Latest news with #DelythJewell
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Calls to Welsh Government to speed up cancer diagnosis
Plaid Cymru deputy Senedd leader, Delyth Jewell, said: "Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest common cancer in Wales. "That's because 80 per cent of people get diagnosed too late to receive life-saving treatment, and half lose their lives within three months. "We have to see more people getting their diagnosis earlier to save so many more precious lives." Minister for children and social care Dawn Bowden acknowledged the 'heartbreaking' late diagnosis rates, and said the government is focusing on rapid access to diagnostic treatment. She said: "We're working with the NHS to determine the long-term service model for pancreatic and liver cancer surgery." The minister agreed to meet with Ms Jewell and Pancreatic Cancer UK to discuss improvement strategies. Pancreatic Cancer UK's head of devolved nations, Dawn Crosby, said: "It is vital that the Welsh Government keep up this momentum with more action, more investment, and more attention."
South Wales Argus
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Argus
Car idling outside schools putting kids 'health at risk'
Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell MS raised concerns in the Welsh Parliament, highlighting the impact of parked vehicles with running engines on air quality, particularly outside schools. Ms Jewell said: "Stationary idling is something that people do sometimes without thinking, but it is so deeply damaging to children's lungs." She called for a ban on stationary idling to be introduced before the next Senedd election. Ken Skates MS, cabinet secretary for transport, supported the call and described the behaviour as 'truly antisocial. Mr Skates said: "I just cannot comprehend why parents would leave their cars idling around not just their children but other children." Joseph Carter, head of Asthma + Lung UK Cymru, warned that children are especially vulnerable to emissions, despite idling already being an offence. He said: "Car idling produces up to 150 balloons of exhaust emissions per minute."
Wales Online
06-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Future of Llancaiach Fawr branded scandalous as Grade-I listed manor is mothballed
Future of Llancaiach Fawr branded scandalous as Grade-I listed manor is mothballed Caerphilly County Borough Council has closed Llancaiach Fawr amid ongoing uncertainty over its future, with the venue near Nelson being 'mothballed' and put on the market Llancaiach Fawr (Image: Google/Local Democracy Reporting Service ) The decision to shut down Llancaiach Fawr has been labelled a "retrograde step", amidst ongoing doubts about the future of the heritage site. The Grade-I listed manor, located near Nelson, has been "mothballed" and up for sale since January, following a cost-cutting move by Caerphilly County Borough Council to cease its annual subsidy for the site. The council's Plaid Cymru opposition group has claimed there is "no sign" of the venue reopening "anytime soon". Plaid revealed that a council response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request indicated that while 15 viewings had been scheduled, no offers have been made so far. "The closure was yet another flawed decision by the Labour cabinet, made against the opposition of the public and many councillors," stated Cllr Lindsay Whittle, who heads the Plaid group. Plaid Cymru group leader Lindsay Whittle at Ty Penallta (Image: Plaid Cymru/Local Democracy Reporting Service ) "We want to see Llancaiach Fawr reopened to the public as soon as possible, but given the lack of submissions of interest so far then we might be waiting quite a long time. It really is scandalous that this tourist and historical icon of Caerphilly remains shut." Plaid Senedd Member Delyth Jewell described the venue as "irreplaceable" and "the centre of the community", including for thousands of schoolchildren who visited on trips. Stay informed on Caerphilly news by signing up to our newsletter here Article continues below "Many of us warned that if the council closed its doors, they might never reopen again," Cllr Jewell said. "What a crying shame it will be if that turns out to be the case." Councillor Delyth Jewell (Image: Plaid Cymru/Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Yet, these opinions have been contested by the council's deputy leader, Labour's Jamie Pritchard. He remarked that there has been "a high level of interest from a range of organisations who have submitted business cases to secure a bright new future for Llancaiach Fawr". Cllr Pritchard mentioned that the council "received so much interest, we ran more open days than originally envisaged". Councillor James Pritchard (Image: CCBC/Local Democracy Reporting Service ) He added: "I must say, for leading Plaid politicians to say there has been a lack of submissions tells me they have simply ignored a statement I put out more than two weeks ago," and continued, "This is a very peculiar and totally unproductive way to operate. We are very positive about the future of Llancaiach Fawr, and we look forward to issuing further updates over the coming weeks." Article continues below In response to Plaid's Freedom of Information Act request, the council disclosed it is "now awaiting submissions from those that expressed an interest" in managing Llancaiach Fawr but noted that a definitive timeline "cannot be confirmed at this stage". The council also revealed that 37 staff members had their employment "terminated" at the site, with one individual retained until the end of June "to maintain the open space", and two others successfully redeployed within the council.
