The old industries which made South Wales famous are long gone, and they won't be coming back. Manufacturing is dwindling as more and more production is taken abroad where it costs less.

We have to change our outlook and create new opportunities - now before it is too late and we are left behind yet again.

"There is huge potential in 'green jobs' - if only the current Government could see it.

There is a massive market with the growth of renewable energy. We have to find new sources - as well as reducing the amount of energy we use substantially.

Wind farms, biomass, solar energy - we must utilise all of these and more if we are to keep producing energy without resorting to nuclear power.

There is a whole industry around alternative energy, and we should be investing in that industry. There is no reason why once again we can't be at the forefront when it comes to supplying the world's energy."

Question of Priorities

Mike recently took part in the annual 55 mile Tŷ Hafan Taff Trail Cycle Challenge from Brecon to Cardiff.

Tŷ Hafan provides respite and palliative care to children suffering from 'life limiting conditions' - who are not expected to reach nineteen years of age.

It is one of only two children's hospices in Wales. Yet only 17% of its funding comes from Government sources.

Where are the priorities of a Labour - Plaid Assembly Government? Of politicians who think nothing of spending £140K on a project such as the 'Gateway sculpture'

This whilst we have a health service that, despite the efforts of the dedicated and hard working staff is second rate.

Where people wait months and even years for hospital appointments; ambulances fail to respond quickly enough to emergencies; and sick children have to rely on the generosity of people buying raffle tickets?

Don't tell us why we can't - tell us how we can

Mike and the Welsh Liberal Democrats firmly believe both at a national and local level that policy should be driven by the needs of the people - representative politics.

We all know how the Pontypridd constituency has been neglected for years, it is desperately in need of targeted regeneration - improved access to services; major repairs to our schools; cleaner streets; revamping of our town centres; more facilities for our young people; jobs to give them a reason to stay here; the list goes on.

To achieve these needs, it requires imagination, energy, a 'can do' attitude, and a willingness to actually listen to the views of the people and ensure that regeneration takes into account the needs and wishes of the local community. Don't tell us why we can't - tell us how we can

Our Vision For The Future…….

Rhondda Cynon Taff has a proud industrial heritage, and Pontypridd has played a central role in that.

However, the days of iron and coal have long gone, and we need to look at alternative methods of providing employment.

Welsh Liberal Democrats want to put Wales at the forefront in providing safe, clean, green energy.

We have the natural resources, and the geographical advantages to lead the way in making the green switch. We just need the will to do it.

Our homes must be more energy efficient, locally generating more of their own energy and in so doing being less wasteful. All Public buildings should be generating renewable energy on-site through on-site micro-generation, as done elsewhere in the UK!

All new homes and buildings should be built to the highest standards of energy efficiency. Recycling is on the increase, and kerbside collections have helped, but we can still do more

Our children's safety

Welsh Liberal Democrats would like to see the introduction of more 20mph zones around schools. Mike Powell has been calling on RCT Council to introduce these ever since he was elected as a Councillor in 1999.

"Some areas such as Beddau and Tonyrefail have these already, but it should be the norm."