CALLING LAST ORDERS ON HIGH BUSINESS RATES

Pubs, clubs and live music venues are at the heart of our communities in Cardiff East, but they’ve been under considerable pressure since before the pandemic.

The last Welsh Labour Government announced that it would give pubs, restaurants, cafés, bars and live music venues 15% off its new business rates bill. This month, the UK Labour Government took extra steps to protect pubs, clubs and live music venues in England, with a further 20% cut in business rates on top of existing support from April 2027. This is brilliant news for English businesses, but because business rates are devolved in Wales, we need action from the minority Plaid Welsh Government.

Welsh pubs, clubs and music venues deserve the same support as their counterparts in England. Following the biggest budget settlement in devolution history from the UK Labour Government, there’s an additional £6.5 billion available to the minority Plaid Welsh Government for public spending, including support for businesses.

I’ve launched my ‘Calling Last Orders on High Business Rates’ campaign to fight for a fair deal for our local hospitality industry.

Let me know your favourite local pub, club or live music venue and sign my petition here.

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ON COLCHESTER AVENUE

I’ve been contacted by residents in Penylan who have raised serious concerns about ongoing anti-social behaviour in and around the Co-op store on Colchester Avenue. This has included abuse and intimidation directed at shop staff, frequent shoplifting and stolen items regularly being stashed in nearby bushes and residents.

I met with the local Police Inspector and outlined the problems, residents’ concerns and asked for police patrols in the area to be increased. I’ve also raised these issues directly with Co-op management and asked that they consider employing a security guard at the store to protect their staff and customers.

I’ll keep residents updated on progress following my representations.

NEW ZONAL PARKING SCHEME FOR PLASNEWYDD CENTRAL AREA

Following local consultation, work has begun to introduce a new zonal parking scheme covering the residential streets around City Road, between Albany Road, Newport Road, and Richmond Road.

The scheme will introduce:

Permit-only bays
Shared use bays for permit holders and short-stay visitors
Pay & Stay bays (first hour free – 3 hours maximum stay)
Limited waiting bays – to the east of the zone, allowing 2 hours free parking
Disabled parking bays
Yellow line restrictions

Once the works are completed, parking controls will operate 7 days a week, from 8am to 10pm, with double yellow lines enforced 24 hours a day.

ARSON AT OLIVE TREE GARDENS

I am appalled at the news that the Olive Tree Memory Garden in Rumney Gardens has been targeted again by arsonists. This is the second time since May.

When I visited the project earlier this year, I saw firsthand how much of a lifeline the dementia-friendly café and garden is to local families, carers and those living with dementia.

To see it targeted like this again is devastating. Following the incident, I met with Diane and Fiona, as well as volunteers and customers of the Olive Tree Café and Gardens, to offer my support, update them on my discussions with the local police and talk about how my office and I can support the Café.

ATTACKS ON BIRDS IN TROWBRIDGE & ST MELLONS

I have received reports from residents in Trowbridge and St Mellons about local birds being targeted with ball-bearing slingshots.

These senseless attacks have already resulted in severe injuries to swans on Hendre Lake and other birds in residential areas.

Working with Shav Taj MS and our local Trowbridge & St Mellons Labour Councillors, Michael Michael and Bernie Bowen-Thompson, we’ve asked South Wales Police to investigate these reports, identify those responsible, and take action to prevent similar incidents.

We urge anyone with information to contact the police.

CARDIFF EAST CHILDREN HELP SHARE VITAL WATER SAFETY MESSAGE

If you’ve recently had a walk around Cardiff Bay or across to Cardiff Barrage, you’ll have definitely seen a number of drawings from local school children raising awareness of water safety.

Pupils were invited to design banners to remind visitors that they should not swim in Cardiff Bay, as well as in local rivers and lakes.

Congratulations to Diamond from St Illtyd’s R.C. High School and Alys from Howardian Primary School, whose designs have been included in the collection. Their work has been seen by thousands of visitors and made people think twice before going into the water.

CAPITA CIVIL SERVICE PENSION SUPPORT

In recent months, I've heard from many residents in Cardiff East experiencing difficulties with Capita when accessing their Civil Service pensions.

Capita’s performance is unacceptable. It has left people without access to their pensions for long periods, putting many in difficult circumstances with monthly bills, mortgages and other payments. I am having to chase Capita for some residents who have been waiting for more than a year for their own money.

If you live in Cardiff East and are experiencing problems with Capita and your Civil Service pension, please get in touch with my office using the details below:

☎️ 02921 329736

✉️ [email protected]

EISTEDDFOD CAERDYDD 2028

Last time the Eisteddfod was in Cardiff, in 2018, it broke the record for its highest attendance ever, with 500,000 visitors taking part in this week-long festival of Welsh language and culture.

In 2028, I hope we will be able to break records again with the festival returning to Cardiff.

I’m looking forward to welcoming visitors from every corner of Wales and beyond as we celebrate the best of Wales.

NATIONAL LOTTERY SUPPORT IN CARDIFF EAST

Every year, the National Lottery reveals the funding awarded to good causes, and this year I’m pleased to say that more than £2,150,000 has been distributed to 95 organisations across Cardiff East alone.

Over the last 31 years, National Lottery players have contributed almost £65 million to community groups right here in Cardiff East. That is an astonishing amount of money that has gone a long way in Cardiff East.

I want to say a massive thank you to every player, locally and across the UK. Every ticket is investing in the future of grassroots projects right here in Cardiff East.