South Wales Argus
05-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Senedd members warn Wales is 'too late' on environment
Delyth Jewell expressed concerns about delays in introducing the environment bill, which aims to reverse nature loss, with one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales. Plaid Cymru's shadow climate secretary said: "For years, Wales has been behind the curve and we've been an unfortunate exception in terms of environmental governance." Gaps arising from Brexit left Wales with the weakest environmental governance structures in western Europe, according to the Wales Environment Link charity. The bill would establish the "long-awaited" Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW) to check public bodies' environmental performance and hold them to account. Similar bodies were set up in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England in 2021. In 2018, then-climate secretary Julie James committed to legislation to address the governance gap at the "first opportunity." Ministers declared a climate emergency in 2019 before appointing an interim environmental protection assessor in 2021. Ms Jewell, who represents South Wales East, told the Senedd: "At last, I welcome the fact that we're now bridging that gap… the need for targets for nature is clear." If passed by the Senedd, the bill would establish a framework for targets on biodiversity and enable the public to challenge public authorities on environmental issues. Ms Jewell supported calls for headline targets and timeframes, with much of the detail – which is not included in the bill itself – set to follow in regulations. Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives' shadow climate secretary, warned Wales has been lagging on setting biodiversity targets. "This is, I feel… too little, too late," she said. Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies explained the bill goes further in some areas than in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, citing the example of a power to enforce urgent compliance. 'We may be behind other UK nations but actually we've been able to learn the lessons from them," he said. He accepted: "We do now need to proceed with urgency… to refine and craft this."
South Wales Guardian
05-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Senedd members warn Wales is 'too late' on environment
Delyth Jewell expressed concerns about delays in introducing the environment bill, which aims to reverse nature loss, with one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales. Plaid Cymru's shadow climate secretary said: "For years, Wales has been behind the curve and we've been an unfortunate exception in terms of environmental governance." Gaps arising from Brexit left Wales with the weakest environmental governance structures in western Europe, according to the Wales Environment Link charity. The bill would establish the "long-awaited" Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW) to check public bodies' environmental performance and hold them to account. Similar bodies were set up in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England in 2021. In 2018, then-climate secretary Julie James committed to legislation to address the governance gap at the "first opportunity." Ministers declared a climate emergency in 2019 before appointing an interim environmental protection assessor in 2021. Ms Jewell, who represents South Wales East, told the Senedd: "At last, I welcome the fact that we're now bridging that gap… the need for targets for nature is clear." If passed by the Senedd, the bill would establish a framework for targets on biodiversity and enable the public to challenge public authorities on environmental issues. Ms Jewell supported calls for headline targets and timeframes, with much of the detail – which is not included in the bill itself – set to follow in regulations. Janet Finch-Saunders, the Conservatives' shadow climate secretary, warned Wales has been lagging on setting biodiversity targets. "This is, I feel… too little, too late," she said. Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies explained the bill goes further in some areas than in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, citing the example of a power to enforce urgent compliance. 'We may be behind other UK nations but actually we've been able to learn the lessons from them," he said. He accepted: "We do now need to proceed with urgency… to refine and craft this."