CONGRATULATIONS JEREMIAH AZU

It has been a busy month for Rumney local Jeremiah Azu, with success at the European Athletics Championships.

During the Championships, he picked up one silver medal in the 100 meters and two gold medals in the men’s and mixed 4x100 meters relay.

Congratulations, Jeremiah; you are a brilliant role model to young people in sport here in Cardiff East and across Wales.

SIR GARETH EDWARDS STAND

Sir Gareth Edwards is a household name across Wales. A Welsh rugby legend, earning 53 caps for Wales and making 195 appearances for Cardiff Rugby. It’s great news that he has been honoured by having a Cardiff Arms Park stand named after him.

Sir Gareth has earned this many times over. It is particularly special to see the Sir Gareth Edwards Stand officially unveiled in time for the club’s historic 150th anniversary season, which kicks off this September. I am looking forward to seeing the stand full for our first home game against Zebre on Friday 2nd October.

EXTENDING CHILD BENEFIT FOR OLDER CHILDREN

If your child is planning to stay on in education or approved training after their GCSEs, it's worth checking that your Child Benefit claim is up to date. HMRC is asking families to confirm their young person's plans by 31 August. If this isn't done, Child Benefit payments may stop.

You can get Child Benefit if your child is in full-time non-advanced education and is accepted onto a course before they turn 19.

Click here for more information.

NEWS FROM PARLIAMENT

PRIME MINISTER'S LIBRARY AT NO 10 DOWNING STREET

Cabinet Ministers are invited to donate a book to the Prime Minister’s Library in Number 10 Downing Street when they leave office. I gave ‘The Fed’, A History of South Wales Miners in the 20th Century by Hywel Francis & Prof Dai Smith. It reflects my South Wales mining family’s background, my career pre-Parliament as a trade union lawyer representing the South Wales NUM and its members and my Cabinet role as Secretary of State for Wales. These foundations were rooted in every decision I took as the first Labour woman to serve as Secretary of State for Wales.

As Wales’ representative around the cabinet table, I secured the biggest budget settlement for our Welsh public services in the history of devolution, protected our steel industry and delivered new nuclear at Wylfa. I also announced alongside the Prime Minister a generational £14bn commitment for our Welsh railways and the best local growth fund settlement of any UK nation. These decisions will help transform Wales for years to come and ensure that communities, including those in former mining areas, benefit from the new opportunities this UK Labour Government is creating.

ABOLITION OF VAT ON HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY BILLS

Many residents across Cardiff East have told me they're worried about rising energy bills this winter. The UK Labour Government’s top priority is tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

From 1st October, the UK Government will remove VAT from electricity bills, helping to reduce costs and ease pressure on household budgets when the next Ofgem price cap comes into effect.

This tax cut will provide some welcome breathing room and reassurance for many households this winter. Find out more here.

HMRC CRYPTO CRACKDOWN

Our UK Labour Government is taking action to ensure fairness in our tax system, with HMRC issuing over 81,000 warning letters to cryptocurrency holders this past year.

We are clamping down on tax avoidance, ensuring crypto gains are declared and taxed just like traditional shares.

Everyone must pay their fair share to support our public services, and with new international data-sharing rules launching in March 2027, we will fully close these loopholes which allow crypto investors to avoid tax.

PRISONER EARLY RELEASE SCHEME PAUSED

Keeping our communities safe is a top priority for the UK Labour Government. That is why the Prime Minister has ordered an urgent review into the prisoner release scheme that is taking place because we have almost run out of prison places.

We are also making immediate, significant changes to protect the public:

Excluding High-Risk Offenders: Anyone sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences, or grooming offences will be explicitly barred from early release.
Tougher Community Measures: We are introducing a presumption that leavers are tagged, alongside longer supervision periods and strict restriction zones.

For over a decade, a lack of investment has left our adult male prisons at 98% capacity. This is dangerous and has resulted in these difficult decisions that have had to be taken to introduce an early release scheme. We are now delivering the fastest prison-building programme since the Victorian era to fix this crisis and restore integrity to our criminal justice system once and for all.

TRANSFORMING THE HIGH STREET

We have lots of high streets and shopping parades in Cardiff East. Some of them are thriving. Others less so. The way we shop has changed significantly with so much being bought online, but if we don’t use our local shops, they will disappear.

Lots of empty units over a long period of time has resulted in boarded-up shops, and a proliferation of vape shops, betting shops and rogue businesses replacing important local services. Under current laws it’s extremely difficult to intervene. We’ve seen this in Llanrumney for example, where despite a strong campaign by our Llanrumney Labour team, a third betting shop was approved for trading on Countisbury Avenue.

The good news is that this is changing. The UK Labour Government is revoking the outdated 2005 Gambling Act’s “aim to permit” rule, finally giving local councils the power they need to refuse licenses for new gambling premises.

We are also cracking down on rogue operators linked to organised crime. By doubling the maximum length of Extended Closure Orders from six to 12 months, we are giving our police and local authorities the time they need to investigate and shut down criminal activity for good.

But here in Wales, we could go further. In England, the UK Labour Government is introducing new planning rules which will mean vape shops and adult gaming centres need permission before opening. The minority Plaid Welsh Government has announced a review but no timeframe for announcing any new measures. Residents across Cardiff East raise these issues with me regularly on the doorstep. Welsh Government needs to get on with it to ensure our local high streets can survive and thrive.